Help Choose the Next Name for Downtown San Jose’s Historic Central Plaza

The heart of Downtown San Jose has long served as the city’s original gathering ground, dating back nearly 250 years to the founding of the Pueblo de San José. For decades this 2.3-acre space hosted celebrations, civic events, and everyday moments under successive names before carrying the title Plaza de César Chávez. Now residents have a direct hand in deciding what it will be called next.

A ranked-choice survey opened July 24 and remains available through midnight on August 3, 2026. Participants will order five finalist options drawn from community listening sessions and an earlier public suggestion period: Farmworkers Plaza, Plaza de Quetzalcoatl, Plaza de San Jose, Plaza del Pueblo, and Plaza Park. The process aims to surface the name that best reflects shared values of connection, history, inclusion, and a welcoming identity for everyone who uses the space.

Before ranking, take a moment with the short SurveyMonkey demo video that walks through the ranking feature. Then open the survey, arrange the options according to personal preference, and submit. Staff will review the results and present recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission on September 2. The commission’s input moves next to the City Council for a final decision later this year.

This plaza sits at the center of Downtown San Jose’s civic life, steps from City Hall, the Tech Interactive, and major transit routes. Giving it a name chosen by the people who walk its paths, attend its concerts, and claim its lawns strengthens the sense that public spaces truly belong to the community. Share the survey link with neighbors, coworkers, and local groups so the final ranking captures as many voices as possible.

Questions can go to Parkplanning@sanjoseca.gov. Additional project details, timeline, and FAQs live at the city’s capital projects page: https://bit.ly/prns-capitalprojects. The survey itself is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29TD923.

Freestyle Legends Take Over The Plaza Tonight in Downtown San Jose

A full night of classic freestyle hits lands at The Plaza this evening, right in the heart of Downtown San Jose. Freestyle Explosion brings Stevie B, The Cover Girls, Trinere, and a supporting cast that includes Johnny O, Seduction, Rockell, George Lamond, and Nyasia to the outdoor stage at 1 Paseo de San Antonio.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with the music starting at 7 p.m. General admission covers lawn space for dancing and standing, while reserved front sections offer assigned seating closer to the stage. Food trucks and beverage booths will be on site, and nearby Downtown restaurants remain available before the show. Blankets smaller than 6 by 8 feet are allowed on the lawn; chairs, outside food, and large bags are not.

Stevie B headlines with the songs that defined the late-’80s freestyle sound, including “Because I Love You,” “Spring Love,” and “Party Your Body.” The Cover Girls and Trinere add their own chart-topping tracks, creating a continuous run of dance-floor classics under the open sky. A lowrider car show by the United Lowrider Council and Highside NorCal Car Club adds another layer to the evening.

The Plaza’s central location makes the concert easy to reach by light rail, rideshare, or nearby parking garages. For fans of the freestyle era, the stacked lineup on one stage offers a rare chance to hear these artists together in Downtown San Jose.

Tickets remain available through CalTix for those still planning to attend.

Free Outdoor Screening of Zootopia 2 Comes to Jack Fischer Park

Families across San Jose and the surrounding South Bay have a free evening activity waiting later today at Jack Fischer Park in Campbell. The City of Campbell Recreation team is screening Zootopia 2 outdoors starting at 7:30 p.m., with the movie running until about 10 p.m.

The park sits at Abbott Avenue and Pollard Road, just a short drive from many San Jose neighborhoods. Organizers recommend arriving early to claim a good spot on the grass. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks; free parking is available on site. The event is open to all ages and requires no tickets.

Jack Fischer Park offers open lawns and a family-friendly setting that works well for an evening under the stars. The animated sequel follows the continuing adventures of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, giving younger viewers a familiar story while parents can relax outdoors.

Campbell’s free movie nights have become a reliable summer tradition for nearby residents. With the screening happening tonight, it offers a simple way to spend a Friday evening outdoors without planning far ahead.

Summer Bill Relief Arrives for PG&E Customers in San Jose

I bet you weren't expecting a 2nd PG&E story in the same day. This is one you'll want to read if they are your utility provider.

Residential PG&E customers across San Jose and the wider service area will see two California Climate Credits appear on their upcoming electric bills. Each credit totals $36.18, applied automatically to the August and September statements for a combined $72.36 in relief during the highest-usage months of the year.

The timing change came after the California Legislature and Public Utilities Commission moved the electric credits to summer, when cooling demand typically drives higher bills. Eligible small-business accounts already received their first credit in April and will see the second in October. Since the program began in 2014, PG&E households have collected nearly $1,200 in cumulative Climate Credits.

