Just collecting a few random flyers around downtown and SJSU and passing the info on to you. This stuff ranges from comedy to theater to nightclub events to ballroom dance lessons to talent shows to… well, you’ll see. There’s got to be something here you’re interested in. I’m also splicing in some events I found here on the San Jose Downtowner e-mail newsletter, and a couple of gems I saw on Artsopolis.com. I wish I could do this more often. Alas, school.

Wednesday, Oct. 1

Comedy at the Improv: Komedy Kegger – San Jose Bar and Grill teams up with The Improv to supply top notch laughs and affordable drinks and appetizers.  Tickets are good for buy one get one drink at San Jose Bar and Grill after the show.  8 pm.  62 S. Second St.  $10, 280-7475 or www.symfonee.com/Improv/sanjose/home/index.aspx

Thursday, Oct. 2

Groove Suite — An Open Turnatble Gathering: Every first Thursday of the month. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at SFB Lounge, 420 South First St. All styles and genres welcome. Featuring a heavy monthly line-up of local and international guest DJs, live art, vendors, billiards, arcade/gaming area, food and drink specials all night. All sets are recorded live and will be available free to download at http://www.groovesuite.podomatic.com/. Resident: ThatGirl. Guest list free all night: thatgirlmelanie@yahoo.com. Email for priority open turntable sign-up.

Ma’BOO’Hay Talent Showcase: In celebration of Pilpino History Month, Akbayan presents their 8th annual talent showcase. Pilipino artists from around the Bay Area perform for a night of great music and fun, with proceeeds going to Bantay Bata 163, a charity that serves sick and abused children. Sponsored by the Akbayan Filipino-American Organization of SJSU. Tickets are $8 presale and $12 at the door. Doors open 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Email maboohay2008@gmail.com for tickets or more information, or visit http://akbayansjsu.wordpress.com/.

Comedy at the Improv presents Henry Cho: (Thursday-Sunday) Cho is going to star in his own sitcom based on his life as a Korean-American born and raised in Tennessee.  He has also been featured on Comedy Central and several films like “Material Girls,” “Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation” and “Say It Isn’t So.”  8 pm Thurs; 8 pm and 10 pm Fri; 7 pm and 9 pm Sat; 7 pm Sun.  62 S. Second St. $16-$18, 280-7475 or www.symfonee.com/Improv/sanjose/home/index.aspx

City Lights Theatre presents “Noises Off”: A funny story of an English acting ensemble that is touring a production of a farce called “Nothing On.”  Thursday-Saturday through October 19. 8 pm Wed-Sat; 7 pm Oct 5; 2 pm Oct 12 and Oct 19.  529 S.  Second St.  $15-$40, 295.4200 or www.cltc.org

Friday, Oct. 3

South First Fridays: Downtown art venues are free and open to the public late into the evening, every first Friday of the month. You can also ride the new rickshaw service between galleries. See highlights, read about the venues and download a map at http://www.southfirstfridays.com/

Ballroom Dance: Take lessons every Friday from now to Oct. 24. This Friday and Friday Oct. 10 both focus on the Bolero. Oct. 17 and 24 teaches Salsa, Nov. 7 is the Foxtrot and Nov. 14 and 21 are East Coast Swing. No dance experience necessary! Cost is $25 for a semester or $3 for drop-in. Beginning classes are at 7:30 p.m. and intermediate is at 8:30 p.m. Visit the Ballroon Dance Club’s website at http://studentorgs.sjsu.edu/sjsubdc.

SiliCon 2008: Through Oct. 5. The SiliCon 2008 Convention for Fans of Science, Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror features seminars covering hard science, science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. Some of the topics covered include astronomy, robotics, and other scientific areas, as well as writing, painting, costuming, singing, model making, computer graphics, and film studies, along with diabetes education and outreach. SiliCon is a non-profit organization devoted to science education and raising funds and awareness for diabetes education and research. Info: http://www.siliconventions.com/2008/

Death of a Salesman: October 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 at 7 p.m., University Theatre, SJSU. Tickets are $10 students/seniors, $20 general admission. For more info or to order tickets online, go to http://www.tvradiofilmtheatre.com/.

San Pedro Farmers’ Market: Fresh produce, food vendors and live music, takes place each Friday to Dec. 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. along San Pedro Street between Santa Clara and St. John streets. http://www.sjdowntown.com/eve_eve_far.html.

WAIT! There’s 7 more events behind the jump!

(more…)

From the group's July 13 performance at the San Jose Obon Festival.

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Hi everyone!

I’m Sarah, a new author for the San Jose Metblog. I’m very excited to contribute and to start off, I’d like to tell you a bit about myself (it’ll be short - I promise!)

- Journalism was my first love. I studied Journalism at SJSU, graduated with a degree in the fabulous subject in 2005, worked for local weekly newspapers for two years, then decided to leave the business. Not because I didn’t love reporting, but because I figured I should get out while I still had the choice. Anyone who’d like to have a conversation about the current state of Journalism in the Bay Area is absolutely welcome to leave a comment and let me know. :)

- I’m currently back at SJSU in the teaching credential program to be a high school English teacher. Yes, I left a poverty-inducing career where getting laid off is a possibility, to enter another poverty-inducing career that is also in danger financially. But what isn’t these days?

- And last, I love photography. I take photos around San Jose all the time, so I’m making it a mission to bring photos to each of my entries, starting with this one!

OK, enough about me. What I really want to tell you all about is the Spirit of Japantown Festival that is planned for next Saturday, Oct. 4. As a Japantown resident, I love telling people how much I love it here and how they should come by and check out some of the delicious food. Sushi Maru is my personal favorite, but Japantown has lots to offer.

The Spirit of Japantown Festival will go from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the heart of Japantown (Jackson and Fifth streets) and will be packed with activities for people of all ages. Shoppers will enjoy the Main Street full of Japanese fine arts, crafts, food for sale, as well as wares from other local merchants. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy entertainment that ranges from a hula to bellydancing on the Main Stage (Jackson Street between Third and Fourth streets), as well as Martial Arts demonstrations, free Anime movies, and other activities for kids. The San Jose Taiko group is scheduled to perform on the Main Stage, and I have to say they are a must-see. I’ve watched the group perform at the last two San Jose Obon Festivals and they are phenomenal.

While there is usually plenty of street parking in the area, during festivals, the streets fill up fast. However, those who are lightrail savvy will be interested to know that the Japantown/Ayer stop is just a few blocks away from the action. The stop is on First street near Jackson, so just a quick walk and riders can be in the heart of the action.

So if you’re interested, I’m sending you a personal invitation to my neighborhood to enjoy all it has to offer. See you at the festival!

For more information about the Spirit of Japantown Festival, visit their website.

The 2nd Annual Let the Children Play Music Festival, a benefit concert for Feed the Children and Milagro Foundation is this Saturday.

There will be continuous live entertainment on the main stage, a variety of food, arts & crafts, and numerous activities for the kids including games, activities, interactive booths, and prizes in the Radio Disney area.

Proceeds from this years benefit concert will help in the goal to feed a million meals and more to those in dire need in the Bay Area and in the U.S disaster relief zones.

Heart of Chaos artists will be creating a mural themed Feed the Children and collaborating with Heart of Kids artists on a separate mural themed Let the Children Play. Attending children are encouraged to participate in an open themed community mural. The Heart of Chaos and Heart of Kids murals will be auctioned off during the event. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Feed the Children.

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm — Radio Disney Camp Rock Party
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm — Main Stage: Rose Royce, Con Funk Shun and Bobby Caldwell

Last year the event was free, this year it is $5.00 (children ages 12 and under enter for free).

2nd Annual Let The Children Play Music Festival
Guadalupe River Park, Discovery Meadow
W San Carlos Street and Woz Way, San Jose

Saturday, September 27
11:30 am - 8:00 pm

Admission: $5:00 - free for children ages 12 and under

VTA - Light Rail exit at the Children’s Discovery Museum Station or Bus Lines 23 or 81

Bark in the Park is a fundraising event with more dogs than you could shake a tail at. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Humane Society Silicon Valley and San Jose Animal Care Center.

Ongoing throughout the day: Dancing Dogs, Dog Water Park, Free Dog Agility Course, Flyball Canine Relay, Performing Dogs, Grooming, Training Tips and Herding Demonstrations. Yes, Duck Herding Demonstrations!

Special Event Highlights: Dog Costume Contest, 11:00 am, Silly Dog Tricks, 12:00 pm and Pet/Owner Look Alike Contest 1:00 pm.

In addition, 99 cent Rabies Vaccinations, Low Cost Microchipping, Dog Related Vendors. Moreover, what would an event be without Kid’s Activities?

There will be Live Music along with Food and Beverages.

Bark in the Park is the biggest dog festival in the US.

Important: All pets must be on a leash. Pick up after your dog.

Bark in the Park 2008
William Street Park, San Jose
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets

Saturday, September 20
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Admission: Free - $5 donation per dog is encouraged

Parking: Attendees may park in the Naglee Park neighborhood, please do not block the driveways. There will be a drop-off location at the park and directions to nearby parking areas.

408-793-5125

Symphony Silicon Valley, led by Bruce Hangen, former Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Pops, will perform a live concert for the family to enjoy featuring music by Bernstein, Mendelssohn, Bizet, Beethoven and more. Bring a picnic and come early as the first 700 children receive a free recorder and instruction how to play it beginning at 2:15 pm.

Discovery Meadow Park
Woz Way and San Carlos Street, San Jose

Sunday, August 24
Beginning 3:00 pm

Admission: Free

Sally Ride Science Festival is where girls, parents, and teachers attend workshops, meet scientists, and have fun at the street fair.

The Science Festival is designed for 5th to 8th grade girls. Parents and teachers are welcome. Please read the FAQ here.

