TWO BUCK Tuesday Dec. 18th!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Join us at KALEID Gallery for this upcoming TWO BUCK Tuesday, December 18th, 7pm-10pm!
Come enjoy an inspired evening of performances, live painting, $2 art, drop-in sketching table & quirky people get together! It’s open to all ages and free! While you're here, you can enjoy our annual Hark! exhibit of over 50 regional artists with small works priced for gift giving.


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


Is there common iconography in the Kolam and Rangoli of India; Celticknots; universal ancient flower/tree of life; sandpainting of NativeAmericans, Tibetan and Buddhist monks? is it even appropriate for aborn in USA white guy to explore such traditions? Watch Matthew Bailey Seigel create art of luck and life paths. Finished works are then given away for free to those that visit, limited to those created on location. Ongoing examples, information, documentation and live posting of event: http://raccoon.zapd.com/art4luck


Lara Sophia's Costumed Live Models will be posing for us, so bring those pads and pencils and join in some figure drawing!


Question: last minute gifts/wrapping? answer: origami! by Maria. Come by the KALEID origami table to fold (or buy) away all your last minute holiday troubles.

LIVE ART BY:

Michelle Waters


Andre Hart


Force 129


Lydia Rae Black


Al Preciado & Friends


Nik Caesar


David Mejia will draw your portrait!


John Hageman


Brande Barrett


Carlos Lee Cruz


Emonic will have $2 sketch art / posters, and $20 original art works available


Live music by: Dan & Dorothy

TWO BUCK Tuesday is December 18th, 7pm-10pm! 
Free & open to all ages.




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

Samsung's New San Jose HQ Shoots for the Moon!

Right now there is a lot of good news circulating related to San Jose development, but once and a while I still find a real gem that surprises and excites me, and this is one of them. While Samsung is based in Korea, their subsidiary Samsung Semiconductor is headquartered right here in San Jose. They have decided to tear down their mostly 2 story campus, and build something larger in order to expand their headcount and presence in San jose. I knew there would be two 10 story towers totaling about 650,000 sqft, but I was expecting a pretty standard box like most buildings in the golden triangle (area bound by 101, 880, and 237). Instead, Samsung designed something that simply does not exist in Silicon Valley right now, a truly iconic office building.

It purposefully looks different and will raise eyebrows as people drive down North First or Tasman. There are at least two large outdoor spaces between the three 2-story pieces that protrude from the building. However, the really interesting element is a hollowed out core! There is a substantial courtyard in the middle of at least one of the buildings, complete with terraces of its own.

From the renderings it looks like there is a camouflaged parking structure topped with solar panels and an asymmetrical five-point building as well. I'm not sure where the second tower is going to be but I imagine it will be similar to the first. Lightrail is also across the street, the 49ers stadium and the Santa Clara Convention Center are down the street, and there are thousands of dense new homes being built in walking distance.

This building in and of itself is enough to get excited about, but I'm also stoked about the implications. Samsung is setting a new bar for office developments in North San Jose. This is going to stand out like crazy, so you can bet that future developments are more likely to be radical designs to compete with this building instead of being the same boring 2-5 story buildings the area is used to. More iconic and unique buildings means a stronger identity for San Jose and Silicon Valley as a whole. The only other company taking big risks with office design right now is Apple, with quite an impressive design of their own. Hopefully these two will encourage other companies to step it up and build something to be proud of.

Source: SJBJ

Ex'pression College Opens a San Jose Campus

Ex'pression College for Digital Arts specializes in teaching students about audio and visual art. Their original 650 student campus is in Emeryville, which can be quite a commute for those living in Silicon Valley. They have decided to open a second campus in North San Jose at 1751 Fox Drive in the Ridder Park Technology Center. The 65,000 sqft and the new campus will be able to accomodate up to 550 students. Since digital, interactive, and dynamic art is defining the art scene in San Jose, this location decision could not be more appropriate.



Source: SJBJ

Saturday Stats: San Jose Has Highest % of White-Collar Jobs in California

White-collar jobs consist of management, business, and scientific occupations. If you're reading this, there is a good chance you fall into that classification since 48.49% of all jobs in the San Jose area are considered white-collar. This gives San Jose the highest percentage of white-collar jobs in California, and the 6th highest in the country. Nationally the average percentage of white collar positions is 35.3%.

