The Tech Interactive at 201 S. Market St., downtown San Jose.
The Tech Interactive starts welcoming back visitors for the first time in almost 15 months on May 29, and, as you might expect, there have been changes because of COVID-19.
Masks are required inside, of course, and there are hand sanitizer stations and signs reminding visitors to keep parties separate, but that’s the norm just about everywhere right now. Most of the popular exhibits, like Body Worlds Decoded, Social Robots and the Tech Studio are open to visitors with virtually the same experience as before COVID. Some of the hands-on exhibits are still closed, though, including Birdly, the virtual reality flying experience; the BioTinkering Lab; the Exploration Gallery, where you could pilot a space suit; and the mission rooms in the CyberDetectives exhibit.
But during the year when the Tech was offering virtual experiences for students and visitors, there was a lot going on inside the building, too. Visitors can get an early look at “Solve for Earth,” a new exhibition space on the lower level which explores the relationship between technology and the environment. At its centerpiece is a wall-sized interactive video display of a city that you can adjust to be more or less environmentally friendly. If you’ve got kids, it stands a chance of mesmerizing them for a while.
You can also head back to the Tech’s IMAX dome theater, which you might remember was entirely rebuilt and outfitted with laser projection technology not long before the pandemic hit. Alternating rows have been blocked off to limit capacity and provide space, and seats are being assigned to keep groups apart.
Even with the changes and restrictions, families who attended sneak preview events last weekend — which served as a dress rehearsal for Tech Interactive staff — were obviously smiling under their masks and seemed happy just to be somewhere that wasn’t home. By the way, it’s a whole new world as well for Tech Interactive CEO Katrina Stevens, who was hired in November but is meeting some of her staff in-person for the first time.
For the time being, the Tech will be open Saturdays and Sundays only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the first hour on Sunday reserved for members only. (It’ll also be open for two Monday holidays — Memorial Day, May 31, and Labor Day, Sept. 6). Tickets need to be purchased ahead of time, either online at thetech.org or over the phone at 408-294-8324.
EASTRIDGE MEMORIES: My column on Eastridge Center’s 50th anniversary prompted a lot of wistful responses from readers who shared their own memories of the mall. Some talked about their first jobs, others remembered shopping for school clothes, hanging out at the food court or going to birthday parties at the ice rink. But a couple stood out.
Arleen Kiyomoto pointed out that in addition to Rudy Galindo, another San Jose figure skater — Debi Thomas, who took at bronze medal at the 1988 Calgary Olympics — skated at the Eastridge ice arena. And Mike Dove wrote to say that he does not have fond memories of Eastridge. He learned how to play golf at Hillview Golf Course, where it cost $5 a month for kids to play unlimited and took swings there almost every day when he was a teenager.
“When Hillview Golf Course was torn down to build Eastridge Mall, I made a vow never to set foot in the mall,” Dove, now 74, said. “And I am proud to say that your article reminded me that I have kept that vow for 50 years now.” Bet he saved a lot of money, too.
REPORTING ON AAPI HATE: Covering a topic that affects you personally can be tricky for any journalist, so it should be interesting to hear how California journalists with Asian American/Pacific Islander backgrounds have handled working on recent reports of AAPI violence. Assemblyman Evan Low will moderate the discussion on May 27, which will feature NBC Bay Area’s Robert Handa; Los Angeles Times staff writer Anh Do; Lonnie Wong, a reporter at Fox40 in Sacramento; and Fox2 (KTVU) reporter Azenith Smith. The 6:30 p.m. forum is free to watch, though donations are accepted, and is being hosted by the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County. Register for the link at apademcaucus.org/forum-fundraiser.
