Content Magazine Pick Up Party!

My favorite magazine is hosting their latest pick up party at the most unique restaurant in San Jose--Orchestria Palm Court. Part restaurant, part soda bar, part museum of autonomous music machines from the early part of the last century... you won't find another place like this. I couldn't think of a better location for Content to release an issue entitled "Retro." 

The pick up party runs from 6-8PM at 27 E. William Street. Subscribers will even get a free appetizer. While you're there, try a gem salad and anything from their soda bar.

Pick Up Party 
Tuesday, October 14th 6:00-8:00pm

Come celebrate our new issue, 6.4, "Retro," with the Content Magazine community by going back to a time of soda jerks, player pianos and jukeboxes at Orchestria Palm Court. Featured in Issue 5.5, "Feast," come discover this hidden gem for yourself.  

27 E. William Street
(Between S. 1st and S. 2nd)
San Jose, CA 

Subscribers, Contributors and People Featured will get a free appetizer and a copy of the latest issue. Non-subscribers can purchase the latest copy for $5 (50% off) at the Pick Up Party.  

Stop on by. Meet new people. Learn new reasons to love your city.
RSVP (or email us)

More Apartments Planned for SoFA!

SoFA is on fire lately when it comes to new projects. Just as construction for The Pierce is getting into full swing, Core Development Co. is proposing a 105-unit apartment project on 598 S. First Street right across the street. This is an important corner at the intersection of South First and Reed Streets and is currently being occupied by an Enterprise Rent-a-Car (will be relocated).

The building will be either five or six stories--five based on the source link and six based on the rendering--and include 2,170 SQFT of retail on the ground floor. The site of the project is only 2/3 of an acre, making the project quite dense for a building this size. This will be a very nice expansion of the SoFA district, which is quickly becoming the next big hotspot Downtown after San Pedro Square.

Source: SVBJ

The Dinner Detective - San Jose

I thought I knew about every entertainment option Downtown, but this one is completely new to me. Apparently there is a murder mystery dinner show at The Hilton called The Dinner Detective. It is a fully interactive show along with a four course meal that sounds very intriguing. The cost is $81 per person, which sounds completely worth it for this kind of unique and intimate experience. For more information, head over to The Dinner Detective website.

The History and Craft of the Cocktail

Cache Bouren and Tomoyo Yoshinaga from the famous Singlebarrel "speakeasy" in Downtown San Jose will be touring seven libraries in Silicon Valley to talk about the colorful history behind craft cocktails. The free presentation will also discuss different techniques and styles of mixing and are unique to the craft cocktail movement. While there won't be any alcohol served (darn) you will be able to sample various herbal flavors often used in cocktails. Also on display will be a selection of vintage bar equipment.

To see the full list of presentations, scroll down to the "WHERE and WHEN" section below.

From Santa Clara County Library District:

The craft cocktail movement, with its emphasis on spice, flavors and intelligent mixing, has been an outgrowth of the growing interest in slow food. Providing the opportunity to taste and experience a variety of cocktail concoctions has fashionably become the center of many popular new restaurants and bars.

Lesser known in the craft cocktail trend is the cocktail’s vivid and colorful history of how these drinks came into being or the characteristic ideas and expertise that go into making a distinctive and flavorful beverage.

A free presentation, discussing the history of the cocktail as well as techniques and styles of mixing that are unique to the current craft cocktail movement, will be offered at various SCCLD Libraries from now until January 2015.

Craft bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts, Cache Bouren and Tomoyo Yoshinaga will be touring seven SCCLD libraries.

Bouren, with over twenty years of hospitality and beverage experience, will share his passion for high quality ingredients paired with exceptional service and classic bar techniques.

He was most recently featured as one of the “South Bay’s preeminent tastemakers” in the San Jose Metro June 11, 2014 article, “Craft Cocktails in San Jose.”

WHERE and WHEN:

· Morgan Hill Library, Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 PM
· Milpitas Library, Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00 PM
· Campbell Library, Monday, November 17 at 7:00 PM
· Gilroy Library, Saturday, November 22 at 1:00 PM
· Cupertino Library, Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 PM
· Saratoga Library, Monday, December 15 at 7:00 PM
· Los Altos Library, Tuesday, January 13 at 7:00 PM

The events are free and open to the public. No reservations required. No Alcohol will be served at the event; however, library books describing many of the recipes highlighted in the demonstration will be available for check out.

