New Walmart Neighborhood Market in Evergreen Opens Today!

The Evergreen Village Square will finally have a new anchor tenant. Walmart Neighborhood Market is moving into the former Lunardi's space and is having their grand opening today! This is probably my favorite shopping center in Evergreen. It has a unique configuration with a cool little park in the center, has a view of the hills, and is within walking distance of many homes. It's a shame that Lundardi's left, but I think that the Walmart Neighborhood Market is going to be a much more practical (and affordable) option for the area.

Check out the full press release below.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                             

 

 

Walmart Opens New Neighborhood Market in Evergreen Village 

New store offer customers savings with grocery format

 

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 25, 2013 – Walmart will open a new Walmart Neighborhood Market in the Evergreen area of San Jose on Wednesday, Jan. 30. The store, located in Evergreen Village Square near Aborn Road and Ruby Avenue, is occupying the former Lunardi’s Market space, and will once again provide Evergreen Village with a full-service grocery store.

 

“Walmart looks forward to serving Evergreen Village by bringing a much-needed grocery store back to the Square,” said Store Manager Priscilla Sanchez. “Not only will the Neighborhood Market revitalize the long-vacant building, it will provide additional healthy, affordable food choices for this community.

 

Walmart has worked closely with the shopping center owner, Shapell Properties, and the City of San Jose to bring a grocery store anchor back to Evergreen Village Square.  “Shappell built the first few phases of Evergreen Village in 2002 with the vision of having a vibrant merchant square for the community to gather and shop close to home, “ said Kelly Erardi, Vice President of Shapell Properties. “We have been working to bring a grocery store anchor back to Evergreen Village Square, and are pleased that Walmart has stepped up to fill the void.”

 

“Evergreen Coffee Company joins other Evergreen Village Square businesses in welcoming the Walmart Neighborhood Market to the neighborhood,” said owner Denise Belisle. “The square has long sought another grocery store anchor for the vacant space.  We are excited for Walmart to join our special community.”

 

The approximately 41,000-square-foot store features a wide variety of locally produced fruits and vegetables, including those from Ocean Mist Farms, Boskovich Farms, Tanimura and Antle, San Miguel Produce, Earthbound Farm Organic, Naturipe Farms, California Cuties and Foxy Organic, among others. The store will offer fresh bread, as well as meats, cheeses and prepared foods. The self-serve deli will feature rotisserie chicken, fresh-baked pizza and standard deli sides. In addition to the fresh produce, bakery and deli items, the store will carry a full line of groceries, including frozen foods, dairy products, organic items, and an expanded selection of Asian and Mediterranean items. 

 

Shoppers will also appreciate the convenience of the store’s pharmacy and its full range of products and services to support the health and wellness of customers and their families. The pharmacy team can answer questions and offer health and wellness solutions. They can also assist customers who wish to transfer their prescriptions to the Walmart Neighborhood Market. 

 

The store also sells stationery, paper goods, pet products, hardware items and has a Celebration Station, where customers can buy gift wrap and gift bags, greeting cards and party supplies. Customers can also print their own digital photos at the store. The store will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

 

“We are thrilled to be opening the Evergreen Village Neighborhood Market just in time for the Super Bowl and spring holidays,” said Sanchez.  “From veggie platters, chicken wings and dips for the big game to chocolates, cupcakes and goodies for Valentine's Day, we will have everything you’ll need to have fantastic celebrations.”

 

The store will offer Site-to-Store, a free service that allows customers to ship online orders from www.walmart.com free to any Walmart store for pickup.  All Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets participate in the Pay with Cash program. This allows customers to order online at Walmart.com and pay for the items with cash at all stores in the U.S. Walmart is the first major retailer to offer online purchases without the need for banking services or a credit, debit or prepaid card.

 

Opening Creates 90 Jobs

Approximately 90 part- and full-time jobs were created with the store opening, said Sanchez who started her Walmart career in 2000 as a part-time hourly associate in Tulare. She transferred to San Jose and has worked at Walmart stores on Monterey Highway and Story Road over the past 10 years. She brings a wealth of experience such as department manager, support manager, and personnel manager to the new Walmart Neighborhood Market.  

 

Grand-Opening Celebrations

The store will host a grand-opening celebration at 7:15 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 30. Store associates and local dignitaries will participate in a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Doors to the new store will be open to the public following the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Special events on grand-opening day include product giveaways and samplings from companies such as Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Bimbo Bakeries, Nabisco and more. Chester Cheetah, the Oreo Cookie Man, the Keebler Elf and Bimbo Bear are scheduled to make appearances, and various entertainment events will also take place. Celebration events are also planned for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1 and 2. All events are family-friendly, free and open to the public.

