Showing posts with label downtown san jose fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label downtown san jose fun. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Starlight Cinemas 2021

A staple of the Downtown San Jose summer entertainment scene is returning to St. James Park on July 21st. Four family friendly movies will play outdoors around 8pm on Wednesdays: "Up," "The Perfect Game," "Raya and the Last Dragon," and "The Karate Kid." The pre-show entertainment this Wednesday will include a balloon artist (goes well with the "Up" theme), kettle corn, a gift from the Children's Discovery Museum, and a performance by the San Jose Dance Theater.

This event is completely free and brought to you by the San Jose Downtown Association and several sponsors. Fore more information head over to the Starlight Cinemas page.


SAN JOSE - The San Jose Downtown Association is back with Starlight Cinemas, presented by First Tech Federal Credit Union. Get ready for free summer outdoor movies on four consecutive Wednesdays starting July 21 at dusk at St. James Park in downtown San Jose. 


Starlight Cinemas kicks off with "Up" on July 21 and "The Perfect Game" on July 28. Catch the new Disney movie, "Raya and the Last Dragon" on Aug. 4. We'll close off the series Aug. 11 with a classic, the 1984 version of "The Karate Kid."  (Note:  Karate Kid is rated PG )

Grab food to-go from a downtown restaurant and arrive an hour before dusk for pre-movie fun and games.  The pre-movie fun for the July 21 (starting about 8 p.m.) feature includes: 
  • Balloon artist on site.
  • Ball blower take-and-make kit for each child to take home, courtesy Children's Discovery Museum
  • Kettle Corn, flavored popcorn and lemonade for sale
  • Performance by San Jose Dance Theater
The movies are held in conjunction with the City's Viva Parks programming.

Check http://sjdowntown.com/starlight for more information

Park in the Third Street or Market & San Pedro garages. Parking is free for the first 90 minutes. ParkSJ.org

Monday, December 14, 2020

First Annual SoFA Holiday SPECIAL

San Jose is in desperate need for some new events to brighten up the end of 2020 (finally). Filco Events is coming to the rescue with the First Annual SoFA Holiday SPECIAL, an online-only event featuring a dozen local artists performing holiday tunes across multiple streaming channels. The event will also feature San Jose-themed skits, fake news PSAs, and Mighty Mike McGee as the Grinch Who Stole Christmas n the Park.

Tickets are only $4.99 and go towards supporting the local art scene. You can learn more about the event and grab your tickets over here!



Wednesday, August 19, 2020

A Bowling Alley is coming to Downtown San Jose!

If like me, you're craving new entertainment options amidst the COVID era... we have some good news. Believe it or not, a new bowling alley with cocktails and games is coming to the heart of San Jose on Santa Clara Street. Oh, and it's under construction as we speak!

If you're scratching you're head wondering where this could possibly go, it's being built in the two-story space formerly occupied by AFK Gamer Lounge. It looks like the Bowling Alley with four lanes will be in the basement along with a private dining area and the ground floor will feature vintage arcade games, pinball, pool, and karaoke.

The project is called San Pedro Social and you can learn more over here.

Source: jgordo32 from the San Jose Development Forum







Tuesday, February 11, 2020

All That Jazz with "Chicago" @ The San Jose Stage


They had it comin'
They had it comin'
They had it comin' all along
'Cause if they used us
And they abused us
How could you tell us that we were wrong?

Back in high school, I was wondering why so many people loved CHICAGO when it first came out in theaters in 2002. Before I knew I loved musicals, I found the songs "Cell Block Tango" and "We Both Reached for the Gun" to be sensational and fascinating. Of course, being quite an ignorant child believing that justice will always prevail, I had no idea that the outcome of this musical's riveting storyline and dazzling musical numbers would be a scandalous travesty of justice. It was so scandalous in storyline, outcome, costumes, and choreography, that the original 1975 Broadway production of CHICAGO only ran for 968 performances, which is a relatively short run for an open-ended broadway production. Thankfully, two decades later, a more accepting Broadway audience and significant production tweaks paved the way for the current revival of CHICAGO, which is now the longest-running musical revival and longest-running American musical in Broadway history.

