Plus, legendary rockers to end tour in the South Bay
 
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57º | Mostly sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:06 p.m.
 

History

San Jose decades: The 2000s
A skyline view of San Jose from the east foothills, showing downtown, Lake Cunningham Park, Reid Hillview County airport, and east side suburbia.
A view from the east foothills of San Jose looking downtown, circa 2009. | Photo by Michael
Dust off your Myspace account, because we’re back with another decade of San Jose’s history, and this time, we’re traveling back to the 2000s.

📈 Population: 894,943
🗳️ Mayors: Ron Gonzales (1999-2007), Chuck Reed (2007-2015)

San Jose City Hall + Rotunda with flagpoles in the foreground.

The City Hall Rotunda in Downtown San Jose.

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Photo by SJtoday staff

2000 — The Burbank Cinema on South Bascom Avenue was shut down. Downtown’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library hosted its groundbreaking ceremony.

2001 — The Improv Comedy Club signed a 10-year lease for the Jose Theatre, the oldest in San Jose, and opened a year later.

2002 — Symphony Silicon Valley was founded. An 8-alarm fire ripped through Santana Row during construction — considered the largest fire in San Jose’s history.

2003 — The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library opened as the largest joint university + city library west of the Mississippi. Local popular bar The Wagon Wheel was demolished.

2004 — The historic California Theatre reopened. After closing in 2002, Alma Bowl was torn down for a residential development.

2005 — The current San Jose City Hall Rotunda was built. Downtown San Jose hosted its inaugural Grand Prix of the 2005 Champ Car World Series and attracted 62,000+ fans.

A very pleased Norman Y. Mineta receiving the 2006 Presidential Medal of Freedom by former president George W. Bush, who stands behind him, affixing the medal.

San Jose’s Norman Y. Mineta served as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation from 2001-2006.

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Photo by Shealah Craighead

2006 — San Josean Norman Y. Mineta received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The A Slice of New York pizzeria opened.

2007 — A 4-alarm fire destroyed the historic, 126-year-old Donner-Houghton House. The SJSU Spartans rivalry game against Stanford was renamed “The Bill Walsh Legacy Game,” after his death earlier that year.

2008 — The 88-residential apartment building was constructed, and at the time, was the tallest building in San Jose.

2009 — Legendary SJ tattoo artist Yun Bing Kwan, aka Pinky, retired. Pruneyard’s Camera 7 movie theater (now Pruneyard Cinemas) converted its auditoriums to Sony 4K digital projection, becoming the only theater in the South Bay with that capability at the time.
San Jose, by the decade
 
Events
Wednesday, Nov. 22
  • The Night Before Thanksgiving! | Wednesday, Nov. 22 | 8 p.m. | The Art Boutiki, 44 Race St., San Jose | $15-$20 | Enjoy the venue’s annual event featuring the soulful Noah and the Arkiteks.
Thursday, Nov. 23
  • Thanksgiving Brunch at Signia San Jose | Thursday, Nov. 23 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Signia By Hilton San Jose, 170 S. Market St., San Jose | $74-$131 | This one-of-a-kind buffet features sweet and savory seasonal favorites for the entire family.
  • Jingle Jam | Through Sunday, Dec. 31 | 6:30 p.m. | Nomikai, 48 S. First St., San Jose | Free | This bar’s newest holiday pop-up brings festive cheer with performances + drink specials.
Friday, Nov. 24
  • Enchant Christmas | Friday, Nov. 24 | 5:30-10:30 p.m. | PayPal Park, 1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose | $25-$33 | The larger-than-life light maze experience returns to PayPal Park with photo ops, a holiday gift village, an ice skating trail, and more.
  • Engelbert Humperdinck - A Winter World Of Love | Friday, Nov. 24 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Civic, 135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose | $45.50-$85.50 | Enjoy holiday classics + the greatest hits from this multi-Grammy nominated singer.
  • Elf Online Trivia for Small Business Saturday! | Friday, Nov. 24 | 8-9 p.m. | Virtual | $9-$10 | Play from the comfort of your couch + win prizes from local businesses like Nox Cookie Bar, City Lights Theater, Britannia Arms Almaden, and more.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Development
  • A site near the Barryessa BART station is being eyed for ~400 townhomes — though previous plans included condos, apartments + single-family homes. The plans are pending City Council approval, and the timeline for the project is currently unclear. (The Mercury News)
Opening
  • Faultline Brewing is shaking things up with a new identity. The owners are retiring the “Faultline” brand and merging with the already-existing Laughing Monk Brewing, which is also under the same ownership group. Hop-heads fret not, the same beers will continue to be on tap through the change. (The Mercury News)
Family
  • Bleeding hearts of the world unite… The Grinch is taking over San Jose for multiple appearances, including Santana Row + the tree lighting ceremony in Christmas in the Park, and will be available for holiday photos.
Concert
  • Legendary rockers The Rolling Stones announced dates for their “Hackney Diamonds Tour,” in support of their first album of original music in ~18 years. The tour will conclude at Levi’s Stadium July 17, 2024. Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 1. (KRON4)
Shop
  • Have an active loved one on your shopping list? Upway delivers rigorously inspected, certified, and 99% pre-assembled ebikes from top brands (think: Specialized, Aventon, and Super73) directly to your doorstep. Get up to $1,200 off for Black Friday, and score free express shipping with code TREE.*
 
The Buy

The Buy 11.22.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A bundle we’ll be snacking on all season, especially since it will be on sale this Saturday.
Answered

What would you name VTA’s tunnel boring machine?

Answered: What would you name the VTA tunnel boring machine?
A rendering of BART's phase 2 in downtown San Jose, featuring tunnels beneath the Lacey Bryant mural on San Carlos Street.
VTA’s rendering of Phase 2 of the project to connect downtown San Jose to Santa Clara. | Photo courtesy VTA
BART’s expansion into San Jose requires pretty heavy machinery. As is tradition when it comes to machines of this nature, VTA wants you to come up with a name.

While the naming contest doesn’t begin until 2024, we asked you: what would you name the tunnel boring machine? Here’s what you said:

🥁 Proper puntification

  • San Hole-sé (@bro_gus + @connor.wolf)
  • BARTbasaur (@adayinthelifeofunohoo)
  • Bore-ange Sauce (@jodyamable)
  • La Vicbore-ia (@matxalonso)
  • Mt. Umunhole (@twophonebabydeej)

🚈 Name McNamingface

  • Boring McBoringFace (@jrbinsv)
  • Barty McBartFace (@fancy.francie)
  • Tunnel McTunnelFace (@eddiethegoat2)
  • Diggy McDiggerson (@brownbat)

🦈 Sports-themed

  • Sharktransportes (@pinkthebarber)
  • Shark City Tunnel (@4o8_zachh)
  • San Jose Land Shark (@emikomasukawa)
  • The Zamboni (@joaquin_in_power)
  • The Earth Quaker (@aahn.7)

Other Unique ideas

  • The Way to San Jose (@shariskatesthriftsanddiys)
  • Holy Bartoroni (@jazzzzzzzae)
  • San Jose Molés (@vote4phildolan + @angeljesus1mtz)
  • Ohlone Tunnel (@whoisollie16)
  • Ya Digging Machine (@expressrailfanner)
  • The BARTonator (@adriantherealest1)
Do you have an idea for the machine’s moniker?
Let us know
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Gregg
From the editor
Every year after Thanksgiving dinner, my family has a tradition: the Silly Hat Walk, wherein we put funny hats, colanders, pots + pans, or pillows on our heads and wander around our neighborhood singing songs + telling stories. Does your family have any fun holiday traditions like this? Let me know.
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