November 27, 2008

Calendar of local events

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

MUSIC

Dec. 6
The San Jose Youth Symphony (SJYS) Philharmonic Orchestra announces its first concert of the season: Under the artistic leadership of Maestro Yair Samet, The San Jose Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra’s “A Symphony of Voices”, concert will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street, San Jose. This matinee performance will feature two outstanding young musicians - winners of the San Jose Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition (YAC). Flutist Pavitra Rengarajan performing Devienne Concerto No. 7 for Flute and Orchestra, and violinist Timothy Cho performing Conus Violin Concerto in E Minor.

Dec. 7
The Stewart Tartan Pipes & Drums of San Francisco, will be providing a free holiday concert at 3 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 13601 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga.  This event will also feature appearances by the Piedmont Highland Dancers; tenor Burr Nissen; the Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers, who have recently returned from a performance tour in Scotland; and the King’s Brass, a local brass ensemble.

Dec. 10-11
The Leland High School Music Department presents its annual Holiday Concerts: The Leland stage is this year’s Holiday Concert venue, featuring the Women’s and Chamber Choir on 12/10 and the Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Combo on 12/11. Performance time both evenings is 7 p.m. General admission is $5; children under 12 admitted free. The Leland stage is located in the campus cafeteria. For more information about the event, please visit the Leland website at http://leland.sjusd.org/ or call the main office at 535-6290.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

Nov. 14 – Jan. 11, 2009
Downtown Ice now open: Ice skate under the stars – and palm trees – in the heart of downtown San Jose’s holiday activities.  Beginning its 13th season, Downtown Ice has become a much-anticipated holiday tradition and, joining Christmas in the Park and San Jose’s Annual Holiday Parade. The stunning rink, produced by the San Jose Downtown Association, attracts more than 40,000 skaters and countless spectators. Weather permitting, general hours are 5 to 10 p.m. weeknights and noon to midnight on weekends and during winter break. Admission is $13 for 12 yrs and younger, $15 for 13 yrs and older. Prices include skate rental and unlimited ice time. Downtown Ice is located at the Circle of Palms on South Market Street at San Fernando Street across from Plaza de Cesar Chavez. For more information and special holiday hours, visit www.sjdowntown.com or call 279-1775, ext. 4. Rink phone: 291-0525.

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.

Nov. 28 – Dec. 28
San Francisco’s legendary Sir Francis Drake Hotel will host Zanzibar Fairytale Puppet Theater’s Cinderella: Created by Theodore Dawson’s Zanzibar Fairytale Puppet Theater, this enchanting puppet show debuts at the Sir Francis Drake’s Empire Ballroom this holiday season.  Designed to delight the entire family, the story unfolds upon a magical Christmas Eve and sets a new standard for puppet shows with beautifully costumed and wonderfully crafted puppets, exquisite scenery, entrancing lighting, a lush musical score and a dazzling indoor snowfall. Guests will also delight in a Viennese buffet made up of a fantastic array of cakes, cookies, tarts and hot chocolate, along with other delicious holiday confections.  Opening Night follows the Union Square tree lighting. Sir Francis Drake is located at 450 Powell Street, San Francisco. Admission is $65 per person, which includes the show, buffet and hot chocolate. Call (415)433-1235 to reserve tickets, or visit www.zanzibarpuppets.com for reservations and show times.

Dec. 6
Heritage Holiday at History San Jose: Santa’s arrival on a vintage fire truck, holiday carolers, gourmet food tasting, and arts and crafts by local artisans are a few of the reasons to spend a day with friends and family strolling through History Park. The annual Heritage Holiday at History Park, which is hosted by History San José and Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, will be noon to 6 p.m. at History Park at Kelley Park, 1650 Senter Road. This year’s event will offer a centerpiece workshop with the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, book signings, as well as an antiques corner with Steve Yvaska, local antiques specialist. Yvaska asks that each person bring no more than one item to evaluate and that they not be firearms, stamps, coins or precious stones. The day offers photo opportunities with Santa Claus from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., after his arrival from the North Pole on a vintage fire truck at 2:30 p.m. Admission to Heritage Holiday is $3 and parking is free. For more information, check out historysanjose.org or hhpz.org, or call 287-2291.

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. 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.

Nov. 28 – 30
This Thanksgiving weekend, Humane Society Silicon Valley is inviting the public to adopt a cat/kitten on us! We’re overflowing with cats and kittens. To encourage our community to help save a life, the Board of HSSV will pay the adoption fee for any cat or kitten adopted 11/28 through 11/30. All animals in our adoption program are kept until they have found a home. But because we are so full, we are not able to take in as many new cats/kittens that need our help. By adopting from us, people will not only save the life of that cat or kitten, but create space for a new furry feline to have a second chance. Adoption hours on 11/28: 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. and on 11/29-30: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. All animals available for adoption can be viewed at www.hssv.org

Nov. 28 - 30
Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show at the McEnery Convention Center: This three-day event includes three food, fun, entertainment and a huge selection of one-of-a-kind handmade arts & crafts. Hundreds of artisans - including some you haven’t seen before – will feature truly unique products, from eye catching jewelry, colorful glassware and ceramics, to hand-woven and embellished clothing, photography, specialty foods, home décor and much, much more. For more information, call 415-447-3205 or visit www.harvestfestival.com . Admission is $9 and under.

Nov. 29
San José’s 231st Birthday at the Peralta Adobe: The Peralta Adobe near San Pedro Square is the perfect setting to throw a birthday party.  The 231st anniversary of the 1777 founding of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. and the public is invited to this free event by the families of the original descendants to join their family reunion, birthday party and food drive. Sponsors of the event are History San José, Los Californianos, Los Fundadores, Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, San Jose State Library and special thanks goes to Bijan Bakery in downtown San José.  For more information visit: www.solideas.com/SanJoseBirthday/index.html. The Peralta Adobe and the Fallon House will be open for docent-led tours from noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 29 only.  Otherwise tours are by appointment; admission is free. Please bring a canned good or packaged food for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara & San Mateo Counties.

Nov. 30
Live Nation presents Cheech & Chong: The iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong defined an era with their hilariously irreverent, satirical, counter-culture, no-holds-barred comedy routines. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong’s phenomenal success began on the stand up comedy circuit which led to nine hit comedy albums and eight hit films, breaking box office records, shattering comedy album sales, garnering multiple Grammy nominations and mesmerizing fans for more than a decade. Don’t miss their first tour in over 25 years, an epic cross country U.S. trek with this only stop in San Jose. Show time is 7:30 p.m. at the Center for the Performing Arts . For tickets and additional; information, visit www.ticketmaster.com

Dec. 6-7, 10 - 14
For Petes Sake Studio Holiday Crafts Show and Sale: Event location is 4188 Jarvis Ave, San Jose, This craft show will feature jewelry, soaps and lotions, pottery, fabric arts, and many great gift ideas. For event hours call 269-1210 or visit www.forpetessakestudio.com

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.