“The suspense right now is insane,” Marie told a girl standing next to her. In the crowd behind them, about 30 yards back and to the right, Natalia felt the same. She’d gotten a ticket for Sunday just hours earlier, delighting her not only because of Aldean but because Gianna would be there, too. She and her twin did almost everything together. It had been that way from the beginning, when the girls were born eight weeks premature and began their lives fighting to keep them. They’d never spent more than 48 hours apart.

Gifford’s fiction, non-fiction, and poetry have been published in 28 languages, He has also been the recipient of awards from National Endowment for the Arts; American Library Association; Writer’s Guild of America; and the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, Gifford’s books, “Sailor’s Holiday” and “The Phantom Father,” were each named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times named his book, “Wyoming” a Novel of the Year, He has also written librettos for operas by composers Toru Takemitsu, antique white paper ballet shoes , white pointe shoes , decorative shoes , nursery decor - children's bedroom decor - paper Ichiro Nodaira, and Olga Neuwirth..

Phil McKinney (“Beyond the Obvious: Killer Questions that Spark Game-Changing Innovations”) in conversation with Computer History Museum’s John C. Hollar. Noon, Feb. 16. Computer History Museum, 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View. A Kepler’s Books event. 650-324-4321 or www.keplers.com; or www.computerhistory.org/events. Comedy Monday. 8 p.m. Mondays. Host Dan St. Paul. Club Fox, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City. $10. 650-369-7770 or tickets.foxrwc.com. Comedy Wednesday. 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Host Dan St. Paul. Bell Theatre, Angelica’s Bistro, 863 Main St., Redwood City. No cover. 650-365-3226.

Led by mistress of ceremonies Jo Anne Walker, the “Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories” program featured dance, music, poetry, readings and keynote speaker A.T, Stephens, Hayward Area Historical Society executive director, The national Association for the Study of African American Life & History theme of “Hallowed Grounds” focuses on significant sites in the United States, such as stops along the underground railroad, where African Americans antique white paper ballet shoes , white pointe shoes , decorative shoes , nursery decor - children's bedroom decor - paper have made history, The local event is traditionally held on the second weekend of February, close to the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass..

Music at Kohl Mansion. All concerts begin a 7 p.m. Pre-concert talks by musicologist Kai Christiansen begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 12, pianist Garrick Ohlsson in recital. Feb. 2, Trio Cavatina with Samuel Rhodes, viola. March 9, Miró Quartet. April 13, Ariel String Quartet. May 4, Henschel Quartet. Dec. 15, A Night at the Opera — Gala Holiday Concert. Kohl Mansion, 2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame. $15-$48. $60 for gala. 650-762-1130 or www.musicatkohl.org/tickets. Audra McDonald, soprano. 7 :30 p.m. Jan. 17. Show tunes, movie songs and original pieces. Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford University. Tickets available to Bing members. General sales to begin in early December. http://live.stanford.edu.