These funds come from the state’s Cap-and-Invest Program and represent the public’s share of proceeds from efforts to reduce carbon emissions. For many local households the extra credit arrives just as air-conditioning use climbs, helping offset seasonal spikes without any action required on the customer’s part.

PG&E has also lowered residential electric rates five times since early 2024. Combined with the summer credits, typical monthly bills now sit roughly $25 lower than two years earlier for standard customers and about $30 lower for those on the CARE discount. Additional tools such as rate-plan comparisons, home energy checkups, and efficiency financing remain available for anyone looking to stretch the savings further.

PG&E Brings Hands-On Electrification Hub to Downtown San Jose

Pacific Gas and Electric will soon open a public electrification demonstration center right in the heart of Downtown San Jose. The utility plans to convert 8,445 square feet of ground-floor space at 160 West Santa Clara Street into a hands-on learning space that opens this fall. Residents, businesses and students will finally get a clear look at the tools that make the shift to cleaner energy simpler and more practical.

Inside the new hub, visitors can explore working exhibits of smart home controls, advanced EV charging concepts, smart electrical panels, heat pump water heaters and induction cooktops. Classroom and training areas will host community groups, local schools, apprenticeship programs and workforce organizations. The goal is straightforward: show people exactly how these technologies work in real homes and buildings so more San Joseans feel ready to make the switch.

This center deepens an already active partnership between PG&E and the City of San José. Both sides have spent recent years building stronger collaboration around reliable power delivery, especially as the city positions itself as a major destination for data center investment and broader economic growth. Locating the facility just a few blocks from City Hall puts the utility in a highly visible spot at a time when Downtown office space continues to seek new, productive uses.

The timing feels right for a city that wants residents and businesses to move confidently toward electrification. By placing working examples of heat pumps, induction ranges and smart systems in an easy-to-reach Downtown location, PG&E creates a practical resource that supports both individual households and the larger clean-energy goals of San José. When the doors open this fall, anyone curious about the next step in home or business energy upgrades will have a place to see the future in action.

Source: SVBJ

Vacant Building Near Downtown Gains New Life as Artist Studios

A long-empty structure at 255 West Julian Street is set to become a working home for local artists. Local Color, the San Jose arts nonprofit, is converting the Davidson Building’s ground floor into the Big Arts Building, with roughly a dozen below-market-rate studios, office space, a gallery focused on muralism, and areas for public programming.

Artists are expected to start moving in as early as August 1. The nonprofit selected participants after contacting hundreds of creators and hosting preview tours; more than 40 expressed interest following a recent walkthrough. The space includes natural light, air conditioning, secure storage for materials, and a Creative Outlet that redistributes unused art supplies to artists, educators, and youth programs.

A dedicated mural gallery marks a first for the city. The setup will give some artists their initial chance to work at mural scale while offering the public a place to experience that work up close. Local Color already has a track record with large collaborative projects, including the 100 Block mural effort downtown, and this new location expands that capacity closer to the core of Downtown San Jose.

The project grew out of a partnership with developer Westbank and arrives at a moment when affordable creative space remains hard to find. For muralists and studio artists who have worked in less comfortable conditions, the building’s practical features matter as much as the walls themselves.

Source: San Jose Spotlight

Midweek Fresh Finds Await at the Downtown San Jose Farmers Market

Every Wednesday morning, the Paseo de San Antonio in Downtown San Jose fills with stalls of just-picked produce, baked goods, and ready-to-eat meals from local makers. The Downtown Farmers Market operates from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 101 Paseo de San Antonio, giving residents and workers a reliable midweek stop for seasonal fruits, vegetables, and prepared foods.

Shoppers will find Asian vegetables from Xiong Farms, conventional fruits from Lopez Family Farm, organic greens and eggs from Green Mix Ranch, and strawberries from Bay Fresh. Packaged options include artisanal cookies and empanadas from California Bakeshop, honey from Mango Blossom Apiary, and specialty teas from Leafory. Hot food vendors rotate through dumplings, tamales, Thai street plates, and Filipino dishes, while a handful of craft tables offer jewelry, soaps, and handmade clothing.

The market accepts EBT benefits at the information booth, and visitors receive 90 minutes of complimentary parking in nearby ParkSJ garages. The setup keeps the focus on small local producers rather than large commercial suppliers, making it a practical way to support nearby farms and food businesses while stocking the kitchen.

