January 25, 2007

Calendar of local events

Unless otherwise noted all phone numbers are in the 408 area code.

THEATER

January 26 – February 10
Renegade Theater Experiment presents Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” at the historic Hoover Theater in San Jose. Penned by Shakespeare at just 26 years of age, “Titus Andronicus” is often thought of as his "Tarantino" play - -a youthful, populist gore-fest delighting in shock value. But it also remains a searing tragedy of the wages of sin. Join RTE for a startling modern-dress production of Shakespeare's darkest and goriest play as you have never seen it before! Tickets are $18.00 General Admission (Thursdays and Sundays) and $20.00 General Admission (Fridays and Saturdays). Students and teachers, seniors, and Theatre Bay Area members qualify for discount tickets ($13.00 Thu/Sun & $15.00 Fri/Sat) with valid ID. Tickets and season subscriptions are on sale at www.renegadetheatre.com.

January 31 – Wednesday
At San Jose’s Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock in San Jose, live performance art meets silent cinema in the West Coast Premier, El Automóvil Gris. El Automóvil Gris is a unique interpretation of the 1919 Mexican silent movie classic of the same name, by Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes, directed by Claudio Valdés, from Mexico City.  Using the Japanese Benshi-style of narrating silent films, this brilliantly entertaining theater company is a roller coaster ride of entertainment and artistry---multilingual subtitles, multi-media performance and multitalented actors. A perfect blend of entertainment and history, El Automóvil Gris ( The Grey Automobile), is based on the real-life bandits of The Grey Automobile Gang from Mexico City who robbed the homes of the wealthy.  The movie follows the gang, and films actual locations, giving it a documentary feel. The film is known for its shocking footage of the actual execution of the gang. Performance showings will be at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $10 adults, $5 seniors. There will be a special student showing at 10 a.m. on January 31 (recommended high school and above), tickets are $2 each, 1 adult chaperone per 10 students free, additional adults $5. For information or to purchase tickets, call 928-5563

CHILDREN/FAMILY

January 27 – Saturday
“To Kids from Kids” at the Montgomery Theater – This annual musical event showcases local young performers collaborating to bring hope to the disadvantaged children in Vietnam. The concert includes violinists, piano ensembles, traditional Vietnamese instruments, folkloric dances and songs. This year, all proceeds will go toward building schools in Dong Thap, Vietnam where children are at high risk of being trafficked. Admission: $15 - $50. For more information, call 225-0405 or visit www.acwp.org

January 27 - Saturday
California Theatre Center (CTC) presents a lively stage adaptation of Beverly Cleary’s Newberry Award-winning story, “Dear Mr. Henshaw”, adapted for the stage and directed by CTC General Director, Gayle Cornelison. Many people have pen pals, but not very many people have pen pals who are famous authors!  Leigh Botts, an 11-year-old boy from California, has been writing letters to the well-known children¹s author Boyd Henshaw since the second grade. Mr. Henshaw encourages Leigh to keep a personal journal as a way to deal with all of the changes in his life, including his parents’ divorce. Along the way, Leigh also discovers his own strengths as a writer, and explores his own personal strengths and creative capabilities throughout the story.  By the end, Leigh has improved his relationship with his parents, done better in school, and has grown smarter and wiser through his correspondence with Mr. Henshaw. Dear Mr. Henshaw plays at 11 a.m. and at 7:30 p.m. at the Sunnyvale Theatre, Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 East Remington Drive. Tickets are $11 in advance/$12 at the door. Call 245-2978 for reservations. For more information, visit www.ctcinc.org.

January 27 – Saturday
Almaden Country School will have their first Open House from 10 am to noon.  The Open House will be a chance for all families to come visit our preschool through 8th grade school, talk to teachers, and have a personal tour by an Almaden Country School Middle School student. Come learn more about how the school helps discover the gifts in every child through a rigorous curriculum and broad enrichment classes including science, drama, French, art, PE and music.  Almaden Country School is celebrating 25 years in the Almaden Valley and we welcome you to come learn more about our school community as we look ahead to our next 25 years.  Call 997-0424 for more information.

January 27 – 28
1st Annual Arlen Ness Bike Show & Parts Expo: Held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, this show will be like no other you have ever attended. Arlen & Cory Ness invites you to be part of history for the ultimate California bike show with incredible bikes, great vendors, displays and fun. Meet some of the biggest names in custom bike building, so mark your calendars! Admission: $7-15. For more information, visit www.arlennessbikeshow.com

January 27 -28
Have you noticed the fun fresh faces popping up at Children’s Discovery Museum? They are our newest friends, and they really know how to “Kick Start Eat Smart!” Based on healthy fruits and vegetables, each has a captivating personality all their own. Julienne was first on the scene at last summer’s Kick Start Eat Smart weekend. She’s tall, orange, and her green hair blows in the breeze as she runs along. Can you guess what she is? During the fall, we introduced Bart. He’s curvy, wears a ball cap and is oh, so sweet! Can you guess what fruit or vegetable character that might be next? Or better yet, come meet them for yourself at the Museum during the Kick Start Eat Smart weekend, or online at www.cdm.org/kickstart! Kick Start, Eat Smart hours are 1/27 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 1/28 from noon – 5 p.m. Kick Start Eat Smart is a partnership between Kaiser Permanente and San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum.