 

Community Groups Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants

The grand-opening celebration includes at least $10,000 in grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation to local community groups. Recipients include: Alum Rock Youth Center, District 8 Community Round Table, Evergreen Valley Education Foundation, Evergreen Valley High School Band, FAAN Walk for Food Allergy, San Jose Fire Department, San Jose Police Activity League, the San Jose Veteran Center, Shop with a Cop Foundation and Masumoto Elementary School.  Additional funds will be available throughout the year for local organizations that serve the community.

 

Walmart will also be announcing $175,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation’s California State Giving Council. Recipients include Dress for Success Silicon Valley, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and the San Jose Public Library Foundation. Non-profit organizations interested in learning more can visithttp://www.foundation.walmart.com.

 

Healthier Food and “Great For You”

Walmart made a major commitment to make food healthier and healthier food more affordable, ensuring families won’t have to choose between a product that is good for them and one they can afford. Steps in the healthier food initiative include:

• Reformulate thousands of packaged food items by 2015 by reducing sodium and added sugars and removing all remaining industrially produced trans fats.
• Make healthier choices more affordable by providing savings on fresh produce and reducing the price premium on “better-for-you” items.
• Provide solutions to address food deserts by bringing stores in underserved communities.
• Increase charitable support for nutrition programs that help educate consumers about healthier food solutions and choices.

 

The “Great For You” icon appears on select Great Value and Marketside products as well as fresh and packaged fruits and vegetables. The icon was developed to help customers easily identify nutritious food options so they can make healthier eating choices for themselves and their families. For more information, visit corporate.walmart.com/healthier-food.

 

About Walmart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices.  Each week, more than 200 million customers and members visit our 10,400 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2.2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook athttp://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmartnewsroom. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

 

 

 

FACT SHEET

San Jose Walmart Neighborhood Market

 

Store Facts

• Location: 4055 Evergreen Village Square, San Jose, Calif. 
• Approximately 41,000-square-foot Walmart Neighborhood Market

• Store opens Wednesday, Jan. 30, following a 7:15 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store manager: Priscilla Sanchez
• Pharmacy manager: Peter Ea

• Store hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week

 

Store features

• Full line of groceries, including a bakery, a self-serve deli with fresh food and meal solutions for moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, frozen foods, organic items and an expanded selection of Asian and Mediterranean items
• Additional merchandise includes health and beauty aids, pet and cleaning products, hardware and stationery
• Convenience services include a pharmacy, digital-photo processing center, Walmart MoneyCenter and Walmart Site-to-Store

 

Charitable giving

• $10,000 in grand-opening grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation will be presented to area organizations, including:

• Alum Rock Youth Center
• District 8 Community Round Table
• Evergreen Valley Education Foundation
• Evergreen Valley High School Band
• FAAN Walk for Food Allergy
• San Jose Fire Department
• San Jose Police Activity League
• San Jose Veteran Center
• Shop with a Cop Foundation
• Masumoto Elementary School

 

• $175,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation California State Giving Program will be presented to area organizations, including:

• Dress For Success Silicon Valley
• Silicon Valley Education Foundation
• San Jose Public Library Foundation

 

Employment

• The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in California is approximately $12.89 per hour.*
• Walmart’s benefit program is available to eligible full- and part-time associates and provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including health-care coverage with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers eligible associates matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.

* Average wage taken October 2012 See http://corporate.walmart.com for details.

Win a Pair of Tickets to Menopause The Musical!

The off-Broadway sensation Menopause The Musical is coming to San Jose for 17 performances at the Montgomery Theater between Feb. 6th and 23rd. We are giving away not one, but two pairs of tickets to the opening night performance on February 6th! Ticket prices are ranging between $35-$65.

Entering the contest is simple. Just scroll down to the bottom of the page and use the Punchtab widget (just like our Sharks giveaway). You can get bonus entries for liking us on Facebook, following on Twitter, etc. Again, we are giving away two pairs of tickets and they are for the February 6th performance. The contest only runs until this Friday.

Here is a description of the show: "Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale. The all-female cast makes fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and more!  The laughter-filled 90-minute production includes parodies from the classics of the ‘60s and ‘70s and ‘80s."

For more information on the show click here, and to buy tickets head over here.

