December 6, 2005

CALENDAR

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

DANCE
December 15 – 24
Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley presents “The Nutcracker”at the Center for the Performing Arts: A gift for everyone during the Holidays, Ballet SJSV’s “Nutcracker” has become a yearly festive tradition for thousands of children and families throughout the Bay Area. For tickets and more information, call 288-2800 or www.balletsanjose.org

December 16 – 18
Nuestra Navidad – A Family Christmas at the Montgomery Theater: México’s Christmas fandangos are lively manifestations of el pueblo which sings, dances and preserves in its songs and dances the throbbing backbones of its visions of the world, its history and provincial traditions. Nuestra Navidad offer roots of the past and tree of the present where music, songs and dance come together in a flavor of ancestral rituals. Admission is $6 - $12. For tickets and performance information call 984-0342 or visit www.aztlanacademy.org.

MUSIC
December 10 - 11
Symphony Silicon Valley presents “Mozart Festival” at the California Theatre: Maestro Cleve, internationally known Mozart interpreter, opens Symphony Silicon Valley’s Festival celebrating the 25th anniversary of Mozart’s birth with the great “Prague” Symphony, flanked by a joyful work for winds and an homage to Mozart from Tchaikovsky, Russia’s master of melody. Admission: $36 - $72. For more information, call 286-2600 or visit www.symphonysiliconvalley.org

December 11 – Sunday
The award-winning California Youth Symphony, under the direction of Maestro Leo Eylar, will usher in the holiday season in with the world premiere of Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra by Dr. Paul Davies, chair of the Foothill College Music Department, at 2:30 p.m.in the Smithwick Theatre at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. Soloist will be Australian-born pianist Kate Ryder, now a resident of London, for whom the work was written and to whom it is dedicated. The program also includes a selection of traditional holiday favorites. Tickets are $12.00, and $6.00 and are available at the door. For performance and ticket information, call (650) 325-6666 or visit www.cys.org.

December 18 – Sunday
The Cantabile Youth Singers will present “Holidays with Cantabile” performing at 4 p.m. at Mission Santa Clara, famous for its excellent acoustics. Featuring all choirs; Preparatory, Intermediate, Concert and Chamber, this program will deliver music from northern hemisphere composers, including Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” John Rutter’s “Dancing Day,” Srul Irving Glick’s “Psalm 47,” Eleanor Daley’s “What Sweeter Music,” Donald Patriquin’s “Ach Synku,” and Claude Debussy’s “Noel des Enfants.”  Also featured will be a set of traditional Inuit chants arranged by Stephen Hatfield, and traditional favorites such as “Winter Wonderland” and “Silent Night.” For tickets and further information, call 650-424-1410, email info@cantabile.org or visit www.cantabile.org.

ART
November 17 – January 7, 2006
The Art Museum of Los Gatos, 4 Tait Avenue, announces the opening exhibits of local artists James Warren Perry, featuring his series of California landscape paintings, and Richard Shaw, showcasing his trompe l’oueil porcelain sculpture. A public reception with both artists will be held on Sunday, November 20, from 2 – 5 p.m. Musuem hours are Wed – Sun, from noon – 4 p.m. admission is free. For more information, call 395-7375.

THEATER
December 2 - 17
The Tabard Theatre Company once again presents “The Taffetas,” back by popular demand, for an evening of seasonal songs and honeyed harmonies in “A Taffeta Christmas,” Local performers Vanessa Briggs, Diane Milo, Rebecca Lipon and Michelle N. Russell recreate the roles of the popular Taffeta sisters for The Tabard Theatre Company, in the musical directed by Nancy Kwong. Conceived and arranged by Rick Lewis, A TAFFETA CHRISTMAS runs for three weekends, December 2 – 17, at The Triton Hall Pavilion, 1900 Don Avenue, near Warburton Avenue, in Santa Clara. This is a toe-tapping show, guaranteed to warm hearts, rekindle fond memories and bring a sparkle to the season. For tickets, call the Tabard Box Office at 679-2330; 979-0231 or email tabtix@tabardtheatre.org.

CHILDREN/FAMILY
September 30 – January 6, 2006
“Game On: The History and Culture of Videogames.” Explore the history, culture and future of video games at this temporary exhibit. “Game On” is a highly interactive exhibit that examines the exploding video game industry from the game design process and beyond. Come experience the past forty years of electronic gaming, and reflect on where the industry will go next. “Game On” was organized by the Barbican Art Gallery London in collaboration with the National Museums of Scotland. “Game On” will be at The Tech through January 6, 2006.

