Saturday Stats: Downtown San Jose Office Vacancies Drop 5.6%

For the past several years, office vacancies in Downtown San Jose have been astronomical. I remember the Sobrato tower sitting empty waiting for an owner for what seemed like ages. Even today, one of the River Park Towers is still empty.

The good news is that a huge dent has been made towards reducing these vacancies in the last year. During Q3 2011, the vacancy rate of office space Downtown was an abysmal 27.1%. That has since dropped to 21.5% in Q3 2012, a 5.6% reduction. Still not fantastic, but substantially better than the year before. I think in 2013 we'll finally see this number drop below 20%.

Source: SJBJ

Content Magazine 4.4

It has been a whole year since the inaugural Content Magazine print edition, and it continues to get better and better. The latest issue includes an interview with Vincent Kartheiser from Mad Men, Shea Salinas from the Earthquakes (which are kicking ass by the way), and Matthew Rodriguez from Pops Fabrication bike shop. You can head over to some of the places listed below to pick up your hard copy, but I would recommend subscribing to make sure you don't miss an issue!

CONTENT MAGAZINE’S 4.4 “EDUCATION” ISSUE ON NEWSSTANDS OCTOBER 19

Magazine Celebrating One Year After Successful Kickstarter Campaign;

Featuring Mad Men’s Vincent Kartheiser, SJ Bike Party, SJ Earthquake Shea Salinas, and more

One year after running a successful Kickstarter campaign to launch the magazine, Content Magazine’s fifth printed issue is hitting the newsstands on October 19 and is packed with quality interviews, features, and photography that San Jose has come to expect from the publication.

In Issue 4.4, readers can enjoy interviews with Vincent Kartheiser from AMC’s Mad Men, Shea Salinas of the San Jose Earthquakes, and Matthew Rodriguez, owner of Pops Fabrication, a San Jose custom bike shop. The issue also includes stories on San Jose Bike Party, Opera San Jose’s founder and opera singer Irene Dalis, and a food shopping guide featuring locally sourced and produced treats.

As with every new issue, Content Magazine will hold a Pick Up Party for subscribers to collect the latest issue. Issue 4.4’s Pick Up Party will be held at the San Jose Museum of Art on October 18 and is open to current subscribers as well as anyone interested in buying the latest copy, meeting the staff behind Content Magazine, or meeting the people featured in this issue.

Content Magazine can be found at Zanotto’s in Willow Glen, Saint Clair Newsstand, La Lune Sucree, The Usuals, Satori Tea Company, Art Boutiki, and the San Pedro Square Market Gift Shop. Content Magazine can also be downloaded in electronic form from their website. Annual subscriptions are $42; email sarahg@content-magazine.com to subscribe.

Content Magazine is a bi-monthly publication devoted to the creative and innovative culture of San Jose. Started by fashion photographer Daniel Garcia in 2008, the magazine strives to showcase and promote individuals and businesses that are making San Jose a dynamic and vibrant place to live and play.  

For more information about Content Magazine, Issue 4.4, or to schedule an interview with Daniel Garcia, please email Flora Moreno de Thompson at flora@content-magazine.com or call Flora at 408.643.9975.

Twitter: @contentmag
Instagram: @contentmag
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ContentMag

Silicon Valley Restaurant Week (Oct. 17-24)

One of my favorite food events of the year started yesterday, Silicon Valley Restaurant Week. Almost 50 different restaurants (a dozen of which are Downtown) will be offering fixed price 3-course menus. The prices range from $25 a person all the way up to $65 for the Capital Club. Most are in the $35 a person bracket. For a full list of participating restaurants, just click here.

Wednesday Wishlist: Free Wifi

We live in the middle of Silicon Valley in the year 2012. At this point I would definitely expect the entire city to be blanketed in free Wifi internet access.

Comcast is taking some steps to making a ubiquitous hotspot across Silicon Valley, but you have to be a Comcast customer. The internet is becoming the lifeblood of this region, so we need to make sure our infrastructure is very strong in this area.

TWO BUCK Tuesday Today!

From Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Foin us at KALEID Gallery for this upcoming TWO BUCK Tuesday, October 16th, 7pm-10pm!
Come enjoy an inspired evening of performances, live painting, $2 art & quirky people get together! It's open to all ages and free!

Here’s some of the great things to see and do this time:

This month's Feature Artist Michael Foley will be on hand to answer any and all of your questions about his current exhibition "Keeping Up with Appearances".
Foley will also be on hand making monster portraits...portraits of people are cool, but turning people into monsters make things much better-so come by and become a monster yourself! If that wasn't enough he will demonstrate the making of fake blood just in time for Halloween.


