Plus, Feast Mode returns.
 
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Today’s Forecast

57º | Mostly sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:06 p.m.
 

Downtown San Jose is on the upswing

San Jose’s pandemic recovery ranks high among other US metros
A multicultural group of people enjoy a festival in San Jose's colorful SoFA District. There are tents, food vendors, and a band in the background.
San Jose’s vibrant SoFA District hosts a myriad of events + festivals. | Photo by SJtoday Staff
The term “doom loop” was used to describe San Jose’s struggles amidst the pandemic, but the city might not be in as dire straits as some forecasters were predicting in years’ past.

But, this metro is boomin’ — new data suggests San Jose’s economic recovery is in full swing.

📉 Where we started

In 2019, Santa Clara County created ~36,000 new jobs, and unemployment hovered around 2.5%. Mineta International Airport saw a five-year high of 15.7 million passengers through their hub.

However, by the time 2020 rolled around, unemployment spiked to 14% and nearly 20 out of every 1,000 businesses had shuttered for good. SJC Airport reported more than an 80% drop in air traffic. Nearly overnight, downtown became a ghost town.

📈 Where we are now

Researchers from the University of Toronto took cell phone data showing activity hotspots in downtown areas from several months starting in 2019, and then compared that to the same data for subsequent years.

It was found that San Jose’s current downtown activity is now 96% of where it was in 2019, the third-highest activity among major metropolitan areas in the study.

Here’s how we ranked next to other cities.
  • Las Vegas, NV — 103%
  • El Paso, TX — 97%
  • San Jose, CA — 96%
  • Oakland, CA — 74%
  • San Francisco, CA — 67%
Today, Santa Clara County’s unemployment rate has been on a steady decline, hovering around 3.3% as of August 2023, with the county adding 18,400 jobs. While San Jose’s affordable housing situation continues to struggle, the city approved and broke ground on several new key developments this fall. Passenger traffic at SJC increased by 23.6% over 2022.

We’d have to agree — If you spend any time downtown, the results are obvious. From San Pedro Square to SoFA any day of the week, to almost any weekend in St. James Park or Plaza de Cesar Chavez — there’s always something to do downtown.
Asked

How do you feel about San Jose’s economic recovery?
A. Far too soon to tell.
B. Good, but we have a long way to go.
C. Things are going great.
Vote here
 
Events
Wednesday, Oct. 25
  • What the Blank Trivia | Wednesday, Oct. 25 | 8 p.m. | Renegades Bar, 501 W. Taylor St., San Jose | Free | Enjoy this weekly night of drag performances from rotating hosts with fun prizes + good drinks.
  • Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Wednesday, Oct. 25 | Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose | $26-$61 | Enjoy your Halloween favorites played in this live, multi-sensory experience.
Thursday, Oct. 26
  • Good Karma Bikes Grand Opening Celebration | Thursday, Oct. 26 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Good Karma Bikes, 82 S. Montgomery St., San Jose | Free | Roll by to the San Jose community staple’s newest pad — learn about bike repair, skill development, and roadside safety.
  • UncleDad’s Trivia and Treats Halloween Party & Costume Contest | Thursday, Oct. 26 | 6 p.m. | Clandestine Brewing, 980 S. First St., Ste. B, San Jose | Free | Stop by for a live “UncleDad Talks” podcast episode + live painting.
  • Cutso’s Trading Post | Thursday, Oct. 26 | 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.
Friday, Oct. 27
  • Feast Mode | Friday, Oct. 27 | 4-10 p.m. | Between San Fernando Street and Park Avenue, 125 S. Market St., San Jose | Free | Chow down at this fair boasting vendors from around the Bay Area serving up sweet + savory delights.
  • Slash and Sip: Adult Pumpkin Carving Party | Friday, Oct. 27 | 8-10 p.m. | San Pedro Square Market, 87 N. San Pedro St., San Jose | $30-$60 | Have a scary good time sipping cocktails + carving your masterpiece alongside new friends.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Wellness

Hear the crisp crunch of autumn leaves more clearly
Horizon-Go-hearing-aid-hear.com.png
A user holds the Horizon Go by hear.com. | Photo by hear.com
Imagine the crunch of leaves underfoot, the cries of geese flying south, the wind blowing through the trees, the crackle of a bonfire. What if you couldn’t hear the sounds of fall clearly?

Good news: A 45-day, no-risk trial with Horizon hearing aids means you get to experience all of this, plus:
  • The world’s first hearing aids with dual processing
  • Crystal-clear speech understanding
  • A design so small + comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing it
Try Horizon with a 45-day trial
News Notes
Sports
  • Vamos… The San Jose Earthquakes are MLS playoff bound for the first time since 2020 — and the third time in the last 11 seasons. After finishing their last regular season game against Austin FC with a 1-1 draw, they now face Sporting KC tonight on the road. (The Mercury News)
Closing
  • The Burger Pit announced they will be closing for good after 68 years in business. But don’t worry, you’ll still have time to grab their famous half-pound steerburger before doors shut in April 2024. (San José Spotlight)
Coming Soon
  • Peter’s Bakery is hinting that they’re going to be a part of Hasbro’s official “San Jose Monopoly” board game. While the game isn’t slated to release until Monday, Nov. 20, you can pre-order the game on their website.
Plan Ahead
  • Don your best Halloween costume and bring the kids to the Tech Interactive’s “Tech or Treat” Halloween event being held Saturday, Oct. 28-Sunday, Oct. 29. Explore the BioTinkering lab for Halloween activities + collect treats from all around the museum.
San Josean
  • Tico Coffee roasters CEO Mariana Faerron has been honored as “Environmentalist of the Year” by the Santa Clara County League of Conservation Voters. This award honors her work with Veggielution + her commitment to ethically sourcing her beans. (The Mercury News)
Development
  • San Jose City Council approved a developer’s plans to open a speakeasy in the basement of a building at 2 West Santa Clara St. The plan is to call it “The Vault” and it will feature two bars, live music, and light snacks. No word on when it will open. (Silicon Valley Business Journal)
Seasonal
  • Oh my gourd — check out the finalists for our SJtoday Pumpkin Carving Contest. Vote for your favorite jack-o’-lantern by end of day today + be sure to read our newsletter on Friday, Oct. 27, to see which pumpkin wins.
Finance
Pets
  • Nom Nom’s pre-portioned meals for dogs are made with whole-food ingredients you actually recognize — like sweet potato, beef, and pork. Get 50% off your first order (plus, free shipping).*
Listen

🎵 Don’t miss a beat

Give these San Jose live music venues a listen
A band plays on the small stage of Art Boutiki.
Experience an eclectic lineup of artists at Art Boutiki’s Music Hall. | Photo via @chaekate
Hear that? It’s the scintillating sound of San Jose’s live music venues beckoning you to a performance you’ll never forget.

The concert scene is truly unmatched in our area — from the large SAP Center to the intimate Break Room, there’s a stage for any type of tune. To get to know them all, you must do three things.

Put your hands in the air, wave ‘em like you just don’t care, then lay your eyes (and ears) on our guide.
15+ venues to catch a show at
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The Wrap
 
City Editor Gregg is a smiling white man wearing a black button down shirt. He has a mid-length beard, and is wearing a black hat with a white SJ logo.

Today’s edition by:
Gregg
From the editor
The pumpkins in our SJtoday Pumpkin Carving contest are top tier — but they’ve got stiff competition from City Editor Alyson. Her pumpkin might actually take the cake for most terrifying in all of San Jose.
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