July 22, 2004

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC
July 8 – August 5
The Almaden Valley 2004 Summer Concert Series at Greystone Park will feature 5 weeks of top local entertainers at free public concerts beginning at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday. Opening the season will be “Sage,” on July 8, “Mystic Pilots” on July 15, “The Crew” on July 22, “The Hitmen” on July 29, and concluding with “Rock Hard” on August 5.

July 22 - 24
Britannia Arms Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expressway presents live music every weekend. This week features “Roshambo” on July 22, “Drive” on July 23, and “The Gents” on July 24 For more information, and performance times, call 266-0550 or visit www.britanniaarms.com.

July 23 - 25
Almaden Feed and Fuel, 18950 Almaden Road, presents live music every Friday through Sunday. This week’s entertainment features “Bonedrivers” on July 23, “Katmandudes” on July 24, and “Bill Ireton” on July 25. For more information and performance times call 268-8950.

ART
July 25 – October 11
Tokyo-based Artist, Yoshitomo Nara’s: Nothing Ever Happens will open at the San Jose Museum Of Art in downtown. This will be Nara’s first major solo museum exhibit in the united States and is accompanied by a 96-page catalogue with essays by pop icons including Billie Joe Armstrong of “Green Day,” author Dave Eggers and Debby Harry of “Blondie.” Nara’s deceptively simple paintings, drawings and sculptures invite viewers to reconnect with the defiant spirit that comes with youthful optimism and the belief that someday we may change the world. For more information, visit www.SanJoseMuseumofArt.org or call recorded information at 294-2787.

LITERARY
July 24 – Saturday
The Shady Shakespeare Company presents “The 30 minute Hamlet” at Barnes and Nobel Almaden, 5353 Almanden Expressway.

July 26 – Monday
Barnes and Noble Almaden, 5353 Almaden Expressway hosts the “Soul Searching” Book Club at 7:30 p.m. This week’s title is “the Art of Meditation” by Joel S. Goldsmith. Join this book club on the last Monday of each month for additional discussions.

MEETINGS
July 23 – Tuesday
Business Leads Unlimited meets every Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. at Denny’s 1015 Blossom Hill Road. Please contact Richard at 378-2225 if you plan to attend.

July 23– Tuesday
Oakridge Century Theatres in association with Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroups presents CineMamas! A morning out to the movies for moms and their little ones. This group meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m., There are three showings to choose from, baby-safe sound levels, cheerios at the concession stand and a relaxing atmosphere with other moms who understand kids are kids! Check CineMamas.com for a weekly update on what is showing. Kids under 3 are free!

July 20 – Wednesday
South Valley Chapter of Leads Business Networking Group meets for lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no cost to attend. Call or email Renee to get location details. 210-7361 or rdaggett@adminbooks.com

Ongoing:
Las Madres Adoption Group is a wonderful support system for those who have gone through the adoption process and are looking to share the joys and challenges of parenting an adopted child. We have regular play dates for newborns-5 years old and monthly “mom’s night out”. For more information, contact Barb Griswold at barbgris@aol.com or call toll free 1-877-LasMadres.

HEALTH
Ongoing:
The New Almaden Community Center will be hosting a weekly yoga class on Mon/Wed/Fri. at 6 a.m. and on Tues/Thurs. at 7 a.m. Attendees should bring their own yoga mats, however, there are a limited number of pads available. For more information, contact Tara at 997-9383. Class fees are $6 each or $24 per week. Classes are appropriate for both beginner and intermediate levels.
Bay Area Alzheimer’s Association now includes meetings at Kaiser Hospital, Santa Teresa Kaiser, Bldg. 3, Conference rm. 2 5755 Cottle Road. For more information call 800-660-1993

FIFTY PLUS
July 24 – Saturday
SeniorNet, computer classes for adults 50 and over will hold course registration at all three SeniorNet centers in San Jose. In Almaden, registration will be at the Almaden Hills United Methodist Church, 1200 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, in the Fellowship Hall from 1:30 pm for intermediate students and from 3:00 pm for beginning students. All Almaden classes will be held at the Vineland Branch Public Library, 1540 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose. Other SeniorNet sites are Willow Senior Center,2175 Lincoln Ave. and Cypress Senior Center, 403 S. Cypress. For more information call Don House 268-1703.

Ongoing:
Spaces are still available in the following Almaden SeniorNet classes: Word 1, Digital Photography, Quicken, E-Mail A-Z, Internet/e-mail, Fine-tuning and Troubleshooting XP and Computer Fundamentals. All Almaden classes will be held at the Vineland Branch Public Library on 1540 Blossom Hill Road. The other SeniorNet sites are Willow Senior Center at 2175 Lincoln Avenue and Cypress Senior. Call Don House at 268-1703 for more information.
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.
The Geriatric Advisory Program is a service providing documented analysis, advice and resources to those caring for aging family members and is available through the Almaden Valley Counseling Service. Sliding scale fees available. 975-2988.

CHILDREN/FAMILY EVENTS
July 23 – Friday
The Third Annual Maxgames Vidoe Game Tournament brings the ultimate console video game tournament to the Tech Museum. Watch finalists on each platform battle it out in The Tech’s Giant Dome Theater. The cost to compete is $25 per person, per game. Tech Museum members play for only $15 per game. Competitors can register online via the Maxgames website at http://www.thetech.org/maxgames/. All entry fees go toward The Tech’s Annual Fund for Education.

