Jan 5-8: Silicon Valley International Auto Show. Glimpse pre-production models from international automakers, enjoy interactive driving demonstrations and explore cutting-edge alternative energy vehicles at this annual show. Visitors are invited to discuss new models with automotive representatives, look inside engines, and sit behind the wheel of some of the year’s hottest vehicles. Thurs-Sat, 10-10; Sun 10-6 (San Jose: McEnery Convention Center, 150 W. San Carlos St.; 408/277-5277; www.motortrendautoshows.com/sanjose)
Jan 7-8: Wedding Faire & Symposium 2012. Northern California’s premiere bridal event is back with everything for planning a dream wedding. Vendors range from caterers to florists, and even musicians and ministers. This year, four of the top celebrity wedding planners will share their unique styles and unparalleled expertise with a symposium of classes and workshops. Additional mentoring sessions, a wedding luncheon and a book signing add to this elegant expo. 10-4. (Santa Clara: Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy.; 408/284-1500; www.wedding-faire.com)
Jan 15-16: Cirque du Soleil presents Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL World Tour. This latest show from the world-renowned entertainment circus is a fantastical immersion into the songs and style of the King of Pop. Jackson’s iconic music and signature dance moves are combined with awe-inspiring acrobatics, breathtaking costumes, and magical sets to create a fantasy world as colorful as the man himself. Jackson’s endless creativity is represented by the Giving Tree, a symbol of the singer’s love for fairy tales, magic, and the beauty of nature. Audience members will leave the auditorium inspired by the driving force of Jackson’s music and lyrics, brought to life by writer and director Jamie King. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 4pm. (San Jose: HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St.; 408/287-7070; www.cirquedusoleil.com)
Jan 20-22: South Bay Home and Garden Show. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to finish that drawn-out home improvement project, then head over to this expo featuring hundreds of exhibitors from such categories as remodeling, landscaping, gardening and green and sustainable products. Seminars cover every home improvement subject under the sun, while hands-on demonstrations, a flower and gardening area, and celebrity appearances offer the inspiration you need to get you going. Fri, 12-7; Sat, 10-7; Sun, 10-5. (Santa Clara: Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy.; 408/236-2000; www.southbayhomeshow.com)
Jan 21-22: 30th Annual Tet Festival. Ring in the year of the dragon with this annual festival celebrating the Vietnamese New Year. Games, rides, arts and crafts and live music make up this local tradition. Grand opening ceremony Sat, 11am. (Santa Clara: County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd.; 408/295-9210; www.hoitetfairgrounds.org)
Thru Jan 29: Downtown Ice. Bringing annual wintry fun to downtown San Jose, this seasonal outdoor skating rink is set inside the beautiful Circle of Palms between the Fairmont Hotel and the San Jose Museum of Art. Skate rentals available. Mon-Thurs, 5-9pm; Fri, 5pm-midnight; Sat, noon-midnight; Sun, 12-9pm. (San Jose: 120 S. Market St.; 408/279-1775; www.sjdowntown.com)
Winery Events
Jan 15: Winter Wine Passport. Explore the Santa Cruz Mountains viticultural region with this quarterly event, which gives you an inside glimpse at local wineries, many of which aren’t usually open to the public. Participate by purchasing a never-expiring passport at any participating winery the day of the event, and use the passport to gain access to special tastings, tours, and winemaker one-on-ones. Unique passport stamps collected at different wineries get you closer to a prize, and use your passport for special discounts at local restaurants. 11-5. (Santa Cruz: various winery locations; call 831/685-8463; www.scmwa.com)
Jan 16: Wine and Crab Taste-off. Kick-off crab season with this delectable annual event, where local restaurants and their chefs compete by pairing Santa Cruz Mountain wines with dishes highlighting the delicate flavor of crab. Vote for your favorite restaurants and dishes and purchase local wines at great prices. 2-5. (Santa Cruz area: various locations; call 831/685-8463; www.scmwa.com)
Comedy Events
