Friday 12/26
SAN JOSE
”
Christmas in the Park
”
Downtown San Jose’s annual Christmas in the Park holiday display
is now open at Plaza de Cesar Chaves, on Market Street between San
Carlos and San Fernando streets. The display will be open daily
from 9 a.m. to midnight through Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
More than 60 musical and animated exhibits, including the
60-foot Community Giving Tree, are on display. Exhibits include the
Lima Train, a Victorian Village surrounded by an animated
Nutcracker suite exhibit and Santa’s House. Admission is free.
Parking fees in city lots is reduced after 6 p.m. and on
weekends.
Friday 12/26
SAN JOSE
“Christmas in the Park” Downtown San Jose’s annual Christmas in the Park holiday display is now open at Plaza de Cesar Chaves, on Market Street between San Carlos and San Fernando streets. The display will be open daily from 9 a.m. to midnight through Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
More than 60 musical and animated exhibits, including the 60-foot Community Giving Tree, are on display. Exhibits include the Lima Train, a Victorian Village surrounded by an animated Nutcracker suite exhibit and Santa’s House. Admission is free. Parking fees in city lots is reduced after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
Wednesday 12/31
HOLLISTER
New Year’s Eve Dance The League of United Latin American Citizens will host a New Year’s Eve Dance tonight at Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito St. Doors open at 7 p.m. Dancing will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Entertainment includes Sonido Con Sabor, DJ Sergio Flores and Miguel Gonzalez. A full bar will open at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 each or are $35 per person at the door. Tables for eight can be reserved with advance payment only. Tickets are now available at Righetti Liquors, Hollister Drive-In Market, Las Palmas Restaurant, La Guadalupana Market and Dona Esther’s Restaurant in San Juan Bautista. For more information call 673-2009.
New Year’s Eve Party Casa de Fruta’s annual New Years Eve Party will be held tonight at the Casa de Fruta Music Hall from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event includes a catered dinner, dancing to live music performed by “Wild Card,” champagne and party favors. Casa de Fruta is located just outside Hollister on Pacheco Pass Hwy. For more information call (408) 842-7282 or (800) 548-3813.
MORGAN HILL
Black & White Bash Morgan Hill Cellars will host its third annual Black & White New Year’s Eve Bash tonight from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The event includes wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, champagne, live music by “Spank,” party favors and a countdown with balloon drop. Cost is $65 per person (one drink ticket). Reservations required. For more information (408) 779-7389 or go to www.morganhillcellars.com.
MONTEREY
First Night Monterey The 15th annual First Night Monterey New Year’s celebration will be held today from 3 p.m. to midnight in historic downtown Monterey. This event features music, dance venues, interactive art activities, classical music, poetry slams and special displays and exhibits. First Night buttons are $15 for adults and $12 for children and can be purchased online at www.firstnightmonterey.org or at any Long’s Drugs or Safeway stores in Monterey County. For more information, call 373-4778 or go to www.firstnightmonterey.org.
Monday 1/5
GILROY
Local artists display The works of six student and alumni artists from Gavilan College are now on display through Feb. 4, 2009 at the Gavilan College Art Gallery, located in the campus library at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. Themes include pride in homeland, explorations of cultural and gender identity, the subconscious, celestial abstractions and the promise of hope. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 408-846-4974.
Saturday 1/10
MORGAN HILL
Bird walk Jane Haley, a National Park Service docent, will host “A Walk on the Wild Side,” a bird walk along Coyote Creek, today from 9-11 a.m. The program is free and open to the public; however, space is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to register call (408) 779-9372 or e-mail
ed*******@we*****.org
.
FELTON
Rain Forest Train Ride a steam train through Northern California’s redwood rain forest today and weekends throughout January at Roaring Camp Railroads. The train will depart at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $19.50 for adults and $13.50 for children ages 3-12 years. Children ages 3 years and under are free. For more information, call 335-4484.
SANTA CRUZ
Fungus fair The 35th annual anta Cruz Fungus Fair will be held today and tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Louden Nelson Center, 301 Center Street. Visitors can enjoy mushroom displays, delicacies and cooking demonstrations. Bring mushrooms for identification purposes. General admission is $7 per person, $6 for museum & federation members and $5 for seniors and students. Children ages 12 years and under are free. A special two-day pass is available for $12 per person or $10 for museum and federation members. This event is co-sponsored by the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. For more information, call 420-6115 or go to www.santacruzmuseums.org.
Saturday 1/17
SALINAS
Monterey Symphony Spanish pianist Pedro Carbone makes his Monterey Symphony debut with “Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor” today at 3 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. at Sherwood Hall in Salinas. Ticket prices vary depending on seating and performance. For more information, call 624-8511 or go to www.montereysymphony.org.
Sunday 1/18
SANTA CRUZ
Wine & Crab Taste-off The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association will host “The Great Wine Weekend” beginning with a Winter Passport Program Saturday, Jan. 17 at participating wineries. This tasting event will be followed by the “Wine & Crab Taste-off” today from 2-5 p.m. at four Santa Cruz County restaurants – Ma Maison and Sanderlings at the Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos and Michael’s on the Main and Theo’s Restaurant in Soquel. All four restaurants will be preparing two crab dishes. Ballots for top dish and wine choices will be available at each restaurant. Cost is $49 per person for two restaurants and $16 for each additional restaurant. For more information, call 685-8463.
Saturday 1/24
SANTA CRUZ
“Triumph & New Beginnings” The Santa Cruz County Symphony will present its first concert of the year, “Triumph & New Beginnings” tonight at 8 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street. Selections to be performed include Schubert’s Overture in C, Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. For ticket prices and more information, call 420-5260 or go to www.santacruzsymphony.org.
Saturday 2/7
SAN JOSE
“Così fan tutte” Opera San Jose will open its 25th season with its presentation of “Così fan tutte,” by Mozart beginning tonight at 8 p.m. and running weekends through Sunday, Feb. 22 at its opera house, 2149 Paragon Dr. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, “Così fan tutte” is both a comedy and tragedy, telling the story of a group of young lovers willing to wager on their partner’s fidelity.
Ticket pricing information is available online at www.operasj.org. Tickets may be purchased online or at the box office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to order tickets by phone, call 408-437-4450.
