He works for Peanuts (Deluxe Cafe) — maybe a few changes?
Myun Chang has been a fixture behind the counter at Peanuts Deluxe Cafe across San Fernando Street from San Jose State for more than 35 years, but the next generation of students and professors is going to have a new face ringing up their eggs and hash browns.
Chang, 62, is stepping down and handing the running of the business over to his nephew, 33-year-old Joseph Huh. Chang — who will still be around for a couple of months as his nephew gets used to the job — says decades of working at the popular joint have taken their toll and he’s just ready to take it easy. “It’s time to let someone younger take over,” he said.
Peanuts, which was bought by Chang’s family in 1982, is the epitome of a college joint, with relatively cheap prices, huge portions, and various photos and tributes of gratitude from fraternities and sororities hanging on the wall. Chang has a reputation for remembering the usual orders of regulars, and Huh concedes it’ll take him a while to get to that point. “It’s a big responsibility,” Huh said. “But the people are all very nice.”
Fans shouldn’t expect much to change, although Huh said he’d like to add some more veggie options to the menu and maybe extend the hours a little later into the evening.
SEEING STARS » The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto has put together a stellar lineup for its upcoming Arts & Dialogues series, which kicks off Aug. 26 with Omree Gal-Oz, a Gunn High grad and promising Bay Area jazz piano virtuoso. Other upcoming performances include Academy Award-winning actor Sean Penn, who brings his debut novel “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” on Sept. 26; New York Citybased all-female mariachi group, Flor De Toloache on Oct. 27; Emmy Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin on Nov. 1; Rachel Kadish, who received a National Jewish Book Award for “The Weight of Ink,” on Nov. 13; and Alan Cumming will arrive with songs and stories
April 14.
The 50th anniversary of “The Chosen,” Chaim Potok’s novel about the
American Jewish experience will be celebrated with a presentation of the Fountain Theatre’s stage adaptation on Oct. 20-21. There’s a lot of other programming through the spring, and you can get all the details
at paloaltojcc.org/ arts.
CATCH THE SPIRIT >> History Park in San Jose will be swinging this weekend with the annual “Spirit of ’45” events, commemorating the end
of World War II and honoring all the men and women who served. The park’s many historic buildings provide a good backdrop for the time traveling festivities, which include a 1940s dance party Friday at 7
p.m. and a “living history day” beginning at noon Saturday with vintage fashions, cars and military vehicles on display, a World War II army tent display, a homecoming parade and plenty of live big band music.
Admission is $15 for Friday’s dance party and $5 for Saturday’s celebration. Get more information at historysanjose.org.