Jan 13: Lisa Lampanelli. Dubbed “The Queen of Mean,” stand-up comedian Lisa Lampanelli is known for her racy humor and has appeared in movies and regularly on The Howard Stern Show. Fri, 7pm. (Redwood City: The Fox Theatre, 2219 Broadway Street; 650/369-7770; www.foxrwc.com)
Jan 19-21: Charlie Murphy. Comedian, actor and comedy writer Charlie Murphy, who appeared on and wrote sketches for Comedy Central’s Chapelle’s Show, will appear for a four-night run. Thurs, 8pm; Fri, 8 & 10pm; Sat, 7 & 9pm; Sun, 7pm. (San Jose: Improv Comedy Club, 62 S. 2nd Street; 408/280-7475; www.improv.com)
Music: Classical & Other
Jan 1: San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. Featured solo pianist Robin Sharp of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and conductor Benjamin Simon ring in the New Year with selections by Beethoven. 3pm. (Palo Alto: Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado Ave.; 650/328-0990; www.sfchamberorchestra.org)
Jan 7: Saint Michael Trio. celebrates its fifth anniversary with this gala event. Join the trio and special jazz artist guests to experience a mad dash through three centuries of repertoire—from Beethoven to Led Zeppelin. 7:30pm. (Mountain View: Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.; 650/903-6000; www.mvcpa.com)
Jan 14: Simone Dinnerstein. This chart-topping New York-based pianist performs music by Chopin and Brahms, as well as Felsenfeld's The Cohen Variations and selections by Bach and Schubert from her upcoming album, "Something Almost Being Said." 8pm. (Saratoga: Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Rd.; 408/961-5858; www.montalvoarts.org)
Jan 14-15: Symphony Silicon Valley. Violist Patricia Whaley performs with violinist Robin Mayforth in Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante for violin and viola. Conducted by Mitchell Sardou Klein, the program includes Tchaikovsky and Corigliano. Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30pm. (San Jose: California Theatre, 345 S. First St.; 408/286-2600; www.symphonysiliconvalley.org)
Jan 15: Trio con Brio Copenhagen. The award-winning Danish trio presents a program of piano trios by Haydn and Tchaikovsky. 7pm. (Burlingame: Kohl Mansion, 2750 Adeline Dr.; 650/762-1130; www.kohl-mansion.com)
Jan 21-22: Symphony Silicon Valley The South Bay’s premiere orchestra presents a Broadway program, Gypsy. Follow headstrong stage mother Mama Rose and her band of young performers as they travel across 1920’s America. Music from Jule Styne and lyrics from Stephen Sondheim includes such tunes as “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Some People,” and “Rose’s Turn.” Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30pm. (San Jose: California Theatre, 345 S. First St.; 408/286-2600; www.symphonysiliconvalley.org)
Jan 23: Peninsula Symphony with Taylor Eigsti. Jazz pianist Eigsti’s performances with the Peninsula Symphony sell out often; this time he will be captivating audiences with the help of another Bay Area musician, jazz guitarist Julian Lage. 8pm. (Cupertino: Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd.; 408/864-8820; www.peninsulasymphony.org)
Music: Jazz & Other
Jan 6: Dick Dale. This surf-rock pioneer and guitar icon, one of the first musicians to play a Fender Stratocaster, performs with Fascinating Creatures of the Deep and Beachkrieg. 8pm. (San Jose: Blank Club, 44 S. Almaden Ave.; 408/295-5265; www.theblankclub.com)
Jan 11: Maceo Parker. This funk titan and jazz saxophonist is well known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970s. 7:30pm. (Saratoga: Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Rd.; 408/961-5858; www.montalvoarts.org)
Jan 13: Legally Blue. Blues standards are mixed with original music to create a nostalgic sound rooted in modern sensibilities. 8pm. (San Jose: Theater on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St.; 408/315-9666; www.tabardtheatre.org)
Jan 28: White Denim and Wilco. Texas indie rockers White Denim, veterans of Austin’s alternative music scene open for Chicago indie rockers Wilco. 8pm. (San Jose: Civic Auditorium, 135 W. San Carlos St.; 408/295-9600; www.sanjosecivic.com)
Jan 29: Kenny Washington and Michael O'Neill. Vocalist Washington and saxophonist O’Neill perform a set of original arrangements at this oceanside music venue. 4:30pm. (Half Moon Bay: Douglas Beach House, 311 Miranda Rd.; 650/726-2020; www.bachddsoc.org)
Jan 29: Octobop. This Northern California-based octet plays to resurrect the near-extinct genre of West Coast cool jazz, honoring arrangements from such cool jazz greats as Dave Pell and Art Pepper. 4pm. (Redwood City: Club Fox, 2209 Broadway, 650/369-7770; www.clubfoxrwc.com)