Source: SJBJ

San Jose Now Has the World's Largest Recycling Plant

Republic Services has begun operations on a massive 342 acre recycling complex in Milpitas, which is actually sitting on land annexed to San Jose. The facility can process a staggering 110 tons of recyclables each hour across four different processing lines: residential single-stream materials, commercial single-stream materials, commercial dry recyclables, and commercial wet recyclables. The recovery rate is expected to be greater than 75% on the commercial lines and 95% on the residential lines.

The system is highly automated--although the video below does show people picking out specific items. There is also an area for composting and the recycling byproducts are being used to generate electricity for San Jose waste management facilities in the area. It all ties into an aggressive "Green Vision" for the city, and considering we have more greentech jobs than anywhere else, this seems entirely appropriate.

Bixby Spending $52.5M to Buy and Upgrade Office Complex

Bixby has purchased four buildings in San Jose for just under $30M. These are located off of Trimble Road at Trimble Technology Park and total nearly a quarter million square feet. They are planning to put $23M into renovations which include new lobbies, roofs, mechanical systems, exteriors, a 16,000sqft expansion, and an outdoor living room with fire pits, kitchen, and couches.

After the renovations are complete, this will become a nice spot for either a flagship tenant or four smaller companies that want to expand or relocate to San Jose.

Source: SJBJ

TurningWheels for Kids Annual Big Bike Build Produces Over 2k Bikes!

Last Saturday in downtown San Jose, many (MANY) volunteers got together for the annual TurningWheels for Kids Big Bike Build.

If you're not familiar with TurningWheels for Kids, it is an organization born from the mind of Susan Runsvold, a nurse at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. She wanted to make sure that every child had the opportunity to receive a cool, exciting gift at Christmas - an experience she wasn't always sure she'd have as a child growing up. She came to the realization that receiving a bike all your own, a brand new one, is one of those memories every child should have the opportunity to have.

You can read more about the history of TurningWheels, but the bottom line - their mission, is to continue to provide underprivileged children with bicycles year-round. So each year just before Christmas, volunteers and groups from all over the South Bay come together and assemble donated bikes.

At my previous job, I had the privilege to work with Sue and her team on promoting TWFK. I absolutely love what they do so I wanted to make sure to stop by the Big Bike Build to take some photos and see everyone. It's such an amazing scene! It's like watching a bunch of elves getting the toys ready for Santa!

Some facts from this year's work:

• 2,650 bikes were built on Saturday (plus 493 a week before in Livermore)
• Distributed over 300 bikes this year to two pediatric clinics
• 2012 has had the highest distribution yet - 3,443 bikes!
• TWFK provides bikes to organizations for distribution such as: City Team, EMQ, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, Bay Area Rescue Mission, Richmond Fire Department, Santa Cruz County sheriffs, Sacred Heart and many others!

The last few years, in the middle of the build, CEOs and local celebrities and supporters make their way to the main stage to participate in the Great Trike Race! They hop on adult-sized tricycles and race around a track in the middle of the convention center. It's great fun to watch and no doubt, fun to race! You need to watch out for Sharkie though, he's a sneaky one!

Sharkie and Valley Medical Center Foundation's Executive Director, Chris Wilder make the first turn during the Great Trike Race!

This year's winner was Barry Arata, a local fireman who won the title in 2010 but lost it to Josh Thomson of Strikeforce in 2011.

Many thanks to this year's title sponsor, DPR, for their generous donation of $60,000! Other wonderful sponsors like the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Cisco, Therma and many more helped support TurningWheels for Kids.

If TurningWheels for Kids sounds interesting to you, they could use your help. This year, 4,700 bikes were requested (via organizations, groups, etc) but there were only 2,600+ to give. Donations are how they're able to purchase bikes and helmets for the kids. If you'd like to read more, please check out their website and their 'What You Do Matters' Campaign for more information.

~ Jennifer Bullock OwYoung

December 2012 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Starting Dec. 15th, Downtown Ice is expanding its daily hours to 11am - Midnight.
• The inaugural Santa Run Silicon Valley is Dec. 16th and is limited to 2,000 runners (only a few hundred spots left). Proceeds will benefit Downtown Ice and Christmas in the Park.
• The Mexican state of Jalisco is opening a business incubator, school, cultural center, and art gallery at 320 S. First St. in a 9,000sqft retail space. Entrepreneurs setting up their businesses in the US and Mexico will be able to utilize part of this space.
• At the corner of 3rd and Santa Clara, Freddie J's is getting a facade improvement. Next door Grub Shack--an Asian Fusion / Hawaiian restaurant--is doing its soft opening.
• San Jose Rock Shop now has a retail store selling musical instruments at 30 N. Third St.
• Flowers by KLEE Design opened at 28 N. First St. #702
• Agave Mexican Grill replaces El Sabroso at 17 S. Fourth St.
• Groundwerx installed two rows of decorative LED lights totaling 8,100 feet on South First and South Second streets [Josh: saw these, they look great!]

