Fox Tale Fermentation Project Hosts Third Annual Downtown Pumpkin Patch

Neighbors and visitors looking for a low-key fall outing in Downtown San Jose can stop by Fox Tale Fermentation Project today for the third annual Downtown Pumpkin Patch. The small brewery and restaurant at 30 East Santa Clara Street, Suite 120, will set up pumpkins from The Pumpkin Patch SLO outside the shop for purchase and tasting. The lineup includes pumpkin specials, pumpkin drinks, pumpkin ferments, and coloring pages for kids.

Fox Tale opened in 2022 in the heart of Downtown San Jose and focuses on small-batch beers, house-made kombucha, fermented mocktails, and plant-based dishes built around local and fermented ingredients. Owners Wendy Neff and Felipe Bravo run the place as a neighborhood gathering spot that has hosted open mics, poetry nights, and other community events. The space sits near Fountain Alley, where several independent businesses have opened in recent years.

The pumpkin event continues a pattern of seasonal activations the owners have used to draw people onto Santa Clara Street. Past versions of the patch paired the gourds with fall menu items and special releases. This year’s version keeps the same outdoor setup on the sidewalk between First and Second Streets while adding the coloring pages for younger visitors.

The restaurant normally opens at noon Wednesday through Sunday and closes Mondays and Tuesdays. The pumpkin patch itself is scheduled for today, with the usual food and drink service running alongside the outdoor display. Anyone interested in the current menu or hours can check the shop’s site or Instagram for the latest details.

For more information, visit foxtalefermentationproject.com or follow @foxtalefermentationproject.

Come From Away Arrives in San Jose

A small Newfoundland town once opened its doors to thousands of stranded travelers, and that story of unexpected hospitality now reaches the stage in San Jose through a production mounted by neighbors who know something about building community. Playful People Productions stages the Tony-winning musical Come From Away from November 7 through 15 at the Historic Hoover Theatre, with two separate casts of local adult performers rotating through the run.

The show draws from real events on September 11, 2001, when 38 planes diverted to Gander’s airstrip and a community of roughly 9,000 residents suddenly hosted nearly 7,000 people from around the world. Music, shared meals, and an open bar helped bridge language and cultural differences during those days, turning an international crisis into a temporary global gathering. The musical earned the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical along with four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. Local direction comes from Katie D'Arcey with vocal work by Stacy Levin, and some cast members step onto a stage for the first time under the company’s guidance.

Playful People Productions began in 2010 and has operated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit since 2017, building a space that welcomes performers of varied ages and experience levels while encouraging families to share the stage. The organization follows Positive Discipline practices and regularly pairs children with parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents in its productions. This Come From Away run continues that approach with adult participants drawn from the local area, supported in part by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José and by SVCreates in partnership with the County of Santa Clara. Randy Adams, longtime managing director at TheatreWorks on the Peninsula and an original producer of the show through Junkyard Dog Productions, connects the production to its earlier development.

Performances unfold at the Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Avenue, a renovated former school gym in the Rose Garden neighborhood that serves as a city landmark and seats between roughly 100 and 200 depending on configuration. Free parking sits nearby. Yellow Cast shows run Saturday November 7 at 1:00 PM, Sunday November 8 at 1:00 PM, Wednesday November 11 at 7:00 PM, Friday November 13 at 7:00 PM, and Saturday November 14 at 7:00 PM. Blue Cast shows take Saturday November 7 at 7:00 PM, Sunday November 8 at 7:00 PM, Thursday November 12 at 7:00 PM, Saturday November 14 at 1:00 PM, and Sunday November 15 at 1:00 PM. Tickets cost $25 for youth age 12 and under, $28 for students age 13 to 17, and $32 for adults, with possible fees.

For tickets or additional details, visit www.PlayfulPeople.org/tickets or call (408) 878-5362.

Spark Social Opens Outdoor Food Truck Park Near Diridon Station

Residents and visitors seeking a new outdoor gathering spot near the SAP Center now have one that mixes rotating food trucks with games, music, and family areas. Spark Social launched its San Jose location on October 9 at 140 S Montgomery Blvd in the Creekside District, just a short walk from Diridon Station. The project represented a roughly $1 million investment and is expected to support 100 to 150 jobs across vendors, on-site staff, and administrative roles.

