The Super Bowl is here—here being, you know, the South Bay—‘a.k.a. Silicon Valley, the global hub of technological innovation, and home to Apple, Google, Facebook, the social media and mobile revolution.

But if you were to ask the NFL exactly where the Broncos and Panthers are set to face off, they’d just assume have you believe that the gridiron is in San Francisco, a little more than 40 miles away from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

SF is home to the official “Super Bowl City,” after all.

And yet, even as football fans across the nation take in footage of steamy clam chowder at Fisherman’s Warf; observe the beautiful, decaying relic that is Alcatraz; gawk at Coit Tower standing sentinel over the city; or marvel at that most iconic symbol of San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge—even while all that is happening, there will be plenty more going on in San Jose and its neighboring cities.

Pure Lounge in Sunnyvale has a week packed with celebrity appearances, beginning with electro house duo W&W on Wednesday and trance producer Andrew Rayel on Thursday, followed by a string of prominent emcees: Fabolous on Friday, T.I. on Saturday, and the G-Unit’s commanding officer, 50 Cent, on Sunday.

The downtown San Jose nightclub, Studio 8, is also getting in on the action. Travis Scott brings the “Antidote” on Thursday; the producer, singer and Trinidad James collaborator August Alsina keeps things live on Friday; and cosmic sex icon Miguel is in charge of making sure everyone feels the love on Saturday.

If you’re looking for a laugh, you may want to head to StubHub or Craigslist to try to nab tickets for one of Norm Macdonald’s sold-out sets at the San Jose Improv on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Mario Lopez of Extra TV and ’90s hit sitcom Saved By The Bell is hosting a party at Taste Restaurant and Nightclub on Friday.

While BackBar SoFa will keep things on the cutting edge with underground hip-hop performers, including Homeboy Sandman on Wednesday, Trizz & Chuuwee on Thursday and HBK Skipper, J. Stalin and Young Chop on Friday.

There is a whole lot more going on. For the entire rundown click here.

The King of Crunk got his party on at Pure Lounge in Sunnyvale on Thursday, spinning a set of club bangers and spraying the crowd with champagne. Our photographer CJ Supnet was there to capture the action. Whether you made the scene or not, you’re gonna want to peep these photos.

Nightlife lovers living in downtown San Jose will have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, as the seventh annual Black Friday party, hosted by F/X The Club founder Fil Maresca, will be held at the brand new SoFA venue, The Continental Bar, Lounge & Patio.

A venture of Sam Ramirez, owner of The Cardiff and El Guapo’s in Campbell, The Continental is so new that the F/X Club party—which will feature four DJs, spinning ’90s alternative and house music—is being billed as a “sneak preview” of the new club, which is slated to open officially sometime in December.

The party will feature sets from DJs Brian Raffi, King Raffi, Julius Papp, and Harry Who?

When The Continental does open its doors, it will be a welcome addition to the SoFA district, according to Maresca, a long-time San Jose resident, a member of the SouthFirst Action Committee and founder of F/X The Club, which once occupied the theater on the corner of South 1st and San Salvador, most recently occupied by the Angel’s nightclub.

“I’m really excited,” Maresca says of The Continental’s opening, which he views as yet another sign of the SoFA district’s resurgence—along with opening of Café Stritch, the soon-to-be-completed South First Market and the return of the SoFA Street Fair—not to mention the new housing springing up in the area.

“It’s becoming more of a community again,” Maresca says. “There’s a lot more people in the neighborhood who care about what’s happening.”

Ramirez certainly falls into the category of people who care about the district, and the opening of The Continental is a return to his roots.

Born and raised in San Jose, Ramirez learned the ins and outs of the nightlife business working for Maresca at F/X, throwing parties at the Cactus Club and working at Agenda. After cutting his teeth in the SoFA district, he opened up the highly successful Cardiff Lounge.

“It’s very exciting for me to be able to come back,” Ramirez says. “I feel like I’m coming back home.”

Ramirez has transformed the inside of what was once Brix and Hunters—going for a rustic look and using reclaimed wood, salvaged metal and exposed cement floors. Much like he does at Cardiff Lounge, the bar will feature DJs spinning electronic music, including acid jazz and rare groove beats. He also plans to occasionally host live music.

There will be leather couches and arm chairs and a back patio area, Ramirez says, explaining that he wants the place to have a “lounge feel.” The full name of the establishment will be The Continental Bar, Lounge and Patio.

He is training his bartenders to make craft cocktails and plans to stock mostly high quality and small-batch spirits, micro-brew and craft beers, and fine wine—with a few exceptions: “I might do a Coor’s Light, or something like that,” he says.

Overall, however, he wants The Continental to be a classy—but not stuffy—place, where young people can “come in, enjoy their time, have conversations and enjoy great cocktails.”

Bottoms up!

The party starts at 8pm tonight, Nov. 28, at 349 S. 1st St. There is a $10 cover after 9pm.

It’s not quite Halloween, but that didn’t stop the revelers from showing up Oct. 25 in their best—and skimpiest—costumes for a night of drinks, dancing and judgment. No… not the “Can you believe what she’s wearing!?” type of judgement. Party-goers were competing for the “Sexiest Costume” prize, and at $500, the competition was fierce.

Check out the slide show below to see some of the naughtiest, and innovative, costumes at the party. Photos by Alex Stover.

Tha Doggfather, himself, Snoop Dogg, is coming to San Jose next Friday, Oct. 10, to preside over what is sure to be a hazier-than-usual party at downtown night club, Studio 8.

Snoop will host the event, which will feature local DJs Big Von and Maniakal as well as a performance from SF-based rapper Yung Spitta. According to a representative from the club, Snoop will even perform a few songs himself.

The event opens at 9pm and tickets will be sold at the door. For more information about Studio 8 or arranging bottle service, click here, or call 408-279-4444

Check out Yung Spitta’s collaboration with Iamsu! and Kool John, “Twerk Team,” here:

And of course…