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New venues make downtown San Jose a number of levels cooler

New venues make downtown San Jose a number of levels cooler

Vinyl records and miniature golf could maintain the important thing to a post-pandemic resurgence in downtown San Jose. Still O.G. and Urban Putt are the newest venues aiming to attract guests downtown — and hold them there — with new experiences changing a beer bar and a movie show.

Urban Putt, which had its ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon, is a glossy, indoor reimagining of the miniature golf programs we keep in mind that opened at Paseo, the constructing that used to accommodate the Camera 12 theaters.

But as an alternative of attempting to knock a ball via a windmill or right into a clown’s mouth, you possibly can take purpose at a well-detailed duplicate of a room on the Winchester Mystery House or watch your lime inexperienced ball get vacuumed up via plastic tubes on a scaled-down model of the previous Electric Light Tower.

A mini version of the old San Jose Electric Light Tower is part of the course at Urban Putt, a minigolf and restaurant experience that opened Feb. 29, 2024, at Paseo, a new building in downtown San Jose that replaced the old Camera 12 theaters. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
A mini model of the previous San Jose Electric Light Tower is a part of the course at Urban Putt, a minigolf and restaurant expertise that opened Feb. 29, 2024, at Paseo, a brand new constructing in downtown San Jose that changed the previous Camera 12 theaters. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group) 

Owner Steve Fox clearly spared no expense in letting his design crew discover some new methods to get a dimpled ball from putter to gap. It’s additionally received a spacious full bar and a kitchen run by Executive Chef Chad Ferry — downtowners nonetheless fondly recall Deluxe Eatery & Drinkery on San Fernando Street — making it a great gathering spot whether or not your placing or not.

Meanwhile, Still O.G. — a few block north at 66 S. First St. — is a hi-fi listening lounge that eschews digital sound for the throwback tones of analog music. Vinyl records line the cabinets across the DJ station and every part from audio system to the ceilings and flooring appears geared to letting individuals simply bask within the sound. It’s a relaxed vibe for positive — besides on Fridays and Saturday nights — and a number of a dozen cocktails on draft have changed the craft brews from the previous Original Gravity. (The meals menu, although, retains some Original Gravity favorites just like the smash burger, sausage sandwich and fries).

The different shock inside is Alter Ego, a cocktail-focused “speakeasy” taking over the again half of the previous Original Gravity house that’s a completely completely different world. With solely about 40 seats (and reservations all however required), Alter Ego exudes a extra refined, bespoke vibe.

It’s good to see these items coming collectively to make downtown’s nightlife scene extra attention-grabbing. Now, somebody simply wants to determine find out how to get sufficient individuals there to supply life throughout daylight.

SUMMER RELIEF: Water slides could also be the very last thing on anybody’s thoughts with all of the anticipated rain and snow this weekend, however simply wait till summer season and also you’ll be blissful that the San Jose City Council gave its blessing Tuesday to California Dreamin’ Entertainment to function Raging Waters at Lake Cunningham Park.

California Dreamin’ CEO Steve Dooner, who spoke on the assembly together with authentic Raging Waters developer Thomas Lochtefeld, mentioned they needed “not solely to reopen the park however hopefully on a long-term foundation make it an actual vacation spot for the entire valley.”

Their proposal for reopening the East San Jose Park this summer season consists of utilizing companions like Chuck E. Cheese and including new facilities like a wine backyard. With an extension, the lease runs via September 2025, with a metropolis choice for an additional six months after that. Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Director Jon Cicirelli gave credit score to PRNS staffers Shannon Heimer and Dominque Pacolba for doing the heavy lifting on the mission in about 5 months.

“This was an enormous drawback that landed in our lap utterly unexpectedly they usually needed to drop plenty of different issues to make this occur,” he mentioned.

Countless youngsters in search of reduction from San Jose’s sweltering summer season warmth in a number of months will probably be grateful, too, I’m positive.

NEW YEAR’S WINDALL: Well, 2024 received off to an excellent begin for graphic designer Kyoko Dougherty, proprietor and artistic director of San Jose’s Tabara Design. She walked into Community Bank and Trust’s San Jose department on Jan. 20 figuring out she had gained one thing in a contest however had no concept it was $10,000 in CB&T’s vacation sweepstakes.

Dougherty received an entry within the drawing each time she used her bank card through the vacation season. “I by no means anticipated to win any drawing prize, so I used to be very shocked and really blissful, and I really feel that I’m very fortunate,” Dougherty mentioned.

Vinyl

by way of East Bay Times https://ift.tt/0ZHuPMT

February 29, 2024 at 11:45PM

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