Hoka Brings Its First Bay Area Store to Santana Row

Hoka plans to open its first Bay Area storefront at Santana Row this fall, filling the roughly 850-square-foot space previously occupied by Arc’teryx. The outdoor apparel brand relocated to a larger location at Westfield Valley Fair, creating the opening for the popular performance footwear company. Marketing materials already posted at the site confirm a fall debut.

The arrival aligns with broader shifts toward active lifestyles at the mixed-use center. A 60,000-square-foot Life Time fitness club is also preparing to open in the former Best Buy space. Reformation, the Los Angeles-based women’s clothing brand, is preparing a more than 2,000-square-foot store next to Sezane for a fall opening as well. Johnny Doughnuts celebrated the launch of its fifth location at the Row in late June, while the upscale cocktail bar Flora is expected later this year in the former Rosie McCann’s space.

Santana Row has experienced some turnover on the dining side. Vine Hospitality’s portfolio-wide closures eliminated LB Steak, Left Bank and Meso Modern Mediterranean, removing more than 175 jobs from the center. Those vacancies form part of the ongoing evolution that has also brought in new retail and fitness options.

Source: SVBJ

Glen Fest Returns to Willow Glen on September 26

Glen Fest takes over a stretch of Lincoln Avenue in Downtown Willow Glen on Saturday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free community festival centers on the Bank of America lot at 1245 Lincoln Avenue and spills into the surrounding independent shops and restaurants.

Live bands play throughout the day while more than a dozen food trucks and vendors offer everything from BBQ and lobster rolls to Mexican street food, Asian-inspired dishes, and local honey. Beer and wine are available for adults. A dedicated kids court features bouncy houses, face painting, a photo booth, and visits from local sports teams, all without any extra ticket.

The event remains fully walkable and dog-friendly for those who keep pets on leashes. Shops along the avenue stay open during their regular hours, giving visitors a chance to browse boutiques, the children’s bookstore, and other neighborhood spots between sets and meals.

Now in its third year, Glen Fest has grown into the largest single-day gathering on the Downtown Willow Glen calendar. Families and neighbors who arrive earlier in the day often find lighter crowds and easier access to the kids activities.

Check the Downtown Willow Glen Business Association channels closer to the date for the final band and vendor lineup.

Source: Downtown Willow Glen

Boutique Grocery Heads to Ground Floor of San Pedro Square Housing Towers

An independent boutique grocery store is preparing to lease 12,000 square feet of ground-floor space at the two residential towers located at 188 West St. James Street in the San Pedro Square neighborhood of Downtown San Jose. The space faces San Pedro Square Market and sits within a complex that includes a 22-story eastern tower with 337 units and a 20-story western tower with 303 units.

The market will offer fresh food, sandwiches, a salad bar, a hot bar, burritos, and additional prepared items once the street-level shell is ready. Opening is projected for sometime in 2027. Leasing efforts are being handled by Nick Goddard of Colliers.

Downtown San Jose has long operated with limited grocery options. Whole Foods on The Alameda has served the western edge since 2014, and Sakura Market opened more recently on South Market Street. A new neighborhood-focused market at this central location will give residents of the towers and surrounding blocks easier access to everyday essentials and ready-to-eat meals.

The western tower continues to market condominiums for sale while the eastern tower remains under consideration for potential workforce housing by the San Jose Unified School District. Adding a practical retail anchor at street level should help activate the base of these buildings and support the daily needs of people living and working nearby.

Source: SiliconValley.com

Icon Echo Advances with 645 Homes Near City Hall in Downtown San Jose

Urban Catalyst’s Icon Echo project is moving forward with plans for two eight-story residential buildings that will deliver 645 new apartments in Downtown San Jose. The development covers a 2.1-acre site along North Fourth Street between East Santa Clara Street and East Saint John Street, across from San Jose City Hall and a short walk from Saint James Park.

The unit mix includes 233 studios, 272 one-bedrooms, and 140 two-bedrooms, with 33 of the homes deed-restricted as affordable. Each building rises to 89 feet and features podium-top courtyards, ground-level parking with stackers totaling 527 spaces, and a small retail space on the Icon building. Architect BDE Architecture has designed the exteriors with brick veneer, stucco, and cast stone panels.

A Planning Director’s hearing on the site development permit and vesting tentative map took place on August 12, with city staff recommending approval. The project represents a shift from earlier mixed-use concepts that included office space, reflecting the current emphasis on adding housing in the urban core.

Once built, the complex will place hundreds of new residents within easy reach of transit, civic buildings, and the daily activity of Downtown San Jose. The mid-rise scale fits the surrounding blocks while contributing meaningful density to an area that continues to evolve.

