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☕ Love these a latte
Think pink at Nirvana Soul’s chic cafe. | Photo by @nirvanasoulcoffee
San Joseans are kind of obsessed with good food and drinks, so it’s no surprise that our city is filled with some pretty cute cafes. Grab your closest friends and visit these eight hot spots.
Best late-night spots
For night owls looking for a jolt of caffeine, we’ve got you covered. Coffee Lovers offers top-notch Vietnamese coffee + jasmine milk tea until midnight.
Meanwhile, Santa Clara’s Big Mug Coffee Roaster on El Camino Real offers high quality in-house beans and several strong cold brews until 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and until 9 p.m. Sundays.
Cutest look
Nirvana Soul isn’t just popular for its beverages and food, its bright pink decor draws the crowds, too. Sip on specialty lattes while enjoying the cafe’s art gallery and live events.
If you’re into a minimalist vibe, visit dr.ink with its cozy spaces + plants, but tap into your extra side by ordering the unique Blueberry Latte.
Farm-to-Table: Homemade Bread-Making Class| 10 a.m. | Ma’alot Farms, Los Gatos | $100 | Use fresh ingredients straight from the farm to make several types of bread, including a banana or zucchini bread, challah, and a sandwich or sourdough loaf.
Garden Bros Nuclear Circus | Thursday, May 22-Monday, May 26 | Times vary | San Jose Capitol Flea Market | $23+ | The circus highlights the greatest movies of the last 50 years through its new show, “Jr.'s Hollywood Adventure,” featuring the glitz, glam, and showmanship of Tinseltown.
Friday, May 23
BNM: Salsa Y Cerveza | 5-9 p.m. | Garden at the Flea | Free | Enjoy a night of tasty brews, food trucks, vendors, live Salsa music, and dance lessons under the stars.
Saturday, May 24
Yoga + Pilates on The Row | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Santana Row | Free | Bring your yoga mat and find your balance at this outdoor class; registration is at 8:30 a.m. at the lululemon store.
Houston Dynamo vs. San Jose Earthquakes | 7:30 p.m. | PayPal Park | $24+ | It’s Vietnamese Heritage Night at the park as our Black + Blue take on the Texas team.
Camila | 8 p.m. | SAP Center | $85+ | The Latin Grammy Award- and Billboard Award-winning Mexican pop rock group takes the stage in SJ.
Sunday, May 25
Martin Rizo & George Wang Jr. | 7 p.m. | San Jose Improv | $32+ | The Cali comics join forces to bring you double the laughs.
Monday, May 26
Inland Empire 66ers vs. San Jose Giants | 5 p.m. | Excite Ballpark | $19+ | The Giants will wear military-themed jerseys in honor of Memorial Day that fans can bid on; also, snag a Gigante Military Bobblehead as a fan freebie, while supplies last.
Wednesday, May 28
Farmers Market on the Paseo | 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Hammer Theatre Center | Free | Shop local produce and other goodies at this weekly farmers market.
Kaneez Surka | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv | $32+ | This rising comic has a big following in India — you might recognize her from her comedy specials on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
According to Mayor Matt Mahan’s recent State of the City address, San Jose is “on the cusp of the next great transformation.” Mahan touted SJ’s progress thus far and said he sees major opportunities for housing, jobs, and government efficiency. Get the full breakdown. (The Mercury News)
Sports
Speaking of the State of the City, the Sharks and the city said they’re nearing a new lease agreement that’ll keep the NHL franchise playing at SAP Center for the next 25 years. Mayor Matt Mahan expects the city council to approve the deal next month. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Number
997,368. That was San Jose’s population in 2024, according to new data from the US Census Bureau. The figure was up nearly 14,000 residents from the year before, making SJ the 12th largest city in the US. The great 408 previously held onto the No. 10 spot for many years. (The Mercury News)
Eat
BRB — driving to the Peninsula. “Michelin Guide” named 13 California restaurants to its “new discoveries” category, including Ethel’s Fancy in Palo Alto and Eylan in Menlo Park. Ethel’s Fancy specializes in California cuisine influenced by the chef’s family, while Eylan offers Indian cuisine with a California twist.
Closing
A Slice of New York will permanently close its Sunnyvale restaurant, with its final day of service set for Saturday, June 14. The beloved pizzeria’s Stevens Creek location will remain open, and the business said more “expansion” news for that eatery is coming soon.
Edu
File this under important data. A new CodeSignal report ranked SJSU’s engineering program among the top 10 in the US. The No. 9 ranking is based on local students’ coding skills — standout skills that are landing them internships at Silicon Valley tech companies. (NBC Bay Area)
Shop
Next time you’re at the airport, shop small. Local brands are taking off at San Jose Mineta International Airport, giving travelers a deeper sense of SJ’s spirit, culture + diversity. SJC is in the process of revamping its retail and concessions program to feature 12 fresh concepts and even more local vendors. (San Jose Spotlight)
Ranked
The Institute for Quality of Life released its 2025 Happy City Index and San Jose landed at No. 119 among cities across the world. The annual rankings used several “themes” as indicators of a city’s happiness, including its citizens and their activities, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility.
Biz
We want to thank the local businesses that filled out our Small Business Week survey. Shoutout to Lifted Movements, Cosyn, RESET Marketing and Events, Boast Coffee Co., Taste Buds Kitchen, Botany of Design, Herbal Hollow Co., J. Rider Design, and Ants Tattoo San Jose. You are the heart of SJ.
E7S is a fine art gallery + creative studio located just outside Japantown — drop by to check out the artwork and gift shop. | Photo via Empire Seven Studios
We know small businesses are the heart of our community. We’ve been shining the spotlight on a few of SJ’s small businesses this month, and today it’s Empire Seven Studios’ turn.
This contemporary fine art gallery near Japantown — also known as E7S — aims to create a safe space for creatives.
Here’s a little more info, straight from the biz itself:
What’s unique about the small business scene in San Jose?
E7S has enhanced the San Jose art scene by bringing life to the city through public art installations, innovative pop-up shows, and gallery exhibits to elevate and highlight emerging talents on a grand scale.
When someone visits your small business for the first time, the one thing they have to do, see, or try is…
Check out the current art exhibit and check out the gift shop all focused on creatives.
The San Jose Woman’s Club (SJWC) — a local organization that aims to build friendship, community, empowerment + support for local women — is currently celebrating its 130th anniversary.
This feature gives a great glimpse into the organization’s history, leadership, and mission. SJWC will host its free anniversary celebration today, 4-6 p.m., at its clubhouse . Drop by to learn more and bring a book to donate to Horace Mann Elementary.
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