Enter for a chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets to New Ballet’s production of Cinderella at the Hammer Theatre in San Jose! Tickets valid for the May 18th, 7pm show in select sections. New Ballet‘s Cinderella charms audiences with the majesty of classical ballet, wrapped in the promise of “happily ever after,” and generously sprinkled with sparkling humor. Dalia Rawson’s staging accompanied by Prokofiev’s beloved score make this production a delight for the whole family. Drawing Date for this Giveaway is Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Winners notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or fo ..read more

As the end of the first quarter of the 21st century nears, creating and consuming music is easier and cheaper than ever. Despite the resurgence of vinyl records over the past decade or so, streaming is still the number one way that people around the world get their music. And why not? In this age of streaming content, people don’t want to wait days or weeks to buy the new hot record when they can hear it the day it’s released. With digital compression technologies developed in Germany and online players emerging from labs and factories in London, Southern California and South Korea in the lat ..read more

Building a strong downtown core—it’s a phrase that gets kicked around a lot by economists and urban planners. It usually leads to talk about big budgets for projects—residential towers, event arenas, office buildings. Meanwhile, quietly and without fanfare or huge capital expenditures, local nightclubs, galleries and event promoters work hard to make sure downtown continues to be a regional destination for cultural events, as they have since the early 1990s. A prime example is the SoFA Street Fair, taking place this Sunday. The all-day extravaganza featuring local bands and neighborhood artis ..read more

Over the past year, Goodtime Bar has emerged as a standout destination in downtown San Jose, attracting wine lovers and food enthusiasts alike with its impressive selection of natural wines and excellent cuisine. As the bar gears up to celebrate its first anniversary on April 27, it has not only matured like the fine wines it serves but also become a staple in the local dining landscape. Positioned between 1st and 2nd streets, Goodtime Bar has played a pivotal role in the transformation of Fountain Alley. Once quieter and less noticed, this area has now blossomed into a lively spot for dining ..read more

Author Rob Brezsny offers insights for all signs of the horoscope in his weekly Free Will Astrology column. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Have you ever gotten your mind, heart and soul in sweet alignment with the spiritual beauty of money? An opportunity to do that is available. During the next four weeks, you can cultivate an almost mystical communion with the archetype of well-earned wealth. What does that mean? Well, you could be the beneficiary of novel insights and hot tips about how best to conduct your finances. You might get intuitions about actions you could take to bring more riches in ..read more

When superstar chef David Kinch decided to shutter Manresa at the end of 2022, it seemed an era of Los Gatos culinary fame had come to a close. Through several seasons the building sat, with its “For Lease” sign, looking like a child that had lost a best friend. Real estate agents were at first forthcoming—but not so much as the rumors began to fly. Then, word slowly got out that the name “Manresa” was going to live on in culinary parlance, at least for a while, and that Kinch was not really out of the picture: the place would become the setting for a series of pop-ups called Ritual at Manres ..read more

Last February, the acclaimed author Percival Everett arrived in downtown San Jose for an event at Hammer Theatre’s black box venue upstairs, as part of the Center for Literary Arts reading series at San Jose State University. Everett read from his recent novel, The Trees, and was then interviewed on stage. Compared to 35 years ago, when the university and the city were not the greatest of companions, this series, especially in Hammer Theatre, exemplifies what should be happening in a real urban place. Benefactors host authors in their homes, faculty bring them to local restaurants, and studen ..read more

Wait, what? “Rhapsody in Blue,” Gershwin’s most famous composition (NA NA NA NAAAAAA dah dah dah dah dum duuuuum), was originally composed for piano and jazz band! This show features the original composition and the fascinating story of a piece that marked a new era of American music. What will be played will sound dramatically different from the tune most people have heard. Pianist Elizabeth Schumann has a storied career with multiple accolades and will be playing the original 1924 version on piano with the Stanford Jazz Orchestra. Rob Kapilow’s What Makes It Great? Thu, 7:30pm, $15-$64 Bing ..read more

Here comes the Titan of Metal that is Geoff Tate. Not just a frontman anymore but a fully formed force of nature rampaging through the countryside and scuttling what’s left of the puritanical foundations of America. Once the figurehead of legendary face-melters Queensrÿche, Sir Tate is Metal royalty and should be revered as such. His tour, featuring Fire & Water, is truly outsized for the venues on the calendar. Hopefully, the seismic reinforcements at the Ritz can withstand the carnage that is about to unfold! In addition, Mr. Tate is an accomplished winemaker capable of refinement and g ..read more

Being Tito Puente’s son could be seen as a burden (big shoes, etc.), but Tito Puente, Jr. approaches the challenge with the exact opposite attitude. “People always, always smile when they say my father’s name,” he says. “That is a very special gift I have been given.” A Latin jazz extraordinaire like his late father, Tito Puente, Jr. consistently brings joy and vivacity through mambo, salsa and percussive genius. His album Got Mambo? is a standout for its impassioned fusion of the Puente legacy with modern Latin sounds. “Junior’s Mambo” is not to be missed. Tito Puente, Jr. Wed, 7:30pm, $77 ..read more