If you love furry creatures -- and you'd better! -- the annual Further Confusion (FurCon) conference is a great way to expand your horizons. This delightful event has become one of Downtown San Jose's quirkiest gatherings, as furries from around the world take over the convention center and nearby hotels for networking, roleplaying, storytelling, and partying. If you're not interested in this particular subgenre of cosplay yourself, you should still say hello if you happen to be out this weekend (tonight through Monday, January 12) in SoFa or at Tanq and you happen to see a fuzzy tail emerging from the jacket of the person next to you, a pair of animal ears atop their head, or an entire fox-like fantasy character sipping a cocktail and enjoying the music. Mostly, they're very nice, and your friends will love that selfie.

San Jose's annual holiday tradition Christmas in the Park at downtown's Plaza de Cesar Chavez is in full swing now (through January 1), and as part of the festivities, they'll be holding a special Dog Day at the Park on Saturday, December 3, from 11am-3pm.

Bring your pooch for pictures with Santa and get a free prize from Unleashed by Petco. Just don't feed your pup any of that famous hot chocolate! No word on whether your four-legged friend will be welcome on the Ferris wheel.

​(photo: Mdk572 / Creative Commons)

In case you've somehow managed to avoid the news by hiding in your crate and concentrating on chew toys for the past year, we're here to let you know that Election Day is coming up! That's right, next Tuesday, November 8, take your pup for a walk to your polling place and cast your votes. Not sure where your polling place is? Click here to search for it!

Here in San Jose, the ballot is a long one. You already know who you'll be voting for at the top of the ticket, but once you've checked the box next to her name, don't be left scratching your head (or your fleas) trying to figure out how to fill out the rest of your ballot! Remember, local leaders and measures are way more likely to impact your daily life, whether through funding of a new dog park or hiring top-notch K-9 units. So, set aside a few hours to do some research before you head out to the polls - and bring notes. They're allowed!

We hope to see some doggie pics at your local polling place. Be sure to tag @dogsofsanjose!

It's October in San Jose, and that means the Day of the Dead festivities are afoot! There's a full week of amazing celebrations that highlight the art, music, and traditions of our community's Mexican heritage. Check out the 7th annual Dia San Jose festival at Saint James Park on October 22, El Dia de Los Muertos Community Day at the San Jose Museum of Art on October 29, and La Ultima Parada San Jose at the School of Arts & Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza on October 30 - among other events! Here's a great summary of some of the highlights via Content Magazine. Don't forget to dress up, and dress up your pup, too!

The above image, by the way, is by Etsy user Illustrated Ink, and you should definitely buy some of her super amazing artwork.

When it comes to finding and supporting artists who are producing work out of pure passion (or just for the hell of it), you can't get much better than the annual Alternative Press Expo. Now in its 22nd year, this two day event takes place at the San Jose Convention Center on October 8 & 9 and features panel discussions in addition to all manner of comic books, zines, and art produced with sharpies and photocopiers in the best low-tech local garages. It's just 12 bucks to get in and the art is cheap, so show your support and insist your dog should be allowed inside! Visit the event page on Facebook here.

San Jose's annual Bark in the Park event claims to be the "largest dog festival in the United States." While that statement can't be independently verified by our fluffy fact checkers, this is definitely the place to go in SJ if you want to see dogs. Thousands of dog owners come through each year to enjoy a day at Williams Street Park in the Naglee Park neighborhood, with just about every local pet-related vendor imaginable offering pet products, adoptions, information, and more. Expect food trucks that sell both people and dog treats, agility demonstrations, a dog costume contest, a dog/owner lookalike contest, and even tail-wagging contest. Money raised at the event benefits local charities including the Humane Society Silicon Valley, San Jose Animal Care Center and the Campus Community Neighborhood Association.

This year's Bark in the Park is this coming Saturday, September 17, from 10am-5pm. RSVP here, and let all of your dog friends and dog-loving friends know they need to be there! Dogs of San Jose will be roaming around snapping pictures, so if you bring a dog, be ready to pose!

Silicon Valley Pet Project presents a morning of ridiculous cuteness and exercise as they host Doga in the Park on Sunday, August 14, from 9-11am at St James Park.

Taught by Beverly Bachoo, a certified yoga instructor and mommy to Archer the Dog, the class will somehow bring together traditional yoga poses with dog stretching, or something like that. How successful will that be? Who cares, really, when you've got a great reason to bring the pup to the park, get a workout in, and maybe flirt with some health-conscious dog lovers? You can also meet some dogs up for adoption and get tips on healthy pet care.

​RSVP to the free event here.

Puppies rejoice! A new park is coming to Downtown San Jose: Notre Dame Park on the corner of Almaden Blvd and Carlyle St (just a short walk from the San Pedro Square Market) is the result of a community-lead effort to transform a formerly empty parking lot into a neighborhood park.

This Sunday, June 26, from 4-8pm, the organization will be holding its first Downtown Bark and Mingle Community Party, with benefits going to continued restoration of the new spot and the upkeep of Andy's Pet Shop, which is right next door. Expect music, food trucks, art projects, and (most importantly) a petting zoo.

Never heard of Notre Dame Park? That's okay, because it's new! But you should visit their website here, where you'll learn about the beautifully-restored, retro 7up sign and the awesome dog-friendly red fire hydrant.

Just in time for summer, Luna-approved San Josean Cellista is ready to boldly take you back to the days of zines with her new publication JUXine. It's a free little publication with a local angle and a variety of ideas that describes itself as "Another idealistic artistic endeavor brought to you by Cellista." Find it in San Jose coffee shops, music stops, and mom & pops - or check it out online and print a copy at home here.

The 9th Annual SubZero Festival takes place this Friday and Saturday nights in Downtown San Jose. Presented by South First Fridays, the monthly art walk that you should always bring your dog to, SubZero is one of SJ's coolest annual events. Describing itself as "a DIY, artistically bent, hi/lo-techno mashup where street meets geek," it celebrates a lot of the things that make this town awesome - like our tight-knit arts community, our cultural diversity, our innovative tech creatives, and our underground musical magicians. This event is something to plan your weekend around!