Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wednesday Wishlist: BART to San Jose

This is one Wednesday Wishlist we may achieve sooner rather than later. A couple of weeks ago, $900M in federal funds moved into the final stages of approval for the South Bay BART project. Groundbreaking is being earmarked for early 2012 and passenger service to Berryessa is expected by 2018. For more info, click here.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

San Jose Sharks Mount Comeback of Legend, Win 6-5

The San Jose Sharks made an unbelievable comeback against the Los Angeles Kings, winning their game in overtime, and putting them ahead in the series, two games to one.

This must have been a very interesting day for “fair weather fans” of the Sharks. First, it started with “The Sharks suck. Here we go choking again!” to “The Sharks are awesome! They’re comeback kings!” (Yes, I read most of the social web site BS from people claiming to be from Silicon Valley.)

Even as a true Sharks fan, since their inaugural season in 1991, I will admit there were times I felt disappointed, but in no way did I lose my support and energy with hopes my favorite team would not give up. To watch the Los Angeles Kings escalate the score to a 4-0 lead, even the more supportive Sharks fans felt it was, yet again, not the Sharks’ day. After all, last Saturday, the Kings beat the Sharks by the same 4-0 tally at the Shark Tank to even the series at one game apiece.

The first period ended with a 3-0 advantage for the Kings. Likewise, I did not feel too bad, as the Sharks had overcome similar deficits in the past, and two periods could have been enough for at least a three goal comeback to tie the game. After the Kings’ fourth goal less than a minute into the second period, it seemed it would not be so easy. Many of my “friends” sent me text messages, informing me they had turned their televisions off and were heading to bed. Even coach Todd McLellan had enough of goaltender Antti Niemi (who, I admit, really was not on his game) and pulled him in favor of fellow Finn Antero Niittymaki.

“Not me! I am a true fan!” I replied to each message of capitulation. The Sharks didn’t quit, so neither did I.

Soon, Patrick Marleau put the first goal on the board for the Sharks, being set up by both Dan Boyle and Joe Thornton. A few minutes later, it was Ryan Clowe, and then another six minutes of hard-nosed play saw the Sharks score yet again with a goal by Logan Couture (who, by the way, was just revealed as a nominee for the 2010-2011 Calder “Rookie of the Year” Memorial Trophy).

With the score then 4-3, the Sharks were right back in it.

The Kings’ Ryan Smyth scored only fifteen seconds after Couture’s goal to calm the Sharks’ hot streak, but as the second period unfolded, the Sharks scored twice more: once by Ryane Clowe (again, for his second, from a beautiful setup by Dan Boyle), and another by Joe Pavelski with a great front of the net effort.

Sharks fans rejoiced with their massive comeback, and the seven goal second period left the game at a 5-5 between the two teams.

Although the third period saw some close chances by both teams, the period ended scoreless, forcing the game to be decided by sudden death overtime.

Three minutes in, after a three on two break by the Sharks, Patrick Marleau slid the puck over to Devin Setoguchi for a beautiful setup, allowing him to wrist the puck into the top corner of the net, beating Kings’ netminder Jonathan Quick and sealing the Sharks’ victory.

The epic surge by the Sharks was only the fourth time in NHL Playoff history a team mounted a comeback from a deficit of at least four goals.

Now all of you fair weather fans can wake up and pretend like you’re all excited.

TWO BUCK Tuesday Today!

from Phantom Galleries 

KALEID Gallery presents
Two Buck Tuesday APRIL 19th 7-10pm
You're invited to join us for our monthly $2 art sale and quirky people get together!
We have another great lineup of art, demos and hands on activities!

FEATURING:
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Sandi Billingsley will show us how to make recycled styrofoam picture frames!

Maria's Make Ur Own Button station is back!
In a world filled with buttons, you can’t seem to find the right button...well come by our button making machine table! this month- Maria will help u design & make a button that is all YOU!.

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Laura Callin Bennett will help us make Pysanky (Ukrainian Dyed Easter Eggs). These are not your typical pastel dyed eggs! You will be able to draw intricate designs in wax and use brilliant dyes to create one of a kind egg artwork.

San Jose is Lame Because You’re Lame calendar will be making the next month's diy calendar. If you have an event you'd like to add, let them know!

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Deb & Omar Barba Do you love musical instruments? Want to make one? Come join us and construct your own Diddley Bow. The original, single string slide guitar! Materials to build, and demonstrations on how to play one is all provided!

