Veggielution Backyard Chickens Workshop

Sign up now for Veggielution’s Backyard Chickens workshop—it will fill up soon because raising chickens is more and more popular and this is a great deal for a workshop to get you started.

The workshop is Saturday, March 26, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm in the LeFevre Barn Classroom. The $20 fee for this class covers materials costs, and also allows Veggielution to put on free and bilingual workshops throughout the year. Click here to register.

Raising chickens at home comes with many rewards, and is a great way to be more connected with where our food comes from. A few hens can keep your family supplied with fresh eggs that can come in a beautiful range of colors, with thick sturdy shells, and vibrant yolks that stand up tall. We’ll go over selecting breeds and where to buy chicks, designing a coop and run, raising your chicks, and keeping your chickens safe, healthy and happy.

This will be a hands-on workshop that includes a visit to Veggielution’s chicken coop to hold hens, gather eggs, see an example of coop design, and participate in some chicken care. If you’re interested, we can also arrange to order and raise some chicks for you too. This workshop will be led by Jessie Nichols, Veggielution Youth Program Coordinator and mother hen to our flock of 36 chickens since they were chicks.

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Cody Kraatz
Veggielution Outreach and Communications Coordinator
mobile 408.218.5738
www.veggielution.org

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Magic is Coming to the San Jose Improv Tomorrow!

World-renowned magicians Wayne Houchin and Aaron Fisher will present an evening of Mystery, Magic & Curiosities at the San Jose Improv on March 8th at 8 PM. This all-ages* show features cutting edge sleight-of-hand magic along with special musical guest Josh Funk.

Wayne Houchin worked with Criss Angel on the hit TV show Mindfreak, made headlines for predicting the exact outcome of the Super Bowl and recently made history in the Dominican Republic by stopping time for the entire nation – on live national television.

Aaron Fisher is a regular performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and is widely regarded as one of the greatest sleight-of-hand artists in the world. His best selling magic book The Paper Engine has been hailed as a modern day classic.

*The poster says ages 13+, but management has decided to open the show up to younger children (10+) as well.

Stars End Sharks’ Streak At Home

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Such was the case for the San Jose Sharks, narrowly losing to the Dallas Stars at home, with the score of 3-2.

With the loss, the Sharks still remain in third place in the Western Conference standings and atop the Pacific Division. Some writers or analysts may state the Sharks have “suddenly discovered how the Pacific Division may be more difficult than expected” due to their loss to the Stars. In reality, for the Sharks, it was a bad game, and for the Stars, it was a fortunate win. To win eight games in a row is in itself a great accomplishment, and most Sharks fans are cognizant of that.

Although it is good to be in a solid third place position this close to the regular season’s end, those who were able to watch the game either at the Tank or on television may be more than a bit disappointed with how the loss played out. With the combination of the Sharks’ messy play, the horrible officiating, the bad bounces, and the dirty cheap shots by the Stars players, the loss did not sit well at all with the fans. The game did not play out like a typical gentlemen’s loss, but instead a bitter end to a chippy game.

Unlike the visible explosiveness of the Sharks team from the Detroit Red Wings game two days prior, I saw a Sharks team reminiscent of last year’s first two games against the Colorado Avalanche in the Conference Quarterfinals. For the Sharks, passes missed the mark, turnovers were given away, players could not properly handle the puck, and others had to maneuver to keep from hitting one another. To make matters worse, Stars forward Jamie Benn managed to sneak past the Sharks defenses on a power play to score a short-handed, breakaway goal just over a minute into the game.

It was then the Sharks picked up their pace.

Sharks forward Kyle Wellwood perfectly tipped in a shot to even out the score to 1-1 by the end of the first period, and by the second period, the rejuvenated Sharks were playing to their typical high level. Just over a minute into the second period, Sharks forwards Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau executed a textbook two on one for Marleau’s 26th goal of the year, giving the Sharks their first lead of the game.

Throughout the period, the Sharks demonstrated better puck control, more shots, and some well-placed hits. It is always nice to see big Ben Eager get fired up and throw his body around. Defenseman Douglas Murray also did what he does best: block shots, clear the puck, and deliver great, clean hits. The Stars players, mad about being sent to the ice, all attempted to retaliate, but Murray confidently brushed them away.