January 2013 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Move Inc., is moving into 32,405 sqft at 10 Almaden and joining more than 70 tech companies located in Downtown San Jose. Malwarebytes and Rosetta Marketing are also moving in to the building.
• MACLA has purchased the space they were leasing from the city in SoFA and have plans to renovate the space by expanding the art gallery, adding a cafe/retail space, and creating artist/creative entrepreneur studio space.
• The Irish Innovation Center is transitioning to the SV Global Accelerator, and they will now support startups from all over the world.
• The City Fish has opened at 30 E. Santa Clara St. [Josh: 4 stars on yelp, replaces the mediocre Uncle Bernie's]
• Don Pedro's at 43 Post is reopening after a remodel.
• The new First Church is going to be a two-story 21,000 sqft building with a ground-floor sanctuary, community rooms, preschool, a kitchen, and second-floor offices and classrooms. There will be a slick patio on top of the building.
• The next HER city event is Feb 5th at the Silicon Valley Capital Club, featuring a cooking demonstration, a variety of foods and wine, and even cognac tasting.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

San Jose Named Best-Performing City of 2012

Typically I would save a stat post like this for Saturdays, but this one is so good that I had to make it a Monday post. The Milken Institute has named San Jose the best performing city of 2012. This is based on increased job growth, increases in salaries and wages, and GDP/productivity growth. Last year San Jose was ranked #51 on the list, so the improvement has been dramatic.

San Francisco is #36 on the list and New York is at #11. For those who misguidedly think tech is migrating up north, high tech GDP per capita is over 220% higher in San Jose than it is in SF (and that's including San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, etc as part of SF).

Source: Milken Institute

California Art Education Association Offers Bay Area Youth Art Month Exhibition Hosted by History San José

San José, California – January 2, 2013

 

History San José will again host a Bay Area Youth Art Month Exhibition in conjunction with the California Art Education Association (CAEA) opening in the David and Leonard McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House at History Park on March 2.

 

“We are really pleased to host this wonderful exhibit of local children’s art; one day one of these artists may be included in our permanent collection! ” said Alida Bray, President and CEO of  History San José (HSJ). “Our inspiration is Leonard McKay, for whom the gallery is named. He would be very proud of the local youth, as he loved to promote emerging, local artists.”

 

Youth Art Month is a nationally recognized observance each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children, and to encourage support for quality school art programs. Supported by the National Art Education Association and in California by the California Art Education Association, the Northern Area chapter will hold the exhibition featuring some of the best art by Bay Area students, Kindergarten through Grade 12.

 

“The Northern Area of California Art Education Association is honored to bring for the second year in a row to History Park, some excellent two-dimensional and three-dimensional art for exhibition,” said Barbara Purdy, Art Department Head at Presentation High School, and chapter event organizer.

 

The curated youth art show is open to all California Arts Education Association members.  Membership is only $50. The exhibit will include awards for art in four grade-level categories: Kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grades, sixth through eighth grades and and high school grades nine through twelve.  Awards will be given in each category at a Sunday, March 2 afternoon reception from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Leonard and David McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House in History Park.

 

Sargent Art will award prizes to teachers of the first place winners in each category. The student winner from each Area exhibition advances to the state level and one of these students, along with a parent and their teacher, will be awarded a trip to New York through the suppoert of Sargent Art.

 

The exhibition will open on Saturday March 2 at the Leonard & David McKay Gallery at the Pasetta House in History Park in Kelley Park, located at 1620 Senter Road, between Phelan and Keyes Avenues. For GPS mapping use 635 Phelan Avenue. City parking is available for $6.  The Gallery is open Saturday & Sunday, admission is free through May 1, 2013.

 

For more information visit historysanjose.org or call 408 287 2290. The Galleries at History Park are open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 AM to 5 PM, and the Museum Shop and O’Brien’s Ice Cream Parlor are open 11 AM to 4 PM.

 

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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

 

Website:  historysanjose.org

Blog: historysanjose.org/blog

Facebook: /historysanjose

Twitter: @historysanjose

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History Park at Kelley Park is located at 1650 Senter Road, between Phelan & Keyes in San Jose. For GPS mapping use 635 Phelan Avenue. City parking is available for $6.  For more information visit historysanjose.org or call 408 287 2290.

Pamper Your Loved Ones for Valentine’s Day with the Gift of Relaxation From Burke Williams

[California] – Burke Williams is pleased to announce three relaxing spa packages to pamper the ones you love this Valentine’s Day. Each exclusive package, “Romance,” “True Love,” and “For Two” offers a unique combination of soothing treatments and services to create the perfect way to experience romance this holiday.

