What’s good, San Jose?

For being the middle of July, this week’s packed with some pretty sweet events. San Jose’s downtown Block Parties return in San Pedro Square, Underground Wrestling + Hip Hop shows, a Broadway Rave, and some of the spiciest foods you’ve ever had the pleasure of trying to power through eating. Also, a local band (and friends of the Newsletter!) are releasing some new music! Check it out below.

Have an event you’d like to share with the great 408? Let me know, and I’ll add it to the next Newsletter.

Wednesday

• Rolling Stones | Levi’s Stadium (4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara) | 7:30 p.m. | $82-$607+ | Potentially your last chance to see these British classic rockers live before Keith Richards and Mick Jagger dissipate into literal dust.

• San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo FC | PayPal Park (1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. | $17-$89+ | Join the Quakes for “Community Night” — where $1 from every ticket sold will benefit the Quakes Foundation’s Gear Up program, which provides soccer balls and equipment to underserved schools, clubs, and youth groups.

• Summer Love Bingo | The Brit Almaden (5027 Almaden Expwy., San Jose) | 7:30-9 p.m. | FREE (but make sure you RSVP via Eventbrite) | Celebrate finding love under the summer sun with tunes about romance, romantic cocktails, and get inspired by “The Notebook” and other love stories. Up for grabs: $100 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk gift card + a $300 Royal Caribbean Cruise Card.

• Nurse’s Night Out Starring Greg “G” Williams | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $30-$82+ | This former-army-vet-turned-registered-nurse shares his hilarious experiences about life in a hospital.

• Karaoke Wednesdays | Mama Kin (374 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | FREE | Showoff your vocal chops and hear other locals do the same at this weekly all ages singing spectacular. (Recurring)

• What the Blank?! Trivia | Renegades Bar (501 W. Taylor St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | FREE | Host Diamond Dior is joined by Lady Jesus and Essa Mamona for a night of pure trivia mayhem. (Recurring)

• The Caravan Lounge Comedy Show | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Join this week’s host, Ato Walker for a showcase of local talent at the best little dive bar in San Jose. (Recurring)

• Bizcochito Latin Party | Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) | 10:30 p.m. | FREE | Drink Specials, Drag, and dancing, Oh MY! Niya La Rey and Silvanna Daniels host this weekly dance party. This week’s guests include Jade Amethyst and Galilea Rivera. (Recurring)

Thursday

• San Pedro Square Block Party | San Pedro Square (N. San Pedro St., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | Hang with your neighbors and check out 50+ local business showcases, along with local makers and artists, get a selfie with the San Pedro Square mural, and check out the food, drinks, and vibe to the tunes of SJ’s own Good Time Collective.

• Gordon Biersch Night Market: Throwback Thursday | Gordon Biersch Brewing Company (357 E. Taylor St., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | From Sam’s Chowder’s Lobster Roll to Gordon Biersch’s Strawberry Hard Cider, they call them throwback favorites, but the love for these dishes is eternal. Groove to the 60’s throwback set from The 408 Collective.

• Pobladores Night Market | Parque De Los Pobladores (510 S. First St., San Jose) | 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. | FREE | Groove to the classic harmonies and alt-country rock sounds of Dear Radio while you check out food trucks, local apparel and wares, and more.

• Viva Parks Free Movie Night: “Minions: The Rise of Gru” | Great Oaks Park (Snow and Giusti drives in Edenvale) | 6-10:30 p.m. | FREE | Bring your blanket and your bag chair and watch every child’s favorite yellow menaces terrorize the west coast in 1976.

• San Jose City Dance: Bollywood | Circle of Palms (110 S. Market St., San Jose) | 6 p.m. | FREE | Learn the basics of Bollywood-style, then ignite the dance floor with your skills.

• BARC Hot Dog Run | Happy Hound (15899 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos) | 6 p.m. | FREE (but reserve your spot on Eventbrite) | Dress like your favorite hot dog condiment, then run, walk, or stroll through Los Gatos! Then, join the Bay Area Run Crew at the post-run social hour at The Happy Hound.