The third period unfortunately saw the Stars score two more goals that managed to beat goaltender Antti Niemi. Both Stars goals occurred in front of the net: one bounced to a waiting Loui Eriksson, and the other redirected off of Dany Heatley’s stick by accident. Goaltender Antti Niemi, although allowing three goals in the contest, did not play a bad game. He still managed to fight off screens to stop wayward pucks and even executed a brilliant save on the Stars' Mike Ribeiro on an open net opportunity.

While the progression of the period saw the Sharks attempt to score again, nothing seemed to be working. Puck battles bounced in the Stars’ favor, opportunities for Shark goals would be thwarted by un-penalized cheap shots (case in point, the tackling of Joe Pavelski close to the end of the third period on a scoring opportunity), and a legitimate goal late in the third was waved off by the officials. There was even one instance where the Stars’ goalie tripped up Ryane Clowe, with Clowe being sent to the penalty box for goaltender interference.

Although the Sharks earned no points for their efforts, as fans we must keep this game in the history books the way it played out: a fluke.

The Sharks have two days to pull he team together to re-energize before their Tuesday night game against the Nashville Predators at the Shark Tank. Go Sharks!

The Kebab Shack Replaces Chill Factor

The bad news is Chill Factor Frozen Yogurt Lounge at 312 S. 3rd is no more. This brings us down to ONLY FIVE yogurt shops in Downtown San Jose.

The good news is it was replaced by a solid Mediterranean place called The Kebab Shack. I tried their chicken kebabs and recently, and they were extremely tender and flavorful. It does take about 15min to get your order because everything is made fresh to order, but it's worth the wait. The best part? Open until 3am on the weekends.

Black and Teal

Here's yet another hip hop video featuring San Jose by local artists, this time honoring the Sharks! Hat tip to Quan for the link.

Sharks Win Again, Dominate At Home

The San Jose Sharks faced the star-studded Detroit Red Wings team at home, emerging on top, with the final score of 3-1 Sharks. Whether it could have been an energetic locker room speech or a desirable incentive, whatever it was, the solution worked. From the very onset of the game, the Sharks played with dynamic intensity, and the fans in the Shark Tank felt the team’s energetic presence. Despite the large number of jeering and heckling Red Wings fans attempting to infest the Tank with their mediocre “shout over the Sharks’ cheers” support, the true hearts of teal quashed any hope those wearing Red Wings jerseys had with booming cheers and standing ovations during the course of the Sharks’ domination.

With their win, the Sharks extend their win streak to eight games in a row.

San Jose Sharks forward Dany Heatley, a name notably missing from our recent post-game entries, made a triumphant return, not only notching two goals (after scoring only one in the last twelve games), but executing an array of fantastic plays: throwing his body around (one time knocking Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk’s helmet off), winning the corner battles, and turning hard backchecks into successful takeaways. Heatley walked away as the game’s first star, and well deservedly so. This was the Heatley fans had been waiting for.

During the course of the game, each period’s hard fought battles was rightly won by the Sharks. Although the Sharks only capitalized on one of three power plays (as did the Red Wings), the Sharks’ true domination with puck control and passing came during even strength hockey. In fact, the Sharks almost made their puck control look too easy, making even strength hockey look as if they were on a power play. (Perhaps Sharks coach Todd McLellan should trick his players into thinking they’re playing even strength hockey when a power play opportunity comes? Just kidding.)

Nevertheless, each action-packed period carried a goal by the Sharks, and in between each goal, the Sharks demonstrated their Cup-contending skills with competent offensive zone play. Sharks fans at the Tank loudly showed their support every time the Sharks set up goals, put terrific shots on net, and continually recovered the puck when the Red Wings would attempt to break out of their zone.

The Red Wings’ fate was sealed late in the third period when a forechecking Patrick Marleau caught the Red Wings’ netminder by surprise and sent an awkwardly deflected tip into the back of the net. With the Red Wings’ net empty soon thereafter, Dany Heatley managed to get close to scoring a hat trick, although with a tough front put up by the Red Wings’ defense and given he was skating down the right side of the ice as a left-handed shot, Heatley’s shot careened over the net.