To read the full newsletter, click here!

SJDRA 2012 Holiday Party

Happy 12/12/12 =) Tomorrow is the annual San Jose Downtown Residents Association party. This event is a great way to meet people committed to Downtown and learn how you can help to make it a better place. You do not need to live in Downtown San Jose to join and the cost is only $15 for a year membership. This grants you free access to the Holiday Party and various other perks throughout the year. For tomorrow, there will be music, free parking, a raffle, and delicacies from Little Chef, 19 Market, Mezcal, Crepe Paris, Muchos, Robee's Falafel, and On a Roll. For more info check out the flyer below or click here to sign up.

Symphony Development Nabs Parcel Across from City Hall

A key chunk of Downtown land has been sold to Symphony Development for $4.25M. This sits right across the street from City Hall and encompasses 61,650 sqft. Currently this space is vacant with the exception of a car wash. This site hosted a few events like the San Jose Green Showcase a while back.

The purchaser is planning to build a high-rise housing development of about 12 stories, likely with retail on the ground floor. The housing could either be market-rate rentals or targeted at students. However, it is still so early in the process that plans can change.

Given the proximity to the airport, they could go to at least 20 stories here, maybe even 25. I'll take any new development Downtown, but I did wish Symphony was planning to shoot a bit higher in their initial plans.

Source: SJBJ

Montalvo Winter Camps: Spies & Clowns!

When my cousin and I were really little we liked to play a game we simply called "Spy." Every kid does this so I'm sure you can relate. We snooped around and "spied" on our family. We'd hide in painfully obvious locations, whisper about the person we were spying on and then giggle just loud enough to completely give away our awesome hiding spots.

Maybe my cousin and I would have been better spies if we had been sent to Spy Camp, but that option didn't exist for us.

It is, however, available for your kid!

Montalvo Arts Center, thanks to their Youth Scholarship Program, offers fun camps for kids this coming February.

"Taught by top arts instructors from around the Bay Area, these camp sessions encourage the creative process and give campers an opportunity to engage their bodies and their minds in challenging, thought-provoking fun, all the while making new friends."

SPY CAMP Monday, February 18 - Friday, February 22, 2013 9am-12pm (Ages 10-13) 1-4pm (Ages 6-9) Master the finer points of espionage and challenge your mind at this adventure camp! After exploring Montalvo's grounds and designing a 3D map of the property, students will learn about secret "languages," riddles, and other methods of encryption to create an alphabet that only their special team knows.  In addition to Spy Camp, Montalvo is also offering Circus Arts Camp! Now -- adult clowns I can do without, honestly. But cute little kid clowns are awesome! CIRCUS ARTS CAMP Monday, February 18 - Friday, February 22, 2013 9am-12pm (Ages 6-9) 1-4pm (Ages 10-13) Come join the circus! In a fun, safe, and challenging environment, students will dabble in the circus arts of juggling, tumbling, pyramid building, rolling globe, and more. Circus Arts train both the body and the mind, and help build self-confidence, discipline, coordination, and a great sense of humor. These classes are filling up fast, so if you are out buying gifts for the holidays or upcoming birthdays, register now! Registration price per class is $175 (members: $160), not including a $20 materials fee or $20 non-refundable registration fee. Montalvo coordinates a scholarship program for students who would not otherwise be able to attend. For more information on how to apply, please visit www.montalvoarts.org/programs/scholarships.

ANA (All Nippon Airways) Moves to San Jose

Well, the ANA news continues to get better and better. Their five-times-per-week direct flight between San Jose and Tokyo kicks off January 11th on a brand new 787 Dreamliner. Now they have announced that they are going to move from the San Francisco area to Gateway Place in San Jose, very close to SJC. This is a positive sign that if things go well with this flight they may double down on San Jose and add more routes and flights. There is already talk of making the direct flight to Tokyo 7 days a week instead of 5 in the summer.

