Steppin' Out

Story

Coming events offer entertainment on the house

By Heather Zimmerman

Getting something for nothing sounds too good to be true, but in downtown San Jose lately, some of the best things in life really are free.

Case in point: The return on Aug. 3 of South First Fridays from a brief summer break. The monthly gallery walk has steadily grown in popularity since it began early in 2006, even getting a nod in a recent New York Times article about San Jose. The event, which takes place the first Friday of every month, highlights the galleries and museums in San Jose's arts-and-entertainment-oriented SoFA district. All within three blocks--and all for free--visitors can check out the latest exhibitions at Anno Domini, 366 S. First St.; Green Rice Gallery, 300 S. First St.; Works San Jose, 451 S. First St.; MACLA, 510 S. First St.; San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, 520 S. First St.; and San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, 560 S. First St. With the gallery walk starting at 8 p.m., most of these spots keep later than usual hours on South First Fridays.

For the summer months, South First Fridays founding/organizing gallery Anno Domini has added a street market to the event. The market, which adjoins the gallery, features local artists, vendors and live bands. The market starts at 6 p.m.

The momentum of South First Fridays has also reached beyond the bounds of the neighborhood where it started. KALEID gallery, 88 S. Fourth St.; Japantown's Art Object Gallery, 592 N. Fifth St.; commuknity, 1345 The Alameda; and Tumason Portraits, 1341 The Alameda, will host special events and/or keep extended hours on Aug. 3 as part of the First Friday art night. For information about South First Fridays, call 408.271.5155 or visit www.southfirstfridays.com.

Throughout the summer, audiences can catch free outdoor screenings of favorite films every Wednesday evening at Cinema San Pedro, presented by San Jose film institute Cinequest in San Pedro Square, San Pedro Street between Santa Clara and St. John streets, San Jose. But for the month of August, Cinequest is hosting a second series of family-oriented films showing free every Friday night at St. James Park, N. First and St. James streets, San Jose. Films start at sundown. The series begins on Aug. 3 with My Big Fat Greek Wedding and features Edward Scissorhands (Aug. 10); Wizard of Oz (Aug. 17) and Back to the Future (Aug. 24). For more information, visit www.cinequest.org.

Metro's Music in the Park is another freebie that makes the most of warm summer evenings. The annual event draws a laid-back crowd for a diverse lineup of free weekly concerts that runs from early July to just past Labor Day, every Thursday, 5:30-9 p.m. at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Market Street between San Fernando and San Carlos streets, San Jose. This year's schedule includes Brandi Carlile (July 26); Jackie Greene (Aug. 2); Tony! Toni! Tone! presents Dwayne Wiggins (Aug. 9); Mandy Moore (Aug. 16); Grupo Fantasma (Aug. 23); Lakeside (Aug. 30) and Finger Eleven (Sept. 6). For more information, call 408.279.1775 or visit www.sjdowntown.com.