Celebrate the Spirit of '45 at History Park - San Jose CA - August 8th & 9th, 2014

Celebrate the Spirit of '45 at History San Jose! August 8th & 9th
August 8, Friday
1940s Dance Party 7:00pm-10:00pm

Dance under the Light Tower to the tune of the big band era, featuring The Swing Solution. Free swing dance lessons by Dance Boulevard. 21x21 ft Dance Floor! And food! ...
Period attire encouraged. Admission $10

August 9, Saturday
Living History Day 12:00pm-4:00pm
Live '40s Big Band music, swing dancing, fashion show, '40s hair & make-up, Victory Parade, civilian & military vintage vehicles, hands-on exhibits, WWII Tent City, kids
activities, food and MUCH MORE!

Admission $5, City Parking $6,
History San José members, children ages 2 and under,
Active Military & WWII Veterans FREE

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Symphony Ailicon Valley - Summer Pops July 26 - Aug 3, 2014

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The Games at St. James

FYI - Starting Aug. 5 – The Games at St. James
The San Jose Downtown Association is excited to engage downtown businesses for a series of competitive events named the GAMES at ST. JAMES on Tuesday evenings, beginning Aug 5.
GAMES will allow downtown businesses to compete against one another in fun, picnic-game type activities in St. James Park. Participants will have a chance at ultimate downtown bragging rights, prizes will be awarded and this setting will provide an oppor...tunity to connect with new downtown colleagues.

Rally 10 of your co-workers to participate in the GAMES at ST. JAMES.
5:30 – 7:30pm, St. James Park, N Second St., email to indicate your interest to participate to nhoward@sjdowntown.com, “Games at St. James: [your company]” in the subject line by Friday, July 18.
Please include the name of the lead contact of your company/organization, email address, phone number, and the top two Tuesdays your company would like to compete.

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Santa Clara County Fair - July 31 - August 3, 2014

Santa Clara County Fair
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds
344 Tully Road
San Jose, CA 95111www.thefair.org

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36th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival July 25, 26 & 27, 2014

Garlic Festival print-at-home tickets are $2 off the regular price and speed you to the entrance gate, avoiding the ticket lines. You can securely purchase these tickets with VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.

Full price tickets available at the door.
Active Military with ID save $2.00 at the gate.

Free Parking – Free Shuttle Service – Free Bicycle Parking

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Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival, July 12 & 13, 2014

The highly-rated Arts & Wine Festival showcases the distinctive works of artists and craftspeople from over a dozen states. The Festival also features select vintages by the glass from local wineries as well as a wide variety of foods including Thai, Chinese, Mexican, All American favorites like sausages, hot links and roasted corn, sweets of all kinds, and more.

Enjoy our day long free concerts from performers such as Sage, The Cocktail Monkeys, The House Rockers, Debbie Thacker, and Fred McCarty.

The Festival is a great event for the whole family with a large selection of rides, activities and entertainment for children all weekend in the Kidzone.

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Sonoma County’s Premiere BBQ Event, July 12, 2014

Sonoma Mountain Village
1300 Valley House Drive
Rohnert Park, California  94928

We have added some of our own Wine Country twists to the KCBS competition – the “Winery Big Beef Challenge”.   See who is King of the Grill as winery and vineyard chefs go fork to fork competing for the coveted People’s Choice award for the best tri-tip and the wines that best complement.
The “Bold Bean Challenge” has teams lighting their fires and showing off their skills on the grill preparing the perfect side dish to accompany great barbecue.
Wine Country Big Q is sure to satisfy anyone’s appetite for great barbecue, world class wine and beer, live entertainment with some fired up friendly competition.