"We Both Reached For The Gun" musical number Center Stage: Monique Hafeb Adams (as Roxie Hart), Keith Pinto (as Billy Flynn), Kyle Bielfield (as Mary Sunshine) Ensemble: Patrick Wayne, Jill Miller, Jacqueline Neeley, Zoey Lytle, Matthew Kropschot, Tony Wooldridge, Tracey Freeman-Shaw, Monica Moe, Vinh G. Nguyen, Nick Rodrigues. Photo By Dave Lepori
"We Both Reached For The Gun" musical number
Center Stage: Monique Hafeb Adams (as Roxie Hart), Keith Pinto (as Billy Flynn), Kyle Bielfield (as Mary Sunshine)
Ensemble: Patrick Wayne, Jill Miller, Jacqueline Neeley, Zoey Lytle, Matthew Kropschot,
Tony Wooldridge, Tracey Freeman-Shaw, Monica Moe, Vinh G. Nguyen, Nick Rodrigues.
Photo By Dave Lepori

"Razzle Dazzle" musical number  Keith Pinto (foreground as "Billy Flynn") alongside  Matthew Kropschot, Monica Moe, Jacqueline Neeley,  Jill Miller, Zoey Lytle, Tracey Freeman-Shaw,  Tony Wooldridge, Nick Rodrigues  Photo by Dave Lepori
"Razzle Dazzle" musical number
Keith Pinto (foreground as "Billy Flynn") alongside Matthew Kropschot,
Monica Moe, Jacqueline Neeley, Jill Miller, Zoey Lytle,
Tracey Freeman-Shaw, Tony Wooldridge, Nick Rodrigues.
Photo by Dave Lepori
Since my high school years, I have seen the musical twice on Broadway and once as a touring production through Broadway San Jose. I had no idea that the theatrical production would be significantly better than the big screen version including its simple set design, kinky costumes, and "all that jazz" expected from this musical.

CHICAGO took the stand at The San Jose Stage Company with its official opening night on February 8, 2020. The production was mostly true to what I've seen on Broadway especially when it comes to the choreography, singing, and costumes. The company at The San Jose Stage Company hit top marks for producing a Broadway quality show in its intimate setting allowing Bay Area residents to fall in love with this classic!

Branden Noel Thomas as "Matron ‘Mama’ Morton" Photo by Dave Lepori
Branden Noel Thomas 
as "Matron ‘Mama’ Morton"
Photo by Dave Lepori
Given that I've seen previous productions at The San Jose Stage Company, it was great seeing former cast members return to the show including Monique Hafen Adams as Roxie Hart, Allison F. Rich as Velma Kelly, Keith Pinto as Billy Flynn, Matthew Kropschot as Fred Casley, and ensemble members June Miller, Monica MoeVinh G. Nguyen, Tracey Freeman-Shaw.

The highlight of the show was the excellent performance of Branden Noel Thomas performing as Matron "Mama" Morton. Branden's singing, acting, makeup, and costume was impeccable. Branden knew how to pull in the audience and deliver musical notes and lines with gravity... and tenacity. Branden is a young person whom I will be paying attention in future productions.

One thing that didn't occur in the Broadway production, but which The San Jose Stage Company changed very well, was the different direction to their musical number, "Mister Cellophane." Performing as Amos Hart was Sean Doughty, who previously performed the same part at another theater. In addition to Sean applying the sad clown makeup from the movie version, it was comical and malevolent to see how the spotlight operator moved the spotlight away from Amos on stage several times. Plus, Amos never received his exit music, as other characters did. Little things like this is truly reminiscent of the character of Amos Hart who is so innocent yet easily mistreated throughout the story.

Sean Doughty as Amos Hart
Photo By Dave Lepori
All in all, this is one of the few shows I would watch again and again. So make sure you catch a performance playing Wednesdays to Sundays now until March 15, 2020. You can purchase tickets online at The San Jose Stage Company website at www.thestage.org or at their box office at 490 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, (408) 283-7141. Discount tickets are available for students and seniors.

Written by John Huân Vu.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Brews+Bites this Saturday!


