The Crusaders Featuring vocalist Randy Crawford plus David Sanborn with his band. 7:30pm. $40-$80. Garden Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858.

Michael J. Vaughn Local author Michael J. Vaughn celebrates the release of his new novel "The Legendary Barons" with a reading. The book, which is set in the South Bay, tells the story of a softball team that falls apart when the manager returns to his drinking habit. 7:30pm. Barnes & Noble, 3600 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, 408.984.3495.

Music in the Park The annual free outdoor music series continues with a performance by Eve 6 performing alternative rock. 5pm-8:15pm. Free. Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Market and San Fernando streets, San Jose, 408.279.1775 or www.sjdowntown.com.

Fri, Aug 15

Michael Franks The singer-songwriter performs his unique blend of jazz and pop. 8pm. $25-$55. Garden Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858.

Sat, Aug 16

Dariush and Michael Popular Persian music artists. 9pm. $45-$70. Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, 408.864.8816 or www.flintcenter.com.

City Lights Casino Night City Lights Theater Company holds a casino night fundraiser featuring casino-style gaming, a light dinner, fine wine and music. Creative black-tie attire is encouraged. At the end of the evening, guests may redeem their winnings for prizes donated by local merchants and individuals. Prizes include sports memorabilia, jewelry, fashions, hotel stays, art and more. 6pm-10pm. $75 per person. City Lights Theater Company, 529 S. Second St, San Jose, 408.295.4200 or www.cltc.org.

The Legacy Series 2003 Chinese Performing Artists of America present a performance by YaoYong Dance. 7:30pm. $20. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Sign Language Gallery Tours The San Jose Museum of Art is offering a public tour of its exhibitions with interpretation in American Sign Language. 12:30pm. Free. No reservations required. San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.294.2787 or www.sjmusart.org.

Sun, Aug 17

Arts Coalition Sunday Showcase The Silicon Valley Arts Coalition launches its new arts showcase series featuring a variety of performances by soloists or small ensembles from coalition member arts organizations. Every third Sun thru Oct. Featured this month: an ensemble from the Nova Vista Symphony and local guitarist Michael Bautista, presented by the South Bay Guitar Society. 3pm. $5 donation. San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, 451 S. First St, San Jose, 408.251.8440, www.svarts.org or www.sjica.org.

Celebrate Harmony The Peninsulaires Chorus and the Late Night Barbershop perform a cappella music. 3pm. $10-$20. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Mon, Aug 18

Summer Sings Local choral group Schola Cantorum hosts a series of weekly choral sing-alongs. Scores provided. The series concludes this week with Brahms' Requiem. 7:30pm. $6. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Tue, Aug 19

Earth, Wind and Fire The legendary 70s band performs jazz, rock and Latin-inspired funk. Tue, Aug 19-Wed, Aug 20, 7:30pm. $70-$100. Garden Theatre, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5858.

Wed, Aug 20

Cinema San Pedro A weekly outdoor film event hosted by Cinequest in conjunction with POPULUS Presents. This week's film is "Trekkies" 1997, PG. A humorous documentary about "Star Trek" fans who are particularly devoted to the TV series. A Cinequest short film will also be featured, as well as themed entertainment before the movie and during intermission. 8pm. Free. San Pedro Street between Santa Clara and St. John streets.

Ongoing

Bat Boy TheatreWorks presents the regional premiere of a new musical inspired by a tabloid story about a boy who is half-human, half-bat. Thu, Aug 14-Fri, Aug 15, 8pm. Closes Sat, Aug 16, 8pm. $20-$48. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, 650.903.6000 or www.theatreworks.org.

Children's Theatre in the Park The series concludes with "Dragon of the Winds," presented by Peninsula Youth Theatre and the city of Mountain View. Fri, Aug 15, 6:30pm. Free. ParkStage at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St, Mountain View, 650.903.6000.

Concerts in the Mountains Gospel on Stage: An Evening With Tom Key. Sun, Aug 16,, 8pm. Free. Optional pre-concert barbecue dinner $10. Call for barbecue reservations. Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center, 37 Conference Drive, Mount Hermon (near Felton), 831.335.4466 or www.mounthermon.org.

d.p. Fong Galleries "N-Style Fashion" blown glass artworks by Todd Kobashi. Thru Sep 30. 371 S. First St, San Jose, 408.298.8877.

Gaslighter Theater Cheer the hero and boo the villain in the original melodrama "The Orphans of Campbell." The melodrama is followed by the Gaslighter's Nearly World Famous Vaudeville Review. Fri-Sat, 8pm. thru Aug 30. $12-$15. Dinner shows available for parties of 20 or more. Also: "Hot Off the Presses" or "A Good Newspaperman Is Hard to Find," a children's vaudeville show. Every Sat, 2pm. Thru Aug 30. Gaslighter Theater, 400 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell, 408.866.1408 or www.thegaslighter.com.

Japanese American Museum "1942: Luggage From Home to Camp." Thru June 2004. Tue-Fri, 11am-3pm, Sun, 11am-2pm. 535 N. Fifth St, San Jose, 408.294.3138 or www.jamsj.org.

Montalvo Gallery "Margaret Wharton: Slicing It Thin," an exhibition of sculptures by leading Chicago artist Margaret Wharton. Thru Aug 27. Regular gallery hours are Wed-Sun, 1pm-4pm. Montalvo Gallery, Villa Montalvo, 15400 Montalvo Rd, Saratoga, 408.961.5813.

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art "Introductions South," a group show of works by emerging artists. Thru Sep 20. Also: "I'm the Pretty One," a nighttime installation by Kerry Loewen, thru Oct 25, and "Dwellings," a nighttime installation by Tracy Snelling. Thru Sep 20. Tue-Fri, 10am-5pm, Sat, noon-5pm. Closed Sun and Mon. 451 S. First St, San Jose, 408.283.8155 or www.sjica.org.

San Jose Museum of Art "Keith Carter: Poet of the Ordinary," an exhibit of black-and-white photography. Thru Sep 14. "Bean Finnerean Installation," sculptures of thousands of handmade clay cylinders (thru Oct) and "Hidden Lives: Eleanor Prager and Don Martin," works from the museum's permanent collection (thru Jan 2004). "Collection Highlights," an exhibit of works from the museum's permanent collection. Thru Fri, Sept 12. Walking tours of public art in downtown San Jose. Docents lead four different 45-minute tours, which alternate weeks. Rain cancels tours. Every Mon thru Sep 29, noon. Meet at the museum. Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm, Fri, 11am-10pm, closed Mon. 110 S. Market St, San Jose, 408.271.6840 or www.sjmusart.org.

San Jose Museum of Quilts "Stories Untold: Jewish Pioneer Women 1850-1910." Mixed-media textiles that tell the story of Jewish pioneer women by artist Andrea Kalinowski. Tue-Wed, Fri-Sun, 10am-5pm, Thu, 10am-8pm. San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, 110 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, 408.971.0323 or www.sjquiltmuseum.org.