Over $8,300 in cash and prizes!Wine Country Big Q

Saturday July 12, 2014

1 pm to 5 pm

Join us at the fourth annual Wine Country Big Q Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) nationally sanctioned competition at our NEW location, Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park, California.  Everyone loves barbecue and some of the best Pit Masters will be here to serve you up a slice.   Sample great “authentic” barbecued meats, world class wines, award-winning brews while enjoying great rock and blues music.   Bring all of your senses to life as you wander amongst the teams see, smell and taste mouthwatering barbecue. What is your favorite flavor? Sweet, savory, spicy…. YOU be the judge!
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Gilroy Garlic Festival July 25-27, 2014

The sweet scent of garlic announces the arrival of the world's smelliest festival
AH, THE STINKING ROSE, beloved of all Mediterranean cooks, crucial in Chinese cuisine and utterly unknown in the culinary habits of the Scandinavians (who have other seasoning groups to deal with). Garlic, according to rogue filmmaker Les Blank, is as good as 10 mothers. Indeed, it is vital to some of the great flavor creations under the sun. Where would a decent bruschetta be without its rub of garlic? Could cioppino even exist without it? Szechuan dining would be impossible without garlic to accompany those black bean sauces. Guys all over America would probably fight for the right to have garlic bread with their BBQ ribs.
Many years ago the folks of Schilling spice fame discovered that Gilroy was home to the world's most perfect garlic fields. Mark Twain (or was it Robert Louis Stevenson?) said that he could smell Gilroy miles before he could see it. He also said that you could marinate a steak by hanging it out on a clothesline anywhere near downtown Gilroy.
You know where this is going. For the past two decades the fun-loving folks down in Gilroy have thrown open their doors, their arms and their cooking pots to the entire world at that gala garlic gastromania known as the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
If you've never gone to one of these infamous garlic Festivals, you should probably make it a priority on your Millennium Checklist. You do have a Millennium Checklist, don't you? Always wanted to camp out at the foot of Kilimanjaro? Now's the time. Hankering to hop a ride on a freight train? Go for it. If you've ached to pig out on double fudge mocha ice cream without regard for your waistline, when better?
Finally, what about visiting all those summer art, wine and food Festivals you've been putting off for some other year? Hello--if you want to do it sometime this century, do it now.
Seriously, the fiesta of the stinking rose is more fun than $10 can usually buy. Dress very, very casually--this is T-shirts and cut-offs country--and bring mad money so that you can swill down some Central Coast zinfandel while you inhale two new additions to the garlic festival's menu: the Italian-flavored garlic salsiccia polenta (sausage in marinara sauce over polenta) and pollo polenta tre colori (chicken over polenta). In addition to these, expect the usual steamy flavors of garlic calamari, garlic prawns, garlic ice cream, garlic everything. (But don't worry about garlic breath, because organizers will provide plenty of sugar-free Eclipse gum, the festival's official breath freshener.) Yes, you can also buy lots of garlic paraphernalia--including braids of garlic, garlic soap and garlic honey to send back east as Christmas gifts. Expect plenty of live rock, blues and C&W music, with dancing to match. It's a total scene, and what appears to be half the United States--and lots of Germany, Italy, Japan and France to boot--will join you. Gilroy is just down the highway, but think about going early; parking can be a challenge starting at noon.

Official Gilroy Garlic Festival Website
For Information on the Gilroy Garlic Festival; Tel. 408.842.1625

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San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Obon Festival, Japantown, July 12 & 13, 2014

July 12-13, 2014
San Jose Buddhist Church calendar here640 N. 5th Street, SJ, 95112
Obon/Bazaar: (every year in mid July) Japantown's largest festival with two days of game booths, food booths, cultural exhibits and demonstrations, the Chidori Band, San Jose Taiko and over 1,200 dancers in full costume each evening. A San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin event. Contact (408) 293-9292 or visit the website at www.sjbetsuin.com
Obon Odori practice (dancing practice)
(cultural note* - in Japan, many people know the dances from growing up with them. Obon season (summer) is when people go home to visit relatives and pay respects to their ancestors.
Here, we have obon dance practices because many people are shy and don't want to make mistakes. However, the real spirit of Obon dance is to just JOIN IN! )


