Ice skating rink will not be opening this year

The holiday season just got a little less fun.

San Jose’s Downtown Ice outdoor skating rink, one of the city’s most popular annual attractions, is being put on pause this year because of the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus crisis. Even though the rink does not open until November, San Jose Downtown Association Executive Director Scott Knies said an early call had to be made.

“This is our Olympics in terms of how much time and effort goes into it. We need to mount it way in advance and get the ball rolling,” Knies said. “We thought it was prudent for us to hit pause on the rink for this year.”

Several factors figured into the decision, Knies said, including when mass gatherings would be allowed again — the rink draws about 50,000 people over its two-month run every year — and how long it would be

before people felt comfortable being in crowds and putting on rented skates. Given the devastating economic hit that downtown businesses are taking during the shelter-in-place period, the level of sponsorship money that would be available also was a big question mark.

The Music in the Park concert series — expected to start in June — also has been called off, even though the current shelter-in-place order runs only through May 3. “Even if we’re back by then, we do think there’s going to be some PTSD from the public about getting together in crowds,” Knies said, adding that the association has been forced to pare back its event staff and cut expenses by 20% because of the cancellations.

Knies said the Downtown Association has been using its website, sjdowntown.com, to get the word out about downtown restaurants offering takeout, as well as provide links to virtual offerings from arts groups and museums, fitness clubs and even the San Jose Sharks. The association is also working with its members to make sure they know about assistance available for small businesses and is still managing the Groundwerx crews that are still responding to cleanup needs downtown during the shutdown. And they’re working on a recovery strategy, including ideas to activate the Circle of Palms over the holidays in place of Downtown Ice.

“We do believe we need to be ready with activations when people can get out of the house. We’re social creatures,” Knies said. “We’re not throwing in the towel on events, gathering and activations downtown.”

VIRTUAL BEETHOVEN >> Los Altos High sophomore Jade Lu is one of six finalists for the 35th annual Celia Mendez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition, which is run by the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies. With all the celebrations surrounding the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, this would have been a memorable year to compete in any event. However, Lu and the other finalists will remember this contest for an entirely different reason: Because of the shelter-in-place orders, the final round scheduled for today at San Jose State University now will happen via Zoom’s online meeting platform.

BIKE TO WORK THIS FALL >> The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition has passed along the news that Bike to Work Day — originally slated for May 14 — has been postponed to Sept. 24 this year. That’s not a huge surprise as it’s likely that many people in the Bay Area who can do so still will be working from home in May (though you still could take your bike out for a spin in the driveway and back if it makes you feel better).

Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Shiloh Ballard says that people can still enjoy May as Bike Month, though, even if they don’t have a commute. “Bicycling by yourself or with your household members is a great, socially distant way to get some fresh air — just make sure you stay 6 feet apart from anyone you cross paths with,” she said in the group’s latest missive.