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Sushi for All Ages
If you’re in your 20’s and eagerly anticipating the upcoming Starcraft 2 game:
If you’re under 12 and can’t spell (or if you were born in the 80’s and can’t spell):
If you don’t know what either of the above pictures refer to:
Then, you’ll probably want to visit Koi Sushi in Union City.
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is an event held at cities across the country, including the Bay Area this summer, to promote awareness and raise funds for breast cancer programs including, research, screening and diagnosis, treatment, and various services.
Locally, Team Willow Glen was organized so its members could train together in preparation for the Avon Foundation’s walk in San Francisco July 12 and 13. They have scheduled training walks up to the last week before the event.
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer starts at Chrissy Field in San Francisco, crosses the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin, then back to Chrissy Field to camp for the night. The second day is through San Francisco ending at Golden Gate Park.
You may have a personal reason for taking part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a sister, mother, best friend, or even yourself. Men are encouraged to join and participate for someone they know or themselves. Janet Fouts, team captain of Team Willow Glen, pointed out to me that it is important to remember that men get breast cancer too.
Team Willow Glen has local fundraising events from yard/garage sales to a wine pairing dinner. The wine pairing dinner will be held at Fusion restaurant May 18 with 50% of the proceeds going to the Avon Foundation on the behalf of Team Willow Glen. Information about the dinner here.
Even though the walk is not until July, you my want to consider joining Team Willow Glen now so you can participate in those training walks. Training walks begin (carpool) and meetings are held at Elva’s Coffee Stop, 2206 Lincoln Ave. Willow Glen.
You need not live nor work in Willow Glen to join the team.
For more information about Team Willow Glen, joining, donating, upcoming events, and training walks, check here.
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
San Francisco
Saturday and Sunday, July 12 - 13
May 15 is Bike to Work Day!
Join thousands of Bay Area residents by leaving that smog inducing car at home. Strap that helmet on and get on your bike!
Why? Because May 15 is Bike to Work Day!
As part of this exciting event, there will be a over 190 Engergizer Stations strategically placed throughout the Bay Area where volunteers will be handing out treats, tote bags and bicycling commute-related information.
It’s healthy! It’s economical! It’s environmentally friendly!
I’m taking part! You should too!
Silicon Valley Open Studios
This weekend May 10 – 11 and next weekend May 17 – 18 more than 300 Silicon Valley artists will welcome visitors to their studios and workspaces.
During this free event, you will view diverse one-of-a-kind works of art, including painting, mixed media, photography, sculpture, jewelry, calligraphy, ceramics, fiber arts, pottery, mosaics, metal work, glass, drawing, printmaking, watercolor, woodworking and more. You will be able to meet with the artists and purchase artworks directly.
This weekend May 10 – 11 visit artist in these locations: East Palo Alto, Ladera, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Loyola, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale.
Then next weekend May 17 – 18 visit artist in these locations: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, San Jose, and Saratoga.
Silicon Valley Open Studios
Saturday and Sunday
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Please visit the artists/locations on the appropriate weekend listed above.
A list of all artists with icons depicting their specialty here.
A crude search of artist and locations here.
Locations to pick up a free copy of the Artist Directory and Map Guide here.
Postage Increase
It’s that time of year again, postal increase month.
Every May the Postal Service adjusts prices due to inflation. This will be a penny increase to 42 cents for First-Class Mail on May 12. If you have some leftover 2¢ stamps you can use those if you cringe at the thought of having to go to the post office for 1¢ stamps.
There is some good news, head on over to the post office and stock up on the Forever Stamps. You can continue to use the Liberty Bell Forever Stamps that are purchased prior to May 12 at 41¢ regardless of how many postage increases there are in the future. You can also purchase the stamps at postal vending machines, online, and some stores may carry the Forever Stamps.
More info here.
San Jose is 3rd Runner-up in Most Improved City
The June edition of Bicycle Magazine identified San Jose as the 3rd runner-up for the Most Improved city for riding your bike. They stated that the weather and 200+ miles of bike routes and trails makes San Jose bike friendly. To add to the compliments, the author mentioned that if San Jose were on the East Coast, not competing with the likes of San Francisco, it could be considered a cycling mecca!
I can attest that most of San Jose is bike friendly. Riding 100+ miles a week, many areas of San Jose are a dream. However, there are still many areas that are less than desirable, mostly due to the deterioration of the bike routes, the roads, or simply the lack of a “safe space” for cyclists, particularly on overpasses and freeway entrances/exits.
Quite frankly, the article was a pleasant surprise! Hopefully our city government moves us from 3rd runner of of Most Improved to either the top 3, or runner up for best place to cycle!
Pangea Day: Bringing the World Together Through Films
As the world becomes a small place, we get exposed to different cultures. But unfortunately, that also leads to clashes. The need of the hour is to resolve our differences and get together as one world. One effort in this direction is Pangea Day, which puts films to use. [Pangea, if you didn’t know, is the single piece of land mass that existed before the continents were formed.]
24 short films will be screened over 4 hours across the world simultaneously. There will be live music and some speakers too.
For our area, the date and time are May 10, 11 a.m. In addition to 6 live venues, Internet and television, we can also watch it locally. Here are some locations, one of which might be close to you.
San Jose: JJ’s Blues
Stanford: Stanford University Memorial Auditorium
Berkeley: Wheeler, 2600 Ridge Rd.
