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.

According to a new list compiled by Forbes, San Jose ranks #1 in the list of greediest cities. I’m not sure what criteria was used to rank each city. To be fair, Forbes identified Silicon Valley as a city, which includes the cities of San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.

Personally, it doesn’t suprise me one bit. Living in San Jose most of my life, I’ve definitely noticed a change in both the city and its people… in a not so positive light. A few of my friends and co-works have commented on what we figured was a sense of self-entitlement with people in the area… ironically, we all work in technology — whose generalized affluence helped give San Jose the not-so-flattering title.

Read Forbes Americas Greediest Cities for a complete list.

[AROUND THE BAY screenshot courtesy Alejandro Adams]

I like to consider the Academy Awards Show a nice little warm-up to our 12 days and nights of film excitement. One of the most influential film festivals of the year is happening in downtown San Jose. We will be presented with 250 screenings, 80+ films, with 40 U.S., North American, and World Premiers from which to choose.

This year’s Maverick Award recipients:
Danny Glover - (The Royal Tenebaums, Lethal Weapon)
Michael Keaton - (Batman, Night Shift, and one of my all time favorites - Mr. Mom)
Michael Arndt - (Little Miss Sunshine)
Bobby Moresco - (Million Dollar Baby)

I know I won’t be able to take it all in, so I am going over the film schedule trying to fit in as much as possible.

The Alejandro Adams film AROUND THE BAY featuring local talent Steve Voldseth, is one film I am making a point of screening.

As the title implies the film uses many locations, places we here in the South Bay see everyday. The film will open the doors of an upper-middle-class life. Will we see one of our neighbors or might it hit closer to home?
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Today, February 14th, marks the one-year anniversary of Metroblogging San Jose. The blog was launched with the idea that San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, needed to be represented. After all, we are the renowned home to high-tech startup companies. In addition to Internet industries, The City of San José enjoys a professional ice hockey team, outdoor recreation opportunities, world-class museums, and restaurants.

Here’s to a new year of sharing our interests and observations.

It was the year my mom bought one of those shiny silver aluminum Christmas trees with a color wheel beneath it. When I asked her why we couldn’t have a regular fake tree with multicolored lights, she replied that she was tired of untangling the strings. That night I came up with a solution. How about a pre-lit tree? Of course the thoughts of a young girl never went further than our living room. Sometime in the 70s the pre-lit tree appeared on the market. I could have been rich! Where was the ‘Everyday Edisons’ program when I needed it?

‘Everyday Edisons’ is holding a casting call this Saturday at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center to discover a bright idea.

The idea can take any form, from a sketch on a napkin to the finished product.
Free educational seminars, too.

Everyday Edisons - Casting Call

San Jose McEnery Convention Center
150 W. San Carlos Street
San Jose, CA 95113
800-SAN-JOSE
408-277-3535

Date: 02/16/08
You must show up sometime from 7am - 1pm to have your idea seen.
Tickets: Free

FYI - Please do not dress up in a chicken suit. It’s not American Idol.

Is it just news mongering, the hearsay that hints at Google saving Yahoo?

GoogHoo would be fine with me.

It won’t change my life if in an attempt to play catch-up Microsoft buys Yahoo for $44.6 bazillion dollars.

That is as long as they don’t try to Micro-manage my flickr.

Last February we were relieved to hear that BEA Systems Inc. would move its headquarters downtown, occupying the landmark blue Sobrato building on Almaden Boulevard.

With this mornings news that Oracle will buy BEA Systems for a reported $8.5 billion, will Oracle CEO Larry Ellison want another glass tower in Silicon Valley?

Things got askew at eBay’s Hamilton Ave. campus today when a suspicious package was spotted around 9:30am. It was determined that the package could be destroyed - so it went boom around 12:30pm.

Last November the eBay North San Jose campus was targeted. Someone had left an explosive device strong enough to blow out a window near the PayPal office. Thankfully no one was injured.

Whats with this time of year and eBay?

 
Our local police, firefighters, and paramedics must be prepared for immediate response in the event of large-scale biological sabotage. The state Office of Homeland Security is asking the citizens of Santa Clara County to help professionals with an emergency training drill tomorrow.

Victims are needed to show signs of inhaling or ingesting a chemical agent. Just like being in a big Hollywood movie, cards will explain your character.

All ages are welcome, so bring the kids, toddlers, and the grandparents. Volunteers who are deaf, blind, or in wheelchairs will be valuable to the exercise. Non-English or bilingual speaking participants are encouraged.

Some good reasons to attend: The weather will be ideal. Breakfast and lunch are complementary. Movies and live bands will entertain. While helping with readiness, volunteers will take pride in preparing their community.

Wednesday, November 14th.
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
San Jose Municipal Stadium, 588 E. Alma Ave
Volunteer pre-register by calling (408) 247-1126
(Drop-in volunteers are welcome that day too)

VOLUNTEER CENTER OF SILICON VALLEY

 ”Words concocted by the lyrical locksmith, as deadly as 10 droplets of Ricin toxin.”
–”Master Thesis” by rap artist Canibus