The monsters of California's Great America's Halloween Haunt will be visiting to give you a good scare and a chance at some scary prizes and giveaways!


Shannon Amidon will be demonstrating how to create preserved waxed leaves
and nature to include in your artwork or Autumn décor. If you would like
to participate please bring fresh leaves from your home.


BYO Camera Phone for a photo shoot with You and Harold the Skeleton! Funny costumes encouraged. :)


Face Painting with Lara Sophia


LIVE ART by:

Al Preciado


Nik Caesar


Miguel Machuca


Alexandria Perez


Mim


John Hageman


Jehoiakim Santos


Live Music by Dream House!

TWO BUCK Tuesday, October 16th, 7pm-10pm!


88 South Fourth Street (@ San Fernando)
San Jose, CA 95112
info@KALEIDGallery.com
408-947-1785
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, noon -7pm, free admission

San Jose International Short Film Festival Opens October 18th at CineArts Theatre Santana Row!

If you thought Cinequest was the only film festival in San Jose, think again. Last year the San Jose Short Film Festival really shined with an impressive selection of short films and events spanning several days. It looks like they are raising the bar yet again for their 4th year with the best lineup of features in the event's history. I'm really looking forward to the comedies, which are usually my favorites.

It all starts this Thursday at CineArts Santana Row and continues until Sunday night. For more information either keep on reading or head over to the festival site over here.

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San Jose, August 13, 2012 – Our 4th annual event is back, better than ever with an incredible lineup of short films featuring selected entries from Tribecca, Cannes, Sundance and other top festivals.  With over 70 films cultivated from the hundreds of entries submitted, these World Class productions include performances by Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, X-Men First Class), Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (The Thing, Scott Pilgrim) and many more.

With over 16 short film screening blocks that feature every genre of film imaginable, there is something for everyone, plus industry guests, filmmaker panels, after-parties and more.

This year the San Jose International Short Film Festival kicks off October 18th with the Red Carpet "Opening Night Screening & After-Party" and continues through October 21st.

The SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (SJISFF) distinguishes itself as a festival that caters to filmmakers and their craft. Beginning with the Red Carpet event and "Premiere Selection" screening & Opening Night After-Party at the prestigious Santana Row complex.

Multiple screenings are held each day at CineArts Theatre in Santana Row, with its All Stadium Seating and State of the Art Digital Presentation that include "It's Comedy, Tonight", "The Ink & Paint Club" our tribute to Animation Shorts, "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" which features Sci-fi and Thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seat, and "Welcome to the Alternative Universe" that captures the essence of Experimental, Cult and the Avant Garde. Also, this year is our NEW screening block “Wish you Were Here”, featuring the best in short foreign film.

Tickets on Sale Now.

Ticket and Screening Information: www.sjsff.com

September 2012 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• The SJDA is implying it is against Measure D (the minimum wage hike) since it will result in businesses reducing hours, cutting jobs, raising prices, and/or relocating outside of San Jose.
• Scott's Seafood, which is on the top floor a 6-story parking structure, now has an outdoor patio with fireplace offering views of the city. They also expanded their indoor bar and lounge.
• The Chevron on Fourth and Santa Clara has added an Extra Miles convenience store.
• Grocery Outlet and Bargain Market is now open at the former Albertsons space.
• Devine Grind Coffee Shop is open at 27 Devine St.
• The Little Cheese Shoppe at San Pedro Square Market is now open.
• Dark Hours Gym is open at 97 N. Almaden with classes for martial arts and fitness.
• Charles Le Photography has moved into 42A S. First St.
• Downtown's music scene has grown steadily: in June there were an average of 40 live music events per week, by July that number was over 50, and in August it exceeded 60.
• After 8 years without a medical center, the Gardner Downtown Health Care Center opened Aug 9th at 725 E. Santa Clara. A $50m three story building is also opening in 2015.
• Dec 16th will be the inaugural Santa Run Silicon Valley benefiting Downtown for the Holidays events like Christmas in the Park.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

The Fairmont Celebrates 25 Years

The flagship luxury hotel in Downtown San Jose is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this month. They took a huge gamble coming Downtown back in 1987 when it was a much different environment than it is today, but I think it paid off very well for them. The Fairmont consistently have some of the highest occupancy and average room rates Downtown and have even pulled off a substantial expansion. The relationship also works both ways as the hotel has brought thousands of events Downtown and has helped sponsor dozens of community endeavors like Christmas in the Park. Today, it is hard to imagine the San Jose skyline without the Fairmont Hotel.

To celebrate the Anniversary, they have a variety of promotions going on which you can read all about in the press release below.