Ongoing
Exchanged old cell phones for passes to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo: Now through February 28, bring in your old cell phones to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo and they will give you one free admission pass in exchange.  One cell phone = one free pass. Cell Phones can be dropped off daily from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in exchange for the passes, or can be mailed to: Happy Hollow - Cell Phone Recycle Program 1300 Senter Road, San Jose, CA  95112 Tax receipts are available upon request. Limit 2 passes per person. 100% of funds raised through the program are donated to the Orangutan Conservancy, protecting one of the most critically endangered species on Earth. For more information, call 277-3065 or visit www.hhpz.org

CLASSES

January 28 – Sunday
Youth Indoor Model Airplane Building and Flying Class.  Kids 10 or older, learn to build, adjust and fly light weight, free flying, indoor model airplanes under the supervision of experts.  This is the first step toward competing in local, national and international contests, science projects or just fun flying.  Eight sessions, 4-6 p.m., in the Moreland Community Center Gym, 1850 Fallbrook Ave. in San Jose.  For information call Lou Young, 252-2145.

Ongoing
"Hands On Clay" classes in Almaden is accepting students for Winter 2007. Come create unique pieces that will surely impress your family and friends! The fee for these small classes (4 students) includes instructions, materials, use of tools, and kiln firings. The adult classes are held on Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. in Avideh Yaghmai-Samardar's Little Falls Drive art studio and gallery. For information or to register call 679-0238 or e-mail avidehzworld@ yahoo.com. 

FIFTY PLUS

Ongoing
AARP Information Center needs volunteers to staff their office. Duties include helping seniors find various services and programs, and providing information on senior needs. The office is located at 840 Willow Street, Suite 300, at the corner of Bird and Willow Streets on bus route #25. The hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 278-1855.

VOLUNTEERS

Kaiser Permanente San Jose is seeking volunteers who want to make a positive difference in someone's day. Your ability to be proactive in approaching our members and attentive in helping our visitors and members will make you a valued and key member of our healthcare community. Become a Volunteer at our medical center and start sharing your interest in helping others. We currently have day, evening, and weekend opportunities available for those 18 and over. For more information, all 972-6233 or www.kpsanjose.org

MISCELLANEOUS

December 26 – February 2
San Jose residents can set their Christmas trees out for curbside recycling collection by the City of San Jose. Natural and flocked (frosted) trees will be collected on the same day as garbage and recycling at single-family homes. Tree collection is done at no additional charge, but residents must remove tinsel, decorations, and the tree stand. Trees also must be cut into five-foot lengths and placed in the street about a foot from the curb - this keeps from obstructing the flow of storm water down the gutters. Residents in apartments and other multi-family complexes should check with their building management for proper set-out instructions. Otherwise, the same rules apply such as removing tinsel and decorations.

January 27 – Saturday
Stanford Blood Drive at the PW Supermarket parking lot, 6938 Almaden Expwy at Via Valiente. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sponsored by Margaret Guerrettaz of Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

January 26, 28 & 31
The Divine Science Community Center, 1540 Hicks Avenue in San Jose, will be screening the spiritually-oriented documentary “2012 the Odyssey” a 2006 movie based on the Mayan Calendar featuring noted experts discussing how mankind can impact the world today. Showtimes are 1/26 at 8 p.m. 1/28 at 1 p.m. and 1/31 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. For more information call 293-3838.

February 3 – Saturday
“Six Degrees of Celebration,” the 16th Annual Gala Benefit for the Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose will be held at Villa Ragusa, 35 S. Second Street in Campbell from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets include live performance, dinner, and dancing to the music of Silicon Valley Houserockers, plus both silent and live auctions. Individual tickets are $150, Table sponsorships are $2,000 Black tie optional. For tickets call the Event Line at 288-5437 or email events@cmtsj.org.

February 3 – Saturday
Leigh High School Crab Fest 2007. Come on out to the Longhorn “Crab Shack” and help support the LHS Instrumental Music Program. Hours are 6 – 9 p.m. in the Leigh Cafeteria, 5210 Leigh Avenue, San Jose. Just $37.50 buys you all the fresh cracked Dungeness crab you can eat, or our mouth-watering 7 herb roasted chicken. Admission includes live jazz entertainment, a silent auction, door prizes and raffle. For more information, contact Eric or Jorey at 266-4670.

Humane Society Silicon Valley Companion Animal Loss Support Group Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Location: Humane Society Silicon Valley, 2530 Lafayette St., Santa Clara. Facilitator: Adam Dorsay, M.A. For more information, call 450-1800 or visit: www.hssv.org and click on Services and then Pet Loss. Meetings are free and open to the public.

HAVE AN ITEM FOR OUR CALENDAR?
We are seeking calendar items pertaining to the south bay communities we cover in our seven monthly community newspapers: Blossom Valley, Cambrian, Campbell, Evergreen, Santa Teresa, Willow Glen, Fifty Plus, and our weekly publication, Almaden Times Weekly. Items must be submitted by email or fax several weeks before the event. Send an email to candy@timesmediainc.com or fax to Candy Richter at 494-7078. Photos should be sent digitally as jpegs or mailed to Calendar, Times Newspapers, 1310 Tully Road, Ste. 107, San Jose, CA 95122. Due to the large volume of items received calendar requests left on voice mail cannot be used. Space is limited.