Holiday Festivities at Evergreen Village Square

A quick heads up that there is a Holiday event at the Evergreen Village Square today:

~~~~~~~

This Saturday, December 8th, from 1pm to 3 pm. Free pictures with Santa! Take home a professional 5x7 photo with Santa! Face painting! Fabulous Holiday Entertainment Program by the famous Cotton Candy Express with Lori & RJ!   Plus much more!  Don't miss it!

Followed at 4:30 by The Festival of Lights! 

More info on the Evergreen Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Evergreen-Village/138625382867090?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Evergreen-Village/138625382867090

Saturday Stats: San Jose is the Healthiest City for Women

San Jose made it into another top 10 list, and this one has nothing to do with salaries. 84% of women in San Jose exercise, only 8% smoke, 99.8% wear a seat belt, and in general women here eat far more fruits and vegetables than the average American. All these stats led San Jose to be proclaimed the top healthiest city for women in the country. The net result of the data above is a life span that is 3 years longer than average in the country.

That life span should get even longer in the future given the many billions of dollars of new investment into medical care happening throughout Silicon Valley hospitals. Another positive future factor is leading the country in hybrid and electric vehicle adoption, which will reduce pollution despite population increases.

Top 10 List
1.) San Jose, CA
2.) Bethesda, MD
3.) San Francisco, CA
4.) Santa Barbara, CA
5.) Honolulu, HI
6.) Santa Ana, CA
7.) Minneapolis, MN
8.) Fargo, ND
9.) Portland, ME
10.) Burlington, VT



Source: Self

Our Christmas in the Park Tree!

Seasons Greetings! 

Have you and your family or friends been downtown to check out Christmas in the Park this year? Well if not, the next time you're down there.. see if you can find The San Jose Blog's tree! That's right, we've got a tree!

In November, I set out to create ornaments for our tree. As a photographer, I've taken a ton of photos that showcase various details, buildings, people, or events that make up San Jose and the surrounding cities in Santa Clara County. I thought these photos could make for some fun ornaments.

The Process

I went through my photos and picked out shots that I felt represented the area: the cherry blossom trees and street banners in Japantown, the Silicon Valley Roller Girls, San Jose State, City Hall, The Tech Museum, San Pedro Square Market, Santana Row, San Jose Taiko, and much more. I had them printed (FedEx/Kinkos, simple, on paper thicker than normal printer paper) and cut them out in 4x4 squares. 

Next up - a trip to Tap Plastics! I needed to make these weather-proof, and while I could have laminated them, I wanted them to have some heft. I bought 4x4 acrylic squares. 

Back home, I Mod-Podged the photos to the acrylic squares. My apartment was quite stinky after doing that! (I had to glue a sheet of cardstock down before applying the photo as well.)

After they dried for a few days, I turned them over and glued hand-bent wire hooks to each piece. Dry.. dry.. dry.. and DONE.

One last item was, admittedly an experiment, had to be added the day I decorated the tree itself. 

I purchased batteries and LED lights to place on the back of each ornament. My hope was the light would show up on the edges of the clear tile as well as illuminate the back of the tile too.

Added some sparkly garland, some small colorful ball ornaments, and a big silver bow on top - our decorations were complete!

Now, this may seem a little out of order, but the last thing I placed on the tree was the two strands of Christmas lights that were provided to us by the Christmas in the Park organization. For such a large tree, two strands really didn't feel like much, but hey, that's what we were provided!

Fast forward to the big tree lighting ceremony. They played holiday music and special guests including Kristi Yamaguchi and Santa made an appearance. After the giant tree was lit, my husband and I made our way to the TSJB tree.

Upon seeing it, my heart sank. Only one of the two strands of lights worked. Our tree was in the dark and you couldn't really see anything on it. 

But, there is a happy ending! While the lights were never replaced by CITP, they did grant us permission to use our own SOLAR lights. So we're not even using the PG&E provided juice for our tree! 

Last night we were able to replace the lights and now we have a tree with a ton of little twinkle lights! (We are, however, missing our silver bow.. lost forever it seems!)

Hope you can check out our tree and all the other ones in the park - there are some really amazing and fun trees out there! If you'd like to see more photos, including some detail shots of some of the ornaments, check them out here.

Here's one more photo of Josh and I posing in front of the tree!

Happy Holidays everyone!

South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk Tonight!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

It's all about the holiday spirit for tonight's South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk!


