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Why wait for the weekend? Even on a “school night,” the Peninsula offers plenty of reasons to skip the Netflix and go out. Here’s a sampling of fun stuff to do this week, from local live music to a Bay Area author’s launch party for her latest book.
SLIDESHOW: Rhythmic Tavern features from left, Karen Soo Hoo, Rick Sanders, Todd Jones and r.vega. The band plays songs from the 1960s through the present day, along with some originals. Courtesy 3rd Thursday. 
SLIDESHOW: Garcia’s Quartet was formed a year ago by four Gunn High School students with a love of playing jazz. Courtesy 3rd Thursday. 
SLIDESHOW: Sami Wurm Band plays slow, soulful jams highlighting Wurm’s expansive vocal range. Wurm is finsihing up her Master’s at Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics. Courtesy 3rd Thursday.
3rd Thursday on Cal Ave
3rd Thursdays have already been showing some love to local live music and Palo Alto’s California Avenue neighborhood each month since the event launched last May. Now the theme for this post-Valentine’s Day February edition of the monthly music fest just makes it official: “Love is in the Air.”
Visitors can take in this evening of music and fun from the heart Feb. 15, with three bands performing along California Avenue.
The February lineup includes two bands that highlight the talents of younger community members, with Garcia’s Quartet, a jazz ensemble out of Gunn High School and the Sami Wurm Band, a group led by Stanford music grad student Sami Wurm. Also performing at 3rd Thursday this month is Rhythmic Tavern, a project that brings together four well-established local musicians.
Love may be in the air, but no one has to be coupled up to take part in this month’s special offering: 15-minute salsa dancing lessons, which are open to the whole family. The dance lessons take place between sets at the stage at California Avenue and Ash Street. Nearby, at 3rd Thursday Central, (at 414 California Ave.), visitors will find other goodies: a photo booth, Lots of Heart Art Table, sweet treats and a 3rd Thursday gift.
As usual, some neighborhood restaurants will serve up food and drink specials while merchants feature special offers.
“Love Is in the Air” at 3rd Thursday, Feb. 15, 6-9 p.m. with bands playing along California Avenue between El Camino Real and Birch Street, Palo Alto. 3rdthursday.fun.
Lizzie No
Their latest album may be called “Halfsies,” but indie folk artist Lizzie No’s sound is a whole-hearted musical experience. The record, released a little less than a month ago, offers a journey from wistful ballads to, by album’s end, driving, rock-and-country-edged anthems, and a moving final call. The listener’s sense of an epic trip is by design: “Halfsies” follows the conceptual journey of a character, Miss Freedomland, to find both internal and outward freedom, according to No’s website. And it’s a trip well worth taking, with No’s clear, ringing vocals and sweet harmonies leading the way. No is touring the U.S. and the U.K. behind “Halfsies.” Their Palo Alto stop on the tour, hosted by Earthwise Productions, comes just in time for a Valentine’s Day treat.
Feb. 14, 8 p.m. at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. $4.25-$18. eventbrite.com.
Author Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic
Bay Area-based author Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic comes to Linden Tree Books for a launch party celebrating the publication of her latest book, “Hummingbird Season.” The novel for ages 8-12 touches on a subject literally close to home for so many: the challenges of the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Hummingbird Season” shares the tale of how young Archie particularly struggles with the loneliness of being stuck at home all the time. The one thing that cheers him are daily visits from hummingbirds at the feeder outside his window, but those visits are thwarted by wildfires, another calamity that strikes that same year. Can Archie find a way to be resilient and find hope in turbulent times? For the launch party, Lucianovic appears in conversation with local author Joanna Ho. In keeping with the book’s “shelter-in-place” theme, guests are invited to wear their comfiest “cozy couture” to the celebration.
Feb. 15, 6 p.m. at Linden Tree Books, 265 State St., Los Altos. lindentreebooks.com.
