What’s good, San Jose?

It’s gonna be a super busy weekend, what with Cinco de Mayo, some killer concerts… and one of the OG Bachata acts is bringing their reunion (and potentially final?) tour to town. Check out the full list below.

Did I miss something? Have an event you’d like to share with the great 408? Let me know, and I’ll add it to the next Newsletter. Make sure you follow 408 Weekly on IG so you don’t miss other events happening around town. And hey, I’m only human, I make mistakes. Feel free to reply to this email and let me know if there’s a problem.

Wednesday, May 1

• San Jose Shakeout Series | Creekside Socials (20 Barack Obama Blvd., San Jose) | 6-8 p.m. | FREE | Join other runners of all ages and abilities in the first of a series of weekly Wednesday running events leading up to the San Jose Half Marathon. (Runs through 5/29)

• FEiD: “Ferxxocalipsis Tour 2024” | SAP Center (525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $24-244 | Si sabe Ferxxo, you know this Colombian singer, songwriter and producer puts on an incredible show.

• “Concentric Spectrums” | Empire Seven Studios (525 N. Seventh St., Ste. 10, San Jose) | 12-8 p.m. | FREE (But definitely consider buying a shirt or print from the studio or a local artist) | Check out the psychedelic artwork of Nicholaus James Dalton, aka. Manik, on the newly opened Skydeck Gallery. (Runs through May 4)

• CMT Mainstage Presents: “Pippin” | Montgomery Theater (271 S. Market St., San Jose) | 7 p.m. | $20-30 | Sing along to classic songs “Magic To Do” and “Corner of the Sky” in this classic Broadway musical adaptation starring talented local youngsters. (Runs through 5/12)

• Marauda | San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St. San Jose) | 7 p.m. | “Gut-wrenching, provocative noise” is a fantastic way to describe this Sydney-based EDM artist.

• Adam Conover | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $25-$85 (for VIP banquette for 4) | From ruining your favorite things on “Adam Ruins Everything” to appearances on Dropout, and his podcast “Factually,” this popular comic has been writing, producing, and starring in basically everything I’ve loved on the internet for the past 10 years.

• Bay FC vs. Portland Thorns FC | PayPal Park (1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose) | 7 p.m. | $13-$133 | Check out the wide variety of AANHPI cuisines as the team celebrates the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander heritage month.

Thursday, May 2

• JoDavi | The Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $20 Advance, $25 Day of Show | See why they call him “Mr. Maestro” when he brings his eclectic, “symphonic soul” style music to one of the coolest music venues in San Jose.

• Queer Cinema Series: “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” | Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center (938 The Alameda, San Jose) | 7 p.m. | FREE (but definitely consider bringing a few dollars to donate to the center) | Join your fellow queer folks for a viewing of this classic gender-queer punk rock classic film from 2001.

• Aventura: “Cerrando Ciclos” | SAP Center (525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 7 p.m. | $100-$201 (and it may sell out!) | Tickets are running super low to see these pioneers of Bachata on their massive reunion (and potentially final?) tour.

• April Macie | Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club (157 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale) | Multiple times | $25 | From “Howard Stern” to “Last Comic Standing,” this comedian has made appearances at AVN and in Netflix comedy specials.

Friday, May 3

• Oldies Y Cerveza | Garden at the Flea (1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | Kick off Cinco de Mayo weekend with delicious beers, food truck bites, and vinyl sounds of oldies + soul music, featuring Raza Del Soul.

• Big Jay Oakerson | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | Multiple times | $28 General Admission, $78 Premium Banquette | You may know this comedian from Dave Attell’s “Comedy Underground” or Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend.” (Runs through 5/4)

• First Friday: “Hip Hop(e), Jazz & Storytelling, Part 3” | San Jose Museum of Art (110 S. Market St., San Jose) | The finale of the three-part residency with the Francis Experience Quartet, with rap, poetry, and storytelling. The event also features a special reception for the winners of the Dr. Jerry Hiura Next Gen Visual Art Award.

• Cirque du Soleil: “Kooza” | Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (344 Tully Rd., San Jose) | Multiple times | $129-$309 (but it can go up to over $779 later in the month) | See the wild acrobatics + over-the-top visuals and storytelling of one of the most well-known experimental performance art troupes in the world. (Runs through May 26)

• SJSU Presents: “1984” | Hammer Theatre Center (101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose) | Multiple times | $20 | This powerful and savage stage adaptation of George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel is starring SJSU students + directed by Theatre Arts lecturer Scott Cummins.

