Run tha Streetz

If you’ve been meaning to lace up those running shoes and hit the pavement, it’s going to be the perfect week for it — a ton of running events are slated for and culminating this week/end.

Also, Sharks fans are smitten with a new member of Team Teal, a South Bay community center is in the works, and there’s a brand new restaurant by a local favorite you may be interested in checking out — all in the Newsybits section.

If you have an event (or know of one) you’d like to share with the great 408, let me know, and I’ll add it to the next Newsletter.

Wednesday

• Tully Night Market | Tully Community Ball Fields (880 Tully Rd., San Jose) | 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. | FREE | The final night market of the season features live reggae from Kruel Summer.

• San Jose Shakeout Series | Creekside Socials (56 Barack Obama Blvd., San Jose) | 6-8 p.m. | FREE | Join neighbors and friends for the final weeknight running series leading up to this weekend’s San Jose Half Marathon — featuring music by Hatamoto Surf Deluxe Band + DJ Jay Sumabat, and bites by Churros el Guero and Hula Truck.

• 2024 RTF New Talent Comedy Competition | Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club (157 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale) | 8 p.m. | $12 | The preliminary round kicks off with 15 amateur comics vying for a spot in the competition.

• Femme Fatality | Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Nita La Rey + Silvanna Daniels host a drag battle featuring local artists Vixen Six, Charity Case, Lady Jesus, and Mama Fierce.

• The Caravan Lounge Comedy Show | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Join this week’s host Noah Jones and step up to the mic or see up and coming local talent at this weekly showcase. 

Thursday

• Night Market: Tell Your Spuds | Gordon Biersch Brewery (357 E. Taylor St., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | Groove to the tunes of William Johnston from the SJZ Boombox Truck while you sample loaded french fries and all manner of potatoes from The Rolling Duck, Kabob Trolley, and Smasherz food trucks.

• AAPI Heritage Month Celebration | Garden at the Flea (1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose) | 5-9 p.m. | FREE | Celebrate Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with local food trucks, makers, and artists.

• Joke Development Comedy Class | Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club (157 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale) | 5:30 p.m. | $45 | Learn how to craft your set and write like the pros in this beginners class in comedy.

• Pobladores Night Market | Parque de Los Pobladores (510 S. First St., San Jose) | 5:30-9 p.m. | FREE | Stop by the SJ Downtown booth for a FREE hot dog, but also, check out the local craft vendors, apparel, comic books, and live music.

• BARC May Pub Run | Hapa’s Brewing Company, Los Gatos (114 S. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos) | 6-8 p.m. | FREE | Run, jog, walk, or stroll at your pace for the The Bay Area Run Crew Birthday Celebration. Stay after the route for a post-run beverage at Hapa’s.

• Creative Minds: Sofia Karim | San Jose Museum of Art (110 S. Market St., San Jose) | 7 p.m. | FREE (but registration is encouraged) | Artist, activist, and architect Sofia Karim joins local intellectuals for a conversation about architecture as a language of struggle and resistance.

• Kellen Erskine | Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club (157 W. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale) | 8 p.m. (Thursday), 8 p.m. (Friday), 7 p.m. (Saturday), 7 p.m. (Sunday) | $25 | From Amazon’s “Inside Jokes,” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” this comedian joins Jeff Applebaum + Ben Kolina on the stage. (Runs through 6/2)

• Maria Bamford | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $25 | You may know this classic Comedy Central comedian from her work on Netflix’s “Lady Dynamite,” “Big Mouth,” and “Arrested Development.”

• Pop Rockz Goes Emo | Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | Who was the better emo group, Paramore or Fall Out Boy? Find out with DJ Ricky as the club spins your faves from the eyeliner and skinny jeans era.

• Möndo Freaks | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 10 p.m. | FREE | These groovy psychedelic rockers are joined by Uncle Andy and the Fuck Around Gang + No Captains.