Over 50 artists from KALEID Gallery and artists from the greater South Bay area will be offering original works of art and creative gifts affordably priced for the holidays! Excellent time to purchase unique, locally created works by talented artists for holiday gifts or to add to your own collection!


Image courtesy of the artist, Jenna Barjam
Closing Reception for The More the Merrier III Art Exhibition & Sale at the Art Ark Gallery. This Salon-Style exhibition showcases the work of 48 bay area artists. This is a great place to start your holiday shopping. Most art is priced under $100! Live music by the Clifford Lamb Duo


Ro (France), "Coit", ink, acid, engraving on photo of Ro's street art
FRESH PRODUCE 12th Annual Invitational Group Exhibition & Affordable Art Sale at Anno Domini Gallery.
30+ Artists from 14 countries have created hundreds of original works of art for this highly anticipated annual exhibition and affordable art sale. The artists were invited based on their unique artistic vision and contribution to urban contemporary arts and culture. Holiday cheer provided by DJ Boboso.

For more information on exhibitions at all 20 venues, please visit www.southfirstfridays.com
South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk
First Friday December 7th, 7-11pm
free and open to the public

Megabus Found the Way to San Jose

An express bus company offering city-to-city services is coming to Diridon Station in Downtown San Jose. The buses themselves are "state-of-the-art" double deckers with WiFi, outlets, and climate control. I'm glad to see more 2-story buses being used in the area besides the corporate shuttles that Google, Apple, and Facebook use.

Megabus fares start at $1 and their first route from San Jose goes to LA. The price sounded too good to be true so I went to their site and put in some random dates for a trip. One direction did indeed qualify for the $1 rate and the other was only $3.

The first trips begin on Dec 12th and $1 trips will be available for ALL seats during the first week of service. For more info and to book, check out the Megabus website over here.

Source: The Merc

Zscaler Raises $38M

Zscaler is a San Jose-based maker of cloud security products with about 2,500 customers. Their product scans internet traffic at a company site and applies that company's security policies to that data.

This $38M infusion is their first outside round. Until now they have been entirely run on internal investment. The money is going to be used to expand sales, marketing, and product development. Sounds like that means more job openings. The company also announced that they are cash flow positive which is always a good sign.

Source: SJBJ

Downtown San Jose Restaurant List Updates! (Q4 2012 Edition)

I am trying to update the Downtown San Jose Restaurants database more regularly now. We are up to an impressive 234 eateries, which is easily the largest number of restaurants Downtown San Jose has ever had and very likely the largest concentration of restaurants anywhere in Silicon Valley (including Downtown Palo Alto, Mountain View, Campbell, and Los Gatos).

No bad news this quarter, no major closures. A Perfect Finish is being remodeled and is going to relaunch as 55 South Market.

Now the good news.

• Many New San Pedro Square Market Eateries - I added Sama-Zama, Treatbot, Loteria Taco Bar, CaliDog, Phonomental, and Polkadotz Mini Gourmet Cupcakes to the list. If you haven't been to the Market in the past couple months, you won't believe how many more options there are. The amount of quality eats here is helping put Downtown on the map for South Bay foodies.
• The Blackbird Tavern - This is my most highly anticipated restaurant opening in the queue right now. If anyone can turn around the corner lot that hosted Zing, Asquew Grill, and Ruffled Feathers Eatery... it's these guys from the Naglee Park Garage. Similar to the Original Gravity House, this can be a game changer. Expect an outstanding beer selection, tapas, live music, and a laid back atmosphere right in the middle of Downtown San Jose (across the street from where the Muji flagship Japanese retail store will go and next to Camera 12 and the Fairmont)
• Dosa & Curry Cafe - Not only is this a quality Indian restaurant with reasonable prices, they have updated their hours so that they are open until 3am Thurs through Sat! As far as I know, this is the only Indian Restaurant in Silicon Valley (maybe even in the Bay Area) open this late.

As for the latest status update on my mission to eat at every single restaurant in Downtown San Jose... I'm at 220 out of 234, or 94%. I think 2013 will be the year I complete my culinary goal, but the real question is which restaurant should I save for last?

Below is the changelog from the Downtown San Jose Restaurants Database:

• 11/11/2012 Updated Dosa & Curry Cafe's hours, first San Jose Indian restaurant open until 3am
• 12/2/2012 Added Treatbot Factory, Sama-Zama, Loteria Taco Bar, CaliDog, Phonomenal, and Polkadotz Mini Gourmet Cupcakes to the list (all in San Pedro Square Market)
• 12/2/2012 Punjab Cafe has expanded and added a new Indian Ice Cream shop
• 12/2/2012 A Perfect Finish has remodeled into 55 South First

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.

Artists to create Holidays Unboxed: A Spectacle of Cardboard and Tape at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