Dance
Jan 6-8: Margaret Wingrove Dance Company in its fourth decade of modern dance and ballet, presents a program of three premieres. Established damcers present three pieces with music by John Cage, Chopin, John Tupper and more. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. (San Jose: The Stage Theater, 490 S. 1st St.; 408/283-7142; www.mwdance.com)
Jan 28: Diavolo Dance Theatre Dance is deconstruced and built anew by this modern dance theatre, whose performances blend dance, gymnastics and uniquely interactive set design. Set to the music of John Adams. Sat, 3pm (family matinee) & 8pm. (Stanford: Memorial Audotorium, 551 Serra Mall; 650/725-2787; http://livelyarts.stanford.edu)
Theater & Musicals
Jan 12-Feb 5: San Jose Repertory Theatre presents Double Indemnity. In this play by James M. Cain, insurance agent Walter Huff is consulted by Phyllis Nirlinger about accident insurance for her husband, and ends up seduced by her femme fatale. Vengeful Nirlinger convinces Huff to help her plot the perfect murder of her unwitting husband, but not before first taking out a hefty insurance policy on his life - one which pays double should he fall from a moving train. Based on the influential 1943 crime novel of the same name and set in the dark and seedy streets of Los Angeles, this is a thrilling tale of love, murder and manipulation. Directed by Kurt Beattie and adapted for the stage by David Pinchette and R. Hamilton Wright. Tues-Wed, 7:30; Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm; Sat Jan 21-Feb 4, 3pm. (San Jose: 101 Paseo de San Antonio; 408/367-7255; www.sjrep.com)
Jan 14-22: Palo Alto Players presents Aftermath. Creators Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen traveled to Jordan in June of 2008 to gather first-count experiences from Iraqi citizens about the March 2003 invasion. Their conversations with Iraqis who fled to Jordan amidst chaos and violence come to life in their documentary play. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30pm. (Palo Alto: Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd.; 650/329-0891; www.paplayers.org)
Jan 17-22: Broadway San Jose presents West Side Story, a Broadway revival of this classic American musical that has captivated audiences for more than 50 years. This modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is set in 1950s New York, in which the conflict between two rival teenage street gangs is put into sharp contrast—and complicated by—the blossoming love between Maria and Tony. The show’s spectacular score and complex choreography marked a turning point in American musical theatre. Songs from Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein’s popular score include “Somewhere,” “Tonight,” and “Something’s Coming.” Directed by David Saint. Tues-Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri 8pm; Sat 2 & 8pm; Sun 1 & 6pm. (San Jose: Center for Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.; 408/792-4111; www.broadwaysanjose.com)
Jan 18-Feb 12: TheatreWorks presents The Pitmen Painters, another comic drama from the author of Billy Elliot. This charming play by Lee Hall tells the true story of a group of miners in 1930s England who take up painting and become the unlikely sensations of the British art world. Tues-Wed, 7:30pm; Thurs-Fri, 8pm; Sat 2 and/or 8pm; Sun 2 and/or 7pm. (Mountain View: Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.; 650/463-1960; www.theatreworks.org)
Jan 20-Feb 20: City Lights Theater Company presents Aphrodisiac by Rob Handel. A congressman is accused of sexual improprieties and his intern is missing, but this time, it’s personal. Power politics take a turn for the absurd when a brother and sister seek out the truth about their accused politician father in this thrilling play, loosely based on actual events. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, Jan 29, 7pm. (San Jose: 529 S. Second St.; 408/295-4200; www.cltc.org)
Other
Jan 17: Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman present a Behind the Myths Tour. The co-hosts of the Emmy-nominated Discovery channel series Mythbusters bring their unorthodox science expermimentation to the stage. This promises to be an exciting evening of the unexplainable explained. 7:30. (Cupertino: Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd.; 408/864-8820; www.flintcenter.com)
