San Jose: 4 Historic Theaters Right in Downtown!

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Jamie

Disclosure: I was invited on a San Jose FAM Trip to experience all that San Jose has to offer.  All opinions are my own. 

Center of Performing ArtsCenter for Performing Arts

 

When walking around Downtown San Jose, it’s impossible to not notice the elements of art and culture found throughout the city.  First, beginning with the 4 historic theaters that Team San Jose has taken over since 2004.  These 4 historic theaters have truly elevated the Historic Downtown Area by bringing in various national acts to theaters around town.

The Center for Performing Arts is where a lot of the Broadway Musicals are performed throughout the year.  Within the next year there are some pretty big acts coming to town including Wicked kicking off the week ahead and next summer; The Book of Mormon is coming to town.

Wicked: August 27-Sept. 14th (Seriously people, WICKED!!)

Jerry Seinfeld: Oct. 16

Cirque Dreams Holidaze: Nov. 25 through Nov. 30th

Cinderella: The Musical: March 3rd through 8th, 2015

Rain: A Tributes to the Beatles: March 27th through 29th, 2015

Once: April 21st through 26th, 2015

The Book of Mormon: June 30th through July 12th, 2015 (This one is on my list!)

California Theater: This historic theater will truly floor you as you enter through the main theater doors.  Often a big component of Opera San Jose and Symphony Silicon Valley. 

california-theaterCalifornia Theater

Opera San Jose: Rigoletto: Sept. 6 through Sept. 21st

Symphony Silicon Valley: Italian Tour: Sept. 27th and 28th

C.S. Lewis “The Great Divorce: Oct. 10th and 11th

Ballet Phillippines Masterpieces: Oct. 12th

Tomislav Bralic & Klapa Intrade : Oct. 19th

Symphony Silicon Valley: Beethovan and Brahms: Oct. 25th and 26th

This is also where we took in a few performances during San Jose’s Jazz Summerfest.  Seeing San Jose Taiko with the Bangerz was a favorite performance from the festival weekend.  And taking in more soothing sounds from the Hot Club of Detroit gave us two very different experiences at the California Theater.

City National Civic:

City-National-CivicCity National Civic.  Photo Credit: Aron Cooperman

The City National Civic, formerly known as the San Jose Civic Auditorium is a sports and concert venue utilized throughout San Jose located directly across the street from the San Jose Convention Center, and in close proximity to many Downtown area hotels including the St. Claire, Four Season, Marriot, Hilton, Hyatt, and The Fairmont. Some upcoming performances include:

Rob Zombie: Sept. 16th

Crosby, Stills & Nash: Sept. 19th

Diana Ross: In the Name of Love Tour: Sept. 25th

Judas Priest: Nov. 16th

Mythbusters: Behind the Myths Tour: Dec. 18th

Disney Junior Live on Tour!: January 2nd, 2015

So You Think You Can Dance Tour: Jan. 29th, 2015

This is also the venue where we took in a performance of George Lopez.  A night of laughs that was completely worth it.  Where I easily learned the term of #degrets and what being an #OTM (other than Mexican) truly meant.  The seats aren’t that uncomfortable, and you can purchase drinks at the concessions or up in the Sky Bar, located on the Mezzanine level, before heading to your performance.  Please note that this venue isn’t very camera friendly though so leave the cameras at home.

City-National-Civic-SeatingCity National Civic Seating Venue

Montgomery Theater:

Montgomery-TheaterMontgomery Theater

If you’re looking for more of a traditional playhouse venue, let me introduce you to the Montgomery Theater where CMT’s (Children’s Musical Theater)  performances occur throughout the year.  Another historic theater that sweeps you off your feet the minute you walk into it.

Upcoming performances include:

Oct. 4th-12th: Lyric Theater: Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Utopia Unlimited.”

Oct. 18th: Come Together: The Beatles Concert Experience

Oct. 19th: Sex, Swagger and Swing! Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin Celebration

Nov. 1st: Pink Floya Concert Experience Starring House of Floyd

Nov. 14th through 23rd: CMT The Sound of Music

Feb. 26 through March 1st, 2015: CMT: Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Needless to say, if you want to be entertained throughout the Bay Area, taking in a performance in historic downtown San Jose is the place to go with their beautiful venue spaces.

 


Categories: South Bay, Theater, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dinner Made Easy with Chili’s at Home.

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Jamie

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Chili’s at Home. All opinions are my own.

 

chilis-at-home

I’m a sucker for trying out new products especially when it’s a product being produced by a well known restaurant chain.  Chili’s always stood out to me for their flavorful meals and dishes.   To this day I still remember my first Chili’s experience, as it was the first time, I saw fajitas served in my life.  A Minnesota Girl, remember?

So when I heard they were coming out with their own frozen food line, I couldn’t wait to try the selections.  Check out all the varieties:

Bellisio Foods is collaborating with Chili’s® Grill & Bar to bring a line of frozen single-serve entrees and multi-serve meals made for adventurous taste buds on a flavor mission.

