That brings Pinkberry’s list of non-fat frozen yogurt to five, including the flavors: Original, Green Tea, and Pomegranat.

Pinkberry Santana Row
368 Santana Row #102
San Jose, 95128
408-557-8333

The rules of the festival: Admission should be free, the musicians should perform for free, amateurs must be just as welcomed as professionals, and there should be a diverse range of genres represented. By every measure I can find, San Jose’s participation will do exactly this.

It’s happening at Santana Row, where headliners include Tété, who is being called the “French Ben Harper,” and Eric John Kaiser, who calls himself “Portland’s French Troubadour.” The rest of the crazily diverse lineup can be found at the San Jose Jazz website. And when I say diverse, I mean there’s hip-hop, jazz, rock, folk, classical, funk, gospel, blues, pop, indie and swing on the lineup. Crazy diverse.

For more info, check out the international home page (in English). The Merc also does a writeup here.

What: Fête de la Musique
Where: Santana Row, at Winchester and Stevens Creek boulevards, San Jose. Free parking. (Directions)
When: Saturday, June 20, 2009, 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Contact: 408.551.4611.

Festivities include live music, choirs, carolers, stilt walkers, hot chocolate sampling and activities for children.

The annual (40-foot) Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at approximately 6:30 pm in Park Valencia; also, the lighting of more than 500,000 twinkling lights throughout Santana Row.

Scheduled on the Celebration Stage on Olin Avenue: San Jose native Katee Shean (So You Think You Can Dance), The Nutcracker performed by The Joy of Dancing, also a sneak peek of San Jose Repertory Theatre’s holiday production Around the World in 80 Days.

Santana Row
368 Santana Row, San Jose

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Free event

The festival includes chef demonstrations, wine tasting, live entertainment and samplings of pear-influenced recipes by Santana Row Chefs.

Wine tasting, $20 for six tastes with 20% of proceeds donated to Hospice of the Valley.

Food Network’s Giada De Laurentiis will appear at noon in Santana Row Park with a Q&A and book signing. Tickets for this event will be distributed in Sur La Table at Santana Row with the purchase of Giada’s Kitchen.

Santana Row
Winchester & Stevens Creek Boulevards, San Jose

Sunday, October 19, 2008
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Free except for wine tasting and the Giada De Laurentiis event.

I met Nina Hautumm while waiting in the lobby of the San Jose Repertory Theatre. We were both there to see the World Premier of Sherman’s Way. I discovered that Nina herself was a moviemaker. Sharp Cookies is a short comedy (17 minutes) and is one of the winners of the ‘Vuze Audience Favorites.’ I told her that I would catch it on Sunday.

Reaching into her Cinequest Gift Bag, she came up with a 12oz bag of Peet’s Coffee. She asked, “Do you like coffee?” Nina doesn’t drink coffee is the reason she gave it to me.

Nina asked me, “Where are the shops?” She wanted to pick up a few things, maybe some new shoes. Without going into the whole where in the heck are the shops in San Jose debate, I directed her to Santana Row and Valley Fair.

Sharp Cookies

Vuze Audience Favorites

Today, what’s left of it, and all day tomorrow buy any 6-inch Subway sandwich and get another one for free.

(I didn’t ask but it is most likely: Get another of equal or lesser value for free.)

SUBWAY
377 Santana Row
San Jose, CA 95128
Ph. 408-984-7821

It would be difficult to dispute its position as the best Indian restaurant out here. I should say that it’s almost on par with the top restaurants back in India.

There are actually 3 different ‘Ambers’ — the original and a new ‘Cafe’ version in Mountain View with another in San Jose. Amber India Restaurant was originally started in Mountain View about 12 years ago. My guess is that it has remained in the same place throughout — a nondescript strip mall on El Camino Real. But once you’re inside, you realise the class of the place. The ambience is good except that it’s a bit cramped, reflective of the location.

There’s a branch at the upmarket Santana Row. This one too is small but less cramped. Again, mirroring the environment, it’s a bit more classy and expensive.

I have been to each of these just once; so, my comments have to be considered in that light. Also, coincidentally, I went for a buffet at both locations. Food is good on the whole but the variety is possibly better on weekends.

The Amber Cafe near downtown Mountain View is for people who don’t want to go to a fast food joint or a high-class restaurant, crave good food and don’t mind spending a bit more. The dishes are limited but include some interesting combos and fusion stuff. They also feature weekend specials like biryani. The setting is nicely garnished with funny creations of a top Indian cartoonist.

At all three locations, I have always felt that the service could be better. In any case, if you want to try out Indian food, Amber is certainly a better bet. Without Americanizing the food too much, they still manage to keep it attractive for all.

One last point — Amber serves primarily North Indian fare. (Refer to my previous post for the broad definition.)

Festival attendees will be able to meet pear farmers, taste the pear-influenced creations of chefs during the Santana Row Chef Challenge, attend a pear dessert demonstration, enjoy performances by local folk, country and jazz musicians, visit the farmer’s market, along with other activities.

Learn new pear recipes, growing techniques and more from the growers themselves; also, sample different types of pears from across the country. 10:00am. – 6:00pm

The Santana Row Chef Challenge with Chefs David Bastide (Left Bank), Vittal Shetty (Amber India), Michael Dunn (Yankee Pier), Stephen J. Romeo (Straits Café) and others compete using fresh ingredients from the Santana Row Farmers’ Market, as well as any spice or meat/fish they wish, the chefs must create a pear-themed dish in only 30 minutes. The lucky spectators get to be the judges. 11:00am, 2:00pm & 4:00pm

Bay Area chef and author of award-winning dessert cookbooks Alice Medrich will demonstrate her pastry techniques when she prepares a special pear dessert. Noon

Santana Row
Winchester & Stevens Creek Boulevards, San Jose
Sunday, Oct. 7
10:00am. – 6:00pm
Free

Driving Directions