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SAN JOSE, CA (October, 2012) Twenty-five years ago, the site of a prestigious hotel was proposed for construction to meet the demand of a quickly, developing city core.  Opening its doors in 1987, The Fairmont San Jose was the first luxury hotel of its kind in downtown San Jose. Serving as a hub of creativity, connection and discovery, the hotel has served as a backdrop for the brilliant inventions and events in Silicon Valley.

The hotel has also become a favorite venue for generations of families, from holiday celebrations to wedding receptions and special occasions. As a way to give back to the community and our loyal guests, The Fairmont San Jose is delighted to celebrate 25 wonderful years of hospitality and offer the community the following promotions:

Pizza and Pinot at The Lobby Lounge
Every day, Offered throughout the month of October 2012
The Fairmont San Jose’s Lobby Lounge will feature selections of Greg Norman Pinot Noir with a selection of freshly baked gourmet pizza. $25 for two glasses of wine and one pizza plus tax & service

Silver Afternoon Tea
Every day, Offered throughout the month of October 2012
Afternoon Tea includes assortment of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream, lemon curd and fruit preserves, and a wonderful array of French pastries. The Fairmont San Jose’s famed afternoon tea service may be booked for $25 per person. $12 for children under 12 (All prices plus tax & service).

Please call 408-998-1900 or visit www.fairmont.com/sanjose for reservation details

$25 Local Wines
Every day, Offered throughout the month of October 2012
A selection of local favorite wines, offered at $25 per bottle.

About The Fairmont San Jose
The Fairmont San Jose located in the heart of Silicon Valley, combines high-tech excitement with the elegance of Fairmont style.  The hotel offers 805 deluxe guest rooms, including 77 luxurious suites, and 65,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, presented with the perfect balance of contemporary and traditional designs.  The 20th floor is devoted to a collection of grand penthouse suites, with its own private boardroom and spectacular city views. The 4th floor (Cabana Level) features lavish -style rooms framing a 58’ swimming pool, sun deck, men’s and women’s saunas, steam rooms, health club and spa.

History San José Honors Filipino American History at History Park This Saturday, October 13

San José, California – October 9, 2012 --- The entire month of October celebrates Filipino American History Month (FAHM). This year History San José (HSJ) will hold a series of events with activities for both families as well as adult education. This Saturday, October 13 at History Park, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in partnership with the Filipino American National Historical Society’s (FANHS) Santa Clara Valley Chapter, History Park will host a Filipino American History Day.

This family day celebrates the heritage, and features dance performances by the DS Players from Mission College in Santa Clara (12:30 – 12:50 p.m.), Ron Quesada and Kulintronica (1 – 1:20 p.m.) and live music by the Melecio Magdaluyo Quartet (3 – 3:30 p.m.), as well as a Filipino martial arts exhibition by Suro Jason Inay (3:40 -3:50 p.m.).

FANHS will award former NBA-great Raymond Townsend with the Santa Clara Chapter’s ‘Outstanding Filipino American Award’, between noon and 2 p.m. As a basketball stand-out at Archbishop Mitty High School, Townsend went on to play basketball for Coach John Wooden at UCLA, winning numerous awards, including MVP. He was in the first round draft by the Golden State Warriors, and later played for the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers.

Townsend has since founded the RT Basketball Development League in San José, created programming for youth with special needs, and is focused on development of youth of his culture and heritage.

Also at History Park will be Filipino food furnished by food trucks: Chutney Mary’s, Yumsilog, WOW!, The children’s crafts and activities will include story-telling by author Tony Robles, a Fil-Am history scavenger hunt,  wind-chime and bookmark-making activity.

Through My Father’s Eyes: The Filipino American Photographs of Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado (1914 – 1976) is a photographic exhibit documenting Filipino American life in San Francisco during the 1940’s and 1950’s, and is inside the Gallery in the Pacific Hotel at History Park.

Admission is free for History San José members, adults are $8 each, children five and under are free, and seniors and students are $5 with valid identification. The series of Family Days at History Park is supported, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José.

