September 6, 2007

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC

Sept. 7 – 8
Rubber Revolver by The White Album Ensemble: The White Album Ensemble in concert performing The Beatles’ albums “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver” live at the Montgomery Theater. Show times is 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit www.whitealbumlive.com

Sept. 8 – 23
Opera San José launches its 2007–2008 season with Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Eight performances are scheduled at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in downtown San José. As an extra treat, this production will be directed by Timothy Near, artistic director of San Jose Repertory Theatre. It will be her second directorial assignment for Opera San José—and first in a foreign language. This production is presented in Italian with English Supertitles. Conductors —Anthony Quartuccio, Joseph Marcheso. Stage director —Timothy Near. Tickets are $66, $78, and $88 (includes city facility usage fee) and may be purchased from Opera San José Box Office, 2149 Paragon Dr., San José, For more information, call 437-4450 or visit www.operasj.org

CHILDREN/FAMILY

Sept. 8 – 9
Blossom Hill Crafts Fall Studio Sale located at 15900 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos. Shop early for a wide selection of Decorative and functional pottery, jams, jellies, soaps, photography, and planters created by local artists. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.blossomhillcrafts.com.

Sept. 8 – 9
36th Annual Mountain View Art & Wine Festival - One of America's top art festivals, more than 200,000 arts lovers gather in Silicon Valley's epicenter for this vibrant, sun-splashed, multicultural celebration featuring 650 artists and craftmakers showing extraordinary handcrafted wares, live rhythm and blues, swing, rock 'n roll, jazz, soul, world-beat, Celtic folk, funk, and party music (with headliners The Cool Jerks, The Garage Band, and Take 2), flavorful world cuisine, premium wines, microbrews and margaritas, and Kids' Park with breakdancing, hip-hop, magicians, jugglers, comedy, sing-alongs, amusements and hands-on art.  Admission is free. Presented by the Chamber of Commerce Mountain View. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. The festival is located on Castro Street between El Camino Real and Evelyn Avenue in Mountain View. For more information, call the info-line at 650-968-8378 or visit http://www.miramarevents.com/

Sept. 14 – 16
Holy Family’s 28th Annual Parish Festival: this year’s festival, located at 4848 Pearl Avenue (behind Oakridge) will feature the Sage Band on Friday from 7-10 p.m., Mixx Band on Saturday from 7-10 p.m., and other live entertainment to be featured throughout the weekend. Free and open to the public, this community event will offer carnival rides for all ages, international food, beer, wine, margaritas, games for all ages, a silent auction, bingo, and cherry bells for everyone’s continued enjoyment. There will be two raffles, a 50/50 mega-raffle with a maximum prize up to $25,000, and a second raffle with 5 fantastic prizes. Raffle tickets are available at the parish office or at the festival. Event hours are: 9/14 from 6 – 11 p.m., 9/15 from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. and 9/16 from noon – 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.holyfamilysanjose.org or call 265-4040.

Sept. 14
Children's Workshop -- Shiver Me Timbers! Arrgh! Sept. 19 is international talk like a pirate day so what better way to celebrate than to explore the science behind piracy. Join Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens for an afternoon of swashbuckling fun from 3:30 – 5:30 pm. Come dressed in costume as we take to the land for an amazing adventure. Go on a modern day treasure hunt using GPS technology to discover hidden treasure. Design your own pirate flag, use compasses to learn about navigation, and discover why pirates wore eye patches. Ahoy me hearties, thars fun to be had says I! Children do not need to be accompanied by an adult. Ages 7 – 12, $10/members, $15 non-members. Workshop held at 438 Ed Center, 438 Coleman Avenue. Space is limited. To register call 298-7657. For information visit www.grpg.org.

Sept. 16
The 14th Annual Chinese Moon Festival at Overfelt Gardens will be an afternoon of hands-on arts and crafts, storytelling, puppet shows, musical and cultural performances.  There will be a stunning array of fun family projects and entertainment - paper arts, folk arts, folk songs, children’s temple dancers, face painting, children’s poetry, music, Chinese tea and ancient poetry, star and moon gazing, Chinese yo-yo performance, emperor’s hats, Chinese chess, dragon crafts, lion dancers, lantern making, and much more. This event will bring the “child” out in everyone and is co-sponsored by the Chinese Moon Festival Committee, the Institute of Sino-American Studies, the city of San Jose’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, the San José Public Library Educational Park Branch, and Independence High School Planetarium.  For more information, visit our website at: http://www.chineseculturalgarden. org.

CLASSES

Aug. 9 – Sept. 13
Sunset Yoga in the Park: Join Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens and instructor Kristin Strellis for an evening of gentle yoga each Thursday, beginning August 9 from 6:15 - 7 p.m. This class is designed to improve your flexibility, balance and relaxation. All necessary equipment will be provided for your use. Please dress in comfortable clothing. This is an outdoor class that will be taught on the grass. Cost for registration is $30/members, $35/non-members. All programs start at the GRP& G Visitor Center, 438 Coleman Ave, San Jose. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early by contacting education@grpg.org or call 298-7657.

