July 24, 2008

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC

July 10 – Sept 4
Metro’s “Music In The Park” concert series will feature Vanessa Carlton on July 24. Concerts are free to the public and held consecutive Thursdays at downtown San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez from 5:30 – 9:15 p.m. Music In The Park is sponsored by Dos Equis and features an eclectic mix of top-name performers. Food and beverages are available at the park, as well as Lounge in the Park, open to the public for beer, wine and sangria. For a complete concert details, visit www.sjdowntown.com and search on “music in the park.”

July 10 – 31
Music at Greystone Park: The Almaden Community Center and Almaden Advisory Councils will once again host their popular summer concert series at Graystone Park.  Concerts will be held Thursdays in July from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.  This year’s lineup includes The Cocktail Monkeys on July 17, SAGE on July 24: SAGE, and The Groove Kings on July 31. Graystone Park is located on the corner of Mt. Carmel and Camden Avenue.  All concerts are free.  These concerts are a great opportunity to have a picnic dinner with family while enjoying good music.

Aug. 1 & 3
Midsummer Mozart Festival presents The Abduction from the Seraglio at the California Theater: This semi-staged features cast in full costume, with minimal staging. Seraglio includes dialogue that will be spoken in English to accompany the German singing. Admission is $20 - $50 Call 415-392-4400 or www.cityboxoffice.com for ticket information.

DANCE

Aug. 2
The Flamenco Society of San Jose presents “Brisas de España at the Historic Hoover Theater:  Carolina Lugo’s Brisas de España Flamenco Dance Company, recognized as one of the top Flamenco-Spanish troupes in the country, will be performing at 7 p.m. at San Jose’s Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Avenue. General Admission tickets are $14. reserve seating by calling 510-792-8355. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on event night.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

July 10 – Sept. 8
Circus Vargas 2008 is bringing its brilliant blend of breathtaking circus artistry and hilarious slapstick comedy to the San Francisco Bay Area. From the up-close-and-personal interactive pre-show through the death-defying high-octane finale, Circus Vargas delivers smiles and thrills for children young and old — and everyone in between! To purchase tickets, go to www.circusvargas.org or call toll-free 877-GOTFUN1

July 12 – Aug 29
The antique jewels of the San Jose Fire Museum are on exhibit at the new Club Auto Sport showroom. Event dates are July 2 through Aug. 29, Wednesday through Friday, from noon to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays: 7/12, 7/25, 8/9 & 8/23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Club Auto Sport is the area’s premier attraction for auto enthusiasts and collectors, located at 521 Charcot Ave., San Jose. Pictured: This 1890 Steamer Fire Engine is an example of the vehicles on display at the new San Jose Fire Museum exhibit. It was San Jose Fire Department Franklin Engine 3, housed at Fire Station 3 through the 1906 Earthquake.

July 25 – Aug. 3
CMT Mainstage presents West Side Story at the Montgomery Theater: It’s the streetwise re-telling of starcrossed lovers Romeo and Juliet that launched this landmark Broadway musical now hailed as one of theater’s finest accomplishments. Set in modern-day New York City, two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. As their clandestine romance blooms amidst the violence and prejudice around them, West Side Story’s powerful, poignant message is one of the most heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time. Call 408-288-KIDS or visit www.cmtsj.org for more information.

July 25 - 27
2008 marks the 30th year for Gilroy’s Annual Garlic Festival. Laura Mcintosh of TV’s “Bringing It Home with Laura Mcintoah will Emcee this year’s event. Attractions include the mouth-watering and world famous Gourmet Alley, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, arts and crafts, an award-winning children’s area and the “Iron Chef” competition. The 2008 Gilroy Garlic Festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for seniors (ages 60 and up) and $6 for children ages 6-12. Children under age six are admitted free. Parking is also free. For more information, visit www.gilroygarlicfestival.com

