Eichler is added to historic register
Congratulations to the residents of the Fairglen Additions neighborhood of San Jose who led a successful campaign to have the tree-lined district — distinguished by its 218 Eichler homes — added to the National Register of Historic Places this year.
The neighborhood near Curtner and Booksin avenues is San Jose’s largest enclave of Eichler homes, built between 1959 and 1961 and known for their distinctive flat or lowsloped roofs, open floor plans and tall windows. And three of the homes, all within walking distance of each other on Fairwood Avenue, will be featured in a Preservation Action Council tour on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
At the same time, there also will be a Mid-Century Pop-Up Shop — with vendors selling period memorabilia, decor and furniture — on Fairwood Avenue, which will be closed to traffic for the event. Sally Zarnowitz, cochair of the Fairglen Additions Preservation Committee, will talk about the significance of the housing tract at 11:30 a.m., and author and historian Heather David will sign copies of her book, “Motel California,” and the San Jose Signs Guide at noon.
Tickets are available for $20 in advance at preservation.org or by calling 408-998-8105, or $25 on the day of the event at the pop-up shop on Fairwood Avenue.
DANCING DOWNTOWN >> It’s going to be a hot opening for CityDance San Jose in more ways than one on Thursday.
Of course, temperatures are expected to hit triple digits during the day, but the fourth annual dance event is also kicking off with lively salsa music courtesy of Orquesta Latin Heat.
Not a dancer? Not a problem.
John York and Sandy Chao of Mambo Groovin’ Latin Dance Theater will provide instruction at 6 p.m. before open dancing starts at 7 p.m. There will be a beer garden, and Veggielution’s Eastside Grown food vendors will be back as well.
Future CityDance editions are Vogue (Aug. 22), Country (Aug. 29), Swing
(Sept. 5), K-Pop (Sept. 12), Bachata (Sept. 19), Disco (Sept. 26), and Merengue & Cumbia (Oct. 3).
SWING SHIFTS >> There were plenty of hard-working musicians at San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, but you’ve got to give an extra round of applause to Swing Solution, a 1940s-style big band.
Singer Rich Santoro said the band played a threehour Dance Party at History Park in San Jose on Friday night. The band was back to perform four hours of music Saturday during the Spirit of ’45 celebrations, and then did a 90-minute set at Summer Fest’s Swing Stage at Tabard Theatre that night.
Hopefully, they gave the horns a rest on Sunday.
James Williams is another jazzy guy who’ll be doing double duty soon with another performing arts organization.
The board chair of San
Jose Jazz, Williams has recently taken a job as the CFO of Opera San Jose, and he says he’s looking forward to working with Khori Dastoor, who will take over the job of general director after Larry Hancock retires following the upcoming season.
COMEDY BENEFIT >> The 15th annual Comedy for Kids fundraiser returns to SAP Center on Friday night, featuring comedians Sam Meeker, PF Floro, Rudy Ortiz and Kabir.
The 6:30 p.m. show, presented by the Youth Connections Foundation, will honor Chris Funk, superintendent of the East Side Union High School District.
Tickets are $25-$50 and are available through Ticketmaster or at the SAP Center box office.