Friday

• San Jose Greek Festival | Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1260 Davis St., San Jose) | 5-10 p.m. (Friday), 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Saturday), 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Sunday) | $5 General Admission, FREE (children under 12) | OPA! Feel the kefi while you sample authentic Greek food and pastries + live music from Mythos, dancing, and more. (Runs through 6/2)

• Sheryl Underwood | San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. (Friday), 7 p.m. (Saturday), 9:30 p.m. (Saturday) | $35-$95 | You’ll know this comedian from her time on ABC’s “The Talk” (and for a heated exchange which resulted in Sharon Osborne getting kicked off the show in 2021).

• Alex Lucero Band | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $15 Advance, $20 Day of Show | This Santa Cruz-based group blends Americana, Soul, and R&B.

• El Flaco y El Mimoso | San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $96-$146 | Luis Ángel and Luis Antonio López join forces for a Banda extravaganza.

• Zarna Garg | Montgomery Theater (271 S. Market St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $39.50-$95 | You may know this Indian comedian from her Amazon Prime special “One in a Billion” or her podcast “The Zarna Garg Family.”

• PSSY PWR: All Female Hip-Hop Night | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 9 p.m. | $15 Advance, $20 Day of Show | Keep it real, and keep it sexy at this celebration of the best women-MCs in hip hop (and you ain’t need to make no TikTok).

• Mokosos | Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) | 9:30 p.m. | FREE | San Jose’s hardcore chicano punks are joined by Irritant, Cult Mind, and Nucler Blud.

Saturday

• San Jose Half Marathon & 8K | Steven’s Creek Blvd. at Santana Row (Check road closures and route on the race website) | 6 a.m.-Noon (Race starts at 7:30 a.m.) | $20 (408kids Race), $80 (8K), $165 (Half Marathon), $165 (Remote Runner) | From Santana Row to downtown and back, join your friends and neighbors for a jog with musical accompaniment, entertainment, and local vendors.

• Beer City Half San Jose | Almaden Lake Park (15780 Almaden Expy., San Jose) | 7 a.m.-Noon | $30 (Beer Stroll), $55 (5K), $80 (10K), $100 (Half Marathon) | Lace up and enjoy a scenic run along Almaden Lake, Guadalupe River, Los Alamitos Creek, and Calero Creek Trails — then join your fellow runners for a sampling of local and regional brews + kombuchas at the finish line. (Registration ends 6/1)

• SJMADE Fest 2024 | History Park (635 Phelan Ave., San Jose) | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | FREE | Bring the fam and sample over 250+ local makers, artists, designers, curators, chefs, bakers, crafters, and creative small businesses. Meet your new best friend and cuddle with cats in the Kitten Lounge, see performances and dance along at the K-Pop Plaza, featuring DJ AyumiPlease (Saturday) + DJ Peter Lo (Sunday). (Runs through 6/2)

• Open House: Get to Know 3Below | 3Below Theaters & Cafe (288 S. Second St., San Jose) | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | FREE | Learn more about what makes this theater organization a local favorite, and check out free movies, live entertainment, games, youth activities, guest speakers, and more. (Runs through 6/2)

• Peter Pan Story Time | Hicklebee’s Bookstore (1378 Lincoln Ave., San Jose) | Noon-1 p.m. | FREE | Stop in for a free story time, get freebies from Broadway San Jose, and win tickets to see the Peter Pan musical in June.

• 2024 Season Finale Concert | California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) | 2 p.m. | $5-$20 | The San Jose Youth Symphony’s Philharmonic Orchestra’s last hurrah of season will feature the music of Gershwin, Villa-Lobos, and Juan Pablo Contreras.

• Remember the Titans | California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. (Saturday), 2:30 p.m. (Sunday) | $55-$115 | The 2023-2024 symphony season concludes with  rousing renditions of selections from Arturo Márquez, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gustav Mahler. Conducted by Tatsuya Shimono and San Jose’s own Van Cliburn Gold Medalist, Jon Nakamatsu. (Runs through 6/2)

• The Wonder of Elvis | Montgomery Theater (271 S. Market St., San Jose) | 7:30 p.m. | $39-$59 | Get all shook up at this Elvis Tribute show featuring Donny Edwards.