New Brews + Bites event celebrates growing local beer and food cultures - event Sept. 14 in Circle of Palms, downtown San Jose

SAN JOSE – Brews + Bites allows participants to eat and drink their way around Circle of Palms, testing and tasting craft beers and gourmet foods produced by local businesses, on Sept. 14.
“We’re highlighting our emergence of locally crafted beers and downtown’s longstanding diversity of food options,” said Caitlin Hartley, SJDA events and promotions manager.

Brews:  Altamont Beer Works, Camino Brewing, Good Karma, Gordon Biersch Brewing Co., Hermitage Brewin Co., Off the Rails Brewing, Sonoma Springs Brewing Co., Strike Brewing Co., Wildcide Cider, Umunhum Brewing, Uproar Brewing,
Bites by:  Farmers’ Union, Fast Foodie, Habana Cuba, Hawaiian Poke Bowl, Jackie’s Place, Konjoe, Lee’s, Olla Cocina, Umi Hand Roll, Sushi Confidential.

Bites 

The Farmers Union - San Pedro Square
Pork and ricotta meatball in marinara sauce with garlic bread

Fast Foodie Truck 
Currywurst spiced sausage, purple kraut and sweet mustard on a soft bun

Habana Cuba - SoFA District
Beef empanadas

Hapa Musubi - Paseo de San Antonio
Spam musubi spam soaked in hapa sauce with sushi rice wrapped in seaweed 

Hawaiian Poke Bowl - SoFA District
Shrimp ceviche

Jackie’s Place - Japantown
Chicken and waffle slider

Konjoe Burger Bar - San Pedro Square
To be determined

Lee’s Sandwiches - San Jose
Famous Vietnamese iced coffee

Olla Cocina - San Pedro Square
Taco

Sushi Confidential - San Pedro Square
Cabo conspiracy roll with spicy crab, avocado, habanero tobiko, jalapeno, and tempura crunch

Umi Hand Roll Bar - SoFA District
Mini salmon skin handroll and garlic truffle edamame 

Two rounds of admissions should help keep taste buds and suds flowing:
·       The VIP session for $50 allows patrons access at 1 p.m., an hour earlier than everyone else.
·       General admission begins at 2 p.m.

Each combination ticket entitles its holder to a commemorative 5-ounce mug, five beer tastings and five food tastings.

Beer-only tickets for five tastings are $25 and a package of food-only tastings are $20.  Additional tickets are available for brews at 1 for $5 or 5 for $20 and bites at $3 for $10.

The event ends at 6 p.m.


Monday, September 2, 2019

Viva Calle 2019 Part 2 - "Parks to Roses" on Sep 22nd

Rain and hail may have put a damper on the first Viva Calle this year, but that is not going to happen again in late September. Thankfully we have not one but two Viva Calle's this year.

During Viva Calle SJ, miles of city streets will be completely shut down to let people walk, run, bike, or skateboard down the streets of San Jose. Viva Calle features multiple activity hubs which are basically festivals-within-a-festival that highlight the local area. For part 2, the activity hubs will be at Backesto Park, Arena Green, and the Municipal Rose Garden. You can expect live music, vendors, food, activities, bike parking, and good times at all three hubs. In between the activity hubs you will still find all sorts of interesting stops, hydration stations, and stores. Last year over 100,000 people attended the event.

Viva Calle 2019 "Downtown and Eastbound" takes place on Sunday, September 22nd from 10am to 3pm (streets are closed until 4pm). It is completely free and has no designated beginning or end as it's not a race. However, it appears that for the first time ever there is also a new 5K at 8am.

You can use the handy map below to locate the routes and festivities. For more info, head over here. Hope to see you there!





Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Backyard San Jose

A new pop-up community space is coming to Fountain Alley in Downtown San Jose (35 S. 2nd Street). For three whole months, Backyard San Jose is turning a parking lot into a public space with cultural events, concerts, classes, and networking events. There will be something going on seven days a week.

Backyard San Jose is throwing a launch party on August 15th from 6pm to 9pm with music, food, beer, and wine.