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Joanne Yada & Courtney Thiesen will teach us how to turn plain ol’ photos into surreal ol’ photos using a bleach pen! Create new reds, oranges, and glowing whites by drawing with a Clorox stain removing pen directly onto photographs. More fun than doing yer laundry!

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Alan Hackler will teach you to hand tie your own white sage incense smudge, using deer grass cordage. We will have a DIY demo and allow people to create their sage smudge from materials that will be provided. White sage and deer grass starter plants will be on sale as well, so participants can create smudges from material in their garden. Other plants will also be on sale for $2!

LIVE PAINTING by:
Kori Thompson
Jehoiakim Santos
Morgan Richardson
MUSIC by: DJ Coco
Enjoy Easter Candy compliments of Two Buck Crew!
As always, $2 art will be on sale throughout the evening!
Tuesday, April 19, 7-10 pm - free & all ages welcome!

KALEID Gallery
88 South 4th Street
Downtown San Jose
www.KALEIDgallery.com
(408) 947 1785

Monday, April 18, 2011

New Art Show Coming to The Usuals this Friday!


Dion Bello at The Usuals


Leon by Dion Bello

Dion Bello's charicatures (Illuskrate) will be the next art show up for viewing at The Usuals on Friday April 22nd which is also The Usuals' 1 year anniversary!

1020 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
www.ShopTheUsuals.com

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Largest Sikh Temple in the US Opens in San Jose

Last week the largest and most expensive Sikh Temple in the United States was fully completed. The ornate building up in the Evergreen hills is 110,000 sqft and contains a prayer hall, classrooms, apartments, and a vegetarian kitchen. Total cost of construction was $32M. For more information, click here.

San Jose Gurdwara Dome and Fountain

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Tesla Santana Row - Grand Opening Weekend

My favorite car company is having their grand opening at Santana Row starting today. This is their 18th "store" and is the first to utilize a new concept that encourages customers to come in and fully customize a virtual vehicle inside and out. The feel is more like an Apple store than a dealership. In fact, they are encouraging everyone to come in and play with the cars--even those that can't afford a $100k roadster. They want people to keep Tesla in mind when cars roll of the line with more accessible price ranges, so I don't think you're going to get the same level of pretentiousness that you would at a luxury dealer. It's a new model that I hope other car manufacturer's will adopt in the future (Saturn is the only other company that I think came close to a low-pressure experience).


Thursday, April 14, 2011

Sharks Take Game One, Lead Series 1-0

The California rivalry matchup ended with a 3-2 victory for the Sharks, as clutch player Joe "Pavs" Pavelski scored with 14:44 into the overtime period to seal the victory, giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead in the series.

The Kings, although missing their regular season scoring leader Anze Kopitar, recently got forward Justin Williams back from injured reserve after he suffered a dislocated shoulder. Williams had been the second leading scorer for the Kings during the season, with Kopitar being the first. Kings' goaltender Jonathan Quick had played a phenomenal game for the Kings, definitely keeping them in the game, as Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi had similarly done for the Sharks. Given both teams' goaltenders strong performances, scoring goals for either team had to rely on strategic in-zone passing plays and very accurate shots.

Joe Pavelski's high glove shot on Quick clearly had been no exception, as far as accurate shots go.

During the game, the Sharks controlled the first period, scoring right away with a Dany Heatley goal just 28 seconds in, although a very chippy and physical playing style led to strong defenseman Ian White getting injured by a blatant cheap shot by Kings forward Jarret Stoll. Through video replays, Stoll was clearly seen targeting Ian White's head, driving it into the boards from behind. Currently, the NHL is looking into it, and given an infraction is fairly dealt, I see no less than a four-game suspension.

The Sharks slowed down their playing style during the second period, which the Kings took advantage of, allowing them to score twice, although an equalizer goal by rookie star forward Logan Couture (with a fantastic five hole shot) left the score 2-2 by the end of the second period.

The third period saw no scoring, however an exciting overtime period followed. For those of you playoff newbies out there, no shootout occurs in the NHL Playoffs, so the game continues until the next goal. Fortunately for the Sharks, the Kings typically dominated in shootout wins during the regular season, and given no shootout occurrence in the playoffs, the Sharks could work their overtime period magic.

That they did, with Joe Pavelski scoring the final goal to give the Sharks the win and the series lead.

The Sharks play again at the Tank this Saturday (the 16th) for Game 2! GO SHARKS!

Special Note: James Hetfield (of Metallica fame) was in the building, and apparently a Sharks fan. (He was given a special nod on the jumbotron.) ALL RIGHT! ROCK ON!