Not only do we set clocks back an hour this weekend, we can also journey back in time to the days of the Frontier Village amusement park.

Frontier Village was a Western themed amusement park at the intersection of Monterey Road and Branham Lane in San Jose that operated in the 60’s and 70’s.

A Campbell resident opens their back yard up for Halloween that has an old western town modeled after buildings that were at Frontier Village. Included are authentic Antique Autos, signage and other memorabilia from the old amusement park. Dressed in western outfits, they will pass out candy to the kids.

You youngins and those wanting to reminisce may want to visit the Remembering Frontier Village website.

After your day of Trick-or-Treating remember to set your clocks back an hour. Yes, we are heading back to standard time.

Halloween Open Yard
871 Virginia Ave. Campbell

Saturday October 31, 2009
6:00 pm to 9:30 pm

“New” Frontier Village …

Chef Martin Yan will be demonstrating cooking with tea and will be available for book signing Sunday at Ku Day Ta Tea Lounge in Milpitas,

He may include his yummy Black Tea Braised Beef Short Ribs and Tea-Smoked Salmon recipes at this free event.

In addition, here is an opportunity if you have never been to Ku Day Ta to relax with a calming and comforting tea drink before or after the event.

Ku Day Ta Tea Lounge
447 Great Mall Drive, #124, Milpitas

Sunday October 18, 2009
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

408-935-9107

Paige Baxter

Finding a good hair stylist is like finding a good hand bag; which can be one of a woman’s biggest challenges. I tried a celebrity stylist in Willow Glen. As far as I know he doesn’t do celebs, he just thinks that he is one. Mr. Celeb took a quick look at my hair and then turned me over to a shampoo girl. Mr. Celeb took all of 10 minutes to do the cut. He then called over another girl to blow dry and style. That will be $100 please. I wondered what did that C-note cover? Just the cut? The experience felt odd, and to make it worse I didn’t like my hair.

One afternoon I was up near SFO with some time to kill. Always on the search for that good hair cut, I happened into Roobik’s, in Burlingame. Martine listened to me, cut my hair to perfection, and that will be $18 please! Even though it means a trip to Burlingame; one of my life’s biggest challenges is solved.

The last time I was up there for my cut Martine told me about her daughter Paige. She is the drummer with a group called Wonderland Syndrome.

Wonderland Syndrome @ VooDoo Lounge
14 S 2ND ST, San Jose
Tonight – Friday, Oct. 2
7:30 PM

Roobik’s
1805 El Camino Real # B @ Trousdale Dr.
Burlingame, CA 94010-3202
(650) 697-424
* Ask for Martine

October 4th is just a couple of weeks away, so it is time for San Jose runners to get ready for the Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon. Though this news is exciting for the runners, and good for the city, for me it is just ho-hum. That was until I heard about the post race concert.

* Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon Post-Race Concert:
* Finish Line Festival Stage – Plaza de Caesar Chavez.

# 1 Jonny Lang – (Grammy winner) is the concert headliner.

# 2 It is free! – and open to the public. (the concert)

# 3 Lang is scheduled to take the stage around 12 PM.

Note: For the marathon – register online

Bark in the Park is a fundraising event with big dogs, little dogs, skilled dogs, not so skilled dogs; well, you get the idea. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Humane Society Silicon Valley and San Jose Animal Care Center.

Throughout the day at various times: dancing dogs, dog water park, free dog agility course, flyball canine relay, performing dogs, grooming, training tips and 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 cents rabies vaccinations, low cost microchipping, dog-related vendors and what would an event be without kid’s activities?

There will be live music along with food and beverages.

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

Bark in the Park 2009
William Street Park, San Jose
Corner of William and S. Sixteenth Streets

Saturday, September 19
10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Admission: humans 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.

White on Rice will appear at Camera 3 starting Friday, September 18.

