It was as if we’d returned to the 1860s, when Volcano was a bustling Gold Rush town — one of the first, actually — with its own theater company, library and grand three-story hotel, the St. George. You can still stay in that white-balconied structure, stroll its parlor and sip something naughty at the Whiskey Flat Saloon. We were headed to the opposite end of town — a block away — where Tracey and Mark Berkner’s Union Inn and Pub offers cozy rooms and delicious pub fare. It didn’t take long for the town’s seductive wiles to take hold.

Berkeley has its own $135 million bond measure aimed at affordable housing, This comes on top of Proposition 1, a statewide $4 billion affordable housing and veteran homeownership bond measure, Two of the Bay Area’s three big-city mayors can rest easy this fall, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and San Francisco Mayor London Breed won in June, That leaves Oakland’s Libby Schaaf, who has drawn nine re-election opponents, Since Schaaf took office in 2015 there has been the deadly 2016 Ghost Ship fire exposing deficiencies in city fire safety inspections, There ballet slippers pattern was a police sex scandal and succession of new chiefs, The Warriors and Raiders teams are leaving, and the Athletics’ ballpark plan is mired in uncertainty, The city’s finances remain a mess..

Stanford Jazz Orchestra with Jimmy Heath. 8 p.m. Nov. 14. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, Stanford University. Free-$10. 650-723-3811 or https://arts.stanford.edu/events/2012/2012-11-14-stanford-jazz-orchestra-jimmy-heath. Nathan Laube, organ. 8 p.m. Nov. 14. Stanford Memorial Church. Free. 650-723-3811 or https://arts.stanford.edu/events/2012/2012-11-14-nathan-laube-organ. Stanford Symphonic Chorus and Peninsula Symphony Orchestra. 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18. Stanford Memorial Church. $10-$20. 650-723-3811 or https://arts.stanford.edu/events/2012/2012-11-18-stanford-symphonic-chorus-and-peninsula-symphony-orchestra.

Handmade Happy Hour: noon-3 p.m, July 26, Afternoon for adults ballet slippers pattern to learn fabric painting techniques with designer, craft teacher and author Lisa Fulmer, All materials supplied, The program is in partnership with the Concord Art Association, What is Eastbay Works: An Informational Workshop on Your One-Stop Career Center: 1-2 p.m, July 30, Adults can learn about Eastbay Works free workshops to help them with career guidance, including computer skills, resume writing, interviewing techniques and more, There is also an assessment center for vocational interests and other skills..

Higher Fire Gallery: A variety of housewares, jewelry and decorative ceramic pieces created by local artists and available for purchase. Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery, 499 S. Market St., San Jose. 408.295.5765 or www.HigherFireStudios.com. Women’s Singing Group: The Bay Area Showcase Chorus welcomes women who love to sing at any rehearsal. Meets most Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Visit http://www.singharmony.org for information on rehearsal location, or call 408.973.1555. San Jose Widows and Widowers: Join the group for breakfast and learn more about the association every Wednesday, 9 a.m. Goodies Coffee Shop, Bascom and Apricot, Campbell. 408.279.1278.