Goldstar

Rick Steves speaks at the Cubberley Theatre. An expert on international travel and long-time PBS travel show host, he'll be discussing his new book Travel as a Political Act. The book explores the ways in which thoughtful travel can challenge ethnocentrism and shape political discourse. Learn more...

Best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich speaks at the Cubberley Theatre. Her latest book, Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America, is a provocative exploration on the strange history of irrational optimism in American culture, and a look at its role in the current economic crisis. Learn more...

Tim Flannery speaks at Palo Alto's Cubberley Theatre. The Chairman of the Copenhagen Climate Council and author of Now or Never: Why We Must Act Now to End Climate Change and Create a Sustainable Future, Flannery will offer his practical assessments of solutions for the global environmental crisis, from electric cars to wind power. Learn more...

Ralph Nader joins the Commonwealth Club to discuss his latest book, Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!. The longtime activist, author and former presidential candidate ponders what would happen if America's richest and most powerful decided to take matters into their own hands and fix our government - in a way that actually benefited the country, voters and the environment. Learn more...

Stewart Brand visits the Commonwealth Club to discuss design-based solutions to environmental problems. The author of Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto and a co-founder of the Long Now Foundation, Brand will discuss how innovations in urbanization, nuclear power, biotechnology and geo-engineering could be key Earth-saving tools. Learn more...

Ruth Reichl, the woman who helped shape Berkeley cuisine and now helms Gourmet Magazine, reveals her culinary secrets and discusses the craft of cooking...and eating. Reichl serves up her food philosophy and shares some of her favorite dishes from Gourmet Today, including fast, budget-friendly recipes. Learn more...

Two experts identify the key political and environmental challenges awaiting President Obama and discuss potential outcomes in a lecture presented by the Commonwealth Club. Nuclear Weapons, Energy and the Environment: How Will the Obama Presidency Be Defined? features former New York Times Washington Bureau Chief Philip Taubman and Times environmental correspondent Felicity Barringer. Learn more...

Christopher Hitchens comes to Palo Alto's Cubberley Community Center. A columnist and contributing editor for Vanity Fair, Hitchens is known for his controversial opinions. The best-selling author of God is Not Great will discuss the so-called "axis of evil", Iran, Iraq and North Korea; Hitchens has recently visited all three countries. Learn more...

Best known for his eight years as Captain BJ Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H, Mike Farrell offers a thoughtful and honest account of his recent road trip across the U.S. Driving more than 8,000 miles with his only companion - his rented Prius he fondly nicknames "Mule" - Farrell reflects on his progressive book tour and personal experiences while traveling for his bestselling memoir Just Call Me Mike. Learn more...

Katie Tamony, Editor-in-Chief of Sunset Magazine, shares the story of the magazine's adventure with sustainable and local farming. Tamony has taken eating local to a whole new level with the "one-block" diet. You can't get much more local than your own backyard. Learn more...

Best-selling author P.J. O'Rourke speaks at Palo Alto's Cubberley Theatre. Known for his political satire, he'll be reading from and discussing his new book Driving Like Crazy. It's a celebration of America's love affair with cars, ranging from stories of O'Rourke's childhood as the son of an automobile dealer to tales of memorable road trips. Learn more...

After spending 10 days filming in Iran, Rick Steves calls the country "the most poorly understood yet fascinating land" he's ever visited. He will discuss his travels through Iran and his new special airing on PBS. Learn more...

Bayer Balet Academy invites you to see a wizard bring to life a touching winter fairy tale. Meet Santa, Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), little bunnies and characters from fairy tales. Young ballerinas will dance accompanied by masterpieces of classical and modern music. Learn more...

The acclaimed novelist, poet and screenwriter has written his darkest and most emotionally complex novel to date, Man in the Dark. Its darkly political themes have already started generating buzz in the literary world. This is a rare chance to hear from the Independent Spirit Award recipient as he discusses his singular blend of existentialism and crime fiction. Learn more...

The world is changing, and along with it, so must our eating habits. Jesse Ziff Cool, the creative force behind five local restaurants and author of seven cookbooks, will share her 33 years of knowledge about organic, local, and sustainable food, while encouraging home cooks to view organics as a lifestyle rather than a fad. Learn more...

Few films have had more impact on popular culture than Star Wars, and no film has generated as much ancillary income. How does a movie from 30 years ago stay relevant in the Web 2.0 era? Surprisingly, the secret lies in robot chickens. Join Lucasfilms' David Anderman for this movie marketing primer as he discusses the art of engaging and echoing fans online. Learn more...

Whether it's a film you watch instantly or a masterpiece you broadcast to the world, the online video revolution is delivering content everywhere and in every form you desire. The Commonwealth Club hosts a group of panelists who will explore the topic of digital media, and how new channels of distribution are impacting everyone from filmmakers to fans. Learn more...

Chef Charlie Ayers spent six years as the executive chef at Google, where he served 4,000 meals a day and created a new standard of "fine food for the fast crowd." Chef Ayers will discuss healthy recipes as well as the basics of shopping for better ingredients and foods that can transform your mind and body. Learn more...

During the making of Empire Strikes Back, George Lucas launched a secret research project that would go on to impact key media tools for editing, audio, video games and computer graphics. Join industry guru Michael Rubin (Director of Product Management at Netflix) as he chronicles the intermingling of indie filmmaking and technology, and connects the dots from Star Wars to Web 2.0. Learn more...

Want to know what cool new products will be on the market in the next five years? Design consultant Donald Norman will offer a preview of future home and automobile products, and discuss the design process.. Norman, the co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group and a Former Vice President of the Advanced Technology Group at Apple Computer, is the author of The Design of Future Things. Learn more...

After more than 20 years as a high-tech corporate executive, Lalita Tademy, then a VP of Sun Microsystems, decided she needed a change of profession. She embarked on a journey that took her back to her family's roots in the South and led to her debut novel, Cane River, which received critical accolades for blending history and fiction. Tademy's newest work, Red River, begins in 1873 as two families struggle during the turbulent years of Reconstruction. Learn more...

Wole Soyinka brought new worldwide attention to African writing when, two decades ago, he became the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Revered as Africa's greatest playwright, Soyinka is heavily influenced by the mythology of his own tribe, the Yoruba, and is committed equally to his African heritage as well as social justice. There will be a book signing after the talk. Learn more...

Start the new year off right as Jane Bryant Quinn, one of the country's top financial experts, explains how to create a sound financial plan and retire rich. Quinn, Newsweek columnist and author of "Jane Bryant Quinn's Smart and Simple Financial Strategies for Busy People," will provide sensible advice that can easily be followed to help everything from debt reduction to investing in mutual funds. Learn more...

Khaled Hosseini is author of "The Kite Runner," the first Afghan novel to be written in English. The acclaimed novel is the story of two orphaned boys coming of age in war-torn Afghanistan. Learn more...