Wednesday's field guide is built around the chore most of us keep postponing: San Jose library volunteers are doing one-on-one tech help at Berryessa at 10:30 and King Library at 2, so bring the laptop that will not update, the email lockout, or the spreadsheet that never adds up. The evening is Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, a Family Night with free pre-show activities from 6 and closed captions during the show.

Wondering what’s going up down the street? A local high school senior built South Bay Dashboard to help neighbors follow development projects, catch up on local news, and find public meetings. He learned mapping tools and sought feedback from South Bay city planners along the way. It’s a thoughtful project from a young neighbor who wants more people to understand—and get involved in—the changes shaping their community.

Today's field guide

Tech help by day, Beauty and the Beast by night

Two free tech mentor sessions, morning at Berryessa and afternoon at King, cover printing, email, Word, Excel, and library e-resources, so bring the actual problem rather than a description of it. Daybreak Donuts on Sierra Rd handles breakfast and Smoking Pig's slow-smoked brisket and ribs handle lunch. The evening pairs the Family Night performance with San Pedro Square Market, where a hall of vendors means nobody at the table has to agree on one cuisine.

Tonight's pick

Bollywood Dance

5:30 PM · Adults, ages 18+, Teens, ages 12-18 · Village Square Library · San Jose · Free

A volunteer leads the moves and the pitch is fitness as much as dance, so this is a workout you can laugh through rather than a class you have to be good at. The library says walk-ins are welcome, and it is listed for adults and teens.

Also on the calendar

Only the Palo Alto opera preview asks for advance registration; the downtown market and the Seven Trees playdate run every Wednesday, and this week's playdate is the superhero obstacle course for ages 3 to 8. Open the full calendar →

Civic meetings tonight

Palo Alto — City Council Special Meeting · 5:00 PM

Around town

Two of these are Saturday plans (the Chile, Mole, Pozole Fest at Mexican Heritage Plaza and Silicon Valley Fall Fest at Cupertino Memorial Park), and the third is a Sprouts proposed for a shuttered San Jose store site.