February 28, 2008

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC

March 9
The San Jose Chamber Orchestra presents “Music for strings by Corigliano, Schnittke and Nielsen” at Le Petit Trianon, 72 North 5th Street in San Jose. Eric Kujawsky is the featured guest conductor. Tickets are $30 - 45 and can be purchased by calling (408)295-4416 or visit  www.sjco.org.

March 15
The San Jose Youth Symphony (SJYS) Philharmonic Orchestra Spring Classic: SJYS, under the artistic leadership of Maestro Yair Samet, announces its second concert of the season, “Spring Classic”, held at 2:30 p.m. at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in San Jose. This performance will feature two outstanding young musicians and winners of the San Jose Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition (YAC) – clarinetist Joseph T. Morris performing Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor and, pianist Angela Hwang performing Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 43. Advance tickets are available at http://www.sjys.org/concerts/tickets.html or at the box office before the concert. Admission is $15/Adults, $10/Students and Seniors, and $5 for children under 13. For further information, call 885-9220 or sjys@sjys.org.

THEATER

Feb. 6 – March 2
In honor of its 25th Anniversary Season, San Jose Stage Company presents a revival production of David Mamet's masterpiece, “Glengarry Glen Ross”. Mamet’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play sparkles with the rough but lyrical dialogue and universal themes that still resonate with today’s audiences. All performances will be staged at The Stage, 490 South First Street, San Jose. For tickets and additional information, visit www.sanjosestage.com

Feb. 27 – March 9
Cinequest Film Festival returns to San Jose! The Cinequest Film Festival is a discovery festival of films and technology forums that was recently named the Top 10 festival in the world by the Ultimate film Festival Survival Guide. This year’s event features a number of Maverick Spirit events featuring presentations at San Jose’s California Theater by such acclaimed artists as Danny Glover, Michael Keaton, John Leguizamo. For more event information, visit www.cinequest.org or call 295-3378. Ticket prices vary by event.

Ongoing
The Tabard Theatre Company announces auditions for “Pandemonium,” a world premiere production based on the story of Pandora’s Box, written and directed by Susannah Greenwood. All auditions are by appointment only beginning Feb. 2. No preparation is necessary, as auditions will consist of cold reading from the script and improv and/or movement, depending on the role. Rehearsals begin mid-March, 2008 and Performances run April 24 - May 10 with matinees on weekends and school shows at 11am on April 24 and May 8 at The Theatre on San Pedro Square, Downtown San Jose. The tabard is looking for a fun group of people from a diverse background of ethnicity, age, and theatre experience, with a willingness to explore these characters and authentically represent them from a cultural perspective. For more information or to make an audition appointment, contact Cathy Cassetta at 408-979-0231 or cathy@tabardtheatre.org. For additional information about Tabard, please visit http://www.tabardtheatre.org. Audition packets will be e-mailed the week before auditions. Packets will include audition location and directions.

DANCE

March 15
Elements Dance Company Auditions: E.D.C. provides specialized training in Hip-Hop and Break Dance Styles as well as competition skills/performance Strength. Audition time for Junior and Teen teams (ages 11 years and older) is 10 a.m. – noon. Classes are available for children 5 – 10 years beginning March 29 from 9 – 10 a.m. No audition is required for these classes. Location is Nancy Doize School of Dance, 3001 Ross Avenue in San Jose. For more information, call Alisha Simms at 623-2163 or missalisha@hotmail.com

ART

Feb. 28
Mexican Heritage Plaza (MHP) presents Mi Coche / My Culture---Livin’ the Lowrider Lifestyle - an exhibition representing the diversity and heritage of South Bay culture.  This is a unique visual arts exhibition that will encompass the art, design, and the Chicano subclture of lowrider automobiles from their origins in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  This exhibit is sponsored in part by The Castellano Family Foundation. The exhibition at The Plaza is open to the public with free admission.  La Galería is open Monday through Fridays noon to 5 p.m. Weekends and after-hours are by appointment.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

Feb. 27 – March 2
Celebrate the power of wishes with your favorite Disney princesses at the HP Pavilion. “Princess Wishes” is the latest Disney On Ice production to captivate audiences through artistic skating, high-energy music and glittering set design. With Tinkerbell as their guide, guests will join Disney favorites Jasmine, Belle, Cinderella, Snow White Ariel, Mulan and Sleeping Beauty as each has their fondest wish granted and dream come true. In the words of Cinderella “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” Tickets are $16 - $65 and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information and show times, visit www.disneyonice.com.