Indulge in “Romance” with a Spa Pedicure and choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with a peel or brightener starting at $149 ($180 value). Fall in “True Love” with the Spa Pedicure, a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement and a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener, all starting for just $249 ($310 value). Share in a day of relaxation “For Two” and enjoy a couple’s luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancements or Spa Style Facials with peels for an exclusive Valentine’s rate starting at $279 ($360 value).      

Valentine’s Day package specials are available beginning January 25 through February 14 and vary per spa location. Join us at a Burke Williams spa location near you or online at www.burkewilliamsspa.com for gift cards and reservations by location. Let Burke Williams take your love into the spa and beyond this Valentine’s Day.

2013 Valentine’s Day Packages

Offered at Burke Williams Orange, Torrance, Santa Monica, San Jose, Pasadena and Sherman Oaks

Romance: Just $149 (regular price $180)

Enjoy a Spa Pedicure with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

True Love: Just $249 (regular price $310)

Indulge in a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

For Two: Just $279 (regular price $360)

Each of you will enjoy a luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancements or Spa Style Facials with peels.

Offered at Burke Williams, San Francisco

Romance: Just $159 (regular price $205)

Enjoy a Spa Pedicure with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

True Love: Just $259 (regular price $340)

Indulge in a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

For Two: Just $299 (regular price $400)

Each of you will enjoy a luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or Spa Style Facial with peel.

Offered at Burke Williams, Mission Viejo and West Hollywood

Romance: Just $159 (regular price $205)

Enjoy a 25-minute Salt or Sugar Glo with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

True Love: Just $259 (regular price $335)

Indulge in a 25-minute Salt or Sugar Glo with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

For Two: Just $279 (regular price $360)

Each of you will enjoy a luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

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Burke Williams

For nearly 30 years Burke Williams spa has been committed to creating an environment of refinement that inspires and provides its guest with a luxurious sanctuary to unwind. With nine locations across Northern and Southern California, relaxation awaits with each of our European-inspired treatments including massage therapy, body wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures, baths, and an array of signature spa services.

San Jose Ranks in World's Fastest Growing Economies

A report has ranked the 60 fastest growing city economies in the world. This includes all of the rapidly growing cities in China (which dominated the list with 34 cities), the Middle East, and Latin America. Only four cities in all of North America made the cut and San Jose was one of them at #46. In fact, only one other North American city surpassed San Jose, and that was Houston at 40th place.

Factors attributed to San Jose's ranking include increases in GDP per capita, employment, and population.

Source: SVBJ

Downtown Whole Foods Design Update

Happy Friday! On Tuesday we feasted on a substantial improvement in the design of One South Market. Well, today we have another treat for you to bookend the week. The design has been updated for the new Whole Foods coming to the border of The Alameda and Downtown San Jose in 2014. It looks like they incorporated quite a bit of feedback when it comes to making the building more engaging for people walking by. Here are some of the changes that I noticed:

• Outdoor patio seating on the ground floor corner. This is in addition to the covered outdoor seating on the second floor (where the roof has been raised in this latest design). By the way, this building is going to host the first craft brewery to be built into a Whole Foods.
• New vertical sign at the corner.
• More colorful facade with more windows.
• Huge dormer windows on the roof of the Alameda side.

I can't wait until this opens!

Hat tip to C.L.

Source: Shasta Hanchett Park Neighborhood Association Facebook Page

Old Design







New Design

Bestronics Expansion

In the middle of all the fervor over software companies in Silicon Valley these days, it's easy to forget that San Jose has a significant manufacturing base and it's still growing. The International Business Park in San Jose has a staggering 8 million sqft or so worth of manufacturing facilities, and vacancy has dropped from 25% to around 10%.

Bestronics is a contract manufacturer in that area that provides engineering, testing, and material management services. They are taking a leap of faith and expanding from 25,000 sqft on Ringwood Avenue to 71,570 sqft at 2090 Fortune Drive. The additional space is going to let them add a second shift, take on a lot more work, and expand testing capabilities. It's great to see these types of companies continue to thrive in San Jose despite intense competition overseas.

For more info just check out the link below.

Source: SVBJ

Wednesday Wishlist: Year Round Snowboarding in San Jose?

Once in a while, there are still some proposals that surprise me... and this is one of them. How would you feel about being able to ski and snowboard at anytime during the year... IN SAN JOSE? Well, apparently there is an organization that is trying to do just that. Right now they are trying to collect enough signatures to get the City's attention in building an outdoor snow park at Lake Cunningham near Raging Waters. You can sign the petition at SJsnow.com. Also check out their Facebook page over here.

Source: Think Bigger San Jose

New One South Market Rendering!!!

It looks like One South Market has updated their renders and decided not to tell anyone yet. They slapped a new photo at the future building site itself, but I can't find any info about this online.

