Computer History Museum taps Microsoft’s Lewin as new CEO

Dan’l Lewin, who has an extensive history of his own in Silicon Valley, will bring his talents to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View as its new president and CEO. “For me, this opportunity represents a dream come true,” said Lewin, who most recently spent 17 years at Microsoft and was recruited by Steve Jobs to work at Apple and NeXT. “There is no better place and time to be helping shape the conversation about how computing will impact our world in the years to come.”

The Computer History Museum, which has been around in some form for the past four decades, is best known as a repository of significant artifacts from the history of computing. It also looks at the way computers impact society through speaker series and other events and honors the heroes — both well-known and unsung — in the history of computing and technology.

Lewin takes over for John Hollar, who stepped down next year, and is expected to lead the Computer History Museum through an expansion into new areas, including the Exponential Center — which is dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation — and the Center for Software History. That certainly sounds like the museum will be keeping its eyes on the future as much as the past.

LUNAR NEW YEAR FEST RETURNS TO HAKONE >>

Hakone Gardens in Saratoga is set to celebrate the Year of the Dog with its 10th annual Lunar New Year Festival on March 4. The festivities at the Japanese garden, which run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include a children’s costume parade, dragon and lion dances, a martial arts demonstration and a traditional Chinese facemask-changing act, a dramatic art from Sichuan opera known as the “Bian lian.”

“As seen in the movie ‘King of Masks,’ this ancient art is incredibly

intricate and is truly magical for those who have the rare opportunity to see it done by a master,” said Hakone Executive Diretor Shozo Kagoshima. The event is included with admission, which is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and free for kids 5 and under. Since parking at Hakone is limited, a shuttle bus is available from 14460 Big Basin Way, in front of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce.

ARTISTIC PUPS ON DISPLAY >> Artist and art teacher Charlotte Kruk collaborated with her students to create more than 60 renditions of dogs to commemorate the Lunar New Year for her installation “How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?” Now, for such an installation, you need a good display window, and Deb Rohzen was more than happy to provide one at her Simply Smashing boutique in downtown Campbell.

The full display — which went up in mid February — is an east meets west mashup, with elements for both the Year of the Dog and St. Valentine’s Day. A “meet the artist” soiree will take place at the boutique at 241 E. Campbell Ave. on March 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CINEQUEST CONNECTION >> Not surprisingly, there was a mob of people waiting to see William H. Macy at the after-party for Cinequest, which opened Tuesday night with the Macy-directed film “Krystal.” There was a lot of positive buzz about the coming-of-age dramedy — which stars Rosario Dawson and features Macy and his wife, Felicity Huffman, in supporting roles — at the festivities at Farmers Union and Sushi Confidential in downtown San Jose.

But one couple — Julie Lieberman Neale and her husband, Chris Neale — actually got to sit and nosh with Macy and Rachel Winter, the producer of “Krystal” and “Dallas Buyers Club,” at Farmers Union. Winter and Julie Neale, a life and leadership coach who founded Mother’s Quest, have been friends since they were five growing up in the San Fernando Valley.