Take your fitness resolution outdoors and discover a few of the nearby hidden hiking gems for the Hike the Magnificent Seven #PixInParks Challenge. Seven handpicked hikes present picturesque settings for a selfie or group photo as proof of completion. Check out the trails at Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park or Mount Madonna Ridge in Gilroy. Share your photo using the hashtag #MummyMountain or #TieCamp. Submit photos from all seven hikes from now through Friday, Dec. 1, 2018. For complete instructions go to parkhere.org.
Year of the Rooster
Explore traditions observed by the Asian culture at the Children’s Discovery Museum, Lunar New Year celebration and usher in the Year of the Rooster. Parents and little ones will have fun watching cultural performances and seeing live roosters at the petting zoo. Get the kids involved in culturally relevant arts and crafts and learn calligraphy from artist Jin Feng. Come have a blast on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Museum on 180 Woz Way in San Jose.
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Fungus Fun Hike
Be fascinated by fun fungus as you hike along the Timm Trail, Spike Jones Trail and more in search of Coe Park fungi. Your guide, Chris Macintosh, is an expert in identifying the many mushrooms and fungi along the trails. Wear sturdy footwear and layered clothing, and be prepared for possible encounters with poison oak and ticks. Pack an easy lunch and bring plenty of water for this moderate hike on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Meet at the Hunting Hollow Entrance off of Gilroy Hot Springs Road. Parking is $6. Reservations are required at coepark.net.
GILROY
Local Artist Show
Gilroy Arts Alliance presents an exhibition featuring the art of Richard Young. Young’s works include his highly regarded Toward Tranquility paintings originally created for the Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art. Young is a celebrated artist and a local businessman in Gilroy and has taught painting, sculpture and computer graphics at Gavilan College. The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 19 at the Gilroy Center for the Arts on 7341 Monterey St. For more information go to gilroyartsalliance.com
Crab Feed
Trained service dogs and disabled persons go together like crab, pasta, salad and garlic bread at the Operation Freedom Paws (OFP) Inaugural all-you-can-eat Crab Feed benefit. Lend your support to OFP, which pairs disabled veterans, adults and children with rescue dogs and then trains them together to making a great team for life. If crab is not your thing, request a Cornish game hen as an alternative. There are two chances to participate: Saturday, Feb. 4 or Saturday, March 11 starting at 6 p.m. at Old City Hall Restaurant on 7400 Monterey St. Tickets are $60 for adults and $35 for kids 10 and under. Go to ofpcrabfeed.eventbrite.com or call 408-641-7137.
Country House
The Limelight Actors Theater is opening the season with a straightforward, humorous and dramatic performance with The Country House by Donald Margulies and directed by Kevin Heath. The story surrounds a family of performers who have gathered at their summer home for a weekend of unexpected turns involving simmering jealousies, romantic outbursts and passionate soul-searching. Bring your own dinner and wine beginning on Friday, Jan. 27 through Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. or on Sunday for a matinee show at 2 p.m. Curtain goes up at the Gilroy Center for the Arts on 7341 Monterey St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at limelightactorstheater.com.
MORGAN HILL
Hiking History
Get outdoors and do a little hiking, if the weather allows, with Peninsula Open Space Trust, and explore the rolling grasslands, oak woodland ridges and sage chaparral of Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve. Join up with docent Paul Billig, who will take you and your friends through many of the preserve’s landmarks and share details about the natural history of the park. Plan to meet up for this relatively slow-paced, 4.3-mile hike on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., next to Calero County Park in Morgan Hill. Sign up to get meeting location and other details at eventbrite.com.
THE VALLEY
Children’s Musical
The Gilroy Children’s Musical Theater presents Broadway Movie Musical where local youth perform songs from hit shows such as Wicked, Matilda, Legally Blonde, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, recreating Broadway’s greatest moments on film. This full-length feature film will have its final premiere on Sunday Jan. 29, at 4 p.m. at the Cinemark’s Century 20 Oakridge Theater at 925 Blossom Hill Road in South San Jose. Limited tickets are $16 and can be purchased at broadwaymoviemusical.com.
Running for Wine
Join in on one of the best runs and liveliest parties of the year at the San Jose Ultimate Wine Run where the wine will be flowing. The event will be packed with surprises and the itinerary includes a rocking DJ with dance floor and amazing food trucks. Pack up the lawn chairs and blankets and bring all your friends to experience an epic evening on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 3:30-7:30 p.m. at Arena Green East Park on North Autumn St., San Jose. Register at theultimatewinerun.com of find them on facebook.
WATSONVILLE
Garden Classes
Join UC Master Gardeners for Demo Garden Class and get hands-on training for various garden needs. Learn about training systems for grapes with Art Nathan who has 40 years experience in the vineyards. You can learn more about basic rose care with Dawn Avery. Candice McLaren will be teaching her “Chix in the City, Hens in the Hood” class for anyone interested in raising chickens. Classes begin on Saturday, Jan. 28 and run from 10 a.m.-Noon monthly at the UC Cooperative Extension on 1430 Freedom Blvd., Suite E. For more information go to mbmg.ucanr.edu.
