#community-events

#community-events

The success of the past year and a half of Downtown First Thursdays events has encouraged the event's backers to go full-throttle into next year, guaranteeing that the monthly street party will go on. Downtown First Thursdays had been funded through the end of 2025, last we heard. But now billionaire Chris Larsen has confirmed that DFT will go on past New Year's Day and New Year's Day falls on a Thursday this year, so that will be the year's first event.

"The Spirit of Holidays Around the World" will feature he traditions around several different holidays, like Diwali, Chinese New Year and Three Kings Day. It aims to have visitors reflect on the customs and holidays they observe and what traditions they would like to pass on. Watercolor paintings by Saratoga artist Kay Duffy will also be displayed. The Saratoga History Museum is open from 1-4 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays.

A change to how Berkeley enforces the state fire code will force two popular street events, the city's Juneteenth Festival and a holiday gift market on Telegraph Avenue, out of the locations where they've been held for decades. Meanwhile, city officials are also moving to increase the fees they charge organizers for those and other events an effort to better reflect the staff work that goes into planning for street festivals that is expected to add thousands of dollars to the cost of permits.

It was part of my plan to find a community,

The Holiday Boutique at Temple Dor Dorim in Weston will feature over 40 local vendors selling unique art and clothes. A raffle will also take place, with the grand prize winner receiving a 2-hour luxury charter yacht. Other raffle prizes include a personalized yoga session, private wine class for 20 people at Total Wine and a teeth whitening treatment from Kotch Dental in Pembroke Pines. The annual event encourages the community to learn more about the temple and support their Early Childhood Center.

Staunton, Virginia, used to be a railroad hub, but now, the rail station is mainly used for thrice-weekly Amtrak stops and scenic tours of the Shenandoah Mountains. But in late September, every year, the sleepy station is transformed into Platform 9 ¾, and the roaring Amtrak is replaced by a gorgeous vintage train referred to only as the Hogwarts Express. Hundreds of Harry Potter fans fill the waiting area as the train rounds the bend on a rainy Saturday afternoon, and one by one, familiar faces deboard and wave to adoring fans: Hogwarts faculty, friends and foes, and, of course, the Boy Who Lived himself.

Navigating Your Career: If you're interested in learn how to navigate your career as a clinician educator, then join this workshop designed for early-career clinician educators like yourself. Join panelists such as Dr. Alfredo Urdaneta, Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine; Dr. Meera Sankar, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics; and Dr. Robert Boutin, Clinical Professor of Radiology, to help you decide on your career path. 8 a.m., virtual event. stanford.io/4novKwq Hospice 101: Join this webinar to clear up misinformation and misconceptions about hospice and its role in providing end-of-life care for loved ones. The webinar will debunk myths about hospice and what it takes to cover the costs of hospice care. 12 p.m., virtual event. stanford.io/3L5817e

To highlight the diversity of the city's restaurants the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce is presenting Sunnyvale Restaurant Week Nov. 8-16. Participating restaurants in this "citywide dining celebration" will feature special menus and creative offers of everything from falafel to pizza and breakfast to barbecue, with multi-course meals, chef's specials and perks like a complimentary appetizer, dessert or drink. For a list of participating restaurants, visit https://www.svcoc.org/sunnyvale-restaurant-week-about.

In moments of urgency, it can be challenging to keep a grip on the rhythm of ordinary life. That's one of the many reasons we publish Fogcutter, SFGATE's weekly column of events, shoutouts and slices of life. Every Sunday, we write about hyperlocal art shows, concerts and cafes. We hope to provide an oasis of quiet when the headlines get loud - not to offer an escape, but some grounding.

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA is giving a presentation about the Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga on Nov. 1. The care center opened in March. Staff will be presenting about the wildlife programs and facilities they use to treat sick, injured or orphaned animals before releasing them back into the wild. The presentation is scheduled from 1-2 p.m. in the Maple Room of Saratoga Library.

Over the last two years, Cursor has grown from a cult hit to one of the most popular AI code editors in software development. The tool's developer, Anysphere, has raised over $1 billion and was recently valued at $9.9 billion, per PitchBook. On Tuesday, Cursor hosted a one-day café at The Lost Draft in SoHo. It's one of several in-person events that AI companies have created to satisfy loyal customers and increase their social media hype.

