New Tasca Portuguese food truck

Portuguese food has been getting more popular in the Bay Area, especially thanks to Adega (San Jose's first and only Michelin star restaurant ever) and Petiscos (Downtown San Jose's only Michelin-recommended restaurant). However, one thing I have never seen before is a Portuguese food truck. Tasca Portuguese is the first I am aware of in the Bay Area.

The truck has a short menu with a focus on Portuguese street food, but it does have some surprises. There are starters like Linguiça and Bacalhau (codfish dumplings) and traditional sandwich options using staples like pork and steak cutlets. However, there are two exotic options. The Sandes de Alcatra uses an Azorean specialty where the beef is cooked in a clay pot for hours with tons of delicious spices. I have never seen a sandwich made out of it before. Even more adventurous is the octopus sandwich which uses well-marinated chunks of octopus stuffed in Portuguese bread. Desserts include a classic crowd-please, Pastel de Natas.

You can find the food truck at 1401 E. Santa Clara Street near Five Wounds Church on Monday through Friday from 11am to 8pm and on Sunday from 10am to 8pm.

Source: Yelp

Inaugural Tully East Festival Sep 28-29

East San Jose is getting more and more attention these days. Earlier this year, the main San Jose fireworks show was in Lake Cunningham for the first time and the VTA Lightrail extension to Eastridge is a go. Now East San Jose is getting a new festival.

The Tully East Festival is on the weekend of September 28th-29th and will feature over 150 vendors, food trucks, and artists. There will even be a mini cat town with 30 adoptable kittens on site. The event also has live entertainment and activities for all ages. It runs from 11am-6pm in front of the Eastridge Center.

New restaurant taking shape near Levi's Stadium

Levi's Stadium is going to attract tons of attention to Silicon Valley over the next couple years with events like the Super Bowl and World Cup. Unfortunately, there are very few food and hang out options walking distance to the stadium, which also creates a traffic nightmare as people have little reason to stick around after games and events. Clara's Junction appears to be the first compelling option, at least until Related's multi-billion dollar mixed used projects across the street gets going.

What used to be a Carl's Jr. will become a 18,000 SQFT indoor/outdoor social space complete with a restaurant and over 20 beers on tap. Clara's Junction will also have craft cocktails, lawn games, fire pits, a pit BBQ and a taco truck.

The project couldn't come a moment too soon. In addition to games and events, 4,500 residential units are being built in the immediate area. There is tremendous opportunity to build some great restaurants both here and in North San Jose a couple blocks away.

Source: SFGATE

Rose, White & Blue Parade and Festival

San Jose's 4th of July "Rose, White & Blue" Parade and Festival is a beloved tradition along the Rose Garden neighborhood and The Alameda. The parade itself starts at 9:45am on Dana Avenue and then goes down Naglee and turns onto The Alameda. After the parade is a huge party near the end of the route.

The festival is wrapped around the Westminster Presbyterian Church and goes from 11am-3pm. The event includes dancing, pro wrestling, skateboarding lessons, live music, and a kids play area. The entertainment is accompanied by food trucks and vendors.

In addition to being patriotic, this event represents the multicultural diversity of San Jose and the amalgamation of many different communities. It's a beautiful event and a great way to start off the 4th of July!

SJMADE FEST June 1-2

SJMADE's most popular event of all time is returning this weekend on June 1st and 2nd at History Park San Jose. SJMADE FEST features over 250 makers, artists, designers, chefs, backers, crafters, and small businesses. For food, there are over 50 food trucks and vendors... a staggering amount for any event.

There are some other surprises there like a Kitten Lounge, K-Pop Plaza with live dance performances, and door prizes. The event is completely free which also makes it a great opportunity to check out History San Jose. It runs from 11am to 6pm on both days and is both kid and dog friendly (leashed). For more info, the full vendor list, and parking suggestions, head over here.

Culture Night Market today

The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy is hosting a Culture Night Market today right outside Little Italy in Downtown San Jose. The free event includes live music, a soccer tournament, a screening of Shrek (7:30pm-10pm), food trucks, and of course the vendors you would expect from a night market. It's going to be 77 degrees outside--perfect weather for an event like this.

