Spring Forward in Palo Alto

Published in

PaloAltoConnect

8 min readMar 28

It may not feel like Spring with all the rain we’ve received, but we hope this community update offers a look ahead to warmer, sunnier — and most of all, drier — weather. To help you spring forward and enjoy the longer days, we are sharing a round up of community events, activities and resources, with a preview of ways to celebrate Earth Day and Earth Month too.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Little Ones Storytime

Wednesdays | 10:30 a.m. | Children’s Library, Palo Alto, CA

Join Librarian Alicia on Wednesday mornings at 10:30AM for Little Ones Storytime at Children’s Library. Storytime includes a variety of early literacy activities such as stories, songs, rhymes, and movement activities. This program is targeted to children under the age of two and their caregivers and is held outside or inside if the garden is not available.

Weekly Writers’ Drop-in

Thursdays | 4–6 p.m. | Rinconada Library Embarcadero Room, Palo Alto

Join other writers each week for an hour or two of silent writing. Writers say they benefit from having a quiet place to go away from home and in the company of other writers for support. Come late or leave early, as your schedule permits.

Musicians in Residence: Nathan’s Fearless Five!

March 25, April 22 and May 27 .| 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Rinconada Library

Back by popular demand after an incredible December concert, jazz ensemble Nathan’s Fearless Five will perform several concerts at Rinconada Library. Led by wunderkind musician Nathan Tokunaga, the ensemble will perform throughout the spring as the library’s 2023 Musicians in Residence in the Embarcadero Room.

Saturday Board Games Day

First Saturday of each Month | 10 a.m. — 6 p.m. | Downtown Library

Drop in for a full day of modern board gaming at the Downtown Library! The group meets every 1st Saturday from 10–6 PM. Attendees can bring their own games to play or jump-in with others. Please bring your own snacks and drinks to fuel an afternoon of marathon gaming in the El Camino Room.

Tai Chi with Nelson Ng

Sundays | 10 a.m. — 12 p.m. | Rinconada Library

In this weekly class, participants will learn the basic principles and the philosophy behind TaiChi, gaining flexibility and a better sense of balance, through slow and gentle movement. This class is free and open to beginners as well as those who have previous TaiChi experience.

Bunny Hop 2023

Friday, March 31 — Saturday, April 8 |Town & Country Village, Palo Alto

Join Town & Country Village for a “Bunny Hop” Scavenger Hunt! Families will begin and end at Books Inc. where they will receive and redeem their scavenger hunt map. The participants will “HOP” their way around Town & Country Village through the participating merchants in search of the hidden bunny inside each participating store. Once the bunny has been spotted, participants will take their map to the front desk to get it stamped, and then hop to the next location. Learn more about Bunny Hop 2023 here.

Meet the Artists Painting California Ave Murals

Tuesday, April 4 | 12 p.m. | Online

Come (virtually) meet artists Nicole Ponsler, Olivia Losee-Unger, and Paz de la Calzada, who will be painting vibrant new murals in the California Avenue district. In this meeting, you will hear from them about their process and view their previous projects. The public will have the opportunity to share feedback and information about the district before the artists begin their design development.

Adult Craft Night: Pressed Flower Bookmark

Thursday, April 6 | 6:30–8 p.m. | Mitchell Park Library

Stop by Adult Craft Night to create your own bookmark inspired by nature and poetry! Craft will be available as supplies last.

National Poetry Month: EPA City Councilman Antonio López

Saturday, April 8 | 2:30 –4:30 p.m. | Rinconada Library

Please join us to hear East Palo Alto City Councilman and Poet Antonio López share his work and his methods in honor of National Poetry Month.

Button Making Pop-up for Teens

Wednesday, April 12 | 3–4 p.m. | Mitchell Park Library

Drop by after school for button making in the Teen Zone! Use old manga and comics to make a unique design or create your own from scratch. No registration required.

Beautiful Butterflies Celebration

Tuesday, April 18 | 3–4 p.m. | Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Classroom 2

Enjoy a special celebration at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo in honor of Earth Day. This event is free with admission. Get your tickets here.

Spring Tour at Gamble Gardens

April 28 & 29, 2023| Gamble Gardens, Palo Alto, CA

Enjoy hosted tours of local private gardens and a host of exciting vendors, lunches and musicians at the 37th Annual Spring Tour at Gamble Gardens. Tickets are required and range from $40 — $45.

Looking for a low-cost alternative? The garden is also open to the public free of charge during daylight hours.

Photography Workshop: Editing

Thursday, April 20 | 7–8:30 p.m. | Mitchell Park Library

Learn how photographers use Adobe Lightroom as an organization and editing tool at this Photography Workshop. You will learn the basic editing process and simple tips. Feel free to bring your own laptop with Lightroom to follow along.

Growing Fabulous Citrus

Thursday, April 27, 2023 | 7–8 p.m. | Rinconada Library

The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County present this in person workshop on taking care of citrus trees to get the best harvest.

Cubberley Artists Open Studios Event

Saturday, April 29 | 1–5 p.m. | Cubberly Community Center

The artists of the Cubberley Artist Studio Program are excited to welcome the public into their workspaces during Open Studios — where people can see, and collect art — on Saturday April 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Floral Arranging Workshop: Spring Fling

Saturday, April 29 | 2–4 p.m. | Palo Alto Art Center

Celebrate spring by making a seasonal arrangement in this Floral Arranging Workshop. All skill levels are welcome. A $65 material fee is required to attend and includes a vase and all botanical materials.

May Fete Parade

May 6 | 10 a.m. | University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA

The May Fete Children’s Parade will return in 2023 for its 99th year. Kids are invited to show off their float making skills and gather along University Avenue for potential prizes!

Finding Your Dream Colleges

Tuesday, May 9 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Online

There is a college out there for everyone, and thousands of colleges across the country. This presentation from The Princeton Review will help students discover what a dream college means to them and help them find their best fit. There will be time for Q&A at the end. This workshop is free and open to all.

Floral Arranging Workshop: Mother’s Day

Saturday, May 13 | 2–4 p.m. | Palo Alto Art Center Studio A

Make something special for Mother’s Day in this floral arranging workshop. A $65 material fee is required to attend and includes a vase and all botanical materials.

Family Hula Demonstration

Saturday, May 20 | 2–2:30 p.m. | Mitchell Park Library

In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Month, join local dance studio Halau `O Pi`ilani as they share a performance showcasing the ancient and modern dances of Hula. After the performance, stay for a short demonstration and learn some Hula movements and dances!

EARTH DAY EVENTS

April is Earth Month, and a great time to gather as a community to honor and protect our planet. Take advantage of local opportunities to engage with your neighbors on climate action, learn new skills or information to reduce your environmental impact, and celebrate our community’s sustainability efforts. Find an entire calendar of Earth-friendly events and activities here, including:

Love our Earth Festival — A free event celebrating the planet with information about a host of actions we can collectively take to address the climate crisis. Takes place on Saturday, April 22, learn more and register here.

Earth Day at Rinconda: Resource Fair — Join the City’s Utilities and Public Works departments and other community partners to learn about energy-saving strategies and tools. Takes place on Saturday, April 22, learn more and register here.

Pollinator Garden Tour — Pick up your Pollinator Passport from Rinconada Library and get ready to travel into the nearby native gardens. Visit the pollinator gardens listed on the passport and come back to the Embarcadero Room to pick up a prize and register for a raffle! Takes place during the Rinconada Resource Fair on Saturday, April 22, learn more here.

March & Rally for Climate Justice — Stand up for climate justice! Unite with us to build community, raise our voices and eat delicious free food. Takes place on Saturday, April 22, learn more and register here.