  # # #

About History San José:
History San José is a non-profit organization that collects, preserves and celebrates the stories of diversity and innovation in San José and the Santa Clara Valley. HSJ manages one of the largest and most comprehensive regional history collections in the State of California, from 1784 Spanish governmental records to twenty-first century Silicon Valley technology.
History San José     1650 Senter Road     San José, CA  95112       408.287.2290
www.historysanjose.org

About The Alvarado Project:
The Alvarado Project is a non-profit founded in 1998 and is headed by Executive Director Janet Alvarado. The Alvarado Project has an advisory board. It is a community-based volunteer organization of artists, students, and educators. The project seeks to foster
multicultural understanding, strengthen the community through art, cultural programs, and collect historically significant artifacts and material about the Filipino American community.
www.thealvaradoproject.com

About Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)
Founded in 1982, the Filipino American National Historical Society is a national organization with 28 chapters throughout the United States. The Society’s mission is to promote, preserve and document the contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States and to provide education on the significance of the Filipino American experience.  www.fanhs-santaclara.org

October 2012 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• The Downtown Doors project was recognized by the International Downtown Association (IDA), where the president of the IDA even said that the program sets the standard for best practice in the industry.
• The next HER city event is Oct. 25 and features appetizers and drinks in the Hedley Club followed by the musical MEMPHIS (including a backstage tour). Tickets are available at sjdowntown.com/hercity.
• Hawaiian Airlines and KIristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation will be title sponsors for Downtown Ice, kicking off Nov 16th.
• The parking lot wall on Almaden and Woz has been adorned with new artwork, which extends across 33 sections of wall and 1,868 sqft. The project took 2 months to complete.
• The Poppy Farm at the San Pedro Square Market is now regularly open for buisiness, as is Loteria Taco Bar.
• AJ's Hot Dogs is now open in SoFA.
• The Earthquakes are breaking ground on their new soccer stadium with a public ceremony on Oct. 21. They are also trying to break the Guinness World Record for most people taking part in a ground-breaking ceremony.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

San Jose Trail Count 2012

In mid September the San Jose Trail Program took an annual count of trail usage during peak travel periods. The results are looking pretty good for 2012.

At the Guadalupe River/Coleman, there was a 3.4% increase in usage over last year despite a partial closure for paving. Guadalupe River and San Fernando showed a huge 34.5% increase in usage. Los Gatos Creek at Hamilton was up 13.9%. Los Gatos Creek at Auzerais stayed the same while Los Alamitos Creek at Camden was up 6.4%. They also counted 82 people in what will become a new future trail in the Five Wounds neighborhood.

Here is the trend for the total number of trail users:

• 2007 - 243 users
• 2008 - 420 users
• 2009 - 531 users
• 2010 - 561 users
• 2011 - 593 users
• 2012 - 613 users

For more information click here, or expand the image below. A big thank you to Yves Zsutty for submitting this information.

Wednesday Wishlist: Halloween in the Park! (Part V)

This is one of my favorite Wednesday Wishlists every year. To sum it up, think Christmas in the Park for Halloween! San Jose is gaining traction as a go-to place for Halloween events with events like the Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights and Deadtime Dreams. A Halloween in the Park month-long event would be inclusive to all ages and make Downtown San Jose the epicenter of October Halloween experiences.

Below is a working concept and there have been several additions and revisions over the last three years, so please have a look and provide your feedback and suggestions in the comments. Thanks!

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The largest draw to downtown San Jose for many years now has been Christmas in the Park. It has continued to grow year after year and brings in visitors from all over the Bay. It's economic impact I'm sure is substantial and helps keep many downtown businesses afloat.

What would you think about a similar event for Halloween? Picture downtown lit up in orange add purple with elaborate Halloween displays assembled by talented local artists. Perhaps a infrastructure could even be shared with Christmas in the Park (e.g. retail booths). A strong event in October would help maintain traffic between the summer months and Christmas in the Park. Here are the ideas we have so far:

• Animated Halloween Displays
• Created by local artists
• Analogous to the Christmas displays that attract many families during Christmas in the Park (almost half a million visitors)
• Family friendly so that everyone can enjoy it (PG/PG13, perhaps around the same level as Great America Halloween Haunt)
• Halloween Lighting
• Orange, purple, and green LED lighting on trees
• May be possible to use new controllable lighting that can go from Halloween colors to Christmas colors with the push of a button, allowing the lights to stay up for Christmas in the Park as well and reducing setup/takedown effort.
• Halloween Food
• Booths with candied apples, chocolates, candy, pumpkin seeds, etc.
• Food trucks
• Retail Booths selling Halloween items, for example:
• Artwork (paintings, glass pumpkins, etc.)
• Home decor/crafts like candles
• Light-up hats/necklaces/bracelets
• Costumes
• Zombie/Halloween make-up station 
• Halloween-themed Carnival Games
• Pirates of Emerson does a good job at this.
• Interactive Art
• ZERO1-style, but with a Halloween spin.
• Pumpkins
• Instead of the sponsored Christmas trees in Christmas in the Park, how about decorated Pumpkins (can even be Styrofoam so there is no mess/decay)?
• Pumpkin carving station for families. 
• Pumpkin carving contest.
• Costumed Entertainers
• Walking around the area, not necessarily scaring people but adding to the ambiance and providing photo opportunities for families
• Haunts
• Would be ideal if these were nearby, perhaps in vacant retails spaces, surface parking lots, the convention center, or at SJSU.
• Could partners with one of the established San Jose haunt providers such as Deadtime Dreams or The World's Largest Haunted House.
• Potential Events
• Zombie-O-Rama can be used to kick off Halloween in the Park (late Sep. / early Oct. timeframe)
• Zombie Crawl
• Dia De Los Muertes Bike Party
• Horror Movie Trivia Contest
• Weekly horror movie screening (perhaps in the Circle of Palms area?)

