Looking for a fun and unique weekend activity in San Jose? Look no further than Zip Gardens Downtown Roller Rink! This vibrant outdoor roller skating experience is bringing the community together every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with great music, delicious food, and plenty of skating fun.

A Skating Experience for Everyone

Located off Second Street, Zip Gardens transforms into a fully functional roller rink where visitors of all skill levels can lace up and hit the floor. Whether you're a pro skater or just learning to balance, this rink welcomes everyone. Rent a pair of skates and groove to the music or simply enjoy the lively atmosphere.

Families can bring their kids for a fun-filled evening, guiding them around the rink or cheering from the sidelines. If skating isn’t your thing, don’t worry—there’s still plenty to do!

More Than Just Skating

Zip Gardens isn’t just about roller skating—it’s a social hotspot with a variety of attractions:

• Live DJs: Twice a week, DJs spin the hottest tracks, creating an energetic and immersive experience.

• Food Trucks: Satisfy your cravings with a selection of mouthwatering street food.

• Craft Beer & Drinks: Enjoy a cold craft beer while soaking in the lively ambiance.

Why You Should Visit

Zip Gardens Downtown Roller Rink is the perfect place to unwind, have fun, and connect with others in San Jose. Whether you’re skating under the city lights, dancing to DJ-curated beats, or indulging in great food and drinks, there’s something for everyone.

Don’t miss out—grab your friends and roll into the weekend fun at Zip Gardens!

Hosting a quinceañera in Seaside, part of the beautiful Bay Area, is always a special experience. I was fortunate enough to be called in just a week before the big day to DJ for this lively event, serving San Jose, Seaside, Monterey, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy. When preparing for any event, especially a quinceañera, I always ask for a playlist to get a sense of the vibe the hosts envision. Usually, this includes a mix of Spanish and English music. However, this particular celebration had a unique request: an all-cumbia playlist.

The request was clear — cumbias all night long! It was a fun challenge, and I made sure to tailor the music to the crowd. I kicked off the event by playing some old-school ranchera music during dinner to give the older guests something familiar. However, as the night progressed, the hosts asked for the party to fully embrace cumbias from start to finish, and that’s exactly what we did!

From the dance floor to the special father-daughter dance, we kept the energy high with a variety of cumbias, merengues, and even some salsa. After the cake cutting, I mixed in a few English songs, but we quickly returned to the beloved cumbia rhythms that kept everyone dancing all night long. The fun didn’t stop there — the energy was so contagious that we ended up extending the dance portion of the night by an hour!

Whether it’s a quinceañera in Seaside, Monterey, or anywhere in the Bay Area, providing the perfect soundtrack for such a meaningful event is a joy. If you’re planning a celebration, be sure to consider a unique playlist that reflects your family’s style and vibe — just like this unforgettable Seaside quinceañera!

Record shopping in San Jose has evolved significantly over the years, blending  old school with modern challenges like inflation. Here’s a recap of my recent visit to some of the city’s prominent record stores and a look back at some all-time favorites.

Streetlight Records Streetlight Records remains a staple for vinyl enthusiasts in San Jose. Their collection of vintage vinyl is vast and impressively organized, making it easy for visitors to browse through decades of music history. However, the stark reality of inflation hits hard when you see new albums priced at $40 or more. Personally, I’ve shifted toward DJ compilations, as they’re more space-efficient and offer a curated selection of tracks. Overall, Streetlight earns a solid 3.5 out of 5 for its organization and selection.

On the Corner Music Next, I visited On the Corner Music, a much smaller shop. While the store’s decor features old gear that adds a quirky charm, the limited space for records makes for a crowded shopping experience, especially with just five people digging through the crates. The lack of organization means serious digging is required, which might appeal to hardcore vinyl hunters but can be off setting for casual shoppers. I’d rate this spot a 1.7 out of 5.

Record Barn and Memories of the Past Driving by the now-closed Record Barn was a bittersweet moment. Once a haven for vinyl lovers, its closure marked the end of an era. Reflecting on my favorite (the best record shops) stores, Knight Sounds and Hit Factory stand out. Knight Sounds offered hours of browsing joy while you chatted with Carlos, while Hit Factory’s knowledgeable owner, Danny, always had the tracks you needed.

Final Thoughts For me, the best record stores offer curated compilations that deliver great value. As the vinyl scene continues to change, the joy of finding hidden gems and reliving musical memories keeps the culture alive.

 We had a Latin party at an apartment complex. When I got there, they were playing a blue tooth speaker then I was going to go from 9 to 12. They had a taco guy serving up the Mexican Food. We were stationed in the parking lot area. We did all cumbias and salsa music for the birthday party. We did not get any complaints. I talked to the host to see how he was able to throw a party with a dj and no one called to complained. He said he wrote a letter to all the neighbors around him. Here are some other tips on:

How to Throw a Party at an Apartment Complex?

1.         Rules:  Check into the lease to find out about the noise limit and how many guests can attend and the use of shared areas.