Santa Cruz: McHenry Library
Monterey: MPC / Punky Lil Kid Independent Film Festival
You can browse for more venues or even search using a map. There are some “private events” too; but I’m not sure whether we can go there.
In addition to the noble cause and watching movies, I am looking forward to a unique worldwide event. How about you?
High gas prices = fewer cars
Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a substantial change in San Jose traffic patterns. While the rush hour is still, well, not rushed, traffic outside of the normal commute seems to be changing. There are fewer people driving.
I noticed this on my way to the Silicon Valley Flickr meet at Coffee Society in Campbell just this past Monday. I was struck at how few cars there were in the early evening. My somewhat monthly tradition of meeting up with my fellow photo-taking aficionados has always seen a fair amount of freeway traffic. However, the drive on Monday felt an awful like the traffic on San Jose freeways in the late 70’s and early 80’s… not a whole lot of cars out there. I also couldn’t help but notice the same after having dinner at Oakridge earlier today — 85 felt more like a country highway than a major city freeway.
The pain in higher fuel costs in combination with an increase in the cost of living are causing people to change their behavior. In a city that thrives on driving, and my recollections of economics, this is a really, really bad sign.
I hope this doesn’t go on for too long…
A Breath of Plein Air
A Breath of Plein Air is a current exhibit presented by History San José at the Leonard and David McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House featuring plein air paintings, painting in the open air.
The exhibit features 54 pieces by 25 local artists illustrating scenes of San José, Santa Clara or Silicon Valley.
From the History San José web site:
The art of plein air painting, a French word meaning “in the open air,” became popular in the mid-1800’s, with the invention of paints in tubes. Prior to that paint was made by hand and easels were less portable. As the popularity of natural lighting in painting increased, the French impressionists, and later the Russian and American impressionists, have set the stage as the outdoor style continues to be attractive. This is particularly the case in Santa Clara Valley, where the fair weather is often favorable.
Artists who’d like to paint outdoors are invited to attend Plein Air Days at History San José, on Sundays, May 4, June 15, July 20 and August 17.
The Leonard and David McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House opened in 2005, completely restored and transformed into an exhibition space.
History San José is a 14-acre park featuring a town atmosphere, with free rides on historic trolleys, exhibit galleries and 27 historic buildings.
A Breath of Plein Air
The Leonard and David McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House
History San José
1650 Senter Road
Friday – Sunday; through September 21
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Admission: Free
Parking $6.00
Free eWaste Recycling This Weekend
Drop off your old, unwanted or obsolete computers, monitors, TVs, cell phones, keyboards, mice, cabling, and more this weekend.
Saturday, May 3
Woodland Meadow
1600 Whitewood Drive, San Jose
11:00 - 2:00
Sunday, May 4
West Valley Presbyterian Church
6191 Bollinger Road, Cupertino
11:30 - 2:30
Free events
For more info or other options: GreenMouse (eWaste Services) 408.464.9999
Kids Free Fishing Days
The 17th Annual Kids Free Fishing Days is this weekend at the Los Gatos Creek Park - Campbell Percolation Ponds.
Kids 17-years-old and younger fish free and adults are welcome to attend. Bring your own rod, reel, and bait. The ponds will be stocked with thousands of trout and there will be prizes for tagged fish.
Los Gatos Creek County Park
1250 Dell Ave, Campbell
Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4
8:00 am to dusk
Parking (Vehicle Entry Fee): $6.00
More info: 408.970.8578
Baskin-Robbins’ 31 Cent Scoop Night
Today April 30 is Baskin-Robbins’ second annual 31 Cent Scoop Night.
Baskin-Robbins’ 31 Cent Scoop Night is to thank its loyal customers and honor America’s firefighters.
Between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm the price of its 2.5 oz. ice cream scoops will be reduced to 31 cents (plus tax where applicable). You can choose any flavor of ice cream. Limit 10 scoops per person, per purchase.
Baskin-Robbins will donate $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The organization assists families of fallen heroes and offers the public information to prevent fires.
San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs Hitting the Wrong Note
While waiting for our respective customers at SFO, I noticed that the chauffeur standing next to me was holding a clipboard. Attached to its back was a small handbill from the San Jose Jazz Festival. Seeing it was enough for me to start up a conversation. I learned that this chauffeur was none other than Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs a.k.a. radio KKUP DJ - Bajaba On Jazzline.
KKUP’s involvement (Blues Stage) with the Jazz Festival includes being one of its sponsors. Mr. Dayvs was surprised to hear that because of a miscalculation, San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs had made the recommendation to significantly cut funds for this years festival.
To shift funds away from the Jazz Festival and give it to other city venues such as Christmas in the Park is not in the best interest of San Jose. Christmas in the Park makes for a nice local family tradition but it does not generate the revenue or recognition that a jazz festival does.
Hopefully wiser minds at City Hall will prevail and the San Jose Jazz Festival will receive the well-deserved attention it deserves.
Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day
This Tuesday April 29 is Ben & Jerry’s 30th Annual Free Cone Day where their scoop shops give out free ice cream cones. Yummy!
Ben and Jerry as a customer and staff appreciation event for the one-year anniversary of their ice cream storeís opening did the first Free Cone Day in 1979.
Local shops participating in Free Cone Day…
3155 Mission College Boulevard
For other locations, check here.