As before, please post your suggestions below!

San Jose Halloween Attraction Guide 2012

Wondering which events to go to this Halloween season? The San Jose Blog has got you covered. This year we have more local haunt attractions then ever before, and the quality has also been taken to a new level. The full list is below, but I would like to highlight the Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights, Shadow Hills, and Pirates of Emerson for really being exceptional this year.

Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights  - San Jose
The single most impressive haunt attraction in the Bay Area, and it happens to take place in and around what may actually be a real haunted house. There are two components of this event, a self-guided flashlight tour of the mansion itself and an epic 40 minute haunt with props and design elements straight out of a Hollywood movie. If you just plan on doing just a single event this year, you can stop reading and buy your tickets for this one.

Dead Time Dreams - San Jose
New for 2012. Last year they were a part of the World's Largest Haunted House below, but this year they have created their own event just down the street from their former partners (next to a giant pumpkin patch). There are two really well done mazes here along with a midway containing props, a tarot card reader, some scare actors, and Halloween items for sale.

World's Largest Haunted House - San Jose
This one is another really long maze with seemingly never-ending black corridors that break up the scares. This year they also added a short haunt right before you get to the line of the maze, a pretty neat idea.

Shadow Hills - Los Gatos
This was the biggest surprise of the year and one of the best haunts I have ever done. The groups are limited to only 2 people, there is quite a bit of acting and storytelling, you have interactive elements like hidden doors, and finally there is one scare prop (think chain saws and air guns) that will blow you away.

Pirates of Emerson - Pleasanton
The preeminent Bay Area Halloween event for almost 2 decades is returning this year with an another great event. There are 5 haunted mazes this year, a Halloween Carnival, and several micro-attractions. This is MUCH MORE intense than Great America, so don't bring your young children to this one. You'll get scares from every angle, including above and below you. The haunts are extraordinarily well done, and they only let in small groups. 

Halloween Haunt @ California's Great America - Santa Clara
Still the largest Halloween event in Northern California. Now in its fifth year, the word has gotten out on Halloween Haunt and the park is packed even on day 1. There are now 7 haunted mazes, a single haunted ride, 3 scare zones, and various shows. Most rides worth going on are still open for this event and the roller coasters are being run with all the lights turned off. Only one of the mazes was new this year, Madam Marie's Massacre Manor, and it also happened to be the best one. The quality of the actors did not seem as good as in previous years with the exception of this new maze where they really excelled. I would say overall this is now the least scary of all the events and I'm hoping they can pick things up next year with a few new mazes. 

Swank Farms - Hollister
I didn't do this one this year, but I heard it was great. Instead of doing 2 haunts they have one very large maze. The haunt should take 15+ min and incorporates part of their cornfield maze.  

Scotts Valley Haunted House - Scotts Valley
A high school production may seem out of place on this list, but I assure you that this one is 100% worthwhile. As opposed to your typical maze where you have people randomly popping out at you, each year there is a unique story with hundreds of actors, making you truly feel like you're immersed in the script. You can also forget the saying "don't touch the actors and they won't touch you." Past events have included surprises like receiving fake shots, being completely separated from your party, and even wet hands touching the back of your neck while you are in pitch darkness. Insanely scary and much more interactive than any of the other events. Plus the money connected is donated to charity. One caveat, due to how awesome this haunt is there may be a 2-3 hour wait. At least you'll have the high school dance team dressed up as zombies entertaining you (and performing Thriller in its entirety every 15min). The cost is $8 per person. Oct 25-27 only, starting at 7pm. 555 Glenwood Dr., Scotts Valley.

TechXploration Meetup

TechXploration is continuing their speaker series tomorrow (October 9th) with the topic "Why Computers Will [Not] Take Over the World." While many people believe that computers with artificial intelligence will one day outperform people with real-world problems, the speaker in this event is taking the opposite stance. To boot there will be craft beer tasting and from now on TechXploration is going to support a local San Jose restaurant with each event. To sign up and for location information, just click here.