• Color Me Rad | Noble Workshop & Gallery (500 S. Almaden St., San Jose) | 6-8 p.m. | FREE | Celebrate the emerging creativity of youth artists while supporting local art at this closing exhibition.

• Drink & Draw | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 7-11 p.m. | FREE | Slink into a comfy couch and break out the crayons, coloring books, board games, and drinks, and let your creativity soar while you doodle and groove to the tunes of Latin, soul, jazz, and more.

• Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” | City Lights Theatre Company (529 S. Second St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. (Thursday thru Saturday) | Pay What You Can (Thursday), $31-$70 General Admission | This cult classic adaptation is a raucous good time that will leave you in antici… (Runs thru 8/25)

• Pepe Aguilar | SAP Center (525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $20-$123+ | This Grammy + Latin Grammy Award-winning singer and Latin pop star brings his two children, Leonardo + Angela Aguilar, on his “Hasta Los Huesos” tour.

• Night of the Blade | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | FREE | This all vinyl heavy metal night features DJ’s Metal Messiah and Hellabastard.

Friday

• Spicy Food Fest | Garden at the Flea (1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | From hot dogs to spicy Filipino + Mexican cuisine, scorch your taste buds with capsaicin-leaden treats.

• SJBP: Tiki Ride! | Discovery Museum Guadalupe Trail Parking Lot (at the corner of Woz Way and 87) | 7:30 p.m. | FREE | Rollout with your fellow bike enthusiasts down Guadalupe River trail and downtown. Bonus points for decorating your bike!

• Voluntary Hazing | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $15 Advance, $20 Day of Show | Celebrate the release of San Jose’s premiere Skemsko (Emo + Ska) group’s new record “Addictive Little Sounds.” They’ll be joined by fellow SJ rockers Silk Road + Stratosphere.

• Trashy: A Night of Indie Sleaze | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | FREE (before 10 p.m.), $10 Advance, $15 Day of Show | From Bloghouse hits to Dark Wave and Post-Punk classics, DJ Basura and DJ Bit take you on a musical journey through mid-aughts millennial malaise.

• One Love | Mama Kin (374 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m.-2 a.m. | $10 Door, $12.71 Online | Dance along to the tunes of McTate & Soul Poetic, MoneyCha$er$, and DJ Tempo + Venom 347.

• Serve | Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | $10 (this is the usual cover, so YMMV) | If you’re a Diva who divas, join Catinni P. Vandon with guests Silvanna Danniels, Tori Tia, and TuTu Much for this weekly Drag spectacular. (Recurring)

• Wet Summer | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | San Jose rockers are joined by locals Among the Leaves and Comets Near Me.

Saturday

• Summertime at the Flea | Garden at the Flea (1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose) | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | FREE | Celebrate Chicano culture with Lowrider cars + bikes, food trucks, live music courtesy DJ Richard Torres, and more.

• Frozen Sing-Along | The Tech Interactive (201 S. Market St., San Jose) | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Dress in your best Disney costume and cool off with your favorite characters from the Broadway show.

• Bikepacking to Sanborn County Park | Upshift Cycles (1280 The Alameda, San Jose) | 2 p.m. | $20 | Ever gone “bike camping?” You’ll start at Upshift Cycles on The Alameda, and together with a cool group of like-minded cyclists, you’ll ride 16 miles along Los Gatos Creek Trail, up through Vasona Park, all the way up Highway 9 to Sanborn County Park, then camp overnight.

• UGWA: Killing The Business | Narrative Fermentations (101 E. Alma Ave., San Jose) | 6 p.m. | $17 (Eventbrite), $20 Day of Show | Underground pro wrestling heats up with a championship match between Jordan Cruz and Bret The Threat, the return of Rob Shit, and Marco Mayur vs. Fabuloso Fabreezio.

