If you’ve driven near the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds recently, you surely noticed Cirque du Soleil’s majestic big top — known as the Grand Chapiteau to fans — has risen in the fairgrounds parking lot.
With the delightful “Kooza,” Cirque is back in town with all its tents for the first time since 2019, not counting an arena show last year at SAP Center. The show itself is loaded with all the crowd-pleasing antics and mind-blowing acrobatics that you’d expect from the touring French-Canadian troupe. If you don’t leave the show feeling elated and a little awestruck, that may be on you.
Performers clown around with a member of the audience, far right, during Cirque du Soleil’s “Kooza,” at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
And fair warning to anyone in an aisle seat close to the stage: You might just get brought onstage for a fun bit as one unsuspecting audience member did Thursday night.
But after seeing the show Thursday night, I was most surprised by how much better the Fairgrounds location turns out to be, especially compared to a previous site that jammed everything into a parking lot near the San Jose Police Department. This spot is much easier to get into and out of — and on-site parking is plentiful.
A performer entertains a family before outside the big top at Cirque du Soleil’s “Kooza,” at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
By the way, Psycho Donuts has done their bit and provided a new limited edition donut, “The Trickster,” named after one of the show’s characters and available inside the big top. It’s covered with colorful sprinkles and filled with familiar circus flavors including caramel popcorn and pretzels.
”Kooza” runs in San Jose through May 26, and you can get all the details you need at cirquedusoleil.com/kooza.
BOOSTING ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH: Michaela “Mikey” Hoag’s quest to bring about a world without Alzheimer’s disease is still going strong. On April 19, the Part the Cloud Gala — which she started back in 2012 — raised $17 million to support Alzheimer’s research.
Chaired by Sue Foley and Lauren Koenig, the classy affair at a private home in Woodside was emceed by “Suits” star Sarah Rafferty and was highlighted by a performance from Grammy-winning songwriter and musician Jon Batiste. The crowd of more than 300 guests included quite a few luminaries from the worlds of sports, tech and entertainment including Joe Montana; Ronnie Lott; Reed Hastings and Patty Quillin; Brandi Chastain; Ted Sarandos and Nicole Avant; Phil Schiller; and, of course, Mikey and Jay Hoag.
Dr. Maria Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead, said at the event that three new clinical trials for therapies for Alzheimer’s and other dementias were being propelled by grant funding from Part the Cloud, which has invested $82 million in 68 clinical trials.
HOME SWEET HOMES: It looks like mortgage rates aren’t going to be heading down anytime soon, but I’m going to say that just makes it more attractive to look at other people’s gorgeous homes without having to fork over a down payment. You can certainly do that next weekend at the 40th annual Willow Glen Home Tour or — if you’re like me — you’ll come away with a bunch of redecorating ideas for your current home. (Who knew I would fall in love with push-button light switches?)
The self-guided tour showcases five homes in one of San Jose’s most sought-after neighborhoods on May 4 and May 5, including one designated “garden home,” where you can relax with a beverage or enjoy a complimentary wine tasting. Tickets for the tour are $50 — the price goes up on the days of the tour — but it’s also for a great cause: San Jose Day Nursery, which has been providing childcare and education for the downtown area since 1916.
Everything you need to know — except the addresses, which won’t be divulged until you get your ticket — is available at willowglenhometour.com.
SAVE THE DATE: Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges will be the keynote speaker at the YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley’s Inspire Luncheon on Oct. 8 in Santa Clara.
Bridges was just a little girl when she was the first Black student to attend an all-white elementary school in Louisiana in 1960, and this year marks the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that made that possible. Registration for the fundraising luncheon — which draws more than 1,000 people to the Santa Clara Convention Center — opens Aug. 1.
PARTY PLANNING: Lisa Sobrato Sonsini will be honored with the Community Spirit Award by Child Advocates of Silicon Valley at its inaugural Black White & Pink Ball on June 1 at the Corinthian Event Center in downtown San Jose.
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Sonsini, who established the Sobrato Family Foundation in 1996, has been a longtime supporter of Child Advocates. Nearly 30 years ago, she served as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate and also served on the board of the agency, which trains special advocates to represent foster youth.
The festive evening, which includes dinner and live music by Radio Gatsby, also will include a keynote by Tracy Warman-Gries, a CASA volunteer whose parents served as foster parents for 21 children — giving her a firsthand look on the impact families can have on foster kids. For tickets or other details on the gala, go to www.childadvocatessv.org.