The first Block Party of 2024 is at the Historic District, May 16th

Downtown San Jose advocates are hosting a series of six different block parties in Downtown San Jose, and the first kicks off this week in the Historic District at the heart of the downtown area. I didn't realize just how many businesses were located in this region until I saw the list below. Over 60 businesses are participating in the event!

The block party is expected to bring thousands of people and there will likely be live music and other special activities. It goes down on Thursday, May 16th from 5-9pm starting in Fountain Alley.

Upcoming block parties will take us to SoFA, San Pedro, Paseo De San Antonio, Little Italy, and City Hall. Every location has had new businesses arrive over the past year.

Raging Waters San Jose has a new name

After quite a bit of drama, Raging Waters will return this summer with a new operator. However, the name will be new. The waterpark will now be called Calibunga San Jose. 

California Dreamin' will put in millions of dollars in capital improvements and plans to have the park open by Memorial Day weekend. It also happens to be the same company that is redeveloping the former Raging Waters park in Sacramento, which it also renamed to Calibunga.

Source: ABC7 News

372 apartments move forward at a former San Jose DMV site

A former DMV in central San Jose near History Park and the intersection of Senter and Tully is going to be transformed into a 372-unit apartment complex called "The Place." The apartments would be split across three seven-story buildings with a more interesting design then you would expect from your typical midrise.

The apartments themselves would range from studios to two-bedroom units with two bathrooms. 112 of the apartments will be studios, 200 are one-bedroom, and 60 are two-bedroom units.

The one-story office building that housed the DMV would be demolished to make way from this project. The neighborhood is mostly office and industrial with a Costco across the street. The best escape-games in San Jose are a couple blocks away at OMESCAPE and you also have Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, History Park, the Japanese Friendship Gardens, Kelly Park, Sharks Ice, and the San Jose Giants less than a mile away. It's actually a pretty decent area to start building dense housing.

The next step is a series of city reviews this month.

Source: The Mercury News

San Jose connection improvements to the Central Coast

Decades in the making, rail options are expanding between Monterrey County to San Jose. This includes two new stations in Monterrey County. $1M has been secured in the last bipartisan rail bill. That is million with a M and not a B like many of the other projects that have been discussed here. Seems like low-hanging fruit to expand service.

The two new stations will be in Pajaro close to Watsonville and another in downtown King City. Both will have the potential of taking large numbers of cars off of 101 during peak commute times being used by supercommuters driving an hour or more.

It's nice to some new rail projects moving forward quickly. The Pajaro station will begin construction in early 2027 while King City station will start in 2026.

Source: KSBW8

Mother's Day Salsa Brunch at the Signia San Jose

In the past, the Fairmont San Jose has thrown some pretty epic Mother's Day events in their spacious ballrooms. I'm happy to see that the Signia by Hilton is keeping that traditional alive. 

For a more unique Mother's Day, they are doing a Salsa Brunch. In addition to the feast which is themed around Latin cuisine, there will be a DJ spinning Salsa, Cumbia, and other Latin genres.

The food options include:

• Spanish Tapas Board: A delectable assortment including Spanish chorizo, Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, olives, roasted pimientos, and much more, perfect for sharing.
• Ceviche and Chips: Dive into a refreshing assortment of seasonal ceviche complemented by tortilla chips, guacamole, and tangy lime.
• Chilled Seafood Bar: Savor lemongrass poached jumbo shrimp, crab claws, and oysters, accompanied by our tequila-lime cocktail sauce or mignonette.
• Assorted Sushi & Sashimi: A selection of maki rolls and sashimi featuring big eye tuna, salmon, and hamachi, served with all the traditional accompaniments.
• Desayuno: Customize your omelets at our omelet station, and don't miss the potato and egg Spanish torta or the decadent tres leche French toast pudding.
• Street Taco Bar: Assemble your dream taco with a variety of fillings including chicken tinga, pork carnitas, and cauliflower barbacoa.
• Cantina Soup: Choose between the comforting elote soup and chicken tortilla soup for a warm delight.
• Main and Sides: Indulge in short rib enchiladas, herb-roasted chicken breast, seafood paella, and more, alongside a selection of hearty sides.
• Churrasco Carving Station: Feast on prime cuts of meat including prime top sirloin, double bone-in pork chop, and more, perfectly grilled and ready to enjoy.
• Sweet Seekers: End on a high note with café con leche flan, churros, tres leches, and a variety of other desserts, including the irresistible Republic Del Cacao Chocolate Fountain.
• Kids Corner: A specially curated menu for our youngest guests featuring vegetable crudité, beef sliders, chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and a candyland filled with sweets.

