Brown is Beautiful

Completed “Brown is Beautiful” mural 1-26-2026
Sofia Mendoza & Cesar Chavez
Luis Valdez
Rosanna Desoto
Alfonso Salazar
Analyn Bones

John Garcia

“Brown is Beautiful” is a mural at Backesto Park in San Jose.  Analyn Bones, John Garcia, Francisco Ramirez, Mauricio Magdaleno, and Alfonso Salazar are the artists that worked on the mural and was funded by Ramon Castillo. According to Alfonso, “The mural honors the past, present, and future of our Mexican and Chicano culture”. 

Among the Chicano individuals painted in the mural are: Luis Valdez of Zoot Suit and Teatro Campesino fame, Sofia Mendoza, a San Jose Chicana activist in the 70’s & 80’s and Rosanna Desoto, a San Jose High graduate and movie actress who appeared in La Bamba and Stand & Deliver. Also featured are Tiburcio Vasquez a legendary folk hero, and Cesar Chavez founder of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) that was later changed to United Farm Workers (UFW). The mural also recognizes the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, the people indigenous to this area. 

The mural is near the corner of North 13th Street & Empire Street in San Jose and next to the handball courts.

Click below to access mural timeline

brown is beautiful mural bakesto park sj top half 9-5-2025
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Amtrak Capitol Corridor #529 Auburn to San Jose 1-13-2026

Taken at the re-opened Alviso Slough Trail at the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the Alviso District of San Jose 1-26-2026

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Venezuela Emergency Protest

Venezuela emergency protest at Mexican Heritage Plaza San Jose January 4th 2026 guassian blur filter
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Willow Glen Christmas Lights in San Jose 2025

Snowmen
Rudolph
Man sitting on front porch
Peace for all


In the Willow Glen district in San Jose there are numerous houses decorated in Christmas lights that brings thousands of walkers and automobiles in the neighborhood. The focal point of the Christmas lights are either on the corner of Glen Eyrie and San Ramon or San Pablo in the San Jose Willow Glen District.

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Mallard Slough Alviso (San Jose)

Mallard Slough in Alviso (San Jose) on August 14, 2025

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Summer at Alviso Slough Trail San Jose

Alviso Slough Trail salt pond in Alviso (San Jose) July 2025
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Viva CalleSJ “Las Calles: Celebrating 10 Years”

Viva CalleSJ Watson Park Viva Calle staff
Stylish & expensive lowrider bicycle
Viva CalleSJ bike rider
Fast skater
Bike riders near San Jose Bike Clinic repair station
Cherokee Nation bike rider

Viva CalleSJ on Sunday September 7th 2025 held a San Jose bicycle ride called “Las Calles: Celebrating 10 Years”. This year’s event was a 10 mile ride passing through Willow Glen, Burbank, the Municipal Rose Garden area, Little Italy, Japantown, and Watson Park in San José. Viva Calle is a fun car-free street event perfect for walking, biking, skating, and community connection.

https://www.vivacallesj.org/

Warm August Summer Night in San Jose Japantown

Friday August 8, 2025 in San Jose Japantown
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San Jose Taiko at the San Jose Obon Festival July 12-13 2025

“Side Angle Drumming” Saturday July 12 2025 performance
“Two Drummers” Saturday July 12, 2025
Close up of drummer Saturday July 12, 2025
Beginning of set Saturday July 12, 2025
Sunday July 13, 2025 performance
Beginning of Sunday set on July 13, 2025
Senior & Junior members of San Jose Taiko July 13, 2025

San Jose Taiko performance was the highlight of the San Jose Obon on July 12-13 2025.

The group used a large open space to perform and entertain a large and very enthusiastic audience both days.

The outside venue perfectly showed their performance energy, ability, and skill.

Taiko is a happy and joyous activity that can bring people together.

Special thanks to the San Jose Buddhist Betsuin and San Jose Taiko

All Rights Reserved

https://taiko.org/

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Alviso Slough Trail SJ 2025

Alviso Slough Trail April 2025

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