Pinkberry Contest Entries

The Pinkberry contest is now closed for business. Thank you to all who have participated! Contenders for the 5 Pinkberry gift certificates are:

San Jose is awesome
San Jose is innovative*
San Jose is eclectic
San Jose is in
San Jose is cool
San Jose is legendary*
San Jose is underrated
San Jose is unique
San Jose is dependable
San Jose is home
San Jose is genesis
San Jose is hip
San Jose is inspiring
San Jose is ingenious
San Jose is visionary
San Jose is diverse
San Jose is faboo
San Jose is progressive

The two with asterisks were actually submitted by The San Jose Blog contributors, so they don't qualify =). Winners will be announced tomorrow morning!

PINKBERRY GIFT CARD CONTEST IS LIVE!!!

In honor of the 2nd Pinkberry in San Jose at 1110 Blossom Hill Road, we're giving away five $5 Pinkberry gift cards. Also keep in mind that everyone will be able to snag some free yogurt at their grand opening party on Thursday between 6pm and 10pm, all while being entertained by guest DJ Evan Taubenfeld (lead guitarist for Avirl Lavigne).

Alright then, onto the contest.  This time around it's very simple:

*********************

DESCRIBE SAN JOSE, IN ONE WORD

San Jose is [ your word here ]

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Everyone gets a single shot in the comments section below. Some disclaimers:

• In order to participate in the contest, you cannot post anonymously.
• Please use the format "San Jose is [ your word here ]" 
• You can only post a single answer, although it is okay to have multiple comments regarding other people's posts.  Posting more than one "San Jose is [ ]" answer in the comments below will get you disqualified!
• You cannot post anything that has already been posted by another reader.

But of course, there is more. You can also get a BONUS post on Facebook! All you need to do is find the Facebook post called PINKBERRY GIFT CARD CONTEST IS LIVE!!! and post another answer over there for a second shot at winning. It is possible to win 2 cards thanks to the BONUS post.

The contest ends in 24 hours and the winners will be announced Thursday morning! Good Luck!

Sharks Win Again, Sweep the Avalanche At Home

San Jose Sharks forward Ryane Clowe’s shootout skills win it again for the Sharks in the second straight game, putting the Sharks’ win streak at seven games in a row. The Sharks endured a nail-biting battle against a much-rejuvenated Colorado Avalanche team, hungry for revenge after their domination by the Sharks less than two weeks ago at the Shark Tank to the tune of a 4-0 loss. During the contest, Devin Setoguchi managed his first ever NHL hat trick.

Due to the defensive prowess of both teams, the first two periods remained scoreless. Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson quickly changed things with a power play goal just 1:18 into the third period to put the Avalanche up 1-0. Due to the slow scoring pace of the game, Johnson’s goal proved to be a significant game-breaker for the Sharks. The Johnson goal continued to be so until a very late third period goal by Joe Thornton tied the game up at 1-1, adding the much-needed energy to the San Jose fans in the Shark Tank and sending the game into overtime.

Overtime remained more of the same with an edge in puck control by the Sharks. Once the overtime period ended scoreless, the Sharks took control in the shootout, beginning with a Ryane Clowe goal, and followed up by Niemi successfully stopping all three Avalanche players from scoring.

Niemi again proved to be a much-valued asset for the Sharks organization. (No wonder the Sharks jumped at the opportunity to extend his contract.) Earlier this afternoon, Niemi signed a $15.2 million, four-year contract extension.

(It also helps that San Jose happens to be a wonderful place to live. Just ask any NHL player who has ever spent time here.)

For the Sharks, honorable mentions go to:

- Defenseman Ian White, who displayed his solid offensive skills by pinching in properly and effectively breaking out of the defensive zone to give the Sharks’ offense proper momentum.
- Antti Niemi, although facing only nineteen shots (as opposed to the Sharks’ thirty-five on Avalanche netminder Brian Elliott), the great majority of the shots he faced were dangerous. To top off his dominant play during regulation, he denied all three Avalanche shooters in the shootout to seal the Sharks’ win.
- Forward Joe Pavelski, contributing greatly to the Sharks’ dominant puck control. In addition, he almost scored when his shot beat the Avalanche netminder, but failed to beat the hard, iron crossbar.
- Captain Joe Thornton, playing another fantastic set-up game and scoring the goal that sent the Sharks into overtime.

