San Jose Sizzles with Spring and Summer Events
SAN JOSE (March 16, 2010) – As record cold, rain and snow are reported across the U.S., there´s no better time to heat up with spring or summer getaways to San Jose, California, where warm temperatures and sunny skies invite visitors to come out and play. To make the decision easier, San Jose announces exciting spring and summer events for adults and families to enjoy.
Warm up with these cool downtown activities, concerts and exhibits:
St. Patrick´s Day Celebrations
O´Flaherty´s Irish Pub St. Patrick´s Day Celebration – March 17
O´Flaherty´s Pub boasts the biggest St. Patrick´s Day party in the South Bay. Come take part in what will be the Irish celebration of 2010. Enjoy four fully stocked bars, live music and entertainment, extended upstairs lounge, an open-air back patio, traditional food and the best Guinness in town! www.oflahertyspub.com
Faultline Brewing Company St. Patrick´s Festivities – Through March 19
Enjoy drink and dining specials everyday of this weeklong St. Patrick´s celebration. On St. Patrick's Day, Faultline offers green beer, great live music from 6 to 9pm and the second annual "Lucky Pot of Gold" promotion: spend $25 and pluck a coin from the pot of gold - every coin has a prize, so everyone is a winner. www.faultlinebrewing.com
St. Patrick´s Day at Capers and The Loft
Corned beef and cabbage don´t make appearances too often in San Jose, so don´t miss out on the food and beverage specials at Capers and at The Loft. Two-for-one drink pastas, authentic Irish food, happy hour pricing from 3pm to 7pm and drink specials on all your Irish favorites make both restaurants a hot spot for St. Patrick´s Day. Capers is also featuring a traditional five-piece Irish band, performing from 4pm to 8pm. www.caperseatanddrink.com, www.loftbarandbistro.com
Music, TV, Film and Celebrity Showcases
The San Jose Flea Market 50th Anniversary 2010 Events Kick-Off – April 10 through April 11
The San Jose Flea Market on Berryessa Road is kicking off its year-long celebration of 50 years in business with Vintage San Jose Rocks and Rolls, featuring fine wines, microbrews, classic cars and rocking live bands April 10-11 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The San Jose Flea Market is a favorite bargain shopping destination, home to more than 1,600 vendors selling new and used treasures, and is the largest outdoor flea market in the U.S. For additional information, please call 408-453-1110 or go to www.sjfm.com.
Left Coast Live Music Festival - June 21 through June 26
This week-long music experience showcases the talent of nearly 100 local, regional and national bands in 35 Downtown San Jose venues. The event starts with a future of music discussion series, two preview concerts, and one outdoor cinema, culminating at a giant live Friday night music festival in the SOFA district (South of First Area). http://www.leftcoastlive.com
Unique Lives and Experiences- Through June 1
The Unique Lives and Experiences lecture series returns to the Center for the Performing Arts for its fifth year with five inspirational evenings, featuring the wit and personal wisdom of celebrity speakers such as Cloris Leachman (March 22), Goldie Hawn (April 19), Condoleezza Rice (May 17) and Maya Angelou (June 1). Each event includes a question and answer session with each lecturer. For more information, please visit www.uniquelives.com or call 1-866-449-8118.
Movies in the Park – June 9 through August 25
San Pedro Square hosts free outdoor films the second Wednesday of June, July and August. Movies begin at dusk, so come early for the best seat. Bring your own chair, blanket or air bed.