Source: SF YIMBY

New Housing Community Planned for Former Oracle Campus

Valley Oak Partners continues advancing its proposal to transform 38 acres of the former Oracle campus in Santa Clara into a mixed residential community of 584 homes. The San Jose-based developer shared updated details on timeline and design during a recent community meeting, outlining plans for 48 single-family homes, 416 townhomes and 120 apartments.

The project site currently contains nearly 500,000 square feet of vacant office buildings that would be removed. Seven acres of open space would feature parks, a recreation and yoga deck, bocce court, playground and lawns. The two-story single-family homes are expected to measure between 2,400 and 2,700 square feet, while the affordable apartment building would reach six stories. Architect KTGY and landscape planner RHAA are guiding the design work. The development borders a historic park and buildings that will remain untouched.

Environmental review is underway and typically requires about a year. Valley Oak anticipates securing project approvals by mid-2027, after which it intends to purchase the land from Oracle as a joint venture with a homebuilder. Past partnerships have included firms such as Lennar, Pulte and KB Home. Demolition and infrastructure work could follow later in 2027, with home construction potentially starting in the first half of 2028.

The proposal operates under the builder’s remedy, which limits a city’s ability to reject qualifying housing projects that include a required share of lower-income units. A formal application was filed in 2024 after a preliminary filing the previous year. If the schedule holds, the redevelopment would convert underused office land into a range of housing options with substantial outdoor amenities in a location close to major employment centers and transportation routes serving San Jose and the broader South Bay.

Source: SVBJ

Affordable Townhomes Arrive in East San Jose to Expand Homeownership Options

A new collection of 18 townhomes is taking shape at 125 Kirk Avenue in East San Jose, directly across from Linda Vista Elementary School. Developer AlphaX RE Capital, led by Stephanie Yi, is delivering the project known as The Kirk with a focus on creating ownership opportunities for working families.

Two three-bedroom units will be offered at roughly $300,000 below market rates, while the remaining homes—mostly four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath floor plans ranging from 1,481 to 1,909 square feet—are priced between $1.18 million and $1.3 million. Select buyers can also access a $50,000 credit and interest rates starting as low as 3.99 percent.

The project opened to the public on August 14, with some units expected to become available as early as October and full construction completion targeted for February 2027. Local leaders have welcomed the development as a practical step toward keeping more families rooted in the neighborhood and building long-term equity.

East San Jose has long needed additional pathways to ownership that match the incomes of teachers, nurses, small-business owners, and other working residents. This modest-scale effort shows how targeted new construction can open doors without waiting for larger citywide solutions.

For details on availability and qualification, contact the developer directly through their sales channels.

Source: San Jose Spotlight

Hotel De Anza Undergoes Major Remodel in Downtown San Jose

The historic Hotel De Anza at 233 West Santa Clara Street has entered a wide-ranging remodel that will refresh both its exterior and interior spaces. Owners Dhaval Panchal and Sean Curtis, who acquired the 100-room property in 2024, are restoring the 10-story Art Deco tower with a full exterior repaint that returns the building to its 1990s color scheme.

Scaffolding already stands along the facade as crews prepare the structure for top-to-bottom updates. Inside, work focuses on the lobby, Palm Terrace, and the historic Hedley Club. Just left of the main entrance, a new restaurant is taking shape and is expected to become a notable dining destination once complete.

Many of the upgrades are scheduled for completion before the end of 2026. The neon sign atop the hotel was already relit last year, marking an early visible step in the restoration. Built in 1931 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the tower ranks among San Jose’s few remaining Zig Zag Moderne buildings and has previously been rescued from demolition and renovated.

The ownership team aims to position the refreshed Hotel De Anza as a welcoming community gathering place that strengthens the daily rhythm of Downtown San Jose.

Source: The Mercury News

New Townhomes Proposed for McKendrie Street Near The Alameda

A 12-unit townhouse project is advancing at 1030-1038 McKendrie Street in Central San Jose. The plan would replace an existing surface parking lot on a 0.45-acre site with two multi-family residential buildings that include private garages and limited guest parking.

Studio Current is handling the design and application. The site sits on a block bounded by McKendrie Street, Myrtle Street, The Alameda, and West Hedding Street, placing it within walking distance of the College Park Caltrain station and inside the broader Alameda historic district.

Environmental review has been completed, with a mitigated negative declaration issued to address potential construction impacts. Work could begin as early as next March and is expected to take roughly five months once underway.

The modest-scale project adds housing in a central neighborhood already served by transit and nearby commercial activity. It represents another example of converting underused surface lots into residential use closer to existing infrastructure.

Source: SF YIMBY

Veeam Software Expands Local Footprint at Santana Row

Veeam Software plans to occupy roughly 21,000 square feet of second-floor space at Santana Row by the end of the year, converting former retail square footage once occupied by H&M into offices. The Seattle-based company, focused on data security and recovery, will take the upper level above the first-floor spots now held by Vuori and Evereve.

