It’s not every week you get the chance to see one of Oakland’s biggest hip-hop exports, one of the world’s biggest porn superstars, the creator of a generation-defining sitom and the anchor of basic cable’s most trusted name in fake news. What’s the deal with that? This week the South Bay has Too $hort at BackBar SoFa, Jerry Seinfeld at the Flint Center, Trevor Noah at The Mountain Winery and Ron Jeremy at The Quarter Note.
Too $hort
Thu, 9pm, $30-$35
Back Bar SoFa, San Jose
Todd Anthony Shaw, better known as Too $hort, may have been born in South Central L.A., but he will most certainly go down in the hip-hop history books as one of the most influential rappers to ever come out of Oakland, where he was raised. From his first full-length, Born to Mack, released in 1987, through his hyphee-era classic, Blow The Whistle, on to more recent collaborations with the likes of Game, G-Eazy and Lil Wayne, he has remained consistent and prolific. He’s also worked with hip-hop royals 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G, Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z. (ST)
Summer of VR
Thu, 6:30pm, $13-$20
Computer History Museum, Mountain View
Virtual reality and augmented reality are definitely having a moment. From the introduction of affordable headsets that transform smartphones into VR goggles, to Pokémon Go’s ingenious deployment of AR, it seems we are finally approaching the future that writers like William Gibson have been promising for decades. The upcoming “Summer of VR” event will feature demonstrations of new VR and AR technology from companies like FOVE, Inc.—a Tokyo-based firm responsible for the world’s first eye-movement-tracking head-mounted VR display—as well as a panel of VR experts discussing the future of virtual and augmented reality. (MH)
Jerry Seinfeld
Thu, 7pm, $50-$150
Flint Center, Cupertino
For ’90s babies, Jerry Seinfeld’s voice may call to mind the character of Barry the Bee from the animated film Bee Movie. Others will know him from his appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Louie, and from his web program, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. But to most, Seinfeld is known for Seinfeld, the “show about nothing,” which revolutionized the sitcom genre with its trademark brand of acerbic, observational humor. The program has held up remarkably well over the years, and so has its titular star. The comedian brings his latest stand-up tour to Cupertino this week. (ST)
Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas
Thu, 7pm, $30-$90
SAP Center, San Jose
Singer, songwriter and actress Demi Lovato’s career began on Barney & Friends and started to gather steam with her roles on Disney Channel shows, including As The Bell Rings, Sonny With A Chance and Camp Rock. Her 2015 album Confident yielded the hit “Cool For The Summer.” Nick Jonas also began acting at a young age before storming the pop charts as part of The Jonas Brothers. He recently released his third full-length solo album, Last Year Was Complicated. Lovato and Jonas have bonded over their shared experiences as child stars and are now embarking on a joint tour, which stops in San Jose this week. (ST)
Trevor Noah
Fri, 7:30pm, $50
Mountain Winery, Saratoga
When the news media fractured into a kaleidoscope of truth, Jon Stewart provided a sane tonic to cable viewers. When he exited The Daily Show in 2015, he left behind Shaq-sized shoes to fill. And for the past two years, Trevor Noah has been wiggling his toes behind that legendary desk, providing a cooler-headed, outsider perspective on world events. In post-apartheid South Africa, Noah’s birth to a Xhosa mother and a Swiss-German father was considered illegal. But from those origins, the natural storyteller and insightful analyst has become one of the most popular comedians in the world, touring internationally thanks to his fluency in seven languages. (JF)
Ron Jeremy
Sat, 7pm, $15-$25
Quarter Note, Sunnyvale
Playing the part of America’s most recognizable sleazeball, Ron Jeremy has appeared in music videos, movies, videogames and television shows. Still, not much compares to his Guinness World Record for “Most Appearances In Adult Films.” Nothing in Jeremy’s life has been orthodox—from leaving a teaching gig to pose in Playgirl, to vowing never to retire from the porn industry, even after undergoing heart surgery. Recently he’s ventured into stand-up. When Shaun Weiss from The Mighty Ducks trilogy and MTV’s Garrett Gonzales join Jeremy on his first comedy tour, the jokes are bound to be X-rated. (MH)
La Boheme
Sat, 8pm, $20
First Baptist Church of Palo Alto
The Peninsula Opera Ensemble presents a production of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. Often identified as the world’s most popular opera, it tells the story of a group of bohemians living, loving and creating together in 1830s Paris. The classic tale has served as the template for a number of modern musicals—from Rent to Moulin Rouge—and has made cameos in everything from The Simpsons to the Nic Cage and Cher-starring Moonstruck. This full-length presentation will focus on the performers rather than the elaborate set design of the original and subsequent productions. POE will stage the opera twice this weekend: on Saturday at 8pm with a matinee on Sunday at 2pm. (NV)
Chacho’s Taco Festival
Sat, 11am, $10
St. James Park, San Jose
Last year, to win Chacho’s Taco Eating Contest, San Jose professional eater Matt Stonie scarfed down 101 tacos—in eight minutes. The Major League Eating-sanctioned bout will be held again this year, and Stonie will be defending his title. Those without industrial-grade guts will be able to savor a broad sampling of tacos in San Jose’s most historic park, while listening to live music and weaving through rows of vendors. Among the craftsman showing their wares: Henry Miyoshi with his Korrupt label clothes; visual artist Fernando “Force 129” Amaro, Jr., with pieces from his art and design studio; and Ruben Dario Villa with his high-class, Mexican-culture-inspired air fresheners. (JF)
Bricks by the Bay
Sun, 10am, $14-$22
Santa Clara Convention Center
In an era where technology has wormed its way into every corner of our busy lives, a simple little building block toy still rules: The Lego. These colorful interconnecting bricks have been around since 1949, and were named the “world’s most powerful brand” just last year by Brand Finance. And with good reason. The Lego brand extends well beyond its line of toys into films and amusement parks. The Lego Movie was praised for connecting with both adults and children. This year’s Bricks by the Bay celebrates the Lego by bringing together builders, artists and hobbyists. (ST)