The site spans about 75,000 square feet and hosts 15 to 20 food trucks on a typical day, including around 10 permanent vendors, alongside a full bar. An 18-hole putting course, fire pits, live music, and a large LED screen for broadcasting Sharks and 49ers games round out the offerings. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and extend until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Entry remains free, with parking available nearby via ParkMobile.

Founder Carlos Muela noted the drawn-out permitting process delayed an earlier spring target and then a potential July opening, yet community interest stayed high. “People are just ecstatic,” he said. “It took a lot longer than we expected. It built that anticipation from San Jose.” Programming includes themed nights such as a Filipino night market, country music events, Dia de los Muertos activities, Halloween programming, and a dog costume contest. Nearly half the space leans toward family use, with a Clubhouse that includes a playground, sensory garden, and play areas.

The venue sits on land tied to Google’s larger Downtown West project, which originally envisioned millions of square feet of office space, thousands of housing units, and extensive public amenities but has not yet begun construction. Jamestown has activated portions of the district with other businesses including Hapa’s Brewing, Local Color, Good Karma, Found SJ, and Bay Padel. Spark Social joins that effort while emphasizing local vendors.

For details on the current truck lineup, events, or private bookings, visit visitsparksocial.com.

Source: SVBJ

Symphony San Jose Brings Heroes, Villains and Costumes to the California Theatre This October

October arrives with a ready-made family outing when Symphony San Jose stages Symphonic Spooktacular at the historic California Theatre in Downtown San Jose. Conductor Peter Jaffe leads two performances on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 25 at 2:30 p.m., guiding the orchestra through a program that balances bold, triumphant themes with darker, mischievous scores.

The music ranges from Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries to Gounod’s Funeral March of a Marionette, Márquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo and Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, along with familiar themes from Batman and Spiderman. Vocalist Bianca Orsi joins the orchestra as the concert explores the classic clash of champions and foes in full symphonic color.

Those who want to lean into the season can enter the on-stage costume contest for a chance at spooktacular prizes. Anyone who prefers to skip the costume can still take part by watching the parade of dressed-up attendees. Special half-price youth tickets remain available for guests 17 and under when purchased alongside an adult seat, making the evening accessible for the whole household.

Convenient parking sits at the city-owned garage a block and a half away on San Carlos Street, with entrances on Second and Third. Single tickets range from $35 to $125 and go on sale soon through the Symphony San Jose box office.

This Halloween weekend concert adds another lively option to the growing list of family-friendly events that keep Downtown San Jose entertaining well into the fall.

Tickets and additional details are available at www.symphonysanjose.org or by calling 408.286.2600.

Little Italy Turns Ten on Sharks Way

Little Italy San Jose will mark ten years of its street festival on Sunday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Little Italy Way and Sharks Way, a few blocks from SAP Center in Downtown San Jose. Organizers at the Little Italy San Jose Foundation expect 20,000 to 25,000 people. The district itself dates to 2016--the festival grew into one of Northern California’s larger Italian days, with food stalls, Cal-Italia wine, crafts, museum tours, a kids’ train, and a car row that now ranks among the bigger Italian-marque displays in the country. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Pagani usually show up.

Opening ceremonies start at 11:30 a.m. Grammy-winning accordionist Cory Pesaturo takes 12:15. New York Italian-American jazz singer Vanessa Racci follows at 1:15, then a duo set with Pesaturo at 1:45. Tenor Pasquale Esposito headlines at 3:15 for about 90 minutes. The Anthony Nino Lane Band closes from 5:30. New murals honoring Italian-American work in the valley are scheduled for dedication over the weekend. Proceeds feed the Cultural Center and Museum on the same block.

Today is the paid warm-up: a four-course dinner with wine and a concert by Racci and Pesaturo at the Museum Piazza and Italian Cellar Speakeasy, $75 a head. That is the only ticketed piece.

Festival page and dinner tickets: https://www.littleitalysj.com/little-italy-san-jose-festival

SoFA Street Fair Takes Over First Street on Sunday

SoFA Street Fair Fall 26 lands Sunday, September 27, from 2 p.m. to about 7:30 p.m. across South First Street and the side streets that make up the SoFA District in Downtown San Jose. The posted grid puts bands, vendors, skate demos, burlesque, and independent wrestling on eight stages at once.

