November 13, 2008

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC

Nov. 8 - 23
Opera San Jose presents Donizetti’s delightful “The Elixir of Love” at the California Theater. Opera San José continues its 25th-anniversary season with Gaetano Donizetti’s comedy, The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore) presented with a local twist. When an ordinary bottle of wine is touted as a magical love potion, the results are hilarious and heart-warming. Donizetti’s sunny melodies and the lighthearted libretto by Felice Romani (based on Le philtre by Eugène Scribe) have earned The Elixir of Love a reputation as “the happiest of operas.” Opera San José has moved the opera’s hijinks from 19th-century Italy to the Santa Clara Valley—the Valley of Heart’s Delight—in the very early 20th century, back when Lick Observatory was brand-new, blossoms covered the hillsides, and prominent valley families were just starting out in their orchards, ranches, and businesses. The characters’ names also have been expanded to fit the California setting and the valley’s history.In Italian with English Supertitles. Tickets are $69 -$91 purchased from Opera San Jose Box Office, 2149 Paragon Dr., San Jose, or call 437-4450 or visit www.operasj.org.

DANCE

Nov. 20 - 23
Ballet San Jose opens the 2008-2009 season with the lost August Bournonville ballet, “The Toreador,” reconstructed and staged by Flemming Flindt.  This romantic comedy tells the tale of a dashing bullfighter, a young peasant girl and a beautiful French ballerina caught in a lover’s triangle.  This delightful ballet has a humorous touch and is appropriate for the whole family. Four performances only, at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.  Tickets are from $25-$85.   
Call 288-2800

CHILDREN/FAMILY

Nov. 15
Doll & Teddy Bear Show at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds: The Crossroads Doll & Teddy Bear Show/Sale is a blend of demonstrations, special events, and unique sales. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and it is the perfect outing for enthusiasts of all ages with dolls, teddy bears, antiques, supplies, & more. Location is 344 Tully Road in San Jose. Tickets are Adults $6, Children under 5 are free. For more information about the show, contact: www.dolls4all.com. Cameras welcome!

Nov. 15
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School Open House: Hours are 2 – 4 p.m. on campus at 13601 Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga. For more information, www.st-andrews.org

Nov. 18
Santana Row’s 7th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony “Light Up the Row:” Santana Row kicks off the holiday season with its annual holiday tree lighting ceremony, hosted by NBC 11’s Brent Cannon and Laura Garcia-Cannon. This South Bay tradition takes place from 7-7:30 p.m. on the Celebration Stage on Olin Avenue and will include the lighting of more than 500,000 twinkling lights adorning the entire neighborhood as well as a magnificent 40-foot Christmas tree in Park Valencia. In addition to music and dance performances, San Jose native Katee Shean, a recent finalist on season four of “So You Think You Can Dance,” will make a special appearance. Additional festivities include live music and dance performances and holiday activities for children of all ages as well as food and beverage sampling from 6:30 – 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.santanarow.com

Nov. 20 - 23
Children’s Musical Theater presents “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” at the Montgomery Theater: CMT kicks off it’s 41st season with the an updates and fast-paced rendition of the Disney classic. Alice in Wonderland Jr. features such favorites as “I’m Late and “the Un-birthday Song.” Tickets are now on sale to the public for $18 adults, $15 children 12 and under. This production is directed by CMT alum and seasoned performer, Ian Leonard and includes a cast of over 100 young performers. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.cmtsj.org or call 288.5437.

Nov. 28 – Dec. 31
Santa Clara County Parks Department presents its annual “Fantasy of Lights” event at Vasona Lake Park. Celebrating its 10th year Anniversary, this bay area tradition will feature new displays – including an erupting volcano – prizes, a drawing, and coupons on the website. Go to www.Parkhere.org for more information and directions. Hours are 6 – 10 p.m. nightly; admission is $10 through Dec. 10, $15 from Dec. 11 – Dec. 31. Vasona Lake Park is located at 333 Blossom Hill Road in Los Gatos.

Dec. 6
The Almaden Valley Counseling Service Auxiliary invites families to celebrate the beginning of the Holiday Season with a Breakfast with Santa. This much anticipated family friendly annual fundraising event will be held at the Almaden Golf and Country Club and feature a delicious Breakfast Buffet and Pancake Station, individual pictures taken with Santa, and a raffle featuring a fully decorated Christmas Tree with gifts for giving! Funds raised will help to provide counseling services to low-income children, teens, parents and families. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for Children (ages 2-10), and $10 for Children under 2 (if you need a high chair or want to have a picture with Santa and other goodies). This event always sells out so make you reservation as soon as possible by downloading a form at www.avcounseling.org (under Fundraising Events), or call 997-0200. All proceeds will benefit the Almaden Valley Counseling Service.

