What’s good, San Jose?

You’ve got farmer’s markets, indie sleaze, queer history, and a popular TikToker coming to San Jose this week/end.

Also, a new downtown spot is handing out free boba, a popular voting system could come to the South Bay, and, there’s a very Pizza Rat connection to the new owners of Raging Waters — all ahead in the Newsybits section.

Know of an event you’d like to share? Running your own event? Tell me all about it, and I’ll add it to the next Newsletter.

Wednesday

• Tech Ex North America | Santa Clara Convention Center (5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara) | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Wed-Thu) | FREE (Expo pass), $721 (Gold Pass) | Want to know why everything is terrible? Big heads, big paychecks, and even bigger egos collide to spew the latest buzzword nonsense about technological innovations that are absolutely destroying creative industries in search of VC funding. (Runs through 6/6)

• OVG Hospitality Job Fair | PayPal Park (1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose) | 3-7 p.m. | FREE | Work in hospitality and looking for your next gig? Check out job spots + open interviews for part time positions around the park.

• Therapy Gecko + Ruben Escobedo III | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 6 p.m. | $25 General Admission (Standing Rear), $30 Reserved (Lower Seating), $35 Day of Show | Get prescient answers to your pressing questions at Lyle Forever’s unlicensed, interactive comedy podcast show.

• An Evening with Phil Rosenthal | California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. | $90-$140 | This NYT Best Selling author is also the creator, executive producer, and host of the Netflix food and travel show “Somebody Feed Phil.”

• Bay Area Global Running Day 2024 | REI Sunnyvale (130 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale) | 6-8:30 p.m. | FREE | Join Bay Area Run Crew and 15+ other Bay Area Running groups for a 5K Megagroup fun run, free dinner & drinks, and giveaways.

• 2024 RTF New Talent Comedy Competition | Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club (157 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale) | 8 p.m. | $12 | 15 amateur comics shoot their shot for a spot in the next phase of this comedy competition.

• Justin Silva | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $25 General Admission, $75-$80 Premium Seats | This East Coast electrician-turned-comedian has made a name for himself on TikTok + Instagram.

• What the Blank?! Trivia | Renegades Bar (501 W. Taylor St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | FREE | Join host Bella Donna La Botanica and special guest Chloe F’n Aecha and prove you’ve got the biggest brain at the ball.

• The Caravan Lounge Comedy Show | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Check out up and coming local acts, hosted by Majken Bullard.

Thursday

• Gordon Biersch Night Market: Taco Takeover | Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. (357 E. Taylor St., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | From Pre-Hispanic Mexican Cuisine’s Octopus + Chorizo tacos to Barya Kitchen’s Filipino Mexican quesabirria tacos, to Cousin’s Maine Lobster tacos, gorge while you enjoy the sweet sounds of the Ryan Trujillo Latin Jazz Quartet from the SJZ Boombox Truck.

• Pobladores Night Market | Parque De Los Pobladores (510 S. First St., San Jose) | 5:30-9 p.m. | FREE | Check out local vendors and comics while you jam to the surftastic sounds of cowabunga alt-rockers Surf Monster.

• Family Obligation | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $20 Advance, $25 Day of Show | San Jose-based Family Obligation bring their catchy power pop and cat-themed merch back home. Also featuring Hayward’s The Hellas and SoCal pop-punkers Loser Parade.

• BARC Summer Kickoff & Taco Run | Aqui Campbell (201 E. Campbell Ave., San Jose) | 6-8 p.m. | FREE | Don your guacamole green gear and stay hydrated as you run, walk, or stroll along at your own pace. Join the post-run social hour with an Industrial Swirl at Aqui. (Seriously, drink responsibly — those things are KILLER)

• Queer Cinema Series: “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” | 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 horror film from 2022.

