Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Chairwomen of Gourmet Alley, a popular feature at Yuletide at Montalvo, are Sandy Trowbridge (left) and Lynne Bonetti (center), who display gift items with assistant chairwoman Joyce Towner.

Yuletide comes early to Villa Montalvo

By Shari Kaplan

Yuletide--and all the traditional cheer that accompanies it--again arrives early at Villa Montalvo for three days of festivities during the 39th annual Yuletide, to take place Nov. 12-14 at the historic 85-year-old Villa, 15400 Montalvo Road in Saratoga.

Yuletide at Montalvo is a community celebration and fundraiser for the Montalvo Service Group, which supports and maintains the grounds and buildings of the nonprofit Villa Montalvo, California's Historic Estate for the Arts and former mansion of the late Sen. James D. Phelan. Montalvo advances art appreciation and education through diverse programs, including the Gallery at Montalvo, Children's Education Outreach, the Artist Residency Program and the Performing Arts Series.

The highlight of this year's Yuletide is self-guided tours through various rooms within the mansion, all decorated along fanciful themes by Service Group members. According to Saratogan and longtime Service Group volunteer Ursula Millet, Yuletide marks the only time of year when the public is allowed to explore the mansion in this way.

Located both upstairs and downstairs, the rooms have been transformed into places such as "Tahoe Winterland" in the loggia, created by Linda Cole of San Jose and Emily Dorr of Los Gatos; "Tartan Holiday" in the library, put together by Los Gatan Saundra Mutascio; and "The Night Before Christmas," a children's theme in the billiard room created by Saratogans Mary Anne Leach and Arline Rowen. Stars are the common accent found throughout the mansion.

During the weekend, handcrafted holiday gifts and other items made by Service Group members will be available for purchase in the dining room, while items with a natural theme will be sold in the solarium, dubbed Nature's Workshop during Yuletide. There's also a favorite standby, Gourmet Alley, which lets visitors purchase homemade treats such as jellies, preserves, mustards, baked goods and other items.

Among the prizes to be awarded in this year's donation drawing are a freshwater pearl necklace, an American Girl doll and all her accouterments, a series of classes with Home Chef Cooking School at Westgate Mall, a weekend getaway in Soquel, an imported French quilt and a gourmet dinner for 10 at Montalvo.

Refreshments, included in the admission price of $15 for adults and $7.50 for children, will be served in the dining room throughout the weekend. On the first night, a light supper is available for $25 per person and must be purchased in advance. On Sunday, a Hansel and Gretel puppet show for the family takes place at 1 p.m. in the Carriage House Theatre. Cost is $4 per person.

Free parking is available at Saratoga's Sacred Heart Church on Friday, Saratoga High School on Saturday and Villa Montalvo on Sunday. There is free shuttle service from the first two locations. For information, call 408.961.5858 or visit www.villamontalvo.org on the Internet.

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