Pobladores Stage and Pobladores Dos sit at 501 South First. Silver Truck Stage is at 454 South First. Project X is at 22 East San Salvador. Haberdasher, 43 West San Salvador, runs rotating burlesque sets from 4 p.m. onward. UGWA Stage at 25 East William hosts the wrestling card, including a title match between Dave Dyra and Journey Fatu at 7. SoFA Market at 387 South First keeps the vendor row. Caravan Stage at 50 West San Salvador closes the night with Sad Boy Sinister at 7:30, while Philthy Dronez Y La Brigada De La Cumbia takes Pobladores at the same time. Gunderson High School Concert Band opens Silver Truck at 2. Skatepops and El Guapo split Project X in the mid-afternoon.

The fair shares the weekend with ILLO Mart two blocks west inside South Hall. Anyone already downtown for prints can walk east and catch a set without a second parking hunt. Start at First and San Salvador and move with the sound. The schedule lives at https://sofafall26.sched.com/

Kids Day in the Park Fills Plaza de César Chávez This Afternoon

Bay Area Parent’s Kids Day in the Park lands on the same Downtown lawn that hosts Music in the Park, and the gates open at 11 a.m. today, Sunday, September 20. Entry is through the San Carlos Street side of Plaza de César Chávez, next to the Quetzalcoatl statue. Advance tickets cost nothing. A walk-up ticket at the door runs $20, so reserve a free pass before leaving the house if that is still an option.

Oakland’s Alphabet Rockers headline the stage. Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Soulati Shepherd built the group in 2007 around hip-hop that talks to kids without talking down to them, and the catalog now carries both a Grammy for Best Children’s Music Album and an Emmy. The set is the musical center of a day built for strollers and short attention spans: bounce houses, booths from local organizations and businesses, food trucks, and whatever other activities the organizers packed onto the grass.

A few house rules will save a wasted trip. Outside food, drinks, and water bottles stay in the car. The festival is mostly cashless. Pets other than service animals are out. Chairs are not allowed; blankets smaller than 6 by 8 feet can go on the lawn. Bags should be a clear tote no larger than 12 by 12 by 8 inches or a small clutch. Strollers and wheelchairs are fine, and the plaza is ADA accessible if you flag limited seating in advance. Re-entry is not offered, so treat the afternoon as one continuous stay. Parking sits in nearby garages, including CityView Plaza off Park Avenue and the underground lot at 55 West San Fernando Street.

Downtown San Jose does not get many Sundays that combine a free kids’ festival with a Grammy-winning act on the city’s most familiar outdoor stage. Grab the free ticket, pack a small blanket, and let the bounce houses and the Rockers do the rest. Reserve passes and read the full bag policy at https://www.caltix.com/e/kids-in-the-park-2026/tickets.

Playful People Puts the Year’s Fundraising Night in a 1915 Craftsman Clubhouse

Tickets opened today for “The Magic Is Us,” the annual gala that keeps Playful People Productions running classes, camps, and family casts at San Jose’s Historic Hoover Theater. The party lands Saturday, September 19, from 5 to 10 p.m. at Saratoga Foothill Club, 20399 Park Place, a 1915 American Craftsman hall on the National Register. Guests must be 21 or older. Cocktail clothes are welcome and not mandatory. Individual seats are $200, of which $50 is tax-deductible.

Playful People started in 2010 and became a 501(c)(3) in 2017. Sixteen seasons later the company still takes beginners, stages kids and adults in the same seasons, and lets relatives share a bill when the script allows. The incoming slate already includes Shrek the Musical Jr. in late September and a homeschool Winnie the Pooh at the end of October. Tuition and ticket sales never cover the whole machine. The gala is the night that fills the gap for students across income levels.

The clubhouse evening will run heavy appetizers, desserts, a cash bar, short performances, and dancing. Auction lots include a home tea party with founders Barb Galiotto and Katie D’Arcey, a floral class for ten with Gal in the Glen and alum Jill Maggi, and a murder-mystery dinner for up to ten hosted by staff. Five VIP tables at $3,000 each come with two bottles of wine and a show-theme pick; a few were still listed when tickets went public. Smaller sponsorships start at $100. Cash matches run from $500 to $5,000. Anyone skipping the party can still buy into the online auction or sponsor a staff member.

A separate travel raffle is selling 150 tickets only in person at Hoover Theater: $100 each or six for $500, drawn at the gala, winner’s choice of a five-night trip to Hawaii, Huntington Beach, or the Greek Isles, cap of $4,550. Winners need not attend. Phone orders for the gala itself go through (408) 878-5362.