As for the Avalanche, honorable mentions go to:

- Newly acquired defender, Erik Johnson, who went first overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft to the St. Louis Blues. Johnson proved to be a massive thorn in the Sharks’ side by not only blocking many shots and turning away scoring opportunities, but scoring the Avalanche’s only goal. Most notably, during a rush by Joe Pavelski in the overtime period, it was Johnson’s stick that kept Pavelski from succeeding.
- Goaltender Brian Elliott only allowed one goal (not including the shootout goal) out of the thirty-five shots from San Jose. He was the key in keeping the Sharks off of the scoreboard.

Catch the Sharks next Thursday, the 3rd, as the Sharks again face the Detroit Red Wings at home.

Cinequest Launches Today!

Today at Cinequest - March 1, 2011 from San Jose on Vimeo.

Pinkberry Gift Card Contest Starts Tonight!

To celebrate the grand opening of the 2nd Pinkberry in San Jose, we're kicking off a contest which will culminate in 5 winners of Pinkberry gift certificates! The new location is at 1110 Blossom Hill Road (Pueblo Plaza Shopping Center) and they're having a grand opening party on Thursday featuring free yogurt, music, and a celebrity guest.

The contest starts tonight at 7:00 PM!

Downtown San Jose Restaurant List Updates!

Here's the latest round of updates:

• Found another restaurant chain with the original location Downtown: New Tung Kee Noodle House
• Added Hawaiian Drive Inn on Santa Clara and 7th
• Made it past the 160 restaurant mark in my mission to patronize every Downtown SJ Restaurant!

If you haven't bookmarked it yet, here's the link to the spreadsheet! There is also a permanent link over to the right entitled Downtown San Jose Restaurants.

Save the Date _ "Blue to the Roots"

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Crossroads, Deb Barba

Canvas Ghost Productions is featuring Bay Area Musicians and Artists.

Blue to the Roots is an exploration of the early 20th Century blues movement.

Dig down into the roots of the Blues: Son House, Robert Johnson and Lead Belly are just a few of the artist that shaped that world. Come see the current artists who are shaping our world.

Children are welcome.

March 19th, 2011 7pm - 10pm
March 20th, 2011 Noon - 5pm

Canvas Ghost
992 S. 8th Street
San Jose, CA 95112
http:www.canvasghost.com

New San Jose Pinkberry and a NEW CONTEST!!!

It's no secret that the Santana Row Pinkberry has been insanely successful. It was the very first Pinkberry in Northern California and still has lines wrapping around it at all hours of the day, even when it's freezing cold outside. Swiftly responding to market demand, Pinkberry is opening a second location in San Jose @ 1110 Blossom Hill Road (Pueblo Plaza Shopping Center).

The new South San Jose Pinkberry is having their grand opening party this Thursday, March 3rd, between 6pm and 10pm. Everyone is invited! You may be thinking, what do they have in store for their very first guests?

• FREE YOGURT 
• Musical Entertainment
• Guest DJ appearance by Evan Taubenfeld, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for Avril Lavigne

To top it off, The San Jose Blog is doing a contest on Tuesday to give away some Pinkberry gift cards! Stay tuned for more details. The format of the contest is still being decided, so make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter just in case! =)




PINKBERRY OPENS SECOND STORE IN SAN JOSE
More Swirly Goodness Comes to Northern California on March 3

SAN JOSE, Calif (February 28, 2011) – Pinkberry, the number one tart frozen yogurt brand, will open its second San Jose location on March 3, 2011 at 1110 Blossom Hill Road – in the Pueblo Plaza shopping center. The Pinkberry Pueblo Plaza grand opening event will be held on Thursday, March 3. Consumers who stop by anytime from 6:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. on Thursday will enjoy free Pinkberry, musical entertainment and a special guest DJ appearance by Evan Taubenfeld, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for Avril Lavigne.

