Thu, Oct 30

Fondle the Fear Author and comedian Richard Stockton performs his standup comedy show, "Fondle the Fear." 7:30pm. Free. Barnes & Noble, 3600 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, 408.984.3495.

Halloween Masquerade Ball An evening of costumed revelry with performances by top Bay Area belly dancers, DJ dancing, tarot and psychic readings, henna artists and face painting, a costume contest and more. A raffle and silent auction will be held to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 7pm. $10. The Edge, 260 S. California Ave,
Palo Alto, 650.321.646 or www.meddevi.com/templegathering.

San Francisco Symphony A program of Chopin with a piano soloist. 8pm. $26-$51. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816, 408.998.TIXS or www.flintcenter.com.

Stuart Dischell Award-winning poet. Reading, public Q&A, booksigning. 7:30pm. San Jose State University, San Jose, 408.924.4600 or www.litart.org.

Studs Terkel The best-selling author and journalism pioneer. In conversation with SJSU Center for Literary Arts director Mitch Berman, public Q&A, booksigning. Noon. $7-$15. Morris Dailey Auditorium, San Jose State University, San Jose, 408.924.4600
or www.litart.org.

Fri, Oct 31

Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball Leather Masters and City Lights Theater Company present a Halloween party featuring hors d'oeuvres, DJ dancing, door prizes and more. Provocative costumes are encouraged. 8pm-12:30am. $25. City Lights Theater Company, 529 S. Second St, San Jose. For tickets, call Leather Masters at 408.293.7660 ext. 11 or visit www.leathermasters.com.

Sat, Nov 1

California Theatre Center Plays for the whole family. "Brave Irene," 11am. $11 advance/$12 at the door. Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, 408.245.2978 or www.ctcinc.org.

Dia de Los Muertos Events The Mexican Heritage Plaza hosts a number of special events. "Dia de los Angelitos," includes community altars, gallery exhibit, music, refreshments and performances. Sat, Nov 1, 10am-4pm. Free. "Baile de los Muertos," a live concert and dance, costume contest, sugar skulls, altars, crafts and activities and refreshments. Sat, Nov 1, 9pm-1:30am. $15. "Dia de los Muertos," includes a parade and dance, arts and crafts, altars, dancing, food and more. Sun, Nov 2, 1pm-6pm. Free. Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Rd, San Jose, 800.MHC.VIVA or www.mhcviva.org.

Erotic Macabre Halloween Show Art Made to Match and Water Rituals Salon present an art show and party featuring live and DJ music, outdoor movies, erotic art and libations. 8pm. 1000 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, 408.938.9800.

Fall One-Act Festival Santa Clara University senior theater majors direct a series of one-act plays. 2pm. Also Sun, Nov 2, 2pm. $3. Fess Parker Studio Theater, Santa Clara University, 408.554.4015 or www.scu.edu/cpa.

Matt Warshaw San Francisco-based surfing journalist/archivist/historian Matt Warshaw will be on hand to sign his new book "The Encyclopedia of Surfing." 1pm. Free. San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.294.2787.

Northern California Charity Choir A program of gospel music and Korean folksongs. 7:30pm. Call for ticket information. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816, 408.998.TIXS or www.flintcenter.com.

San Jose Chamber Orchestra "Tango and All That Jazz," a lively program featuring Bay Area violinist and arranger Jeremy Cohen. 8pm. $25-$35. Le Petit Trianon Theatre, 72 N. Fifth St, San Jose, 408.295.4416 or www.sjco.org.

Swords to Plowshares Benefit Comedian Richard Stockton performs his standup comedy show, "Fondle the Fear," at a special benefit for veterans' rights organization Swords to Plowshares. With special guest comedian Howie Nave. 8pm. $20 ($15 advance). Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, 408.891.5834 or www.camdenbarbour.com.

Winter Art Fair The first annual Winter Art Fair sponsored by the Fine Arts League of Cupertino and the Parks and Recreation Department of Cupertino features arts and crafts by more than 30 artists. 10am-5pm. Quinlan Community Center, 10185 N. Stelling Rd, Cupertino. Visit www.falc.org
for more information.

Sun, Nov 2

El Camino Youth Symphony The symphony opens its 41st season with a program of Beethoven, Liszt and Prokofiev. The concert will feature the symphony's concerto competition winners. 7:30pm. $5-$10. Spangenberg Theatre, Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto, 650.327.2611
or www.ecys.org.

Folk and Roots Concert Musicians Morgan Daniel, Anne Marie Daniel and Tony DeRose perform an array of folk- and roots-influenced original songs, as well as some traditional gospel tunes. 3pm. $10 donation benefits the Foothill Presbyterian Church Music Program. Foothill Presbyterian Church, 5301 McKee Rd, San Jose, 408.258.8133.

Kim Loi Vietnamese music show. 3pm. $30-$100. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816, 408.998.TIXS or www.flintcenter.com.

San Jose Jewish Film Festival This 12th annual event features films from around the world; love and friendship is the theme of many of them. Screenings are held every Wed, 7:30pm and Sun, 3pm or 5:30pm thru Nov 23. Camera 3 Theater, 288 S. Second St, San Jose, 408.358.5907 or www.sjjff.org.

Saratoga Symphony A program featuring the Mozart Horn Concerto, with soloist Rachel Harvey, Chabrier's Suite Pastorale with 4 Sections and Brahms' First Symphony. 3pm. Free admission (donations appreciated for music rentals). St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 13601 Saratoga Ave (Fruitvale
and Saratoga avenues), Saratoga,
www.saratogasymphony.com.

Tian-en Yu Pianist Tian-en Yu, Santa Clara University faculty member, performs a recital of sonatas by Haydn, Brahms and Ravel. 8pm. $5-$10. Recital Hall, Santa Clara University, 408.554.4015 or www.scu.edu/cpa.

Tue, Nov 4

Opera Lecture The South Peninsula Chapter of the San Francisco Opera Guild presents a lecture/musical overview by UC Berkeley professor of music Richard Taruskin on "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" by Shostakovich. 7:30pm. $8-$10. Little House, 800 Middle Ave, Menlo Park, 650.365.3956.

Ongoing

d.p. Fong Galleries "Ancient Roots," mixed media and acrylic works by Mary Medrano. Thru Nov 8. 371 S. First St, San Jose, 408.298.8877.

de Saisset Museum "Theatrical Realism: The Art of Inez Storer," a new exhibit of works by noted painter and printmaker Inez Storer. Thru Dec 7. Hours: Tue-Sun, 11am-4pm. Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, 408.554.4528.

Euphrat Museum of Art "Daily Dramas: Currents and Undercurrents," an exhibit of works by six artists who depict people or imply human presence in various dramas of our day, some chosen freely, others imposed by systems or regimes. A reception featuring artist presentations will be held Tue, Nov 11, 6pm-8pm. Thru Nov 26. Hours: Mon-Thu, 10am-4pm. De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8836 or http://www.deanza.edu/euphrat/