Gala tickets: https://bit.ly/4bYwUMc

Playful People season and Hoover box office: https://www.playfulpeople.org/

Salsa Fest Takes South First Street on September 12

San Jose Salsa Fest and Night Market is set for Saturday, September 12, from 2 to 9 p.m. in the SoFA District. Organizers are pointing people to 300–400 South First Street, the same stretch that holds First Fridays most months. Promo tickets are selling through a PayPal link from the Salsa Fest San Jose account. Below are all of the details:

"Get ready for an afternoon and evening filled with live Latin music, dancing, incredible food, and community celebration at Salsa Fest Street Festival in Downtown San Jose. Whether you’re coming to dance salsa and cumbia or simply enjoy delicious eats and live entertainment, this festival offers something for everyone. Hosted by Opening Doors Silicon Valley, this community festival also supports programs that serve low-income seniors, families, and people experiencing homelessness. Event Details • Saturday, September 12, 2026 • 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM • Parque de los Pobladores & South First Street • Downtown San Jose, CA • Admission: Check the official event page for current admission information. What to Expect • Live salsa, cumbia, and Latin music • Dancing throughout the day • Local food vendors • Foodie Extravaganza • Shopping from local vendors • Community celebration benefiting Opening Doors Silicon Valley Parking & Transit • Downtown San Jose offers several public parking garages within walking distance. • VTA Light Rail and Caltrain provide convenient access to downtown, making public transit a great option if you plan to stay for the evening. Pro Tips • Arrive early to enjoy the food vendors before peak dinner crowds. • Wear comfortable shoes—you’ll likely be dancing for hours. • Bring cash and a card, as different vendors may accept different payment methods. • September afternoons can still be warm, so stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. • Bring a light sweater for the evening once temperatures cool down. • Explore nearby restaurants, cafés, and bars after the festival if you want to continue your night in downtown San Jose. Spend your Saturday surrounded by music, dancing, amazing food, and one of Northern California’s liveliest Latin celebrations."

Promo tickets: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/RR8JDSPYTBKF6

Event listing: https://sabaki.dance/event/8b860015-c9e4-4bd8-9241-2a065365b72c

Instagram: @salsafestsanjose

Levitt on Location Brings Free Music to Lake Cunningham on September 25

Lake Cunningham Park will host another free outdoor concert on Friday, September 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Cypress Pavilion. The evening forms part of the Fridays at the Lake series and features two sets centered on powerful female voices and Latin rhythms.

Conjunto Trujillo opens with a Selena tribute led by vocalist Melissa Garay, drawing on Afro-Caribbean and Latin dance styles. Discos Resaca follows with its women-fronted Cumbia collective, whose members represent roots across Mexico, Central America, Peru, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

Attendees can expect food trucks, beer and wine for purchase, kids’ activities, and a display of restored lowriders owned by women through the United Lowrider Council. Free parking is available, and the lakeside setting invites lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics.

The event is free and open to all ages, offering a relaxed way to spend a Friday evening outdoors before the series continues through early October.

For the full Fridays at the Lake schedule, visit the series Eventbrite page.

Fairgrounds Expo Hall Needs Hands on 9/11, Not Speeches

September 11, 2026, lands on a Friday and marks 25 years since the attacks. 9/11 Day, the nonprofit started by family members after that morning, is treating the date as a national workday. Fifty-plus cities will pack shelf-stable meals in one coordinated push, aiming for more than 17 million servings and tens of thousands of volunteers. San Jose’s piece happens inside Expo Hall at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road. The boxes leave for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which already feeds people through hundreds of partner sites in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Last year’s hall packed on the order of 200,000 meals with several hundred volunteers. Corporate teams often fill the assembly lines; many of those seats are reserved and sponsored at $250 a person to cover food costs. What the organizers say they still need, urgently, is the Event Support Team: people who do not stand at a packing table the whole shift but keep the machine from stalling. Table captains teach and pace each line. Heavy lifters and runners restock ingredients and haul finished cases, work that can mean 50-pound boxes. Guest services check people in. Set-up and break-down crews open and close the room.

Those support roles require volunteers 18 and older, a one-hour Zoom training about a week beforehand, and roughly four hours on site. Prior years ran a morning block around 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a shorter cleanup window after noon. Confirm the 2026 shift on the signup form before blocking the calendar. Parking sits behind Expo Hall.

