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.

Store Locator

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.

KKUP 91.5 Peoples Radio

Bajaba On Jazzline 4PM Tuesday

San Jose Jazz Festival 2007

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…

115 East San Carlos

377 Santana Row, Suite 1120

3155 Mission College Boulevard

For other locations, check here.

Mary Maroon and that guy.

I stopped by the Cupertino Bike Shop to ask about their upcoming bike swap meet. Mary Maroon (got-ta love her name) told me that the swap will be held in the rear parking lot behind the shop. I discovered that over 50 vendors will have great deals on new and used bikes and related items. Cupertino Bike Shop and ROMP will donate vendor space proceeds to help support off-road trails etc.

Cupertino Bike Shop - Sunday Apr 27 - 10493 S. De Anza Blvd, Cupertino California -10 Am - Admission is a mere $2.00 - Bring cash - no plastic or checks accepted at the swap meet. (408) 255-2217 

ROMP

VanderKitten  

Just a reminder to everyone that the Ducks for Bucks Benefit Race is this Saturday April 26th and the Hayward Ukulele Festival is on Sunday April 27th!

I’ll bet my duck is faster than yours!

This Wednesday astronomer Jill Tarter, of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute, will give a non-technical, illustrated talk on The Allen Telescope Array: The Newest Pitchfork for Exploring the Cosmic Haystack. No background in science will be required for this talk.

The Allen Telescope Array, being constructed at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory north of Mt. Lassen as a partnership between the SETI Institute and University of California Berkeley Radio Astronomy Lab, will be the most powerful tool for finding SETI signals ever built. Its an innovative radio telescope assembled from a large number of small dishes, using consumer off-the-shelf technologies whenever possible to minimize costs. This new telescope array will enable exploration of up to 10,000 times more of the cosmic haystack than was searched in the previous decade.

Jill Tarter is Director of the Center for SETI Research at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. Dr. Tarter received her Bachelor of Engineering Physics Degree with Distinction from Cornell University and her Master’s Degree and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of California, Berkeley. Jodi Foster based her character on Dr. Tarter for the movie Contact.

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early to locate parking.
Parking lots 1, 7 and 8 provide stair and no-stair access to the Smithwick theatre.

Smithwick Theater, Foothill College
12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills

Wednesday, April 23
7:00 pm

Admission: Free
Parking: $2.00

Nothing to do Tuesday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm? Yeah, right. Well, it is Earth Day and San Jose is celebrating Earth Day at City Hall Plaza with shopping, entertainment, and exhibits.

For shopping there’s a preview of the San José Downtown Farmers’ Market. Entertainment includes Lincoln High School Mariachi Band, Nguyen Dance Company (Traditional Vietnamese and Cambodian Dance), Mumlers (Indie Rock), Movimiento Cosmico (Aztec Dancers), and Celtic Soul (Irish Folk Band). Exhibits will include recycling, composting, alternative transportation, water conservation, and energy efficiency, among other topics.

There is also a downtown walking tour, reservations required. Check here for more info.

For event and entertainment schedules check here.

City Hall Plaza
Tuesday, April 22
10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Admission: Free

Starbucks Press Room: On April 22nd Starbucks will donate 5-cents to Conservation International for every purchase made that day with a Starbucks Card. Read about it here. If you bring your travel mug (save the paper) into the Starbucks on Los Gatos Blvd today and tomorrow you will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a fantastic Earth Day Basket. 14801 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95032 Between Samaritan Dr/Burton Rd and S Bascom Ave - Look around back for the underground parking garage

Mark your calendars on May 3rd and 4th! It’s time for the Maker Faire!

If you’re not aware:

“Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. It’s for creative, resourceful people of all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make things.”

The MF is packed with amazing projects, hands-on events, performances, music, and shopping! Bazaar Bizarre is one of my favorite parts of the faire. This year there are 72 Crafters! “A smorgasbord of handmade items, many cleverly made with recycled materials. Something for everyone—jewelry, toys, lotions, art, glass, fiber arts, ceramics, handbags, baby items, even crafting supplies.”

Last year was a blast:

From unique musical guests… To Eepybird and their Coke+Mentos show…

Some odd outdoor contraptions… (you run in the hamster wheel and it would cause the finger to pick the boogie)

And more and more and more. Check out the zillions of photos on Flickr if you need more proof that you will have an awesome time.

Tickets:
Weekend Passes - $20 (kids), $30 (students), $50 (adults)
Daily Passes: $10 (kids), $15 (students), $25 (adults)

[Maker Faire]

Get Your Green On! is one of the largest regional green fairs in the Bay Area with at least 50 exhibitors taking place this Saturday on the front lawn of the Los Gatos High School.

The high school’s front lawn will de divided into different themed areas including sections devoted to solar energy, recycling initiatives electric cars, organic cooking and green landscaping.

There will be presentations by The Sierra Club; along with the impact climate change has on animals presented by the Youth Science Institute, and the Silicon Valley Wildlife Center.

The West Valley Green Leaf Committee presents this event of Green Technology.

Front Lawn, Los Gatos High School
210 E Main Street, Los Gatos

Saturday, April 19
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Admission: Free