A great place to make you smile.

Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed: 10AM – 8PM Thurs, Fri, Sat 10AM – 9PM
Sunday 11AM – 7PM

San Francisco have plenty of funky specialty stores, shopping in the most popular districts is a top travel experience. Visit www.underoneroof.org

Hours: January 5 & 6, 2013 – 10am to 4pm
Children under 12 free
Free Parking

Northern California’s Largest Wedding Events – Santa Clara’s #1 bridal show where you’ll find everything you need to plan your wedding  www.wedding-faire.com

Abilities Expo

November 16-18, 2012

Projected Attendance: 5,000

Having a disability can certainly make life a little more challenging, but, it should not stop you from participating in activities that make you happy. At the Abilities Expo, the focus is not on what you can not do, but rather, on what you can do. Even those in perfect health have limitations that they must overcome. Admission to the Abilities Expo is free. Attendees will learn, participate and have some fun in this very motivating and inspiring event.
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For more than 30 years, the Abilities Expo has reached out to people with disabilities, families of the disabled, veterans, caregivers and medical professionals. Dedicated volunteers, advocates for the disabled and vendors who provide much needed products and services, help to make the Expo an awesome event every year.

Helping individuals with very serious disabilities, as well as those who have more moderate limitations, is the focus of the three day gathering. Individuals confined to a wheelchair, veterans who have lost a limb or children who have been diagnosed with autism are just a few of the people who are helped by attending the Expo.

Kids are always given a little extra attention. This year, at the free face painting booth, children can turn into pirates or maybe get some whiskers and become a kitty cat. Approved by the FDA, the face paint is harmless and washes off easily with water.

Being in a wheelchair does not mean that you can not have fun and learn to dance. The Wheelchair Dancing Demo and Workshop allows everyone in a manual or motorized wheelchair to participate in the social activity. Once the class gets going, you will see plenty of smiles and hear shouts of joy from the new dancers.

Autistic children often have difficulty relating to other people. An innovative new program called the Horse Boy Method, has been very successful in calming autistic children and getting them to become more social. This therapeutic use of horses is fascinating and should prove to be a very popular part of the Abilities Expo.

This year’s Expo will also feature a number of guest speakers who will discuss topics of interest for those with disabilities. A few of the subjects that will be covered include home modifications for universal access, traveling with disabilities, getting the right wheelchair and being prepared for natural disasters and emergencies.

Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show

November 23-25, 2012

After filling up on turkey and all the trimmings on Thursday, you will need to do a little more exercise to shed those pounds you gained. Take your spouse, bring the family or come with your friends to the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show.
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Celebrate the season and have a day full of fun. Browse through the hundreds of artist booths and see the arts and crafts of some very talented people. Maybe you will find a unique piece of hand-crafted jewelry or the perfect painting to hang in your living room.

There will be all types of crafts, jewelry, clothing, photography, original art, hand-turned wood and ceramics. Pick out a Christmas gift or take something home for yourself.

What would such a festive gathering be without great food and music? Visitors can snack on some popcorn or get a sandwich or maybe a hamburger for lunch. Music will be playing as you walk up and down the aisles. In between your shopping, enjoy all of the great entertainment.

John Park, the Funny Waiter

A wonderfully entertaining comedy routine with a waiter who knows how to get laughs. You will see some great skits and watch as the Funny Waiter manages to spin nine plates at the same time on tall, thin sticks.

Tom Rigney and Flambeau

Attendees are in for a real treat as long time Bay Area Cajun and Blues rock artist Tom Rigney and his band put on an energetic show that makes you want to get up and dance. A performer who has a Masters degree from Harvard in Fine Arts, Rigney plays a mean fiddle. In addition to his enormous musical talent, Tom Rigney is also an accomplished visual artist and photographer.

Other Great Entertainers

Washboard Willie – Describing himself as the Pied Piper of rhythm for children of all ages, Washboard Willie uses his washboard along with cowbells, whistles, duck calls and sirens to put on a very entertaining and interactive show.

Fables of the West – A wonderful Cowboy comedy team that puts on a performance that will have you laughing until your sides hurt.

Mama Claus & Eddie the Elf Mama will not reveal her age, but, she puts on a fantastic and very entertaining comedy and music show.

Topping off the Day

When you attend the Harvest Festival, you will have a chance to win some great prizes. You might win an Amazon Kindle Fire or get something nice at the daily Grab Bag drawing.

