Storytime For Everyone

Throughout most of 2020, Santa Clara County Library District has been turning to Facebook Live to bring storytime to life in a variety of languages for everyone to enjoy. Events run Mondays through Saturdays and include Bedtime Storytime on Tuesdays at 7pm, stories in Spanish on Thursdays at 11am and in Mandarin at 11am on Fridays. There are stories for babies and stories for school-aged children. Reading to kids is one of the kindest things an adult can do. Follow them on facebook.com/sccld and be sure to check out their events page for a complete list of their upcoming storytimes and more. Stay warm, snuggled and safe, South Bae! I miss you!

Berkeley Poetry Slam

Wed, Dec 16, 8:15pm

Free. More info at Facebook

Writing workshop at 7pm. One of the longest running poetry slams in the country welcomes Donté Clark, one of the Bay Area’s most prolific poets and actors. He published his first collection of poetry in 2018, titled Knowfreedom available on Amazon, and he is currently working on his next collection titled The Times We Lived, available February 2021.

Stage: Songs For A New World

Wed-Thu, Dec 16-31

Tickets at sfplayhouse.org

The first musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make. Featuring John Paul Gonzalez, Cate Hayman, Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. and Katrina Lauren McGraw. Directed by Bill English. Household pricing for all viewers.

THURSDAY

Garden Lights: Holidays at Filoli

Dec 17-Jan 3, 10am-8pm

Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside

Tickets at filoli.org

In-person event: masks and social distancing required! The beautiful gardens of Filoli in Woodside are a bit of well-known secret throughout the peninsula. Now covered in lights, taking a stroll through the garden is one of the most romantic things one can do with their partner—or by themself—this holiday season. Advanced purchase required. Tickets go fast.

Global Dance Party

Wed, Dec 18, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Free registration at Eventbrite

Shake off the stresses of 2020 and move to music from around the world, right from your own home at Third Thursday: Global Dance Party! Join San José Museum of Art and Mosaic Silicon Valley for a holiday dance party featuring music and dance compositions from across the globe. Learn dance moves from master choreographers Running Gao (K-pop), Srividya Eashwar (Bhangra, Bollywood), and Maria Basile (Latin dance).

FRIDAY

Closing: Downtown Farmers’ Market

Wed, Dec 18, 10am-2pm

Across from San Pedro Square, San Pedro St, San Jose

More information at sjdowntown.com

In-person event: masks and social distancing required! Free parking in the Market & San Pedro Square Garage. The final Downtown Farmers’ Market for the season is a good spot to peruse farm fresh goodies and a number of vendors who may have the perfect gifts for the holidays. More info online.

Pianist Vyacheslav Gryaznov

Fri-Mon, Dec 18-21

Tickets at steinwaysociety.com

In this recorded concert, Vyacheslav Gryaznov plays some of the most beloved music ever written for piano, featuring pieces by Monteverdi, Grieg, Bach, Beethoven-Liszt, Mahler, Debussy and Ravel. Gryaznov thrilled the audience in his West Coast debut with the Steinway Society in 2016, receiving three encores. Household tickets are $20.

Winter’s Gifts: Treasures

Sat, Dec 19, 7pm

Tickets at feelitlive.com

Presented by The Choral Project, the highly acclaimed Silicon Valley-based choir performs its annual holiday concert with the critically acclaimed San José Chamber Orchestra. Winter’s Gifts is a celebration of the holiday season as told through the artistry of musicians from The Choral Project and the San José Chamber Orchestra. This year’s theme is treasures, featuring a socially distant and safely recorded rendition of Ola Gjeilo’s “Across the Vast Eternal Sky.” Photo: RR Jones Photography

Black Laughs Matter: Virtual Comedy Show

Sat, Dec 19, 8pm

Tickets at Eventbrite

Presented by SF Fun Cheap, this virtual comedy show will feature some of the Bay Area’s top African-American comics. The live comedy scene has been devastated by the closure of all of the comedy clubs, so if you’d like to support black comics, RSVP for a special Black Laughs Matter online comedy show live from San Francisco. Hosted by Terry Dorsey, comedian and actor originally from Chicagoland and now in the Bay Area. His comedy storytelling and social commentary was featured on BET’s Comicview.

SUNDAY

Philby and Katie present Christmas Spectacular

Sun, Dec 20, 1pm

Free on Facebook Live

Musicians Katie and Philby will play harp and flute and make you feel like you are in a winter wonderland from their home to yours. This is going to be adorably necessary.

An Evening with Theater Critic Lily Janiak

Sun, Dec 20, 7pm

Free at cltc.org/thenextstage

The Next Stage host Rebecca Wallace will interview Lily about her life and role as a theater journalist. Lily will also share recommendations for upcoming shows and events, and tell us what shows she’s loved in this challenging year for the arts. As always, everyone is invited to join in the audience Q&A, whether it’s via your camera or your Zoom chat window.

MONDAY

Drive-Thru Food Distribution

Mon, Dec 21, 10am–Noon

Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock, San Jose

More info at Facebook

In-person event: masks and social distancing required! Touchless distribution of food for those in need every first and third Monday of the month from 10am to noon, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. Registration takes place in the King Road parking lot, followed by food pick-up in the Alum Rock parking lot.

TUESDAY

Roaring Camp: Winter Wonderland

Tue-Wed, Dec 22-23,

Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton

Tickets at roaringcamp.com/events

In-person event: masks and social distancing required! Get in the holiday spirit by bringing your family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain. After your trip head over to the Winter Wonderland walk through at Bret Harte Hall. Pass through festive decorated trees and Christmas scenes on your way to see Santa Claus. Greet Santa from a safe distance and pick up a cup of cocoa to warm up in our picnic areas on your way out. Roaring Camp is following strict and current Covid-19 regulations and proper social distancing.