SINGLE-SERVE ENTRÉES
1. Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese
2. Cajun-Style Chicken Alfredo
3. Cheesy Chicken Pasta Florentine
4. Chicken Bacon Ranch
5. Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl
6. Island Chicken & Rice
7. Mango Chicken with Rice
8. Pepper Jack Mac ‘N’ Cheese

MULTI-SERVE MEALS
1. Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese
2. Chicken Bacon Ranch
3. Chicken Fajita Rice
4. Nacho Potatoes with Beef & Bacon
5. Seasoned Chicken Bites with Honey Chipotle Sauce

When I found the meals at my local Safeway I saw the single serve entrees right away but didn’t see the larger size options.  I came home right away and put the Pepper Jack Mac N Cheese in the microwave (you can heat them up in the oven too!)

Pepper-Jack-Mac-N-cheese

As you can tell, when I took this photo, I was really hungry so I took a quick shot before diving into my lunch.  And I was instantly surprised by all the flavor.  I am a huge fan of mac n cheese, and I would have this entree again and again.

With a lot of Frozen Foods, a lot of times, the meals come out pretty bland, and leaving you feeling like you made a mistake.  With this meal, I can honestly say I was happy with the flavor.  Of course, I just wish they were a bit bigger in size.

Then this evening I decided to try out the Mango Chicken with Rice, being such a huge mango fan that I am.

chilis-at-home

Again, another meal down, and another meal full of flavor.  I was a little worried with how the chicken would taste in a frozen meal, like I always am, however, after cooking in the microwave 3 minutes, the chicken tasted perfectly fine and went incredibly well with the mango and rice sauces.  Dinner made easy.

In the end, the verdict is favorable and I will be treating myself to these again.  Frozen Meals are always nice to have on hand for those nights that you just want to curl up on the couch and do nothing else making dinner so easy.

Curious about Chili’s at Home?  Be sure to grab a coupon here so you can try it yourself.


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Better Homes and Gardens Opening their Test Kitchen to the Public!

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Jamie

That’s right.  The test kitchen of Better Homes and Gardens is being opened to the public for the first time this coming October for their inaugral, “consumer cooking experience.”

Better-Homes-and-Gardens-Consumer-Cooking-ExperienceThis exclusive, two-day event will kick-off at the Better Homes and Gardens headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa on October 10, 2014. Guests will enjoy cooking demos from notable chefs and BHG editors, scrumptious meals, tours of the Test Kitchen, a gift bag curated by BHG editors valued at $200 and a limited edition cookbook featuring recipes from the event. Registration is now online here.

The weekend of events will kick off with a hearty opening reception and welcome dinner for guests that spotlights trend-forward holiday recipes from the pages of Better Homes and Gardens magazine and favorites old and new from the brand’s iconic Red Plaid Cookbook.

Consumers are also invited to book a seat at the table for the Tastes of the Season Dinner following Saturday’s cooking festivities. This intimate dinner in the Better Homes and Gardens kitchens will give readers a chance to dine and dish with Editor-in-Chief, Gayle Butler; Senior Deputy Food and Entertaining Editor, Nancy Hopkins; Test Kitchen Director Lynn Blanchard, and Contributing Editors Gesine Bullock-Prado and Scott Peacock. The menu features a four-course meal with wine pairings. This Saturday evening dinner is available as a separate ticket price. Seats are limited. To register click here.

Here’s a sample of what BHG has planned for readers during this exclusive, information-packed event:

 

• Eat the Menu & Lunch Instructor: Scott Peacock

o   Scott Peacock is a James Beard award-winning chef and cookbook author, is a southern food expert who brings big flavor to his food. Born and raised in rural Alabama, Scott is the former chef to two Georgia governors, founding chef of Atlanta’s Horseradish Grill, and the former executive chef of Watershed Restaurant in Decatur, Georgia. Scott will teach a hands-on class featuring some favorites from his comfort-filled menu, layered with flavors that are perfect to share at the holiday table. Attendees will learn to make every dish, then eat the results for lunch.

• Magically Delicious Desserts Instructor: Gesine Bullock Prado

o   Gesine Bullock-Prado is a master baker and cookbook author of Bake It Like You Mean It and Sugar Baby, who finds joy in demystifying baking challenges for the home cook. Gesine is a regular contributor to BHG and a frequent guest on NBC’s Today Show and CBS’ The Talk. Gesine will share simple steps to create spectacular centerpiece desserts for the holidays or any special occasion that begs for a sweet finish.

• Behind the Scenes at the BHG Test Kitchen with Better Homes and Gardens Editors

o   Get the scoop on what happens every day in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen, where all recipes are tested and approved by BHG editors and culinary professionals. The Test Kitchen is not open to the public, so this is a rare opportunity to experience a behind-the-scenes tour of the nations’ most famous test kitchen. Editors will also offer hands-on experience, covering everything from knife skills to pastry tricks.

• Everything You Need to Know to Cook SLOW with Better Homes and Gardens Editors

o   This hip and happening, fast-paced class will showcase 12 gorgeous go-to recipes for holiday gathering, from surprising appetizers to delicious desserts and the ultimate Christmas morning breakfast. Along the way, BHG editors will share the latest tips and tricks for using the slow cooker as well as the latest advancements in slow-cooker technology. The session will finish with design tips for how to make your slow cooker look great on the buffet table. You will be amazed that something so slow can taste so good!

I don’t know about you, but this would be a dream come true for me.  Can’t wait to see how this event unfolds.


Categories: Cooking, Desserts, Fun Stuff, Life, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment