This past Saturday, January 22, 2011, patrons were welcome to take part in complimentary services that were offered during the Diva Day event, such as facials, massages, glamor photos, and even their pick of tasty chocolaty treats…did I mention the champagne?

Deb Rohzen, owner of Simply Smashing!

What’s great about the Diva Day event, is that it is held and run by five local business women who not only want to bring beauty, comfort and sass into the lives of others, but they do so while promoting a worthy cause: breast cancer awareness. Deb Rohzen, owner of Simply Smashing! stated that, “through Diva Day, not only do we promote local businesses started or run by women, but we also promote local artists, jewelers and designers, while at the same time bringing more awareness to breast cancer.”

Carla Schwartz of Spirit of Health - Therapeutic Massage

Carla Schwartz, who offered complimentary massages to guests as they walked in the store, has participated in over 20 breast cancer walks in the city. Any tips she received from the day’s event went towards her raising money for the breast cancer walk that she will be participating in again this year.

Liza Jensen, owner of Bella Diva

Liza Jensen, owner of Bella Diva, a beauty society that caters to women looking for specific skincare and makeup products, and co-host of “Diva Day,” offered free facials at the event along with sample skincare products. Initially starting “Diva Day” in her home about a year ago while holding Bella Diva parties, she too was enthusiastic about the prospect of women helping women in business and in life.

Jeanette Hartley of Desserts by Jeanette

Jeanette Hartley, another local business owner, tempted guests with her sumptuous desserts, which included: Chocolate-dipped strawberries, cookies, brownies, red velvet mini cupcakes, and many more chocolate treats that were hard to pass up. Once you tasted one, you wanted to taste them all…at least I did. All desserts are homemade by Jeanette and can be custom-ordered. Jeanette’s sweets are perfect for clients looking for special cakes or desserts that are unique and beautiful edible works of art.

Jeanine Brown, a professional boudoir and wedding photographer, was offering fun and flirty glamor photo shots for any woman wanting to unleash her inner diva. All photos were taken on a plush black velvet couch with hot pink velvet throw-pillows, a peacock feather fan in hand, and a pink boa wrapped around each willing diva. Now what woman can resist all that glamor?

Bella Diva Cosmetics and Skincare Products

So if YOU want to be a “Diva for a day” while also supporting a great cause, then please make sure to visit the following websites for more information about the next “Diva Day,” or if you want to learn more about the women profiled and their businesses/services:

Fabulous facials by Bella Diva featuring Beauty Society: http://www.facebook.com/belladivabeauty or https://www.mybeautysociety.com/lizajensen

Simply Smashing shopping: http://www.simplysmashingstyle.com/

Spirit of Health: http://www.spiritofhealth.net/

Desserts by Jeannette: http://dessertsbyjeanette.com/default.aspx

JB Photography: http://www.jbrownphotography.com/, or http://www.jbrownboudoir.com/

Being a diva never felt so good!

Event Review by Sophia M. Papadopoulos

Army of One

Click here for more pictures of FAME “Army of One.”

Brave New World

The annual Subzero festival featured an innovative fashion show, telling a post-apocolyptic story. The eye-catching show was brought together seamlessly through the vision of creative stylists Eric Belladonna and Jennifer Thomas along with hair by 5Color Cowboy.

Generations of Change

We teamed up with Goodwill of Silicon Valley to produce the second annual Eco Chic fashion show themed ‘Generations of Change.’ Designs were created specifically for the show, and were auctioned at the end of the night to benefit Goodwill.

Pretty in Pink

This year, we met talented designer Alyssa Nicole, who shared with us her beautiful “Pretty in Pink” Collection as a part of her clothing line Bird by Alyssa Nicole. She was also honored by Women’s Wear Daily for her styling on Chictopia.com

Music Moment

San Jose gave a warm welcoming to Cold War Kids as they performed at the summer series Music in the Park.

Downtown San Jose’s summer music festival Left Coast Live featured artists OK Go and Neon Trees.

The Elemental Issue

Here’s a behind-the scenes look at the moments that made 2010 a successful year.

On set with Vanessa Houle wearing designs by the talented Hector Manuel while shooting for the Revival Fashion Show campaign.

