May 2, 2008

CALENDAR

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

MUSIC

April 19 – May 4
Opera San Jose presents The Magic Flute at the California Theater: Easily one of the most charming and fanciful operas of all time, W.A. Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” (Die Zauberflöte). Of all of Mozart’s operas, this is the only one that never fell out of favor, from its premiere in 1791 to the present day. It is based on a fairy tale that contains all the necessary elements: a romance between a strong, handsome prince and a gentle heroine; a war between a wicked queen and a wise sorcerer; and plenty of comic situations. “The Magic Flute” is a delightful introduction to opera for youngsters. Admission is $65 - $85. For more information, call 437-4450 or visit www.operasj.org

May 11
The award-winning California Youth Symphony, under the direction of Maestro Leo Eylar, continues its 56th season with a program of music that offers a sonic comparison among nationalistic schools of composition in England, Russia, and the United States at 2:30 p.m. at the Flint Center in Cupertino. This year’s Senior Soloist Competition winners are Jenna Chen, flute; Ian Harshman, clarinet; and Timothy Kang, cello. A resident of Cupertino and a senior at Monta Vista High School, Jenna Chen is Principal Flute of the California Youth Symphony.  CYS Principal Clarinet Ian Harshman, who lives with his family in San Jose, is a senior at Leigh High School. California Youth Symphony Principal Cello Timothy Kang also resides in San Jose, where he is a senior at Lynbrook High School.

ART

May 3 – June 20
Photography Exhibit “The Person in Front of You:  Photographs from West Africa” Friends of African Village Libraries, a San Jose-based nonprofit that builds and supports sustainable libraries in rural African villages, is sponsoring this exhibit of photographs by Los Altos-based photographer David Pace and Kathy Knowles of Osu Children's Library Fund in Canada.  The artists capture in moving detail the daily lives of children and their parents in rural villages in Burkina Faso and Ghana. Exhibit location is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 2nd Floor, Exhibit Area, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose. Opening Reception is May 11 from 4 – 6 p.m. fro more information, call 396-6394 or visit  www.favl.org

May 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18
Willow Glen artist Amy Brown will be participating in Silicon Valley Open Studios. The address is 1215 Mildred Ave in San Jose. Preview her work at http/:wwwartistamy.com. Drop by to see many beautiful gifts at great prices.

THEATER

Apr. 19 – May 10
Actors Theatre Center presents the musical production of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at the Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Avenue in San Jose. Ticket prices are $23 – 25 and include an intermission snack. A Hoedown Buffet Dinner is also available. The 4/20 matinee and buffet is $40. Shows generally begin at 8 p.m. see website at www.theatrecenter.biz or call 985-5500 for further show times and other information.

May 9
The Willow Glen Middle and High School communities invites the public to “Thursdays (and Fridays) At The Theater.” The TaTT series brings low-cost, professional, family-friendly entertainment to the community every month in the intimate setting of the Willow Glen Little Theater. Proceeds from these productions will benefit the Willow Glen Middle and High School Performing Arts Boosters. May is movie month – or more specifically, Film Festival month. Get a special preview of offerings from local talent. You could be seeing works from the next M. Night Shayamalan, or the Cohen Brothers. Who knows what evil lies in the heart of a tricycle or what special effect will be shown here. Submissions welcome. See our website for more details at www.thursdayatthetheater.org or call 464-3643.

CHILDREN/FAMILY

May 2
Stories by Starlight: The Almaden Library and Community Center along with the San Jose Astronomical Association present "Stories Under the Stars". This event, tailored for families with children ages 6 to 12, will take place in the small amphitheater next to the Almaden Library at 8 p.m. and feature stories and songs about wonders of the night sky. SJAA astronomers will give a brief presentation at 8:20 p.m. followed by an opportunity to observe the Moon, Mars, Saturn, and several distant star clusters. Please dress warmly and bring blankets For more information, call 808-3040.

May 4
American Ice Theatre, will perform “Sunset Tango” and “Latin Dance Explosion.” The program will be presented at Shark’s Ice Center,1500 South 10th Street, San Jose at 1:30 p.m. This one-time premier event is fun for the whole family. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the AIT website: http://americanicetheatre.org or through Artsoplolis.com.  General Admission is $24 for adults and $17 for children under 12 years old.  VIP Seating with a Reception is $44.

May 9
St Timothy’s Lutheran School presents “Summer Activities to Keep Your Child’s Mind Active”. As summer approaches, parents may wonder how to enjoy the freedom of glorious, lazy days of summer without losing the focus and routine of the school year. STLS Principal Gayle Renken will share “Summer Activities to Keep Your Child’s Mind Active” at the monthly Principal’s Coffee. Discussion time is 8:45 a.m. and it is open to the public. Space is limited, so please RSVP to 265-0244. Childcare is available by reservation only. St. Timothy’s Lutheran School is also hosting a number of Summer Camps for children entering 1st – 5th grade. Summer schedule and themes are at www.st-tims-lutheran.org/ChurchSummerCamp.htm. The school is located at 5100 Camden Avenue, San Jose.