The event is both kid and pet friendly and will run from 4pm-10pm at Arena Green East, 340 W. St. John St., San Jose, CA 95110.

Midtown Immersive Night Parties

Midtown San Jose is not typically an area where you see community events. The Abierto initiative is looking to change that with Midtown Immersive Night Parties. For the next four Fridays on a small tract of land in an industrial area you'll find Moveable Feast food trucks, a beer garden, a maker market, and live music.

This is a great way to discover a part of San Jose off the beaten path that is just minutes from Downtown San Jose and Santana Row. Again, it happens every Friday until June 16th from 5-9pm at 245 McEvoy Street. You don't need to RSVP, but you can to show your support over here.

Garden at the Flea

It has been quite a while since I have been to the San Jose Flea Market. I had no idea that they built out a full-blown craft beer garden featuring local beers and a food truck park. There is also a stage for live music in the beer garden. These are here to stay even with the major new developments being built around the new Berryessa BART station.

There is an impressive list of events at "Garden at the Flea" which include concerts, pro wrestling, and the 8th Annual Taco Festival of Innovation (Aug 31st). To see all of the programming, head over here.

Taylor Street Night Market

Every Thursday night during the summer, the Taylor Street Night Market will take place at the Gordon Biersch Brewery in Japantown from 5-9pm. The event includes food trucks, a beer garden, music, and shopping. For more info, head over to the event Facebook page over here.

SoFA Street Fair this Sunday

The bi-annual SoFA Street Fair goes down in just a few days and will bring tons of live music and good times to Downtown San Jose. 12 stages spanning three city blocks will host 100+ bands! Almost every music genre you can think of will perform--there is something for everyone. There will also be food trucks, craft beers, and lawn chairs.

The event is free, family friendly, and starts on Sunday at 2pm. All of the details are below (click images to enlarge).

Stike Brewing Co. "Cheers to 2 Years" anniversary party on October 8th

One of San Jose's first craft breweries is celebrating two years at their S. 10th street location! To honor the occasion, Strike Brewing is throwing a huge party with killer beer, food trucks, live music, and a silent auction.

Tickets to the event cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door. That includes a special glass that's yours to keep and 3 pints of your choosing (everything is a pint that day).

To help absorb some of the delicious beer, the Gow Chow food truck will be on site from 1-5pm, followed by Kushi Yaki at 5-9pm. It all goes down on October 8th at 2099 S. 10th St. #30, San Jose, CA 95112.

Tickets are on sale now right over here. For more info, check out Strike's Facebook page.

Spring in Plaza de Cesar Chavez

Arguably the #1 benefit that came out of the Super Bowl for San Jose was a vision of what Plaza de Cesar Chavez could become. We did an excellent job of making the park a place where people would want to hang out. If we can do it for visitors, why not do it for San Jose residents? That is exactly what is happening right now.

Plaza de Cesar Chavez is going to be "reactivated" throughout May and June with comfortable seats, games (ping pong, cornhole, etc.), fancy LED lights, and food trucks. Lunch will be served in the park from 11:30am-1:30pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Dinner will be available from 5pm-8pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hopefully lot's of people will participate and they will keep this going throughout the summer as well!

From SanJoseCA.gov:

Eat, relax, sit and play at Plaza de Cesar Chavez this season! Whether you grab a bite for lunch and dinner, step outside of the office and hold your meeting in Plaza, or simply act like a kid and play a game of cornhole or ping pong - our outdoor patio style seating, market style lights, and lush grass areas are a perfect destination to unplug and socialize.

Due to existing events scheduled at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, lunch and dinner dates change frequently. Please check out the dates below to know when food trucks and equipment will be available at Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

LUNCH: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: 11:30AM – 1:30PM
LUNCH DATES:
May: 3, 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 26, 31
June: 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 28, 30

DINNER: Fridays and Saturdays: 5:00PM – 8:00PM
DINNER DATES:
May: 13, 14, 20, 21
June: 17, 18

Hello Kitty Cafe at Santana Row today

San Jose, CA -- The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is a mobile vehicle of cuteness that offers yummy treats and supercute goodies, each infused with unique Hello Kitty details for all to enjoy.