Sept. 9
Toss the watering can and learn about Irrigation Systems at Metropolitan Adult Education Program’s (MAEP) new, free World Garden Workshop at the Erikson Adult Center, 4849 Pearl Ave, San Jose. Master Gardener Tina Dinitz will speak on the various types of irrigation systems available during this workshop from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in room 18, across from MetroED’s World Garden. Dinitz will teach gardeners, of all skill levels, how to determine which irrigation system or combination of systems may work best in a home landscape. The World Garden is located on the southwestern edge of the Erikson Adult Center campus.  Look for the redwood trees and the greenhouse roof after entering the fenced parking lot on Minas Drive, off of Pearl Avenue. To register, call 723-6450 and request the September World Garden Workshop or email ritab@metroed.net. Reserve early, space is limited.

Ongoing
Create something totally original! Hands On Clay classes in Almaden is now accepting students for its newly added Tuesday classes. These small, relaxing classes for adults are held on evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. in Avideh Yaghmai-Samardar's Little Falls Drive art studio and gallery. The fee includes instructions, clay, glazes, use of tools, and kiln firings. For more information, or to receive registration forms call 679-0238. Space is limited...register today!

Art for Children and Youth - Children can explore the pleasures of drawing and paint in a home environment. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and from 5 - 6:30 p.m. starting on Sept. 17. Space is limited, as there will only be four students per class; so sign up early! Class materials and a light snack will be provided. For more info, call Nelly at 997-0027.

FIFTY PLUS

Ongoing 
The UC Santa Cruz Extension at 10420 Bubb Road in Cupertino hosts over 35 classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in subjects including photography, history, current events, memoir writing, Islamic studies and more. The first class, "Introduction to Digital Photography", begins on September 8th. Some classes are for one day. Others meet weekly or bi-weekly. Tuition is charged. For specific information, call Brendan Rawson at (408) 861-3876 or visit our web site at www.ucsc-extension.edu/olli
AARP Willow Glen - Chapter 5193. Meetings are held every fourth Monday of the month, 1 – 3 p.m. There will be speakers on senior issues and refreshments are served. Willows Senior Center, 2175 Lincoln Ave., San Jose. For more information call 448-6400.

VOLUNTEERS

Ongoing
Do you enjoy working with children and have an interest in art?  The San Jose Museum of Art is currently recruiting volunters to join the Let's Look at Art Program.  As a volunteer docent you would bring art into classrooms and lead interactive discussions with the students.  Classroom visits are done according to your availability during school hours.  For more information phone 291-5393 or email Vol4LLAA@sjmusart.org.  No art experience is required.  Training session begins Oct. 17, 2007.

Hospice of the Valley has opportunities for volunteers with a variety of skills for patient and family services, community outreach, fundraising events and office support. Training is provided. For more information, call the Hospice of the Valley’s Director of Volunteer Services at 559-5600 or email request@hospicevalley.org.

MISCELLANEOUS

Sept. 6 – Oct. 15
A morning Alpha Course at Holy Spirit Church: This ten-week course provides a practical exploration of the Christian faith. It is tailored for anyone interested in finding out more about the Christian faith. Adults of all ages are welcome, no matter where you are on your faith journey or what your spiritual background.   Each meeting starts with a meal and an opportunity to get to know each other and to make new friends. The small group gives you a chance to discuss issues raised during the talks. Alpha is a place where no question is regarded as too simple or too hostile. There is no charge for the Alpha course. The Alpha group meets once a week for 10 weeks in the Holy Spirit Parish Hall, every Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. For more information, contact David Cairns at d_cairns@pacbell.net, or call the Holy Spirit Parish office at 997-5101 or go to the Holy Spirit Website to sign up or for more information.

Sept. 8
The Tabard Theatre Company, presents “More than Petticoats” discussion panel at the Triton Hall Pavilion, 1900 Don Hall, Santa Clara. Panelists and discussion will feature relatives, experts and authors of the seven women portrayed in “More Than Petticoats”, including Erin H. Turner, author of the book “More Than Petticoats” and Doug Brook, “More Than Petticoats” playwright.  This event begins at 11 a.m. and includes audience Q & A. Admission is free, however reservations are strongly recommended – to RSVP, call the Tabard Box Office at 679-2330. For additional information, visit http://www.tabardtheatre.org

Sept. 15
“Marking Milestones, Sharing Strengths,” is the program theme of the American Association of University Women, San Jose Branch, annual Fall Meeting, held from 10-12:30 pm, at First Congregational Church, corner of Hamilton and Leigh Avenues. The public is invited to browse displays of local, state and international projects, and enjoy a free brunch prepared by members. AAUW is open to holders of Associate, Baccalaureate, or advanced degrees from an accredited college or university. For more information contact Diane Trombetta at 294-2430.

Sept. 15
Leland High School Class of 1987 20th Reunion - held at 7 p.m. at the Hotel Montgomery, 211 South First Street in San Jose. For hotel reservations call 1-866-823-0530. See www.classmates.com for more information, or contact Cynthia Bradley @ cwatt12@yahoo.com. Other weekend activities also planned.

Ongoing
Princeton Plaza Fair: ( Meridian, at Kooser and Blossom Hill) inside the Mervyn’s Plaza. Fairs will be held on the second Saturday of each month. 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.

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.