2+ hour, 50+ min ago  (1225+ words) Rising like a princess’ castle on the shores of Oakland’s Lake Merritt, Children’s Fairyland occupies a special place not just in locals’ hearts but also in American history. Opened in 1950 for 9 cents a ticket, it was the first-ever storybook amusement…...

3+ hour, 17+ min ago  (894+ words) Descending the steps to their seats in the Royal Box on Sunday, the heir to the British throne, the future queen and their two older children, Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 11, received “a massive,” standing ovation from the crowd as…...

1+ day, 46+ min ago  (113+ words) The Mercury News A two-day festival this weekend turned the one of the nation’s oldest Japantowns into a celebration of ancestral blessings, culture and history. The annual San Jose Obon Festival & Bazaar, presented by the Buddhist Church Betsuin, featured taiko…...

1+ day, 9+ hour ago  (561+ words) The 2026 Sunset International Wine & Spirits Competition proclaimed an Assyrtiko (pronounced ah-SEER-tee-koh), from New Clairvaux Vineyard in Tehama County Best White Wine and Best of Show. “New Clairvaux became the first winery in the Americas to plant this high-acid white grape…...

1+ day, 5+ hour ago  (520+ words) Who had Hilary Duff being one of the hottest music stories of 2026 on their bingo cards? Certainly not most people, including this critic and presumably Duff herself, who comes across as more than just a bit in awe of the…...

1+ day, 8+ hour ago  (194+ words) The League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale is hosting “a casual gathering of conversations and connections” with membership director Nina Wong-Dobkin and other league members on Tuesday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. at Panera Bread, 20807 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino. Evangeline…...

1+ week, 17+ min ago  (179+ words) The Mercury News TODAY’S WORD — HIEROGLYPH (HY-roh-glif: A character used in a system of writing using pictorial characters.) Average mark 42 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 67 or more words in HIEROGLYPH? TODAY’S WORD — HIEROGLYPH: heir help hero high higher…...

4+ day, 3+ hour ago  (383+ words) Silicon Valley Shakespeare is showcasing two comedies for its summer season in Sanborn County Park in Saratoga this summer. The company will produce “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde for the first time. The play is known for…...

2+ day, 23+ hour ago  (417+ words) Ever since Taylor Swift’s Eras tour took the music and concert industry by storm in 2023, there is an increasing demand that concertgoers can not seem to get over. Fans are leaving stadium shows and venues with disappointment and frustration as…...

2+ day, 22+ hour ago  (455+ words) Hollywood seems determined to remake every successful animation movie as a live-action film featuring real, human actors — like Disney’s “Moana,” released July 10. These remakes feature more advanced technology but rarely capture the original charm. Can you really imagine a lifelike…...