• Ian Fidance | Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club (Address) | 8 p.m. (Thurs-Friday), 7 p.m. (Sat-Sun) | $25 | Matt Donaher and Luisa Isbell support this  comedian, who you may know from “This American Life” or his podcast “Bein’ Ian with Jordan.” (Runs through 6/9)

Friday

• SCCC Presents: June Bloom | Santa Clara Convention Center (5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara) | 4:30-7:30 p.m. | FREE | Kick off the summer with kid-friendly arts + crafts, a petting zoo, flower workshops, small bites, and a wine garden.

• Say Cheese! Street Feast: A Cheese Food Fest | Garden at the Flea (1590 Bereryessa Rd., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | In queso emergencies, check out grilled cheese, macaroni, and innovative creations from local food trucks for what curd only be called a slice of heaven.

• SubZERO Festival | SoFA District (Along S. First St., San Jose) | 5-11 p.m. | FREE | From local vendors and art exhibits to live music and food trucks, check out SJs creative side at this street festival. (Runs through 6/8)

• Pachex + SJZ U19s | SJZ Break Room (310 S. First St., San Jose) | 6 p.m. | FREE (but you’ll want to reserve your tickets on their website) | This SoCal musician blends alternative R&B + Electronic + Reggae music.

• Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures | San Jose Museum of Art (110 S. Market St., San Jose) | 6-9 p.m. | FREE | Part of the First Friday series, check out the new collection by Christina Fernandez while you enjoy the tunes of SJSU alum and bass-playing jazz educator Ryan Trujillo.

• Bay Area Panthers vs. Tucson Sugar Skulls | SAP Center (525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 6:05 p.m. | $19-$99+ | Our western conference leaders take on the second-to-last team in the standings.

• Builders of the Silicon Dream | Montgomery Theater (271 S. Market St., San Jose) | 6:30 p.m. | Watch the award-nominated PBS 60-minute documentary film “Builders of the Silicon Valley Dream,” then enjoy a Q&A session with the director and cast.

• SVS Presents: “All’s Well That Ends Well” | Willow Street Bramhall Park (1320 Willow St., San Jose) | 7 p.m. | FREE | Enjoy this classic Shakespearean romantic comedy of love and tribulations. (Runs Thursdays-Sundays thru 6/23)

• “RIOT!” | Hammer Theatre Center (101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. | $25-$45 | Join the Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus and the Rainbow Women’s Chorus for a showcase of music that commemorates and celebrates social justice, queer rights, and LGBTQIA2S+ Pride.

• Kathy Griffin | California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $45-$125 | Everyone either loves or hates this internationally-renowned D-List comedian.

• The Emo Night Tour | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $22 Week of Show, $25 Day of Show | It was never a phase, mom.

• Turn Me On Dead + Kavarzee + The Axidents | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | FREE | San Jose’s vibrant alt and indie scene is on display at this free show.

• Cattle Call: Drag Performance Open Call Showcase | Renegades Bar (501 W. Taylor St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $5 (at 10 p.m.) | Strut your stuff or see up-and-coming Drag artists compete for host Woo Woo Monroe.

• SERVE: Brat Edition | Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | $10 | Catinni P. Vandon’s weekly showcase gets hyped for Charli XCX’s latest release with performances by Vendetta, Alpha Andromeda, and Diamond Dior. 

Saturday

• “From PDX to SJ” Opening Reception | Empire 7 Studios (525 N. 77th St., Ste. 10, San Jose) | 6-9 p.m. | FREE | BYOB and check out the new exhibit by San Jose Walls (one of the orgs responsible for our many murals) alum + South Bay resident Ryan Bubnis, along with other collections of works by Briana Spencer, Erik Railton, Estee Preda, Lori D., Molly Mendoza, and Nathan McKee. (Exhibit on display through 7/6)

• Aca-word | Montgomery Theater (271 S. Market St., San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. | $20-$25 | Dance and sing along to pop hits and classic rock with this family-friendly Bay Area A Cappella group.