The move follows Veeam’s December 2025 acquisition of Securiti.ai, which had already maintained a presence in the Santana Row area for several years, most recently at the nearby Santana West office building. Prior to the deal, Veeam lacked a formal Silicon Valley office even as some employees worked remotely from the region. The new space more than doubles the nearly 11,000 square feet Securiti.ai held, giving the combined teams room to grow.

Santana Row’s mix of shopping, dining and walkable amenities has continued to draw technology and professional firms seeking an appealing workplace environment. While San Jose’s overall office vacancy rate hovered near 18 percent, the office components at the Federal Realty development reached full occupancy earlier this year. The convenient highway access and established commuting patterns for existing staff made the location a practical choice for the expansion.

Veeam’s local office will primarily support technology and product development teams. Company leaders have signaled plans to add more engineering and product talent in the coming years as AI-driven demand continues.

Source: SVBJ

San Jose Lands in the Top 10 Happiest Cities in America

San Jose ranked 10th among the 182 largest U.S. cities in WalletHub’s 2026 Happiest Cities in America report, earning an overall score of 67.79. The ranking evaluated 29 indicators across emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment.

The city performed especially well in emotional and physical well-being, placing 7th in that category. It also recorded one of the nation’s lowest separation and divorce rates. Income and employment ranked 45th while community and environment came in at 42nd.

Fremont took the top national spot for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Bismarck, North Dakota, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Other California cities in the top tier included Irvine at 8th. San Francisco placed 17th.

These results highlight measurable strengths in health, life satisfaction, and social stability that contribute to daily quality of life for residents. The data provides one more data point in the ongoing conversation about what makes a city a good place to call home.

Source: WalletHub

Coterie Winery Prepares a Move Closer to the Heart of Downtown San Jose

Coterie Winery has produced small-batch wines in San Jose since 2007, turning an old warehouse near Downtown into a handcrafted operation focused on grapes from select parcels in places like the Russian River Valley, Carneros and the Santa Lucia Highlands. Every bottle follows a berry-to-bottle approach with careful vineyard work and non-interventional methods at the winery.

The team recently signed a letter of intent for a new home in San Pedro Square. After nearly two decades in the city and more than a decade in its current neighborhood, the winery expects to stay within a few blocks of the area it already knows well. The shift should bring longer regular hours, easier parking and closer ties to the food and entertainment options that fill the surrounding streets.

Membership remains open at no cost and delivers substantial savings, with discounts reaching 30 percent on wines and events plus first access to limited releases. Those who join receive periodic allocations and the chance to stay connected through occasional updates on new offerings.

The upcoming relocation places this longtime local winery inside one of Downtown San Jose’s liveliest pockets, where visitors can pair a tasting experience with nearby markets, dining and public spaces. Keep an eye out for the final address announcement as the transition continues.

Source: Coterie Winery and usedmedia

Valley Fair Adds New Dining Energy and Fashion Options

Westfield Valley Fair has continued reshaping its mix of tenants with several notable arrivals and expansions that give shoppers and diners more reasons to linger. Asia Live, a sprawling 15,000-square-foot pan-Asian food emporium from the team behind San Francisco’s China Live, opened in June with seating for 350 guests and open kitchen stations featuring dishes drawn from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian and other regional traditions. Heytea has already joined the lineup, and Chagee Modern Tea House is scheduled to arrive later this year.

Cider, a global women’s clothing and accessories brand that built its following online, plans to open its first Northern California store at the mall later this summer. The concept targets younger shoppers and fits the center’s evolving customer base. At the same time, outdoor apparel specialist Arc’teryx is relocating from neighboring Santana Row into a larger 1,700-square-foot space inside Valley Fair, while Starbucks has traded its previous location for a bigger footprint one floor above.

Mall operators have focused on complementary experiences that encourage longer visits. Entertainment options such as Alamo Drafthouse, The Great Big Game Show and Sandbox VR already contribute to dwell times that frequently exceed two and a half hours for a majority of guests. Growing demand for takeout and delivery has also prompted dedicated pickup parking and features like drive-thru windows at select restaurants. These adjustments reflect confidence in the center’s strong local following even as smaller spaces remain popular with many retailers.

The combination of expanded dining, fashion and entertainment positions Valley Fair as a more complete destination for South Bay residents who already treat the center as a regular stop. With Asia Live now fully operating and additional concepts on the way, the property continues to refine what a modern regional mall can offer.

Source: SVBJ

Data Center Proposal Targets South San Jose Industrial Site

A two-story data center measuring 152,700 square feet could rise on a 10.1-acre vacant parcel in South San Jose’s Edenvale industrial area. The site sits near the corner of Embedded Way and Hellyer Avenue, next to Coyote Creek.

