Peninsula Moves!

By Matt Wilson, @wilsonstcomms

FANIME TAKES OVER SAN JOSE: If you don’t associate Memorial Day weekend with Sailor Moon and Pikachu sauntering through the streets, then you probably don’t live in or around downtown San Jose. The annual holiday tradition of FanimeCon returns to the capital of Silicon Valley from Friday, May 25, to Monday, May 28, at the San Jose Convention Center. As a card-carrying downtown San Jose denizen, I can attest that the weekend is a feast for the eyes each and every year. Literally, thousands of cosplayers take over the streets to visit Northern California’s largest anime convention.

According to organizers, “Fanime is packed with nonstop video programming, extraordinary costumes, music, games, tournaments, panels, and renowned international guests, this annual celebration of Japanese art and popular culture entertains a colorful spectrum of fans and friends.”

If driving in your Speed Racer costume is too on the nose, you can reach the event anywhere on the Peninsula via Caltrain. Just get off at the San Jose Diridon Station near the SAP Center. You can form your own cosplayer parade by walking roughly 20-minutes to the convention center, or climbing aboard one of VTA’s light rail trains. A Mountain View or Alum Rock train will get you to the convention center station.

CARNAVAL IN SF: The two-day Carnaval San Francisco returns for its 40^th year this weekend, May 26-27. The Grande Parade will be Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and includes a “brilliant procession of contingents, most of which will feature beautifully adorned floats depicting rich multicultural themes and featuring performers who engage and entertain the crowds,” according to organizers. The full event features global cuisine, international music, dance, arts and crafts, and entertainment throughout.

Carnaval is held on Harrison Street between 16^th  and 24^th  streets. The San Francisco Caltrain Station at 4^th and King streets will get you into The City worry free, and the entertainment is only a few blocks away.

CARS & COFFEE: Aside from referring to coffee as “my fuel,” I really can’t think of anything else in common between java and cars. San Francisco Sports Cars in San Carlos, however, will host an event pairing the two on Saturday, May 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The exotic sports car dealer, San Francisco Sports Cars, is opening its doors for a chance to check out some absolutely amazingly beautiful cars. Pastries and coffee will be served, and it’s all hosted by Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA.

The dealer is located at 191 Industrial Road in San Carlos. If you want to leave your likely infinitely less sexy car at home, then you can ride to the Belmont Caltrain Station and take a short less-than-one-mile walk. SamTrans’ ECR route has multiple stops nearby on El Camino Real.

GET US MOVING TOWN HALL: Phase 2 of public outreach is underway for Get Us Moving San Mateo County and another town hall meeting is set for Thursday, May 24. All residents are invited to come to the Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Ave. in Half Moon Bay, to share ideas for how they’d allocate transportation funding. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

The town hall is part of several opportunities for the public to share their thoughts about strategies to address local transportation needs. Get Us Moving is a collaborative effort between the San Mateo County Transit District, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, partner agencies and organizations.

There will also be a digital Town Hall on Reddit this Friday, May 25, from noon to 1 p.m. Chime in on this ‘ask me in anything’ event during your lunch by visiting Reddit.com and searching for Get Us Moving San Mateo County.

KEEP THE BAY AT BAY: Join Resilient by Design, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the East Cut Community Benefit District for a reception and talk on Wednesday, May 23, to learn more about just-unveiled innovative designs for mitigating sea level rise at the San Francisco Bay’s edge. It’s all part of Resilient by Design’s year-long Bay Area Challenge, which wraps up this month, according to MTC.

The challenge has resulted in nine innovative proposals for adapting to sea level rise in nine vulnerable locations around the Bay. At this event, attendees can view the designs, hear from the people behind them—and help chart a way forward to a more resilient future. Admission is free, and MTC will be serving light refreshments.

It will be at Bay Area Metro Center, 375 Beale Street, in San Francisco, and will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Catch Caltrain to the 4^th and King Station, then SFMTA MUNI N line or route 10 to get there.

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