Hat tip to Bobby G. for sending in photos of the new render, this really made my night.

Secondary hat tip for everyone that showed up at the info meeting to complain about the "version 2" design (special mention to Mark from Think Bigger San Jose who created a petition). Obviously we are all happy to get any new high-rise building Downtown, but it's safe to say the general consensus was disappointment at the bland and generic redesign for a building that will anchor a key intersection in the very heart of Downtown.

Guys, I think you're going to be pretty satisfied with this latest render. The "version 3" redesign looks markedly better than version 2, and even rivals version 1. They went from a monotone grid, to a dynamic design incorporating multiple hues, offset windows, and a terrace facing Santa Clara Street. Check out that green/teal line that runs vertically up the Market Street side of the building and then wraps around the corner. Huge improvement!

I also added the older renders for comparison. So what do you guys think of version 3?

VERSION 1 (Original render, they were condos at this point)

VERSION 2 (Redesign that everyone hated)

VERSION 3 (Latest Revision)

 

2013 Family Philanthropy Conference

Philanthropy in the South Bay is something that we definitely need to improve. It pains me to see dollars floating from Silicon Valley to organizations in San Francisco, LA, and outside of California. By continuing to improve our local organizations, we can keep operational dollars within our economy and better focus on programs that are being executed in our back yard. If anyone out there is involved in a foundation of philanthropic organization, definitely have a look at the conference below happening in the Fairmont.

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We invite you to the Council on Foundations 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference, January 26–29 in
San Jose. Join us to experience workshops, programs, speakers, and social events designed to help your
philanthropy thrive in an ever-expanding system of communities, businesses, and families. Learn how
your philanthropy fits within the larger framework of business, and how developing a systems-oriented
approach can turn complex problems into opportunities to make a more meaningful impact.

Plenary speakers include visionary David Peter Stroh discussing “Systems Thinking: Help Your Giving
Create Greater Change,” political communications strategist Gloria Johnson Cusack talking about “Tax
Reform: What’s at Play and What’s at Stake,” and award-winning author Peter Sims showing you how to
“Think Differently, Think Black Sheep.” There also will be plenty of opportunities to roll up your sleeves
to connect with—and learn from—your philanthropic peers.

Please visit the 2013 Family Philanthropy Conference website for more information, including
registration.

We look forward to seeing you there.

http://www.cof.org/events/conferences/2013Family/

California's First Cooperative Brewery and Pub Coming to San Jose!

Wow, the craft beer scene in San Jose continues to explode. Peter Smith and Joe Silva are launching the first Brewery & Pub in California that is going to be setup as a Co-op. That means that there would be a large number of owners that would get to vote on the types of beer and food offered and have a vested interest in the co-op's success. Basically it is a way to make owning a small piece of an actual brewpub and restaurant possible for the average patron. I love the idea and can't wait to see where it goes!

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“If you eat and drink at a brew pub, shouldn’t you like to own it too?”

The San Jose Cooperative Brewery and Pub
Information Session and Beer Tasting

Event Details:
Saturday, Feb 2, 2013, 2-5 pm
The Drying Shed, 402 Toyon Ave, San Jose
https://www.facebook.com/events/120781888091976/

Contacts:
Peter Smith / psmithsf@gmail.com / 415-912-8056
Joe Silva / joe.silva@outlook.com / 512-300-3758
SJCoopBrewPub.com

The San Jose Cooperative Brewery & Pub “Coop Brewpub”, California’s first
cooperative brewery and pub, will hold its first information session and beer
tasting on February 2, 2013 at the Drying Shed from 2:00- 5:00 PM at 402 Toyon
Ave, San Jose, California to kick off its membership drive. In addition to learning
about how to become a member of the Brewpub Coop, attendees will enjoy a
beer tasting with craft beers from local breweries and live music.

The Coop Brewpub is currently made up of a small group of individuals who have
spent the last five months laying the ground work for the Coop Brewpub and
are kicking off the membership drive with a beer tasting. The Coop Brewpub is
looking for more members to help build the coop from the group up. Members will
help make major decisions in building the coop such as what beers to brew, what
foods to serve, where to locate it, and what the culture of the coop will be.

The Coop Brewpub will follow the values and principles of the International
Cooperative Alliance and will be owned and democratically controlled by its
members—the people who buy their goods or use their services—not by investors.
It will operate on the principle of “one member, one vote.” That is, unlike investor
owned businesses where voting rights are based on ownership share, each member
of a cooperative has the same voting power. In addition, it will return profits to their
members proportionate to their use of the cooperative.