Feb. 28 – March 2
CMT Rising Stars presents “School House Rock Live!” A pop culture phenomenon comes to the musical stage! The Emmy-Award winning 1970’s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever, tuneful songs lights up the stage instructing a whole new generation to “Unlock Your Adjectives” and “Do the Circulations.” “School House Rock Live!” promises to win audiences over with imagination and music using beloved “School House Rock” songs including “Just a Bill,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly,” and “Conjunction Junction.” All performances staged at the Montgomery Theater. For more information, call 288-5437 or visit www.cmtsj.org

Feb. 29
Plant a Pizza! When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie, that’s AMORE! What makes pizza taste so good? Freshly grown ingredients, of course! Participants aged 5 – 10 years can join Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens from 3:30 – 5 p.m. as we learn about where those yummy ingredients come from. Plant basil, oregano, tomatoes and wheat to take home for your very own pizza herb garden. Grind wheat and sample fresh ingredients as we make mini pizzas for a delicious afternoon snack. Mmmm…after school class has never tasted so good! All workshops take place at 438 Coleman Ave, San Jose. Fees are $8/members, $15/non-members and pre-registration is required. To register, call 298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org to learn more. Parents need not be present during the workshop.

March 8
Celebrate Persian New Year! Celebrate Norouz (Persian New Year) from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Vineland Branch library as we feature the festive Norouz holiday. There will be a Norouz song by a children's group, Ballet Afsaneh dance program with audience participation and Master Nejad and the Nejad Youth Orchestra. There will also be a children's parade, various holiday crafts and more. This event is co-sponsored by the Cambrian, Almaden and Vineland Branch Libraries with the generous support of the various Friends’ organizations at each library. This event will be held in Almaden's large community room.

March 8
The Children’s Discovery Museum presents The Brian Waite Band performing at 1 and 2:30 p.m. as part of its “Green Week” festivities. Come dance, learn and laugh with the trio that has rocked its way into the hearts of both kids and parents around the world, as they lead a musical adventure to Earth's past and future. For more information on this and other “Green Week” activities, visit www.cdm.org/new after March 1

CLASSES

March 2
Mandarin Chinese Language classes: CSL, Mandarin Chinese as Second Language courses, will be offered every Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m., beginning on March 2. The curriculum includes four 10-week quarters.  Come and learn to speak, read, and write conversational Chinese. You'll learn Chinese pinyin (basic pronunciation) and simple Chinese sentence structures.  Learn from a native speaker who speaks perfect Beijing Mandarin.  Make new friends. Stand out from the crowd.  Build better relationships and be prepared before your travel aboard. A free informational session is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Feb. 24.  Lunch will be provided at 1pm.  The free session will be held at 5150 Camden Avenue, San Jose, 95124.  For more information, call 979-1257 or visit www.friendshipagape.com/csl.

March 15
Soil Science Course: The Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens host a special 2-hour course with Brian Debasitis, founder of Mauby All Natural and soil consultant to the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden. This workshop, held from 1 a.m. to noon, will define what soil is, identify its major components, review common soil problems and explain how they affect your garden. Take a look at soil through a microscope to see the differences between healthy and unhealthy soils. Bring in your own soil samples to view under the microscope and get some expert advice on the best course of action to correct any problems. You will not only improve the health of your soil, but you will also improve the health of your lawn, garden and trees. At the same time, you’ll be helping clean up our air and water, chemical free!All classes take place at the Visitor & Education Center located at 438 Coleman Ave. in San Jose. Fees are $10/members, $15/non-members. Pre-registration is required. To register call 298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org to lean more.

Ongoing
The Committee to Promote Square Dancing is sponsoring a square dance refresher class for experienced dancers: Fees are $2.50/seniors and youth, $5/adults.  Classes meet Tuesdays, 6:30-9 p.m. in the Camden Community Center Multipurpose Room, 3369 Union Avenue, San Jose, 95124. For more information, call 723-0315.

FIFTY-PLUS

March 8
SeniorNet, computer classes for adults 50 and over will hold registration for computer classes at the Almaden Community Center located at 6445 Camden Avenue. Registration for intermediate courses begins at 10:30 a.m. Registration for Computer Fundamentals at noon. Please note time changes. Courses include Basic Digital Photography, Basic Digital Photo Editing, Greeting Cards, Windows XP, File Management and Computer Tips and Techniques. All classes will be held at the Almaden Community Center. For more information call Don House at (408)268-1703 or visit www.snlcsj.org.

MISCELLANEOUS

Feb. 26 – May 20
Divorce Recovery Workshops & Divorce Care 4 Kids: Calvary Church in Los Gatos is offering a Tuesday evening Divorce Recovery Workshop from 7 – 8:30 p.m. These sessions are here to help you heal from divorce and begin again. Learn why relationships go wrong, how to manage conflict, heal emotionally, and grow healthy relationships. Anyone who is divorced, separated or hurting from a major, non-marriage relationship break-up is welcome to attend. DivorceCare4Kids (ages 5-12) is also available to help your children deal with the unique issues they face in a divorce. Cost is $20 for the adult program. DivorceCare4Kids is $20 for one child and $30 for two or more children. For more information, visit our website at www.calvarylg.com/divorcerecovery or call the church office at 408.356.5126.