Pinkberry is premium frozen yogurt made with real non-fat yogurt and nonfat milk that is rBST hormone free. Pinkberry is made with only the highest quality ingredients and is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, resulting in a refreshing, clean and craveable taste.

The Pueblo Plaza location will be will be serving Pinkberry’s six distinctive flavors: the signature Original flavor, a sweet and tangy yogurt with a refreshing finish; Pomegranate, a bold and tangy flavor made with 100 percent California-grown pure pomegranate juice; Coconut, smooth and subtle, made with real coconut puree for a fresh and cool finish; a rich, indulgent Chocolate; Mango, a fruity and light flavor made with authentic Alphonso mango puree for a soothing finish; and a Featured Flavor that rotates seasonally, such as the recent Blood Orange, paired with succulent blood orange pieces, fresh blood orange purée and a crisp waffle cookie.

Customers can personalize every yogurt experience at Pinkberry with any combination of delicious toppings. At Pinkberry, uncompromising quality is paramount and the toppings bar is no exception. Each topping is selected with the highest quality standards, whether it’s Grade-A fresh fruit that is hand-cut daily in-store, organic gummy bears with no high fructose corn-syrup, all natural honey almond granola, 100% pure Pomegranate juice, or rich, premium Belgian chocolate shavings. Toppings are thoughtfully selected as a unique and delicious complement to the various Pinkberry frozen yogurt flavors.

In addition to frozen yogurt and toppings for immediate consumption, Pinkberry also offers Pinkberry Take Home, which is 25 ounces of Pinkberry, swirled-to-order and packed on ice to ensure your Swirly Goodness will get home safely to your freezer. Pinkberry also offers Fruit Parfaits, Smoothies, and Fresh Fruit Bowls as fresh and satiating choices for any time of day.

The new Pueblo Plaza store incorporates modern furnishings and clean lines into an inviting, lively atmosphere that mirrors Pinkberry store concepts across the country and established in Southern California and New York. San Jose residents are invited to experience its uniquely refreshing combination of tastes, textures and flavors as Pinkberry swirls daily in Pueblo Plaza from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Local fans who want up-to-the minute news and discount offers should sign up to be a Pinkberry Groupie at www.pinkberry.com/groupie. The brand can also be found on Facebook and at Twitter @pinkberryswirl.

About Pinkberry
Pinkberry reinvented the frozen yogurt category when it launched in West Hollywood, CA, in January 2005. Today it is the most talked about, best tasting, premium frozen yogurt, made with high-quality fresh ingredients. From store design to exceptional customer service to irresistible flavors and toppings, Pinkberry provides a social experience that indulges the senses. Pinkberry’s distinctive flavors are expertly crafted to complement its daily fresh-cut fruit and premium toppings that offer an irresistibly tangy, incomparably clean and refreshing taste. Pinkberry is certified by the National Yogurt Association and carries the Live & Active Cultures Seal. Get a taste of Swirly Goodness by visiting www.pinkberry.com.

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Features of Fury (Downtown San Jose Pillow Fight) Recap

Jennifer Bullock from San Jose Metblogs has a great recap of the Downtown Pillow Fight over at her personal blog right over here. You can also check out her photostream using this link!

Axis Promo #5 - Another Great Downtown Video!

Sharks Sweep Road Trip With Three Wins

The San Jose Sharks mounted a successful road campaign – their second in February – against three strong teams: the Detroit Red Wings (currently 2nd in the West), Pittsburgh Penguins (currently 4th in the East), and the Calgary Flames (currently 7th in the West), returning home with the momentum of a six game win streak. Next Tuesday, March 1st, the Sharks face the Colorado Avalanche at the Shark Tank.

Most impressive about the Sharks’ recent performance has been their overall patience and determination. Each of the three road games resulted in very close contests: the Sharks edged the Red Wings only by one goal at the end of regulation, the Sharks defeated the Penguins with only four seconds left in overtime, and the Sharks needed a shootout win to best the Flames.