http://www.sjdowntown.com/Starlight_Cinemas.html
Culture
The 12th Annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade - March 28
The Vietnamese Spring Festival holds a special significance for downtown San Jose, since the city boasts the largest Vietnamese population outside Vietnam. Featuring a wide variety of exhibitions, arts and crafts, food and entertainment, and with an estimated attendance of 60,000, the festival gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese culture. Entertainment includes live music, cultural performances, martial arts, children´s games and more. No alcohol will be served and admission to this event is free. Located on Market Street at 11am. http://vsfparade.com
Ballet Folklorio de México de Amalia Hernández – March 28
Honoring the bicentennial anniversary of Mexico´s independence, as well as the centennial of the Mexican Revolution, this two-hour extravaganza features 65 dancers and musicians. From the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City to the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, this special production is an experience of Mexican Culture not to be missed. www.sjtix.com
Visual Arts
South First Fridays – First Friday of Every Month at 8pm
Bring your walking shoes and join art and entertainment enthusiasts for an eclectic evening of Arts & Culture in downtown San Jose's SoFA district every First Friday of the month. This free exhibit crawl currently tours 14 art venues and offers snacks and refreshments, the latest exhibits, free entertainment and live music – all differing from venue to venue. A downtown San Jose specialty and favorite, this taste of the south bay is a late-night event not to be missed. www.southfirstfridays.com
By A Thread - Through May 15
The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art presents By A Thread, an exhibit of sixteen emerging and mid-career Bay Area artists who create nostalgic and poetic works using thread as their major artistic medium. By A Thread features the work of artists who give fresh consideration to the value and function of traditional handiwork. The show will include small two-dimensional pieces and large-scale installations, as well as a wide variety of sculptural works. www.sjica.org
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art Monotype Marathon – Through March 27
The 2010 Monotype Marathon event begins with an intensive weekend of art-making by more than 75 professional artists in printmaking studios throughout the Bay Area. The marathon is a print exhibition that features more than 100 original works on paper created by some of the Bay Area´s finest printmakers. A silent auction fundraising event will be held March 27 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Friday, March 5 from 6pm – 8pm, preceding the monthly South First Friday Gallery Walk. www.sjica.org
Ted Fullwood: Energy Machine - Through April 3
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art also welcomes Ted Fulwood´s newest exhibit, Energy Machine, a solo exhibition of fiber works created by this San Jose-based artist who works in a variety of media including clay and mosaic. Fullwood´s abstract woven sculptures, made from chenille stems (also known as pipe cleaners), exhibit rich color combinations, subtle variations, and intricate textures.
www.sjica.org
New Stories from the Edge of Asia: Plastic Life - Through September 19
The San Jose Museum of Art welcomes Plastic Life to kick-off the new series, New Stories from the Edge of Asia , featuring recent work by innovative artists from Pacific Rim countries and cultures who narrate creatively using film, video, animation and digital techniques. Plastic Life invites guests to perceive time the way the featured artists do -- weaving the past and the present, the local and the universal and the ancient and the futuristic. http://www.sjmusart.org
Performing Arts
“Ain´t Misbehavin´´” – Through April 18
The San Jose Repertory Theater presents “Aint Misbehavin,” an evening of rowdy, raunchy, and humorous songs that capture the various moods of the 1920s and ‘30s, and reflect “Fats” Waller's view of life as a journey meant for pleasure and play. “Aint Misbehavin´” serves as a tribute to the black musicians of the 1920s and '30s who were part of the Harlem Renaissance, an era of growing creativity, cultural awareness, and ethnic pride. http://www.sjrep.com
Legally Blonde – Through March 21
Underestimated blonde UCLA sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer in Broadway San Jose´s “Legally Blonde.” When her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Catch the show, put together by Broadway´s top talent, March 16-21 at the Center for the Performing Arts. Tues-Thurs: 7:30pm, Fri: 8pm, Sat: 2pm and 8pm, Sun: 1pm and 6pm. For more information, call (866)295-2929.
Cyrano – March 18 through April 18
City Lights Theater Company is proud to welcome Frank Langella´s “Cyrano,” a thrilling romance that has graced the stage theater since 1897. Poet and swordsman, Cyrano de Bergerac believes that with his enormous nose, no woman could possibly love him. To quench his crave for romance, he decides to assist Christian de Neuvillette in catching the eye and heart of the stunning Roxane, the woman they both love. The handsome Christian becomes the medium for Cyrano´s passionate words, both of which melt Roxane's heart. But as she finds herself more and more intoxicated by Cyrano´s poetry and Christian's striking looks, both men are left to wonder to which of them she is truly falling for - until fate steps in and reveals all. www.cltc.org/Show4.htm
Kismet – March 20 through March 28
Broadway´s hit musical comedy “Kismet” is coming to the Montgomery Theater. This adventurous farce stars Hajj, a poor poet from the streets of Baghdad, who must rescue his daughter from her enslavement as a concubine to the Wazir. A topsy-turvy turn of events causes a few romantic twists and a rise from poverty to coronation for Hajj. Don´t miss this exciting classic story of Middle Eastern poetry and humor on March 20 – 28 in the Montgomery Theater. www.lyrictheater.org