Oppidan, a real estate firm that regularly partners with Rockpoint Group, filed the proposal. Rockpoint acquired the property for $15.7 million in 2022. The facility would draw about 18 megawatts of power and sits roughly 1.3 miles from PG&E’s Santa Teresa substation, which the utility recently expanded to 80 megawatts of capacity with room for further growth.

The filing adds to a rising number of data center proposals across San Jose, including sites in North San Jose, Alviso, and other parts of the south side. These projects reflect growing demand for advanced computing infrastructure in the region.

If approved and built, the Edenvale location would convert underused industrial land into a specialized computing hub while remaining close to existing power infrastructure. The proposal remains in the early planning stages as city review continues.

Source: The Mercury News

History San Jose Explores Downtown Presence at Historic Knox-Goodrich Building

History San Jose is evaluating several potential downtown sites for a new venue, with the recently acquired Knox-Goodrich Building at 34 and 36 South First Street emerging as a leading candidate. The city purchased the 1889 structure and the adjacent property at 30 South First Street for $3.6 million on August 7 from an Urban Catalyst affiliate.

A downtown location would allow History San Jose to host events and rotate artifacts currently held in storage while keeping its primary campus at History Park. City officials are exploring community-serving, cultural, and economic uses for the building as part of broader activation plans for the site.

The Knox-Goodrich Building requires interior upgrades including a bathroom, flooring, and lighting before it can open to the public. Estimates for that work range from $250,000 to $350,000. Because of its historic status, the exterior must remain intact.

The neighboring former Lido’s Nightclub property is slated for demolition to make way for housing. Bringing a cultural institution into the heart of the downtown historic district would place more of San Jose’s stories within walking distance of daily life and visitors.

Source: SiliconValley.com

Evergreen Valley College Hosts Back-to-School Community Gathering at Eastridge

Evergreen Valley College will bring a free Back-to-School event to Eastridge Mall this Saturday, August 15, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. near the Starbucks. The gathering features about 30 community groups and vendors offering resources, activities and connections for students, parents and residents.

Organizers designed the afternoon around practical support for the new school year. Visitors can explore college and career information, collect free raffle prizes and take part in activities suitable for all ages. Multiple campus clubs and support programs from the college will be on hand alongside partner organizations serving East San Jose families.

The location inside a familiar local mall makes attendance straightforward for people already planning weekend errands. Staff from Evergreen Valley College and its affiliated groups aim to lower barriers for those considering community college pathways or seeking additional support services.

Source: Instagram

CAVA Brings Its Mediterranean Bowls to Santana Row in 2027

After years of fan requests, the popular Mediterranean fast-casual chain CAVA has confirmed its first Northern California location will open next year at Santana Row. The restaurant will take space at 3055 Olin Avenue, Suite 1035, marking the chain’s long-awaited arrival in the Bay Area.

CAVA specializes in customizable bowls and pitas built around grains, proteins, vegetables, dips, and dressings in a style often compared to Chipotle. The company currently operates more than 450 restaurants nationwide, with all of its existing California locations concentrated in the southern part of the state. Two additional Bay Area sites closer to San Francisco are also planned, though exact addresses and timelines remain unannounced.

Each new restaurant typically employs 25 to 40 local team members, so the Santana Row opening should create fresh jobs alongside the expanded dining options. The arrival fills a gap that many residents have noted for some time as the brand’s popularity grew elsewhere.

Santana Row already offers a dense mix of shopping and restaurants, making it a logical first foothold for the chain in the region. Once the doors open in 2027, diners will finally be able to grab those well-known Mediterranean bowls without leaving the South Bay.

Source: KRON4

A Faster Path for Diridon Station’s Transformation

California lawmakers took a meaningful step last week when the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved SB 1375 and sent it to the full Assembly. The measure creates a targeted exemption from California Environmental Quality Act review for qualifying urban intermodal rail station modernization projects that meet environmental, labor, and community standards while limiting construction impacts and protecting against displacement. Authored by Senator Dave Cortese of San Jose, the bill positions the long-planned overhaul of Diridon Station to move forward with fewer redundant delays.

Diridon already functions as a critical node on the western edge of Downtown San Jose, serving Caltrain, Amtrak, ACE, and VTA light rail and bus lines. Future service will layer in BART through the Silicon Valley Phase II extension, additional Capitol Corridor trains, and California high-speed rail. The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 business plan targets extension of service from the Central Valley to San Jose and San Francisco by 2039. Partner agencies including the City of San Jose, Caltrain, VTA, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the High-Speed Rail Authority selected an at-grade station alternative in 2025 that keeps tracks near today’s street level while rebuilding platforms, the historic depot, public plazas, and street connections. Normal environmental review for that program was projected to consume three to four years before design and construction could fully advance.

