Tonight at SJMA: Content Magazine Drops Issue 18.4 and Sends Off The Cultivator

Content Magazine will hand out its 76th issue this evening inside the San José Museum of Art, and the night doubles as a public goodbye to founder Daniel Garcia, the editor long known as The Cultivator. Issue 18.4, titled “Profiles,” lands Thursday, August 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 110 South Market Street in Downtown San Jose. Poet Mighty Mike McGee will host the opening remarks, speakers will tell Garcia’s story, and Garcia himself will close that first stretch before the party opens up.

The printed issue, published by SVCREATES, gathers a South Bay roster that already lives in the city’s studios, stages, and record bins: vocalist Carina Valdes of acari, mixed-media artists Allegra J. Bick-Maurischat and Armando Delgado-Franco, AWỌ Center founder Folake Phillips, painters George Rivera, Pragati Sharma Mohanty, Roan Victor, and Yuting Wang, SJMA executive director Jeremiah Davis, poets Mayra Flores and McGee, Asian Man Records founder Mike Park, and DJ Yareli Rivera, better known as DJ Toonin. Victor also made the cover. If the magazine has spent more than a decade arguing that Silicon Valley’s real product is its people, this issue puts names and faces on that claim.

The program after the tribute should keep the galleries moving. DJ Toonin will spin, Abhinaya Dance Company of San José and Folclórico Colibrí will perform, and Content will install a pop-up exhibition of work tied to the new pages. Mezcal Restaurant will handle food and drink. Museum admission for the party is free, though Content asks guests to RSVP so check-in at the front desk stays short. Subscribers who have shown up at past pickup nights have often found a complimentary bite waiting; even without a membership, the door stays open.

RSVP for fast check-in: https://bit.ly/184_PUP
Order Issue 18.4 “Profiles”: https://bit.ly/Profiles184

City Council Rezones IBM Almaden Site to Balance Open Space and Future Use

San Jose City Council voted 9-2 on Tuesday to rezone the former IBM Almaden Research Center property at 650 Harry Road. The decision splits the site into two distinct categories: 35.1 acres containing the research buildings become an industrial park zoning district, while the remaining 565.1 acres of surrounding vacant land receive open space zoning.

IBM is closing the Almaden campus and consolidating operations at its Silicon Valley Lab on Bailey Road. The property is now on the market. City planning staff reported that several real estate groups have already inquired about possible future uses for the developed portion, ranging from research and development to advanced manufacturing or general office space.

The rezoning does not approve any specific project. Land-use consultant Erik Schoennauer, representing a potential buyer, told the council the change simply aligns the site with the city’s general plan. It keeps the large open-space area in its current natural state while allowing the existing industrial buildings to return to productive use more efficiently.

More than 30 residents spoke during the public hearing, many urging the council to slow the process and raise concerns about possible data centers or other intensive industrial activity. Councilmember George Casey, whose district includes the property, argued that delaying the vote would not change the underlying need to update the zoning. Mayor Matt Mahan emphasized the shared goal of protecting the open space that IBM had long maintained.

The dual zoning aims to keep the hillsides and undeveloped land intact while giving the built campus a clearer path toward new economic activity once a buyer steps forward.

Source: SiliconValley.com

CityDance Brings Country Line Dancing to Plaza Park This Thursday

Plaza Park in front of the San José Museum of Art will host the next CityDance San José evening on Thursday, August 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. The free monthly series offers open-air dancing, live music, instruction, and a cash bar under the lights of Downtown San Jose.

This installment focuses on country line dancing. The Country Cougars will play live while Adam the Dancing Cowboy leads the lessons. Community groups will staff tables nearby, including History San José, the Japanese American Museum of San José, New Ballet, Teatro Visión, and the museum’s own Let’s Look at Art program.

Museum galleries stay open and free during the same hours for anyone who wants a break from the dance floor. A Content magazine pick-up party celebrating founder Daniel Garcia also takes place inside. VTA remains a convenient way to arrive, and participating ParkSJ garages offer 90 minutes of free parking.

The series continues September 24 with an Afrobeats night. CityDance is organized by the Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the museum, El Cafecito by Mezcal Restaurant, VTA, and the Downtown Association.