The festival features workshops for students given by local scientists and engineers including chemists, veterinarians, microbiologists, and others; there will be workshops for parents and teachers on ways to support students’ interests in science and math; also, a street fair with booths, hands-on activities, food, and music. There will also be a talk by astronaut Wendy Lawrence.

Wendy Lawrence is a veteran of 4 space shuttle missions and was an astronaut for 14 years. Her space missions included a shuttle flight that carried a set of telescopes to study the stars, 2 space shuttle trips to rendezvous with the Russian space station Mir, and most recently the space shuttle’s return to space after the Columbia accident. She is also an Ocean Engineer.

Sally Ride is the first American woman to fly in space. She was aboard the space shuttle Challenger that launched from Kennedy Space Center, on June 18, 1983. NASA selected Sally Ride as an astronaut candidate in January 1978. While in training, she worked on development of the shuttle’s robot arm, and worked in mission control as a capsule communicator. Long an advocate for improved science education, Sally Ride has written six science books for children. She also initiated and directed education projects designed to fuel middle school students fascination with science.

Advance registration is required and is $20 (includes the featured talk, workshops, lunch, and the Street Fair).

Sally Ride Science Festival information and registration

Sally Ride Science Festival
NASA Ames Research Center

Saturday, September 27
11:00 am - 1:00 pm Check-in, Lunch, Street Fair
1:00 pm - 4:15 pm Featured Talk, Workshops, Street Fair

There are two county fairs wrapping up this weekend, one in San Mateo and the other in Monterey.

The usual draw includes entertainment, contests, carnival rides, games of skill, clowns, quilts, crafts, woodworking, baking, canning, vegetables, fruits, educational exhibits, animals, on and on.

Best Apple Pie contest and Better Than Betty’s Cake contest at the Monterey County Fair!

Both fairs will have Friday and Saturday night entertainment beginning at 7:30 pm:

Friday 8-15

• Jessica Simpson – Monterey

• Loverboy - Monterey

• “Weird Al” Yankovic - San Mateo

Saturday 8-16

• Randy Travis - Monterey

• Billy Ray Cyrus - San Mateo

Check the fair websites for other entertainers, contests, events, directions, hours, pricing –

Monterey County Fair

San Mateo County Fair

If you are looking for the ideal school for your child or maybe yourself (Adult Ed), the State of California provides access to data from the California Department of Education on California public schools. The information includes academic performance, graduation rates, student-teacher ratio, course offerings, along with other topics as district finances, teacher salaries and credentials, and enrollments.

You can get lists of schools in each district and districts in each county. Be aware that many schools are now requiring proof-of-residency. High-performing schools have seen enrollment increases putting a burden on staffing and physical constraints.

Some of the school types listed include Charter Schools, Adult Education, Special Education, along with Elementary, Middle, Junior High, and High Schools.

California School Finder - compare schools side-by-side with the latest school rankings, academic performance, graduation rates, student-teacher ratio, course offerings

Ed-Data - student demographics and performance, plus information about staffing, including teacher salaries, lists of schools in each district

Education.com - provides a plethora of information on public schools in all 50 states

Animals! Pythons, vultures, kinkajous, Frisbee dogs, your dog, bugs, butterflies, ants, and much more will be featured at Animal Planet Expo at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds this weekend.

There will be something for everyone, including the family pet (dog), to explore and celebrate the important role animals play on this planet. Visit the Bug House to see some of the aforementioned bugs; Animal House (no, not…) where animal experts introduce exotic species from around the world; Kids’ Zone: wildlife face painting, obstacle course, “King Croc”, an inflatable crocodile slide that is over 30 feet long; also, Spider Mountain - a 20-foot high climbing attraction.

Pet Den will provide pet adoption opportunities and helpful information on how to find the perfect pet for your family. Pet Den will host “Ask the Vet” sessions, where pet owners can meet one-on-one with a local veterinarian.

Dog Park will have activities for your dog; also, your pet can quench their thirst at the Pet Misters and Watering Holes.

Wildlife explorer Jeff Corwin will be available for autograph signing from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Frisbee dog show times are 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm.

Live exotic animal presentations on the R.O.A.R. (Reach Out, Act, and Respond) Stage, including those pythons, vultures, and kinkajous at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm.

Slap on some sunscreen (where applicable), grab the kids, grab the dog, and head on over for a fun day at the Fairgrounds. It’s free!

More information, including photos from previous Expos here.

Animal Planet Expo
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
344 Tully Road, San Jose

Saturday & Sunday, July 26 Ð 27
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Admission: Free

Our busy take-out lifestyle has helped childhood obesity become epidemic, and I was shocked to hear the recent American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that cholesterol-fighting drugs be given to some young children. Luckily, DooF (food spelled backwards) the new PBS program that is all about helping kids to make healthier food choices will begin airing in 2009.

DooF-a-Palooza 2008:
Help raise funds for DooF while having family fun - A DooF-a-Palooza admission ticket includes hands-on activities, games, food, music, free stuff, and a silent auction for the adults.

The place to be with the kids this Saturday: Purchase Tickets and Information

Google Headquarters
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View
Saturday, July 12, 2008
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.