February 5, 2009

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC

Feb. 7 - 22
San Jose brings Mozart’s comedic Cosi Fan Tutte to the California Theater for eight performances. Filled with irony and observation, Cosi Fan Tutte – “so do they all” casts all women from the same weak-willed mold when it comes to resisting temptation. Mozart even put his own wife in this category, though he himself was far from faithful. It is the story of two smug, young officers who accept a bet from a skeptical, old bachelor to test their girlfriends’ faithfulness. It is this element of cynicism pitted against naiveté that gives this comic gem its serious edge. In Italian with English Supertitles. Conductors are David Rohrbaugh and Anthony Quartuccio. Tickets are $69, $81, and $91 (includes city facility usage fee) from Opera San José Box Office, 2149 Paragon Dr., San José, CA 95131; or call 408-437-4450; 408-437-4455 fax; Visit www.operasj.org for additional information and performance times.

The South Bay Guitar Society presents Marcin Dylla at Le Petit Trianon, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. Awarded first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Competition, Polish born Dylla wiLl be performing an ambitious program including works by Ponce, Giulani, Maw and Rodrigo. Tickets are $20 reserved, $15 unassigned. To order online, visit www.sbgs.org or call 292-0704. For performer biography and sound samples, visit ww.marcindylla.com. Photo courtesy South Bay Guitar Society.

Feb. 13 – 14
Singing Valentines by the Voices in Harmony: Give your loved one a unique gift this holiday with a Singing Valentine from the world-renowned Voices in Harmony. With packages including long stem roses, a personalized card, and a 2 song serenade, they’ll remember this Valentines Day forever. Packages range from $20 - $200 and are “delivered” from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call Kevin at (858) 722-4084

Feb 13 - 14
Bay Area Showcase Chorus offers Singing Valentines: Running from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days, in-person deliveries will be available throughout Santa Clara, San Mateo counties and Tri-City areas, and phone “deliveries” will be made anywhere. Our performers are a special Valentine’s Quartet or Double Quartet. Cost is $15 - $30. To schedule your singing valentine, phone 973-1555 or for more information visit: http://www.singharmony.org/valentines2009

THEATER

Jan. 23 – Feb. 14
The Tabard Theatre Company presents The Little Prince at Theater on San Pedro Square: This whimsical adaptation of Antoine de Saint Exupery’s delightful novel speaks to the child in everyone. Directed by Andrew Ceglio, The Little Prince marks the third production of the Tabard’s 2008-2009 season. For a special treat, join cast and staff for an opening night reception following the performance. Scrumptious dessert offerings are donated by Charlie’s Cheesecake Works, a Tabard Community Partner. Show times are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Visit http://www.tabardtheatre.org for special school performances and other information. Tickets are $22 general and $10 for children 17 years and younger. Senior & adult student discounts are available. Reservations are strongly recommended by calling the box office at 679-2330.

Jan. 31 – Feb 21
The Saratoga Drama Group presents “The Will Rogers Follies” at the Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue in Saratoga. This highly entertaining musical brings to life the folksy wisdom and humor that characterized American legend Will Rogers. From his humble beginnings in Oklahoma to worldwide media fame, The Will Rogers Follies is a true crowd pleaser. Tickets are $20 – 27, and may be ordered by calling 266-4734. For more information, visit www.saratogadramagroup.com

CLASSES

Feb. 7
Successful Backyard Birdhouses: Do you wonder why some people always seem to have baby birds in their yards? Where and how you mount the bird boxes and which boxes attract your local birds is critical to your success. Join Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens and Mike Azevedo, County Coordinator for Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society’s Cavity Nester Recovery Program for tips on attracting birds to nest boxes in your neighborhood. Learn which local birds use nest boxes, what areas of the city these birds call home and where those birds like their nest boxes to be placed. You can also help restore the cavity nesting bird population that has been declining with the Audubon Society’s program to put up and monitor nest boxes at parks, cemeteries and other open spaces. This workshop, sponsored by the Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens will be held at the GRP& G Visitor & Education Center, 438 Coleman Avenue in San Jose. Pre-registration is required by calling (408) 298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org to learn more. Hours are 10 a.m. – noon, fees are $10/members, $15/non-members

Feb. 9
Learn how to Prune Ornamental Shrubs & Trees: This free Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) World Garden Workshop will be held at the Erikson Adult Center, 4849 Pearl Ave, San Jose from 10 a.m. to noon. Master Gardener Sue Bell will teach gardeners of all skill levels how to prune and maintain ornamental shrubs and trees. To register for the workshop, call 723-6450 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and ask to have your name added to the February World Garden Workshop list, or email your name and phone number to ritab@metroed.net. Sign-up early, as space is limited.

Ongoing
Ceramics Classes in Almaden. Ever wished you could make a ceramics piece of your own from start to finish to show off to family and friends? Hands On Clay classes for adults is now accepting new students. These small classes are held on Wednesday mornings 9-10:30 a.m., and Thursday evenings 7-8:30 p.m. in the artist’s studio in Almaden. The materials, kiln firings, use of tools and glazes are included, so just come on down! All levels are welcome. For more information call 679-0238.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

Feb. 21
The San Jose Holiday Parade announces its 4th Annual Santa “Claws” Crab Feed fundraiser. Join us at the Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Avenue in San Jose, from 6 – 10 p.m. for all-you-can-eat chilled, cracked Dungeness crab, seafood chipino, peel and eat shrimp, green salad, Italian sausage and peppers, three types of pasta, garlic bread, pizza and beverages. Cost is $50 per person or $450 for a table of 10. All proceeds go towards the San Jose Holiday Parade, which will be held on Dec. 6, 2009. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Edwin Cortez at 794-6204 or visit www.sanjoseholidayparade.com.