Earlier in the season, fans grew accustomed to seeing the Sharks explode in the beginning and opening their lead, before allowing opposing teams to stage their comeback late in the third period. Now, fans have a team to be proud of supporting. The Sharks have since overcome deficits and maintained leads acquired early on. Fans are now witness to the regular season dominating team they've been used to watching.

In addition to the Sharks’ improved efficacy in their team play, the newcomers have all proven to be effective to the lineup as well. Forwards Ben Eager and Kyle Wellwood, in addition to defenseman Ian White, have all significantly contributed to the Sharks’ recent hot streak.

The Sharks have also seen their veteran talent, with the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dany Heatley, become more productive. Thornton’s second star honors for his performance in Calgary, despite not registering a point, came from his high work ethic: setting up his teammates, maintaining great puck control, and capable back-checking. Had several of his set up teammates been able to score, Thornton would have managed a few pretty assists for the highlight reel.

To briefly recap the Sharks’ 4-3 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames, Dan Boyle was out for the first time all season, Logan Couture increased his already-impressive points streak with the assist on the first goal, and Devin Setoguchi scored yet again. Ryane Clowe also did not fail to disappoint, not only scoring the game tying goal late in the third, but burying the only goal in the shootout, beating Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, to seal the Sharks’ victory. (This, of course, during a night when Kiprusoff clearly dominated the net, earning himself a well-deserved first star honors.)

As long as the Sharks maintain their visible patience and determination, Sharks fans should be treated to an exciting March home game stretch to watch their team win more games at the Shark Tank.

Based on the recent trades, acquisitions, and line configurations, there is no doubt the San Jose Sharks are taking their past post-season woes seriously.

New SJSU Football Complex and Athletic Upgrades!

It looks like SJSU is getting some much needed improvements to it's athletic facilities. The $16-20M investment will bring several improvements to Spartan Stadium, new practice fields adjacent to the stadium, a new complex for basketball / volleyball / gymnastics, and indoor tennis courts. For more information, click here.

Downtown San Jose Featured in Rap Video

Originating in San Jose, Projekt SEER is an emerging local rap group that heavily features Downtown in their latest video, SELF HOPKINS. Compton better watch out!

http://projektseer.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ESIKMUSIC

projektSEER@yahoo.com

Lacey Bryant Art Show at The Usuals Tonight

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

New works by Lacey Bryant at The Usuals on Friday, February 25th, 7-10pm.
Music, drinks, cupcakes and new Lacey designed t-shirt release.

The Usuals
1020 The Alameda
San Jose, CA
www.shoptheusuals.com

Body Worlds Vital has been Extended!

For Immediate Release

February 23, 2011

Change of Heart: BODY WORLDS Vital exhibition to keep beating through April at The Tech Museum

World-premiere blockbuster extended after solid reviews, overflowing crowds

SAN JOSE – BODY WORLDS Vital, which has sold more than 90,000 tickets in the three months since the blockbuster opened its doors to critical review and jam-packed crowds, will have an extended stay at The Tech Museum.

The popular exhibition will now remain in Silicon Valley until April 24, 2011.

The announcement comes just as Americans take stock of their health during February’s American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had their first heart attack. Nearly every 25 seconds, someone in the United States will have a coronary event, and one person every minute will die from one.

The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Developed specifically for the American audience to educate people on common diseases and preventive care, BODY WORLDS Vital is a specially curated collection made up of real human body plastinates and a large arrangement of individual organs – including the heart – arterial configurations and translucent slices that give a complete picture of how the human body functions. Using multi-media installations as a backdrop, the exhibit shows the body in disease and distress by comparing healthy bodies to bodies that have succumbed to a host of illnesses and medical conditions.

Physician and Creative and Conceptual Designer of the exhibition, Dr. Angelina Whalley said, “I hope that this exhibition at The Tech Museum will continue to inspire visitors by showing the body’s potential and capacity for change. My husband Gunther von Hagens and I created BODY WORLDS to show that the body is so fragile and vulnerable, and yet so resilient and forgiving.”