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Come Xplore the fundamental insight powering "Silicon Valley's Next Billion-Dollar Company" (TechCrunch) and "The War on Terror's Secret Weapon" (BusinessWeek): 

Computers Will [Not] Take Over the World: but will help us save it.

According to Palantir senior engineer & big data expert, Ari Gesher, the most powerful systems will be those that augment human intelligence, not attempt to recreate it.

Join us for a talk about:

1. How humans and computers working in collaboration can outperform any computer in existence
2. How artificial intelligence wrongfully hijacked the technology world for almost 15 years
3. A number of complex real-world problems where the only solution is human-computer symbiosis, because automation fails
4. How Peter Thiel-backed Palantir Technologies built a Java-based human-computer collaboration system that is being used by government agencies, large financial institutions and police departments around the globe

RSVP now to reserve your spot.

Craft beer by the cup + beer tasting + local cuisine* starting @ 7:08 PM

Presentation + Q&A @ 7:39 PM

About Palantir:

Palantir builds software that helps save lives, solve crimes, protect civil liberties, prevent disease and curb fraud by allowing organizations to make sense of massive amounts of disparate data.

* Now featuring Free local cuisine: supporting San Jose local restaurants!

At every TechXploration, we will support a San Jose-based restaurant (recommended by you!) for delicious event eats. What is your favorite local restaurant? Post it to the wall!

About Ari Gesher:

• Senior Engineer, responsible for developing Palantir's platform/operating system
• Currently working on: Palantir's developer APIs for backend services and the systems engineering that goes into Palantir's servers

Winchester Mystery House Featured in EveryDay with Rachel Ray

The Magazine "Every Day with Rachael Ray" is featuring various real-life haunted houses and the Winchester Mystery House is first on the list. To see the article, pick up the magazine or click here.

Keep Hydrated At The San Pedro Square Market!

Are you thirsty? Perhaps feeling a little dehydrated? Did you load up on yummy treats at the San Pedro Square Market and now you're just a little parched? While, yes, vendors sell various sodas, teas, or adult beverages - maybe you just want a little bit of water….

Hah, I know what you're thinking -- "Water?" This post is about WATER? Yes, yes it is.

You see, in the main building, if you mosey around, you'll notice that on pretty much every vendor's couner sits a water dispenser. 

I've seen pineapples, strawberries & lemon, oranges, and cucumbers as common flavors at Robee's Falafel, Loteria Taco Bar, Little Chef Counter, and CrepParis. Head over to On A Roll and you can sample their Jasmine Tea. 

Only one seems to stand out in the crowd... that is Pizza Bocca Lupo. They have a water spigot (with not very cold water.) Maybe someday they'll join the dispenser crowd? (No pressure guys!)

So next time you stop by the Market and are enjoying your lunch, dinner, snack or post-pub crawl munchies… keep hydrated with tasty water!

San Jose is the 2nd Happiest City for Young Professionals

We see a lot of stats on income in San Jose, but this one is focused around happiness of our younger workers. The results were compiled from 38,000 surveys and young professional was defined as an employee with less than 10 years of full-time work experience. San Jose ranked in second place for young professional happiness, with our neighbor Sunnyvale getting the bronze and LA taking the gold.

Also mentioned in the Business Journal article is that city officials are predicting 91,000 new residents between the ages of 20-34 by the year 2025. The influx of younger talent makes this a very important metric, especially considering that Silicon Valley companies and start-ups are aggressively seeking out this demographic at the moment.

Happiest Cities for Young Professionals
1.) Los Angeles
2.) San Jose
3.) Sunnyvale
9.) San Francisco

Source: SJBJ

KALEID Gallery & Phantom Galleries Today!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Join us for the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk this Friday October 5th from 7-11pm.

KALEID Gallery is proud to present two feature exhibitions:

Space to Grow new works by Michael Borja.
A visual connection into a colorful corner of space, growing with wild plants, curious tigers, floating fishes, and animal portals.


Keeping Up Appearances new works by Michael Foley.