More information about San Jose Abilities Expo and San Jose Harvest Festival
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Pacific International Quilt Festival ( Watch video )

October 11-14, 2012

This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever before. More than 800 unique quilts will be on display as well as works of wearable and textile art. Talented local, national and international quilt artists will be on hand for this annual west coast competition.

The P.I.Q.F. is the largest quilt show on the west coast. Veteran quilters look forward to this annual event for many reasons. There are numerous instructive workshops that are led by expert quilters. All of the finest fabrics, notions and quilting machines are on display and available for purchase. This year’s big show is expected to have 300 merchant booths lining the merchant mall area of the convention center.

Come to see the beautiful art and maybe to get some useful tips at one of the more than 60 workshops. You will get to interact with the merchants and talk with members of the international community of quilters. Most of all, you will have fun at the Pacific International Quilt Festival.

SNW Conference Series

October 16-19, 2012

At the world’s largest conference series dedicated to the mobility segment of the technology industry, the SNW Conference brings together manufacturers, engineers and other parties who have the common interest of advancing their knowledge and implementation of today’s best new mobile technologies.
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Attendees of the show will get a chance to interact with the vendors and learn about the cutting edge products and technology that can be applied to their specific business needs. Informative speeches by some of the most prominent leaders in this field will discuss important topics like infrastructure architecture, storage solutions and the management of data.

A popular feature of the three day conference is the Hands-On Lab where new products will be demonstrated and visitors have a chance to touch and try out those new products. The show is a must for large and small businesses that are increasingly relying on mobile technology to further their company goals.

E2 Innovate Conference

November 12-15, 2012 / Exposition held on November 13 & 14

Silicon Valley and the Santa Clara Convention Center is the perfect venue for this high-tech technology conference. During the four day event, corporate decision makers and industry experts will get together for a robust conversation about the next generation of enterprise technologies.

Businesses can gain a competitive edge by keeping abreast of the latest technologies such as cloud based services and management of large data bases. Speeches will cover a range of subjects from how to build a better social business to understanding how IT departments must focus more on the consumer when managing information.

Half-day tutorials will allow subject matter to be covered in depth and there will also be over 40 smaller breakout sessions where attendees can interact more closely with the main speakers. By implementing some of the new technologies, companies will realize great cost savings and also be able to operate more efficiently. Now, more than ever, it is important for business professionals to understand the available technologies and keep ahead of the curve.

Enterprise MobileNext Forum ( http://www.mnextforum.com )

November 28-29, 2012

Thanks to the very well organized team of professionals that is putting on the Enterprise MobileNext Forum, a tremendous amount of valuable information will be disseminated over the two days that the event is held. Corporate executives, IDC analysts and some of the most important vendors will come together to discuss and show off the latest mobile technologies.

Topics will include such subjects as how to develop, execute and sustain a winning mobile strategy and how to protect the integrity of data out in the cloud. Anyone interested in learning about current and future trends in mobile technology will benefit by attending this forum.

➸ More information about Santa Clara Convention Center Expo 
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In an area better known for being the home of the world’s most important technology companies, the Silicon Valley has also built a reputation for the arts and great Broadway theatrical performances. Broadway San Jose, which takes place at the Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown San Jose, presents fabulous west coast productions of the most popular New York Broadway shows.
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Able to accommodate 2,665 patrons in theater seats, the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts is a wonderful place to see a Broadway show. Fans of the arts can attend a ballet or enjoy a symphony performance. There are comedy and musical concerts and, of course, a number of great Broadway shows. Coming up in April, May and June are three can’t miss performances.

Blue Man Group (video www.youtube.com )

April 2-7, 2013

Run Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Recommended for all ages

If you have never been to a Blue Man show, you are in for a fantastic treat. There is no act anything like this one. Performances combine comedy, music and technology to create a show that is wildly entertaining from start to finish.

Why are they blue? Maybe it is a favorite color or maybe it is an artistic choice. Certainly, it is not because they are sad. Audiences of all ages always have a raucously good time when they watch this talented group perform.

While not a word is spoken, the Blue Man Group communicates with their movements and actions. Whether you are young or old, speak English or are from a foreign country, you will get the same great enjoyment in this well choreographed presentation.

Billy Elliot the Musical (video www.youtube.com )

May 7-12, 2013

Run Time: 2 hours and 50 minutes

Recommended for ages 10 and up – some adult language

Who is Billy Elliot and why did they make a big Broadway show about him? This is a touching story of a young boy in pursuit of his dreams. The scene is a small town in England and Billy goes through a series of adventures and eventually finds that he is blessed with a special talent.