Second Harvest’s latest client survey found nearly everyone it serves cutting grocery spending to cover rent and medical bills. A Friday morning in a fairgrounds hall will not fix that math but it will put sealed meals onto local trucks instead of leaving the anniversary of 9/11 as a minute of silence and a flag at half staff.

Sign up for Event Support in San Jose (18+): https://volunteer.911day.org/projects/62266f60-e37b-4c5a-a1cf-74b90128cb96

Second Harvest food locator and hotline: https://www.shfb.org/get-food/

Santana Row Turns September into a Month of $25 Prix-Fixe Lunches for a Good Cause

September brings a practical reason to leave the office for a proper midday meal when Santana Row launches Let’s Do Lunch, a month-long Taste The Row event running Monday through Friday from September 1 to 30. Sixteen restaurants will each serve a $25 prix-fixe lunch that includes one appetizer and one entrée, giving diners an easy way to sample new spots while supporting World Central Kitchen.

The participating lineup covers a wide range of flavors, from Augustine and Dumpling Time to Fogo de Chão, Ozumo Sushi, Pizza Antica, Straits, Zazil, and more. The promotion builds on last year’s successful Taste The Row dinners and shifts the focus to weekday lunches so more people can take a real break during the workday.

Every lunch helps World Central Kitchen, the organization founded by Chef José Andrés that delivers fresh meals to communities facing disasters and crises. With an average cost of about five dollars per meal, the donations generated during the month will stretch far. Menus, hours, and availability differ by restaurant, and tax, tip, and drinks sit outside the fixed price.

Santana Row already draws people for shopping and evening dining. This September program simply makes the middle of the day more appealing and purposeful. Full details and the current list of restaurants appear at www.SantanaRow.com.

Twenty-Five Startups Will Pitch at SCU’s Eighth Bronco Ventures Demo Day on October 9

Twenty-five founders will take two minutes each on Friday, October 9, inside Santa Clara University’s Locatelli Student Activity Center, and the room will fill with the kind of people who write checks. Ciocca Center’s Bronco Ventures Accelerator will close its eighth cohort with that showcase, then keep the lights on for a two-hour reception. Doors open at 4 p.m. Pitches run 4:30 to 6:30. Food, drinks, and introductions follow until 8:30. Admission is free and open to the public, which means a San Jose engineer, a first-time angel, or a curious neighbor can walk in without a badge from Sand Hill Road.

The companies span healthcare, enterprise software, fintech, construction tech, consumer products, government technology, space, and education. This year’s class pulled founders from every school on the SCU campus and, for the first time in a serious way, from partner Jesuit and Catholic universities abroad through the Jesuit Entrepreneurship Center Alliance. That mix is new. The format is not. Teams spent July through October in a full-time grind of workshops, mentor sessions, and mock pitches, then earned a slot in front of alumni, operators, and investors who already know the South Bay well enough to skip the tourist version of Silicon Valley.

Alumni of earlier cohorts have collectively raised more than $100 million from angels, venture firms, the Bronco Venture Fund, and the JECA Fund. Some later landed at Y Combinator or Alchemist. The accelerator itself takes no equity, which is rare enough in this zip code to mention twice. Program director Cristina Cismas Florea and Bronco Ventures founder Morgan Slain have built the night as both graduation and deal flow. Last year’s Demo Day packed hundreds of in-person guests plus a remote audience. This one sits during Grand Reunion weekend, so the campus will already be full of people who remember the Mission Church and now run product teams in North San Jose.

San Jose readers have a short drive and a real stake. SCU sits on El Camino Real, a few minutes from The Alameda and Downtown San Jose. Founders who raise here tend to hire here, rent offices here, and sell into the same hospitals, school districts, and construction sites that keep this city moving. Bring a card if a two-minute clock makes you lean forward. Stay for the reception if the pitch that mattered was the conversation after the slides.

Questions can go to ccismasflorea@scu.edu. Locatelli Center is at 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara.

Event details and Bronco Ventures programs: https://www.scu.edu/cioccacenter/bronco-ventures/

GalaxyCon Holds Downtown Through Sunday. Saturday Doors Open at 10.