Opening Reception Friday, October 5th 7–11pm
part of the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk
Live music by J-Squared + Case in Theory
Exhibit on view through October 26, 2012


88 South Fourth Street (@ San Fernando)
San Jose, CA 95112
info@KALEIDGallery.com
408-947-1785
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, noon -7pm, free admission
_______________________________________________________


Phantom Galleries presents Lonesome Town new works by Kori Thompson at Good Karma Vegan Café.
Everyone has a story. A story of why they are the way are. Every story leads up to when you cross paths or interact with that person. Whether its a person you talk to for a few minutes or a life long friend you see everyday. Our biggest contribution to one another is inspiration. It’s something that is not fake or phony, it can not be bought or sold. It’s a real feeling. These paintings represent the impression people I’ve met have left on me. ~Kori Thompson
Artist's Reception Friday, October 5th 7–11pm

Good Karma Vegan Café
37 South First Street
San Jose, CA
_______________________________________________________


Phantom Galleries presents Trina Merry's ART ALIVE GALLERY at 95 South Market Street.
Opening Reception & San Francisco Series Release Party, Friday Oct. 5th 7–11pm
Body-painted human canvas installation and live body-painting.
_______________________________________________________

For the complete list of all 19 venues and exhibitions participating in the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk clickHERE.
The Art Walk is free and open to the public!

David Yurman Flagship Store Coming to Valley Fair

A high-end luxury jeweler has decided to open their first Bay Area store in the South Bay. This is significant, considering that San Francisco has typically been the "go-to" for retailer's premier stores in the Bay. David Yurmman is actually joining a list of several others, mainly in Santana Row, that have deciding to make Silicon Valley their initial stop in expanding to Northern California. These include St. Croix, Hastens, and the Tesla Store.

In addition to David Yurman, Valley fair is also remodeling its luxury wing and is getting new stores such as Burberry, TAG Heuer, and Wolford. At some point in the future they are still planning to do a 500,000 sqft expansion which will add a second luxury wing with Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and better outdoor alignment with Santana Row.

Source: SJBJ

Silicon Valley Photography in SPUR & ZERO1 Exhibit

When someone says "Silicon Valley", what images, concepts, or names come to mind? 

Many people immediately start to rattle off the tech giants; Google, Yahoo, Apple... well you know, all of them. Technology! Cell phones! Semiconductors! 

But to some of us - it means your favorite taqueria, downtown festivals, movies in the park, or some of the many people that make up the South Bay. 

In partnership with Hipstamatic and ZERO1, SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research) put together an exhibit of Bay Area photographer's interpretation of the theme:

 A Peek Behind Silicon Valley's Digital Veil

I want to share my excitement, that -- I was part of the exhibit! I saw the call for submissions on Facebook awhile back and thought I'd go for it. So I put together some of my favorite photos I've taken here in the San Jose area. In the shots below, you might spy the Silicon Valley Roller Girls, the Alviso Marina, a scene from SubZero, and the Valet building next to the San Jose Stage Company. I really wanted to represent as much as I could of the San Jose area.

Posing with my photos. First time on exhibit!

My work is nothing compared to the other photographers featured at the event. It was an honor to be included with them. 

The exhibition photographers (and the theme of their work) are:

• Michele Guieu - a "geek tour" of Silicon Valley, from the Hewlett Packard garage to the Google Campus to the Apple Store
• Daniel Garcia - "Behind Everything is a Person", the talented people of San Jose that are changing the culture of Silicon Valley in less traditional ways
• Thomas Rogers - glimpses and snippets of Menlo Park, a focus on things that people wouldn't normally see in passing
• Barbara Boissevain - My Backyard to highlight environmental issues, with aerial shots of ponds along the bay's edge and mining in the South Bay
• Michelle Oblena - "Valley of Stomach's Delight", shots of the diversity of restaurant owners in the Santa Clara Valley
• Alex Chan - shots of Japantown performers, local painters and Color Me Rad in San Jose
• Halie Kampman - video footage of the subtle connections between the areas of San Jose, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto

Here are some photos from the opening night:

Daniel Garcia of CONTENT Magazine

The exhibit is currently running up in San Francisco at the SPUR Gallery until October 20th. There has been some talk that a photo from each of the photographers will be featured in the windows of the retail establishments under the SPUR San Jose office (on Santa Clara Street) but I haven't gotten confirmation just yet. (I also haven't been downtown in the last week to check it out first hand.)

So you have a couple of weeks to jump on BART and head up to the SPUR gallery and check out the exhibition! 

A Peek Behind Silicon Valley's Digital Veil

September 19 - October 19

SPUR Urban Center Gallery
654 Mission Street,
San Francisco, CA 94105-4015

San Jose Stage Company Opens Season 30 with David Mamet’s Race, America’s most controversial topic

San Jose, CA (September 25, 2012) – San Jose Stage Company opens its 30th season with Race by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Mamet. This crime mystery tackles America’s most controversial topic in a provocative tale of sex, guilt and bold accusations. Race opens at The Stage October 3, and runs through October 28.

