November 8, 2007

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC

Nov. 17 – Dec. 2
Opera San José continues its 2007–2008 season with Jules Massenet’s Werther. Eight performances are scheduled at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in San José. The highly romantic Werther (1892) features a young man infatuated with a virtuous heroine instead of the typical courtesan. This ravishing opera features the hopes and dashed dreams of the quintessential romantic, a young poet named Werther, whose ardent passion for Charlotte is frustrated when he discovers that she is betrothed to another man. Ultimately, he finds that he cannot continue to live without her. In French with English supertitles, Conductors are David Rohrbaugh, Bryan J. Nies. Tickets are $66, $78 and $88 from the box office. Call 437-4450 or www.operasj.org to order or for additional performance information.

Nov. 18
The Steinway Society presents pianist Anton Kuerti at Le Petit Trianon, 72 North fifth Street, San Jose. The distinguished Austrian-born Kuerti, now living in Canada, will be performing at 7 p.m. Kuerti is one of today’s most recorded artists, and has toured nearly forty countries and performed with many major US orchestras such as Philadelphia, NY Philharmonic, and Cleveland. Tickets are $30 - $45/General, $20 - $35/Students, $25 - $40/Seniors. For more information call 295-6500 or visit www.steinwaythebayarea.com

DANCE

Nov. 15 - 18
Ballet San Jose will present Dennis Nahat’s dance materpiece “Carmina Burana” in a fully-staged production designed by the late David Guthrie. Set to Carl Orff’s landmark musical score of 1937, Nahat’s highly theatrical interpretation of “Carmina Burana” features the entire company of 40 dancers, the 56-member Symphony Silicon Valley, 100-voice Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale, and the 30-voice Cantabile Youth Singers. Due to the subject matter of this performance, “Carmina Burana” is suggested for mature audiences. Performances of “Carmina Burana” will be at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $25 - $82 with discounts available for students, seniors and groups.  Purchase through the Box Office by calling 288-2800. Tickets are also available online at www.balletsanjose.org

Nov. 17 – 18
Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose presents “Prithvi – The Earth” performing at the Mexican Heritage Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue in San Jose. This performance, featuring choreography by Mythili Kumar and Raskia Kumar, will include dancers Mythili and Raskia Kumar, Anjana Dasu, Sushma Umesh and others. Perfromance times are 11/17 at 7 p.m. and 11/18 at 4 p.m. For tickets and additional information, call 983-0491 or visit www.abhinaya.org

CHILDREN/FAMILY

Nov. 9 - 10, 15 – 17
Leigh High School/Center Stage Theatre presents “The Miracle Worker.” Show times are 7:30 p.m. with the house opening at 6:45 p.m.  Tickets are $10 per person or 4/$35. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, email parent coordinator Carol Carey at PurpleHorn@aol.com.

Nov. 14 - 17
Leland Drama presents: "Twelve Angry Jurors." The Leland Drama Department, led by Mr. Steve Dini, will perform in the Leland cafeteria at 7:30 p.m. Join us for this moving and powerful play performed by Leland's finest. General Admission Tickets available at the door: $8/General, $5/Students and Seniors over 65.

Nov. 15 - 19
Santana Row’s “Light Up The Row” Annual Tree Lighting & Holiday Festival: Santana Row celebrates its fifth anniversary with a favorite holiday tradition – the annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday festival. Kick off the holiday season with live holiday entertainment, horse-drawn carriage rides and a special appearance by Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA, not to mention the lighting of more than 500,000 twinkling lights adorning the neighborhood! Festivities take place throughout Santana Row from 6:30-9 p.m., with live music, choirs, carolers, hot chocolate sampling and activities for children and families. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on 11/15 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Park Valencia, on Olin Avenue between Santana Row and Winchester Blvd. For more information, call 551-4611 or www.santanarow.com

CLASSES

Nov. 14
Tamien Station Burial Site Exploration Workshop: Join Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens and Mark G. Hylkema, Archaeologist, for this adult workshop featuring an exploration of the Tamien Station Ohlone Burial site. Hylkema will present the results from his latest book: Santa Clara Valley Prehistory: Archaeological Investigations at the Tamien Station Ohlone Burial Site in San Jose. Join us and learn what life was like in the Santa Clara Valley not too many years ago when the Ohlone people and grizzly bears dwelled here. Session hours are 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Fee is $5/Members, $8/non-members. Pre-registration is required. Call (408) 298-7657 or visit our website at www.grpg.org to learn more.

