A (mvbl) feast for the eyes.

Here’s what’s going down in San Jose:

A veritable smorgasbord of feasts and fine goods is coming to town this week. The 80th annual Santa Clara County Fair returns this week, a new night market opens on Story Road, a dance party crossing Chappell Roan with Shrek (yes, really!), and The Beach Boys come to Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Plus, a big announcement down 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

• San Jose Giants vs. Modesto Nuts | Excite Ballpark (588 E. Alma Ave., San Jose) | 1 p.m. (Wednesday), 6:30 p.m. (Thursday), 7 p.m. (Friday), 6 p.m. (Saturday), 5 p.m. (Sunday) | $18-$32 | A full week of festivities is on tap for SF’s feeder team, from Christmas in July on Friday to Dia De Los Churros on Saturday.

• 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 Sexxen City is joined by Sis Phyllis and Audrey Elle for a night of drag and trivia chaos. (Recurring)

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

Thursday

• Santa Clara County Fair: “From the Fields to the Future” | Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (344 Tully Rd., San Jose) | 3-10 p.m. (Thursday), 3-11 p.m. (Friday), 1-11 p.m. (Saturday), 1-10 p.m. (Sunday) | FREE (Children <5, and Active Military and Veterans), $11.10 (Youth and Seniors), $17.50 (Adults) — check the daily specials as well | Celebrate the 80 year anniversary of this South Bay staple with scores of local performers (from Blues to Banda, Funk to Folklorico, Magic to  Mariachi), carnival rides + games, vendors, food, and livestock shows. (Runs through 8/4)

• Makers and Mindfulness: Acting and Authenticity | Creekside Socials (56 Barack Obama Blvd., San Jose) | 5-7 p.m. | FREE | Learn how to be a “social ninja” and embrace spontaneity in this free workshop featuring local actor, director, and acting instructor Melissa Locsin, with music by Sean Bae.

• Gordon Biersch Night Market: Aloha Thursday | Gordon Biersch Brewing Company (357 E. Taylor St., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | Savor the island vibes and delicious bites from Barya Kitchen, Flor de Pineapple, Hula Truck, and Miss Subi, and enjoy tunes from Ukulele Jams. (Recurring)

• Pobladores Night Market | Parque de Los Pobladores (501 S. First St., San Jose) | 5:30-9 p.m. | FREE | Groove to the bluesy, funky sounds of San Jose’s Grace and the Grit, while you check out food trucks, local apparel and wares, and more. (Recurring)

• BARC Ice Cream Run | Sweet Retreat (946 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose) | 6-8 p.m. | FREE (Eventbrite says it’s “sold out” but there’s no limit on attendance) | Run, walk, or stroll at your pace in your brightest pastel clothing, then join the rest of the Bay Area Run Crew for their post-run social hour at Sweet Retreat.

• Viva Parks Movie Night: “Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken” | Lincoln Glen Park (200 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 6-10:30 p.m. | FREE | Bring your bag chair and blanket, enjoy lawn games + activities, live music, and connect with your neighbors while you watch this animated 2023 DreamWorks coming-of-age film.

• How I Met Your Mother Trivia | Wheelhouse of Willow Glen (Lincoln Ave., San Jose) | 7:30-9 p.m. | $7+ | Win prizes for your best HIMYM cosplay, check out themed McLaren’s Pub drink specials, and test your wit on this legen-wait for it-dary trivia.

• Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” | City Lights Theatre Company (529 S. Second St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. (Thursday thru Saturday) | $31-$70 (General Admission) | Let’s do the time warp again!(Runs thru 8/25)

• Dan Donohue | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $30-$82 | You may know this comedian from his “Danswers” podcast, or from his popular series of TikTok dishwashing comedy sketches.

• Horror! Zombie Pop Up | Caravan Lounge (98 Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | FREE | Shuffle your way into this showcase of horror punk art, local vendors, live music, food, and themed clothing.

• Flow | San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $50-$120 | This Japanese rock band has been the soundtrack for many an Anime and video game OP, from Naruto to Code Geass, Dragon Ball XenoVerse to Tales of Berseria. 

Friday

• Pop Up SJ: Summer Vintage Market | Garden at the Flea (1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose) | 4-9 p.m. (Friday), 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Saturday) | FREE | Pull up and support small businesses while you shop vintage apparel, accessories, collectibles, and more. (Recurring)

• Story Road Night Market | Grand Century Mall (1111 Story Rd., San Jose) | 4-10 p.m. (Friday & Saturday) | FREE | The grand opening weekend of this market will feature local vendors and food trucks, live DJs Velma + Quantum, and more.

• Amazing Art Expo SJ | Doubletree by Hilton San Jose (2050 Gateway Pl., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. (Friday), Noon-6 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday) | FREE (but parking is $5) | Find your next art piece, show off your rad cosplay, and meet voice actors like David Lodge (daddy Jeralt from FE3), David Soblov (Kaido from One Piece), and Michaela Jill Murphy (Toph from ATLA). (Runs through 7/28)

• Kuumba West African Dance workshop | Creekside Socials (56 Barack Obama Blvd., San Jose) | 6-7 p.m. | FREE (but you’ll want to RSVP) | Get ready to sweat while you learn the basics of Kuumba in this educational workshop featuring live drumming.

