Home Tours for Holiday Lights Decorating

根據今天的水星報家園版的文章, 今年十二月, 從四日到十四日, 在灣區將有六場聖誕節居家燈飾活動, 一共有二十幾間私人房屋參與展出, 有興趣的人要趕緊在月曆上註明, 而且有的需要事先預約喔.

Summit 
Ainsley House

(Photo 1 from Summit League; Photo 2 from Ainsley House)
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Homes for the Holidays

What: The Summit League's 10th biannual tour features three homes in the Los Gatos-Saratoga area decorated for the holidays by more than 50 floral, interior and landscape designers. Proceeds benefit the Pacific Autism Center for Education.

When: 12/4-5 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Please allow 3 hours to tour all 3 houses.

The homes: The Atkinson home is a stately Victorian, built in 1886, with a 180-degree turned-walnut balustrade on a central staircase. It once was a boardinghouse known as the Alpine Lodge. The Wallace home is a fine example of the Craftsman style, built in the early 1900s with half-timbering in the living room and front porch and built-in bookcases with leaded glass doors. The Pinn home, a contemporary French-style chateau, is known as "Trois Fleurs." Built in 2006, it includes luxe Murano glass fixtures and a resort-like landscape with a pool, fountain, waterfall, wood-burning pizza oven, putting green and a bocce court.

How much: $45, cash or check only. Purchase at the first house on the tour.

Etc.: Park and pick up the free shuttle at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15985 Rose Ave., Los Gatos. The last shuttle from the parking lot is at 3 p.m.

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Christmas at Our House

What: The Women's Club of St. Francis High School in Mountain View organizes this annual tour, now in its 20th year. Proceeds will support the school's campaign to complete a new theater arts building. The homes will be lavishly decorated for the holidays.

When: 12/4 Twilight tour and preview party, 5 p.m.; 12/5-6 from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m..

The homes: Two of the homes in Monte Sereno are owned by the same couple, Linda and Howard Graham; they live in one and entertain in the other. The traditional estate where they reside, features ornate iron gates that once graced the Ritz Hotel in Paris and a brass compass inlaid into the floor of the butler's pantry. The English Tudor manor built next door has a home theater, an English-style pub, a stone turret with stairs to a wine cellar and a thatched-roof stable that houses a collection of exotic automobiles. The mountaintop Los Gatos villa owned by Joe McCarthy has sweeping valley views and eight acres of cabernet vineyards. There's also a billiards room, infinity pool and a wine cave.

How much: $100 for the twilight tour and preview party; $40 in advance and $45 on tour days for the regular tour, which includes tea. A buffet lunch is available for $20; reservations are a must.

Etc.: Take the free shuttle from Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 13716 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga. A Christmas boutique will be open at the church from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Saturday.

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Santa Clara Historic Home Tour

What: The Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara organizes this annual tour; proceeds benefit historic preservation projects and nonprofit groups in the city.

When: 12/5 from 6-10 p.m. and 12/6 from noon-5 p.m..

The homes: The Perry House is a 1920s Norman cottage once owned by an assistant Santa Clara police chief who went on to become a prizewinning camellia grower in retirement. The Alice Hare House, an 1895 Queen Anne, was once the home of a noted photographer and founding member of the Santa Clara Woman's Club. The Gil House, built in 1892, is another Queen Anne. Its claim to fame is that its former owner lived to be 106. The Avina House is a 1912 Craftsman bungalow. Also on the tour is a bed and breakfast: the Madison Street Inn, an 1890 Queen Anne.

How much: $30, available at the inn, 1390 Madison St., Santa Clara.

Etc.: The Zanger House, an 1890 Italianate Victorian that was moved from San Jose to Santa Clara in 1995, will have one room open to offer refreshments. It is at 766 Madison St., Santa Clara. No children under 6.

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Finishing Touches Holiday Tour

What: The Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula organizes this tour to support its community service efforts in Peninsula communities. The tour includes four homes in Atherton.

When: 12/6 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (last tour leaves 2 p.m.) and 12/7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (last tour departs at noon).

The homes: The homes will be decorated for the holidays by Smith & Hawken, Neiman Marcus, Williams Sonoma Home and local designers. Three of the homes are relatively new, including an English manor-style residence with an expansive garden, a French-style estate with an antique limestone fireplace and a buffet that once stood in the halls of Filoli in Woodside and a contemporary home where the garden boasts an in-ground trampoline, two fountains and a tennis court. An older home, built as a summer residence in 1923, has a historic oak tree estimated to be 150 years old.

How much: $40 in advance; $50 on tour days. A "Mistletoe and Martinis" twilight tour and cocktail party will begin at 5 p.m. Friday; tickets are $140.

Etc.: Park at Sacred Heart Schools, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton. No children under 12.

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Holiday Tea at the Ainsley House

What: Tea and treats served in the Ainsley carriage house with fine china, silver teapots and an English style afternoon tea, followed by a tour of the historic house in Campbell.

When: 12/4-14. Tea seatings at 1:30 and 2 p.m.

The home: Built in 1925 as the home for Campbell canning pioneer J.C. Ainsley and his wife Alcinda, the 15-room home was moved to its present location in 1990. The home includes much of the original furniture and will be adorned for the holidays by local florists and designers.

How much: $25 on weekdays and $30 on weekends. Reservations suggested.

Etc.: Holiday boutique for shopping. Regular tours of the home also are offered from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 1-21. Cost is $8, $6 seniors.

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Palo Alto Stanford Holiday House Tour (Eichler Homes)

What: Palo Alto Stanford Heritage organizes this tour; proceeds benefit its historic preservation efforts. The self-guided tour includes seven homes by the late developer Joseph Eichler.

When: 12/14, 1-4 p.m..

The homes: The iconic Eichler homes are in Palo Alto's newest National Register districts, Greenmeadow and Green Gables, as well as in Eichler's Edgewood development. One is exactly as it was built in 1956; another was recently remodeled. This will be the first all-Eichler tour!

How much: $20 in advance; $25 on tour day.

Etc.: There will be light refreshments at some of the homes. Purchase day-of-tour tickets at the Greenmeadow Community Center, 303 Parkside Drive, Palo Alto.

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如果你六個都想去, 你的行程需要這樣安排:

12/5  10-4pm Homes for the Holidays at Los Gatos-Saratoga $46
12/5  6-10pm Historic Home Tour at Santa Clara $30
12/6  10-3:30pm  Christmas at Our House at Mountain View $45
12/7  10-2pm Finishing Touches Holiday Tour at Palo Alto-Atherton $50
12/8-13  1:30/2:00pm Holiday Tea at the Ainsley House at Campbell $25
12/14  1-4pm  Holiday Eichler House Tour at Palo Alto $25

以上票價是以當日購買為準; 如果事先預定, 有的Tour有提供折扣.

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