Follow Billy as he discovers who he is and what he wants to be. Billy goes through a series of adventures, deals with personal and family issues and winds up realizing his dream. Along the way he winds up in the boxing ring. He struggles through his young life until he discovers ballet. Billy’s talent turns out to be that he has all of the skills to become an accomplished ballet dancer.

Billy Elliot began in 2005 with a London debut that opened to rave reviews. The show became so popular that performances were held in Sydney, New York, Melbourne, Chicago and Seoul. The theatrical production has toured all across America and won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. More than 7.5 million people have seen Billy Elliot the Musical.

Elton John created the musical score that brings the whole production together. If you like a story that is emotional, inspirational and celebrates the dreams and aspirations of one special boy, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to see Billy Elliot the Musical.

Green Day’s American Idiot (video www.youtube.com )

June 4-9, 2013

Run Time 1 hour and 30 minutes

Recommended for ages 14 and up – adult content and strong language

Fans of the musical group Green Day will get a chance to see the big Broadway spectacle that has been wowing audiences ever since it opened. Based on Green Day’s incredibly well received album, American Idiot, the show chronicles the lives of three long time friends as they struggle with the choice between living a safe and comfortable life in suburbia or taking chances and pursuing their true dreams.

With lyrics by Green Day vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong and such big hits as Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Wake Me Up When September Ends, audiences get to hear great music and also see a very touching story.

The world changed forever after 9/11 and this musical is a realistic portrayal of how ordinary lives were affected by the tragedy. The winner of multiple Tony Awards, Green Day’s American Idiot is a little bit edgy and definitely will make the audience think about the world we live in today.

For more information www.broadwaysanjose.com
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My Aunt was thrilled to see us and had our beds ready so we could crash. And that is exactly what we did. We knew we had big plans in the morning, so it was early to bed in order to get a good start on the day. Since it was summer, we brought lots of shorts and tank tops. It can be really hot in this part of the state and we wanted to be prepared. Hopefully my aunt had planned at least one day at Santa Cruz so we could enjoy some of that wonderful California beach weather.

The next morning we got up to ham and eggs, which is something we never eat at home, so it was a great surprise and a real treat. My aunt announced that since the temperature was suppose to climb to over 95 degrees in the San Jose area, we were heading to the beach. We would save the wine tasting tour for another day when it wasn’t so hot and the kids could stay with my cousin Linda.

The Pacific ocean is not only beautiful, it is a wonderful place to swim and even surf. I had surfed some as a kid, but not sure I could get up on the board at this point in my life. The boardwalk at Santa Cruz is a favorite hang out for people of all ages and the kids wanted to ride every roller coaster they could. I told them to pick three rides because we were going to spend most of the time on the beach enjoying the clean sand and warm ocean water. By the end of the day, we were beat and my aunt thought we should head home in order to have an organic dinner prepared by my uncle who considers himself a gourmet cook. So we packed up and headed back to the house.

Next morning we packed a lunch and headed out to the Winchester mystery house (more information here http://en.wikipedia.org). This is an amazing place and something I knew my kids would love. On the way, they were a little less then excited because they weren’t sure what to expect. It took over 38 years to build this amazing place and it is reported to be haunted. How much better then that does it get? The kids loved it and my wife got some nice gifts at the little gift shop for family back in Oregon.

Since my Uncle works at Stanford University, we thought we should let the kids see what a big university looks like. We ate right in the cafeteria and told the kiddos that if they keep their grades up maybe someday they would end up going to school here with Uncle Jo. They didn’t look to impressed, but you never really know what they are thinking.

Well, just one more day and we were ready to pack and say good bye. We thought we should use our free membership to get into one of the great children’s museums here in the Silicon valley. The Children’s discovery museum right in San Jose is a good place for the kids to try a lot of hands on activities. They loved the space room and used their spending money at the gift shop to buy some stuffed snakes. Not my cup of tea, but they were happy.

Unfortunately before we knew it, it was time to say good bye. We had such a good time and we ask if we could come back for another week next spring. This time we would go into San Francisco for sure and see the Golden Gate bridge ( watch this video www.youtube.com). Chinatown and the cable cars are also must sees on the next trip. We never got around to the wine tasting but next time we will because some of the best wines in the Country come right out of this valley. So we said thank you and headed to beautiful Oregon. It was a wonderful time and we are already talking about what we hope to do next time.

