Embrace the holiday giving season with this guide that’s got something for everyone, including local finds. | Graphic by 6AM City
Season’s greetings, San Jose. Holiday shopping time is upon us — look no further than these 90+ gift ideas, including unique local treasures and the season’s hottest items.
Gifts for singles
Local pick:Yoga membership | $98+ | Give your friend a moment of calm at this community-based nonprofit studio.
Automatic curtain opener | $89.99 | A smart device that opens curtains automatically by smartphone app, Alexa, or Google Home — they can even set schedules.
Sherpa-lined flannel shirt jacket | $76.95+ | Choose your favorite plaid pattern + snag them a warm jacket great for hiking, trekking, and camping all season long.
Gifts for pet owners
Local pick:Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery gift card | $10+ | Let them hang out on the patio with a draft brew and check out its massive menu of delicious bites — dogs allowed.
Pawprint keepsake kit | $16.95 | A DIY kit for pet owners to make their very own personalized clay pet keepsake.
Almond Cow Nut Milk Maker | $249.95 | The ultimate gift for your dairy-free friend, this nut milk maker can turn their favorite nut or seed into milk at the touch of a button.
Stuffed burger press | $19.95 | Foodie friends can make burgers stuffed with cheese, bacon, onions, jalapenos, or whatever they dream up with this grill accessory.
Enchant Christmas San Jose | Through Sunday, Dec. 29 | 5:30-10:30 p.m. | PayPal Park | $27+ | Explore 80,000-sqft of light sculptures at the World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze experience, hit the ice skating trail, ride the Ferris Wheel, and visit Santa.
San Jose Barracuda vs. Calgary Wranglers | 6 p.m. | Tech CU Arena | $22+ | It’s “Hockey is for Everyone” night at the arena, a theme all about inclusivity for fans.
Sunday, Nov. 17
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks | 1:05 p.m. | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | $120+ | Suit up in your red, black, white + gold — it’s time to keep up our winning streak against these silly birds.
Family Paint Night | 4 p.m. | The Art Beat, 68 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell | $50 | Bring the family out to play games and paint a canvas — there’s a pizza included, so make a whole evening of it.
Wednesday, Nov. 20
Wicked Trivia Night at Round Table Almaden | 7-9 p.m. | Round Table Pizza at Redmond Ave., San Jose | $6+ | Think: Sing-along trivia, costume contests, and food and drink specials that defy gravity.
Thursday, Nov. 21
Becky G | 8 p.m. | SAP Center at San José | $85+ | The award-winning Latin pop star headlines the great 408.
Friday, Nov. 22
“Come From Away” | Through Nov. 24 | Various times | San Jose Center for the Performing Arts | $58+ | This musical chronicles the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them on Sept. 11, 2001.
✨ Get lost in the world’s largest Christmas light maze
Presented By Enchant Christmas
Set against the backdrop of a captivating original story, Reindeer Games, your adventure leads you through 80,000 sqft of breathtaking light sculptures as you search for the missing bells the reindeer require to fly Santa’s sleigh.|Photos courtesy of Enchant Christmas; GIF by 6AM City
The San Jose community can once again immerse themselves amidst a ballpark field full of larger-than-life light sculptures, an ice skating trail, and countless other festive attractions from Friday, Nov. 22 to Sunday, Dec. 29.
Plan a holly, jolly good time for your friends and family this holiday season.
Due to declining enrollment and a budget shortfall, the Berryessa Union School District is considering closing three local schools. The campuses have not been finalized, but a decision will be made by Thursday, Dec. 18. The district is home to 10 elementary and three middle schools, some of which might merge. (San Jose Spotlight)
Civic
San Jose’s pilot camera safety program launched this week, giving free security cameras to 35 businesses in District 5 in an effort to curb vandalism + break-ins. Each device is registered with the San Jose Police Department. If the program proves successful, the city may expand it across the eastside. (ABC 7)
Sports
What a shake-up. The San Jose Earthquakes hired five-time MLS Cup champion Bruce Arena as the team’s sporting director + head coach ahead of the 2025 MLS season. Arena is the most decorated coach in MLS history, and he’s hoping to make the Quakes “a lot more competitive in 2025.”