Streamlining the state environmental process while federal NEPA review continues could shave years off the timeline for a facility expected to handle nearly 100,000 daily passengers once complete. That scale of connectivity supports denser housing and jobs within walking distance of frequent transit, eases highway congestion, and advances the region’s climate targets. Mayor Matt Mahan has described Diridon as poised to become the busiest transit hub west of the Mississippi, provided modernization does not stall. Councilmember Michael Mulcahy has likewise framed the station as a foundation for sustainable growth that links jobs, sports venues, and neighborhoods across Downtown San Jose and the South Bay.

Passage of SB 1375 would not eliminate every review or community conversation. It would, however, remove one layer of duplication for a project that has already undergone years of planning, design alternatives analysis, and public input. For a city investing heavily in transit-oriented development around Diridon, including Google’s Downtown West project, the difference between a delayed station and a completed one will shape daily life for decades.

Source: SVBJ

Bellarmine Launches Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Bellarmine College Preparatory has established the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to give students a structured path from idea to real-world impact. The program centers on identifying meaningful problems and developing solutions that serve others, consistent with the school’s Jesuit mission.

Students move through three phases: Ideate, where they reflect on real challenges; Create, where they prototype and refine solutions with access to the Maker Lab, seed funding, and campus resources; and Impact, where they present work through pitches, showcases, or further development. Mentors drawn from Silicon Valley technology and entrepreneurship backgrounds provide guidance throughout.

Early student projects already illustrate the range of work underway. One focuses on accessibility technology that adds subtitles for facial expressions, while another explores biologically enhanced concrete for more sustainable infrastructure. These efforts sit alongside expanded classes, workshops, competitions, and speaker opportunities that help students gain experience usually reserved for college.

The Institute acts as a central hub connecting existing campus tools and new support systems so ideas do not stall in isolation. For a San Jose school long known for academic rigor and service, the program adds a practical outlet for entrepreneurial thinking rooted in city synonymous with innovation.

Source: Bellarmine College Preparatory

VTA Light Rail Critical Feedback

"Classy Whale" has ridden every single major metro system in America and has just posted a brutal review of the VTA light rail system. Unfortunately, he makes a lot of fair points.

Slower average speeds and longer headways remain part of the current experience, especially outside peak hours. Those realities stem from the original design that favored median running through lower-density areas rather than fully exclusive rights-of-way. Yet the same network continues to support transit-oriented projects and future extensions that aim to densify key corridors. Riders who board at Milpitas or Diridon already gain seamless ties to regional rail, and the light rail itself delivers a car-free way to move between them.

Still, we should take a hard honest look at the system to see what is really needed to bring transit times down and frequencies up. Improvements in those key areas will translate to increased ridership and rider satisfaction.

Source: Youtube

 

Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground Near Downtown San Jose

Eden Housing has broken ground on a new four-story affordable housing development at 700 East Saint John Street. The project will deliver 68 units, including 48 homes for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income and 20 permanent supportive housing units for seniors exiting homelessness.

The L-shaped building incorporates ground-level podium parking and forms part of the broader East Santa Clara Master Plan. Design work by Architects FORA includes a façade that shifts from cement panels on the lower levels to darker brown and tan tones higher up, along with painted mural elements. Amenities planned for residents include a community room with kitchen, food pantry, laundry facilities, and recreation spaces on each floor.

The site sits close to Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, and neighborhood services. It also involves adaptive reuse of the neighboring Building 800, a historic structure that once housed IBM’s first West Coast offices.

Officials including U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma attended the groundbreaking ceremony on August 6. The project adds much-needed homes for seniors and lower-income residents in a central location while contributing to the ongoing transformation of the former hospital area.

Source: SF YIMBY

Grande Pizzeria Makes Its Welcome Return to Downtown San Jose

After seven years of silence on East San Carlos Street, Grande Pizzeria has stepped back into the Downtown San Jose scene across from San Jose State University. Owner Nick Barrita poured more than $250,000 of his own money into the nearly 1,700-square-foot space, which now seats roughly 130 guests including a sizable outdoor patio for 80. The doors opened on August 3 without outside investors, a decision that followed heavy pandemic delays, labor shortages, and climbing costs that kept the longtime campus hangout dark for so long.

Barrita absorbed around $500,000 in losses during the closure yet covered them through his other local spots, La Victoria Taqueria and Burger Bar. The location still sits in a strong position for foot traffic. Major events earlier this year, from the Super Bowl to FIFA matches and FanimeCon, reinforced his belief that San Carlos Street stays lively when the city draws crowds. Regulars had been pushing for the return, some half-joking that they needed the place open before they were gone. The kitchen answered by keeping signature pastas and favorites while expanding the seafood options and shifting to a more casual setup where tables order through QR codes.

