The mileage on your sleigh may vary, but for me, the holiday season is all about traditions. You get choked up watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” debate whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie (it is), and swear for the umpteenth time that you’ll never go to Valley Fair on Dec. 23 again.
And, in San Jose, part of that tradition since 2018 has been raising a toast at one of downtown’s insanely decorated pop-up holiday bars. The celebrations are underway and the libations flowing at three of them already: Miracle on First Street (the transformed Paper Plane cocktail lounge), Miracle at Miniboss (inside the arcade bar on Santa Clara and Second streets) and the tiki-styled Sippin’ Santa at 55 South at Post St.
The “Miracle” pop-up trend started in New York City in 2014 and quickly spread across the country. You can enjoy festive drinks like the gingerbread-tinged Snowball Old Fashioned, the Run Run Reindeer with a mulled wine reduction and the chocolatey Cheery Cherry Chocosaurus. They all come in specialty glassware, including a couple of dinosaur mugs because … dinosaurs. Sippin’ Santa menus include the tequila and cranberry Frost Bite and Wreck the Halls (with figgy bitters). There are also several festive non-alcoholic options on both menus for people who want to enjoy the decor without the booze.
Other bars in downtown San Jose and throughout the valley are getting into the holiday spirit as well. Nomikai on South First Street in San Jose is decorated for its Jingle Jam, and you can bet the bars in San Pedro Square will again be themed after holiday movies.
ICE, ICE BABY: San Jose’s Downtown Ice skating rink opens Friday night at the Circle of Palms outside the San Jose Museum of Art. That’s a tad later than usual, but from what I was hearing earlier this fall, we may be lucky to have Downtown Ice at all this year. First it was “no skating rink,” then “maybe,” until construction finally started just a few weeks ago.
Now in its 29th season, the rink has become an essential part of the holiday experience downtown — and with the skaters gliding around 32 illuminated palm trees, it’s definitely one of the more interesting rinks you’ll find anywhere. Alan “Gumby” Marques, the interim CEO of the San Jose Downtown Association, says it’s a big part of creating a family-friendly, energetic environment downtown.
“Through events like Downtown Ice, we work tirelessly to enhance the business vitality, cultural richness, and sense of community that define our downtown,” he said, adding that the city’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs played a pivotal role in the rink’s return this year.
SWEET BUILDING: You’ll need a ticket but not a single building permit to enjoy the San Jose Woman’s Club’s 13th annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party, taking place at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon at its historic clubhouse at 75 S. 11th St. You can build and decorate your gingerbread house, condo or ADU while enjoying some light refreshments and festive tunes — and know that proceeds are supporting groups like the Grateful Garment Project, MACLA and the Bill Wilson Center.
Tickets are $15 if you bring your own house kit, $35 if you need one and $35 to sponsor a child. There’ll be a contest for the best house — in several age categories — at 4 p.m. Get started at sjwcgingerbread.eventbrite.com.
THANKS FOR GIVING: Barry Shilman, the outgoing president of the Downtown Campbell Neighborhood Association, says the group gave away 70 apple and pumpkin pies to downtown Campbell residents on Tuesday. The effort was supported by several businesses in the Orchard City that covered nearly the entire cost of purchasing the pies from Costco. “This tradition has been going on for at least the past decade and has been our way of giving back to our members and thanking them for their support,” Shilman said.