The list of partners and contributors to this project is impressive:

  • ABM Industries
  • Anno Domini Gallery
  • BandWagon
  • Be The Change Yoga
  • Beyond Meat
  • Children’s Discovery Museum
  • Cinequest
  • City of San Jose
  • Code for San Jose
  • Content Magazine
  • Downtown Screen Printers
  • Feather
  • Fractal Flora
  • Gray Area Art + Technology
  • Good Karma
  • Heroes Martial Arts
  • Local Color
  • MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana
  • Meetup
  • Omnipotent Studios
  • Park Lab
  • Paseo Prototyping Festival
  • PATH Homeless Assistance
  • Pink Sparrow
  • Pop Kids Yoga
  • Public Space Authority
  • San Jose Come Up
  • San Jose Downtown Association
  • San Jose Improv
  • San Jose Made
  • San Jose State University Cadre Media Lab
  • Silicon Valley Pride
  • SOMA Streat Food
  • SPRO Coffee Lab
  • SPUR
  • Swordfighting School
  • The Get Down Dance Studios
  • The People’s Table
  • Universal Grammar
  • Urban Community
  • WebEnertia
  • WeWork Labs
  • ZERO1

For more details and to RSVP to their launch party (not required), head over here.

Source: Gillynova from the San Jose Development Forum


Tuesday, June 25, 2019

"Disenchanted" @ 3Below - A Musical Parody on Disney Princesses!


Courtesy image by 3Below Theaters & Lounge
Although I may not be an expert of the world of Disney, I have always been a fan of their stories including the timeless animated movies. Breaking down "The Princess Complex", the musical comedy Disenchanted brings the audience to laughter on the alternative true stories of the many princesses you've come to love including:
  • Belle from Beauty & the Beast
  • Hua Mulan from Mulan
  • Ariel from The Little Mermaid
  • Pocahontas from Pocahontas
  • Tiana from The Princess and the Frog
  • Rapunzel from Tangled
  • Jasmine from Aladdin
  • Cinderalla from Cinderella
  • Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) from Sleeping Beauty
The Princesses featured on Disenchanted at 3Below Theaters & Lounge  Pictured left to right: Mulan (played by Eimi Taormina), Sleeping Beauty (played by Natasha Drena), Tiana (played by Marissa Rudd), Snow White (played by Colette Froehlich), Cinderella (played by Theresa Swain), Ariel (played by Shannon Guggenheim)  Courtesy image by 3Below Theaters & Lounge
The Princesses featured on Disenchanted at 3Below Theaters & Lounge
Pictured left to right: Mulan (played by Eimi Taormina), Sleeping Beauty (played by Natasha Drena), Tiana (played by Marissa Rudd), Snow White (played by Colette Froehlich), Cinderella (played by Theresa Swain), Ariel (played by Shannon Guggenheim)
Courtesy image by 3Below Theaters & Lounge
Arriving to 3Below Theaters & Lounge, there were so many people in line who were eagerly waiting to see Disenchanted. Some audience members wore their tiaras or some type of Disney gear. Once I got to my seat, I had some time to admire their stage design and lighting while playing a guessing game on which princess is which silhouette on the wall.

The set of Disenchanted at 3Below Theaters & Lounge
The set of Disenchanted at 3Below Theaters & Lounge
Photograph taken and with permission by John Huân Vu.
The program of Disenchanted at 3Below Theaters & Lounge
Photograph taken and with permission by John Huân Vu.
Sporting their Mickey hats, the small band starts off the first number of the musical comedy led by the hostesses, Snow White (played by Colette Froehlich), Cinderella (played by Theresa Swain), and Sleeping Beauty (played by Natasha Drena).

One of my all-time favorite characters, Mulan (played by Eimi Taormina), shared her story on the fact that she may in fact be a lesbian! Marissa Rudd played one of the most underrated princesses, Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, who used her stature as a strong black woman stating one obvious truth: "Why’d it take ’em so long to give a sistah a song?"