• Authentic Flamenco Presents: Patricia Donn | California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) | 6 p.m. (Saturday), 9 p.m. (Saturday), 8 p.m. (Sunday) | $49-$109 | Internationally renowned dancer and choreographer Patricia Donn leads this passionate celebration of the art of flamenco, in partnership with the Royal Opera of Madrid and SO-LA-NA.

• Broadway Rave | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $15-20 Advance, $20 Day of Show | Channel your inner theatre kid and sing along to your favorite show tunes in this musical-inspired rave.

• Moein | San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose) | 8:30 p.m. | $79-$350 | This Iranian pop and traditional singer is known as “Javdan Sedaye Eshgh,” which roughly translates to “The Eternal Voice of Love.”

• Bayology’s Old School Party | Mama Kin (374 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. | $12.71 | Groove to old school, freestyle, and throwbacks from DJs DMarz, 4Fifteen, Frank Morales, and Double Barell Daryl.

• Trousers Down Underwear Party | Renegade Bar (501 W. Taylor St., San Jose) | 9 p.m.-2 a.m. | $10 Cover | Rock out in your tightie-whities at this twice-monthly underwear party presented by GuyBone. (Recurring)

• Drunken Starfighter | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Bop along to interstellar reggae rock with this SJ-based group + Simple Solution and Nowhere Special.

Sunday

• Boombox Brunch + Domingo Sabrosso | Mama Kin (374 S. First St., San Jose) | 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-Midnight | FREE (Brunch), $12.71-$219.18 (Concert) | Gnosh on delicious brunch while listening to Golden-Era Hip Hop. Then, enjoy tunes from Domingo Sabrosso + Danilo y Orquesta Universal at 5 p.m. (Recurring)

• Shiny Side Up Bike Show | History Park (635 Phelan Ave., San Jose) | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | $5 (children), $10 (adults) | Check out classic cars, custom and vintage bicycles, tasty food truck treats, and all manner of amazing finds from local vendors, as well as activities for kids.

• The Bear Bingo Brunch | The Brit Almaden (5027 Almaden Expwy., San Jose) | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | FREE (but you’ll want to register via Eventbrite) | Say “Yes Chef!” and bring your best Ritchie one-liners for this bingo brunch inspired by the hit show. Up for grabs: a $200 gift card to Thomas Keller's restaurant "Ad Hoc" and merchandise from the show.

• Da City Cypher Presents: “Summer Bash” | The Klubhouse (3242 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose) | 1-8 p.m. | $10 | This all-ages underground hip-hop show with local vendors and food trucks features San Jose’s own BxrBxRos, GatMan, Wet Summer, Msster Karisma, and more.

• Steven Ho | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 3 p.m. | $106 (VIP banquette are the only things left) | You may know this comedian from his “Tips from the ER” video series on TikTok and YouTube. (Yes, there are shows all week, but most are sold out)

• International Surf Classic #7 | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 3 p.m. | $30 Advance, $35 Day of Show | KFJC’s annual Surf Rock special is back featuring the Bay Area’s The Del-Novas, along with Slactone, the Coffin Daggers, the Nebulas, and Strings Aflame.

• Jon “Polar Bear” Gonzalez | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 7 p.m. | $30-$94+ | You may know this Texas-based comedian + podcaster from his “Whites vs. Hispanics” skits on YouTube and Instagram.

• Caravan Mixed Open Mic | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Host Ben Jaramillo invites you to show off your singing, rapping, stand-up, or other talents at this weekly showcase. (Recurring)

Thanks so much for reading!

Way back in ye olde days (prior to the great 2020 panini), I used to work for a radio station in San Jose. While there, I had the pleasure to meet Voluntary Hazing (and one of the members worked for the station, too!).

Not only does the band combine two of my absolute favorite genres, (Ska and Emo), but the Skemsko crew go above and beyond at every show to highlight and uplift local musicians at every single one of their shows.

So shoutout to Voluntary Hazing (yes, all 16-30 of them) — this weekend’s album release party is going to be a total blast. See y’all there!

Until next week,

— Gregg

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