April Repertory Program - Moments, Salut D'Amour & Square Dance – April 8 through April 11
Ballet San Jose presents the April Repertory Program. Dennis Nahat's Moments is a pure expression through dance of dazzling pieces by Felix Mendelssohn and showcases individual talents of the Company members. Salut D'Amour is a ballet for three couples celebrating their companionship and affection for each other. Set to the harmoniously forlorn music for piano and violin of Sir Edward Elgar, this program reflects the period of youth without cares in a world about to change forever. This program is rounded out by the toe-tapping, hand-clapping, finger-snapping fun with Square Dance, a fast-moving hoedown. Don´t miss this variety of entertainment at the Center for the Performing Arts April 8 through April 11. www.balletsj.org
La Rondine – April 24 through May 9
This Puccini opera had been overlooked for years, but recently, productions at the Metropolitan and San Francisco Operas have brought it into prominence. Opera San Jose is happy to introduce this gem to Silicon Valley. Puccini´s“La Rondine” (The Swallow)features Magda -the beautiful mistress of a wealthy banker – who runs away from home and meets a handsome stranger at the Bullier, a Parisian nightclub. He asked her name, she wrote it on a tabletop, and he did the same. Though she left without ever seeing him again, it was an enchanting, unforgettable interlude. Years later, Magda finds herself to be much more reserved and experienced- until someone reads her palm and tells her that, like a swallow, she will fly back to love. Now disguised as the shop girl she once was long ago, Magda runs off for an evening of adventure at the Bullier. There, she meets another young man and begins to relive that magical night from her past she so longs for. Her wealthy protector finds her to tell her he hopes she won't regret her decision. Nevertheless, she runs off with her new beau to a romantic getaway on the Riviera. Magda is happy, but knows that her shocking past will ruin her young lover. Will Magda sacrifice her happiness for the good of her lover? Enjoy the show at the California Theatre April 24 through May 9. www.operasj.org
May Repertory Program - Agon, Jardin aux Lilas & Gaite Pariesienne – May 6 through May 9
This Ballet San Jose production is a three-part ballet performed without interruption. “Agon” is the Greek word for contest, hero, as well as agony or struggle. It is also the title of the first part of the ballet, a story told in the art of court dances. Jardin Aux Lilas (Lilac Garden), the second part of the program, is a haunting tale about a marriage of convenience set in late 19th century England. A moonlit garden filled with lilacs, but still dark and foreboding set the scene as Caroline, a young bride, bids farewell to her lover while her fiancé, whom she does not love, parts with his mistress. Léonide Massine's magnificent Gaîté Parisienne, danced to a score by Jacques Offenbach, is the third and final part of the program. Set in a turn-of-the-century café, this mini-ballet tells a story of romance and high spirits of nightlife in old Paris, featuring the stirring and wild Can-Can. www.balletsj.org
Sonia Flew - May 8 through June 6
The San Jose Repertory Theater presents “Sonia Flew” a play about named Sonia, whose parents send her to the United States during the Cuban revolution to protect her from the dangers of the communist regime. Thirty years later Sonia, a fiercely devoted mother of two, has created a home in the Midwest that unites her own culture along with her husband´s Jewish religion. Several months after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, their son announces he is dropping out of college to join the armed forces. Sonia combats the fear and terror of abandonment through political forces that once again threaten to tear her family apart. What will she do? www.sjrep.com
Second Weekend in September – May 20 through June 20
The world premier of Andrew Black´s “Second Weekend in September” comes to the City Lights Theater Company in San Jose. After their first secret meeting in the early 80's, married businessman Michael and college student David begin a one-weekend-a-year affair that spans decades. As the years pass, David becomes active in the gay community, while Michael stays in the closet and climbs the corporate ladder. In the midst of a quickly altering world, the two men realize that their yearly "escape from reality" is quite the reverse - and that the most genuine part of their existence is the second weekend in September. www.cltc.org/Show5.htm
4th Annual Irene Dalis Vocal Competition – Saturday May 22 at 7pm
Opera San Jose will present the Fourth Annual Irene Dalis Vocal Competition at the California Theatre. Ten finalists, who will compete for prizes ranging from $2,000 - $15,000, will have been selected from the previous three-day-long West Coast Auditions which take place in the California Theatre under the support of Arts Management Services of San Francisco. There is an audience-choice award of $5,000.
http://www.operasj.org/irenedaliscompetition.html
Family-Friendly Performing Arts and Fun
Festival of Choirs… American Roots – March 19
This is a must-see for choral music fans looking for something both original and stunning. This event is highlighted by Mass in Blue, an ensemble and collection conducted and composed by Will Todd. Ensemble Jazz enthusiasts will recognize a wide range of styles here, from gospel to blues to ballad, accompanied by the California Theatre´s famous Wurlitzer Organ. Enjoy this choral celebration March 19 at 8pm. For more information, please call 408-792-4194.
