Santa Clara Downtown

Santa Clara Dances in the Street

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Downtown Santa Clara was packed on Aug. 4 as people stepped onto the streets and rocked out with the Pop Rocks as part of the annual street dance.

“Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the street,” Martha and the Vandellas sang in 1964. On Friday, Aug. 4, the time was right for Santa Clara’s annual Street Dance, and Jackson Street became a dance floor for “swinging” and “swaying” to live music. An annual City event for about 40 years, … Read more

Mary Grizzle: Call Her Mrs. Downtown

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Introducing Mary Grizzle, one of key people in the fight to restore the community atmosphere in Santa Clara's downtown area.

Say the name “Mary Grizzle” and the next thing people here think of is reclaiming Santa Clara’s historical downtown, demolished in the post-WWII urban renewal mania. Grizzle’s family immigrated to California from the Azores when she was a small child. They moved from the Central Valley to Santa Clara when she was in high school. … Read more