World Cup Fever Filled Downtown San Jose with Record Crowds

Over six weeks of World Cup matches, Downtown San Jose recorded more than 900,000 visits, far surpassing the original projection of 350,000. San Pedro Square became the clear center of the action, transformed by the San Jose Earthquakes and city partners into a continuous outdoor festival with jumbo screens, food, and fans packed along the pedestrian mall.

High-demand games pushed the numbers even higher. Mexico’s matches drew the largest turnouts, with nearly 40,000 people across Downtown for the Round of 16 clash against England and more than 37,000 for an earlier group-stage game. Organizers responded by adding screens and, when needed, shifting the biggest crowds to Discovery Meadow and SAP Center. Restaurants and bars in the square reported steady waves of customers that many owners described as stronger than multiple Super Bowls combined.

The success built on San Jose’s deep soccer roots and deliberate planning. City leaders had set aside funding two years earlier for major-event coordination, a decision that paid off once the tournament arrived. Light-rail trains filled, sidewalks stayed busy, and the usual quiet of post-pandemic office hours gave way to an energetic, multi-week celebration that felt closer to a music festival than a typical Downtown evening.

Safety challenges appeared at the edges of the official zones, yet the overall experience remained manageable as organizers refined operations match after match. The stretch offered a clear demonstration of what Downtown can deliver when people have a compelling reason to show up.

With the final behind us, the calendar already includes the CrossFit World Championships at SAP Center and the convention center, plus upcoming tech gatherings, concerts, and street festivals. The infrastructure, partnerships, and recent practice are in place. Sustaining the energy will depend on creating more reasons for residents and visitors to return, night after night.

Source: The Mercury News

SJC Terminal B Welcomes Vietnamese Flavors and New Nonstop Routes

Travelers through San José Mineta International Airport now have two strong new reasons to arrive early. Asian Box and Bad Egg Breakfast Bar have both opened near Gate 19 in Terminal B, giving passengers real choices that feel connected to the Bay Area rather than generic airport fare.

Asian Box, a local Vietnamese concept with deep Bay Area roots, serves made-to-order rice and noodle boxes, banh mi sandwiches, fresh salads and a full lineup of boba drinks. Breakfast options include a fried-egg banh mi on a gluten-free roll and a lemongrass pork brunch box. Orders move quickly through either a touchscreen kiosk or a friendly counter. Right next door, Bad Egg Breakfast Bar spreads out across 135 seats with all-day comfort food: chicken and waffles topped with a runny cage-free egg, breakfast grilled cheese loaded with smoked ham and Swiss, and a solid grab-and-go case for pastries and coffee. A full bar pours specialty cocktails while the bright, mural-filled space invites lingering.

The dining upgrades arrive alongside real growth in the flight schedule. Southwest Airlines will begin seasonal nonstop service to Orlando in November, aimed squarely at families headed for theme parks. Delta Air Lines adds daily nonstop flights to Austin starting in early October, expanding premium options for both business and leisure travelers. These routes join an already busy network that continues to make SJC one of the most convenient gateways in Silicon Valley.

Next time the itinerary starts or ends at SJC, give yourself a few extra minutes near Gate 19. A proper meal or a cold boba before boarding has never been easier to find.

Source: SVBJ

Where Locals Head for Brunch in Willow Glen

Saturday mornings in Willow Glen often begin with a choice along the tree-lined stretch of Lincoln Avenue. The neighborhood’s compact downtown offers several reliable spots for brunch, each with its own pace and outdoor seating, and all within a short walk of one another.

The Table, at the corner of Willow and Lincoln, continues to draw the longest lines for its seasonal American plates. Chilaquiles, fresh juices, and rotating egg dishes fill the menu, and the back patio becomes especially inviting once the morning fog lifts. Weekend service starts at 9 a.m., with walk-ins only on Saturday and Sunday. Arriving right at opening or after 12:30 usually shortens the wait.

Just down the street, Bill’s Cafe has served stuffed omelets and oversized pancakes since 1977. The heated patio stays dog-friendly, making it a practical stop for families who prefer to skip reservations altogether. STACKS, also on Lincoln Avenue, opens earlier and typically moves faster for those who want stacked pancakes without the crowd.

Copita adds another option later in the morning. Its weekend brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. across the dining room, patio, and rooftop, and reservations are accepted. The setting works well for groups that prefer to plan ahead rather than wait.

After brunch on Saturdays, the farmers market at Willow Glen Elementary sits only a few blocks away, Free two-hour street parking lines Lincoln Avenue, with a larger lot behind the Bank of America at 1245 Lincoln for those who need a little more time.

Source: Downtown Willow Glen