November 29, 2012 - San Jose, CA:  Imagine what would happen if cardboard and tape were given the chance to come to life…

This weekend, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM) will begin the creation of Holidays Unboxed: A Spectacle of Cardboard and Tape.  Building off the most basic of holiday materials – tape and cardboard – artists and makers will transform the inside of the Museum’s streetscape through two iconic art installations.  Emerging from rolls of packing tape, Tape Scape by Eric Lennartson, will become a maze evocative of an ice sculpture.  Constructed out of ordinary cardboard, a large scale hanging sculptureby the Cardboard Institute of Technology will reach high overhead in the center of the Museum

Armed with more than 300 rolls of packing tape donated by Molex Corporation, artist and architect Eric Lennartson will lead CDM staff and volunteer helpers on a journey to construct Tape Scape.  Reminiscent of ice crystals forming, fourteen miles of tape will be stretched and interlaced over a metal structure, creating an immersive, interactive ice inspired environment to delight children and adults. 

A steel armature built by Protoform shoots up twenty-five feet into the middle of the Museum, ready for the San Francisco-based artist collective known as the Cardboard Institute for Technology (CIT) to install a large-scale hanging sculpture.   Made from recycled cardboard, the creation will unfold, flex, and fan out into newfound forms.    Visitors will be awestruck at the unlimited possibilities of recycled materials. 

Come see cardboard and tape coming to life as you’ve never seen them before, curling, bending and folding into wondrous worlds that will reach from floor to ceiling at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. 

Holidays Unboxed: A Spectacle of Cardboard and Tape will be open to the public from December 15, 2012, through February 3, 2013.  At the close of the exhibition, the materials will be reused, giving them a chance to experience life for a third time, and inspiring visitors to think “outside the box.” 

Artist installation schedule:

·         Tape Scape – Artist Eric Lennartson and volunteers will be onsite Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily.  Installation will continue with volunteers daily through Wednesday December 5.

·         Hanging sculpture – Cardboard Institute of Technology will be onsite to install Monday, December 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

ABOUT CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE

With over 150 interactive exhibits and programs, Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM) is one of the largest museums of its kind in the nation.  Since opening its doors in 1990, CDM has welcomed over 6 million visitors and has offered new exhibits each year that respond to children's diverse educational needs. The striking 52,000 square foot purple building was designed by Mexico City-based architect Ricardo Legorreta and is a beacon of discovery. Encompassing the broad themes of community, connections and creativity, hands-on exhibits invite self-directed, open-ended explorations.  For more information about the Museum, visit www.cdm.org.

ABOUT ERIC LENNARTSON

Eric Lennartson is an Architectural Designer and Marketing Development Coordinator for Paulson Architects in Minnesota.  Eric has over 13 years of professional design experience, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.  Eric is also the Building Chair and board member of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, a new emerging museum based in the Mankato area and the first home of aTape Scape installation.

ABOUT CARDBOARD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

At its core, The Cardboard Institute of Technology (C.I.T.) is a collective of artists, technologists and handymen dedicated to the development, functionality and everyday practice of art...through cardboard and other means. The Institute is a multifaceted hub for Collective Art Practice, Educational Workshop Development and Instruction.  C.I.T. is an Epic Design and Fabrication and storytelling collective Studio.

The Cardboard Institute of Technology was formed in 2007 by Joshua Short and Scott Falkowski. In 2008 CIT created its first official show "Welcome to Cardburg.”  Since its inception the group has grown into an art collective that reaches far and wide.

The Meridian Mixed-Use Project Has Broken Ground!

Barry Swenson and Republic Urban Properties have broken ground on the Meridian project in Midtown San Jose. This is going to be a massive project for the area with 218 apartments, a park, and 15,800 sqft of pedestrian-oriented retail divided into 8 different units. The corner retail unit seems to be reserved for a restaurant. Total price tag is going to clock in at $68M.

While it only rises to 5-stories, it will add quite a bit of density to Midtown and help better connect the Downtown San Jose area with Santana Row. Another bonus is that this project is close to transit.

Build out is going to take 2 years and one of our readers that lives across the street has reported that most of the site has already been leveled, including the Meyer Appliance building.