Britteney Reynolds models in a photo shoot we did with Umbrella Salon.

We’d like to thank everyone who have helped make 2010 such a successful year. See you in 2011!

Beach House, a Baltimore-based band opened for the indie-rockers.  The stage went psychedelic with light-up pyramids, and a starry backdrop of white lights. While the stage filled with smoke to set a misty mood, the band doled out husky vocals and 70s-infused beats, which spoke to the crowd on an intimate level.

To hype the crowd back up again, Vampire Weekend started their show with Holiday from their new album Contra and kept the night going with hits from both of their two albums, as well as a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s  ”I’m Going Down”.

Bowties adorned the collars of the crowd as they danced and crowd surfaced to the preppy tunes. Their songs “Campus” and “Oxford Comma” spoke to the audience appropriately on the UC Berkeley Campus.

Enzra Koenig’s voice reached incredible heights as he serenaded the crowd. Every note, dance move, and word spoken was done so with conviction and charm by Koenig.

Bassist Chris Baio, Helium’s new-found crush,  seemed to be having so much fun onstage with his unique dance moves to the beat of his own bass, which he traded for a cello during “Taxi Cab”. The crowd joined in Baio’s dance party, particularly when “A-Punk” blared from the stage. I have never seen so many oxfords jump around quite like that.

Chris Tomson’s drums, with Rostam Batmanglij adding counterpoint melodies on an array of keyboards or guitar completed the bona fide rock show.

After the encore the boys of Vampire Weekend came back out to play four last songs including “Mansard Roof” which they invited fans to raise their hands in the air and sing along.

I am unsure when they will be back in what Koenig called, “The Area”, better know as the Bay Area again, but  I recommend for all to catch this fun part dance party, part rock concert that Vampire Weekend delivers.

You will leave the venue dancing, smiling, and just wanting more Vampire Weekend.

The band made their debut in 2004 with “Funeral,” followed by “Neon Bible” in 2007. Both albums discuss the need to escape as a child, but in “The Suburbs” they are returning to their places of upbringing. This third installment aims higher than past albums with an intense exploration on the topic of suburbia through 16 like-themed tracks.

Arcade Fire has a miraculous method of transforming intimate conversations into rock anthems with an epic backdrop of pounding drums, guitar strings and piano keys.

It is clear that Butler and the rest of the band looked to their roots amid creating “The Suburbs,” however their thoughts on the subject can be contradictory throughout the tracks.

At points the band seems to be merely criticizing suburban life and the sprawl of strip malls that America has become. But then there is a point where Butler opens up and sees suburban family life from possibly his parents’ perspectives, ditching the adolescent escapism he sings about in the band’s first two albums.

Throughout this album, Butler reflects on old-fashioned times of hand-written letters and criticizes the modern kid, claiming that he lives in a city with no children in it.

He sings of his trouble trusting people, whether it be a businessman, a millionaire, or even kids with whom he had an art class with once upon a time. He makes the realization that maybe he does not trust anyone nor has he found his true identity yet.

This lost identity is portrayed calmly, as something far from a crisis, and brings up the idea that finding one’s identity may be the main struggle in life, but a struggle that can be overcome.

Meanings aside, “The Suburbs” is a beautiful collection of melodies that is unsurprisingly among the top-25 albums on iTunes and has transformed Arcade Fire into one of the top alternative bands of this generation.

Silicon Valley fans can catch Arcade Fire on tour, in Berkeley at the Greek Theatre on Oct. 2 and 3.

by Calli Perez

Jacob Janoski is currently a 95 year old man residing in elderly home, constantly harping on the idea that  “age is a terrible thief” as he flashes back on his intrepid past.  His story begins as a veterinary student at Cornell and after a tragic occurrence he finds himself joining the pathetic grandeur of the Depression-era circus.  On the Benzini Brother’s Most Spectacular Show on Earth train, Jacob immerses himself in a world of bizarre subculture, painting a picture of lions, acrobats, and other circus oddity’s across the reader’s mind.

Gruen does a beautiful job at portraying the desperate drifters in the depression stricken era.  Their way of life, struggling to just get by on this train and means, as well as consequences of entertainment in a time of prohibition is eloquently described.