July 27
A Celebration of the Founding of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe in 1777: Presented by History San Jose, this Family Day invites the community to a free celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at the Peralta Adobe (built in 1797), in downtown San José. The community may experience first-hand life in the mid-18th century, including the Spanish flag-raising ceremony and the reading of the Pueblo charter. Music by the Alta California Orchestra and the Calicanto Singers will provide the atmosphere and the Peralta Adobe the backdrop. San José was the first city (pueblo) in California. To celebrate San José’s founding, many family-friendly events and hands on activities are planned. These include traditional singing and dancing, spinning and weaving by the Serendipity Spinners and the Glenna Harris Weavers.  There will be docents from the deSaisset Museum representing the Ohlone’s at the ‘Please Touch’ table.

Aug. 1 – 3
If you love strawberries you’ll love the Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival in Watsonville. Watsonville’s premier outdoor event will serve up fabulous food, fun and music including rock legend Dave Mason, Banda Movil, and Cadetes de Linares plus strawberry treats, gooey pie contests, arts and crafts, carnival rides and more. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for kids and a portion of the proceeds benefit area non-profits. Check out mbsf.com - The Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival August 1-3, Ramsay Park, Watsonville.

FIFTY PLUS

July 26
SeniorNet, computer classes for adults 50 and over will hold registration for computer classes at the Almaden Community Center, 6445 Camden Avenue. Registration for intermediate courses is at 1:30 p.m. Registration for Computer Fundamentals is at 3 p.m. 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 268-1703 or visit www.snlcsj.org.

VOLUNTEERS

Ongoing
Humane Society Silicon Valley is actively seeking volunteers to provide foster care to kittens and dogs. Foster families provide long and short-term care for animal families in their homes. For more information, please visit http://www.hssv.org/you_can_help/volunteer/positions/foster.htm, or contact the special needs department at at 408.727.3383 ext. 834 for dogs and 819 for kittens.

CLASSES

Ongoing
Children’s Drawing & Painting Classes - art classes for children 7-12 years old are offered in Nelly Rouhani’s house in Almaden. Classes are on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. with a maximum 4:1 child to teacher ratio. Children will learn about the fundamentals of drawing and paint using various media. Tuition is $100 per month, and includes all required materials. A snack will be provided. For more information, call 607-7588 or email niloufarafshin@sbcglobal.net.

Clay classes for adults.  New handbuilding ceramics classes are forming now. These small, relaxing clay classes are held on Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m., and Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11 a.m. The fee includes instructions, clay, glazes, use of tools, and kiln firings. The classes are held in the artist’s studio in Almaden. For more information or to register, call 679-0238. Space is limited to only 4 students for each class, so register today!

MISCELLANEOUS

July 26
Annual New Almaden Community Club Antique Yard and Bake Sale: Mining pictures, furniture, books, toys, bric-a-brac, horse tack, clothing and more. Lemonade, soft drinks, too – Along Almaden Road in New Almaden between Bertram Road and Almaden Way. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, phone Kitty at 268-6541.

Ongoing
James Lick High School Class of ‘58, 50th Reunion will be held on August 2, 2008 at 11a.m. at James Lick.  Tickets are $30 which includes a BBQ lunch.  For more information, go to Classmates.com and click on the Events/Reunion link and get info on registering before July 15th.  Any questions email Bettysjc@sbcglobal.net, put “Reunion” on subject line.

Get ready for a blast from the past! Leland Chargers Class of 1988 are reuniting this September. The location will be the Hotel Valencia in Santana Row at a to-be-announced date. For more details or to join a Reunion Committee, contact Paula Cavagnaro at CavagnaroPaula@yahoo.com or Laura Delizonna at ldelizonna@gmail.com
Willow Glen High School Class of 1988 Twenty Year Reunion. This event will be held on Sept. 13, at the Hotel Los Gatos, 210 E. Main St. in Los Gatos, at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $95 per person. For more information, go to Classmates.com and click on the Events/ Reunion link and register today.



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.