Events Around the Bay – Week of October 10, 2016

Silicon Valley Welcomes YouTube Star Pianist
October 15 at 8PM

Valentina Lisitsa is not only the first YouTube star of classical music, she is the first classical artist to have converted her internet success into a global concert career in the principal venues of Europe, including a sold-out concert at the renowned Royal Albert Hall in London, the USA, South America and Asia. Described as a dazzling pianist, Valentina Lisitsa is one of the most recognized classical musicians on the internet, using digital innovation to champion classical music.  The Ukraine-born artist who began her musical education in her native city of Kiev at the Lysenko Music School for highly talented children and continued her studies at Kiev’s Conservatory of Music, will feature Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, Appassionata; Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit; Rachmaninoff’s Sonata no. 1 in D minor, Op. 28; and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition in her repertoire at her Silicon Valley debut concert at the Visual & Performing Arts Center in Cupertino.

Tickets and Information
Prices from $45 to $60
650-332-4978
Visual & Performing Arts Center
1250 Stevens Creek Blvd. Cupertino

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Grand National Rodeo
October 14 & 15; October 21 & 22

The spirit of the old wild west is alive and well at the 2016 Grand National Rodeo, Livestock Exposition and Horse Show as it continues its western tradition at the legendary Cow Palace in Daly City. The action-packed events include the Grand National Marketplace, Junior & Open Livestock shows, horse shows, autograph signings, mechanical bull rides, as well as music and dancing. Wear your favorite cowboy hat and brand new cowboy boots and have lots of fun and excitement.

Tickets and Information
Prices range between $38 to $120
415-404-4111
www.grandnationalrodeo.com
Cow Palace at 2600 Geneva Ave. Daly City

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Halloween Haunt and Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay
October 15 and 16, 9 AM to 5 PM

October is all about pumpkins! Pumpkin pies, pumpkin pie soda, pumpkin chili, chicken-pumpkin sausages, pumpkin smoothies and Half Moon Brewing’s Pumpkin Harvest Ale. Plus a pancake pumpkin breakfast that starts at 7 AM at Mac Dutra Park. Convinced? The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival will showcase great pumpkins, a haunted barn populated by lively pirates, live music, crafts, games, bungee jump and zipline attractions, a costume contest and, of course, pumpkin-spiced sips and bites. Delightful fun for all ages. Beware of goblins and ghosts. Boo!

Tickets and Information
Free admission
www.pumpkinfest.miramarevents.com
Main Street in Half Moon Bay

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Pianist Fei-Fei Dong Dazzles in San Jose  
October 15 at 7:30PM
 

The 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Finalist Fei-Fei Dong will dazzle the audience with her virtuoso interpretation of compositions by Baldassari Galuppi, Robert Schumann, Lowell Liebermann, and Franz Liszt at the Steinway Society’s recital at the historic Trianon Theatre in San Jose. A native of Shenzhen, China, Dong became interested in the piano when she was five years old and is praised for her natural musicality and beauty of tone. Dong gave her first recital at age 10 and made her orchestra debut three years later, performing Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto with the Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra. She moved to New York to study at Juilliard, the renowned Performing Arts Conservatory, earning Bachelor and Master’s music degrees. She was two-time winner of the prestigious Juilliard Bachauer Piano Competition in 2012 and 2013 and in 2014, Dong made her trio debut at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This is truly a concert not to be missed.

Tickets and Information
Prices from $40 to $60
408-990-0872
www.steinwaysociety.com
Trianon Theatre, 72 North 5th Street, San Jose

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Moscow Mule Train in San Francisco
October 20, 4PM to 8PM

The famous cocktail from the ‘40s is making its classic return to the city’s Hotel Vitale. The boutique hotel’s Americano Restaurant & Bar is testing out a Stoli (known better as Stolichnaya) Moscow Mule Cart concept that sends mixologists sashaying around the dining room. The Moscow Mule-ing will offer the famous cocktail consisting of 0.5 ounce of fresh lime juice and 2 ounces of vodka, topped with ginger beer and served in a distinctive copper mug. At $12 a pop, it is a cheers-ful comeback! Shouting “Na Zdorovye!” is recommended.
Tickets and Information
Hotel Vitale
415-278-3700
8 Mission Street, San Francisco

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Harry Potter Partners with the Symphony Silicon Valley
October 29 at 2:30PM and 8:00PM
October 30 at 2:30PM and 7:00PM

There is more to Silicon Valley than computer chips and Google’s Doodles. Harry Potter fans rejoice: The first-ever Harry Potter Film Concert Series is coming to San Jose! The Symphony Silicon Valley has contracted with CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Consumer Products to present The Harry Potter Film Concert Series, a new concert tour celebrating the Harry Potter films. The first film concert is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Symphony Silicon Valley’s General Director, Andrew Bales, added, “The Harry Potter Film Concert Series is a great addition to our programs, enabling us to reach many new audiences who have listened to orchestra music but didn’t always associate it with live musicians. This format presents a heightened experience for the audience.”  The film concert will feature the Symphony Silicon Valley orchestra and a women’s choir performing live every note from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Audiences will relive the magic of the film in high-definition on a giant 40-foot screen while hearing the musicians perform John Williams’ unforgettable score which brilliantly evokes the wizardry and wonders of Harry Potter’s mystical world.

Tickets and Information
Prices from $45 to $95
408-286-2600, ext. 23
www.symphonysilcionvalley.org
San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts
255 S. Almaden Blvd, San Jose

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.