July 23 – 25, 30 & August 1
All aboard for Thomas the Tank Engine, as the classic storybook friend rolls into Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton, CA for a Day Out With Thomas. This fun-filled family event offers preschoolers and their grownups the opportunity to take an approximately 25-minute ride, with Thomas the Tank Engine, take photos with Sir Topham Hat, attend Thomas and Friends storytelling and video viewing, ride ponies and much more. Thomas train rides depart every 25 minutes between 9 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. daily. Advance purchase is recommended by calling 866-468-7630 or by visiting www.ticketweb.co. For more information, call 813-335-4484 x120 or visit www.roaringcamprr.com Day Out With Thomas tickets are $14 each.

July 26-30 & August 9 - 13
Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens’ San Jose Safari Day Camp offers children a week of fun-filled activities as they “trek” through San Jose on an adventure of discovery at several of our city’s premier cultural institutions. The Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, in collaboration with History San Jose, Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose Museum of Art, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, and Don Edward’s San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge are presenting this unique summertime opportunity.
Campers will meet every day at 8:30 a.m. (Wednesdays at 8 a.m.) at the Guadalupe Garden Center, 715 Spring Street, to begin the day’s adventures. Campers will return to the Guadalupe Garden Center each day for 5 p.m. pick up. Three camp weeks will be available for children between the ages of 7 and 10, during the weeks of July 12, July 26, and August 9. The cost to attend is $225 per child, campers will need to provide their own bag lunch each day of the camp. Some partial scholarships may be available to qualified families. Space is limited! contact Education Coordinator Kary Wilson at education@grpg.org or 298-7657 for more information.

July 28 – Wednesday
Ann Pleshette Murphy, parenting editor on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and author of the soon-to-be-released “Seven Stages of Motherhood,” will be presenting a free seminar for families on inspiring and sustaining creativity in children at 1 p.m. at the Children’s Discovery Museum. Seating is limited, but for reservations call 298-5437.

July 29 – Thursday
Cold Stone Creamery, located in Westfield Oakridge Mall, will participate in the Third Annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Cake Social, held from 5 to 8 p.m. Over 700 Cold Stone Creamery locations nationwide will host this event benefiting the “Make-A-Wish” Foundation. Guests will be treated to a free slice of the Make-A-Wish Ice Cream Cake and will be encouraged to make a donation in return. At the end of July, Cold Stone Creamery will donate the star proceeds, all customer donations, and a portion of sales generated during National Ice Cream Month to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

July 30 – August 8
Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose presents “Miss Saigon” playing at the Montgomery Theater in downtown. This much anticipated Summer Mainstage production marks the first time a non-equity company in the country has been granted the rights to perform this pop opera spectacle. Miss Saigon is the story of a dramatic love story between an American Marine and an innocent young Vietnamese. Their romance is cut short by the fall of Saigon, and a reunion several years after the fall ends in tragedy. This modern classic has its roots in Puccini’s Madam Butterfly. For more information, call 288-5437, or visit www.cmtsj.org.

MISCELLANEOUS
July 24 - Saturday
Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens will be hosting a Dahlia Maintainence Workshop in the Dahlia Demonstration Garden. Join Master Gardner and member of the John E. Stowell Dahlia Society, Sue Evanicky, as she discusses disbudding, bloom removal, insect damage and more. This workshop runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The cost to attend is $8 for FGRPG members and $10 for non-members. For more information, visit www.grpg.org or contact Kathy Wilson at 298-7657.

July 31 – Saturday
The 24th Annual San Jose Bodybuilding and Figure Championships will be held at Parkside Hall in San Jose. Preliminaries will be from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Finals from 6:30 - 11 p.m. This event is a National Qualifying event for adult, teen and masters men bodybuilders and adult women bodybuilders and women figure contests. San Jose Championships is the top bodybuilding contest in Northern California. Winners go to compete in the Nationals in Florida. Admission is $15 - $30. For more information, call 238-7413, or visit www.paul.love@sbcglobal.net.

August 1 – 31
August marks the 75th anniversary of the San Francisco Zoo! In celebration of this event, visitors to the Zoo during the month of August will have an opportunity to live fond memories of bygone days with special exhibitions and self-guided tours. The 100-acre zoological park was founded on its current site in 1929 and has been one of San Francisco’s most enduring recreational and educational attractions. The SF Zoo is on Sloat Blvd. and 47th Avenue, and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, call 415-753-7080 or visit www.sfzoo.org

Ongoing
Welcome Wagon #3 is a non-profit, diverse group of volunteers dedicated to charity, community and each other. Welcome Wagon offers 15+ activity groups of various interests for our members to enjoy. Twice yearly WW hosts charity events to raise funds, giving back to the community. WW #3 meets as a whole on the third Wednesday of each month for luncheons and programs to various restaurants in the area. New members are always welcome! For additional information, call our new member hotline at 445-7015. Ask for President Glenda or membership chairs Beverly or Barbara.

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.