Sources: SJBJ, Heather

Cristo Rey San Jose High School is Replacing Five Wounds

Cristo Rey operates 25 Catholic schools across 17 states with a special focus on underprivileged families--those making less thank $35k a year in urban communities  They have decided to open a Jesuit college prep high school in the former Five Wounds School building in East(ish) San Jose. Personal note, I actually went to Five Woulds from Kindergarten to 8th Grade.

What is really interesting to me about this school is that all Cristo Rey students also have to participate in a corporate work study program that provides students with real-work experience while funding most of the cost of their education. Education only goes so far, nothing beats actually going out into the real world and learning what it is like to work at banks, hospitals, law firms etc. Every month the students will spend five full days at work, and it will put them at a huge advantage over other students when going to college. All high schools should be structured this way. Speaking of college, 88% of Cristo Rey graduates enroll, which is double the rate of their peers coming from the same socioeconomic background.

Two people to thank for helping get the school off the ground are John A. Sobrato and B.J. Cassin, who donated money and sit on the Cristo Rey San Jose High School Board. Thanks guys, this is a really great cause and it will make a huge impact not only to the families of these children but to Silicon Valley as a whole when these students enter the workforce highly-educated and with real-life work experience.

The school is officially opening in 2014 and is expecting to take in a total of 500 students by 2017.

Source: SJBJ

Vintage: A Vinyl Swap Today

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey


Join us for an afternoon of DJs, Drinks, Records, and Good Vibes!

Some of the best record dealers in the Bay Area will be selling and DJing. Come dig for everything from Funk, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Latin, and Afro-Funk!

Drink specials on micro-brews and fine wine, with delicious apps aplenty.

Sellers/DJs:
Jeff Jagged (On the Corner Music)
DJ Fat Headphones
DJ Aware (Oakland)
Timothy Chung (Needle to the Groove)
Manzanita Sound
VAMP Music & Art
DJ Miz Rowdy
Selecta Riddm

Date: Sunday, December 2nd, 2012
Time: 2-6pm
Where: Wine Affairs, 1435 The Alameda, San Jose CA 95126

For more info contact:
On the Corner Music
(408) 871-0305
https://www.facebook.com/groups/131677563515187/

Saturday Stats: San Jose Tops Healthcare Earnings

Yet another payroll gold medal goes to San Jose. The average salary for healthcare and social assistance workers in San Jose clocked in at $61,600 per employee. The next highest average salary was Vallejo at $58,300, than the SF Metro at $58,000, and Salinas came in 4th at $57,200.

Source: Business Journals: On Numbers

Light the Rocket Update

My favorite emerging band from San Jose has just received a couple of honors. By the way, when I say this band is from San Jose I'm not using the term loosely. Pretty much the entire band was born and raised here, their first music video was shot in San Jose (below), and they're not afraid to don the Sharks gear. They're as local as it gets.

A couple weeks ago Light the Rocket was unanimously voted Raw Artists - San Jose Musicians of the Year at an event held in Studio 8. That puts them in a national contest against 50+ other bands from all over the country.

They were also picked as one of the Top 20 local bands by the radio station Live105. To top it off, one of those Top 20 bands is going to open at Not So Silent Night 2012, which features The Shins, Metric, Of Monsters and Men, Gaslight Anthem, Jack White, and Two Door Cinema Club. This lucky local band is determined entirely by online voting.

Right now Light the Rocket is ranked #2 in the poll, which puts a San Jose band so very close to opening for Not So Silent Night! They need your votes, please help them out by casting your vote here.

Madewell Coming to Santana Row

First off, I have to say the people decorating Santana Row really outdid themselves this holiday season, including the residents that have decorated their balconies. It looks incredible... even better than previous years. Every inch is lit up.

Now for the updates, Madewell is moving into a 3,500 sqft section of what was the old H&M. The company is a fashion forward American brand for women and will be the first store in the South Bay.

Next to Madewell will be a 2,000 sqft boutique for Splendid, another clothing store except this one is for the whole family. This will also be the very first one in the South Bay.

A couple existing stores are planning to renovate for 2013. Gucci is completely redoing the interior and and the facade outside. Tommy Bahama is doing a full renovation as well.

Lastly, Veggie Grill and Lavazza are now open. I have not tried Veggie Grill yet, but I did get to sample tons of food and coffee at Lavazza and have to say the quality is very high. I especially liked their espresso "desserts" including one with gratuitous amounts of nutella. I know we all like our indie coffee shops, but this one is worth checking out as it has many items you can't find anywhere else.