The romance that develops between Jacob and Marlena, the star of an equestrian act, moves the novel along.  Gruen uses what can only be described as crowd-pleasing romanticism.  This strong passion that is supposed to be between the two star-crossed lovers is never convincingly developed in the story.

Nevertheless, Water for Elephants is  a suspenseful, compelling novel that touches on adventure, love, and what it is to grow old.  You will be sad to put the book down.

Art & Sole is a charity event that was created last year to showcase talent of local artists and to establish a network of fundraising events for charities.  These local artists will transform blank shoes into works of art as if they were their canvas.  This year’s beneficiary is San Jose Downtown Association’s (SJDA) Downtown Doors, which is a youth art competition and exhibit that brings together talented high school artists and property owners, resulting in public art displays that enhance downtown San Jose’s urban landscape.

The event starts at 6 o’ clock pm and includes a silent shoe auction, live art by featured local artists, live performance by singer Amy Serrata, music by DJ Sig-O, and give aways.

Featured artists for this year’s Art & Sole are:

Orly Locquiao

Colin Baker

Erikka Hugger

Mike Aveno

Jorynn Villar

So come out and see for yourself all of the talent that is in the Silicon Valley.  The $10 admission charge, silent auction, and donations will all go to charity.  Also, each donator will receive a free raffle ticket.  Should be a great night!

Fashion Art Music Exhibition, F.A.M.E. brought a dynamic collaboration of live music, artists, and models to the Women’s Club in downtown San Jose last weekend.

The venue was filled with local venders and boutiques showing unique products and creations. From bow ties and cupcakes, the Women’s Club contained wall-to-wall street-inspired designs.

Live music included master mixes and beats from performers DJ ThuyVu,
DJ Quantum,
DJ Snare, and
TradeMark Krew.

Treatbot, a karaoke ice cream truck, made an appearance outside of the building, where gourmet ice cream was served to those who wanted a sweet break.

Outside of the building, sunshine and summer-like weather greeted painters and onlookers viewing the artist’s developing creations. Alongside the artists was another deejay playing as people of all ages went freestyle and break dancing.

Umbrella Salon was the official hair salon of the night, creating looks for the runway models and prize packages.

As the night neared the end, everyone’s attention veered to the F.A.M.E. finale as models walked the runway in new and recycled clothing by retailer Crossroads Trading Company from Blossom Hill.

Several beautiful models sported spring’s biggest trends of floral prints, stripes, cropped tops, overalls, oversized sun hats, and bright makeup.

F.A.M.E. S/S ‘10 not only shares this unique experience with the general public but also the opportunity to take home a piece of it.

DATE
Saturday, March 20, 2010

TIME
6:00PM to 10:00PM

LOCATION
San Jose Woman’s Club
75 South 11th Street
San Jose, CA 95112

ADMISSION
Tickets can be purchased at the door at the day of the show
General // $10
Pre-Sale // {Please sign-up for the mailing list}

$1 from each ticket sale will benefit the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

Check Bobbivie.com for updates and the list of OVER 40 ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS that will be exhibiting at the event!

Make sure you get their early. The Facebook Event already has a huge attending list.

Art Imitating Life, Literally

If you are a nature-lover or just someone who appreciates great landscape and wildlife photography, then you are in luck. Aperture Academy will be having their Spring Open House this Saturday, March 13, 2010, from 6 pm – 10 pm in the Pruneyard Shopping center in Campbell. Their state-of-the-art-facility features the fine art prints of award-winning wildlife and landscape photographer, Stephen W. Oachs. The academy also offers photoshop workshops for both novice and professional photographers who want to brush-up on, or learn new skills.

Come enjoy free food and drinks and meet and mingle with Stephen W. Oachs and the Aperture Academy team.

Festivities will also include:

• Ribbon cutting by Vice Mayor Jason Baker and Campbell Chamber of Commerce!
• Prize drawings
• A free Photoshop® demonstration in the Digital Darkroom

So if you are a professional photographer or someone who just appreciates fine art prints, then this is the event for you!

Event Location:

Aperture Academy
Pruneyard Center
1875 S. Bascom, Suite 600
Campbell, CA 95008

Phone: (408) 369-8585

Event information courtesy of: http://www.apertureacademy.com/open-house-rsvp-march-13.php