A few months ago, I mentioned the film White on Rice, which headlined the San Francisco Asian-American Film Festival’s San Jose presentations. Now the film is back, booked for a one week run at the Camera 3 in downtown San Jose.

The film is about a 40-year-old guy who’s recently gotten divorced and moved in with his sister, where he’s sharing a bunk bed with his 10-year-old nephew. He refuses to grow up, but still hopes to find the perfect replacement for his departed wife. All the reviews I’ve seen say it’s really funny.

Even better, with a special coupon you can download from the San Jose chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League, proceeds from your attendance on the opening weekend will benefit JACL. The coupon is only good Friday through Sunday, and it doesn’t change the price of your ticket, but it does redirect part(?) of your ticket payment to JACL, to support their educational, civil rights, and cultural programs.

• What: Film screening benefitting San Jose Japanese-American Citizens League
• When: starting Friday, September 18
• Where: Camera 3 Cinema, 288 S. Second St., San Jose.

Jane Alexander was determined to solve her aunt Gertrude McCabe’s (1983) murder in San Jose. Jane’s investigation coupled with her insistence that authorities stay on the case helped to bring the accused to justice. Alexander’s tenacity gained much attention which led to the book “Citizen Jane”, and to a Hallmark Channel Original Movie.

“Citizen Jane”
September 12
9 PM Hallmark Channel (Comcast 66 or 185)
Ally Sheedy, Meat Loaf, Sean Patrick Flanery – (TV-PG,V), 2009

Citizens Against Homicide

Citizen Jane the book

Citizen Jane the movie site

I was disappointed that there were no location shots filmed in San Jose.

Although the fake SJPD building in the movie was better looking than the real deal.

This Sunday September 13 from noon to 5:00 pm is The 9th Annual Antique Autos in History Park. There will be vintage autos (1900 to 1945), bicycles, motorcycles, fire equipment, early day gas engines which will power saws, washing machines and other tools needed in the early days, and more lining the streets.

In the firehouse, there will be displays and demonstrations of early day hand crafts. Antique collectibles will be displayed on the lawn in front of the hotel and movies that include early day automobiles will be shown in the hotel. Of course, there are the historic buildings to visit and the trolley to ride.

There will be children’s activities provided by Schmahl Science Workshop and San Jose Fire Explorer Post 888.

Food, drinks, and ice cream will be available for purchase.

As is, History San José is a great place to visit on its own, check this earlier post.

History San José
Kelley Park, 1650 Senter Road

Sunday, September 13, 2009
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Free Admission
Parking $6.00

75th Anniversary Poster

Before my parents made the big move to the Bay Area at the end of 1959, we lived a good number of years in Modesto, Ca. Many homes back then didn’t have air-conditioning. Our rental house, on Paradise Road, didn’t even have a swamp cooler to help us deal with the blistering hot days of valley summer. One way my friends and I survived was by learning to swim in the canal. But, by far the best was convincing a parent to give us a ride into town to an air-cooled movie theater where music played as we settled in our seats opening boxes of Good and Plenty.

Sadly two of the movie houses, The Strand and The Covell, were lost to urban redevelopment, but I was overjoyed to learn that the third was saved and refurbished in all its art deco glory. The State Theatre now plays host to both film and live performances.

The Third Annual Modesto Reel Food Film Festival
Sunday – September 27
2 PM
The State Theatre - 307 J Street, Modesto
For Tickets call (209) 527-4697
($10 ticket price includes snacks from local restaurants.)

La Villa Deli - Willow Glen

Sunday the Rompacoglioni Car Crew will start their engines for the ‘Second Annual Cruise for a Cause’.

This classic ‘car cruise’ is happening September 6th – 9 AM to 3 PM on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Willow Glen.

Everyone is welcome to look at the cool cars. Please bring canned food and/or financial donations to the La Villa Deli parking lot.

Every $1 donated will help the Second Harvest Food Bank (750 Curtner Ave.) provide two nutritious meals.