• METZ | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $22 Advance, $25 Day of Show | Canadian punk rock legends bring the noise to San Jose with Florida punks Gouge Away.

• Boot Juice | The Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $20 Advance, $25 Day of Show | Shake it down on the dance floor when this multi-instrumental, multi-talented NorCal group delivers cosmic rock’n’roll.

• Jesse Fischer | SJZ Breakroom (310 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | FREE (with RSVP) | See the award-winning pianist and composer as he weaves complex melodies and grooves with modern jazz, hip-hop, and Americana. Also, check out the free opening act, the High School All Stars U19s Combo at 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 4

• Cinco de Mayo Car Show | (in front of) SAP Center (525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 6 a.m.-3 p.m. | FREE for general public + passengers, $60 Advance, $70 Day of Show for vehicle entry to be judged. | Enjoy aguas frescas, food, and incredible feats of local engineering as judges decide on who has the best trucks + low-riders.

• Silicon Valley’s Taco Throwdown | Blanco Urban Venue (12 N. San Pedro St., San Jose) | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | $49 General Admission, $75 All You Can Eat, $129 All You Can Eat + Drink | Get schooled in the art of the taco, and raise money for the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley.

• SJ Earthquakes vs. LAFC | Levi’s Stadium (4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara) | 4:15 p.m. | $30-$250 | Join the Quakes for Mexican Heritage Night, featuring a pre-game fan fest with Mexican National Team’s Oswaldo Sanchez, influencers, and a halftime show by Marca MP.

• Swingin’ Utters | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $20 Advance, $22 Day of Show | Santa Cruz punk rockers return to San Jose with special guests The Odd Numbers + Hot Laundry.

• Trey Kennedy: “Grow Up” | San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) | 7 p.m. | $22-$48 | You may know this Vine (RIP) and TikTok (maybe soon RIP?) star from his comedy podcast “Correct Opinions” or his YouTube comedy special, “Are You For Real?"

Sunday, May 5

• Downtown Cinco de Mayo Party | City Hall to Plaza de Cesar Chavez | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | FREE | Celebrate Mexican History with a parade starting at City Hall and ending at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, with local vendors and entertainers on the main stage.

• Story & King Cinco De Mayo Parade and Party | From MHP (1700 Alum Rock Ave.) to 680 Overpass, with festivities at Emma Prusch Farm Park (647 S. King Rd.) | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Parade, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Festival | FREE | Join the United Lowrider Council for a parade and celebration of Mexican heritage and

• Cinco de Mayo | El Halal Amigos (1100 Lincoln Ave., San Jose) | 11:30 a.m. | FREE (but definitely buy some food) | Gnosh on $2 tacos all day, and enjoy free aguas frescas + churros, as well as live music and Mayan dancers.

• Drag Brunch | SoFA Market (387 S. First St., San Jose) | 12 p.m. | FREE | Join Tori Tia + Manang and friends as they celebrate Tori’s birthday for a knock down, drag out spectacular.

• San Jose Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl | Multiple venues (first stop is Rookies in Willow Glen) | 4-11 p.m. | $14.99 (check in at Rec Room)-$19.99 (check in at Rookies) | Bar hop with your homies and enjoy food + drink specials at multiple spots across the South Bay.

• La Peda Day Party | Fuze Nightclub (58 S. First St., San Jose) | 5-11 p.m. | $8-$20 | Dance to tunes from DJs Monster Mack, Zuhnddry, Nate Rioz, and Ed Blvzeer.

• Shortboxed LIVE 2024 | Santa Clara Convention Center (5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara) | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | FREE for children under 10, $20 General Admission | Bring your own comics for consignment or find hidden treasures at this massive comics, cards, and games convention.

• Bay FC vs. Chicago Red Stars | PayPal Park (1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose) | 5 p.m. | $13-$133 | Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the B Legendary crew.

Thanks so much for reading

But hold on. Who the heck am I, and why am I going to all of this trouble?

I’m Gregg, a former radio person, a journalist, an event coordinator, and a social media person. I’ve lived in San Jose for pretty much my entire life. I grew up here, went to school here, found love here.

I’ve been a part of the scene since around 2005 — helping to put on events, host them, organize them, even sponsored a few! The South Bay is one of my favorite places in the entire world.

So I created this newsletter for you; whether you’re looking for a new hobby, some new friends, or are gathering your crew for a night out in SoFA on a Saturday night. This is your space to help you find your community.

No AI, no BS, no cover charge. Just cool things to do in our hometown. Though I may throw in a few newsworthy things every now and then (what can I say? Once a journalist, always a journalist).

Until next week,

— Gregg