commonwealth club

The Vagina Monologues queen is in town discussing her new book I Am an Emotional Creature. Eve Ensler is a woman who transformed performance into global movement and she's at it again. This time, she's on the topic of women's struggles everywhere and how we can overcome obstacles, threats and pressures that can rob us of originality and power.

Join the Commonwealth Club and Christy Coté (Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer of LiberTango Dancers) for a talk on the history and origin of the dance, its different styles and how it's become one of the most stylish and popular dances in Europe and the U.S. Post-talk, you're in for a dance performance and a short lesson if you dare.

Switch your brain to science for a night. Acclaimed science writer and the popular blogger behind "The Frontal Cortex," Jonah Lehrer will explain the latest in cutting-edge neuroscience research. He'll start to unravel the mystery behind the brain's decision-making process. Pick up a copy of his book and get the author's autograph (yes, he's smart and cute!).

Skip out of work early and make the trek down to Palo Alto for this very special event. Famed dance choreographer and author of The Collaborative Habit and The Creative Habit Twyla Tharp will talk collaboration for Commonwealth Club. She'll be discussing how good collaborators are made and how collaboration is slowly replacing competition in business and education. You'll also be privy to the scoop on what it was like to work with artists like Mikhail Baryshnikov, Billy Joel and Elvis Costello.

Put yourself on the waiting list for a slick night of olive oil tasting. Fran Gage, author of The New American Olive Oil, will lead you through a guided discussion and tasting so you can impress your friends with your knowledge and refined palette. Learn about what "extra virgin" really means, find out the differences between olive varieties and the range of certified California olive oil readily available and pick up a few tips on cooking with olive oil. The event is already sold out, but we think it's worth a call to try and get in.

Be part of the dessert "in crowd" for a night and get versed on the state of the pastry just in time for the holidays. Mark your calendars for the Commonwealth Club's INFORUM event, where the Bay Area's premier pastry pros will satisfy your sweet tooth and offer a few tips while they're at it.

Line up for a standing room only spot to see Noam Chomsky, the father of modern linguistics, speak at Commonwealth Club. Listen to the world-renowned intellectual talk about passive obedience and maintaining a position as a free-thinking citizen in today's society. Bring your college copies of Manufacturing Consent, Media Control and The Chomsky Reader and see if you can snag an autograph.

Note: This program is sold out but standing room tickets may still be available.

It's time to talk money. Find out how social venture capital can change the world. The experts will give you practical, hands-on advice on how to attract and deploy capital for the common good. Joel Solomon, Chair, Renewal2 Investment Fund; Tim Freundlich, Founding Principal, Good Capital; and Josh Becker, General Partner and Co-founder, New Cycle Capital will lead the conversation.

Your love for wine doesn't have to break the bank. Contrary to popular belief, you can find good wine for under $10. Come and learn what young wine lovers and winemakers can teach you about food pairings and basic ordering on a budget.