Santana Row Announces New Retailers, Renovations and the Grand Opening of Two Restaurants

Celebrating a Decade in Silicon Valley, the Premier Shopping and Dining Destination Continues to Draw Visitors with its Fresh Mix of Shops and Eateries

San Jose, CA (Nov. 15, 2012) – Ten years after opening Silicon Valley’s most exciting lifestyle destination, Santana Row continues to evolve with a lineup of unique retailers and restaurants that entice visitors to shop and dine. The stores and eateries represent new concepts in the Bay Area, some choosing to make their first foray into Northern California at Santana Row.

Madewell, an iconic American retailer as well as a brand coveted by fashion conscious women and men, is scheduled to open in Spring, 2013. The 3,500 square-foot shop will occupy a portion of the space that was the former H&M store before its recent move to a larger building. Madewell, established in 1937 as a dry goods emporium, will offer a wide range of effortlessly cool pieces. Chic yet comfy apparel includes soft chambray shirts, broken-in tees, leather boots, accessories and bags. Madewell’s denim bar serves a menu of current styles, from skinny to bootcut, boyfriend to capri.

Splendid, another label noted for its informal stylishness, is slated to open a 2,000 square-foot boutique next to Madewell in late spring. Known for its luxuriously soft tops and T-shirts, the offerings for men, women and children are a perfect fit for Silicon Valley: richly casual.

On the restaurant scene, the recently opened Lavazza Espression serves specialty Italian coffee drinks, freshly baked goods and savory Panini sandwiches, pastas, pizzas and salads. The cafe opened on Oct. 30 on the first floor of 300 Santana Row. It is the first location on the West Coast.

Veggie Grill, the popular fast-casual restaurant with a menu of delicious vegetarian choices opened on Nov. 8 at 3055 Olin Ave. Signature items include the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’ Sandwich, All Hail Kale Salad and Sweetheart Fries. This is Veggie Grill’s first Northern California location.

“Splendid and Madewell represent the new generation at Santana Row,” said Jeff Kreshek, vice president of West Coast leasing for Federal Realty. “As an A-level property we are able to provide a destination that is an escape into the extraordinary. Santana Row is known for its diverse offerings both in shopping and dining. We are able to maintain our relevance by evolving with cutting edge tenants who provide the experience of a surprise around every corner.”

Madewell, Splendid, Lavazza Espression and Veggie Grill join Icebreaker Touchlab, Drybar, kate spade new york and H&M’s 26,000 square foot expansion and relocation as recent additions to the exciting lineup at Santana Row. The destination center strives to give customers a tempting mix of unique stores and restaurants.

Renovations on the horizon

Gucci, the luxury brand which recently marked a decade at Santana Row, will undergo a complete interior remodel along with façade enhancement beginning in the summer 2013. The work will be completed in time for the 2013 holiday season.

Also undergoing a renovation next year is Tommy Bahama, purveyor of island lifestyles and maker of clothing and accessories that reflect island ambiance.

“We are thrilled to see the long term commitment to and reinvestment in Santana Row by Gucci, Tommy Bahama and H&M,” said Jan Sweetnam, Vice President and West Coast Chief Operating Officer, Federal Realty Investment Trust. “This customer focus, along with the addition of new exciting merchants, keeps Santana Row fresh and is an important part of how we serve the community.”

Holiday SJMade!

The event that supports local vendors and entrepreneurs is back for the holidays! SJMADE is bringing an epic list of vendors together at the San Pedro Square Market (below). This special edition of SJMADE  is one day only, this Saturday, and it runs from 11am - 6pm. You won't want to miss it!

The Vendor List for Holiday SJMADE

December 1, 2012, 11a-6p at San Pedro Square Market

Amour Ame Arancia Scura Photography Atreya Art Black Cat Collective Bugs & Monsters Calia Designs Classic Loot Content Magazine Cuckoo Worldwide Die Hard Company Desire Gems Erik's Wood Creations Eskandari Filthy Cute Fluffed Animals Galactic Romance Gems and Stuff Glowees HEIRLoom Hello Sisters Homegrown Blends Homegrown Specialties Marketplace I Heart Licorice and Little Landscapes Jate Clothing Jewels By Daisy Kathryn Marie Designs KeAloha Designs The LA RIDAS Lucrezia's Delight Magda Designs Mayari Jewelry Mister Dada Nicole Steward Designs Ohayo Cali Brand Peggy Li Creations Petite Fute PYRCE Red Stripes Boutique Rockin' Chair Knit & Yarn Wear Rock N The Trend Ropes4Dogs San Jose Screen Printing shop.find.love Splendid Colors Steam Powell Industries Steamy Tech Sweetdragon Baking Company Tech Shop San Jose Tinkertart tousleddolly ther.a.py Urban Antiq Vintage Fusion Jewelry Yeah Hello

San Pedro Square Market Merchants Ay Dios Mio! B2 Blush Raw Bar Lounge Creparis Crewners Little Chef Counter Little Cheese Shoppe On A Roll Phonomenal Pizza Bocca Lupo Robees Falafel San Pedro Square Market Bar Satori Tea Company Showroom Tinkertart Treatbot Vino Vino