2.         Pick the correct spot: Look into having the party in the apartment or the clubhouse or pool area.

3.         Give the neighbors a heads up:  Like the party I did, the couple notified the neighbors via letter.

4.         Make the Guest list: Be reasonable with guest list and do not try to overdue it.

5.         Be Considerate with the Sound: Avoid having the dj bring subwoofers. Keep it at a good volume.

6.         Food and Drinks: Get easy finger foods and self serve drinks.

7.         Cleaning Up: Have trash areas easily to be accessible. Clean up after the party so to keep the neighbors in good standing.

With enough planning, you can have an enjoyable party that will not irritate the neighbors as much.

 An end of the  year  tradition  is the corporate holiday party that everyone looks forward to. Its an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the   team and increase morale and create memories. Do not forget to add a dj to truly transform the night into a fabulous experience. These are the reasons why having a dj is one of the best decisions you can make as a party planner.

Setting the Perfect Vibe

A good DJ knows how to read the room and curate the music to fit every moment. From soft background jams during cocktail hour to high-energy hits for the dance floor, the right music can elevate the mood and keep your guests entertained all night long.

Customized Playlists

When you hire a professional DJ, you can collaborate on a playlist that reflects your company culture and team’s preferences. Whether your staff loves classic holiday hits, top 40 tracks, or a mix of genres, a DJ can curate the perfect soundtrack by getting some ideas from the planners and the dj can build on the  list given to them.

Nonstop Entertainment

Unlike other forms of entertainment, DJs provide versatility and seamless transitions. They can be emcees, leading the evening’s events if needed, announcing speeches or raffles, and ensuring there’s no awkward silences.

A Unique Experience

A DJ can take your holiday party to the next level with add-ons like a light show, karaoke setup, or even a quick mix dance session. These extras can make your event stand out and create conversation for weeks afterward.

Why Hire a DJ for Your Corporate Event?

A DJ does not just bring music but they bring energy, expertise, and professionalism that sets your party apart from parties that lack a dj.

Ready to plan a holiday party your team will rave about? Book a DJ and let the music set the tone for an amazing event! Call Black and White Affair Dj Services.

  We did back to back homecoming dances in San Jose. We do like doing high school dances. We do like them since we have an advantage compared to most other Djs. We compile the hottest songs that we get from all the high school dances that we do and mix it with the songs that the school requested. There are a lot of good songs out there to keep students dancing but the secret sauce is to play songs to build up energy and then mix into the next one quickly. It is crazy what the power of the quick mix can do with the energy of the crowd.

   We got to do Overfelt’s Home coming a few weeks ago and we had it indoors.  They gave us a good playlist and it was a good time. The following week we did James Licks homecoming dance.  The music was outside and the party was inside and outside. Loved the energy of the students. They were loving the edam music and loved the Latin music. There was a lot of Latin music played and danced to. As a dj, you have to be able to play and mix different genres.

  Both Overfelt and James Lick are awesome. They were very easy to work with.  Both sent over a dynamite Spotify list. Then the schools sent over maps of their school so we knew where to set up. It was just a really nice process and efficient.  Love it when schools are on top of it!

We had a party on the 17th floor in downtown San Jose. The Capitol Club is a scenic venue that can created bigger spaces if needed to hold functions. Love it that they validated my parking so I was able to save 12 dollars!

  We had it up and ready with 45 minutes to spare. We were starting at 6 but it was like 630 when people started showing up. We had some few Spanish songs and 60s and 70s songs for the cocktail hour. They had open bar for the party.

 At 730 they had a trio playing Mexican music. They sounded really good and their system was top notch. At the end of their set, they sang the Mananitas then sang Happy Birthday then went into La Bamba. Then it was my time to take over at 9:20. My goal was to keep everyone on the floor till 11. We were going with the Spanish songs from the list then I threw in some other cumbias. But what was the crowd favorite being the funk and disco. That is what got them. We finished the night with two sing alongs. Loved the fact that we were about to bounce around and jump into hip hop at the end then ended it when I love it that way by backstreet boys and Vicente Fernandez finished it off with volver volver.

  Staff were awesome at Capitol club. They were very accommodating. They set me up with power and gave me a cart which is a life saver since we have to use elevators.

Black and White Affair can you do an event on a weekday? Not a problem. Can you do it at noon? We can do it. Did we mention it is for 800 people? Only 800 people will be attending in Santa Clara, we got you. That is how we do it. We were emailed recently about doing this event and we didn’t flinch. They wanted to make some announcements and play old school music. They made sure we had insurance and added them to our policy for their protection. They had 5 LLCs and we added them all. They also had invited some food trucks so it was a festive time.

 We welcome corporate events when they call us. We take pride is quick and prompt responses since we too operate like a corporation. Time is of the essence. We show up in advance and create the vibe for the event. We make sure our music is appropriate and loud enough for everyone to hear but not to loud that it disrupts people conversation if its dinner time. We judge on when to go loud or if it needs to be background music.

 The stage was small so we had the presenters be the main attraction as we spread out the speakers in front of the stage to cover more area. The dj set up behind the stage but can still see what was going on so they can read the crowd. We love events like this because the employer is showing appreciation to their employees.