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Dozens of people braved a heatwave to attend the first activation of Redwood City’s Entertainment Zone on Thursday afternoon, just in time for the World Cup.
The zone is a pilot program that pairs outdoor drinking with live music, games and “new downtown experiences,” according to the city.
“Downtown Redwood City is already one of the Peninsula’s most vibrant public spaces,” said Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos. “The Entertainment Zone gives us another way to support local businesses, bring people together and create a welcoming experience on Broadway.”
Eric Rodriguez, 33, was one enthusiastic attendee on June 11. He works as a special education teacher, and said he is happy to celebrate summer break with a beer in hand on Broadway in the middle of the day.
“It already felt like a united town,” Rodriguez said, “but it’s great that Redwood City is expanding.”
Visitors 21 and older may buy alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and drink it in designated cups within the zone, which covers part of the Broadway Pedestrian Mall and a stretch along Redwood Creek. Outside the zone, alcohol is not allowed, and drinks cannot be taken out of it.
Jenny Gómez, also of Redwood City, visited the zone with her husband and 8-month-old baby. She said in Spanish that it’s great for the kids, especially after grabbing something to eat and drink at nearby restaurants. She hopes to attend more activations like this one in the future, she said.
In the zone, there are jumbo Connect 4, Jenga and cornhole games, as well as a bubble machine, cocktail tables and live musicians.
Amity Valentin, a mother of two who lives in San Mateo, only came to Redwood City for a pediatrician appointment that afternoon — or so she thought.
Her 7 and 9-year-old boys loved the games and toys, which she said was “great for me” because it was her kids’ first day of summer, which can be challenging for parents looking to keep their kids entertained. The zone was so great that she said she felt inspired to come to Redwood City more often with her family.
Despite the enthusiam, most of the restaurants were noticeably empty outside, which Mazra Host Karlie Cunha attributed to the activation’s timing. She said guests usually don’t come until after 4 p.m. on a weekday, and that’s not to mention the fact that the heat was “blazing” on Thursday.
Redwood City’s Center for Creativity participated in the inaugural activation by providing “watercolor resist” art supplies to make paintings using oil pastels and watercolor paints. The organization, which aims to connect the community through performance and visual art, plans to contribute to future zone activations with artists leading different art projects.
Mayor Martínez Saballos could be spotted dining outside with his family within the bounds of the zone. At his April 29 meeting with the city’s Ad Hoc Committee on Special Events, which includes Council members Marcella Padilla and Isabella Chu, the committee recommended the Entertainment Zone’s framework and operational approach, which planted the seed for the City Council’s May 11 approval.
“It’s lots of people who are here for the games, here to enjoy the food, support our local businesses and showcase local talent,” the mayor said. “It’s great to see the turnout so far.”
Two more activations are in the works: Saturday, June 20, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The July 18 event will serve as a lead-in to Soccer on the Square, a World Cup third-place match watch party at Courthouse Square.
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