Glass Blowing at the Bay Area Glass Institute

We stopped by the Bay Area Glass Institute in San Jose for a demonstration on glass blowing by Treg Silkwood, senior instructor at the non-profit school. Check out our new issue on streets May 11 for more on BAGI. For now, here's Silkwood creating a stunning conch shell from molten glass. The first video is him preparing, shaping and coloring the glass. The second video shows the more detailed part.

Part One:


Part Two:

Upcoming: Downtown San Jose's North First Street

A short detour today down North First Street in Downtown San Jose revealed the location of the much-anticipated Brazilian steakhouse Maceio. It sits right across the street from Paul J. Gonzalez's amazing mural of pandas in a bamboo forest. Next door is an interesting looking restaurant called Wow Noodle House & Juice Bar. We're hoping these two new dining spots will be open for the summer to further liven up Downtown. Here's a quick look at North First Street.

A mural by Paul J. Gonzalez

Maceio Brazilian steakhouse

Wow Noodle House & Juice Bar

This Weekend in Silicon Valley: Movies, Concerts, Art and More!

OK, folks. There's lots to do this weekend, so pay attention. Cinequest 19 is still raging strong, but it's the last weekend for the film festival. If you haven't seen any films yet, you're missing out. Here are a few suggestions:

Euforia
Thursday (3/5) and Sunday (3/8)

Courtesy of Triana Films

The Least Among You (see our interview with star Louis Gossett Jr. in Monday's blog post)
Thursday (3/5) and Sunday (3/8)

All About Dad
Friday (3/6)

Courtesy of Cinequest

Witch Hunt
Saturday (3/7)

The Last Lullaby
Saturday (3/7) and Sunday (3/8)

Courtesy of Cinequest

And for those of you that aren't movie buffs, check these events out.

FRIDAY:

Outrageous Outgrowns
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Pavilion Hall, 344 Tully Rd., San Jose (408) 391-5909
March 6-8: If you have kids, you know all too well how expensive those li’l devils can be. That’s why you need to hit the Bay Area’s largest kids’ products resale event, featuring clothes, toys, furniture and much more!

Evening for the Arts
The Los Gatos Museums Gallery, 24 N. Santa Cruz, Los Gatos (408) 395-7386
March 6: Starting today, and continuing every first Friday of the month, the museum begins its special program, where you’ll meet many local artists, view amazing art and help raise money for the museums of Los Gatos: 6-9pm

Courtesy of Terri Hill

SATURDAY:

The Music Man

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View (650) 903-6000

March 7-15: A fast-talking salesman cons a small town into a huge order of band instruments for their schoolchildren. But his plans run afoul when he falls for the lovely madame librarian.

HBO Boxing After Dark
HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose
March 7: NABO and USBA junior welterweight crowns will be on the line when “Vicious” Victor Ortiz takes on “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis, while Gilroy native and two-time Featherweight World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero battles undefeated contender Daud Yordan: 3:30pm Read our interview with Guerrero and view a slideshow here.


Richie Havens
The Great American Music Hall, 859 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
March 7: Ever see the Richie Havens Woodstock performance? Well, to put it mildly, it was incredible (maybe even super incredible), that’s why we suggest you get your keister to the concert for a whoppin’ display of his greatness!: 8pm

Richie Havens: Photo Courtesy of Walter Parks

SUNDAY:

Sergio Monroy Quartet
Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz (831) 479-1854
March 8: A very special evening of jazz-infused flamenco with the Sergio Monroy Quartet, featuring guest dancer Graciela Perrone: 8pm