• CMT MainStage Presents: “Rent” | Montgomery Theatre (271 S. Market St., San Jose) | 7 p.m. (Friday, Saturday), 2 p.m. (Saturday), 1 p.m. (Sunday), 6 p.m. (Sunday) | $20-$30 | See talented youngsters perform this Tony Award-winning musical about struggling artists in New York’s Lower East Side. (Runs through 8/4)

• SVS Presents: “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” | Sanborn Skyline County Park (16055 Sanborn Rd., Saratoga) | 7 p.m. (Thursday thru Sunday) | $28-$58 | Dress in your best Victorian-era garb, and get transported back to the era of ruffled cravats and dreary London streets in this thrilling cat-and-mouse story. Victorian Dress Up Night is Sunday, 7/28. (Runs through 8/30)

• Jessica Kirson | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. (Friday), 9:45 p.m. (Friday), 7 p.m. (Saturday), 9:30 p.m. (Saturday) | $35-$104 | You may know this comedian from her “Talking to Myself” special on Comedy Central, or from her appearances on Fallon and The View.

• Microtiger + Sensory TRiBE | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $15 (Advance), $20 (Day of Show) | San Jose-based Microtiger brings the six-piece reggae, jazz, and cumbia fusion to town, along with the reggae vibes of Santa Cruz’s Sensory TRiBE.

• Los Temerarios | SAP Center (525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) | $78-$426+ | This legendary Grupera band bids their fans farewell on their Hasta Siempre tour. (Also a show on Saturday, 7/27)

• Gimme Gimme Disco | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $15-$20 (General Admission), $20 Day of Show) | Honey honey, take a chance and lace up your dancing shoes, don your disco attire, and shake it to disco hits from the 70s + 80s.

• Michael “Tiny” Lindsey & Da Crew | Mama Kin (374 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | $12-$219+ | This Bay Area-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader has toured with national acts such as Ryan Shaw, Gavin DeGraw, and Matt Nathanson.

• Mothers Against The Future | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | San Jose Metal outfit MATF join forces with LA rockers MAL and psychedelic rock group The Gaslighting Narcissists.

• Shrekell Roan: The Green Swamp Club | Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Baby, do you like this beet? It’s an onion so just dance with meeeeee 🎶 

Saturday

• NAFA Marathi International Film Festival 2024 | California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 a.m.-11 p.m. (Saturday), 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Sunday) | $49-$199 | From masterclass workshops to screenings to meet & greets with film industry actors, directors, and experts, celebrate Western Indian culture in collaboration with the Pune International Film Festival. (Fun fact! Pune is San Jose’s Sister-City).

• Fiesta del Mariachi | School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza (1700 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose) | 5:30 p.m. | $33-$55 | Celebrate community, and embrace the spirit of Mariachi with live music from Bay Area legends Mariachi Azteca, the all-female Mariachi Femenil Orgullo Mexicano, and Folklorico performers, food, and more.

• San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chivas Guadalajara | Levi’s Stadium (4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara) | 7 p.m. | $45-$265+ | This game marks Chivas’ first ever trip to the Bay Area for the Leagues Cup 2024.

• California Standard | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $15 (Advance), $20 (Day of Show) | SJ rockers California Standard are joined by SF-based Lazer Beam and Project Haze.

• Yoi Toki | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | $22-$25 | This future funk/vaporwave traveling dance party comes to San Jose with beats from Macross 82-99, Vantage, and Englewood.

• JC Smith Band | Mama Kin (374 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | $18-$219+ | Local blues legend brings the funk back to San Jose.

• Lip Service | Renegades Bar (501 W. Taylor St., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | $5 | Enjoy drinks, dancing, and drag at this weekly showcase hosted by Chloe & Hedy Aecha. This week’s performers include Helixer, Vixen Six, Slut the Rock Johnson, Fenderqueer, and Lady Jesus. (Recurring)

• NFG + Nuisance in Public + Guns for Sick Children | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | DIY hardcore skate punk like only San Jose can do it. 

Sunday

• Boombox Brunch + Domingo Sabroso | 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 Sabroso + Aiana Son at 5 p.m. (Recurring)

• Music in the Park: The Beach Boys | Plaza de Cesar Chavez (1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose) | 4-10 p.m. | $49.99-$92.99 | Brian Wilson and the Bros are bringin’ some good vibrations to DTSJ.

• Bay Area Panthers vs. San Diego Strike Force | SAP Center (525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose) | 4:05 p.m. | $27-$122 | Round 1 of the IFL playoffs begins with this head-to-head match.

• 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!

Hey friend, so a quick life update from me: I’m going to need to put a pause on this newsletter for the next two weeks.

Long story super short: I got a new job (yay!), and I need to take a week or two (boo!) to get acclimated, take notes, and learn a few new skills. Plus, my new schedule will make it difficult for me to find the time to put this together on the regular like I’ve been doing for the past few months.

Don’t worry! This isn’t goodbye — I just need some time to readjust my schedule, and hopefully I’ll be back in your inbox sometime in mid-August.

Thank you for being here, for finding community in SJ, and for reading this far down into the newsletter. You are a rockstar, and I can’t wait to see you at an event soon.

Until next time,

— Gregg