Celebrating Africa Day co-presented by AWO | Sunday, May 25 | The openers will be Anambra State Cultural Association of Nigeria and Chinyakare Ensemble, followed by headliner Riddim Exchange.
Blues co-presented by The Fountain Blues Foundation | Sunday, June 1 | Catch M’ssippi Slide as the opening act before headliner Maxx Cabello Jr. takes the stage.
Country Vibes | Sunday, June 22 | William Johnston will open, followed by Cash’d Out, a San Diego-based band that pays tribute to Johnny Cash.
Pro tip: Bring your own blankets, chairs, and a picnic, or buy snacks from local food vendors at the concerts.
Lewis Belt | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv | $32+ | This Oakland-born stand-up comic and actor is known for his viral alter ego, “Sonniebo.”
Friday, May 9
Lake Elsinore Storm vs. San Jose Giants | 7 p.m. | Excite Ballpark | $28+ | The Force is strong with our Giants — it’s “Star Wars” Night at the ballpark, and the team will wear themed jerseys that’ll be auctioned off after the game in support of YMCA Silicon Valley.
Janelle James | Friday, May 9-Saturday, May 10 | Times vary | San Jose Improv | $108+ | Are we at Ava Fest? The star of “Abbott Elementary” performs her stand-up act — you know you’re a fan.
Silicon Valley Open Studios 2025 | Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Various artist studios and galleries | Free | Visit more than 340 local visual artists at 100+ studios and galleries from south San Francisco to SJ during this fine art exhibition.
Gaga Nights: A Gaga Dance Party | 8 p.m. | The Ritz | $20+ | OK, Little Monsters — time to cause some “Mayhem” and just dance.
J Balvin | 8 p.m. | SAP Center at San José | $88+ | The wildly popular Colombian singer known for hits like “Mi Gente” performs his “Back to the Rayo Tour.”
SiR: “The Step Into The Light Tour” | 8 p.m. | San Jose Civic | $50+ | The Inglewood-born singer — aka Sir Darryl Andrew Farris — is ready to shine.
Wednesday, May 14
Inter Miami CF vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 7:30 p.m. | PayPal Park | $318+ | The long-awaited clash has finally arrived — we predict a home team victory that’s off the charts.
California love. According to the California Department of Finance, our state’s population increased by 108,000 people in 2024, and experts believe the so-called “exodus” is over. The Golden State is now just 9,000 residents shy of its record-high peak population of 39,529,101 recorded in April 2020. (The Mercury News)
Civic
City Council approved the addition of a 2.5-acre park and plaza at 0 Seely Ave. in north San Jose.The project will demolish existing farm structures and, through ongoing fundraising, relocate the Sakauye House to History Park. Eiichi Edward Sakauye Park is expected to open in 2030. (San Jose Spotlight)
Tech
Nvidia recently bought an office + research complex on San Thomas Expressway and Walsh Avenue in Santa Clara for a whopping $123 million. The tech titan’s latest South Bay space features 10 buildings and is located across the street from its main headquarters. (The Mercury News)
Open
Goodwill of Silicon Valley’s first-ever outlet store is now open at 1685 Tully Rd. Shoppers will find thrifty deals on the racks; each purchase supports the organization’s programs, including job training services. The outlet is open daily, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Donations are accepted daily, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Coming Soon
Nation’s Giant Hamburgers — a longtime California chain known for its burgers, pies, and breakfast dishes — plans to open three new locations in San Jose this summer at Silver Creek Valley Place, Santa Teresa Boulevard, and Monterey Road. If you just can’t wait, make the trek to Nation’s Fremont location. (Silicon Valley Business Journal)
Try This
Need a caffeine fix? Voyager Craft Coffee recently debuted its very colorful shop at 1070 Park Ave., open Wednesday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., and its new St. John coffee shop in downtown San Jose. The beloved local brand is really grinding — it now has six locations in the South Bay.
San Josean
Local student Sunny Nguyen, 13, is making the grade. The teen — who excels in math and loves studying tech, software engineering, and AI at home — has been accepted to more than 100 colleges, including UC Berkeley + UC San Diego. Combined, his acceptances include $3 million in scholarships. (KTVU)
Real Estate
New state data shows that locals in four Bay Area counties — including Santa Clara County — can make more than $100,000 annually and still be considered “low income.” Some San Joseans say that while the figure seems sky-high, it’s not surprising when you consider local housing prices. (NBC Bay Area)
Sports
Talk about teamwork. SJSU will support the renovation of Excite Ballpark alongside the city and San Jose Giants, who will remain at the ballpark through 2050. Spartans Baseball will use the upgraded facility for practices and home games, and a new clubhouse will be built for SJSU, opening in April 2027. (SJSU Spartans + KTVU)
Legacy
Beloved activist Alcario Castellano, 90 — a former grocery clerk who won the lottery in 2001 and founded the Castellano Family Foundation alongside his wife, Carmen — died last month. The Castellanos’ organization helped advance local Latino education and leadership, and spread ~$10 million across pivotal nonprofits in Silicon Valley. (San Jose Spotlight)
Stat
$8,000+. That’s how much you could spend if your dog breaks a bone in a car crash, fall, or collision — from wound treatment and x-rays to emergency surgery and aftercare. Luckily,this pet insurance plan could reimburse you up to 90% of that cost.*
Wellness
Struggling to shed pounds? Simple is a science-backed app that helps users lose weight with habit trackers, fasting schedules, and personal coaching. Join millions who’ve already lost weight without medication, sustainably. Take the quiz to start your journey and get 50% off.*
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Feature your biz in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide
Put your business in front of thousands of daily readers. | Graphic by 6AM City
This month, we launched our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide to showcase gifts that say I appreciate you to parents, grandparents, neighbors, mentors, and life-long friends.
While we’ve already filled all our slots ahead of Mother’s Day, we’ve opened up a few more for Father’s Day.
Whether your business offers a neat product, one-of-a-kind gift, or unique service that could be enjoyed by a father figure — we want to feature it. Secure your spot by Friday, May 23.
Hill Training in Alum Rock offers fitness and kickboxing classes for all. | Photo via Hills Training
We know small businesses are the heart of our community, so earlier this year, we asked local small businesses to tell us about themselves. They delivered.
We’ll be shining the spotlight on a few of SJ’s small businesses this month, starting with Hills Training, a fitness + kickboxing facility located at 783 Alum Rock Ave., Ste. 40, owned by Marica + Isaiah Hill.
The biz offers fitness training to families, individuals, and high-risk youth. Here’s more info, straight from Hills Training:
Q: What year did you open?
A: 2019
Q: How many employees do you have?
A: Six
Q: How would you describe your business?
A: [We] actively compete on international and local platforms, keep kids off the streets, prevent youth from bullying, and help families and individuals lose weight and rebuild confidence within themselves.
Hills Training is open Monday-Friday, 4-8:30 p.m.; walk-ins are welcome.
It’s easy to support small businesses across the globe when you shop unique + one-of-a-kind products on Etsy. One of our favorite things to browse is Etsy’s selection of custom artwork. These are five of our favorites:
Bike Month is underway and San Jose’s Bike to Work Day is on Thursday, May 15. If you’re biking that day, make sure you stop by the event’s “Energizer Stations” to rest, have a snack, and get a quick bike tune-up. The city’s station will be outside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library at Fourth and San Fernando streets, 6:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Pro tip: Pledge to ride by registering with the Silicon Valley Bike Coalition and you can grab a free tote bag filled with goodies at these Energizer Stations Thursday, May 15-Saturday, May 17.
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