Vinyl records and miniature golf may just hold the key to a post-pandemic resurgence in downtown San Jose. Still O.G. and Urban Putt are the latest venues aiming to draw visitors downtown — and keep them there — with new experiences replacing a beer bar and a movie theater.
Urban Putt, which had its ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon, is a sleek, indoor reimagining of the miniature golf courses we remember that opened at Paseo, the building that used to house the Camera 12 theaters.
But instead of trying to knock a ball through a windmill or into a clown’s mouth, you can take aim at a well-detailed replica of a room at the Winchester Mystery House or watch your lime green ball get vacuumed up through plastic tubes on a scaled-down version of the old Electric Light Tower.
Owner Steve Fox clearly spared no expense in letting his design team find some new ways to get a dimpled ball from putter to hole. It’s also got a spacious full bar and a kitchen run by Executive Chef Chad Ferry — downtowners still fondly recall Deluxe Eatery & Drinkery on San Fernando Street — making it a good gathering spot whether your putting or not.
Meanwhile, Still O.G. — about a 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 shelves around the DJ station and everything from speakers to the ceilings and floors seems geared to letting people just bask in the sound. It’s a relaxed vibe for sure — except on Fridays and Saturday nights — and a selection of a dozen cocktails on draft have replaced the craft brews from the old Original Gravity. (The food menu, though, keeps some Original Gravity favorites like the smash burger, sausage sandwich and fries).
The other surprise within is Alter Ego, a cocktail-focused “speakeasy” taking up the back half of the old Original Gravity space that’s an entirely different world. With only about 40 seats (and reservations all but required), Alter Ego exudes a more refined, bespoke vibe.
It’s good to see these pieces coming together to make downtown’s nightlife scene more interesting. Now, someone just needs to figure out how to get enough people there to provide life during daylight hours.
SUMMER RELIEF: Water slides may be the last thing on anyone’s mind with all the expected rain and snow this weekend, but just wait until summer and you’ll be happy that the San Jose City Council gave its blessing Tuesday to California Dreamin’ Entertainment to operate Raging Waters at Lake Cunningham Park.
California Dreamin’ CEO Steve Dooner, who spoke at the meeting along with original Raging Waters developer Thomas Lochtefeld, said they wanted “not only to reopen the park but hopefully on a long-term basis make it a real destination for the whole valley.”
Their proposal for reopening the East San Jose Park this summer includes using partners like Chuck E. Cheese and adding new amenities like a wine garden. With an extension, the lease runs through September 2025, with a city option for another six months after that. Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Director Jon Cicirelli gave credit to PRNS staffers Shannon Heimer and Dominque Pacolba for doing the heavy lifting on the project in about five months.
“This was a big problem that landed in our lap completely unexpectedly and they had to drop a lot of other things to make this happen,” he said.
Countless kids seeking relief from San Jose’s sweltering summer heat in a few months will be thankful, too, I’m sure.
NEW YEAR’S WINDALL: Well, 2024 got off to a very good start for graphic designer Kyoko Dougherty, owner and creative director of San Jose’s Tabara Design. She walked into California Bank and Trust’s San Jose branch on Jan. 20 knowing she had won something in a contest but had no idea it was $10,000 in CB&T’s holiday sweepstakes.
Dougherty got an entry in the drawing every time she used her credit card during the holiday season. “I never expected to win any drawing prize, so I was very surprised and very happy, and I feel that I am very lucky,” Dougherty said.
