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!

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One thing I love about going to Cinequest, especially to the premiers, is mingling with the cast and crew. They are often around before, and after the show. I was able to have a few words with Director Craig Saavedra and Cinematographer Joaquin Sedillo. I met Enrico (Rico) Colantoni. He plays D. J. (short for Dijon - like the mustard) The guy he was with liked my brown Nikes. (?)

Sherman’s Way was filmed, for the most part, in Northern California up in Lake County. I am already making plans for a spring road trip.

The town of Kelseyville, thanks to the beautiful work of Joaquin, is now a must see vacation destination.

I didn’t want Sherman’s Way to end. I kept hoping for one more scene - I wasn’t ready to say goodbye…

Screenings: Dates and Times

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

Joaquin Sedillo and Craig Saavedra

The night began in the Filmmaker’s/Press Lounge (refreshments and computers) at the Hotel Montgomery. There were only three other people in the room with me. One was a member of the Cinequest staff, and it thrilled me to find that the other two were filmmakers!

Director/Producer Craig Saavedra (Rhapsody In Bloom) and Director of Photography Joaquin Sedillo (Veronica Mars) were checking things out on the computers when I approached them for an interview.

The unbounded enthusiasm of these passionate filmmakers fueled my desire to be in the audience on the 29th for the World Premiere of ‘Sherman’s Way’

Scheduled Screenings

Hitch a ride Start it up Watch the trailer.

I said goodbye to the guys and walked over to the California Theatre.

Opening Night Film: Eden Court

I was sitting alone in the beautiful California Theatre when I noticed Jason. He was front row and center. I asked if the seat next to him was taken. It turned out to be a good choice. Where better to enjoy a film than to next to the #1 movie fan!

Jason Watches Movies

Eden Court:

The proverbial mid-life crisis is an overused premise in modern film making, but I found Eden Court so entertaining I hardly noticed. The laughs came on cue.

With the approach of Duncan’s 30th birthday he chooses to run away rather than face the hard truths of his life. He tells a friend that he will find the American Dream, even if he must move to Australia to do it.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s (Bonnie Duncan) performance could have so easily gone over the top, but she held it to perfection.

Stephnie Weir (Barb) kept on a pink robe and a smile on me.

Eden Court is the movie to pull out on a dreary day.

[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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Do the survivors trust the rescuers, or do they heed Charlie’s warning?

‘Lost’ is back: ABC 7 tonight from 8:00p - 9:00p and 9:00p - 10:02p
(Note the 2 minutes it will run past 10p)

Last year while covering Cinequest interviews, one of my favorites was ‘A conversation with J.J. Abrams.’

Mr. Abrams shared the surprising way in which ‘Lost’ came about. His love for his craft was apparent, as was his genius. ABC had called on J.J. to take the premise of a plane going down; stranding the passengers on an island. He was then unbelievably asked to come back in just a couple of days to present his scenario for a two-hour pilot. In twelve weeks he was able to pull the story, the characters, and the crew together-’Lost’ was a two-hour pilot, and the rest is history.

The Cinequest Film Festival promises to be even more exciting this year. To be revealed in future posts!

Clear your calendar from February 27 - March 9, 2008

Tickets are available

Want to be with a wild crowd at midnight on Saturday night? At a place where you and your boyfriend can both dress up in garters (or in this case mouse ears) to watch and participate along with a disturbingly psyched out movie? That’s why one of my friends came all the way up from Los Angeles.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is about the strange things that happen to a couple of clean cut engaged kids, Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), after they find themselves lost on a proverbial dark and stormy night. Seeking a phone, they enter the bizarre world of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).

Enter at Your Own Risk… 
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