Once fully staffed the restaurant expects to employ 10 to 12 people. Nate LeBlanc of the San Jose Downtown Association noted that bringing back a familiar local name fills an empty storefront and strengthens the hospitality mix that helps create lasting memories for students and visitors alike. A similar revival is underway nearby at Peanut’s Deluxe Cafe, another former SJSU favorite now under new ownership with cooperative plans. Together these reopenings add energy to a stretch of Downtown that benefits when college-area classics come back online.

The timing feels right for anyone who remembers the old Grande or simply wants a solid pizza and pasta option steps from campus. The patio offers a chance to sit outside, the expanded menu gives new choices alongside the classics, and the casual approach keeps things easy for both quick bites and longer stays. Downtown San Jose gains another steady presence that ties the SJSU community to the broader Downtown area.

Source: SVBJ

Swades Turns Plaza de Cesar Chavez into a Daylong Celebration of India’s Independence

San Jose residents looking for a memorable Saturday afternoon and evening can make their way to Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Saturday, August 15th for AIA Swades 2026. The Association of Indo Americans has filled the park with a free Day and Night Mela that runs until 10:30 p.m., pairing India’s 80th Independence Day with America’s 250th anniversary in the heart of Downtown San Jose.

The afternoon’s centerpiece arrives at 4 p.m. when the multinational India Day Parade steps off with more than 75 floats, marching groups, and cultural contingents. Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu serves as honorable guest and grand marshal, while San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Consul General of India Dr. Srikar Reddy join as chief guests for the flag-raising ceremony that follows. Families already on site have the chance to take part in the record-breaking Indian human flag formation and the Tiranga Walk that weave through the plaza.

Between the pageantry, the Mela keeps the energy high with nostalgic street food stalls, a shopping marketplace, live cultural performances including Vijay Bharat dances of India, a fashion show, and a dedicated kids zone. The night market portion stretches under the lights as the park stays open late, giving visitors plenty of time to sample flavors and linger with friends.

This gathering once again shows how Downtown San Jose becomes a natural stage for the city’s many communities. Free registration for the Mela remains available through AIAevents.org, and the Eventbrite listing offers the latest updates for anyone still planning to head over.

Rising Star Pianist Angel Stanislav Wang Opens Steinway Society Season

Steinway Society – The Bay Area will launch its 31st season on Sunday, September 27, with a recital by 23-year-old pianist Angel Stanislav Wang at the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the De Anza College campus in Cupertino. The 2:30 p.m. program, titled Worlds Away, moves from the Spanish lyricism of Granados through Liszt’s demanding Sonata in B Minor, Debussy’s atmospheric Estampes, and the rhythmic drive of Stravinsky’s Three Movements from Petrushka.

Wang has already collected major international prizes, including silver at the Tchaikovsky Competition, first prize at the Rachmaninoff Competition, and a place as one of the youngest finalists in Van Cliburn history. Born in Los Angeles and trained in Moscow, he has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Musikverein while building a reputation for expressive power and technical command. The Cupertino appearance marks a local chance to hear an artist whose career is accelerating across major venues and series.

The intimate 400-seat hall at De Anza offers a clear acoustic setting well suited to solo piano. Steinway Society, a Silicon Valley nonprofit now entering its fourth decade, continues its focus on presenting award-winning pianists alongside an active education program. Single tickets range from $53 to $78, with senior and student discounts available; three- and six-concert subscriptions remain on offer for those who want to hear the full season.

Tickets and full season details are available through steinwaysociety.com or by calling 408-300-5635.

Lokahi Polynesian Dance Group Presents Hō’ike 2026 at the Hammer Theatre

Lōkahi Polynesian Dance Group opens its 27th annual Hō’ike this weekend at the Hammer Theatre Center in Downtown San Jose. The two-night event runs August 15 and 16 and centers on the island of Maui, inviting audiences to experience the place many call “Maui nō ka ʻoi” through hula and Ori Tahiti.

Dancers ranging from age two to more than sixty fill the stage, creating a true celebration of ʻohana. Mothers perform alongside daughters, fathers share the floor with their children, and longtime members who have danced with the group for over 25 years stand next to first-time performers. The company has spent the past year preparing the program that highlights Maui’s landscapes, traditions and music.

The Hammer Theatre, located at 101 Paseo de San Antonio, provides an intimate setting for the multi-generational production. Orchestra and parterre seats remain available while the balcony has already sold out, reflecting strong local interest in the long-running cultural showcase.

This Hō’ike continues Lōkahi’s tradition of presenting Polynesian dance as both performance and family gathering right in the heart of Downtown San Jose. Those who attend will find a stage full of shared history, carefully learned choreography and the spirit of aloha that has defined the group since 1999.

