It's the first Thursday of the month, and the street parties know it: Saratoga Nights takes over the Village Center lot at 5 with art vendors and live music, while Los Gatos hands out complimentary cannoli on North Santa Cruz Avenue for Gold Thursday. Cupertino adds a free concert on the Memorial Park lawn at 6:30, so three towns are essentially throwing porch parties at once. If you'd rather have a roof and a ticket, the Improv has you covered at 8.

Today's field guide

From jam jars to sunset yoga

Start at the Mountain View library at 11 for Holly Capelle's canning and jamming class, where you get to taste her preserved seasonal creations. In the late afternoon, bring a deck or an army to the tabletop gaming session at Village Square Library, then close the day with free sunset yoga at Guadalupe River Park at 7. Meals are handled too: Driftwood Deli's patio for breakfast, all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ at Q Pot for lunch, and slow-smoked ribs at Smoking Pig for dinner.

Tonight's pick

Tacos vs Arepas (En Español)

8:00 PM · San Jose Improv · San Jose

Spanish-language comedians face off in an improv showdown built around one eternal question, tacos or arepas. The whole show runs en español, and tickets are on the cheap side for a night at the Improv.

Also on the calendar

Mostly free evening gatherings tonight, from author talks and museum exhibits to a library dance party, stretching from Menlo Park down to Saratoga. Open the full calendar →

What neighbors are talking about

Food news leads the week: San Pedro Square is getting a new Indian restaurant, The Silk Route, plus neighbors are trading notes on Coyote Creek trail jogging and a weekly Sunnyvale hoops run.