If you’ve driven, walked, biked or taken the bus in downtown San Jose over the past year, you’ve probably noticed San Fernando Street has become a bit of a zoo. Parking spaces and turn lanes have moved or disappeared, bike lanes and protective barriers have been added, traffic signal timing has been changed and new lane markings zig zag along between Market and 10th street.
Well, when the Valley Transportation Authority starts its new service changes Dec. 28, it will reduce the number of bus routes using the corridor to just three. And even those — the 72, 73 and 181 — will only use the street for a few blocks each. Most of the tweaked routes instead will travel on Santa Clara Street, an already bus-heavy route.
You can certainly make the case that removing buses from a busy street like San Fernando is counter to how public transit should function; and yes, this move will make it easier for people who drive on the street. But it’s also a win for cyclists and pedestrians, who will have fewer big vehicles to contend with.
Sadly, the changes also mean the end of the free DASH shuttle, which ferried people around downtown between Diridon Station and San Jose State University. It’s officially being replaced by a new route called Rapid 500 — not as fun a name — which will travel primarily along Santa Clara Street and will eventually link up with the Berryessa BART station.
SEASONED ‘ROOKIE’ JOINS THE CHORUS: The audience at this Saturday night’s 15th annual “Carols in the California” is in for a real treat, as Broadway actress Lisa Vroman will join the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale as a soloist for the popular holiday show in downtown San Jose.
This will be the first time Vroman has performed with the chorale, directed by Elena Sharkova, though she has performed with Symphony Silicon Valley in several past programs, including its Broadway series, Target Summer Pops and the concert series in “Brahms German Requiem.” Symphony Director Andrew Bales says he’s tried to get her onto the “Carols in the California” program before, but this is the first year that the schedule worked out.
“We are thrilled to have Lisa Vroman available to be part of our holiday program this year,” Bales said. “She is a star of the first order and she will bring a lovely polish to this year’s ‘Carols in the California.’ ”
The program includes performances of classical works, as well as a traditional sing-along in the California Theatre. It sounds like the Silicon Valley version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” — always an audience favorite — will be back. Tickets to the 7 p.m. show are available at www.symphonysiliconvalley.org.
‘NUTCRACKER’ CASE FOR SAN JOSE LAWYER: The New Ballet’s production of “The San Jose Nutcracker” opens this weekend at the Hammer Theatre Center for its fourth year, putting a Santa Clara Valley twist on the traditional story of Clara and the Nutcracker. In addition to appearances of Gilroy garlic and the San Jose Electric Light Tower, the “Mother Ginger” role in the second act is transformed into “Casa de Fruta.”
The role is traditionally played by a man, and for the Dec. 23 matinee, that man will be Bernard Greenfield of Greenfield Law, a longtime arts supporter who was also named the Santa Clara County Bar Association’s Professional Lawyer of the Year last month. Greenfield has been working with regular “Casa” and local drag artist WooWoo Monroe, aka George Downes, on makeup and wig application. “He has a great physical presence, is good at picking up mime and choreography and I can’t wait to see him onstage,” said New Ballet Director Dalia Rawson.
The show opens Friday night and runs through Dec. 24. Get tickets and more information at newballet.com/nutcracker.