The goal is to increase membership to 2 – 3,000 members in approximately 18
months, to open soon after, and have a lot of fun until then.

Admission to the event is a nominal $20 to cover event expenses and will feature
craft beers from local breweries and live music.

Additional Resources:
International Cooperative Alliance

San Jose Cooperative Brewery & Pub

January 14, 2013

http://ica.coop/en/what-co-op/co-operative-identity-values-principles

Sharks Victorious In Opener

Sharks fans have good reason to be excited: hockey is back and the Sharks won their first game on the road in Calgary, as they defeated the Flames 4-1.

Patrick Marleau scored the first goal of the Sharks' season with a beautiful move in front of Miikka Kiprusoff, dragging the puck to his backhand side, and stuffing the puck in the corner.  Throughout the course of the game, however, Marleau was not done.  He finished the night with two goals and "first star" honors.

Admittedly, the Sharks started the game with a lackluster first period performance.  The Flames demonstrated superior chemistry, scoring one goal, and peppering Sharks netminder Antti Niemi with 16 shots (compared to the Sharks' nine).  It was clear the Sharks were showing signs of "growing pains" (i.e. needing to get used to playing together), as it is commonly the case when a new season begins.  Niemi, however, displayed absolute brilliance in the net by not only stopping many shots, but many quality shots.  Star players on the Flames team, such as captain Jarome Iginla, had clear opportunities to score, but Niemi was right there to keep the shots from barreling past him.  The reason the Sharks had the opportunity to recover from the first period was due to Niemi's shot blocking mastery.

The Sharks' performance during the second period put all of the doubters to rest.  Three unanswered goals were scored during the second period by the Sharks, with an additional fourth during the third period.  During the second and third periods, the Sharks' chemistry was beginning to come together, and Niemi continued to demonstrate his unbelievable skills.  The combination became too much for the Flames.

Advantages Sharks fans are familiar with, such as dominance in the corners and in the offensive zone, were beginning to be demonstrated.  Joe Thornton was beginning to display his passing skills.  Dan Boyle was beginning to show his ability to stay out on the ice and still make great plays.

The all-familiar Sharks were back.

Let us hope the Sharks cam continue to win a significant amount of games.  With an abbreviated 48 game season, there is no time for the team to gradually develop into a "hot" team.  They must win now.  The Stanley Cup is up for grabs.

Some honorable mentions for today:
- Matt Irwin, Sharks defenseman, played his first NHL game today, and was paired up with the veteran Dan Boyle.  Despite claiming to have the "first game jitters," he played a fantastic game and provided opportunities for the team to get chances on net, and finished the game with a +1 rating.
- Adam Burish, Sharks forward, played his first game with the Sharks today.  As some fans remember, he was the agitator type player on the Chicago Blackhawks when they made their run for the Stanley Cup in 2010.  We would like to welcome him to the Sharks and would like to wish him a great and successful season with us.

Dig Into the Past at History San José’s Archaeology Days at Peralta Adobe at San Pedro Square Market

San José, CA – December 18, 2012

On Sunday, January 27 and again on February 24, from 11 AM to 3 PM ---
Archaeology Day at the Peralta Adobe at San Pedro Square Market will offer children an opportunity to be junior archaeologists.

Stanford Archaeology Center students will be at the Peralta Adobe historic site conducting a mock excavation, screening,  artifact identification and artifact reconstruction.

“It’s exciting for us to be able to share our research on San Jose’s past with today’s current residents,” said Barbara Voss, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Stanford University. “We’re looking forward to meeting the next generation of young archaeologists.”

This free family educational program will allow individuals to collect stickers for each activity to place in Archaeology Passports and become ‘certified’ as a Junior Archaeologist.

The oldest home in San Jose, the Peralta Adobe, serves as a perfect archaeological location. It is the centerpiece for San Pedro Square Market at 175 West Saint John Street in downtown San Jose.  It is just across the street from the Fallon House, a mid-19th century Victorian home.

The public archaeology activities are free. While at the Peralta Adobe, visitors can also take tours of the Peralta Adobe and the Fallon House, which are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (62 and older) and students with a valid school identification card; and $5 for children who are accompanied by an adult. As usual, members of History San José receive free admission.

Adult tours, and tours for children ages seven and older, will be held through the Peralta Adobe and the Fallon House, at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.  Tours especially designed for children ages 4 through 9, accompanied by an adult, will at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. These historic buildings are not wheel-chair accessible.