Source: San Jose Museum of Art

Google Advances Plans for Major Chip Research Hub in North San Jose

Google continues expanding its footprint in North San Jose with a proposed 250-megawatt chip research and development facility at its Meadow Point campus on Disk Drive. The project would house computing labs dedicated to testing next-generation chip technology, supporting the company’s broader work in artificial intelligence and custom silicon.

The scale of the electricity demand stands out. Filings show the facility could draw more power than the average load of Marin County and roughly half that of San Mateo County. Connecting it to the grid requires a high-voltage switching station, underground transmission lines, and ties into the Newark-NRS transmission project, along with additional regional upgrades. Google has indicated it will fund the infrastructure needed for its connection.

The California Public Utilities Commission had been scheduled to vote on the interconnection proposal in mid-August but postponed the decision. PG&E had requested approval earlier to keep the project on track for construction starting in early 2027 and operations by the end of 2028. Google maintains the site will serve internal research labs rather than function as a traditional data center supporting external cloud services.

This effort reflects the growing pressure on Silicon Valley’s power infrastructure as companies race to design and test the chips that drive advanced AI systems. The Meadow Point location already anchors a significant Google presence in the Alviso area, and the new labs would further solidify North San Jose as a center for specialized technical work.

Local observers will watch the regulatory process closely as California works through rules for large electricity users while balancing growth and ratepayer protections.

Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal

MLV NorCal Chooses Tech CU Arena as Home Court for 2027

San Jose will serve as the official home city for MLV NorCal when the professional women’s volleyball team begins play in 2027. The announcement came Monday at a community event at San Pedro Square Market, where Mayor Matt Mahan joined founding owner Kerri Walsh Jennings and team president Heather Vaughan.

Tech CU Arena on South 10th Street will host the matches. The venue already serves as home ice for the San Jose Barracuda and offers an intimate setting well suited to volleyball. Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and San Jose native, described the city as home and expressed excitement about building a team the community can claim as its own.

The franchise belongs to a women-founded and women-led league that will expand to additional markets in 2027. Mayor Mahan noted that San Jose has recently added professional women’s soccer and hockey and now volleyball, calling the city a growing capital for women’s sports.

Fans can secure a Founding Season Ticket Holder deposit of $31, a figure that honors California’s place as the 31st state. The official team name, branding, and inaugural campaign will be revealed next month.

This addition gives Northern California its first professional indoor volleyball franchise and adds another live-sports option in the heart of the city.

Source: MLV

New Indian Restaurant Planned for Historic Hotel De Anza

A new dining concept from the team behind several acclaimed Bay Area Indian restaurants is taking shape inside the Hotel De Anza. Restaurant entrepreneur Ayesha Thapar and chef Srijith “Sri” Gopinathan have secured a state liquor license for a full-service restaurant and bar at 233 West Santa Clara Street.

The pair operate through the Cal-India Collective and already run Eylan in Menlo Park, Ettan in Palo Alto, Little Blue Door in Los Altos, and Copra in San Francisco. Gopinathan previously earned two Michelin stars at Campton Place. Their approach blends authentic Indian techniques with California seasonality and local ingredients.

Construction is underway in the space just left of the hotel’s West Santa Clara Street entrance. The name of the forthcoming restaurant has not yet been announced. The project arrives as the Art Deco landmark continues a broader renovation that includes refreshed interiors, the Palm Terrace, the Hedley Club, and exterior painting that returns the tower to its 1990s color scheme.

Hotel co-owners Dhaval Panchal and Sean Curtis purchased the 100-room property in 2024 and have steadily reinvested in the building. The addition of a high-caliber restaurant strengthens the hotel’s role as both a lodging and gathering place in Downtown San Jose.

Source: SiliconValley.com

CityView Retail Moves Forward While Housing Plans Shift to New Construction in Downtown San Jose

Construction has started on the retail phase of Jay Paul Company’s CityView project at the corner of Park Avenue and Almaden Boulevard in Downtown San Jose. The first phase will deliver roughly 35,000 to 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space beneath a new parking garage, with completion targeted for early 2028.