• Conjunto Trujillo Selena Tribute | Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $20 Advance, $25 Day of Show | Celebrate the musical legacy of the late queen of Tejano music with a full live band.

• Levels Dance Party | The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) | 8 p.m. | $15-$20 Advance, $20 Day of Show | From Kid Cudi to Zedd and Avicii (RIP), celebrate the best in electropop at this throwback house party.

Sunday

• Alum Rock Village Farmer’s Market | James Lick High School (23 N. White Rd., San Jose) | 8 a.m.-Noon | From honey to baked goods, flowers to spring onions, get your grocery shopping done locally.

• 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.

• Drag Brunch | SoFA Market (387 S. First St., San Jose) | Noon | FREE | Join Manang and Tori Tia for a special PRIDE MONTH edition of this monthly drag series, featuring Just Karen, Melia, Amaya Moore, Princess Azalea, Silvanna Danniels, Lulu Vee, and DJ Atmos.

• Sesame Street Live! | San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) | 2 p.m. | $28-$68 | Say Hello to Elmo, Cadabby, Cookie Monster + friends and sweep the clouds away where the air is sweet. 

• San Jose Against War: General Meeting | San Jose Peace & Justice Center (48 S. Seventh St., San Jose) | 3-5 p.m. | FREE | Become more involved with local activists, learn about ongoing work, and help the organization plan future actions and campaigns.

• Fleetwood Mac Concert Experience | Montgomery Theater (271 S. Market St., San Jose) | 3 p.m. | $39-$59 | Los Angeles-based Fleetwood Mac tribute group Gypsy Dreams performs your favorite hits from these classic rockers.

• Noah and the Arkiteks | St. James Park (N. Second and E. St. James streets, San Jose) | 3:30-7 p.m. | FREE | Join your friends and neighbors for this outdoor Levitt Concert series each weekend, featuring live music, food, and beverages. This weekend, the funky soul sounds of this San Jose-based group along with openers Pearl Alley Band.

• 2024 Silicon Valley Fashion Week | Santa Clara Convention Center (5001 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara) | 2-6 p.m. | $54-$160 | “Fashion meets technology” as hundreds of designers pack a week’s worth of the latest trends in fashion and tech into a single afternoon in Santa Clara.

Newsybits

• Welcome to San Jose, Smitty! The San Jose Sharks have officially signed forward Will Smith to a three-year entry-level contract. The 19 year-old’s impressive tenure at Boston College ranked him 6th in the country with 25 goals in 41 games. If San Jose can pick up Celebrini next month, we’ll be looking pretty good for next season.

• A new library is in the works for Sunnyvale. City council unanimously voted last week to build a library + learning center next to Lakewood Park. The plans call for 50/50 traditional library and community services, which is sorely needed in Sunnyvale’s north side. San José Spotlight says the $23 million project is expected to begin this summer, and may open as soon as late 2025.

• One of the co-founders behind KoJa Kitchen have a new restaurant in Cupertino — Saigon Blvd. While the Vietnamese eatery hasn’t had an official grand opening (co-owners Hiep Lien + Linh Do just welcomed a baby into their lives), the restaurant features Vietnamese classics (pho, rice plates, spring rolls, and soju cocktails).

Thanks for reading!

I’m not much of a runner, but June always gets me fired up regardless. Because, of course, it’s Pride Month.

I do a lot of volunteer work locally for Silicon Valley Pride, and if you’ll permit me to give a quick little shameless plug: go follow Silicon Valley Pride on Instagram.

I would not be the person I am today without the tireless work of the people who volunteer for that organization. The events they put on are always fun, informative, and help this little bisexual feel a lot closer to community.

So whether you’re an out and proud queer person, closeted, questioning, or are simply an ally…

Happy Pride Month, friends.

Until next week,

— Gregg