Race is the central theme, but the issues are more than skin deep as the red-hot debate delves into questions of sex, gender equality and social class. This black-and-white courtroom drama never reaches the courtroom, and while not so black-and-white, it is a comic debate where the laughs may arrive well after the joke. 

Artistic Director, Randall King believes Race is perfect not only to open The Stage’s Season 30 but also for the election season. “In our lifetimes, the Civil Rights movement had led the Baby Boomers to believe that this social problem was addressed.  The appointment of Barack Obama to the White House as our 44th president has shown us that many are still uncomfortable with the subject of race, and it has polarized our society in a way that has been politely hidden for decades. David Mamet's Race will in this heated presidential election season create a fervent and important dialogue, because the answer to the racial problem is not something that a creed, law or affirmative action can readily resolve, instead it lies in the knowledge that our individual allegiances ‘lies only in the imperfect, and the mutually unacceptable result of their interaction’. “ *   (*Race, Mamet)

The significance of opening Season 30 with David Mamet’s Race not only exemplifies the company’s artistic mission but also represents The Stage’s roots in the early 1980s. The collective of artists who founded this company were premiering the work of new American playwrights. The Stage has produced Mamet’s American Buffalo (1985), Speed-the-Plow (1993), and Glengarry Glen Ross (1988 and 2008).

Tony Kelly returns to direct Race for The Stage, where he helmed the productions of Oliver Mayer’s Blade to the Heat, Octavio Solis’ Gibraltar, Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts and David Mamet’s adaptation of Anton Chekov’s Uncle Vanya.

“The politics of Race weigh heavily on its characters, making them speak and act with sharp, barbed edges. Race is perhaps not about race, or sex, or power, or justice, but the sheer impossibility of humans living together without suspicion, mistrust, and shame,” states Director Tony Kelly. “That’s a truth both comic and dark, and it makes this particular play cut deeper, more often, than almost anything this legendary contemporary playwright has written.”

Performances are on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Race runs through October 28, 2012.

Tickets range from $20 - $45 and are available at www.thestage.org or by calling the box office at 408.283.7142. Visa and MasterCard are accepted, and discounts are available for groups, students and seniors. The theatre is handicapped accessible.

The Stage is located at 490 South First Street at William Street in downtown San Jose’s South First (SoFA) area.

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The Cast of Race: 

David Arrow* (Charles Strickland) returns to The Stage, having appeared in last season’s World Premiere of Buffalo’ed and On The Waterfront. His other Bay Area appearances include American Conservatory Theater, Magic Theatre, Aurora Theatre and Shakespeare Santa Cruz.

L. Peter Callender* (Henry Brown) returns to The Stage, where he was last seen in Blade to the Heat. Most recent appearances include at James in Circle Mirror Transformations at Marin Theatre Company and Skyes in Spunk at California Shakespeare Theatre. He is the artistic director of African-American Shakespeare Company in San Francisco and has appeared in all major theatres in the Bay Area.

Randall King* (Jack Lawson) is the co-founder and Artistic Director of San Jose Stage Company. He was most recently seen as Dodge in Buried Child, Johnny Friendly in On The Waterfront, The Waiter in Rock ‘n’ Roll, Sharky in The Seafarer, Ariel in The Pillowman and Richard Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross.

ZZ Moor (Susan) is making her Bay Area debut at The Stage. She has worked at the Denver Center and recently played Lady Anne in Richard III at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. She was the winner of the Denver Post Ovation Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her role in For Colored Girls… in 2010.
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association

Tony Kelly (Director) most recently directed the New York premiere of Colman Domingo's A Boy and His Soul at the Vineyard Theatre, where it won the 2010 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show in New York City and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Broadway/Off-Broadway production. He is a founding member of Thick Description in San Francisco, where he directed 43 productions over 21 years.

The show’s designers include Michael Palumbo (set and lighting), Jean Cardinale (costumes) and John Koss (sound).

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About San Jose Stage Company:

Now in its 30th season, San Jose Stage Company is recognized as The Bay Area's Premiere Off-Broadway Theatre. The Stage is known for its devotion to new and cutting-edge work and for its commitment to showcasing high-quality local talent.

Ranked 3rd largest theatre and 9th largest performance arts organization in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal Survey (May 2012), San Jose Stage Company is a vital force in the community. The Stage has earned a reputation for artistic excellence by providing high-quality, edgy theatrical experiences that engage, educate and provoke audiences. The Stage has produced 143 productions, 44 new works and 11 world premieres.

The Stage also offers five core educational and outreach programs, including National High School Top Honors Awards and has housed over 200 independent performance groups in its theatre. The Stage is located at 490 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113.

For more information www.thestage.org            Box Office: 408.283.7142