10 Great Dates
compiled by KATY BERRYViva Las Vegas
January 9, Tracy
Considered one of Elvis' best movies, Viva Las Vegas is a romantic musical about a race car driver named Lucky (Presley) who travels to Nevada for their first annual grand-prix race. Having car troubles, Lucky needs to raise money for a new engine before the competition, but things get complicated when he meets the lovely Ms. Rusty, and his main opponent, Count Elmo Mancini. 2 p.m. $4. Eleni Tsakkopoulos-Kounalakis Theatre at the Tracy Grand, 715 Central Ave., Tracy, (209) 831-6TKT, www.atthegrand.org
Centuries of Progress: American World's Fairs, 1853-1982
Through February 6, Stockton This exhibition covers the span of fairs from The Crystal Palace exhibition in New York to the World's Fair of 1982 in Knoxville, Tennessee. These fairs were not just places to eat cotton candy and get your face painted, but gatherings where amazing innovations in technology and other new curiosities were revealed to the world. Among those inventions were the Ferris wheel, nylon stockings, and even the telephone. Admission $5 adults. $2.50 ages 10-17. Free for museum members and children under 10. All visitors are free on the 1st Saturday of the month. The Haggin Museum, 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton, (209) 940-6300, www.hagginmuseum.org
Heritage Oak Winery's Third Anniversary Celebration
January 8-9, AcampoThe Heritage Oak Winery has been open for three years, but the land which it sits upon has been in the Hoffman family for five generations. Today, the ripe and flavorful grapes produce rich wines, and the winery hosts wonderful events including outdoor activities like bird watching and wildlife picnics. Join the Hoffmans for an anniversary celebration that will include wine tasting, food, live music by Levi Huff, and special discounts to their supporters. Families and children are welcome. Free. 12-5 p.m. Heritage Oak Winery, 10112 E. Woodbridge Rd., Acampo, (209) 986-2763, www.heritageoakwinery.com
Run for Your Wife
January 12-February 6Thanks to his erratic work schedule, John Smith thinks he can pull off having two wives, but he soon learns that getting away with it is no piece of cake. Hailed as a "superb example of British farce," this punchy, comedic show is known for keeping audiences in stitches as they watch the disastrous plot of a London taxi driver unfold. $25 adults, $15 kids. Dates and times vary. Stockton Civic Theatre, 2312 Rosemarie Lane, Stockton, (209) 473-2424, www.sctlivetheatre.com
Professional Bull Riders
January 14-15, Sacramento
This dangerous and exhilarating sport will make you hold your breath as brave cowboys enter the rodeo ring on the backs of kicking, bucking bulls who try to throw their riders off. Riders must stay on their bulls for at least eight seconds to score any points, and in a sport like this, every moment counts. $17.50-$102.50. Shows at 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday. ARCO Arena, One Sports Parkway, Sacramento, (916) 928-6900, www.arcoarena.com
The Odd Couple
January 14-16, TracyBefore the TV series or the film, The Odd Couple was a smash hit Broadway play by Neil Simon, whose commercially successful shows often reflected his own humorous memories of life in New York. On stage now at the Tracy Grand, Oscar and Felix are two divorced men trying to live as roommates despite their opposite personalities—one an uptight neat-freak, the other a laid-back slob. The result has become an American classic. $15. January 14-16 at 8 p.m. January 16 at 2 p.m. Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, 715 Central Ave., Tracy, (209) 831-6TKT, www.atthegrand.org
Harlem Globetrotters
January 18, Stockton
For 84 years, the Harlem Globetrotters have been wowing audiences with their impeccable athletic ability, sense of humor, and undeniable skills with a basketball. Not only do they know how to run opponents up and down the court, but these mavericks will impress you with their amazing tricks as they spin balls, slam dunk, and keep you guessing throughout their "4 Times the Fun" world tour. 7 p.m. $25-$87. Stockton Arena, 248 W. Fremont Street, Stockton, (209) 373-1400, www.stocktonarena.com
Geometry of Occupation
January 18-February 26, LodiThis one-man exhibition features artist Deladier Almeida, whose colorful paintings focus on aerial landscapes of the Sacramento and Delta region. Almeida was born in Brazil but came to California in the mid 1980s. His paintings reflect his fascination with how land is viewed from the sky, and how the geometrical shapes and colors represent man's ability to create, control, and manipulate the earth into productive land. Free. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Knowlton Gallery, 115 S. School St., Ste. 14, Lodi, (209) 368-5123, www.knowltongallery.com
Insectfest at WOW Museum
January 22, LodiCreepy-crawly experts from the Bohart Entemology Museum at UC Davis and the Lodi Serpentarium will be bringing their fascinating displays and other surprises to share with fellow bug lovers at the WOW museum. Kids and parents will have much to explore and discover as they learn all about their favorite insects from the experts. Insectfest will also have free face painting, arts and crafts, and games for all ages. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $6 adults, $4 kids. World of Wonders Science Museum, 2 North Sacramento St., Lodi, (209) 368-0969, www.wowsciencemuseum.org
Forever Plaid
January 31, LodiForever Plaid is a critically acclaimed show which opened off-Broadway in 1990 in New York. Written by Stuart Ross, this bubbly musical revue is about a clean-cut, harmonizing guy-group of the 1950's who, in an unfortunate collision with a bus of catholic school girls, die on their way to see the Beatles at the Ed Sullivan Show. In the hopes of one last shot at stardom, the boys return from heaven to entertain their audiences one more time. $29.50-$45.50. 7:30 p.m. Charlene Powers Lange Performing Arts Theatre, 125 South Hutchins St., Lodi, (209) 333-6782, www.hutchinsstreetsquare.com