The Obon Festival celebrates ancestors and relatives who have passed away but it's far from a downer. Festive lanterns hang from the streetlights, making the party easier to find for the spirits. The teriyaki, sushi, shortcake and tempura booths offer good eats. And the Bon Odori dance offers entertainment all. Every year, the traditional dance draws hundreds of participants from young kids with happi coats and Pokeman fans to grandmothers in elegant Japanese kimonos. The Obon Festival is Japantown's largest cultural event filled with game booths, food, cultural exhibits and demonstrations, music by the Chidori Band, San Jose Taiko and dancers in full costume each evening. 
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Flying Over San Francisco with the Phantom 2 Vision+

Published on Jul 1, 2014 by Jeff Cable

Wanting to get a unique perspective of San Francisco, I made numerous trips to the city with my DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ "drone" to capture some of my favorite spots with this aerial camera. The view of San Francisco from the air is truly impressive. I hope you enjoy this 3 minute view over one of the greatest cities in the world.

For information on how this video was shot, you can go to:

http://blog.jeffcable.com/2014/07/fly...

You can stay up-to-date with all Jeff's photos and videos, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/jeffcablephoto

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Half Moon Bay's Ol' Fashioned Fourth of July Parade, July 4, 2014

Half Moon Bay's Ol' Fashioned Fourth of July Parade
Half Moon Bay's delightful, Ol' Fashioned Fourth of July Parade celebrates Independence Day in classic small town America with a charming array of creative floats, marching bands, equine groups, classic cars, decorated trikes and bikes, "Pooches on Parade", youth sports teams, dance and theater troupes, a Color Guard by the American Legion, local dignitaries, and tons more. Decorated World War II US Army Air Corps Captain Ray Martini will serve as parade Grand Marshal. The parade is sponsored by the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee and Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival which takes place this year on October 13-14.
WHEN: Noon to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Main Street, Half Moon Bay.
COST: Free

INFORMATION: 650-703-6299

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Alameda Fourth of July Parade — Downtown Alameda CA, July 4, 2014

Alameda 4th of July Parade 2014 – Find the Best View on Park Street

June 24, 2014 — PSBA Stephanie

Fourth of July in Alameda is a terrific day to head downtown with family and friends to enjoy a good old-fashioned parade. Celebrate America’s birthday and show off your red, white, and blue while viewing one of the largest and longest Independence Day parades in the nation.

The Mayor’s Alameda 4th of July Parade started in 1976 and has become one of the best July 4th celebrations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The parade now boasts over 190 “floats” and over 2,500 participants that travel along a 3.3 mile route across Alameda – starting on Park Street in the East End and progressing all the way to Webster Street on the West End.

The holiday parade is sure to be fun for all. The procession includes a multitude of antique cars, hand-decorated flatbeds (“floats”), dancing horses, marching bands, dance troupes, cheer squads, bicyclists, musicians, costumed characters, and clowns.

Where’s the best place to view the Alameda 4th of July Parade? Our answer every year is… Park Street, between Lincoln and San Jose.

Here’s why we think Park Street is the best place to view the Alameda 4th of July Parade… The parade entrants start off with tons of energy along this first stretch of the parade route and they are positioned closer together. The rivalry for attention along Park Street can be very entertaining and there’s usually lots of candy handed out to the kids. Plus, the performances and the cheering in the parade tend to be best near the Judging Stand which is located on Park Street near the intersection of Alameda Avenue. Also, if you are looking for a refreshment or a snack (or want to do a little shopping), there are plenty of businesses that are open in Downtown Alameda’s Historic Park Street Business District.

For the optimal viewing experience, you’ll want to arrive well before the 10:00am start time to nab a “front row” seat along the sidewalk curbs on Park Street. But even after the parade begins, you should still be able to find standing room somewhere along Park Street. (Be warned, the parade usually clears Park Street by 11:30am.)