The mobile cafe will feature new goodies from its last visit to Northern California, including a box set of Hello Kitty macarons that features one surprise Sanrio character macaron, a delicious 3-piece Hello Kitty cookie set, an adorable Hello Kitty Cafe mug and a supercute pink Hello Kitty Cafe t-shirt. Additional yummy treats include a 4-pack of mini cakes & a pink bow-shaped water bottle.

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is the first of its kind food service venture for Sanrio. Fans can follow the cafe truck on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter to stay updated about upcoming appearances and where to find these adorable Hello Kitty treats.

When:   Saturday, April 23     10am-8pm

Where:   Santana Row
                377 Santana Row,
                San Jose, CA 95128

Event season kicks off at Evergreen Village Square

San Jose, CA - Another season of fun events at Evergreen Village Square will be kicked off at the end of April with the annual EPIC Festival. The event brings together the various cultures of the Evergreen community to celebrate and appreciate the cultural diversity of the area.

Saturday April 30 will be the annual EPIC Festival.  EPIC stands for Earth, People, International, Culture, and was started by Vice-Mayor Rose Herrera nearly a decade ago to showcase the rich cultural diversity of the Evergreen area.  The Vice Mayor will be there to address the crowd and get the festivities started.  Emceed by the famous Lori and RJ of Cotton Candy Express, the event will again feature local dancing and singing groups both young and old.  Many different cultures and traditions are represented at the EPIC Festival, often wearing beautiful and colorful costumes.  The event coincides with the weekly Off the Grid Food Trucks, allowing festival goers to enjoy a wide variety of food, adding to the international flavor of this event.

The popular Friday Night Music, Art and Wine events will take place June 24, July 22 and August 5. A free family-friendly movie will be shown after dark at all three events.  There is always something going on at Evergreen Village Square!  Stay up to date with what is happening at the Square on the Evergreen Village Square Facebook page, or visit www.evergreenvillagesquare.com for a complete detailed list of events at the Square.

Bacon Festival of America - Sep 5 & 6 @ Plaza de Cesar Chavez

Bacon, craft beer, wrestling, food trucks, bacon, fire pits for s'mores, live music, classic games, and bacon--what could be better this Labor Day Weekend? Oh, and did I mention there will be bacon? The 3rd annual Bacon Festival of America is coming to the heart of Downtown San Jose in one short week and you won't want to miss it!

This year there are a few new elements to the event. There will be a signature beer they are calling PBRB, which is Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer + bacon bits. Also new is a family camp where you can roast bacon chocolate s'mores over an open flame (awesome!). They even launched bacon into space earlier this week.

Estimated attendance is 15,000 people over the two day event. The Bacon Festival will run from noon to 7pm on September 5th and 6th at Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

You can order your tickets now over here! You can also buy tickets at the door, but they will be slightly more expensive.

Food Trucks Coming to Plaza de Cesar Chavez Downtown!

Moveable Feast is planning to expand to its birthplace, Downtown San Jose. The goal is to have a weekly food truck event at Plaza de Cesar Chavez every Friday. It would be a mid-sized gathering of 5-6 trucks along with live music. Moveable Feast still needs to final approval from the city, but they are confident their plan will be approved.

Ryan Sebastian, the founder of Moveable Feast, believes that these events are key to bringing more people to Downtown San Jose and making it a destination. He believes there are still many San Joseans that are afraid of Downtown, and events like this will help change that brand perception.

The best case scenario would place Moveable Feast in the park beginning this February.

Personally, I would love to see this taken a step further and have a permanent area dedicated to food trucks (and retail trucks) with daily events. There would have to be enough demand, but that could really become an anchor for one of the best urban parks in San Jose.

Source: SVBJ

Strike Brewing Co. Taproom Grand Opening Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the official opening of the Strike Taproom at 2099 S. 10th Street #30. The grand opening celebration will run from 2pm to 8pm and feature food trucks to compliment the beers. Come see how the beer is made and taste a variety of brews from 8 different taps, including some new releases.

Part of the proceeds will go towards the US Pain Foundation. To find out more about San Jose's Strike Brewing Co., visit their website over here.

You’re in! You’re officially invited to the Grand Opening of the Strike Warehouse Taproom!

