Friday 1/23
HOLLISTER
Family Art Night Cerra Vista Elementary School will host a
Family Art Night tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the school. Events will
include Guest Artists in Action, a Cerra Vista student art show and
Creation Stations for making and taking art home. For more
information, call 636-4470.
Friday 1/16
MOSS LANDING
Wetland tours Visitors can explore the wetlands of Elkhorn Slough on a pontoon boat during a special birding weekend beginning today at the Moss Landing Harbor. Otters and seals are also active and may be seen during the special two-hour guided tour. Tours will be held today and tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 17 at 9:15 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 18 at 12:30 p.m. and Monday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. Reservations are required. For more information, call 633-5555.
SANTA CRUZ
John McCutcheon concert Tickets are available for a live performance by John McCutcheon, storyteller and folk musician, tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 900 High St. A children’s concert will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. Tickets range in price from $17 to $25 per person and are available at Streetlight Records, 941 Pacific Ave. or the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 515 Broadway St. Proceeds will go to the Resource Center for Nonviolence. To reserve tickets or for more information, call 423-1626 or go to www.rcnv.org.
MONTEREY
“Bill W. and Dr. Bob” The Paper Wing Theater opens its performance of “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” a play depicting the relationship between failed stockbroker Bill Wilson and surgeon Bob Smith during the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, tonight at 8 p.m. at the group’s playhouse, 320 Hoffman Ave. The show will run Fridays and Saturdays evenings at 7 p.m. through Jan. 31. Sunday matinees begin Jan. 18 and run through Feb. 1. Sunday matinees begin at 3 p.m. Tickets are $17 per person for general admission and can be purchased online at www.vendini.com or at the door 30 minutes prior to show time. For more information, call 675-0521 or go to www.PaperWingTheatreCo.com.
Saturday 1/17
GILROY
Open House Martin Ranch Winery will host an open house today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the winery, 6675 Redwood Retreat Rd. This event will include wine tasting, barrel samples, Passport Wine Specials and new releases available only at the winery. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. Martin Ranch Winery is open to the public the third Saturday of each month. For more information, call 408-842-9197.
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.
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.
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 and 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 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.
Monday 1/19
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.
Friday 1/23
HOLLISTER
Family Art Night Cerra Vista Elementary School will host a Family Art Night tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the school. Events will include Guest Artists in Action, a Cerra Vista student art show and Creation Stations for making and taking art home. For more information, call 636-4470.
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.
Thursday 1/29
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
Noche Flamenca Flamenco Company Noche Flamenca will perform during a series of three shows beginning tonight at 8 p.m. at the El Teatro Campesino Playhouse, 705 Fourth St. A special benefit performance will be held Saturday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. and will include authentic tapas and margaritas as well as an option to join the cast and crew for a European style after-theater dinner at Matxain Etxea. Admission for Saturday’s performance is $60 per person, along with an additional surcharge of $25 for dinner. Tickets for tonight’s performance, as well as on Friday, Jan. 30, are now available for purchase as well as regular El Teatro prices. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 623-2444 or go to www.elteatrocampesino.com.
Thursday 2/5
HOLLISTER
Association dinner The California Waterfowl Association will hold its annual dinner tonight at the Hollister Elks Lodge. The dinner will begin with no-host cocktails at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Events include a raffle and auction as well as a free junior (ages 12-16) gun raffle. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 637-4341 or 801-0452.
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.
Saturday 2/14
HOLLISTER
Winemaker’s Dinner Community Pantry of San Benito County will celebrate its 20th anniversary at its annual Winemaker’s Dinner at San Juan Oaks Golf Club tonight beginning with cocktails and a silent auction at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a live auction at 7:30 p.m. and dancing until 11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Timber and Textiles, San Benito Bank, or at www.CommunityPantry.com. All proceeds will benefit the Community Pantry. For ticket prices or more information, call 637-0340.
Saturday 2/21
SANTA CRUZ
Chowder cook-off The 28th Annual Clam Chowder Cook-off will be held today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Teams of chowder chefs from all over the West Coast will be competing for the title of “Best Clam Chowder” by cooking their best red or white chowder. Admission is free. Tasting kits are available for $8 per person. The competition includes three divisions: Professional (restaurants, caterers, food service), Individual and Corporate/Media. For more information, call 420-5273.