GalaxyCon’s third year at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center is already underway. Friday’s late start is over. Saturday runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the exhibit hall closing an hour earlier on Saturday. The address is 150 West San Carlos Street, which puts the whole circus inside walking distance of light rail, hotels, and whatever else Downtown San Jose is doing this weekend, including Silicon Valley Pride a few blocks away.

The guest list is the reason people bought badges months ago. Hayden Christensen is listed for Saturday only. George Takei, Brent Spiner, Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Ian Somerhalder, Temuera Morrison, Wayne Knight, Joseph Mazzello, and Ariana Richards stretch across Saturday and Sunday or all three days. Cassandra Peterson, Tyler Hoechlin, Sean Gunn, and Scott Patterson were Friday-Saturday. Muppet veterans Steve Whitmire and Dave Goelz are on the board. Voice work includes Colleen O’Shaughnessey. Comics side has Marv Wolfman and a long artist alley. A handful of announced names already dropped out, including Don Bluth and Jaime Pressly, so check the official guest page before lining up for a signature that is no longer there.

Cosplay contests are offering more than $4,000 in cash plus medals and trophies. Photo ops and autographs are separate tickets on top of a badge. Official passes still sell through Eventeny; weekend VIP packages climb into four figures, while single-day general admission on the secondary market was running well over $100 by Friday night. Lockers, accessibility notes, and a prop policy live on the GalaxyCon San Jose pages. Parking details were still labeled coming soon on the site, which in this building usually means pay lots and garages around San Carlos and Almaden, plus a walk.

People-watching may be the cheapest programming. A convention that books Star Trek, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Elvira, and Cheech & Chong in the same hall will fill the sidewalks with armor, robes, and at least one person in a full foam suit who should have taken the light rail. If Saturday feels packed, Sunday is shorter and often easier. If the goal is one specific guest, confirm that name’s remaining days before buying a last-minute pass.

Official tickets and guest list: https://galaxycon.com/pages/galaxycon-san-jose

Ticket desk: https://www.eventeny.com/events/ticket/?id=22673

Chico De Mayos Brings Street Tacos to a Permanent Spot Inside Myth in Downtown San Jose

A familiar name in local catering has taken a permanent step into Downtown San Jose. Chico De Mayos Cantina, which began as a street taco and event catering operation in 2019, opened its brick-and-mortar location inside Myth nightclub at 152 Post Street on June 13.

The menu sticks to the classics that built the brand: chicken, carne asada, al pastor, shrimp, and soyrizo tacos. The new setup sits across from The Domes outdoor venue, placing it in a stretch of Post Street that already draws evening crowds. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Matt Mahan and city council members took place on August 14 to mark the official launch.

While one new kitchen opens, another nearby space sits empty. K&J Sweets and Bakery closed earlier this year after nearly three years at 115 East San Carlos Street near San Jose State. The storefront, previously home to a cinnamon roll shop, is now vacant inside The Colonnade apartments.

Downtown San Jose’s overall vacancy rate stood at 30.8% in the first quarter according to recent market data. New openings like Chico De Mayos show that operators continue testing the market and finding ways to serve the people already coming downtown for nightlife and events.

Anyone craving authentic street-style tacos now has a fixed address to find them after dark.

Source: Silicon Valley Business Journal

CityDance Brings Country Line Dancing to Plaza Park This Thursday

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

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

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

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

Source: San Jose Museum of Art

MLV NorCal Chooses Tech CU Arena as Home Court for 2027

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

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

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

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

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

Source: MLV

MLV NorCal Fan Fest Lands at San Pedro Square Market Today

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

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

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

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

Source: MLV

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arena Green East will host another full-day outdoor music event on Sunday, August 23, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Noise Complaints party features performances by OhGeesy and Karri along with additional artists in an open-air setting.

The gathering is designed as an open-format dance event across the park space near the Guadalupe River and Little Italy. General admission is open to ages 18 and older, while VIP access is limited to 21 and older and includes expedited entry, private bars, and improved stage views.

This show follows the Chris Lake daytime party at the same venue the previous afternoon, giving the park two consecutive days of electronic and hip-hop energy. Production elements include large screens and strong sound systems suited to the outdoor environment.

Tickets are available in tiered general admission and VIP options, with all sales final. The event runs rain or shine and continues the recent use of Arena Green East for larger music gatherings in the heart of the city.

Tickets and full details can be found on the Eventbrite page for Noise Complaints San Jose.