Patrons will have the opportunity to sample and identify various herbal flavors often used in cocktails.

Along with the demonstration, vintage bar equipment will be on display.

National BRA Day at Santana Row

Breast cancer survivors Peggy Fleming and Kim Vestal are judging a BRA Art show and decorating contest at Hotel Valencia (Santana Row) this Wednesday, October 15th from 4pm-7pm. The winners will get a shopping spree at Victoria's Secret. This is part of a national campaign to support women and their families who are living with breast cancer and undergo mastectomies. To learn more and register, click here.

Pumpkins in the Park Tomorrow

If you are looking for a kid-friendly Halloween event, look no further than Pumpkins in the Park tomorrow at the Discovery Meadow in Guadalupe River Park. The event runs from 10am to 4pm an includes all of the activities listed below:

• Giant Pumpkin Patch
• Costume Swap with Children's Discovery Museum
• Costume Parade
• Carnival Games
• Kid-Sized Straw Bale Maze
• Great Food
• Fresh Apple Cider
• Guadalupe River Education
• Lots of Free Kid's Activities
• Children's Concert

For more information check out the Pumpkins in the Park website over here.

Huge E-Sports Event Coming to San Jose

One of the largest "e-sports" events ever to take place in the US is coming to San Jose. The Intel Extreme Masters tournament will host up to 18,000 people on Dec. 6-7 at the SAP Center. Instead of watching a Sharks game, visitors will watch teams competing in League of Legends and StarCraft video game competitions. You are probably asking yourself the same question I did... "is there really enough demand for 18,000 people to come watch others play video games?" Twitch--a site that streams people playing video games and tournaments--claims that it will stream the tournament live to an estimated 4.5 million viewers. Wow.

Given we are in the middle of Silicon Valley, San Jose should become a video game mecha. There is a real opportunity here, especially given how popular e-ports apparently are becoming. For more info on the Extreme Masters tournament, check out the website over here.

Source: SiliconBeat

Citation Homes Bought Toys R Us Site For Mixed-use Project

Santa Clara-based Citation Homes recently purchased a parcel at 751 S. Winchester Boulevard in San Jose. The only thing on the lot today is a Toys R Us, which will eventually be razed to make way for a mixed-use project that is still in the early planning stages. There aren't many details, but one of the things we know for sure is that the new project will contain both retail and housing.

However, don't expect shovels in the ground anytime soon. Toys R Us has a lease that runs at least until early 2016 and could likely be extended even further. For more info, hit the source link below.

Source: SVBJ

Changing Boundaries: The History of San Jose

The first full-length feature film about San Jose is going to premier at the California Theatre on January 22nd. Changing Boundaries will track the stories of of the working people, political leaders, and dreamers who built this city. Interviews that will be weaved into the film include Tom McEnery, Blanca Alvarado, Norm Mineta and a variety of historians.

CreaTV San Jose, History San Jose, and Norm Kline Productions are working in partnership to produce this documentary. The film is directed by Tricia Creason-Valencia and narrated by actor Peter Coyote. The musical score is composed by Robert Barry of Soundtek Studios and will reflect the historic time periods and rock and roll "firsts" in San Jose.

I can't wait to see the final product! For more information follow the Changing Boundaries Facebook page over here and check out the trailer below. You can also get your tickets for the premier here.