Enjoy the “small-town” feel that makes Alameda so special and celebrate a good old-fashioned Fourth of July – put on your red, white, and blue attire; grab the kids; invite the friends; and head to Downtown Alameda for the annual 4th of July parade.

"Everybody loves a parade, and Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July extravaganza — always on July 4, no matter what the day, natch — attracts some 20,000 spectators, or roughly one-third of the city's population. Everyone and then some are there to wave flags and witness color guards, marching bands, baton twirlers, classic cars, horses, politicians, veterans, and floats, floats, floats. The parade route is longer than three miles, allowing the city to claim it as the longest parade procession ever, which no one bothers to challenge. Families and friends lucky enough to live on the parade route host barbecues as the spectacle winds past, while others from Alameda and throughout the Bay Area contentedly nab spots along coveted stretches of Park Street, Grand, Central and Otis for optimal viewing. This event epitomizes Americana at its finest and is the best hometown parade going in the East Bay, no question. Makes you proud to be an American."

1. Step off begins by turning the corner onto Park Street.
2. Follow Park Street and take a right on Otis Drive.
3. From Otis Drive, turn right onto Grand Avenue and then a quick left onto Central Avenue.
4. Once you reach Webster turn right and travel to Lincoln where you will step off of the parade route.
5. It is important to continue moving along Lincoln Avenue as far as you can before unloading from an entry. This way we can ensure the safety of all participants and observers.

As a reminder to the participants, once moving along the parade route you do not need to stop at the traffic lights. Maintain your position so we do not end up with gaps in the procession.
Thank you for you help in making this a fun and safe event!

Detours

If you live within the boundaries of Clinton Ave. To Santa Clara Ave., to leave Alameda:

1. Take Union Street north
2. Turn left onto Santa Clara
3. Turn right onto Eighth St, which turns into Constitution, which goes to the Webster/Posey Tube

OR

1. Take Union Street north
2. Turn left onto Santa Clara
3. Turn right onto Grand St
4. Turn right onto Buena Vista
5. Turn left onto Park St, which goes to the Park Street Bridge

To get to South Shore Centerr:

1. Take Broadway south
2. Turn right onto Shore Line Dr
3. Turn right into the back of the shopping center

Leaving Alameda from Ballena Bay

1. Take Ballena Blvd north
2. Turn right onto Central Ave
3. Turn left onto Fifth St
4. Turn right onto Buena Vista
5. Turn left onto Webster St, which goes to the Webster/Posey Tube

More Information

3.3 miles!

The Mayor’s Fourth of July Parade is one of the longest routes in the country coming in at approximately 3.3 miles!

Driving?

Keep an eye out for Pedestrians and Drivers. They will be everywhere, and from everywhere. Meaning - more specifically - that they may not be as familiar with the road or walk as you are.

Oh, we love the people!

We need entrants to continually move along the route and can not allow entries to stop along the route to accept passengers. Please plan accordingly!

Line Up!

Line-up (starting at 8 AM) takes place along Lincoln Avenue between Grand Ave and Park Street.

Buses

Busses: Starting at 7 a.m. July 4: The bus stops on Webster Street will be moved to Constitution Way and Eighth Street. Buses will cross the Parade route on Willow at Otis, and on Santa Clara at Park Street, there will be Parade Volunteers and Police Officers to stop Parade traffic

Right of Way!?!

Please remember that Pedestrians have the Right-of-way and it is The law to let them cross at all crosswalks!