BODY WORLDS Vital is the latest chapter in the HUMAN SAGA project - a series of curated museum blockbusters that began with exploration of the brain and neuroscience, cardiology and the heart, human development and longevity and aging. BODY WORLDSexhibitions have been hosted by more than 50 museums and venues in North America, Europe, and Asia – and seen by more than 32 million visitors worldwide.

“This exhibition is perfectly aligned with our mission to give visitors high-quality experiences that educate, inform, provoke thought and inspire action - all in the spirit of Silicon Valley," Peter Friess, president of The Tech Museum, said. "BODY WORLDS Vitalgives visitors greater insights into the complexity of their bodies. But, even more than that, the exhibition challenges visitors to take serious stock of their health, propel them toward fuller, fitter lifestyles and, ultimately, wellness."

New Art at Red Berry Coffee Shop Tomorrow

This would also be a great venue to be added to South First Fridays, really cool coffee shop:

Tim Walker Reception at Red Berry Coffee

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Coffee, Tea, and Artistry at Red Berry Coffee Bar: Landscapes by Tim Walker
Artist's Reception: Friday, February 25, 7-9 pm

Join us at the opening celebration of Landscapes by Tim Walker, an exhibition of vibrant images showing the beauty and inherent drama of our country’s natural spaces.

Meet the photographer, Tim Walker, a recent graduate of San Jose State University, currently working for the award winning photographer, Frans Lanting. Fresh baked treats will be provided. Artisan coffees and teas are available to complement the treats and lift your spirits. An easy walk from downtown San Jose, Red Berry Coffee Bar is located directly across from City Hall. Street and covered parking is available.

Red Berry Coffee Bar
231 East Santa Clara Street
San Jose, CA
408.286.0508
www.redberrycoffeebar.com

Wednesday Wishlist: 2020 World Expo

From the Merc:

THE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF BRINGING
the WORLD EXPO 2020
TO SILICON VALLEY

Overall economic activity:
$5.6 billion
San Jose's share (14 percent):
$818 million
Jobs created (minus construction):
42,000
Local and state tax revenues: $440 million
Visitors (over six months):
25 million
Overnight visitors:
8.3 million

Axis Promo #4 - Great Video!

Exciting Game In Detroit Extends Sharks’ Win Streak

The San Jose Sharks come out on top in a hard-fought match against the dynamic Detroit Red Wings team, narrowly winning with the score of 4-3. While the Sharks snapped the Red Wings’ win streak at five, the Sharks extend their win streak to four. Sharks forward Devin Setoguchi, currently on a hot streak with ten goals in his last thirteen games, nets two (after his first ever NHL hat trick last Saturday at the Shark Tank against the Colorado Avalanche), and Sharks captain Joe Thornton scores his 300th career NHL goal. In addition, for the first time in San Jose Sharks franchise history, the Sharks sweep the Red Wings at their home in Detroit.

From the onset, the game was rife with playoff-like tension. Earlier in the season, the Sharks had lost to the Red Wings in San Jose and the Sharks had beaten the Red Wings in Detroit. To add to the already thick tension, the fans in Detroit never forgot their elimination by the Sharks from last year’s 2009-2010 playoffs.

As expected, both teams came out playing strong, knowing each other’s team was an equally difficult opponent.

The first period began scoreless, and even with a four-minute high-sticking penalty followed by a two-minute high-sticking penalty against the Red Wings (both drawn by the Sharks’ Logan Couture), giving the Sharks ample five on three opportunity, the Red Wings still managed to keep the puck out of their net. Much of the Red Wings’ success was due to a combined effort of solid defensive play and the standout saves by netminder Jimmy Howard. With twenty minutes left in the first period, the Red Wings took another penalty, giving the Sharks a power play for the rest of the period. It did not take long for the Sharks to capitalize on their advantage, with Joe Thornton scoring a great goal in front of the net, giving the Sharks a 1-0 edge by the end of the first.