The retail mix is still taking shape. Planners are exploring shops, restaurants, health and wellness businesses, and child-care options, with ongoing conversations about whether a smaller-format grocery could fit. Jay Paul has also talked with San Jose State University about letting students use dining credits at future CityView eateries, aiming to serve office workers, nearby residents, convention visitors, and campus traffic.

On the residential side, the company has decided to pursue ground-up construction rather than converting existing office buildings. Seismic retrofit costs for conversion proved nearly as expensive as new builds, so the team is now designing purpose-built housing with architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz. The change allows better layouts tailored specifically for apartments.

These steps keep momentum going on a large mixed-use block that sits near 200 Park and the convention center. As the retail spaces fill and residential designs firm up, the project will add more daily activity to the streets of Downtown San Jose... we'll just need a little bit of patience.

Source: SVBJ

MLV NorCal Fan Fest Lands at San Pedro Square Market Today

San Pedro Square Market will host a free family-friendly celebration this afternoon as MLV NorCal introduces itself to the community. The Fan Fest runs from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, August 24, with interactive volleyball activities, giveaways, free soft serve, and a Create & Clip station.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings is scheduled to appear alongside San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and members of the MLV NorCal roster. Organizers plan to share a milestone update about the team’s future and its planned 2027 inaugural season.

The first 200 fans to arrive will receive a free MLV NorCal hat. Parking is available at the nearby garage on North Market Street. The event is organized in partnership with the San Jose Sports Authority, the City of San Jose, Visit San Jose, and the Chamber of Commerce.

This gathering marks an early chance for local residents to meet the new professional volleyball franchise and learn more about its plans for the region.

Source: MLV

Free Concerts Keep the Energy High at St. James Park This Summer

Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose continue filling St. James Park with free live music through September, giving Downtown San Jose another strong summer of outdoor performances while plans for a permanent pavilion move forward. The series already draws families, friends, and neighbors for afternoons that mix quality artists, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, and activities for kids.

This Sunday, August 30 at 4:30 p.m., the park shifts into salsa mode with Los Calderones as headliners and DJ Leydis opening the evening with salsa dance instruction. The Bay Area Cuban Afro-Latin funk band, led by trombonist and arranger Obrayan Calderon, blends reparto energy with urban and traditional Latin sounds for an explosive set that invites the whole crowd onto the lawn. MACLA co-presents the night, adding another layer of cultural connection to the program.

The schedule still holds a few more strong dates after that. Tomorrow, August 16, The Purple Ones deliver a Prince tribute with a Michael Jackson versus Prince DJ set to open the afternoon. On September 6 the series closes at St. James Park with Peach Tree Rascals, co-presented by CUKUI. Two additional “Levitt on Location” shows land at Cypress Pavilion at Lake Cunningham later this month and next.

All of these concerts stay free and open to every age. Bring a blanket or chair, grab something from the food trucks, and settle in for an easy evening. The music keeps rolling, and St. James Park remains one of the simplest ways to spend a late-summer Sunday in the city.

More details, volunteer opportunities, and the full remaining schedule live at www.levittsanjose.org.

Mayor Mahan Tests Joby Air Taxi Simulator at San Jose Mineta International Airport

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan took the controls of a Joby Aviation flight simulator at Mineta International Airport on August 18, the day before National Aviation Day. Inside a blue trailer parked near the XO sculpture at Terminal B, he completed a vertical takeoff, a series of turns around the airport area, and a smooth landing in roughly ten minutes.

The mobile simulator gives visitors a 120-degree view of what it feels like to pilot Joby’s all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. San Jose Mineta became the first airport in the United States to host the unit, which remained available for public sessions through August 21. Reservations were handled through a simple online calendar.

Joby, based in Santa Cruz, aims to begin commercial passenger flights in 2027 once it receives final FAA certification. Company leaders described the airport visit as a way to let local residents experience the technology before service arrives. The mayor noted that electric air taxis could help ease congestion by offering an alternative to ground travel in a region where new roads are costly and difficult to build.

The short demonstration highlighted both the accessibility of the technology and San Jose’s growing role as a testing ground for next-generation mobility.

Source: The Mercury News