Our love for games is out of control 🕹️

5 local spots to play games in San Jose, CA

A line of pinball machines in Miniboss arcade bar.

Game on, San Jose. | Photo via Jessica Te

Whether you’re a casual gamer or head of the online leader boards — there’s something for everyone here in San Jose. Let’s take a look at all the ways you can get your game on.

🎮 MINIBOSS, 52 E. Santa Clara St.
Explore the best of pop culture at Downtown’s popular bar arcade. MINIBOSS boasts 12 pinball machines + 32 arcade games. Decked out in 80s film posters, Tetris blocks, and clever cocktail names like “The Breakfast Club” and “Sailor Venus,” this is a must-see local spot. Psst, it’s also hosting a holiday pop-up until Saturday, Dec. 31.

🎮 Bowlero, 5420 Thornwood Dr.
Bowlero brings dark mode to the bowling alley with black lights + neon decor. Its modern arcade collection includes “Mario Kart,” “The Walking Dead,” and “Space Invaders.” Don’t miss out on weekly specials — including half-price arcade games every Wednesday.

🎮 Round1 USA, 2200 Eastridge Lp.
Two words: claw machines. And if that doesn’t keep you occupied all day, try the extensive arcade, photobooths, bowling lanes, and karaoke rooms.

A row of arcade games. — Get a taste of new and classic games at LvL Uproar.

🎮 LvL Uproar, 439 S. First St.
Greet Brewtus the elephant as you enter this bar arcade. On top of being a major player in the local beer scene, you can also level up your gamer skills with a classic arcade collection + racing games. Check out cornhole and other outdoor lawn games for some outdoor competition.

🎮 Guildhouse, 420 S. First St.
Get involved in community games at this e-sports hub and bar. Grab a drink with a round of tabletop games or watch player tournaments. Keep an eye out for weekly events — including sessions for Magic the Gathering + Super Smash Bros.

Can’t get enough games? Check out our crash course to local gamer history and learn how Pong, Chuck E. Cheese, and Mario have roots in San Jose.

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Dec. 9

Mary Poppins | Friday, Dec. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Montgomery Theatre, 271 S. Market St., San Jose | $45 | Enjoy an irresistible story, unforgettable songs, and breathtaking dance numbers from the Children’s Musical Theater.
Big Jay Oakerson | Friday, Dec. 9-Saturday, Dec. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $25 | Laugh along with one of New York City’s most recognizable and charming comedians.
Meet John Doe | Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 11 | 8 p.m. | The Stage, 490 S. First St., San Jose | $38+ | A reporter’s fake news turns a down-and-out derelict into a national hero and unknowingly makes him a pawn of big business.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Sunday in the Park with George | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 2:30 p.m. | 3 Below Theaters and Lounge, 288 S. Second St., San Jose | $25+ | Inspired by George Seurat’s famous painting, this poetic masterpiece explores the challenges in understanding life and art.
Tidings, Tinsel & TETRA | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 3-5 p.m. | TETRA Hotel, 400 W. Java Dr., Sunnyvale | Free | Enjoy live music from local artists and a special appearance by Mrs. Claus presented by drag performers.
The 5th Annual Toys For Tots Bar Crawl | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 4 p.m.-12 a.m. | The Brit Sports Pub & Patio, 173 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose | $20 | Donate toys, sport your holiday gear, and get ready to party.

Sunday, Dec. 11

Oakridge Farmers Market | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Westfield Oakridge, 5420 Thornwood Dr., San Jose | Free | Get fresh produce, live entertainment, and more at this year-round market.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 1:25 p.m. | Levi’s Stadium, 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara | $190+ | Get decked out in red + gold.
Percussion Holiday Concert | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 7 p.m. | California Theatre, 345 S. First St., San Jose | $25 | Listen to holiday favorites and classical selections played by the best young percussionists in California and beyond.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE THIS MONTH

Weather

56º | Mostly cloudy | 20% chance of rain ⛅

Sports

We feel the need... the need for speed to get these tickets. The San Jose Barracuda are hosting “Top Gun" night at tonight’s match against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Tickets start at $13 and the first 2,000 fans in the arena will receive a “Top Gun” cap. 🏒
The San Jose Earthquakes have signed midfielder Judson to a new contract for the 2023 MLS season. Since joining the Quakes ahead of the 2019 season, Judson has made 87 MLS appearances, which include 70 starts. ⚽

Legacy

Community activist and co-founder of the Healing Grove Health Center, Maria Marcelo, died this week while leading a holiday procession. Maria was also the former Guadalupe Washington Neighborhood Association president. Rest in peace, Maria. 🕊️ (KRON 4 News)

Featured

Metro Silicon Valley has released its “Best of Silicon Valley 2022" list, featuring a ton of establishments that locals loved this year — from “best new nanobrewery” to “best venue glow-up.” If you’re a featured honoree, you can celebrate your win and order a Metro plaque. 🏆 (Metro Silicon Valley)

San Josean

San Jose-raised Pat Hughes, the radio voice of the Chicago Cubs since 1996, was recently named the recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award and will be honored during the Hall of Fame Weekend on July 21-24, 2023. Pat graduated from Branham High School and San Jose State University. 🎙️ (Silicon Valley)

Biz

Little Saigon Plaza on Story Road was recently bought for $11.6 million by a Millbrae-based family foundation. This is the second time the retail and restaurant center has been bought this year, following Intelli’s $9 million purchase just under a year ago — signaling a rising value in retail plazas. 💰 (The Mercury News)

Stat

Of all the challenges people have faced in 2022, 43% of buyers said finding a home that best suits their needs was the toughest challenge.*

Shop

Wanna gift outside the box this year? Opt for an experiential gift from Uncommon Goods. From monthly gift subscriptions (like this Game of the Month Subscription) to hands-on classes taught by expert instructors (like a Raindrop Cake Class or Paint Your Pet Class), there’s something for everyone on your list.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Woah, park it right there, what’s going on?

San Jose, CA becomes largest city to rid of parking minimums

A skyline shot of Downtown San Jose including a large parking lot.

Soon, large parking lots will be a thing of the past. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

This week, San Jose City Council unanimously voted to get rid of parking requirements for new developments — doing away with a standard that has been in place since 1965.

In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a statewide law to abolish parking minimums for new developments near major public transit stops, but no other city as large as ours has made this move citywide.

What are the advantages? Of course, there will be more space to utilize — if you’ve seen large parking lots that are frequently empty, you know what we mean.

It will save a lot of money. Parking garages are estimated to cost about $50,000 per space to build. Transit officials claim that housing prices are also driven higher because parking space hikes up per-unit costs of developments.

So, let us know — what do you think of this change?

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Alyson.

Editor’s pick: In Metro Silicon Valley’s “Best of” for this year, Camino Brewing Co. seemed to be our region’s fan favorite in multiple categories. I want to give *snaps* to its co-founder Allen Korenstein for building a great community space in it — that also serves fresh brews. 🍻

Missed the last newsletter? We broke down our recent score from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alyson Chuyang, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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