5-Oh

Keep an eye out for officers as they will be directing traffic at some intersections
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4th of July Parade - Freedom Fest, Morgan Hill CA, July 4, 2014

Name: 4th of July Parade - Freedom Fest

Date: July 4, 2014

Time: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Website: Parade Information

Event Description:

Morgan Hill’s historic July 4th parade started in 1876 as our nation celebrated its first centennial, has run uninterrupted ever since.  Our parade is considered to be the best home town fourth of July parade in N. California and is the official Santa Clara County Independence Day parade, with a street audience in excess of 50,000 spectators.  There are more than 2,500 participants in the parading units, which include great marching bands, colorful floats, a variety of performance groups, and numerous specialty entries

Click pic below for full program

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Cupertino CA, Fourth of July — Memorial Park, July 4, 2014

Cupertino Fourth of July — Memorial Park, Stevens Creek Boulevard and Mary Avenue, Cupertino

 Morning Events

 7-11am- Pancake Breakfast

Hosted by the De Anza Optimist Club

Quinlan Community Center

Adults- $7 (3 pancakes, 2 sausages, coffee or tea)

Children (12 and under)- $4 (2 pancakes, 1 sausage)

Orange Juice- $1

9:30am- Flag Raising

Memorial Park- Veteran’s Memorial

Celebrate our nation’s independence

10am- Children’s Parade

Memorial Park -Softball Field

Wear your best red, white, and blue outfit! Decorated bikes, scooters, and strollers are encouraged. We’ll travel through Memorial Park and the parade will end at the Amphitheater just in time for the concert by OTR!

10:30am-12pm- Concert in the Park 

Memorial Park Amphitheater

Live Music by OTR-Rock n Roll and R&B dance hits from the 70’s all the way to today’s hits

Pack a blanket, hat and snacks and be ready to dance the morning away to music from the 60’s through today!

Afternoon Events at Blackberry Farm

10am-4pm- Free Swimming

12-2pm- BBQ Lunch

BBQ Tickets: $5.00 per person Advanced BBQ ticket sales will begin on June 27 at Blackberry Farm.

12-3pm- Live Music by The Dave Crimmen Band Classic 50’s Rock & Roll

5pm- Park closes 

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Los Gatos Celebrates the 4th of July 4, 2014

Los Gatos Celebrates the 4th of July
Friday, July 4th, 2014

11:00am - 4:30pm

Oak Meadow Park*
233 Blossom Hill Road
Shuttle Service Available-Click HERE for schedule

*Please note the venue change. Previous years the event
has been held at Civic Center. This year, the whole event will take place at Oak Meadow Park.

This hometown event offers fun for the whole family, all day long! Come early to play game and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch being sold by members of Los Gatos Service Clubs in the Food Court. Stay awhile and soak in the sun while listening to the patriotic sounds of the San Jose Wind Symphony. The day promises to be full of patriotic summertime fun for all, we hope to see you there!

Thank you to our local sponsors & community groups for making this event possible! Los Gatos Celebrates the 4th of July is sponsored by the Town of Los Gatos and LGS Recreation. The games and activities are offered by LGS Recreation. The Food Court is run by members of Los Gatos Service Clubs including: Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, 

Los Gatos

Community Foundation, Daughters of the American Revolution.

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San Jose Giants Fireworks Show, July 4, 2014

The San Jose Giants take the field against the Stockton Ports and a fireworks show follows the game. As of this writing tickets are still available, but they go quickly. Those who don’t manage to secure tickets can still see the show from various spots surrounding the stadium.

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Rotary Club of San Jose Fireworks Show, Downtown San Jose, July 4, 2014

A free, world-class fireworks display downtown San Jose

The Rotary Club of San Jose invites you, and your family and friends, to join us as we light up the night sky on Friday, July 4th, 2014.
Below you will find helpful information on the event.

We hope you join us!

Discovery Meadow is the best seat in the house,
and will be open to the public.

This is a free, family-friendly event, and seating is on a first-come basis.  The fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:30PM, after dusk.
Restrooms and a great view will be provided on site.  For a map of the Discovery Meadow click (here).

 

Expect crowds, take public transit.

We anticipate large crowds therefore we strongly encourage you to ride public transit.  VTA is providing special event service to and from the fireworks show.