• Rodriguez Brothers | SJZ Break Room (310 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $30 | These Grammy Award-nominated performers have performed at prestigious jazz festivals across the world.

• Funkyman: The Funk is Real | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $20 Advance, $25 Day of Show | NorCal’s supreme overlord of funk celebrates the release of his new intergalactic concept record “The Funk is Real” at this album release show.

• TRASHY: Indie Sleaze | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | FREE (before 10 p.m.), $10 Advance, $15 Day of Show | DJ Basura + special guests BulimicCannibal and Heavenly Arch spin your favorite electroclash, techno, bloghouse, dark wave, and post punk tunes.

• b2b: A Charli XCX Rave | Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | $15 | Look, she’s literally queer culture, so we may as well rave to her new album “Brat.”

• The Hellas + The Roughies + Chef’s Kiss + Tiger’s Eye | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Wish Mondo a happy birthday while you dance it out to these SJ rockers. 

Sunday

• Japantown Farmer’s Market | Gordon Biersch Brewing Co. (357 E. Taylor St., San Jose) | 8 a.m.-Noon | FREE | From dog treats to human treats to Mogu Mogu and a veritable smorgasbord of grocery options, get your shopping done while you groove to Jay Sumabat tunes.

• Alum Rock Village Farmer’s Market | James Lick High School (23 N. White Rd., San Jose) | 8 a.m.-Noon | Bring the biggest tote bag you own (or two or three) to get your weekly shopping done.

• Evergreen Farmers Market | Evergreen Village Square (4055 Evergreen Village Sq., San Jose) | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | FREE | Stock up on berries, summer squash, leafy greens, and all manner of delicious local baked goods + groceries.

• Viva Calle SJ | City Hall (with stops along Santa Clara street, Alum Rock Village, and south to Lake Cunningham Park) | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | FREE | Bike from Downtown to the East Side, with food, entertainment and vendor activations at City Hall, Alum Rock Village, Lake Cunningham Park.

• Lyrics Born | St. James Park (Second and St. James streets, San Jose) | 3:30-7 p.m. | FREE | From his internet cooking show “Dinner in Place,” to lifestyle advice, to some of the biggest bangers of the early 00’s, I’m not sure what you’d know this rapper/producer from, but I like him, I love him.

Newsybits

• Dumpling Cart has “soft-opened” in San Jose’s Downtown Food Hall (82 E. Santa Clara St.), and to celebrate, the new spot partnered with Teazer and is offering a free boba drink with $20 food purchase for the entire month of June.
  

• Santa Clara County could adopt Ranked Choice voting, assuming City Council doesn’t kill it again. According to San Jose Spotlight, the Board of Supervisors is going to hold hearings beginning in August to explore the idea. County voters approved a charter amendment in 1998 to allow the system, but a measure moving it forward was rejected in 2022. CalRCV, the organization behind the new push, will be holding virtual information meetings through the rest of the month.
  

• Last week, the CEO of California Dreamin’ Entertainment, Steve Dooner discussed the opening of the new CaliBunga Water Park (formerly Raging Waters). Speaking about the new logo for the park, Dooner expressively told ABC 7 News, “It’s going to be a big surfboard that says ‘Calibunga.’ And, um… Yep, we’re going crazy.” Fun fact: Dooner was originally a part of Pizza Time Theatre, Inc., and contributed to the company’s newsletter, “The Pizza Times” back when the organization was expanding in the early 80s.

Thanks so much for reading!

At last year’s SubZERO festival in SoFA, I spent a bit of time as a resident interviewer for StageOne Creative Spaces, got to meet the awesome “Mighty” Mike McGee, and enjoyed meeting quite a few of San Jose’s most creative and unique people.

And while I’m not planning to be interviewing anyone in particular this time around, if you’re at the event this weekend, and you see me wandering around in my big Bisexual hat, feel free to say hi.

Until next week,

— Gregg