Related Article Silicon Valley attractions.

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Face & Body Northern California, an annual expo and conference held for skin-care professionals, will be heading to the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose Oct. 6-8, with an expected 100 exhibitors and thousands of attendees each day of the event.
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There will be a variety of exhibits, speakers and classes, including the product-neutral Advanced Education Conference Program as well as the free Supplier Classes, sponsored by exhibitors.

The available educational tracks include: Skin Science, Business Solutions, Wellness and Trends. Supplier classes will take place Oct. 7-8, and beauty industry suppliers will present their products and give demonstrations and lectures.

There will be a wide variety of industry speakers throughout the event, sharing their expertise and tips on making it in the skin-care field.

Some speakers and their subjects include:

• Rhonda Allison, CEO of Rhonda Allison Cosmeceuticals and RAW skin care for men. Allison will speak about acne, skin peels and chemical exfoliation.

• Dominic Cruz, makeup artist and educational trainer for Kryolan Corporation, will discuss his past work with Shisheido, Mc and Lancôme, as well as his new makeup manual.

•Morag Currin, founder of clinical Oncology Esthetics, Currin gives presentations all over the U.S. on various topics related to his field. His championing of cancer-related causes have made him one of the most sought-after cancer advocates in the world.

➸ More information about Face & Body Northern California in San Jose McEnery Convention Center 

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- Photos Festival – Photos Summer 2012

July 4, 2012 – 31st Annual Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off

In celebration of Independence Day, the City of Palo Alto always puts on a fun and free family event. Festivities run from 12 noon to 5:00 pm. Mitchell Park will be the site of the competition to determine which chef can prepare the best chili. The contest includes more than 20 teams. The chefs and their assistants will fight it out with other chefs on their same level. Professional chefs who own or work in restaurants will be in one group. Amateurs will get to enter their own secret home-made chili and be judged against other amateurs. Awards will be given for the best booth, best spirit and best chili. While the chili is cooking, live music will be playing. You can kick up your heels and join in the line-dancing or grab a drink and something to eat from one of the on-site food vendors. Children will love getting their faces painted and jumping around in the bouncy house. Look for the balloon artist and request your favorite animal. For an afternoon of free fun, you can not beat the Summer Festival & Chili-Cook-off.

July 14, 2012 – Metro Fountain Blues Festival

If you love listening to jazz in the great outdoors, this is an event you should not miss. The Festival takes place at St. James Park in San Jose and the gates open at 11:00 am so everyone can find a place to sit before the music begins. There will be a full day of music kicking off at noon and running until 8:00 pm. Taking the stage first will be The Chicago Blues Guitar Shootout with Lurrie Bell and John Primer. They will be followed by the award-winning Ruthie Foster. Next up will be a group that performed at the original Woodstock Festival – CANNED HEAT featuring Fito de la Parra, Harvey Mandel, Larry Taylor and Dale Spalding. The final performer, Elvin Bishop is good enough to have played alongside blues legends Bo Diddley and B.B. King as well as rock and roll legends Jimi Hendrix and the Allman Brothers.

August 10-12 – San Jose Jazz Summer Fest

San Jose is a beautiful city that loves jazz. There are weekly performances all-year round but there is only one San Jose Jazz Summer Fest. The Silicon Valley’s biggest live music event will take place at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez and will feature some very talented jazz musicians over the three day weekend event. There will be several different stages where you can listen to your favorite type of music. Whether you like straight-ahead jazz, blues, salsa or R&B, you are sure to find it being played at the Jazz Fest. Plenty of delicious food, wine and beer will also be available. Children will have their own little Jazz for Kids section. If you are in the area visiting family or friends or on summer vacation, don’t miss the opportunity to attend this incredible three day experience.

Where to stay?

When you make the smart decision to pack up the kids, jump in the car and head to the Silicon Valley, be sure to check out the Camino Inn and Suites at 1984 W. El Camino Real in Mountain View (650-967-6901). This affordably priced hotel is conveniently located near all of the festival sites. Enjoy the festival and then come back to a cool and comfortable air-conditioned room. After a good night’s sleep get up early and enjoy the complimentary breakfast before starting out for the day. Find hotel in Mountain View California under 70 and 80 dollars with free fantastic breakfast and WiFi.

- Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital Stanford Hospital & Clinics - Therapy Dogs

Read full article http://www.lpch.org/NewsFeatures/2006/caitlinBurns.html

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