Sunday, March 17, 2024
Plaza de Cesar Chavez has some new amenities
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Latest news (and video) on Urban Putt - grand opening is later this week!
Friday, February 23, 2024
Has Google forgotten about Downtown San Jose?
Source: The Mercury News
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Downtown San Jose's Urban Putt - Latest Updates
Friday, February 9, 2024
Illuminated performance art sculpture coming to Second St. in Downtown San Jose
Project to contribute to San Jose’s vibrancy and inspire onlookers
A large and never-occupied storefront space has morphed into the first of many art lighting installations intended to energize downtown San Jose’s urban cityscape.
Dream Club Lab, a collaboration by installation artists Elaine Buckholtz and Ian Winters, is commissioned by the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) and San Jose Downtown Property Owners to support their vision of a vibrant downtown for everyone. The artists turned the empty 9,000-square-foot space at 72 S. Second St. into a light and video installation with roving robots that roam the space with live video, feeds and kinetic sculptures.
Unveiled this evening, Dream Club Lab can be viewed 24 hours daily through June. Special video and performative robot activations will take place from 5 to 11 p.m. each Thursday through Sunday.
SJDA is heeding its long-term objective to improve the quality of life of residents and visitors. One strategy is to follow the guidelines of the property owners’ multi-year Comprehensive Downtown Lighting Plan, which calls for more activations that support downtown’s night-time economy.
“We believe that by increasing foot traffic in our district, we can create more opportunities for our members to connect with potential customers, clients and collaborators,” said Alex Stettinski, CEO of the Downtown Association. “One avenue to increase foot traffic is to improve the spaces between already lit businesses, which is the bread and butter of street life programming.”
The lighting projects are receiving additional funding from the Knight Foundation, Adobe, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and the Office of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. “Turning the lights on” is one of Mahan’s mantras for the city.
“In true Silicon Valley spirit, this activation takes a vacant storefront and turns it into an innovative attraction,” Mahan said. “We need more projects like this one as we work to create a safer, cleaner, cooler San Jose.”
The Mayor also noted that the addition of electricity and internet to the space for the art installation enhances future leasability.
Buckholtz and Winters drew from their experience as lighting and video designers for the stage to create a cityscape fantasy space to inspire passersby to meet, discuss, invent, test ideas, and ponder downtown’s future and path to improvement.
“Everyone will react differently and take away something different,” Winters said.
Buckholtz and Winters, partnering as Nighthouse Studio, altered their Dream Club Lab concept to respond to the spatial considerations of the entire space. Some viewers said the art installation harkens back to the nightlife vibes of yesteryear, the artists added.
Though lights inside the space will stay on day and night, late afternoon sunlight results in a burst of motion and color reflecting off the curtains, the artists noted.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know San Jose,” Buckholtz said. “The city has an amazing warm spirit, and it is dynamic and down-to-earth.”
Dream Club Lab is wedged between The Improv comedy club and The Loft restaurant, across the street from San Jose Bar and Grill and Nova Nightclub. That part of South Second Street is most busy Thursday through Sunday nights.
Dream Club Lab kicks off a series of illuminated art pieces planned by SJDA. A second installation is scheduled for later this year. The works are meant to be portable so that they can be moved to other locations.
Source: Downtown DimensionTuesday, February 6, 2024
New university opening in Downtown San Jose with business and tech degrees
Saturday, February 3, 2024
VTA abandons eminent domain plans that would have derailed a high-rise project
Source: The Mercury News
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Where is this in Downtown San Jose?
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
San Pedro Square in Downtown San Jose is officially closed to cars... permanently
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Urban Putt has a new grand opening date - February 8th
Saturday, January 20, 2024
New food hall is officially open in Downtown San Jose
Source: NBC Bay Area
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Sonic Runway
Friday, January 12, 2024
Content 16.2
Here are some of the people featured in the upcoming issue:
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Iconic San Jose tower will be converting offices to homes
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Breeze of Innovation Updates
Dear Friend,
Creating a dynamic city center involves lots of blood, sweat, and tears. In 2023, we’ve worked hard to collaborate with our fellow Plaza de Cesar Chavez stakeholders on plans to dramatically improve the most historic piece of property in San Jose. In 2024, we want to take the next step.
Great parks are the secret sauce for successful downtowns around the world. For more than two centuries, Plaza de Cesar Chavez has been waiting for us. This is our chance to finally take Downtown San Jose to the next level by working together with our city's diverse and amazing citizens for the greater good.
Along with many others who are deeply committed to Plaza de Cesar Chavez, we will reveal our shared vision for the park in the next six months. This vision will include Breeze of Innovation, elements to dramatically honor Cesar Chavez, and vastly improved park infrastructure that will amp up and elevate events of all kinds -- including Christmas in the Park and the San Jose Jazz Festival.
The mission for 2024 is tightly focused; we plan to join with the family of Cesar Chavez, concerned citizens, park event producers, and neighbors to begin to dynamically improve Plaza de Cesar Chavez and maximize the joy experienced by all park visitors.
Downtown leader Gary Dillabough says: “Sometimes to create an exceptional place, you need a catalytic event or a catalytic project. Our belief is that the Breeze of Innovation is that project.”
Will you please continue to support our game-changing project for downtown San Jose?
Your donations will help us create this inspirational vision for Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Please donate HERE or by mailing a check to Urban Confluence Silicon Valley, P.O. Box 720813, San Jose, CA 95172.
Your financial support is deeply appreciated.
Please call Steve Borkenhagen any time with questions and comments.
Happy New Year!
Urban Confluence Silicon Valley
Executive Director Steve Borkenhagen
Steve@
Please take a moment to watch this video of Mayor Matt Mahan as he discusses Breeze of Innovation.
Friday, December 29, 2023
Last chance to see the holiday projections at St. Joseph's Basilica this season
Thursday, December 28, 2023
New Years Eve options in Downtown San Jose
Friday, December 22, 2023
The story behind San Jose's oldest building
Thursday, December 21, 2023
11-story building coming to San Jose's "Downtown West"
Source: SVBJ
Thursday, December 14, 2023
More details emerge about "San Jose's Downtown Food Hall" on Santa Clara Street
- Forza Italia Kitchen
- Y-Linh Sandwiches
- Sophia's Sweets
- Silk Road Kitchen
- Cosmic Cuisine Halal,
- Mercy Mediterranean
- Monosushi
- TeaZeer
- Sam & Curry
- Azuma San Jose
- SLOBSTER
- Cinco Milpas