Take Pumpkin Decorating To New Heights

If you’ve already done spooky and campy with your jack-o’-lantern in Halloweens past, now’s the time to give chic a try.

Palo Alto’s Gamble Garden will host a “Pumpkin Decorating With Henna” online class, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 24.

Artist Priti Aggarwal will lead this live Zoom class in the Indian art of mehndi, explaining its history and cultural applications, and guiding you to decorate your own pumpkin with custom-made henna paste free of chemicals or dyes.

All supplies, including the pumpkin and the henna, will be provided and must be picked up beforehand at the Gamble Garden.

The class is recommended for those ages 8 on up. Price is $40 per person. For more info or to register, click here.

“Dine Downtown San Jose”

This year’s “Dine Downtown San Jose” is extended through Nov. 15, and includes dine-in, dine-out, and to-go specials, making it easier than ever to help support local restaurants during this challenging time.

Participating restaurants, cafes and coffee houses include: MakiBBQ, Poor House Bistro, The Farmers Union, Pastelaria Adega, and Enoteca La Storia.

More establishments are being added each week, along with specficifs on their special offerings, so check the San Jose Downtown Association’s website regularly for the most up-to-date list.

Dinner and A Movie — Up High Outside

Get your fix of dinner and a movie with “Up On The Roof,” nightly movies screened atop the City of San Jose Garage at Second and San Carlos streets.

Two different films will be shown each night through Oct. 30 on the top floor of the garage. With start times at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the films run the gamut, and include many that amplify the voices and creativity of women and people of color.

3Below Theaters, in partnership with the San Jose Downtown Association, the city of San Jose, and First Tech Credit Union, have set up this novel outdoor movie venue under the stars with a large screen and cushy movie theater seats in 2-, 3-, and 4-person clusters.

Guests must adhere to COVID-19 protocols by washing their hands before picking up dinner — and popcorn — from the Cafe in 3Below to take to their socially-distanced seats upstairs.

Tickets are $50 for two guests; $75 for three guests; and $100 for four guests. All tickets include the movie, as well as food and drink vouchers.

“Taste of the Farm” Dinners To-Go

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of dining outside under twinkling lights at the impressive 11-acre organic farm in Sunnyvale run by the Santa Clara Unified School District.

With the onset of the pandemic, the district had to curtail those al fresco dinners. But it’s since begun offering them to-go instead.

Each week, there’s a different complete meal offered, with much of the produce coming straight from the farm. Folks can order until 10 a.m. each Monday, then pick up the takeout meals on Tuesday, between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the bus circle at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara.

Dinners are $30 for one; $58 for two. Sales help support the SCUSD Farm and Nutrition Services.

To see the menu and order, click here.