Plus, the SF Giants are coming.
 
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57º | Mostly sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise: 7:22 a.m. | Sunset: 5:06 p.m.
 

👟 Walk it out
People walking down Paseo de San Antonio.
How walkable do you think SJ is? | Photo via @pmfgphoto
If you’ve been singing the lyrics “I walk a lonely road” a lot lately, you’re not… alone (well, in a sense). San Jose roads are actually less lonely than many, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

If national averages indicate anything, it’s that roads overall may have been more lonely during the past few years. According to a recent data report by Streetlight, annual average daily walking trips dropped 36% in the US between 2019 and 2022.

How does that national average shake out in San Jose, and where are the best spots to raise those national trend (and step count) numbers? Let’s take a look.

By the numbers

    • -31% | Percent change in walking trips in California
    • -33% | Percent change in walking trips in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
    • 51 | San Jose’s score out of 100 on Walk Score’s walkability meter
    What does a percent change in walking trips mean? Say a metro area sees a -50% change in walking trips. This means, on average, walking trips declined by 50% in that area. (For the record, none of the top 100 metros in the study saw that much of a decline — the biggest dip was 49% in Akron, OH.)

    Where to walk the walk

    Wondering where you can get your steps in? Check out these pedestrian-friendly spots around town, from local parks to protected streets.
    • San Pedro Square | This social hub is our favorite place to stroll around for food, shopping, and drinks — and it will get even better for pedestrians soon.
    • Guadalupe River Trail | Walk nine miles through public murals, historic monuments, and art installations that all tell the story of San Jose + Silicon Valley.
    • Vasona Lake County Park | Spanning 152 acres, enjoy a nice walk around the lake or along Los Gatos Creek Parkway — a paved 9.5-mile trail.
    Asked

    Which US state’s average daily walking activity had the smallest decline from 2019-2022?
    A. New Jersey
    B. California
    C. New York
    D. Montana
    Take a guess
     
    Events
    Monday, Dec. 18
    • Christmas Tamalada and Boutique | Monday, Dec. 18 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | SJV Community Center, 4600 Hyland Ave., San Jose | $0-$45 | Learn to make tamales, enjoy live music with Los Amigos + shop at the Christmas Boutique in this community event to support agricultural workers.
    • Trivia Night | Monday, Dec. 18 | 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.
    Tuesday, Dec. 19
    • San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings | Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | SAP Center, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose | $34-$463 | The Sharks try to continue their hot streak against their fiercest Pacific Division rivals.
    • Karaoke Night | Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 8-11:45 p.m. | Renegades Bar, 501 W. Taylor St., San Jose | Free | Enjoy local talent or step up to the mic yourself at this weekly event.
    Wednesday, Dec. 20
    • Joey Avery | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $25-$80 | Enjoy an evening of laughter with the comedian the SF Chronicle named as one of their “Comics on the Rise.”
    Events calendar here
    Click here to have your event featured.
     
    News Notes
    Development
    • A 165,148-sqft Costco is being proposed at the Westgate West Shopping Center on the corner of Lawrence Expressway + Prospect Road. The project plans to clear 188,265 sqft of existing buildings and 115 trees. The public comment period is open until Feb. 20, 2024.
    Community
    • While out holiday shopping, you may see more police officers around. The San Jose police department is increasing its presence in busier local malls to stop retail theft. For four days out of the week, one sergeant + three officers conduct six-hour evening patrols. (CBS News)
    Sports
    • The SF Giants are coming to San Jose. This year, the team is reimagining their one-day Fan Fest into a four-city tour through the Bay Area. On Friday, Jan. 27, pitcher + SJ native Kyle Harrison and hitting coach Pat Burrell will host the event at San Pedro Square Market. (The Mercury News)
    Biz
    • One Santana West, a new office building in Santana Row, has leased its first tenant — financial + insurance company Acrisure. About 150 workers will move in mid-April of next year. This lease signals a positive direction in the Bay Area’s declining office market. (The Mercury News)
    Award
    • A win for local journalism. Local nonprofit news outlet San José Spotlight was recently recognized by the Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards, and placed first in three categories. The team brought home awards in Overall Excellence, Investigative Reporting, and News Story. (San José Spotlight)
     
    Announced

    🛍️ The flea market will stay open until 2026

    The future of San Jose’s historic flea market
    The "Welcome to San Jose" sign at the Garden at the Flea.
    The Garden at the Flea hosts many weekly markets and pop-ups. | Photo by SJtoday staff
    It seems that we can all enjoy La Pulga for a little bit longer.

    In June 2021, the city of San Jose approved rezoning San Jose’s historic flea market to make way for a Berryessa BART Urban Village.

    The redevelopment initially pitched replacing it with a massive tech campus, but developers switched plans to propose a mixed-use housing development.

    Recently, it was announced that the Berryessa Flea Market will be open until Jan. 1, 2026.

    The developers are still holding to their promise of notifying the vendors one year before the development begins. The city is currently working on a plan for relocation, but nothing is set in stone yet.

    We’d love to hear your thoughts on this redevelopment — give us a piece of your mind.
    The Buy

    The Buy 12.18.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
    A great game you can break out with the family this holiday season. Learn the rules to “Ransom Notes” in under a minute and get ready for belly laughs.
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    The Wrap
     
    Alyson Chuyang headshot

    Today’s edition by:
    Alyson
    From the editor
    Thank goodness for San Jose Made’s Winter Wonder Market this past weekend, I think I can confidently say that all my family + friends’ Christmas gifts are wrapped up. Still need to do some last-minute shopping? Head to MOMENT in San Pedro Square or Japantown for some cute custom goods.
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