For tickets and more info, head over here.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Plans Large House of Sport on Blossom Hill Road

Dick’s Sporting Goods will open a nearly 99,000-square-foot House of Sport store at 920 Blossom Hill Road in San Jose, on the rebuilt site of a former Home Depot destroyed by fire in 2022. The large-format location is expected to arrive in 2027 near Westfield Oakridge.

House of Sport stores go beyond traditional retail with interactive features such as climbing walls, golf simulators, and batting cages. The company has already filed permits for exterior remodeling and tenant improvements at the property. Brokers from Econic and others handled the lease.

The new store will replace Dick’s existing roughly 40,000-square-foot location at nearby Sunrise Plaza, where the retailer has operated for decades. The Blossom Hill corridor continues to draw national brands thanks to surrounding shopping centers, residential density, and convenient access. Boot Barn is also preparing an 18,000-square-foot store in the same area.

The arrival of this expanded format gives south San Jose shoppers a more experiential place to buy sporting goods and try activities on site while reinforcing the commercial strength of the Blossom Hill corridor.

Source: SVBJ

The Silk Route Brings Modern Indian Dining to San Pedro Square

A familiar midblock space at 17 North San Pedro Street will shift from Mexican fare to upscale Indian cuisine this fall. Jasbir Singh and Mandeep Jandir, the operators of neighboring The Brit Sports Pub and Patio, took over the former Olla Cocina site after earlier plans for a modern Mexican steakhouse fell through. Exterior and interior work is already in progress for The Silk Route.

Singh pointed to a clear opening in the local dining scene. Downtown San Jose has lacked a high-quality, modern Indian option even as other South Bay destinations such as Mountain View, Santana Row, Palo Alto, and Santa Clara each support successful spots that draw mixed crowds. He also noted the rising presence of young Indo-Americans around SJSU, the Improv, and San Pedro Square itself, alongside broader interest in Indian flavors among non-Indian diners.

The location carries a long restaurant history. Blake’s Steakhouse occupied it for years, followed by La Piñata and then Olla Cocina from summer 2016 until fall 2025. A short-lived Bar Tako pop-up filled the gap earlier this year before the current transition. The new concept aims to deliver a refined experience suited to the square’s growing energy.

Expect The Silk Route to open later this fall once renovations wrap. The change adds another distinct flavor to a stretch already drawing steady foot traffic and fresh investment.

Source: The Mercury News

Poetry Beyond the Page with Ana Maria Caballero at NODE

Head a short drive north of San Jose this Saturday and step into NODE, the immersive digital arts space at 180 University Avenue in Palo Alto. Colombian-American poet and multidisciplinary artist Ana Maria Caballero arrives for an evening that treats poetry as something alive, visual, and shared in real time.

Caballero holds a rare distinction as the first living poet to sell a poem through Sotheby’s. She will discuss her newest collection, Material, published by Trio House Press in 2026, while live multimedia elements of the work appear across NODE’s displays. She will also offer a reading from her forthcoming project Sonic Bodies, which turns the human voice into shifting visual landscapes through spectrogram technology. Each performance creates a unique composition on the spot, showing how verse can move past the printed page and into physical space.

NODE continues its run of boundary-pushing programming after exhibitions featuring CryptoPunks, Beeple, and the current Kim Asendorf PXL installation. The venue pairs Caballero’s practice with large-scale LED surfaces and flexible environments designed specifically for digital and hybrid work. The result is an evening that feels less like a standard reading and more like a temporary collaboration between language, technology, and the room itself.

A book signing follows the conversation. For additional details or to RSVP, visit the event page on Luma.

Street Mrkt Turns South First Street into an Open-Air Gallery This Friday

South First Fridays returns tomorrow with its companion STREET MRKT indie urban art faire, transforming a stretch of South First Street in the SoFA District into a free outdoor showcase of local creativity. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 7, galleries and museums across Downtown San Jose will stay open late with free admission while dozens of hyper-local artists set up along the street in front of Anno Domini and KALEID Gallery.

Visitors will find original paintings, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, and light projections available for purchase, giving direct support to the makers who keep San Jose’s independent art scene alive. Food trucks including 3 Brothers Kitchen, 3 Hermanos Mexican Grill, Kabobi Persian Grill, and Me Oi Vietnamese Kitchen will line the route, making it easy to linger and explore between stops.

Participating spaces will feature new exhibitions ranging from mixed-media storytelling at Anno Domini to textile explorations of identity at MACLA and immersive installations at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. The combination of indoor shows and the outdoor market creates a single evening that rewards both casual walkers and dedicated collectors.

Free street parking kicks in after 6 p.m., and short-term garage options sit nearby at South Third and San Carlos or South Second and San Carlos. The event remains fully family-friendly and open to everyone who wants a low-pressure way to experience the creative energy that defines the SoFA District.