Ongoing
Ceramics classes for adults.  Great news! Hands On Clay classes in Almaden is now accepting applications for its newly added morning classes. These small, relaxing classes are held on Thursday mornings from 9:30-11 a.m. and 11:30-1 p.m.. Limited space might also be available for Tuesday and Thursday evening classes. The fee includes instructions, clay, glazes, use of tools, and kiln firings. For more information, call 679-0238. Space is limited to only four students for each class, so 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 
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
The Unicorn Thrift Shop in Almaden Valley has some opportunities for volunteers with a variety of skills. This shop is a major fundraiser for EMQ Children and Family Services. Training will be provided. We have a minimum of 7 hours per month of volunteer duty for membership. This retail store could use some reliable adults to join our organization. For further information call the store at 997-9188. The membership chairman is Jan Miller.
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.

MISCELLANEOUS

Nov. 6 – Dec. 24
Start your Christmas shopping early and purchase heirloom quality, handmade lace covered Christmas ornaments. Vintage as well as contemporary handmade lace is used to cover these special, one-of-a-kind ornaments. Ornaments come in many sizes and range from $5 to over $50. All proceeds from this annual sale go towards the maintenance of the Lace Museum. Lace Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is located at 552 South Murphy Avenue in Sunnyvale with free parking.

Nov. 10
The Stanford Blood Drive in Almaden will be at PW Market, 6938 Almaden Expressway (at Via Valiente) from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  For appointments call Margaret Guerrettaz at 408-621-1790. For donor-related questions call the resource nurse at 650-725-9968.  Donors can enter a drawing for 4 movie tickets and popcorn!

Nov. 14
Hospice of the Valley hosts, “Getting Through the Holidays,” a special community workshop that offers emotional support and practical ideas for getting through the holiday season without a loved one. Adult members of bereaved families from the community are encouraged to attend this workshop from 7 - 9 p.m. at Hospice of the Valley, 4850 Union Avenue, (near Hwy 85 and Samaritan Dr.) San Jose. A donation to Hospice of the Valley is appreciated. To RSVP call 559-5600 ext. 460. For information, visit www.hospicevalley.org.

Nov. 14
The Almaden Valley Athletic Club, 5400 Camden Avenue, San Jose, presents Donna Bell, Certified Holistic Nurse and Certified Healing Touch Practitioner in the AVAC conference room from 2-3 p.m. Bell will be offering a free workshop on the use of breathing strategies, guided imagery and meditation to help reduce stress whenever encountered. Set to calming music, participants are guided through each exercise in a relaxed environment. For more information call Mary Ann Smith at 445-4931 or e-mail her at msmith@avac.us.

Nov. 15
The Rotaract Club of Silicon Valley presents “Politics and People” speakers forum featuring Dolores Carr, DA Santa Clara County; Pat Dando, CEO SJ/SV Chamber of Commerce; and Patricia Mahan, Mayor, City of Santa Clara. This special event will be held at Eulipa Restaurant, 374 South First Street, San Jose at 7 p.m. Hear this expert panel discuss relevant issues, how they made it to the top in their fields and why they are so passionate about what they do. Admission is $5. Proceeds support the programs of The Rotaract Club of Silicon Valley. For more information, visit SVrotaract.org.

Nov. 16
The Santa Clara County Division, of the California Retired Teachers Association, will meet at 1 p.m., at Leininger
Center in Kelley Park, 1300 Senter Road, San José. All retired educators are welcome. Come and enjoy talks by world travelers Barby and Vic Ulmer featuring Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

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. November 10 will feature an Antiques appraisal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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.