October 2014 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• The San Pedro Square Market--which transformed the block and became one of Downtown's most popular destinations--is celebrating its 3 year anniversary. Spuds Potato Bar is now open and brings the total number of businesses to 25. A two-story expansion on a 13,000 SQFT parcel across the street is already in planning.
• The Downtown Ice skating rink is under construction and the Circle of Palms and opens at 5pm on Nov 14th. Twice per night at 6pm and 9pm the lights on the trees will dance to music.
• The SoFA Market is open at 387 S. First Street. The Falafel Bar and Vero's Coffee are the first two vendors. Next up is the Fountainhead Bar [Josh: with architecturally-themed drinks], a Ramen restaurant, and perhaps a burger or pizza place.
• SoFA-based Cowgirl Bike Courier has started delivering legal docs, medical supplies, packages, flowers, and groceries throughout San Jose.
• AFK Gamer Lounge is moving into 15,000 SQFT at 163 W. Santa Clara (formerly Los Gatos Brewing Company) and will feature more than 100 networked gaming rigs.
• Developers, bankers, and investors will get a glimpse of how hot Downtown San Jose has become during a "Center of Opportunity" tour on Oct. 30th.
• The Downtown Association is seeking event producers and artists to increase activation of Downtown's public spaces with events, exhibits, and interactive projects. The Downtown San Jose Activation Fund will issue grants up to $3,500 for original programming and up to $7,500 for special productions that bring people together for dance, deep discussion, or positive social interaction.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Halloween Happiness and Holiday Happenings Coming to Westgate Center

San Jose, CA – Family-friendly Westgate Center has a festive fall planned with events and incentives that invite shoppers to participate in activities and take advantage of offers that make the season a little more special.

No Tricks, Only Treats!
Saturday, Oct. 25, noon to 4 p.m.
Come for some spooky fun, trick-or-treating, music and more! Everyone is invited to a free family Halloween event at Westgate Center. Activities include trick-or-treating at participating stores, carnival games and treats with no tricks. Families can enter to win a four-pack of tickets to Kurios - Cabinet of Curiosities, the latest creation from Cirque du Soleil. Guests will receive a free trick-or-treat bag and their first piece of candy at the registration table inside of the main entrance near Sushi Boat restaurant.

Activities during the event include live musical entertainment by Andy Z, Let’s Play in Spanish, The Dance Zone, balloon animals and pumpkin decorating. Mark the day by having Halloween photos taken for $10. The event is free and open to the public. Registration begins at noon.
Participating stores include Any Mountain, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chevy’s, Crazy 8, The Dance Zone, Ella, Gymboree, M Beauty, Michael’s, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Party City, Ross, The Salon Professional Academy, Tuxedo Wearhouse and Willow Street Pizza.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town…and Westgate Center!
Saturday, November 22, 10:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.,
Ho Ho Ho! Westgate Center celebrates the arrival of Santa with a celebration that includes music and kid-centered activities. Santa’s arrival marks the first day of Santa photos, which continues until the week before Christmas. Festivities include live musical entertainment by Andy Z, The Dance Zone and more. Action Day Primary Plus will provide arts and entertainment. Kids will also be entertained by face painting, balloon animals and other surprises are in store. Guests will receive an informational card with special shopping and dining offers at the center.

Santa Photos at Westgate Center
Beginning Saturday, Nov. 22, guests are invited to take a picture with Santa every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and every day during week before Christmas. Photography services are provided by Ardent Impressions. Please visit ShopWestgateCenter.com for pricing and hours, which vary from day-to-day.


About Westgate Center
Westgate Center, located in San Jose, California is a 645,000 square-foot community center offering a one-stop family destination for shopping, dining and entertainment. Westgate Center features over 50 shops and restaurants and is anchored by Target, Nordstrom Rack, Walmart Neighborhood Market, Nike Factory Store, Old Navy, Burlington Coat Factory, Michaels and Ross. Westgate Center is a property of Federal Realty Investment Trust www.federalrealty.com (NYSE:FRT), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit shopwestgatecenter.com.

About Federal Realty
Federal Realty Investment Trust is an equity real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, management, development, and redevelopment of high quality retail assets. Federal Realty's portfolio (excluding joint venture properties) contains approximately 20 million square feet located primarily in strategically selected metropolitan markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and California. In addition, the Trust has an ownership interest in approximately 1.0 million square feet of retail space through a joint venture in which the Trust has a 30% interest. Our operating portfolio (excluding joint venture properties) was 95.3% leased to national, regional, and local retailers as of June 30, 2014, with no single tenant accounting for more than approximately 3.2% of annualized base rent. Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 47 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty is an S&P MidCap 400 company and its shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT.