Succeeding the action-filled, relatively scoreless first period revealed a still action-filled, three-goal second period. Just over seven minutes into the second period, the Red Wings’ Daniel Cleary scored on a weird bounce in front of the Sharks’ net to even up the game at 1-1. Later in the second, Sharks forward Ryane Clowe brilliantly blocked a Red Wings defenseman shot to earn a breakaway, beating the Red Wings’ Howard with a backhand to bring the Sharks back up to a one goal lead, at 2-1. Before the Sharks could become comfortable with their lead, the Red Wings’ Daniel Cleary scored again thirty seconds later to even the game at 2-2. Before the second period could end, Devin Setoguchi tipped in a shot from Joe Thornton and Logan Couture to bring the Sharks again to a one goal lead by the time the period came to a close.

No scoring occurred between the two teams during most of the third period, much in part to the brilliant saves by both the Sharks’ Antti Niemi and the Red Wings’ Jimmy Howard. Thirteen minutes into the third period, the puck came to Sharks forward Devin Setoguchi at the point from a nice Joe Thornton pass, who let go a ripping slap shot past Howard to put the Sharks up at a 4-2 lead. After a Dany Heatley interference call late in the third, the Red Wings used their one man advantage to bring the score to 4-3 with a well-placed shot by Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg.

The Red Wings team surged late in the third to recover their one goal deficit, even attempting to pull their goaltender to crash the Sharks’ defensive zone with an extra Red Wings player. While the Red Wings almost scored, the Sharks successfully kept their lead until the very end, with the final score of 4-3, in favor of the Sharks.

With their win, the Sharks remain in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, behind the obvious first and second place teams, the Vancouver Canucks and the Detroit Red Wings, respectively, and just one point behind the Phoenix Coyotes, another team on a massive winning surge.

Honorable mentions go to the Sharks defensive line, who have all played strong, hard-nosed hockey and keeping our net safe. Especially with all of the criticism by some fans concerning the Sharks’ lack of defensive prowess, the Sharks have since demonstrated to have some of the league’s best defensive playing in recent times. Additional assist to the Sharks management team for picking up defenseman Ian White, who had previously been playing with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Catch the Sharks TOMORROW night as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh’s Consol Energy Center! This will be the Sharks’ second game out of their current three game road trip.

San Jose has a Beach?

Here is a little known fun fact that is in good company with "San Jose has a marina?" and "it snows in San Jose?" We have a lake beach in Almaden! I completely forgot about this until I saw the I<3SJ wall on Facebook a couple days ago. For video proof, look no further than a random family video I pulled off of YouTube below.

Last Call for Dishcrawl Tickets!

It looks like this month's Dishcrawl will be even bigger and better than the inaugural event in January! Over 100 food lovers have purchased tickets and NBC's The Feast will be taping for their show. The list of eateries so far:

• Mezcal (Oaxacan restaurant)
• Mogo (Amazing Korean BBQ Taco Truck)
• Treatbot (Karaoke Ice Cream Truck)

They only have a few "latebird" tickets left. For more information, just click here!

Downtown San Jose Restaurant and Arts Discounts!

At the end of the State of the City Address brochure, I found a nice little coupon. 20 restaurants are offering a $10 dining credit and just about all performing arts groups Downtown are offering 10% off tickets with the coupon below. This certificate is good until April 30th and you can download it by clicking here.

Click image to enlarge

 

Winchester Mystery House Movie

Could there be a movie in the works starring the Winchester Mystery House? It appears so based on this page: http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/themovie.cfm.

According the the link above, the movie is a PG13 supernatural thriller shot in San Jose and Los Angeles. I also found a reference to it in the IMDB with 2012 as the release date. I'll be ecstatic if this comes to fruition!

SJ Bound: Love's Cupcakes

BART to San Jose is Closer to Breaking Ground

The Federal Transit Administration has given their seal of approval to provide $130m in federal funds to get BART to San Jose. The hope is to get construction started by 2012 and start service in 2018. For more information, click here.