For more information or to make reservations for a tour, call 408 918-1047 or visit www.historysanjose.org

   # # #

The Fallon House was built in 1855 by one of San José’s earliest mayors. The Victorian mansion showcases 15 fully-furnished rooms typical of the Victorian period. Thomas Fallon was a frontiersman in the John C. Fremont expedition, and Carmel Fallon was the daughter of one of the most prominent Mexican landowners in California.

The Peralta Adobe is San José’s oldest address. Built in 1797, the Peralta Adobe is the last remaining structure from El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe. See the Adobe’s horno, an outside working oven or venture inside the home and see two rooms furnished as they might have been when they were occupied by the Gonzales and Peralta families. It is now surrounded by the new San Pedro Square Market.

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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

Website:  historysanjose.org
Blog: historysanjose.org/blog
Facebook: /historysanjose
Twitter: @historysanjose

Saturday Stats: San Jose Has Lowest Housing Vacancy Rates in the US

The San Jose area has 650,700 housing units, and only 28,100 of them are empty. That gives San Jose a vacancy rate of just 4.3%, the lowest in the country by a significant margin. The next lowest is Lancaster Pennsylvania at 5.6%. Surprisingly San Francisco is at 7.12% and New York is at 9.92%. I suppose that means it's time to start breaking ground on some more residential units--preferably in dense urban parts of San Jose.

Source: SVBJ

Die Hard Sharks Contest Winner

Thank you all for the amazing participation in our contest! We had a total of almost 800 entries, far more than what I was expecting. Please support Die Hard, the San Jose-based sponsor of the contest. They have a great assortment of Sharks and 49ers gear, not to mention your other Bay Area favorites.

Congratulations to Eric Anthony! You have a Sharks hoodie and tee coming your way.

As for everyone else, stay tuned. More contests are coming up, including one next week!

Fair Isaac Corp (FICO) is Moving HQ to San Jose

It sounds like yet another major company has decided to make San Jose its home. Fair Isaac, the company behind your FICO score, is moving their HQ from Minneapolis to offices in San Jose near SJC where they already have 90 employees. They have just signed a lease for an additional floor and do plan to increase their headcount with a focus on technology and big data--which is one of the main reasons for the relocation. The talent pool for engineers in Silicon Valley in unsurpassed, making San Jose a logical choice for their headquarters.

Source: SVBJ

Last Chance: Die Hard Sharks Hoodie Contest!

This is you last chance to enter the contest for a Sharks hoodie and tee sponsored by our friends at Die Hard Co. Just follow the directions in the widget below. Winner announced on Friday!

Wednesday Wishlist: Light-rail Expansion

I think it's time to start pushing expanding our rail infrastructure, especially with several factors that are going to increase ridership substantially over the next four years such as:

• Increased density and new housing and jobs being built near transit lines
• BART extension to San Jose
• The new 49ers Stadium
• Increased traffic on our freeways as the economy grows

However, I'm not sure if the proposed Los Gatos extension is the way to go. It would cost $175 million to add two stations extending from Campbell to the Netflix Offices in Los Gatos. The estimated increase in ridership is about 200 people. Even though this number seems too low to be true, the actual number probably won't be dramatically higher. I think we should focus on improving service where there is already some density such as Downtown, First Street, Japantown, Midtown, etc. The ultimate light-rail line would be along Stevens Creek connecting Downtown to Santana Row, Valley Fair, DeAnza College, Valco Mall, and the new Apple HQ. Unfortunately, that will probably cost the same amount as building the BART subway or even more, so I don't have high hopes for that.

What likely makes the most sense is to start working on the extension to Eastridge mall, where there is a huge bus hub along with future planned BRT. That is expected to cost $310 million and get around 1,000 new riders a day. Still quite expensive but the larger the network becomes, the more riders it will attract system-wide. 

Where would you like to see the next Light-rail extension?

Source: The Merc

George Gund III, 1936 - 2013

The San Jose Sharks just announced the passing of the team's original owner and Bay Area hockey ambassador, George Gund III.  He succumbed to cancer at the age of 75.

The Sharks have also posted a memorialized image of the famed owner on their website, sharks.nhl.com.

The Sharks are arguably one of the most successful sports franchises, due to the contrast between the team's immense popularity today, and the time when the Sharks were granted their expansion team in the early 1990s, when ice hockey was virtually unheard of in the Bay Area.  Although the California Golden Seals existed as a Bay Area professional hockey team in the 1960s and 1970s, the team never maintained the massive popularity the Sharks do today.  Mr. Gund was an investor in the Seals at the time, and knew that if given another chance, professional hockey could have an opportunity to thrive in the Bay Area.