Playful People Productions Presents: Arabian Nights

Arabian Nights has never been hotter.  This Bollywood inspired musical mashup of Aladdin features many tales of adventure, romance, destruction and heroism.  Plus -- they'll be bhangra, shimmies, puppets and magic! Sheherazade is spinning her playlist of crowd pleasers and you and your entire family will be dancing through the night.  Join us for this amazing and unique show!

Our shows often sell out prior to the show weekend so be sure to buy your tickets early, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic production.

All Shows at the Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Ave  San Jose, CA 95126

Show Times:
Saturday, October 11th - 10:00am and 7:00pm
Sunday, October 12th - 2:00pm  

Tickets available at www.playfulpeople.net
$12 attendees 12 and up, $8 children 11 and under,  and $6 Children’s floor seating

Tickets at the door (30 minutes prior to curtain)
$15 attendees 12 and up, $10 children 11 and under, and $6 Childdren’s floor seating

###

Playful People Productions provides a quality, caring environment in which children, youth & their families have positive theatre experiences, while being involved in many aspects of on-stage/ back-stage theatre. Our company fills a need of providing beginning through advanced theatre for the whole family to the community. The founders have expanded the program to include classes & summer camps.

Playful People Productions is run by mother-daughter team, Barbara Galiotto & Katie D' Arcey, who between them have approx 50 years experience in the musical theatre world. Both are Positive Discipline trained & worked as early Childhood Educators as well as in theatre. Both have worked as professional directors with children's theatre for many years.

For each production, Playful People Productions employs professional designers, artists, choreographers and directors to guide our students. The company also hires experienced college & high school students to do jobs in the production such as directors, stage managers, lighting, make-up, & set designers, choreographers and assistants. This allows students to gain work experiences in all aspects of theatre. The goals of Playful People Productions are: to provide the community with a variety of performing opportunities for children, youth & families to experience; to challenge young people in the community; provide a safe, caring environment; and to involve parents in a wholesome, well-rounded activity. The founders believe that a good theatre experience will greatly improve the lives of the children.

San Jose Ramen Yokocho is on!

If you love Ramen, head over to Downtown San Jose either this weekend or next! The San Jose Ramen Yokocho in the Convention Center will feature 9-10 exotic Ramen selections (including a deconstructed Ramen burger). Below is the full Ramen lineup for the event. In addition to the great soups, there is an all-day Doraemon film screening, art exhibits, and vendors. The event is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-9pm and next Friday from 4pm-9pm. I'm going tomorrow, can't wait!

Saturday Stats: San Jose is the #7 Most Educated City in the US

WalletHub analyzed the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the US to determine where the most educated Americans are choosing to settle. They analyzed 9 metrics including educational attainment, the percentage of workers with STEM jobs (science, technology, engineering, and math), doctors per capita, public school rankings, and the average quality and size of universities.

San Jose came in a very respectable 7th place. Outside of college towns, only Seattle outranked San Jose. SF was far behind in 14th and New York was all the way down in 51st place. San Jose also came in 1st place nationally when it came to the percentage of workers in STEM jobs. See the top 25 below or head over to the source link to see the full list.

Sources: SVBJ, WalletHub

Strike Brewing Co. Taproom Grand Opening Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the official opening of the Strike Taproom at 2099 S. 10th Street #30. The grand opening celebration will run from 2pm to 8pm and feature food trucks to compliment the beers. Come see how the beer is made and taste a variety of brews from 8 different taps, including some new releases.

Part of the proceeds will go towards the US Pain Foundation. To find out more about San Jose's Strike Brewing Co., visit their website over here.

You’re in! You’re officially invited to the Grand Opening of the Strike Warehouse Taproom!

We’re launching our Bay Area warehouse taproom October 4th, 2014.

It’s an honest to goodness working warehouse taproom full of fermentors, kegs, and hops because beer making is fun to watch. Come taste our beer at the source!

All 8 taps will be full, including our year round favorites and some new releases.  Like our brand new Double IPA. Of course you’ll want something tasty with our beer so come enjoy food from popular Bay Area food trucks too.

A portion of the proceeds will help support the US Pain Foundation, an organization that brings support to those living with chronic pain.

Pre-purchase drink tickets here to help keep lines short and the beer flowing!

