🚈 Let’s backtrack

🎨 Destination: Design

• Speaker Series: Bettie Owen | Wednesday, Oct. 4 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center, 938 The Alameda, San Jose | Free | Hear from the board president of the Rainbow Chamber Silicon Valley.
• What the Blank Trivia | Wednesday, Oct. 4 | 8 p.m. | Renegades Bar, 501 W. Taylor St., San Jose | Free | Enjoy this weekly night of drag performances with rotating hosts, fun prizes, and good drinks.

• Ladies Art Night | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 7 p.m. | School of Visual Philosophy, 1065 The Alameda, San Jose | $30 | Bring your gal pals or meet new ones at this monthly art session — October’s craft is rock painting.
• Cutso’s Trading Post | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 7-11 p.m. | Noite, 399 S. First St., San Jose | Free | Buy, sell, and trade at this weekly market featuring live DJs, a record swap, thrift vendors, and cocktails.
• The Bernal Scream Haunted House | Through Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7-11 p.m. | Sunrize Plaza, 620 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose | $25-$40 | Get spine-chilling thrills at this haunted attraction that’s returning after a seven-year hiatus.
• Anisha Ram | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $25-$75 | The “Currently Cringing” podcast host talks about her experiences as a first-generation Indian American.

• Spider-Man in the Homie-Verse | Friday, Oct. 6 | 4:30-9 p.m. | Cukui, 229 Jackson St., San Jose | Free | Check out this group art show that includes 25+ works from local artists, music, and free prizes.
• BNM: Plant Party | Friday, Oct. 6 | 5-9 p.m. | Garden at the Flea, 1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose | Free | Browse rare + exotic plants, listen to live music, and grab a bite from local food truck vendors.
• First Friday: New Ballet Season Preview | Friday, Oct. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St., San Jose | Free | Sneak a peek at the ballet company’s 2023/2024 season as dancers perform at the Charlotte Wendel Education Center.

• Lots of new businesses have opened at the Great Mall and there’s more coming. Five Below, Dockers Outlet Store, and Ume Tea are already open — while The North Face, Pandora, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and KPOP 1004 are coming soon.

• The City of San Jose’s Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department is adjusting their permitting process to streamline developments. One adjustment will allow developers to upload their plans directly instead of waiting for city staff to input them. (San José Spotlight)

• New Vietnamese coffee shop Lacàphê is drawing hundreds of people from across the Bay Area. The shop specializes in modern spins on traditional Saigon, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese-style coffee drinks. Try fun concoctions like the Eggspresso Hanoi or Ube Coffee at 740 Story Rd., Ste. 5. (SF Chronicle)

• We’ve got some smarties in San Jose. Two Silver Creek High School students, junior Ritwin Narra + now-UCSD freshman Kaylee Nguyen, earned perfect scores on their AP calculus exams — something only 16 students worldwide achieved last spring. Both students give credit to their AP teacher Ms. Leena Guttal’s above-and-beyond teaching. (KRON 4 News)

• FEMA plans to test its Emergency Alert system today, between 11:20 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. This means your phone will receive a message from the federal agency around that time frame. Remember: This is a test.

• Nine residents from Morgan Hill to Mountain View were recently sworn in to the Court Appointed Special Advocates, a program that serves as an in-between for youth in foster care + court officials. The nonprofit is currently looking to recruit more male, bilingual Spanish volunteers. (The Mercury News)

• A bunch of local high school seniors from Basis Independent, Bellarmine College Prep, Leland High School, and Presentation High School have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. There are ~7,140 scholarships up for grabs that almost half of the finalists will secure. (The Mercury News)

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• Wine Stroll | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 5-7 p.m. | Santana Row | $50 | Taste Livermore Valley wines + enjoy live music — a portion of the proceeds benefit Pink Ribbon Good.
• Flex & Chill | Sunday, Oct. 8 | 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Grays Lane, Los Gatos | Free, but donations encouraged | Join a HIIT-style pilates and yoga flow to show support for Valley Health Foundation’s Dr. Ziedler Breast Cancer Fund.
• Making Strides of Silicon Valley | Saturday, Oct. 28 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | California’s Great America | Donations accepted | This walk will begin with a Survivor/Thriver ribbon-cutting and feature music from ShirlJAM.

• Treat yourself this fall with Salt & Ash Soap Co., a clean ingredient skincare line. Relax with the Peppermint Eucalyptus Bar Soap.

• Treat yourself to a self-care upgrade with Roosevelt Supply Co’s Anti-Aging Face Lotion. Keep your skin looking fresh and youthful.

• Ghosts have never looked cuter than on these Halloween glass can cups. Snag them from one of Etsy’s Star Sellers (read: smooth shipping + great reviews).

• Looking for something comfy for fall? This best-selling crewneck sweater can be customized to your style, thanks to colors from nutmeg to apricot to rose red.

• If you’re camping, lounging, or cheering from the sidelines, make things more comfortable with a heated, cushioned folding chair. Adjust the temperature between three heat settings.