I'm sold on the tres leches French toast pudding and churrasco carving station. It's pricey but does also include a glass of sparkling wine, and it's for the important mothers in your life!

For more info and to RSVP, click here.

Mother's Day at Santana Row

It's not too late to book Mother's Day lunch or brunch. Below are several easy options at Santana Row:

Left Bank: Nothing says "je t'aime" like a truly great meal, oui? Indulge the special mother figure in your life with a delightful and authentic French dining experience at Left Bank Brasserie.Treat her to a delightful array of dishes curated with her in mind, featuring both our beloved brunch classics and new spring-inspired brunch additions, available from 10 AM to 3 PM. For dinner, savor our exceptional Braised Lamb Shank alongside our regular dinner menu, served from 3 PM to 8 PM. All Left Bank locations will be open from 10 AM to 8 PM. Click here to see Mother's Day Specials.

LB Steak: This Mother's Day, honor Mom with an unforgettable dining experience at LB Steak! We'll be serving the below Brunch menu additions, as well as the regular Brunch menu, from 10 AM-2:30 PM. We'll also be featuring Dinner menu additions from 3 PM to 8 PM. Our regular Dinner menu will also be served all day, from 10 AM to 8 PM, along with our special Peach Bellini for Mom. Relax and enjoy the beauty of family as we attend to every detail. It's never too early to start planning for reservations! Book your table online or by calling us at 408-413-3939 today. Click here to see Mother's Day Specials.

Meso Modern Mediterranean: Join us at Meso this Mother's Day to treat your mother, grandmother, aunt, or any other special mother figure in your life to a delicious brunch out at the beautiful Santana Row! On Sunday, May 12th, we will be serving the below brunch menu additions from 10 am-2:30 pm in addition to our regular brunch menu. A reduced all-day menu will also be served from 10 am-4 pm, and our regular dinner menu will continue from 4pm-close, along with the below special dinner addition. Reserve today on our website or by giving us a call! We are excited to be offering extended hours on Mother's Day, and will be open from 10 am-9 pm. Click here to see Mother's Day Specials.

Hotel Valencia: Join us at Hotel Valencia for a delightful Mother's Day Brunch Buffet! Enjoy a spread of gourmet treats and celebrate in style. Mother's Day Brunch Tickets, Sun, May 12th, 2024 at 11AM. Click here to purchase tickets. 

Starting this week on a high note with Purple Lotus

A prime 2,100 SQFT corner space that was formerly Peet's Coffee at 66 West Santa Clara Street has reopened as Purple Lotus cannabis store. They just had their ribbon cutting last Friday..

I believe this is the first urban dispensary in San Jose. Most are tucked away in industrial areas, including the original Purple Lotus location at 752 Commercial Street. That dispensary is much larger and has a thriving business for both in-person and delivery. The family-owned business employs 139 people and is currently San Jose's largest dispensary.

The Downtown location will take advantage of relaxed hours that were voted in last November and will be open from 8am to 10pm. This may actually be a significant draw for Downtown (and perhaps help nearby restaurants). While I have personally never bought anything at a dispensary, I also wouldn't underestimate their potential impact. San Jose collected $16.6 million in taxes from dispensaries last fiscal year.

Sources: SVBJ, The Mercury News

George Avalos/Bay Area New Group

Cinco de Mayo in San Jose

If you are not celebrating Cinco de Mayo, today would be a good one to steer clear of Downtown and East San Jose. There are a series of planned roadway closures and given the large numbers of people expected to attend the Cinco de Mayo parades, traffic will be gridlocked.

If you are attending, plan to come really early. The lowrider parade in East San Jose starts at 10am along King Road from Alum Rock to Story Road. Afterwards there will be a festival at Emma Prusch Farm Park at noon.

In Downtown San Jose the Cinco de Mayo Parade starts at 9am in front of the San Jose City Hall and goes to Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The festival there will run from 11am to 5pm and has live music, food, vendors, and lucha libre wrestling.

It will be a much larger event than previous years, especially last year. As an added twist, the SJPD will be participating in the parade itself. There is some irony there given San Jose's anti-lowrider laws (which were overturned), but it will definitely be a sight to see today.

Source: The Mercury News