CLASSES

Nov. 15
Learn how to have Healthy Soil for Healthy Plants at Metropolitan Adult Education Program’s World Garden Workshop, at the Erikson Adult Center located at 4849 Pearl Ave in San Jose. Master Gardener Laura Moncynski will teach gardeners of all skill levels how to re-energize their soil for the next growing season. Moncynski specializes in growing organic edibles in her garden and will share tips with gardeners about organic soil amendments, compost, working with local clay soils and more! Healthy gardens start with healthy soil. This free workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. To register, call 723-6450 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and ask to have your name added to the November World Garden Workshop list, or email your name and phone number to ritab@metroed.net. Sign-up early, space is limited.
Continued on next page

VOLUNTEERS

Hospice Volunteers Needed: Rewarding volunteer opportunities are available in patient and family services, grief support, fundraising, community outreach, office and administrative support with Hospice of the Valley. Hospice of the Valley provides quality end-of-life care services and programs for adults and children facing life-limiting illness. Volunteer training begins October/November 2008. The next one-day orientation is on Nov. 12. For volunteer information, and for a pre-interview, contact the Director of Volunteer Services at 408.559.5600, email request@hospicevalley.org or visit hospicevalley.org

MISCELLANEOUS

Nov. 14 – 15
2nd Annual ZNA NorCal Nishikigoi Fish Show: Clarion Hotel, 1355 North 4th Street, San Jose, beginning at 9 a.m. This show features many high quality koi and is open to the public. Admission is free. For more information about this event, including show packets, schedules, judges, vendors, sponsors, and hotel information, Show chair, Donald Dang at cartoonzz@yahoo.com or 390-1938, President, Larry Gill at gelldu@sbcglobal.net or (510) 352-7168, or visit http://www.ZnaNorCal.org

Nov. 15
Stanford Blood Drive in Almaden Community: The New Stanford Bloodmobile will be at PW Super Market, 6938 Almaden Expressway from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by Margaret Guerrettaz, Coldwell Banker. To make an appointment call Margaret Guerrettaz, at 813-5321 or go online to http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu click on “Find a Blood Drive” and search by city, ‘San Jose’.  Walk-ins are welcome!

Nov. 15 - 16
Come celebrate the warmth of the season with Christmas decorations, holiday clothing, collectibles and more at the Discovery Shop. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop is located at 1103 Branham Lane in San Jose. For directions or more information, call 265-5535. Proceeds support cancer research.

Nov. 19
The Almaden Community Center’s Senior Knit and Crochet group will hold their Annual Holiday Boutique from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Alamden Library/Community Center, 6445 Camden Avenue. The boutique will have many lovely hand-crafted items perfect for holiday gift-giving. This group is part of the Almaden Senior Association, a non-profit group whose weekly knit and crochet class provides warm hats and scarves for the homeless as well as donating lap blankets to seniors in rest homes. This year the group will be giving preemie and infant hats to local hospitals as well.

Nov. 25
At this month’s meeting, the Civil War Round Table of the South Bay will hear a presentation by Jean Libby, editor and publisher of a history of the John Brown family in California. Jean will show a photo chronology of John Brown from 1847 to 1859, this being the 150th anniversary of the famous Harper’s Ferry raid in October 1859.  Discussion begins by 7:15 p.m., so, listen for free to this unusual presentation on an important anniversary.  Come earlier if you plan to order dinner at Holder’s Country Inn, 998 South De Anza Blvd. (cross street Highway 85).  Talk about history and receive our newsletter before deciding to join our round table.  Contact Bill Noyes at 374-1541 for more information.

Ongoing
Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroup: Las Madres is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing ways for families with children ages 5 years old and younger to network and receive parenting support and education. Run entirely by volunteers, we warmly welcome mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and nannies to join. Playgroups arranged by children’s birth year and we currently have active playgroups for babies, toddlers and preschoolers born from 2003 through 2008. Most playgroups meet one or more times a week. Any person who supports Las Madres’ non-profit educational mission may join. Members start with a support-group only membership for $30 and may add playgroup(s) for $20.To join, go to www.lasmadres.org or call 1-877-LAS MADRES. There is a 30-day trial membership.

Open Mic at Monsieur Beans of Willow Glen! Stand up performers, musicians, comedians or poets of any kind are welcome. Every 4th Friday of the month, sign ups for performers start at 7 p.m., gigs begin at 8p.m. Local Fun! 1383 Lincoln Ave. 95125. Call 297-9077 for more information. Sound systems are provided by the house.


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.