Watching the Sharks play so well, even without the extremely visible presence of veteran defenseman Dan Boyle, is evidence of how well the team has really come together. Just look at what we (as Sharks fans) have been witness to in recent times: our puck control and defense has significantly improved, and each of our recent acquisitions have been big wins. To elaborate on our recent acquisitions, look at who we have acquired:

- Ben Eager, a gritty, hard-working forward, who ironically proved to be a real pain for the Sharks during last year’s playoffs as a member of the Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks team. After his match penalty in Atlanta, the team could not wait to get rid of him (at least the local sports writers were vocal about it, as seen here – link), and subsequently dealt him to the Sharks. Upon his arrival in San Jose, Eager has scored, backed up teammates, contributed with of his signature big hits, and revealed his amazing hidden skill: a fast and powerful wrist shot. (Just ask the Anaheim Ducks.)

- Kyle Wellwood, a forward with playing ability highly reminiscent of Sharks fan favorite Scott Nichol (who is currently on injured reserve). Wellwood has not only scored multiple times, his intensity and talented stickhandling ability make him a terrifically effective forward.

- Defenseman Ian White, recently acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes. YouTube has made him particularly famous from clips of him laying bone-crunching hits, then proceeding to beat his target in a fight if the target of his hit decided to retaliate. Much like the great majority of the Sharks’ defensive lineup, he plays a very offensive game. Although many critics tend to criticize non-stay-at-home defenders, White plays his game with surprising efficacy. Watch him pinch in at the right time to keep the puck in the zone and carry the puck out of the zone by him self and pass it to a teammate already going at full speed to stymie the opposing team’s defense.

The Sharks play the Dallas Stars this Saturday at the Shark Tank at 7:30pm. Hope to see many of you supportive fans there!

South First Fridays Art Walk March 4th!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Join us for South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk Friday March 4, 7-11pm
(in downtown San Jose's SoFA District & beyond!)

Be sure to make it by these Phantom Galleries coordinated exhibitions hosted by local art supporting businesses:


Opening Reception: Folie à Deux: A Delusion Shared By Two an exhibition of monotype prints by Curt Schauerat Caffe Trieste.

In his Folie à Deux series (2009-2010), Curt explores the double sided nature of human behavior and psyche and how it can be internalized within a single individual or between two persons and even a society associated with one another. Even between the artist and the viewer. In the monotypes, the characteristic figurative images can be viewed as two individuals or as one with two distinct or shared personalities. The prints are characterized by broken color patterns creating motion, tension and anxiety within and between. In addition to the Folie a Deux prints, he displays similar and related monotypes created leading up to and during the series. Curt is influenced by artists including Picasso, Vigliaturo and Benzoni. He works in monotype, watercolor, glass and mixed media.

First Fridays are Opera Night! at Caffé Trieste with some of the Bay Area’s best opera singers performing your favorite arias and duets.


Artist’s Reception: Phosphene Series: Hand Painted Polaroid Emulsion Lifts by Shannon Amidon at Good Karma Cafe.

Phosphene is an entoptic phenomenon characterized by the experience of seeing light without light actually entering the eye. Flashes of light, often caused by rubbing the closed eyes. These images were created by hand painting blank 35mm slides. Polaroid pull-a-part prints were created using a vintage slide printer. The prints were boiled in water and the emulsion was carefully removed and placed onto watercolor paper. Each emulsion print is hand manipulated and one of a kind.


Artist’s Reception: Just In Time, Abstracts by Jane Peterman at Pho69.

The series of paintings is a meditation on time and space beginning March 2009 and ongoing.

Pho69 also features live contemporary music on First Fridays. Come check out local bands performing favorite covers and original music.


Artists' Receptions for Dotti Cichon & Kathleen Wolf at KALEID Gallery which also features work by 60 other regional artists.

Dotti Cichon: The Grandeur of the Commonplace: Impressions of Europe two bodies of photographic work from a recent trip to Europe.

The Grandeur of the Commonplace explores the incredible beauty of ordinary places such as train stations, shopping malls, shops and stairways in panoramic photographs that exaggerate perspective by having forced the camera to do things it was not meant to do. Impressions of Europe, work done in Paris and Les Andelys in France is an homage to the impressionist painters who attempted to capture “impressions” and not just copy reality which is something that, by definition, is a challenge to emulate as a photographer.


Kathleen Wolf: Almost Edible This exhibition is comprised of several approaches to food painting: the earliest works represent visual recipes, the second is comprised of viewing food from multiple viewpoints or having it disappear off over the horizon, creating a different type of visual movement. The third, and most recent work invites the viewer to participate in the purchase of food from places they are familar with, an Ice Cream Parlor, Bakery, Deli, etc.

For full exhibition and venue information (18!), please visit http://www.SouthFirstFridays.com

South First Friday Tonight!