Sharks fans have Mr. Gund to thank for taking a chance on what would become one of the most popular and successful hockey franchises in the NHL, especially since the prospects of a successful professional hockey team in San Jose were bleak at the time.

Rest in peace, Mr .Gund, and thank you for bringing the Sharks to us!

It is noted from a few sources that the Sharks will be wearing jersey patches and helmet sticker decals emblazoned with "GG III" for the current season, in memory of their late, great owner.

TWO BUCK Tuesday Jan. 15th!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Join us at KALEID Gallery for this upcoming TWO BUCK Tuesday, January 15th, 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, affordable works.

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


Bring your sketchbook and pencils and come drop in at the sketching table and enjoy a Life drawing session with Lara Sophia’s costumed models. (To volunteer to pose yourself: contact Lara4art at yahoo dot com)


Drew will read your fortune!

LIVE ART BY:

Lydia Rae Black


James Pollard


Joe Perea


Al Preciado & friends


David Mejia


Nik Caesar


John Hageman


Enjoy live music by RebelsKamp!

TWO BUCK Tuesday is January 15th, 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

Ken Brenner at Pho69

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Phantom Galleries is pleased to present "Color" by painter Ken Brenner at Pho69 Restaurant.
Artist's Reception: Friday, February 1, 7-11pm
Free and open to the public, part of the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk

Ken started painting in his early 20’s experimenting with acrylics and watercolors. At that time, he was teaching young children in Berkeley. With marriage and a growing family, his occupation changed directions. He entered the banking industry and has successfully developed his career over the past 35 years. He is currently President of Avidbank in Palo Alto. Only recently was he encouraged to take up art again. Ken has found the medium of oil painting an inspiring way to stimulate the mind and bring the beauty of the world around us to life. Painting has allowed him to develop a passion for creative expression.

In our world, color embodies a wide spectrum of feelings and emotions. It is used to convey power, joy, intellect, royalty, and purity among others. Each color represents its own purpose and meaning. In nature, color has evolved to communicate different messages. Poison-arrow frogs have bright, flamboyant colors to stand out as a warning signal to predators. The male peacock has extravagant colors in its eye-spotted tail, which are used for courtship. Other animals like the chameleon use color for camouflage, which enables them to remain hidden from potential threats. For Ken, color is an intense underlying theme throughout his work that allows him to truly express himself. The colors in his work give dimension, depth, and most importantly life to the canvas. It is Ken’s unparalleled eye for color that brings a unique quality and distinctive feel to each piece.

"Color" by Ken Brenner at Pho69
321 S 1st St
San Jose, CA 95113
Ken Brenner website
Pho69 website

How Silicon Valley Can Get its Groove Back

There was a great article that I have been meaning to post about entitled "How Silicon Valley can get its groove back, part 2." It's written by Greg Baumann, the new Editor in Chief at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

It starts off by implying that we are basically losing our edge against San Francisco and there has been a flight of young talent because Silicon Valley just isn't cool. I will say that I agree this is the perception, but when you look at actual numbers there really isn't much of a flight at all. If anything Silicon Valley is growing faster than San Francisco in terms of office development, employment, salaries, and number of tech startups. However, there is definitely a stigma that is floating around.

Greg's solution... Downtown San Jose. Young workers want to live in urban environments where they don't need a car, there are quality restaurants and cafes in walking distance, there is easy access to transit, and cultural facilities are nearby. Of all locations in Silicon Valley, San Jose has all of the raw materials needed to cater towards this demographic. Now it's all about execution of improving these ingredients and mixing them together into a cohesive experience that will attract young talent.

I'm going to toss in a few other benefits Downtown San Jose has that you won't find in SF: 1.) Great weather 2.) 5min access to an international airport 3.) Easy access to freeways and parking for those that do want to drive.

Check out the article over here and let us know what your thoughts are!

Source: SVBJ

Photos of Inaugural ANA Flight From San Jose to Tokyo

Our good friend from WMS Media -- which also happens to live in AXIS -- managed to get some great shots of the first Boeing 787 in the Bay Area. We wish this route much success, and it's off to a great start with the initial flight selling every seat. Also, as as sidenote look for the new 49ers stadium under construction in the last photo... had no idea it would be that visible from the airport.

Oplink Setting Up Shop in North San Jose

Late last year Oplink Communications purchased 86,000 sqft of R&D space in North San Jose. The Fremont-based company designs and manufactures optical networking components and products which they sell to other technology companies. Their new building is at 1710 Fortune Drive. The main drivers for the purchase were the site's location, signage opportunities, and build quality. They are expected to be increasing headcount as they occupy the space.

Source: SVBJ