Coming Soon
Not us screaming like Buddy the Elf. Christmas in the Park’s Drive-Thru Light Show opens on Thursday, Nov. 21 in History Park, where it’ll run through Jan. 1, 2025; tickets cost $25 per car. Meanwhile, the free Downtown Park at Plaza de Cesar Chavez will open on Friday, Nov. 29.
Watch
Bay FC may have fallen short in the NWSL postseason, but our local team’s inaugural season was one for the books. The team put together a heartwarming video thanking fans for their devotion and “always being the loudest fans” — see you in 2025, Bay FC.
Announced
Actor, podcaster, and stand-up superstar Shane Gillis will launch a 27-city comedy tour in 2025, and one of his stops will be at SAP Center. Gillis will headline the SJ venue on Saturday, June 28 — tickets are now on sale. (Variety)
Biz
Cisco Systems opened a new office on the south side of Santana Row where 3,900 employees from Cisco + Splunk will be able to work. The 236,000-sqft building on Olsen Drive will be known as Cisco Santana Row, and is close to local shops, restaurants, and other amenities. (The Mercury News)
Real Estate
A new Redfin study says San Jose has the highest percentage of renters among the 75 largest metropolitan areas in the US — likely because renting is cheaper than owning a home right now in certain cities. Currently, 52% of local households are renters, up from 46.3% last year.
Ranked
According to a new Forbes Advisor study, San Jose is the healthiest city in the US. The research compared the 46 most populated cities in the US across eight metrics, and the great 408 stood out with its low rates of opioid overdoses, obesity, smoking, and heart disease.
Active
King Tides — the highest tides of the year — continue this weekend. The Silicon Valley Bike Coalition will lead a ride to Ravenswood Preserve to check out the tides today; cyclists can join at several meet-up points between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (depending on how far they want to ride).
Pets
Furniture gets scratched, shoes get chewed, toys go missing. These are regular occurrences in life with pets. But a $10,000 emergency surgery? That’s a whole other ball game. Fetch Pet Insurance could help you offset some of these nightmare scenarios by providing comprehensive coverage and up to 90% reimbursement.*
Finance
High interest rates are a major concern, and paying down debt is a top priority for many Americans. If we told you there was a trending card that now has 0% intro APR on balance transfers into 2026, would you believe us? You should.*
Shop
Unwrap the season’s best audience exposure with us. Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is the perfect place for your product to be seen by potential shoppers looking for gifts. Secure your spot just in time for the season’s festivities.
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Biz
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Vida Abundante is Spanish for “Life Abundant.”|Photo by SJtoday Staff
Downtown San Jose is truly a work of art. We’ve put together a guide to magnificent local murals that really paint a picture of Teal Town.
Life Abundant | By Jim Minor
Featuring the visage of a woman, a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables, and a nod to Egyptian Art Deco stylings, the artist says the work reflects a deep appreciation for the South Bay’s agricultural roots.
Nuestra Ofrenda | By Roberto Romo and Francisco Rameriz
This mural is a dedication to the generous donor families of San Jose — specifically the organ donations of the late Nancy Yahayra Gutierrez and Brandon Castellanos. The hummingbird, representing the holy spirit, flies in front of a cempazúchitl flower (Mexican marigold). Also pictured are the likenesses of the two donors who are cross-legged, smiling, and at peace.
Phylum of the Free | By Jeffrey Hemming
Featuring a clash between space-age machines and towering giraffes, this mural rests on the side of the former Lido’s Nightclub. The artist says this piece is meant to represent the contrast between slick Silicon Valley technology and the yearning for natural spaces.
Hi, friends. Little by little, the great 408 is feeling festive. Santana Row has fully embraced the season — its holiday glow up is so pretty.
The shopping + dining hub is hosting lots of seasonal events, too, including Spirit of the Row every Tuesday in December, 6-8 p.m., the pet-friendly Santa Paws on Sunday, Dec. 8, and a Hanukkah Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 29.
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