November 18 – January 16, 2006
In its tenth season, Downtown Ice now has a permanent home in the Circle of Palms, nestled off Market Street between the San Jose Museum of Art and Fairmont San Jose.  The ice skating rink is scheduled to open at 5 p.m. and will operate daily through Jan. 16, 2006. The opening ceremony will feature performances by American Ice Theatre and skaters from Logitech Ice at San Jose. Following that, the Community Giving Tree lighting and official opening of Christmas in the Park will occur in Plaza de Cesar Chavez.   

December 2 – 11
Children’s Musical Theatre of San Jose presents “The King and I” at the Montgomery Theater. CMT performers young and old are welcome to join us onstage this fall for a lavish, tale, rich in culture and tradition! Journey with us to 1862 Siam, when a British school teacher arrives in Bangkok to teach the King’s wives and children English. Our heroine Anna is little prepared for the task at hand, nor the great admiration and respect she’ll develop for the king. This Broadway classic from Rodgers, and Hammerstein will have you humming along to “Getting to Know You,” “Two Young Lovers,” and “Shall We Dance. For more information, call 288-5437 or visit www.cmtsj.org

December 11 – Sunday
Narnia Day at the MLK Library in San Jose: People of all ages are invited to enjoy tales about the characters of C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, in stories presented by Harker Middle School English teacher, Craig Michalski. Event hours are 3 – 4 p.m. Come dressed as a character from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to be eligible to win a prize! Admission is free. For public information, contact King Library Youth Services at 808-2183.

December 11 – Sunday
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, 1342 Naglee Avenue, San Jose is offering free admission to those who bring an item of food for Second Harvest Food Bank from 11 a.m. 6 p.m. Non-perishable food items will be donated to those in need in our community this holiday season. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum features the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts west of the Mississippi. For more information on this event go to www.egyptianmuseum.org or call 947-3636.

December 17 – Sunday
Princeton Plaza Holiday Fair: Enjoy this Arts, Crafts, Antiques and Collectibles Fair at Princeton Plaza, 1375 Blossom Hill Road. Unique gift ideas are perfect for holiday shopping. Live Entertainment.

December 17 – Saturday
Radio Disney Jingle Jam Holiday Concert at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. This holiday event is full of interactive booths, inflatable activities, a visit from Santa, the Warriors Dunk’ Team and a live concert starring Everlife and B5. This event is free and benefits the 2nd Harvest food Bank. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 877-4AM-1310 or visit www.radiodisney.com

December 17 – 18
San Jose Youth Ballet to present “The Nutcracker”: The gifted youngsters and parents from Dance Theatre International, along with students from Morgan Hill Dance, Capitol Dance and International Ballet, along with notable guest stars in some of the lead roles, will come together to bring the magic of “The Nutcracker” to life. Gorgeous costumes and amazing sets are being prepared for San Jose Youth Ballet’s third season of this holiday production. The performances will be held at the Mexican Heritage Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue. Tickets for both the performance and the after-show Sugar Plum Refreshment and Photo-Op Party may be purchased by calling 270 SJYB (7592), or by visiting the Web site at www.dtidance.com.

December 25 – Sunday
Congregation Sinai a Conservative Jewish synagogue at 1532 Willowbrae in San Jose, is hosting a Chanukah Dinner Party and Toy Drive for the entire Jewish community at 5 p.m. on the first night of Chanukah. The party will feature the traditional holiday candle lighting, dinner, and dancing. There will also be games, popcorn, and movies for the children. Because an important part of Chanukah is the giving of tzedakah (charity), the party will include a toy drive for EMQ Children & Family Services. Each partygoer should bring a toy for a child ages 4-18, and the gifts will be used to restock EMQ’s toy closet. For more information, visit http://www.sinai-sj.org/.

January 7 – 8, 2006
The Children¹s Discovery Museum ends the winter holiday season with El Dia de los Reyes Magos, a community celebration popular in many parts of Europe and Latin America. Experience The Three Wise Kings (also known as Epiphany and Twelfth Night) in the style of Mexico with Rosca de Reyes bread, Papel Picado crafts, mariachi music, folklorico dance and photo opportunities with the Three Wise Kings themselves. For a schedule of activities, go online at www.cdm.org.

CLASSES
Ongoing:
Italian courses in Downtown San Jose: Italian Language courses will be offered at Holy Cross Parish, 580 East Jackson St. in San Jose. Beginner’s class meets on Mondays, 9-11a.m. the fee is $144 for 12 classes.

Intermediate class meets on Fridays, 9-11 a.m. the fee is also $144 for 12 classes. Advanced class meets on Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. the fee is $172 for 12 classesCall 646-0232 for registration and additional information.
South Bay Deutscher Schulverein, a German Saturday Language School, offers German language instructions at the Willow Glen Educational Park, Middle School Section, 2001 Cottle Avenue. The school offers pre-school/kindergarten through adult courses on Saturdays from 9:00 - 12:00, starting September 17. For more information visit our website www.sbds.org or call 266 5100. Please note that no information is available weekdays at the school location.

December 6, 7, 9, 13 & 16
ArtHouse Kids, 1043 Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen offers a selection of holiday-themed classes for adults and kids. Mosaic: Adults can learn in 2 sessions how to make fantastic broken dish and tile mosaics. All materials are provided but feel free to bring any tile or dishes that you would like to incorporate into your design. This class is 12/9 & 12/16 from 7 – 9 p.m. The fee is $85.

ArtHouse Kids will also offer a “Winter Gifts” class and a winter version of their popular “Little Picasso” class. Geared for a variety of ages, check the website for class descriptions, times, and fees. Call 975-9987 or visit www.arthousekids.com for more information.

FIFTY PLUS
January 7, 2006 – Saturday
SeniorNet will begin registration for computer classes at 9 a.m. at the Willows Senior Center, 2175 Lincoln Ave. (at Curtner). SeniorNet is open to anyone over 50. Each class is two hours long, once a week for 8 weeks. The classes are priced at $20 per course. Some of the classes offered include: Word Processing, Fun with Google, Photoshop Elements, Introduction to Computers and more. To learn more about upcoming classes or to place your name on SeniorNet’s mailing list, phone the Willows SeniorNet liaison at 364-1430, or log on to the website at www.SNLCSJ.ORG.

Ongoing:
The San Jose City Senior Centers Announces Upcoming Trips: If you are adventurous, young at heart, looking to meet new friends, or just love to travel, the San Jose City Senior Centers invites you to join with them on their upcoming trips which include: The Rat Pack at the Post Street Theater on Dec 11and a San Francisco trip to view Irving Berlin’s White Christmas on Dec. 14. For a complete list of upcoming trips and more information pick up brochures at a San Jose City Senior Center, or visit www.Sanjosetripsandtours.com or phone Sandy at 800-955-2877 to have a brochure mailed to you.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Ongoing:
Do you enjoy reading and helping others? Consider a richly rewarding volunteer opportunity as a Tutor in the adult literacy program - Partners in Reading. Sign up now for the September 15th orientation and training on September 17th and 24th. Fourteen hours of training, instructional materials, & on-going support are all provided free. No experience necessary. Required commitment of two hours per week for six months. Call the San José Public Library at 808-2361

MISCELLANEOUS
December 7 – 8
The 8th Annual Evergreen Valley College Holiday Jewelry Show and Sale will be held in the Mishra Community Room of the new Library and Educational Technology Center, 4750 San Felipe Road. Hours are 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on 12/7 and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on 12/8. This event features original art jewelry by EVC students and staff. A portion of all proceeds will benefit art programs at EVC. Complimentary refreshments, seasonal music, free parking. For more information, call 274-7900 x6610.

December 16 –18
25th Annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Show at the San José McEnery Convention Center: Powersports enthusiasts can see the latest and greatest innovations, products and services, aftermarket products, as well as the hottest new motorcycles, ATVs, scooters and more. Admission is $12/Adult, $5 for Children 6-11 years. For more information and event hours visit http://noc.motorcycleshows.com.

December 14 - Wednesday
All three Willow Street Pizza locations will donate 100% of profits from 4:00 p.m. to closing to assist The American Red Cross Gulf Coast Hurricane and Disaster Relief effort. Willow Street Los Gatos - 20 S. Santa Cruz Avenue, Willow Street San Jose - 1072 Willow Street, and Willow Street Westgate - 1554 Saratoga Avenue.

January 4-8, 2006
The San Jose International Auto Show at the San José McEnery Convention Center: This annual exhibition features over 350 vehicles from more than 36 manufacturers. See the latest offerings from the auto industry as well as factory concepts, specialty vehicles, race cars and an accessory arcade. Event hours are January 4-5, Noon-10 p.m. January 6-7, 10 a.m. -10 p.m. January 8, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. For more information call 717-566-6100 or visit www.sjautoshow.com. Admission: $5 - $9.

Ongoing
Saratoga Historic Museum: New history exhibits for young and old visitors. Unique holiday gift options. Museum hours are 1-4 PM, Fridays-Sundays. 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road in Saratoga. Free admission. For more information, visit www.saratogahistory.com.

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.