However, one cast member that brought the audience members (including me) to passion, joy, and laughter was Shannon Guggenheim. In addition to being the show's choreographer, Shannon played Belle, Ariel, and Rapunzel. Although Shannon was able to exude Belle as clinically insane and why Ariel truly regrets having her own two feet, nothing can compare to her character as Rapunzel! With direct interaction with the audience members, Shannon's Rapunzel held her long hair while speaking to us with a strong German accent to literally whip us to sing "Not V'One Red Cent."

Unfortunately, one issue that I hope will be resolved in the future are the microphone issues. Ever since I saw their previous production of "A Spoonful of Sherman", it seems that the microphone did cut in and out for some of the musical numbers. Thankfully, it was not enough for me or for others to follow along with the stories, jokes, and singing from this cast.

The set of Disenchanted at 3Below Theaters & Lounge
Photograph taken and with permission by John Huân Vu.
All in all, the musical comedy Enchanted was a very entertaining and funny show hitting the humorous layers of sexism, racism, and women empowerment.

Catch a good laugh now and until July 21, 2019 by catching a performance of Disenchanted playing Thursdays to Sundays at 3Below Theaters & Lounge. You may purchasing tickets online or at their box office at 288 South 2nd Street, San Jose, CA, (408) 404-7711. Discount tickets are available for students, seniors, military, and educators and parking validation is available at the upstairs parking garage. Please note that the show may not suitable for everyone and discretion is advised due to some language and sexual innuendos. As their advertisement would put it: the show is "not suitable for youth but perfect for parents' night out!" As one running joke from the show went, the princesses always had to "wait for their princes ... to come."

Written by John Huân Vũ.

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Music in the Park 2019

With the recent weather it is hard to believe summer is just around the corner. This year's lineup for Music in the Park includes oldies from the The Delfonics, Latin rock/funk/hip-hop from Ozomatli, pop from Cuco, and reggae from J Boog. Early bird tickets start at only $10 and VIP tickets with private seating, a drink ticket, and nicer restrooms go for $35. You can get your tickets right over here.


Monday, April 22, 2019

Viva Calle 2019 Part 1 - "Downtown and Eastbound" on May 19th

One of my favorite events of the year returns is returning in a big way. During Viva Calle SJ, miles of city streets will be completely shut down to let people walk, run, bike, or skateboard down the streets of San Jose. For 2019, the event will take place twice! The first event is on May 19th and the second will take place sometime in September.

Viva Calle features multiple activity hubs which are basically festivals-within-a-festival that highlight the local area. For part 1, the activity hubs will be at St. James Park, Parque de los Pabladores in SoFA, and Emma Prusch Farm. You can expect live music, vendors, food, activities, bike parking, and good times at all three hubs. In between the activity hubs you will still find all sorts of interesting stops, hydration stations, and stores. Last year over 100,000 people attended the event.

The route will extend from Emma Prusch to near Willow Glen. At the intersection of Keyes St. (Story Rd.) and 1st St., you will be able to take 1st/Market St. all the way to the St. James Park area.

Viva Calle 2019 "Downtown and Eastbound" takes place on Sunday, May 19th from 10am to 3pm (streets are closed until 4pm). It is completely free and has no designated beginning or end as it's not a race. It is not clear yet if PokemonGo will be integrated into the event like the previous two years. You can use the handy map below to locate the routes and festivities. For more info, head over here. Hope to see you there!


Wednesday, November 28, 2018

San Jose Arts Scavenger Hunt: Dec 1 - 12

A free scavenger hunt launches this Saturday and runs all the way until December 12th. All you need to do is follow the hashtag #12DaysofArt. Each morning at 8am, the San Jose Downtown Association will post a clue on Facebook and their website. The clue will have a photo and written hint and all you have to do is figure out the location of the venue. If you are one of the first 10 people to arrive at that location at the specified time, you win a prize!

This is an amazing incentive to explore Downtown San Jose. I hope this event gets bigger and bigger every year! All of the details are below.


Who: San Jose Arts Marketing Roundtable presents
What: #12 Days of ARTS – a social-media driven scavenger hunt for arts prizes. More than 120 chances to win, including two Grand Prizes! Free to compete and win.
When: Saturday, December 1 through Wednesday, December 12, at various times each day
Where: In and around downtown San Jose
Why: An opportunity to give back to our community and encourage folks to have fun exploring San Jose and its vibrant arts scene. Theater, music, dance, museums, galleries, more.

