Category: Arts & Culture

A new custom cake shop, Horizon Bakery, has opened in Cupertino. This family-owned establishment boasts a wide portfolio of creations, ranging from intricately hand-painted cakes to elaborate floral and figurine toppings.

Horizon Bakery specifically chose Cupertino as the home for their new shop because they believe they can be successful here. In fact, its owners have poured an immense amount of effort into making the space their new home. They spent one year remodeling the location, demolishing and then rebuilding the entire interior, which was formerly Egghead Sandwiches.

Today, the shop’s owner works with a small team to create the cakes. They also offer smaller desserts (photos below). Horizon Bakery is located on 19929 Stevens Creek Boulevard. It is open from 12 PM – 7 PM, Tuesday – Sunday. Visit horizonbakery.com to learn more.

While many residents were preparing for their Thanksgiving holiday, the Cupertino City Council decided to axe its July 4th fireworks display. There was no community input taken to inform the City staff recommendation to eliminate the popular fireworks show enjoyed by thousands of residents for decades. The suggestion to eliminate the celebrations was also relatively hidden from the public, as a one-liner within agenda item #11 for the November 21, 2023 City Council meeting, “Accept the City Manager’s First Quarter Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2023-24.” 

Differing opinions

Councilmember Kitty Moore cast the lone dissenting vote against defunding July 4th fireworks. “I don’t feel this decision has the input from the public,” Moore said during the meeting. “I think this is being rushed. It’s being done at a time when the public isn’t here to comment on it, because it’s buried on this agenda.”

Moore also stated that funding can be made available to support the annual fireworks. “We have 14 positions which aren’t filled, at an average of $180,000 per position,” said Moore. “We do have money available if we are looking into the budget, in areas where there has actually been leftover year over year.”

On the other hand, Mayor Wei voted to get rid of the July 4th fireworks. The reason Wei gave was that there are worse budget cuts planned in January 2024, so it would be “responsible” to start cutting now. To note: the January service reductions referred to by staff and Council have not deterred the City from approving millions in new expenditures during its most recent October and November 2023 Council meetings. 

A Tale of Two Cities

The reason cited for eliminating the July 4th fireworks was Cupertino’s $15M structural deficit. However, Cupertino’s handling of this deficit has been inconsistent. The largest component of the City’s expenses is employee compensation and benefits (via the May 2023 budget presentation). But Cupertino has not had any meaningful reductions in force since its budget deficit was announced. In fact, on November 7th, Council approved cost of living (COLA) raises for both non-unionized and specific unionized employees, ranging from 3-5% and added two new fully paid holidays.

Impending January budget cuts have not deterred the council majority from approving millions in new expenditures during its most recent October and November 2023 Council meetings. On October 17th, Council voted to partner with developers to build a brand new City Hall building, rather than pursue a renovation of existing buildings for a fraction of the cost. This included a consultant contract of up to $170K¹.

Looking to the Future

Meanwhile, the City has chosen to cut community services. Eliminating the fireworks in 2024 would provide a one-time savings of $140K. To note, fireworks themselves only cost $45k, but $95k more (breakdown undisclosed) covers staff overtime, sheriff time, and liability insurance. Last year, staff was already proposing cutting fireworks along with the $30K Shakespeare in the Park performances. Neither will be funded for 2024.

Council voted to retain July 4 morning activities at a reduced scale as compared with prior years at a cost of $7000. Councilmember Liang Chao asked for the Parks & Recreation Commission to explore creative ways to hold July 4th celebrations without fireworks, and to fund future July 4th events. The City has cut July 4th fireworks in the past, so it is possible that they may be restored in future years.

Footnotes

1. Master Agreement #2023-031, City of Cupertino, available in the October 17, 2023 Written Communications on Page 7: https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=E2&ID=1053225&GUID=32C570ED-67B8-43BB-8BE8-7F0A82467799

A highly-anticipated new boba shop has made Cupertino its home: Chicha San Chen. The franchise’s Cupertino location is the first in all of Northern California. As such, it is currently drawing waits from 40 minutes to two hours, with lines stretching down the block. Fortunately, guests are supplied with umbrellas to shade them as they wait.

Boba, also known as “bubble tea”, is a tea-based beverage containing tapioca pearls or “bubbles”. What separates Chicha San Chen from other boba shops is its focus on Taiwanese tea. All of the teas on its menu have won awards from the International Taste Institute. The franchise uses a proprietary LION “teapresso” brewing machine customized for each type of tea. 

Unlike most boba shops, Chicha San Chen also offers a complimentary tasting of its teas. Guests can sample its Oolong roasted to five different levels: light, light-medium, medium, medium-heavy, and heavy. Reservations are required for this experience.

Chicha San Chen is currently open 7 days a week, from 12:00 – 7:00 PM. At the time of this article, drinks are approximately $6.75 – $7.75 each. It is located on 20688 Stevens Creek Blvd in Cupertino, in the space formerly inhabited by Fire Wings.

At the busy headquarters of one the world’s most iconic companies, a new oasis beckons to contemplate the diversity of our planet. Mirage is a new glass sculpture commissioned by Apple and created by artist Katie Paterson and architectural studio Zeller & Moye. It is located adjacent to the Apple Visitor Center in Cupertino. 

Paterson and architectural studio Zeller & Moye partnered with UNESCO’s International Geoscience and Geoparks programme, sand experts from around the world, and local glass artisans to create the artwork.

Mirage is free to the public, and is accessible 24 hours a day. At night, the pillars are lit with a gentle glow. Parking is available at the Apple Visitor Center parking lot. Learn more at mirage.place.

Here are some photos: