11.27.2023

SUBSCRIBE | REFER

Today’s Forecast

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

🚘 The lowrider is the one to meet, yeah

5 Minute Pitch: The ABCs of Lowriding by Ricardo Cortez

Ricardo Cortez, in a brown flannel, holds up a copy of his children's book, "The ABC's of Lowriding — written by R. Cortez"

A new book by local artist Ricardo Cortez breaks down lowriding terminology. | Photo by SJtoday staff

Hydraulic lifts, hand-painted art, delicate detailing. San Jose has been host to brilliant feats of modern engineering. Not in the tech sector — we’re talking about lowriding.

In this edition of 5 Minute Pitch, where we spend five minutes with random San Joseans — we’re talking to artist Ricardo Cortez, Director of Marketing at the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University. Cortez’s new children’s book, “The ABC’s of Lowriding,” discusses the people, traditions + skills that you can discover through the culture.

Ricardo Cortez's white lowriding car, in front of a mural on the side of a building that says "Greetings from San Jose" with a stylized city skyline. — Cortez’s “Chicano Limousine” is a modified Buick Le Sabre.
|
Photo courtesy @mrlowriderfever

🛞 Q: What is important about lowrider culture in San Jose?

A: We were pioneers back when lowriding started to flourish in the early ‘70s, and there were a lot of innovations that came out of San Jose lowrider culture. I mean, you have Story and King blowing up as a major cruising hub (for all of California, really). You have innovations in hydraulic technology with people like Andy Douglas. And some of the first lowrider car clubs started right here in San Jose for Northern California.

🌹 Q: What does your book do to close this knowledge gap?

A: So this is more of a simplified version of lowrider culture. And what it aims to do is have kids be more curious about the culture that their families might be a part of. In the books there are illustrations that hopefully kids will gravitate towards. At the end of the book, there’s a whole photo album of vintage Lowrider photos from both LA and San Jose. So the aim is to kind of create these conversations, these dialogues that can happen with the older generations, and translate that to the newer generation.

Know an interesting San Josean that we can interview next? Send us tips.

Find his orange sauce plug

Events

Monday, Nov. 27

Trivia Night | Monday, Nov. 27 | 6:30 p.m. | Park Station Hashery, 1701 Park Ave., San Jose | Free | Grab a team of up to six at this weekly event hosted by local comedians.
San Jose Scottish Country Dance Class | Monday, Nov. 27 | 7:30-10 p.m. | American Legion Willow Glen Post 318, 1504 Minnesota Ave., San Jose | Free | All levels are welcome to this dance lesson — your first class is free.

Tuesday, Nov. 28

Polar Play Days at The Tech Interactive | Tuesday, Nov. 28-Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | The Tech Interactive, 201 S. Market St., San Jose | $28-$34 | These STEM workshops include building ice hotels, creating snowmen with mushroom bricks, and catching special features in the IMAX Dome Theater.
Tully Night Market | Tuesday, Nov. 28 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Tully Community Ballfields, 800 Tully Rd., San Jose | Free | This fall market is back with gourmet food trucks, local vendors, and live entertainment.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! the Musical | Tuesday, Nov. 28-Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 7:30 p.m. | San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose | $39-$89 | Enjoy this whimsical, musical delight as the Grinch learns the true meaning of Christmas.

Wednesday, Nov. 29

Femme Fatality Drag Battle | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 10 p.m. | Splash Video Dance Bar, 65 Post St., San Jose | Free | The queens go head-to-head to figure out who will face their special guest lip-syncer.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Wellness

Get 25% off Halle Berry’s favorite probiotic

Pendulum-Metabolic-Daily-Halle-Berry-National-11.27.23.gif

Celebrate Cyber Monday from the inside out with 25% off Halle Berry’s favorite probiotic. | Photo by Metabolic Daily

Get ahead of the bloat and exhaustion this holiday season.

Instead, kick start your metabolism from the inside out with 25% off Halle Berry’s favorite probiotic: Metabolic Daily.

This multi-strain probiotic helps metabolize sugars and carbs and converts food into energy more efficiently¹, plus it sustains energy levels — perfect for this busy season.

Use code 6AMCITY25 for 25% off your first month of any membership now until November 30.

Use code 6AMCITY25 for 25% off

¹Based on in vitro studies

News Notes

Today Is

Cyber Monday. Missed a great Black Friday deal? No worries — tons of local shops are hosting online deals now until midnight. The best part? You get to skip the lines. Check out sales like ice skating sessions at Sharks Ice, holiday coffees at Nirvana Soul, and storewide at Books Inc.

Transit

Caltrain service between San Jose’s Diridon and Tamien stations will be suspended this week, as crews work to electrify service between the two stations. Both stations will re-open Friday, Dec. 1. This work is a part of Caltrain’s 2024 Electrified Service Vision, which is expected to complete Fall 2024. (KRON4)

Edu

The number of students struggling with housing insecurity in East San Jose schools has tripled in just three years. The East Side Education Foundation and school officials are working together to address the issue + ensure students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs are met. (San Jose Spotlight)

Biz

Some parklets in San Jose may close, as the city shifts the costs of installation + rentals. Officials are offering $35,000 grants to ease the transition, but many shops are struggling with the sticker shock. Of the 20 parklets in the city, only ten have applied for the permanent space. (The Mercury News)

Open

Christmas in the Park is now open at Plaza De Cesar Chavez, and the free event has a few fun additions: a newly remodeled Santa’s House + a Saint Nick meet-and-greet. There’s also the new Park Tavern for adults, and set of Habitat for Humanity playhouses. (The Mercury News)

Seasonal

San Jose may not experience the seasons like some other cities, but you can experience the beautiful fall colors. This interactive map shows some of the best places to see the changing leaves throughout the Bay Area. We recommend Alum Rock or Castle Rock parks for those seriously splendid views. (SF Gate)

Featured Deal

Gift sharp, sophisticated menswear... for 50% off. Black Friday through Cyber Monday, score 50% off everything online at Harlestons — the Golf Digest/Golfweek/Golf Channel-featured premium men’s apparel brand — with our exclusive code: BF50. (We especially love their performance polos.) Bonus: Free shipping on $125+ and easy returns, always.*

Shop

Give the gift of grooming this holiday season (and save big). Take 25% off sitewide during MANSCAPED’s Cyber Monday sale and shop best-sellers like The Lawn Mower® 5.0 Ultra body hair trimmer, The Performance Package 5.0 Ultra full-body grooming kit, and the stocking stuffer-worthy Body Buffer silicone scrubber.*

The Buy

The Buy 11.27.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Something leather, something botanical, or something indulgent from Six & Main’s Treat Yourself Collection — because it’s all 30% off for Cyber Monday.

Share SJtoday

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_27}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Gregg

From the editor

The South Bay was the site of the very first Bullwinkle’s Family Food ‘n’ Fun Restaurant (at the corner of Homestead and Lawrence Expressway). And while there are no locations in the Bay Area anymore, one California spot still exists in Riverside, CA. Road trip, anyone?

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY