Hey San Jose, Alyson Chuyang + Gregg Aronica here. Between the two of us, we get the privilege of sharing local news, events, and conversations with 57,000+ readers in San Jose here, and on our socials.
If you’ve been a reader for a while, you may recognize Alyson. But, you might have noticed that we’ve got a new face — so after nearly two years of bringing you SJtoday, we thought we should formally introduce (or re-introduce) ourselves.
🥑 Meet Alyson
Q: What’s something every new San Josean oughta know about?
A: Our city has growing pains, but there’s a large community who strive to keep our small town culture alive. Make the effort to go out and explore new restaurants, various pop-up fairs, nightclubs, and more around town — and then come back to me when you feel like there’s “nothing to do in San Jose.”
Q: You’re ordering a drink from a local coffee shop: What’s in it?
A: It’s not actually a coffee shop, but Duc Huong Sandwiches has one of the best + strongest Vietnamese iced coffees in town.
Q: Hit us with your favorite piece of local trivia.
A: While it’s cool that IBM, Apple, Microsoft, and other tech giants got their start in the Silicon Valley, I think the obscure inventions are more impressive. Tell an out-of-towner that the next time they do the Wave at a sports game, eat an Eggo waffle, or visit a Chuck E. Cheese — they can thank San Jose. (Psst... check out even more trivia about the great 408.)
🌲 Meet Gregg
Q: If you could only write about one San Jose-specific topic for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: Most likely anything about the weird history of any San Jose landmark. Almost any business native to San Jose has a fascinating history — and if you spend any amount of time researching, it’ll open up new questions and give you the most bizarre answers. Start me on a Fry’s Electronics rabbit hole and you may regret it five hours later.
Q: If you were taking someone on a tour around San Jose, where are the three places you’re going?
A: Probably the SoFA District because literally everything I love is there: Nirvana Soul for the coffee, SoFA Market for the bites, Guildhouse for the entertainment, and Mama Kin for the after party. If you’re feeling adventurous, we’d probably hit up Almaden Quicksilver for a hike. And you can’t beat the beers at Camino Brewing Co.
Q: What are your tips for parking downtown on a weekend night?
A: Literally any ParkSJ garage. I know that sounds like an extremely basic answer, but there’s always a spot, it’s always convenient, and the first 90 minutes are free. But, you can always park on one of the side-streets near Bird Avenue and walk your way downtown.
Q: You can only choose one local restaurant menu to bring with you to a deserted island — which one is it + why?
A: This is impossible because almost everywhere is delicious. I swear by Los Pericos’ chile verde + house-made horchata. Also, Rosario’s Tacos for some fantastic birria. Or, even Jake’s for the best pizza in the South Bay… see? This question is impossible.
Between the two of us, we get the privilege of sharing the news with thousands of readers in San Jose, daily — both through our newsletter + social feeds. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just subscribed today (welcome, btw), we appreciate you + look forward to many more years in your inbox.