We’re launching our Bay Area warehouse taproom October 4th, 2014.

It’s an honest to goodness working warehouse taproom full of fermentors, kegs, and hops because beer making is fun to watch. Come taste our beer at the source!

All 8 taps will be full, including our year round favorites and some new releases.  Like our brand new Double IPA. Of course you’ll want something tasty with our beer so come enjoy food from popular Bay Area food trucks too.

A portion of the proceeds will help support the US Pain Foundation, an organization that brings support to those living with chronic pain.

Pre-purchase drink tickets here to help keep lines short and the beer flowing!

We hope to see you there.

When: October 4th, 2pm to 8pm
Where: Strike Brewing Co.
2099 S. 10th Street #30
San Jose, CA 95112 408

See you soon & Cheers!
- Drew, Ryan, Jenny, Ben, Bill, James, Barry, Gary & Wrigley the BrewDog

Anne & Mark's Art Party: September 20-25

An epic "Art Party" is taking place starting Friday at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds. While this event has been taking place since 2007, this is the first time Anne & Mark's Art Party is going to be available to the public. You can expect tons of visual art, music, dance, performances, fire, fashion, film, spoken word, art cars, and I'm sure some surprises. Over 300 artists and performers will be participating!

Moveable Feast Food Trucks will also be in the area to feed the hungry. Get more info and buy your tickets online at http://www.artpartysj.com.

Anne & Mark’s Art Party: An Occasional and Irrational San Jose Arts Fest

Some say it’s an “Art Exhibition” others say it’s a “Happening”.  It’s been described as, “Mad Max meets Moulin Rouge”,  “Burning Man meets Venice Biennale.” Some say, it’s better than… anything they’ve ever experienced…and we won’t argue with that.

It all began in 2007, when we got the idea to convert our downtown house into a gallery and invite our friends and family to showcase their talent, and invite all their friends, family and fans for a “One Night Stand for the Arts”.  We said we’d never do it again.  But we did.  Each time the past artists and guests invited their friends, family and fans, and each time it grew bigger.

We’ve gone from one night to one week, from our house to a warehouse, and now to the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. We now have hundreds of artists and thousands of guests and the only thing we need is…YOU!

Electronic Sriracha Festival on Aug. 30th @ St. James Park!

This has to be one of the best ideas for a new event that I've come across in a long time. A couple years ago Moveable Feast launched The Taco Festival of Innovation, then last year they started the Bacon Festival of America, and now they are going for their hottest event yet... the Electronic Sriracha Festival!

The festival will encompass two city blocks at St. James Park and features three stages, 24 DJs representing the best of Bay Area-bred electronic music (list below), four bars, and 120 sriracha-infused dishes. There will be over 40 food trucks and food tents and all dishes and drinks will be priced at $6 or less. Oh, and SJ MADE will be there as well.

It is all going down Labor Day Weekend--August 30th--from noon to 8pm. Admission will run $20 in advance or $30 at the door (kids under 12 are free).

These are the types of events that will return St. James Park to its former glory, so lets help make this one a success! You can get more info at their Facebook page over here.

OLMSTEAD STAGE
Thee-O
Sam F
John Beaver Live with Krishna Lee on Drums & Greg Manacho on Guitar
Ross FM
Taj
Carlos Alfonzo
Tomas Phan
Ian Rey

KENNEDY STAGE
Aaron Axelsen
Dead Funk
Andy P
Mr. Tyler Jackson
California Casual
DJ Hil
Bare Knuckles
James Ashley

HART STAGE
GoldenChyld
Los Disco Duro
Bobby Acosta
DRU
Double A and Jay Reese
DJ Basura
Haptic Synapses
Mike Zhao

Summer in St. James Park

I really have to hand it to the Downtown Association for upping their efforts this summer to activate St. James Park. On top of the world cup viewings, Startlight Cinemas, and Music in the Park, several other regular events are being planned. Every Wednesday in July there will be food trucks from 11am to 1:30pm, pick-up soccer games from 11:30am to 1:30pm, and free drop-in yoga from noon to 1pm.

To see the full list of events just head over to www.sjdowntown.com/summerinstjames.