You've heard it on the raido: a punky, poppy, rocking Scandinavian girl named Ida Maria screaming, "I like you so much better when you're naked / I like me so much better when you're naked." Somehow 104.9 and Blank Club were able to bring this sensational musician to Downtown San Jose on Thursday night for one of the best live sets we've ever seen. Ever.
Sounding like a British incarnation of Janis Joplin, Ida Maria's gravely yet mellifluous vocals and energy exploded on stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy and converting skeptics to the exceptional sound that emanates from this four piece.
Interestingly, Ida Maria is said to have a rare condition known as synesthesia, in which she actually sees colors when she hears music. It's something that Jimi Hendrix raved about when he took psychedelics. For Ida Maria, it just comes naturally. The result is a vibe like nothing else, a confidence unmatched and a sound so colorful, it's intoxicating.
And let's not forget about Suicidal Barfly, which played again last Wednesday. Here's a video of a new song. And go here for their set from two weeks ago.
The wine passport program put on by the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association is a great way to discover local wineries and, above all, sample delicious local wine. Every third Saturday in January, April, July and November, passport holders are invited to explore dozens of wineries, indulge in free wine tastings and enjoy the majestic scenery that rivals any locale in the Napa Valley.
On this particular weekend in April, we visited Ridge Winery in Cupertino for some fabulous Zinfandel; the beautiful Cupertino home of the Naumann's for some exquisite Chardonnay and Merlot; the peacock farm of Picchetti Winery in Cupertino for some Red Pavone; and finally the horse ranch and stables of Cooper-Garrod in Saratoga for some unforgettable Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Passports are a reasonable $40 and last until every winery in the book is stamped. You can purchase one at any of the participating wineries, or here.
For now, a few pictures of what you can expect:
The picnic area overlooking Downtown San Jose (pictured up top) at Ridge Vineyards.
Some highly sought-after Ridge Zinfandel in the sunshine...
Some old vines at Ridge Vineyards. At this height, looking to the left, you can see all the way to Oakland.
The spectacular home of the Naumann's, who kindly open their domicile up for wine tasting. They specialize in Merlot, with the vineyard resting just below their house.
A view from the Naumann's porch.
At the Picchetti Winery, there are roaming peacock's everywhere! What a site!
This one was either protecting it's property or was trying to hit on me. I'm not sure.
The tasting room at Picchetti is warmly lit and inviting. I recommend the Pavone, which means peacock in Italian.
An old Ford rests sluggishly at the Cooper-Garrod winery. Why are there so many abandoned cars in Silicon Valley?
The winery is also a working ranch, with dozens of horses! Look for our feature on horseback riding lessons in the new issue out April 27.
Winning the Cinequest 19 Audience Choice Award has meant nothing but good things for San Jose local Mark Tran, the young writer and director of the hit film All About Dad. The film, which was shot right here in San Jose, makes its theatrical debut at Camera 3 on Apr. 17 - 23. Check out the trailer below. We had a brief conversation with the talented movie maker about his new film project, the response to All About Dad and where to find the best Vietnamese food in San Jose.
The Wave: How are things going?
Mark Tran: It’s been busy. Reading a script for a new feature I’m doing. It’s a Vietnam crime drama about Vietnamese gangsters in the early ’90s.
TW: Is it autobiographical like All About Dad?
MT: No, no. [Laughs] Well, not anymore. I try to stay off the radar. [Laughs]
TW: Your film All About Dad is making its theatrical debut at Camera 3 in San Jose on April 17 – 23. What does it feel like to have the success you’ve had in your hometown?
MT: It’s intimidating to be in the spotlight here, but at the same time it’s great to get support from the local community, from where I grew up, from the faculty. I can rely on this built-in audience. I’m relying on the merit of the film here.
TW: We heard it will screen at Camera 12 for two weeks if all goes well; is that correct?
MT: It will play an extra two weeks depending on ticket sales and reviews. We haven’t had the film reviewed in any major newspapers yet. In order to have it play at Camera 12 we need to buy a film print, which costs about $25,000. That’s a good portion of the entire budget of the film.
TW: How much did the film cost to make?
MT: All I can say is that it was made for under $100,000 and above $1.
TW: Did Wes Anderson have a big influence on you and the film?
MT: Absolutely. I’d say he had a big influence on the film, his visual style, the awkward silence moments, and the fact that there are no villains. But I’d say films in general had a big influence on me.
TW: Does your new project have a title yet?
MT: Saigon, California.
TW: Is it a strait up crime drama or is there any dark comedy?
MT: I’d say there’s always room for some comedy, or a character with comic relief. The script was already written though. It’s the first time I’ve ever directed something that’s not my own.
TW: Have you learned a lot since All About Dad?
MT: A lot. I was 22 when I directed All About Dad. It was my first feature. I learned how to speak to actors, learned about writing, how to handle myself on the set. With All About Dad the big thing I learned was to never compromise unless I had to.
TW: Where’s a good place to eat Vietnamese food in San Jose?
MT: I like going to Vung Tau on Santa Clara Street. Really great food. I love it. I eat there a lot.
TW: What would be your dream situation with All About Dad? What would you like to see happen with the film?
MT: It’s tough to say. I’m just trying to stay grounded right now. What already happened exceeded my wildest dreams. What came out was a very good and enjoyable film and I just hope to get it into more theaters. It’s not just for Asian audiences. It’s for people in general. There are so many characters that a lot of people connect with.