Star Trek: The Exhibition – Through April 11
Connect with iconic Star Trek moments and characters and celebrate the creative spirit of science fiction that gave rise to many of today's modern marvels. Star Trek: The Exhibition spreads across more than 15,000 square-feet and features authentic replicas from all five television series and eleven films that span over forty years, including the trifecta of the Star Trek universe: a tricorder; a phaser, and a communicator. Visitors will have a chance to ride through a Star Trek adventure in a full-motion flight simulator and to see the actual shooting model for the Borg Cube. This limited engagement at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center runs now through early spring; Special Exhibit Hours: Mon-Wed: 10am-5pm, Thurs: 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-8pm, Sun: 10am-6pm. www.thetech.org
Singin´ In The Rain – April 16 through April 25
In Singin´ In The Rain, ex-stuntman Don Lockwood becomes a successful actor at the company of his best friend Cosmo Brown, and forms a romantic pair with the actress Lina Lamont in. In 1927. During the changeover from silent movies to talking pictures, Don by chance meets Kathy Selden, an aspiring actress, while escaping from his fans- and falls in love with her. Lina has troubles with the sharp tune of her voice, so Cosmo and Don decide to dub her, using Kathy's voice, to salvage their movie. When the envious Lina finds out what they have done, she refuses to share the credits with Kathy and tries to force the studio to use Kathy in the shadow to dub her in other productions. But when Lina decides to sing to an audience, the truth finally emerges. Children´s Musical Theater San Jose welcomes this production to the Montgomery Theater April 16 through April 25. www.cmtsj.org/tickets
Once On This Island – April 29 through May 2
The island gods will test their inhabitants on Once On This Island, a lively musical fairytale filled with infectious reggae and calypso rhythms. It tells the story of a beautiful peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy Creole planter. The course of their true love is put to through trials, however, as the girl must prove to the island's mythical gods that the power of love is stronger than death. Watch this colorful adventure at the Montgomery Theater April 29 through May 2. www.cmtsj.org/tickets
Move Productions Regional Dance Competition – May 7 through May 9
Move Productions is a new and exciting dance event for the whole family. In the fun and competitive world of dance, it produces seventeen regional events around the country. www.moveproductionsonline.com
Children´s Discovery Museum Featured Exhibit:Living in Space –Through May 9
Become an International Space Station (ISS) “crewmember” and engage in a multitude of astronaut activities in Living in Space, CDM´s newest hands-on traveling exhibit. Plan a day in space, perform crewmembers´ work, including a simulated science experiment, and see how everyday endeavors, such as mealtimes or play/free-time choices, are different when your feet aren´t on terra firma. Immerse yourself in this unique space environment and learn about a day in the life of an ISS crewmember. It´s out-of-this-world! www.cdm.org
Little Shop of Horrors – May 7 through May 16
In Children´s Musical Theater San Jose´s Little Shop Of Horrors, Seymour Krelborn is a nerdy orphan working at Mushnik's, an urban run-down flower shop. He immediately falls for the cute shop assistant, Audrey Fulquard. One day, Seymour discovers a new mysterious plant, which he calls Audrey II. The plant seems to have an unorthodox craving and soon begins to sing for his supper. Soon enough, Seymour begins to feed Audrey II to appease the plant's horrible hunger. But Audrey II grows bigger and more demanding. What will Seymour and Audrey do? www.cmtsj.org/tickets
Run! Jump! Fly!Adventures in Action™ –May 28 through September 9
Children´s Discovery Museum of San Jose will showcase Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action™, featuring the theme of action adventures popular in children´s books and movies, and designed to find the fun in being physically active. The exhibition invites guests to jump into “Action Star Training” – fun activities that build strength, coordination, balance and endurance. Children explore exercises such as kung fu, surfing, snowboarding, yoga and horizontal climbing. www.cdm.org
Sports
San Jose Sharks NHL Season – Through April 10
Don´t miss another exciting San Jose Sharks game because April 10 is Fan Appreciation Night at the HP Pavilion. Eat, drink and cheer on your favorite teams, and don´t miss the opportunity to buy the jersey right off your favorite hockey players back at the Sharks used jersey auction. For statistics, schedule information and the chance to enter in several fun Sharks contests, visit sharks.nhl.com.
