It’s that time of year again. School is out, vacations are
planned and warm, summer days beckon us to enjoy the outdoors.
Whether you’re looking for relief from summer re-runs or ways to
entertain those energetic kids, you’ll find plenty to do right here
in Gilroy.
It’s that time of year again. School is out, vacations are planned and warm, summer days beckon us to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re looking for relief from summer re-runs or ways to entertain those energetic kids, you’ll find plenty to do right here in Gilroy.
You might want to start with dinner at the newly opened Station 55 at 60 Fifth St. You’ll find good food at reasonable prices. For fun, they have karaoke on Thursdays from 8 p.m. to midnight, live music on Friday night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and karaoke for kids on Sundays from 5 to 9p.m. After dinner stroll downtown to enjoy the painted windows of the Old Gilroy Bank on the West side of Monterey Street between Fourth and Fifth streets. Created by artist and community advocate Carol Peters, with the help of local teen artists, the windows depict banking in the early days of California. In the window next to the old bank is an attractively arranged display of quilts by Nimble Thimble. Venture across the street to the quilt shop and let Dave Peoples help you pick out a summer project or sign up for a quilting class.
For more relief from the kitchen and a great way to spend a summer evening, make a date for dinner at Lizarran Tapas Restaurant in Gilroy’s Old City Hall. The restaurant features a flamenco dancing show and dinner on the last Sunday evening of every month.
Beginning on June 25, you can enjoy a Friday evening at Fifth Street Live, sponsored by the Gilroy Arts Alliance. If you’ve never experienced this downtown tradition, put it on your calendar. IGather a group of neighbors, pack a dinner or some snacks, bring the kids (even the dog on a leash) and come on down. The free event starts at 7 p.m. All you need are your own lawn chairs, comfy shoes if you want to dance and a few dollars if you want to purchase raffle tickets. Among the prizes are passes to the events and household garden and personal items. Bands this summer include Blue Sky (June 25), Sage Brush (July 2), Common Ground (July 9), Rock Solid (July 16), Fast Lane (July 30), John Garcia (Aug. 8), The Usual Suspects (Aug. 20) and El Teatro Campesino/Dr. Zarkov’s Amazing Jug Band (Aug. 20).
You might want to brush up on your footwork before cutting the rug at Fifth Street Live. Check out the Gilroy Community Services Recreation Guide for details on ballroom and line dancing classes. I can’t think of a better way to get a little exercise, meet new friends and have fun. The guide also offers a wealth of classes for all ages as well as playground programs, camp schedules, events and golf tournaments. Pick up a guide at the Community Services Department in City Hall or check it out online at www.cityofgilroy.org.
If you love to act and would like some pointers from the pros, or if you’ve always wanted to act on stage but never could get up the nerve to try, South Valley Civic Theatre has the perfect answer. They are offering a day of workshops on June 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road. Open to ages 18 and up, the workshops are a real bargain at $15, lunch included.
Paul Myrvold, a member of Actor’s Equity since 1973, will present a three-hour acting session covering basic theatrical skills, stage presence and character develop.m.ent. Local actor and director, Tom Hepner, will cover broadening outlooks and building confidence in an improvisation session. Robin Church, make-up artist for San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, will conduct a session showing actors how to accentuate facial characteristics. An additional workshop for children grades two through eight will be held the same day at the SVCT warehouse,16840 Joleen Way, Bldg.F4, Morgan Hill. The cost is $10, including lunch. Family rates are available. Presented by yours truly, the children’s sessions will include theater games, movement, how to audition, choosing and presenting a song, performance evaluation, character develop.m.ent and script writing. To register for either workshop, call Bill Tindall at (408) 781-4967 or e-mail [email protected].
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Summer Events
South Valley Civic Theatre “The King and I” auditions
June 4, 6:30 p.m.; June 5, 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
16840 Joleen Way, Bldg. F4,
Morgan Hill
www.svct.org” www.svct.org
South Valley Civic Theater acting workshops
June 12, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
$15 adults, $10 children
includes lunch
Morgan Hill Community Playhouse
408 781 4967
Gilroy Arts Alliance &Leadership Gilroy Demonstration Garden
Opening day celebration
June 5, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Eigleberry Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, Gilroy
John Bisceglie’s “Disco Island Live”
July 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 at 7:30 p.m.; July 11, 18 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $13
(408) 846-0460