Ever the ardent Silicon Valley adventurers, we took a scenic trip up to Mount Umunhum today and felt like we could almost touch the clouds. It's a long, winding drive up into the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, but the views of Downtown San Jose (above) and Mountain View are well worth it. Since it takes so long to get up there, it's best to begin with lunch in Los Gatos like we did. Although there are tons of dining options in Los Gatos, we opted for some delicious Indian food from Tandoori Oven (133 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos 408-395-1784).
Usually, two guys shaving off their beards on a Sunday afternoon isn’t exactly newsworthy. But in the case of bearded men Jon Sontag (far right) and Greg Miller (far left), it was exactly that! The Mercury News (and The Wave Magazine, of course!) showed up to cover the event because the two have been growing beards for charity for the past seven months. Jon (who happens to be The Wave Mag’s esteemed graphic designer) and Greg paired up with charitable organization Water Wells for Africa and started what they dubbed their “Beards for Tears” campaign. Over the course of seven months, Jon and Greg refrained from shaving, and asked people to sponsor their beard-growing efforts. Today, Sunday April 5, was the official end of the beard-a-thon, and the ceremonial shaving of the guys’ impressive facial hair growth. Water Wells for Africa representative Travis was on had to collect the $3,000 Jon and Greg raised through their hirsute fundraising pursuit. The money will help build a well for a village in Africa, offering access to much-needed clean drinking water. Keep an eye out for the guys on the front page of The Merc’s The Valley section on Monday April 6, and if you’d like to find out more about the campaign or donate money to this worthy cause, go to www.beardsfortears.com or www.waterwellsforafrica.org.
The California Home, Garden and Patio Show Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd., San Jose April 3-5: Get out your “to do” lists and get on over to the California Home, Garden and Patio Show, where you can get all your home and garden questions answered while strolling through hundreds of exhibits, along with a chance at winning prizes, demonstrations and antique appraisals.
Bike Night at Rancho Rancho Canada del Oro, 399 Casa Loma Rd., Morgan Hill (408) 226-3175 April 3: Attention, mountain bikers: We have something very special and fun for you. Tonight, and tonight only, there will be access to more than eight miles of open space trails! Safety equipment and event briefing required: 7-10:30pm
Shakespeare’s Most Wanted Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 N. San Pedro St., Ste. 200, San Jose (408) 979-0231 April 3-5: Horror and hilarity beckons as Shakespeare’s worst villains are presented with evidence of their wrongdoings to the audience.
[ 4/4 ] SATURDAY
Santa Clara Valley Quilt Show Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara April 4-5: If you’re a fan of the quilt, you need to make your way to the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Show, where they’ll have hundreds of quilts and garments on display, along with booths offering services and goods for all your quilting needs.
Sixth Annual Model Trains and Planes Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Rd., San Carlos (650) 654-0200 April 4-17: If you’re a model train lover, you won’t want to miss this. You’ll have a chance to view exquisitely crafted H-O model trains as they putt around miniature landscapes, scenery, and villages of Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, and other European countries: 10am-5pm
Juerga Hoover Historic Theater, 1635 Park Ave., San Jose April 4: Join The Flamenco Society of San Jose for an evening of what else… flamenco dancing!: 7pm
The California Home, Garden and Patio Show Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd., San Jose April 3-5: Get out your “to do” lists and get on over to the California Home, Garden and Patio Show, where you can get all your home and garden questions answered while strolling through hundreds of exhibits, along with a chance at winning prizes, demonstrations and antique appraisals.
[ 4/5 ] SUNDAY
FC Gold Pride opening day! Buck Shaw Stadium-Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara April 5: Come on out and support the FC Gold Pride inaugural 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer season as they welcome the Boston Breakers to Buck Shaw Stadium with a butt kicking!: 3pm
Annual Bridal Faire Los Gatos Lodge Hotel, 50 Los Gatos Rd., Los Gatos (408) 354-3300 April 5: Steer your pumpkin coach to this Cinderella’s ball of bridal info, plus you could win prizes, receive giveaways and much, much more!: 11am-3pm
The California Home, Garden and Patio Show Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd., San Jose April 3-5: Get out your “to do” lists and get on over to the California Home, Garden and Patio Show, where you can get all your home and garden questions answered while strolling through hundreds of exhibits, along with a chance at winning prizes, demonstrations and antique appraisals.
The Wave had a unique opportunity today to join Airship Ventures for a quick spin around the sky in a zeppelin 1,000 feet above the valley. The airship -- one of only four in the world and the only one in the United States -- has a top speed of about 40mph. The ride is smooth, like a large sailboat in the sky, lolling about on gentle waves of air. The cabin holds 12 passengers, plus two pilots, and we were allowed to walk around freely and even open two door windows and stick our cameras out for some amazing shots.
We were told that there is an airship in Germany and Japan, both of which operate for tourism, advertising and scientific and environmental surveilance purposes. The fourth airship, we're told, is used in Botswana to hunt for diamonds. That must be some big bling!
We heard unverifiable buzz about a special charter deal during the Maverick's surf contest. How cool would it be to cruise around in an airship above those massive waves? Stay tuned for that. Here are a few shots from the day.
You've heard it on the raido: a punky, poppy, rocking Scandinavian girl named Ida Maria screaming, "I like you so much better when you're naked / I like me so much better when you're naked." Somehow 104.9 and Blank Club were able to bring this sensational musician to Downtown San Jose on Thursday night for one of the best live sets we've ever seen. Ever.
On your way up to Mount Umunhum the reservoir off Kennedy Road outside Los Gatos is a great place to pull over and stretch your legs.
Posts
