He started his musical career with an unorthodox method in, perhaps, an unlikely place. His first training in playing the double-sided drum came when he was growing up in Kalamazoo, Mich. In later training sessions, his instructor in Boston gave pointers long-distance over the telephone, as Krishnamurthy listened and practiced 900 miles away in his parents’ home. His fascination with mridangam (mree-DAHNG-guhm) grew with age. The drum is usually made from a hollowed piece of wood whose two ends are covered with goatskin and leather. Percussionists tap both ends of the conga-like instrument with specific fingers to create several layers of sounds.
La Ultima Parada, Oct, 28-29: Billed as a “celebration of life on the Day of the Dead,” this family festival at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose has been expanded to two days this year, On Saturday, Oct, 28, the evening event will start with an Alum Rock Altar Walk to see 30 altars and other artworks in three blocks near the plaza, Music, dance performances will follow, Sunday’s big festival will feature a concert by Quetzal, 300 masked dancers performing La Viejada, plus costume contest, arts and crafts, bingo, food booths, marketplace, Details: 1700 Alum Rock Ave, for all events, Schedule, 6-11 p.m, Saturday, Oct, 28, with free dance wall decal stickers dancing is like dreaming with your feet quotes dancer ballerina ballet pointe shoes wall art vinyl let admission that evening, Noon-8 p.m, Sunday, Oct, 29; general admission, $5, with kids 10 and under admitted free, www.laultimaparada.org..
Susannah Israel. Ceramic sculpture workshop and exhibition. Workshop 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 2. $75. Artists reception 6:30-9:30 p.m. April 2. Black Bean Ceramic Art Center, 561 Emory St., San Jose. www.blackbeanclay.com or 408-642-5757. Author Encounter with Cathleen Schine. 7 p.m. today. Albert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. $15-25. www.paloaltojcc.org or 650-233-8700. An Evening with Doris Buffett. 6-8 p.m. March 31. San Mateo County History Museum, 220 Broadway, Redwood City. $150 (includes autographed book, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments). Reservations: www.caminar.org or 650-372-4080.
Yuletide Gala at Montalvo: Wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres by Pat Smith’s Extravaganza, a silent auction and music by Med’s Mood Swing Band, Nov, 23, 5:30-8:30 p.m, Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga, $55, montalvoarts.org or 408-961-5858, A Mountain Holiday: The Summit Wineries host their annual Mountain Holiday weekend with live music, gifts for sale, holiday decorations, food and wine at special holiday prices, Dec, 6-7, dance wall decal stickers dancing is like dreaming with your feet quotes dancer ballerina ballet pointe shoes wall art vinyl let noon-5 p.m, Summit Road area, Los Gatos, Tasting fees $5-$10, thesummitwineries.com..
“Have you heard the phrase ‘ending on a high note’?” she asked the audience at Club Auto Sport in San Jose. St. John-Crane, who is stepping down to take over as executive director of American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley, said she’s proud of the community access nonprofit’s accomplishments. On top of regularly airing public meetings and other content on Comcast Chs. 15, 27, 28 and 30 and at www.creatvsj.org, that includes providing low or no-cost video production to 185 community-based organizations and putting $500,000 worth of video equipment in the hands of students through its Media Access Project, which will be expanding this fall.