2010 NCAA Men´s Division I Basketball Championships 1st & 2nd Rounds - March 18-20, 2010
Event involves 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It concludes with the championship game on April 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. www.ticketmaster.com
2nd Annual San Jose Giants Golf Tournament - May 25, 2010
The Villages Golf & Country Club is hosting the 2nd Annual San Jose Giants Golf Tournament and Fundraiser, benefiting the Giants Sports Foundation. For more information please contact Cami Yuasa at camiyuasa@sjgiants.com or (408) 297-1435 ext. 29. www.sjgiants.com
Looking Ahead
Music in the Park - June 23 through August 26
San Jose summers wouldn't be the same without Music in the Park, downtown´s most anticipated concert series. For more than 20 years, people have come out to enjoy a variety of entertainment by some of the world's biggest names in music at free Thursday night concerts, 5:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at Plaza de Cesar Chavez (Market Street between San Fernando and San Carlos streets). This year, San Jose welcomes English Beat on July 1, Lenny Williams on June 10, Michael Jackson Tribute Band Foreverland on August 5 and many more. Stay tuned for the complete Music in the Park 2010 lineup at http://www.sjdowntown.com/Music_in_the_Park.html
Starlight Cinemas Downtown Movie Nights:
San Jose's warm, summer nights welcome visitors from all around the world to enjoy movies under the star-studded sky with good company. Three downtown neighborhoods offer a variety of movies and pre-movie entertainment each week, as well as a grand variety of people, restaurants and businesses that give downtown its charm.
San Pedro Square every 2nd Wednesday - June 9 through August 11.
New restaurants stand side by side veteran eating establishments; European-style café seating beckons. Come early, have a seat, and stay awhile. Movies and Premovie Entertainment??
Historic District Movie Night every 3rd Wednesday - June 16 through August 18
Enjoy any of dozens of dining options, followed by pre-movie entertainment and classic films for the Historic District Movie Night, located on Post Street between Market and First streets, tucked inside some of downtown's oldest and grandest buildings. Enjoy pre-movie entertainment as well as transit services close to all the action. http://www.sjdowntown.com/Starlight_Cinemas.html
South First Nights at SoFA District every 4th Wednesday - June 23 through August 25
An arts and entertainment hub and home of the growing late night gallery crawl, South First Fridays. The SoFA District is rich with options to stimulate your creativity downtown at South First and William streets. http://www.sjdowntown.com/SJDAEvents.html
RENT – July 22 through August 29
Jonathan Larson´s shockingly original Broadway rock opera comes the City Lights Theater Company in San Jose. “RENT” follows the successes and misfortunes of eight young New York City bohemians. Mark, Roger, Mimi, and their urban group of friends search for motivation, passion, and individuality in a world full of let-downs. As the AIDS virus looms and threatens to sever their time together, the small group of artists and philosophers finds hope and appreciation in the grit and grime of Manhattan and come to realize that they must live for the day. www.cltc.org/Show60910.htm
21st Annual AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival – August 13 through 15, 2010
San Jose downtown beckons with the melodies of jazz every autumn. Over 1,000 jazz artists and 100,000 jazz music lovers meet in San Jose for a weekend of musical variety, tradition, and innovation. From Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, music lovers converge on the heart of Silicon Valley to enjoy three days of jazz, blues, salsa, Latin, R&B, electronica and many other forms of contemporary music. www.sanjosejazz.org
San Jose Gay Pride Festival - August 21 through 22
This year´s musical lineup features two of the hottest female vocals, Brandy and Kat DeLuna. The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of S. Market Street. and W. Santa Clara Street in San Jose, heading southwest, turning left onto Almaden Boulevard, and then ending at Park Avenue. Family Day and the Main Festival will take place as in previous years at Discovery Meadow of Guadalupe Park (near 330 W San Carlos St. in San Jose). www.sanjosepride.com
The Winchester Mystery House Friday the 13th Flashlight Tour – August 13
A special 65 minute flashlight tour of the Winchester Mansion is given every Friday the 13th and at Halloween. You'll tour the rambling, mysterious mansion at night with only the moonlight, a souvenir flashlight and your imagination to provide illumination through the mystifying maze of rooms and staircases. But watch your step – the spirit of Sarah Winchester could be waiting around any turn. This is one open house you´ll never forget. www.winchestermysteryhouse.com
About Team San Jose (TSJ)
Team San Jose, Inc. is a management company for the San Jose Convention Center and multiple theaters in Downtown San Jose including the San Jose Civic, Parkside Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre and Montgomery Theater. Team San Jose is a unique customer service model where the company acts as the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau and works in partnership with local hoteliers, organized labor, local arts and business leaders to provide a one-team approach to all event-planning needs. For more information about Team San Jose, please visit our website at www.sanjose.org.
# # #