May 13
Santana Row’s popular Mommy & Me on the Row series returns for another season of free entertainment, interactive games, arts & crafts, and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children.  Families can register for the free program through the Santana Row website, www.santanarow.com, at the Concierge Center in Santana Row Park, or the morning of the event in Park Valencia.  Membership includes a variety of incentives that range from specially priced lunches to shopping incentives provided by Santana Row merchants. Event hours are 10 a.m. to noon on the second Tuesday of each month. To resister or for more information, visit www.santanarow.com or call 551-4611.

Ongoing
YSI Summer Science Camp. Youth Science Institute has week-long, half-day camps for children ages 3 ½ to 6th grade. Everyone is welcome and YSI Family Members receive priority registration. There are 30 camps to choose from, including Bugology, Radical Reptiles, Phunky Physics, and Water is Wonderful. Children enjoy the wonders of science while connecting with nature through hands-on projects, experiments, crafts, hikes and games. Camp fees range from $140 to $240 per week. Camps start the week of June 16th and run through Aug. 15th at each of YSI’s Science and Nature Centers, located at Alum Rock Park in San Jose, Sanborn Park in Saratoga and Vasona Park in Los Gatos. Scholarships are available at YSI Alum Rock and YSI Sanborn. Camps fill up quickly, so go to www.youthscience.org or call 356-4945 ext 16 for more information or to register.

FIFTY-PLUS

May 17
SeniorNet Computer Class Sign-Up: Learn digital images, Searching the Internet, computer maintenance, Windows XP, web page design, introduction to computers and much more!! The location is the Willows Senior Center at 2175 Lincoln Ave. (at Curtner) SeniorNet is for people 50 and above.  For more information, go to our web site at www.snlcsj.org and click on Willows, or call Libby at371-3999.  Most classes are $20.

MISCELLANEOUS

May 3 – 4
Hauslley and Randi Silva of Intero Almaden and the Palmia Community announce the 2nd Annual Community Garage Sale. This event includes 25 participating homes in the Palmia area of San Jose (Hwy. 85 and Cottle Road). Last year’s one day event had 20 homes participating and over 400 cars visiting the area. 

May 3
Santana Row and Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) present “Paws in the Park,” a series of free events for pets and pet lovers. Held from noon to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month through October, Paws in the Park focuses on topical information as related to pet ownership through a series of fun activities and events. The May event is “Fun with Fido!” featuring agility, rally, flyball, obedience, summer camps, and even dog dancing. To participate in these events, you’ll need a well-behaved dog, so come ask your questions of a trainer/behaviorist. You’ll soon have your and your canine’s calendar filled with fun!

May 3
The San Jose Garden Club presents its annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 1670 Lincoln Ave near Pine street.  Plants will be offered at bargain prices. Proceeds will benefit local scholarship funds. For more information, call 578-9125.

May 16 – 17
Super-Con 2008 is bringing the biggest and brightest stars of comics, sci-fi and pop culture to the San Jose Convention Center’s South Hall. Building on the success of last year's show, Super-Con 2008 features even more panels, discussions, displays and presentations by icons and industry leaders.  The annual Super-Con Cosplay Contest allows those daring souls to roam the convention hall in costume (providing photo opportunities galore) before the formal costume contest pits hero v. hero.  Bid on one-of-a-kind pieces of art created especially for the auction by our super guests. Full convention programming info is at www.super-con.com.

May 16
Hospice of the Valley hosts its 28th Annual Western Gala—“Wild Women of the West” –  at 6 p.m., at Villa Ragusa in downtown Campbell. Celebrating the “Wild West”, the evening includes premium wine tasting, an elegant dinner, live music, silent and live auction. Returning as Master of Ceremonies is longtime supporter Brian Adams of KLIV/KRTY radio. Funds raised will provide quality end-of-life care services and programs for adults, children and families facing life-limiting illnesses. Western Gala Tickets: $175.00 per person. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For tickets and sponsorship information, email: gala@hospicevalley.org or visit www.hospicevalley.org.

May 17
Village Walk Global Outreach presents “A Stroll Down Memory Lane", a fundraiser for the construction of a school in the village of Bamburi, Kenya. This event will be held at the IBEW Banquet Hall, 2125 Canoas Garden Road, from 6 – 10 p.m. The evening’s entertainment will feature Food Tasting, Live Music, Live Auction And Raffle, Fashions from the 40’s – 90’s, a Musical Revue and much more. Tickets are $40. For more information, contact Brenda Childress at 838-2246 or Vickie Wilson at 566-3105

May 27
The South Bay Civil War Round Table will meet at Holder's Country Inn, 998 De Anza Blvd. at 7 p.m. We meet on the last Tuesday of every month, except in December. Come about 6:45 p.m. or earlier to order dinner.  Our speakers will begin by 7:15 p.m., so, listen for free, talk about history and receive our newsletter before deciding to join our round table.  Contact Bill Noyes at 374- 1541 for more information.

Ongoing
Camden High School Class of 1973 will hold a Reunion gala on Jun. 21 at the Los Gatos Lodge. For more information, contact Jackie (Johnson 73') Daley at 205-9715, or email jclarktx@yahoo.com.
Willow Glen High School Class of 1988 Twenty Year Reunion. This event will be held on Sept. 13, 2008 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.

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, and our weekly publication, Almaden Times Weekly. Items must be submitted by e-mail 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 Rd., Suite 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.