March 1
The Leland High School Blue and Gold Auction at the San Jose Marriott:  This community-wide fundraising event will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight with proceeds benefiting LHS technology, sports and facilities upgrades. Enjoy an evening of silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing.  The auction items include vacation packages, spa and special event packages and wonderful hand-picked items. Check out the website for a more complete listing of auction items.   To download a ticket reservation form or to find out more information about the auction, go to www.lelandblueandgold.com.  Reserve your tickets now and help Leland High School fulfill the wishes of the staff, students and parents.

March 1 – May 17
Spring Walking Series at Guadalupe River Park & Gardens: Start the New Year out right by registering for a structured walking series from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. with Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. Step after step, you’ll become healthier through these group walks that will take place on the beautiful paved trails of the Guadalupe River Park. Whether you are an avid walker or new to a walking program, you will learn about proper equipment, walking technique, stretching and beneficial strength exercises for walkers while meeting others who enjoy walking. Fees are $50/members, $60/non-members. All participants must be 18 years or older. All classes will meet at 438 Coleman Ave, San Jose. Pre-registration is required. To register, call (408) 298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org to learn more.

March 7 - 9
Outrageous Outgrowns at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds: SCCF Pavilion Hall, 344 Tully Road in San Jose will host the Spring 2008 Outrageous Outgrowns event - the Bay Area's largest resale event for babies and kids of all ages (maternity and nursing, too!). All items are gently used and sold by individual families, but they are organized like a huge store, so you can easily find exactly what you need. All items are hand-checked for top quality. This is not a rummage sale! Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and parking is free. For more information, visit http://www.OutrageousOutgrowns.com or call 391-5909.

March 8
The second annual District 10 free recycling event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Almaden Community Center, 6445 Camden Avenue in San Jose.  This event is sponsored by The Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley, District 10 neighborhood associations and Councilwoman Nancy Pyle. All computer and electronic equipment will be accepted, including: desktops, laptops, monitors, televisions, printers, copy and fax machines, stereos, DVD players and telephones. For more information, call Steve Ramona at 943-9943

Ongoing
February is Spay/Neuter month: The Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) and participating local veterinarians are offering 50 percent discounts on all spay/neuter surgeries during the month of February. This program is designed to encourage the public to sterilize their pets to prevent unwanted litters and overpopulation. Throughout the month, female cat spays are $62.50 and male cat neuters are just $37.50. Spay/neuter surgeries for dogs are priced by the animal’s weight and sex and range from $57.50 for a male dog under 30 pounds to $92.50 for a female dog weighing between 76 and 99 pounds. Prices include a brief pre-op exam, pre-anesthetic, anesthetic, spay/neuter surgery and hospitalization on the day of surgery. There are additional charges for animals in-heat, pregnant, cryptorchid and/or obese and all animals must be current on all vaccinations. For more information, visit www.hssv.org. Appointments can call 727-3383, ext. 828.

Come join The Humane Society Silicon Valley for our weekly “Meet and Treat!” every Wednesday at HSSV, 2530 Lafayette Street, in Santa Clara. from 5 – 7 p.m. Not sure about adopting just yet? Come down and visit with animal guests outside their kennels. Play with canine companions throughout the shelter, or experience cuddly cats in your lap. And of course we have our adorable rabbits too. We will have tasty treats for people as well. For more information, call 727-3383 or visit www.hssv.org. Coffee and donuts for early bird shoppers. For more information, visit www.aplhazetaevents.com or call 761-6913.

MOMS Club of San Jose - Blossom Hill/Santa Teresa chapter: We are a playgroup that meets a few times per week for many fun, social activities. Our website is www.bayareamoms.org, Contact Victoria Meline for more information 888-5838.

The Almaden Valley Al-Anon Family Groups meet every Friday from 10to 11:45 a.m. and on Sundays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit Church, 1198 Redmond Avenue, San Jose. Al-Anon helps families and friends learn what they can do about excessive drinking, alcoholism and its effects on the entire family. Meetings do not require appointments. There is no charge for attendance. For more information, call 379-1051 or visit the web site at http://www.ncwsa.org/scvafg/

12-Step Christian Program - Celebrate Recovery! Program held every Monday night at 7 p.m. at Generations Foursquare Church, 133 Bernal Road in San Jose. For more information, call 504-7687 or visit celebraterecovery@generationsfoursquare.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.