FIFTY-PLUS

Welcome Wagon Chapter #3: Women’s Social Group with activities that include Golf, Tennis, Hiking, Bridge, Canasta, Pinochle, Luncheons, Movies, Antiques, Book Club, etc. For more information, please email Gail: gailmagg@aol.com Or call Veronika (408) 559-3734

VOLUNTEERS

Feb. 10
Join Ace Hardware in “New Faces for Helpful Places” renovation program: Ace Hardware stores in the San Jose area, along with Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man,” Lou Manfredini, will be giving San Jose’s Santa Maria Urban Ministry a $10,000 renovation through our “New Faces for Helpful Places” program. Please join our team of volunteers at 9:00 am to help give this deserving organization the makeover it needs to continue to help San Jose’s inner city community. Location: 778 South Almaden, San Jose, CA 95110-2919.  Please contact or visit your local Ace Hardware store with any questions or for more information.

Good Sam Gift Shop Volunteers Needed: The Auxiliary of Good Samaritan Hospital invites you to join our team of dedicated volunteers and have fun while serving your community.  Our gift shop service is looking for enthusiastic and customer service oriented volunteers to help in both the shop and the stockroom.  A minimum commitment of four hours per week is expected.  No retail experience is necessary.  Please call the Auxiliary office (408) 559-2345 to have an application packet sent to you and to sign up for a one-hour information meeting.  Applications are also available at the Good Sam web site:  goodsamsanjose.com.” 

MISCELLANEOUS

Feb. 7
Leigh High School “Crab Feed 2009!” Held at LHS, 5210 Leigh Avenue from 6 – 9 p.m. All proceeds benefit Leigh’s Music and Arts programs. Early Bird Ticket prices are $37.50 or $42 after Feb. 1. To purchase online visit www.leighband.org or call 266-0328.

Feb. 21
Free eWaste Recycling sponsored by the Almaden Valley Kiwanis Club: Drop off will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill Road (right by the Office Max).  Now is the time to get rid of your old TVs, PDAs, computers, monitors, printers, copy and fax machines and other electronic items.  Check the website at www.greenmouse.com.for a complete list of what we accept.  Help support the kids and families in our community. For more information please email us at info@almadenvalleykiwanis.org.

Feb. 22
Leland HS Bridge Parents Group will be hosting its 8th annual Leland Bridge Night in the Leland High School cafeteria. It is a major fundraising effort by the Leland Chinese parents. More than 300 guests attended last year’s event, and over $10,000 was raised/donated to Leland for various projects. Please come and experience an exciting evening filled with delicious food, fabulous entertainment including traditional Chinese musical instruments, singing and dances. This year’s program will start at 5 p.m. For tickets ($25) and inquiries, please contact Winnie Jaw, President of Leland Bridge, via email at: winniej4u@yahoo.com, or visit www.lelandbridge.org for more information.

Feb. 28
Birding Along the Guadalupe! Grab your binoculars and walking shoes for an 8:30 – 10 a.m. bird walk in the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. Hawks, kestrels, egrets and woodpeckers are just some of the feathered varieties we may see along the way. Leaders Janna Pauser and Phyllis Swanson have been birding for years, are very active in Santa Clara County Audubon Society and the local birding community. We’ll have spotting scopes - you just need to bring your own binoculars to see the amazing variety of birds just adjacent to downtown San Jose! Non/member fee is $5, free to members. Pre-registration is required so call (408) 298-7657 to reserve your spot today or visit www.grpg.org to learn more.

Ongoing
Marine Corps League: We meet the third Saturday of every month at 9 a.m. in various locations around the County in aid of former Marines and their families. We are a family member organization with youngsters and mothers, brothers and sisters and other relatives and friends of Marines as members and associate members. For more information, phone PR Officer Dick Whitaker, MCL Detachment #1122 Santa Clara County at 219-3024 or visit the MCL website at http://www.usmcleague.com/

Adopt a Rose for Valentine’s Day: With your donation of $50.00, Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens can help you select the perfect rose for adoption. Perhaps you will choose pink for grace, white for innocence, or red for that deep and undying love and respect you are feeling. We can also search our database of roses to see if your Valentine’s name matches one of our 3,900 historic roses. Your rose will be marked in the garden with an engraved plaque with your own personal inscription for one full year. To present your gift you will receive a beautiful Valentines box that includes a small box of decadent chocolates from Schurra’s Candy Factory, a large gourmet cookie from Café Too! at the San Jose Museum of Art, and two tickets for the Children’s Carousel at Arena Green. You will also receive a special gift card announcing your rose adoption. Gift packages will be available for pick-up, prior to Valentine’s Day, at the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center located at 438 Coleman Avenue. For more information about adopting a rose for your Valentine, call 408-298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org


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.