Where to Go:
Follow the hashtag #12DaysofArts and your favorite San Jose arts organization’s social media sites. Each morning at 8 am, the San Jose Downtown Association will post a clue on their website at sjdowntown.com/12DaysofArts and on their Facebook page @sjdowntownWatch for the #12DaysofArts clue consisting of a photo and a written hint. You must figure out the location of the day’s venue. The specific time to arrive will be noted.  It could come at any time during the day. 

How Does #12 Days of ARTS Work?    
Each morning a clue will be posted on the San Jose Downtown Association’s Facebook page @sjdowntown, which will also stream at sjdowntown.com/12DaysofArts and be shared on numerous arts and related downtown social media sites. To play the game, you must figure out the “secret” location of the arts organization…a theater, a gallery, museum, events venue, etc. and be one of the first 10 people to arrive at that location at the specified time to win a prize package. 

Those 10 people (or teams) are guaranteed to win a bag filled with wonderful arts surprises like free tickets to shows, entries to exhibits and fun events to participate in. Other surprises await such as dining coupons, free beverages, and logo items of hats, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and more. Ten bags are given away every day…sometimes more!

Every person is limited to TWO wins of the prize bags over the twelve days of the scavenger hunt, but even if you are a two-time winner, you should keep participating! Every person who finds the correct location is entered into the drawing for a grand prize. The more you participate, the more entries you get. 

The first 10 winners each day are asked to take a selfie showing the location of the arts organization from the clue and posting it to their social media with the hashtag: #12DaysofArts. Two GRAND Prizes will also be awarded through random drawings. If you missed a chance to win an Arts Prize Bag on any given day, you can still enter for the Grand Prizes by snapping a selfie and posting it to your social media with the hashtag. Anyone can play one time, or all twelve days!

Additional Information: This is the fourth year of #12 Days of Arts. It grew out of the monthly “brown bag lunch meetings” of the Arts Marketing Roundtable and it has been such a huge hit over the last three years, that we've brought it back again. Winners have included people who played the game just once or played every day, people who had never been to a live theater event or a symphony concert or a museum before, and even people who had never even been DOWNTOWN before. 

We had so many people miss out on prize bags last year, that we have added the element of GRAND prizes and have made them open to anyone…whether you won a prize bag or not. To enter to win, just post a selfie in front of one or more of the “secret” locations and include the hashtag #12DaysofArts. Random drawings will determine the winners. 
GOOD LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Cinema Club Silicon Valley

One of San Jose's best kept secrets is Cinema Club Silicon Valley. Once per month, they screen a movie that you can't see anywhere else and follow it with a filmmaker Q&A. Each screening is a surprise and the club has been going strong for 22 years. The last movie they screened was PROSPECT, which just opened for a wide release this past weekend.

On November 18th, they will have their final screening for 2018 and they are opening it up for everyone. Tickets are $16 and it will screen at 3Below in Downtown San Jose.

To RSVP, click here and follow the ticket link.


Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice returns for 15th season under the Circle of Palms

Downtown Ice returns this weekend bigger and better than before. To celebrate 15 years, the rink is going to get a fresh look with new boards, rail caps, and mats. This season it will stay open all the way until January 27th for the NHL All-Star weekend, which is hosted at the SAP Center starting January 25th.

Local Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi is also hosting a grand opening celebration on November 20th at 6pm. All of the details, hours, and costs are below. 



SAN JOSE – Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice will be front and center during holiday, college football and hockey activities this extended skating season, which lasts from Nov. 16 through Jan. 27. The ice rink will be home to Downtown San Jose for the Holidays with partners Christmas in the Park and Winter Wonderland.  Combined, the three attractions attract more than 800,000 visitors.

To accommodate the College Football Playoff the first week of January, Christmas in the Park will close at midnight on Christmas; Winter Wonderland on Dec. 31 – while Plaza de Cesar Chavez transitions into the Championship Campus’ “Quad” area Dec. 26-Jan. 3.

