Imagine browsing through the Enchanted Depot to find customized magical solutions to all problems. Such is the world of Cabrillo Middle School’s “Haphazardly Ever After,” a Starting Arts production featuring the Magic and Spells casts that ran Jan. 18 and Jan. 19. During the Jan. 16 dress rehearsal featuring the Magic cast, the troubled Queen … Read more
When former Santa Clara resident Hema Nataraju was growing up in India, she found a window to America by reading stories from the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books, which consists of inspirational stories about people’s lives. Little did Nataraju know that when she grew up, her life would come full circle and she would contribute … Read more
What if someone has an allergy to a medication or a pre-existing medical condition and they experience a medical emergency? How will first responders arriving at a house learn these details and other important medical information if the resident is unconscious? That’s where a File of Life kept in a sleeve at the refrigerator comes … Read more
When Santa Clara author Sandhya Acharya was young, she was fond of all kinds of sweets, especially gulab jamuns (pronounced goo-LOB jom-UNS), an Indian dessert comprised of small and soft donut-like balls soaked in syrup. Acharya remembered snatching up these sweets without her mom’s permission. Now that Acharya has children of her own, she has … Read more
During an afternoon in late December, students at the San Jose Art Academy (www.sjaart.com, 2905 Homestead Rd. Suite A, Santa Clara) were busy at work. Some were carefully mixing shades of acrylic paint and gently dabbing colors onto their canvases to create a duplicate of a preexisting image, such as a snowman or a cardinal … Read more
The silly and comedic holiday hit “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” was enacted through an interpretative dance during the Dec. 15 dress rehearsal of The Joy of Dancing (www.thejoyofdancingsanjose.com, 1030 Piedmont Road Suite I, San Jose) dance school’s Holiday Extravaganza, held at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The scene of young dancers in … Read more
At the regular location for Tani Cooking Class (5259 Stevens Creek Blvd.) on Dec. 17 “A Taste of France” was on the menu. It was a retail event for Frenchery, an online French grocery store. Even though the store is tucked away inside Stephens Plaza, a steady stream of customers came through. Merchandise included, but … Read more
On Dec. 15, at Santa Clara’s Voyager Craft Coffee (www.voyagercc.com, 3985 Stevens Creek Blvd.), coffee shop co-owner Sameer Shah wore a black and red plaid kilt with gray accents for “Mad for Plaid” day. The one-year-old business was also kicking off a book drive to support children from low-income families who are part of Read … Read more
At the start of Mission College’s Dec. 6 Kwanzaa Celebration, student Dorothy Stone explained that Kwanzaa, from the Swahili phrase “first fruits,” is a ceremony that celebrates family, community and culture from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Student Diana Silveira added that Kwanzaa is celebrated through feasting, rituals, dialogue, narratives, poetry, dancing, drumming and other … Read more
The afternoon of Dec. 3 was ringing with seasonal cheer at Rivermark Village’s “Celebrate the Holidays.” Children visited with Santa Claus and made holiday crafts. Visitors also scored small prizes by participating in an elf hunt. Guided by a map they received at the guest services area set up for the event, families scouted around … Read more