Anyone looking for an easy Downtown plan this Friday can head straight to South First Street and let the mix of art, food, and open galleries set the pace for the night.

Participating Artists: 

Art Boutiki / Dan Vado

Bad Art by Nice

BAGI / Bay Area Glass Institute

Purl Bailey  aka Marilyn Roaf

BX Edits

Bryan Corbin 

Craft Haus 

Crochetforloves

Crossroads

Curent Tattooing

Mario Dimas

Mahsa Emoventeur 

FUSE Presents

Leysar Garcia

Katie Green

Ground Up Music Bus 

Hand in Hand Henna

Harvest Empire

Higher Fire Ceramics 

La Raiz Magazine 

Lazy Daisy Designs

Yasushi Matsui

Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo 

Nuanez Artglass Studio 408

Petite Galleria 

Phin & ernxde

Quỳnh Vy art & zine workshop

Steven Reece

Ruin to Ruin

Starbunny & Rue

TWC / Together We Create

VoidKnightArt

YMCA Camp Campbell

Food Trucks: 

3 Brothers Kitchen

3 Hermanos Mexican Grill 

Kabobi Persian Grill

Me Oi Vietnamese Kitchen

Ensemble Breaks Ground on 301-Unit Parkside Apartments in Clara District

Ensemble Real Estate Investments has begun construction on Parkside, a 301-unit apartment complex at 2301 Calle Del Mundo in Santa Clara’s Clara District. The eight-story project carries an estimated $190 million price tag after the developer spent an extra year refining plans to cut costs by 10 to 15 percent and secure financing.

Bank of America provided the construction loan. Value engineering focused on more efficient kitchen and bathroom designs and reduced variation among unit types, making the numbers work in a high-cost environment. Amenities will include a golf simulator, cinema screening room, karaoke lounge, and other social spaces intended to create a lively residential atmosphere.

Parkside follows Ensemble’s AVE Santa Clara complex, which opened in the same neighborhood in 2025 and is fully leased. The firm views the two properties as complementary and expects 500 to 1,000 additional units to arrive in the Clara District over the next few years. Ensemble also holds further entitlements in the area and aims to start its next project within two to three years.

The site once held light industrial buildings, continuing the district’s shift toward housing. With an anticipated opening in fall 2028, Parkside adds another substantial residential option to a neighborhood that saw significant new apartments arrive in 2025.

Source: SVBJ

Free Play Thursdays Keep the Games Rolling at MiniBoss in Downtown San Jose

Thursdays at MiniBoss turn into an open invitation for unlimited arcade action with no tokens required. The Downtown San Jose spot at 52 East Santa Clara Street opens its full lineup of more than 30 classic cabinets and a dozen pinball machines to anyone who walks through the door, letting groups challenge one another on everything from multiplayer favorites to vintage standbys without spending a single quarter.

Craft cocktails and solid bar food keep the energy going while the screens flash and the joysticks get a workout. Wings, Detroit-style pizza, and creative drinks pair easily with long sessions of play, making the free-play night a natural stop for friends who want both nostalgia and a proper Downtown evening.

The regular Thursday policy has become a reliable highlight for locals who remember the days of stuffing machines with change. Sundays shift to a family-friendly window (kids allowed from 2-10pm), but the midweek free access remains the clearest draw for adults looking to stretch their gaming time without the usual cost.

Source: Instagram

AES Drops Plans for Large Battery Storage Project in Coyote Valley

AES Corporation announced this week that it has canceled its proposed Jewelflower Battery Energy Storage System on a 128-acre site of prime farmland in North Coyote Valley near Morgan Hill. The 350-megawatt project would have placed hundreds of containerized lithium-ion battery units across roughly 40 acres of actively farmed land on San Jose’s southern edge.

The company cited a review of project economics, infrastructure needs, market conditions, community input, and long-term priorities. No permit application had been filed. Local opposition had grown steadily, with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority voting unanimously in May against the plan. Authority leaders pointed to more than $160 million already invested by voters and agencies to protect wildlife corridors, groundwater recharge, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture in the Coyote Valley Conservation Program area.

Parents at the nearby Charter School of Morgan Hill, state legislators including Senator Dave Cortese and Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Gail Pellerin, and a petition that collected more than 2,200 signatures had also raised concerns about placing industrial-scale batteries so close to a school and inside a conserved landscape. A previous battery project known as Hummingbird had already been successfully moved to an industrial site behind the Open Space Authority’s San Jose headquarters, showing that better locations exist.

The cancellation keeps Coyote Valley’s open fields and hills available for the wildlife movement, farming, and public access that make the area a vital buffer and natural asset for San Jose and the South Bay. AES continues to pursue battery storage elsewhere in California, while this decision reinforces that energy infrastructure and protected landscapes can both advance when projects are sited with care.

Source: San Jose Inside