The College Football Playoff Host Committee plans to utilize Downtown Ice and call it “Championship Ice” Jan. 4-7.  The rink will also have a different look for that week. The skating season stays open two weeks longer than normal – through Jan. 27 – for the NHL All-Star weekend starting Jan. 25, as the Sharks host the league’s best players at SAP Center.

With all the special events surrounding the rink, Downtown Ice has a bounty of new and national partners.  Say hello to new sponsors College Football Playoff Host Committee, Alaska Airlines, National Hockey League, San Jose Sports Authority, Google, Adobe and Amazon.

Swenson, PG&E, The Sobrato Organization, Wells Fargo, The Office of Cultural Affairs, the City of San Jose, Republic Services and Valley Transportation Authority return as loyal partners for this fun holiday family tradition.  Longtime media partners include Clear Channel Outdoor, Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, NBC Bay Area, Telemundo 48, El Observador, Mix and K-Bay and KQED.

Proceeds from the Dec. 16 Santa Run Silicon Valley also help support Downtown Ice and Christmas in the Park.  Sign up at santarunsv.com.

Also, as usual, the trees of the Circle of Palms will be lit with thousands of color-changing LED lights to delight skaters.

This will be Downtown Ice’s 15th year in the Circle of Palms.  To celebrate the milestone anniversary, the rink will have a fresh look this year, with new dasherboards, rail caps and ice mats, plus some new plumbing under the platform to provide a more efficient freeze.

Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic gold medal winner in women’s figure skating, will celebrate the opening of San Jose’s ice season with sponsors on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.  Yamaguchi adds her name to support the rink for the eighth time, and her Always Dream Foundation will again be a rink beneficiary. Rink hours vary over the course of the season.  Events and Promotions Manager Amy Anderson has special events planned during the season.  Details are at downtownicesj.com, which has also been improved for mobile users.

More than 60,000 skaters and 120,000 of their friends are expected to visit the ice this season.  The rink generates more than $4 million in economic impact to San Jose.

During November, early December and after the holidays in January, Downtown Ice is open 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 p.m.-midnight on Friday; noon-midnight on Saturday; and noon-9 p.m. on Sunday.  During the winter break, the rink is open 11 a.m.-midnight daily.  Special hours apply to the holidays and may change around the big events.

The rink phone number is (408) 291-0525.  Parking information is at http://parksj.org.            

Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice details

When:  Open daily Nov. 16, 2017 – Jan. 27, 2018 

                                    Nov. 16-17                  

Friday  5 p.m. - midnight
Saturday  noon - midnight

Nov. 18-25   
Sunday   noon - 9 p.m.
Monday - Tuesday 5 - 9 p.m.
Wednesday  2 p.m. - midnight
Thanksgiving  2 p.m. - midnight
Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. - midnight

Nov. 26–30
Monday - Thursday 5 - 9 p.m.
Friday   p.m. - midnight

                                    Dec. 1-19
                                    Saturday noon - midnight
Sunday noon - 10 p.m.
Monday - Thursday - 10 p.m.
Friday   p.m. - midnight

                                    Dec. 20–Jan. 7            
                                    Daily  11 a.m. - midnight
Christmas  2 p.m. - midnight
New Year’s Eve  11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
New Year’s Day  noon - midnight

Jan. 8–20 
Tuesday – Thursday  5 - 9 p.m.
Friday  5 p.m. - midnight
Saturday noon – midnight
Sunday  11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Monday 5 - 9 p.m.

                                    Jan. 21–27                  
                                    Monday - MLK, Jr. Day 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesday – Wednesday 5 - 9 p.m.
Thursday - Friday 5 p.m. - midnight
Saturday noon - midnight
Sunday . 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Admission:

Children 10 & younger, Seniors and Military: $15
11 years & older: $17
Bring your own skates: $10
Cash, Paypal, Visa and Mastercard accepted. Admission includes ice time and rental skates (skate sizes range from toddler 8 to men's 15). 
Skate all you want (no in-and-out privileges)/ First-come, first-serve.
Address (starting November 16):  120 S. Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 279-1775 (SJDA); (408) 610-4055 (rink starting Nov. 16)