Stone Bridge School, a Waldorf-methods public school, holds its annual benefit party and auction “Extravaganza 2007: Mardi Gras!” Saturday at the Meritage Resort at Napa. Proceeds benefit Waldorf-methods education in Napa and offset costs associated with the school’s move into its permanent home on the Salvador Elementary School campus in the fall of 2007.

Tickets are $60 in advance and $75 at the door and may be purchased by calling 252-5522, e-mailing Elaine at qccrone@pacbell.net, or going on-line to www.stonebridgeschool.org. Patron tables of 10 are also available in advance for $750. The event runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Tickets at the door are subject to availability.

“Extravaganza 2007: Mardi Gras!” features sparkling wine, gourmet cuisine, silent and live auctions, games, prizes, music and dancing. Auction and prize items include stays at vacation homes in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, wine lots, getaways, a 50/50 cash raffle, dinner at the French Laundry, other dining experiences and handcrafted, Waldorf-inspired children’s items.

Stone Bridge School offers kindergarten through eighth grade and graduated its first eighth grade class at the end of the 2005-06 school year.

Artissimo Gallery in Napa is featuring works by photographer Peter Langham. His pigmented ink print landscapes will be on display for six weeks at the Redwood Plaza gallery, at 3373 Solano Ave.

“Hungry Planet: What the World Eats,” a photo essay documenting what people consume each week in different cultures around the globe, is on display at Copia through Oct. 31.

Photojournalist Peter Menzel, in collaboration with writer Faith D’Aluisio, traveled to 24 countries to capture 30 families in photos and words. From Mongolia to Egypt, from Guatemala to the U.S., the images and text put a human face on global diets, displaying each family’s weekly provisions along with their food-related environments.

Originally curated by Copia in 2005, “Hungry Planet” has just returned from a national tour, including a stop at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Ill. An abridged version of the exhibition will tour nationally through ExhibitsUSA beginning with Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding July through November.

The Hess Collection hosts a reception for Robilee Frederick’s new works, “Terra Incognita,” Saturday at the winery at 4411 Redwood Road. A reception takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. and discussions with the artist at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Space is limited; to attend call 255-1144, ext. 208.

Reawaken your writing muse: If sometimes it feels like you don’t have a creative bone in your body, if you need a jump start to spark your creativity, then a daylong writing retreat at the Carneros Inn might get the creative juices flowing and help you stay inspired. The retreat includes morning coffee and tea service, full lunch and a wine and cheese reception at the end of the day. The cost is $250. To register, call 1-866-848-2961.

A PBS special, which airs several times in March on KQED (channel 9) features Suze Orman, financial expert and New York Times bestselling author, introducing her new book, “Woman & Money,” at the Napa Valley Opera House. Orman shares her insights into the complicated, often dysfunctional relationship some women have with their money, and offers financial knowledge and emotional awareness to overcome the blocks that have kept them from making more out of the money they have. The first airing of “Women & Money” takes place Saturday at 7 a.m., noon and 10 p.m.