Claremont Colleges Law School Fair: Thinking of a career in law? Then take this opportunity to meet with the Santa Clara Law School admissions representatives during this fair and learn more about how to apply to law school and programs suitable for you. 12 p.m., Smith Campus Center, Edmunds Ballroom, 170 E Sixth St., Claremont. bit.ly/493aPLL 2025 Stanford Food Summit: Attend this day-long conference that features researchers and experts who are passionate about food, health, and sustainability.

32nd Annual Domestic Violence Conference: Join this annual conference that brings professionals and community members to share ideas and collaborate on ways to prevent domestic violence. This year's theme, "Constellations of Community," focuses on resilience, justice, and healing. 8 a.m., Villa Ragusa, 35 S. Second St., Campbell. bit.ly/4o1rCTR "Flora and Threads" by Sylvie Levesque: View the breathtaking exhibition by French-Canadian artist Sylvie Levesque in her latest series, "Flora and Threads," that incorporates leaves, petals and threads in her artwork. 11 a.m., Viewpoints Gallery, 315 State St., Los Altos. bit.ly/4h0eg8e

This October, BART Sound Tracks returns with a one-day music festival featuring some of the Bay Area's outstanding jazz and R&B talents. Sound Tracks Jazz Festival, presented in partnership with SFJAZZ, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 3pm to 6pm, in the North Berkeley Station parking lot. In addition to three unique acts - SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, B DeVeaux, and Sun Hop Fat - there will be food trucks, mocktails, and BART merch for sale.

Yet its true legacy is education: workshops and scholarships shaping future jazz leaders. San Jose high school student June McMahon embodies this mission. After performing with the San Jose High School Jazz All-Stars at Jazz on the Plazz, she participated in LGMA Brubeck Brothers Workshop, earned a spot at the prestigious Brubeck Jazz Summit and shared the stage Sept. 20 with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet at the LGMA annual gala.

Sunnyvale's Department of Public Safety is celebrating its 75th anniversary on Sat., Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at DPS HQ, 700 All America Way. Attendees will be able to meet K9 officers, SWAT personnel and public safety officers; view vehicles, drones and equipment; and take guided tours of the newly renovated Public Safety building at 11 a.m. and noon. Families can learn about disaster prep, and teens can find out how to get hands-on public safety training and help officers.

This LGBTQ+-welcoming venue is the creation of nationally recognized, award-winning owners Richard Fuentes and Sean Sullivan. They previously ran The Port Bar, which was also very popular and located next to the Paramount Theatre. A landlord dispute led to its closure last year. But FLUID510, located in the heart of Oakland at 1544 Broadway not far from City Hall and City Center, remains an East Bay destination that serves up tasty food and drinks, and holds stand-up comedy nights, trivia brunches, and other events.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna is hosting an education town hall in Cupertino on Sept. 28, when he will discuss his latest work in Congress and answer questions from constituents. The town hall is set for 4-5:30 p.m. at Cupertino High School's gym, 10100 Finch Ave. It is open to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event. RSVP to http://bit.ly/46GrseE.

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna is hosting an education town hall in Cupertino on Sept. 28, when he will discuss his latest work in Congress and answer questions from constituents. The town hall is set for 4-5:30 p.m. at Cupertino High School's gym, 10100 Finch Ave. It is open to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event. RSVP to http://bit.ly/46GrseE.

Join us every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month for an evening of fun, food, and community at Tacolicious on Valencia Street! We're bringing Mission Lotería to the table-a San Francisco twist on the classic Mexican game. Play for your chance to win amazing prizes, including: Gift cards to local businesses Tacolicious gift certificates and merch Mission Lotería artwork Tickets to future Mission Lotería events

On the first Friday of every month, over a dozen North Beach galleries, museums, bars, and restaurants stay open late for a self-guided First Fridays Art Crawl with special events to showcase the ever-growing collections of art and entertainment that diversify North Beach. First Fridays Art Crawl North Beach, San Francisco 5 to 9 pm FREE

Kor's father, Mickey, survived a Latvian ghetto before being deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp. He was able to escape the camp and eventually immigrate to America. His mother, Eva, ended up in Auschwitz. Due to her being a twin, she was sent to Dr. Josef Mengele, who is known for the inhumane experiments he performed. Miraculously, she survived and would later become known for forgiving the Nazis.