Fireworks return to downtown San Jose for the first time since 2008. The Rotary Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a free fireworks show in Discovery Meadow, and while the Club says this show is a one-time-only event, we have our fingers crossed that this means the return of annual fireworks downtown, in one way or another.

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Rose, White & Blue Parade, San Jose CA, July 4, 2014

Parade begins at Lincoln High School parking lot at 555 Dana Avenue. Friday, July 4, 2014 |
 Parade: 10 am; Picnic: 11 am to 2 pm

Enjoy a family holiday filled with History, Patriotism and Roses! The Rose, White and Blue Parade and Festival held annually on 4th of July in San Jose, California is a revival of the historic Rose Carnival of 1896, later known as The Fiesta de Las Rosas Parade in the 1920's.

Enjoy an old fashioned family-style parade as it winds through the Rose Garden neighborhood ending on the grand avenue of the The Alameda. This homespun parade features live bands, dance groups, home-made floats, kids on bikes, antique cars, and more. Following the parade attendees will enjoy the picnic on The Alameda featuring food and drink from local restaurants under the shade of our trees on The Alameda together with live music.

2014 Rose, White & Blue Parade | San JoseFriday, July 4, 2014 | Parade: 10 am; Picnic: 11 am to 2 pm
The Alameda, San Jose
FREE
Parade Route: The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at Lincoln High School parking lot on Dana Avenue. The parade follows a path of turns through the Shasta/Hanchett Park and Rose Garden neighborhoods before finishing on The Alameda near the intersection of Pershing Avenue. This is a description of the routes specific streets. The parade heads north on Dana Avenue. From Dana Avenue it then turns right onto University Avenue. The parade follows University Avenue until it takes another right turn onto The Alameda. The total distance traveled is 1.7 miles.
Rose, White & Blue Parade
Picnic on The Alameda
Antique & Classic Cars
Live Music
Arts & Crafts Booths

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33rd Annual Summer Festival and Chili Cook Off, Palo Alto CA, July 4, 2014

33rd Annual Summer Festival and Chili Cook Off
12noon – 5pm
600 East Meadow Dr.
12-5pm (Chili and Ice Cream Tasting Starts at 1:30pm)
The tradition continues as we celebrate Independence Day at the 33rd Annual City of Palo Alto Summer Festival & Chili Cook-Off on Friday July 4. With live music featuring San Francisco based, La Gente Band; a variety of children’s activities including hair braiding, coloring and spiking by Snip-its; balloon making; art activities by the Palo Alto Art Center, old time party games and more. The Chili Cook Off has something for every member of the family.
New for 2014, the Summer Festival and Chili Cook Off will offer the Stanford Federal Credit Union Ice Cream Taste Off featuring local hand made ice cream vendors.  Local shops CREAM, Tin Pot Creamery and Green Girl Bakery will battle for the People’s Choice and the Best Overall Ice Cream Awards.  Winner will receive a special plaque to post in their shops.
For those glued to the World Cup, the Summer Festival and Chili Cook Off will be streaming the 1PM game live at Mitchell Park.  It’s an afternoon made for the whole family. Chili, food, ice cream, games, art, music, dancing and the World Cup! Bring the family, play some games, grab some food and purchase your tasting kits for chili and ice cream.  Sit on the grass and enjoy the fun, family and the World Cup.  What better way to enjoy the 4th of July!
Chili teams will compete in two categories; Corporate and Open, for cash and prizes.  Stylish plaques will be given for Best Decorated Booth, Best Spirit, and the People’s Choice Awards.  Tasting kits go on sale at noon $5 (for 5 tastes) and public tasting begins at 1:30PM. Beer and margaritas along with sodas and lemonade will also be for sale.  In addition to the chili tasting, food vendors will provide a variety of foods for all members of the family.

Offsite parking will be available at Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, just two short blocks away. A limited shuttle van will be available.  Please enter the south entrance for Cubberley.  The shuttle stop will be in front of the Theatre.

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