We hope to see you there.

When: October 4th, 2pm to 8pm
Where: Strike Brewing Co.
2099 S. 10th Street #30
San Jose, CA 95112 408

See you soon & Cheers!
- Drew, Ryan, Jenny, Ben, Bill, James, Barry, Gary & Wrigley the BrewDog

Moving Petals Blooms in the South Bay

Food trucks started the mobile vendor crazy, and lately more and more retail-oriented businesses have been getting into the action as well. A San Jose-based flower shop is the newest vendor to go mobile.

Moving Petals is the South Bay’s first flower market on wheels. They offer custom handcrafted bouquets right out of the truck, offering both convenience and quality. Their goal is be be at the forefront of the mobile movement and strive to become a recognized pillar in the community.

I think it's a great idea and hopefully we'll see them around at the many major events in San Jose each year. The Moving Petals truck is already scheduled to be at Oktoberfest at San Pedro Square on October 11th, the Willow Glen Beer Walk on October 25th, and the Halloween Parade in Willow Glen on October 31st.

To find out more, head on over to the Moving Petals website. To locate the truck, follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

Wednesday Wishlist: Better Signage in San Jose

There are many great attractions and restaurants in San Jose that people have no clue exist. This could easily be solved with improved signage in the Downtown core and other parts of San Jose such as Japantown.

SPUR recently took a field trip to London and found some of the best signage around. Each post had a full directory of major attractions and what you can find within a 5 minute walk and a 15 minute walk. The signs are also consistent, so once you get used to one you can easily use any of them.

Not only should we consider something like this for San Jose, but I think we should take it a step further and put a Silicon Valley spin on it. We should make interactive digital signs. Not only would they stand out even more and look cool, but they could easily be modified when new restaurants and attractions come in. A portion of the sign could even be used to promote events similar to the signpost banners that are being used today.

Imagine all the creative things you could do with an interactive digital sign. With a cheap camera you could look into another location such as another part of San Jose or even a sister city. You can turn the signs into a game (explore Downtown and find them all, be submitted for a drawing of some kind). They could be used to display local art. The possibilities are endless.

Source: SPUR

Largest Ramen Event in the US Coming to San Jose!

The largest ramen event in the country is coming to the San Jose Convention Center on October 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. Given that we have one of only three remaining Japantowns in the country and a large population that enjoys Japanese cuisines, San Jose is a logical destination for this event.

9-10 Ramen Shops will be participating each day, and the food looks awesome! Have a look at the press release below and a few photos from the participating eateries.

###

Ramen Yokocho festivals by the Ramen Yokocho Association (RamenyokochoUS.com) have been hugely popular, attracting over 100,000 ramen lovers throughout the last 5 events in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

The next Yokocho will take place at the San Jose Convention Center's (www.sanjose.org) South Hall in downtown San Jose on October 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11, 12 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). This Japanese noodle festival will feature the best ramen from Japan and the US. From America, the original ramen burger creator will unveil a new dish. Two of the best ramen shops from Kyushu, where tonkotsu ramen was born, will present their special bowls. From ramen hot spots, Tokyo and Osaka, renowned ramen chefs will bring both traditional and innovative dishes. 10 ramen shops are scheduled for the first week, and 9 are scheduled for the second week.

Some of the notable ramen shops include: Kohmen from Ikebukuro, Tokyo where many ramen shops are competing to be the best. They are known for its slow cooked tonkotsu and chicken blend soup (they call it “jyukusei soup”). Kohmen has nearly 20 years of history in Ikebukuro. Chanpon-Tei offers ramen noodle soup topped with pork, seafood and vegetables, called “chanpon ramen”. Tonkotsu has been the popular broth in the U.S. Chanpon-Tei’s seafood broth is unique and gives Ramen Yokocho attendees an option to try something different. There’s also beef based Kamitoku Ramen from Ginza, Tokyo. Pioneer in beef based soup, Kamitoku Ramen’s soup is often compared to French oxtail soup. Keizo Shimamoto of ramen burger fame just announced that he’ll be joining Ramen Yokocho, and bringing “Burger Ramen” (a soupless noodle dish, not his usual ramen burger).

For all ramen line ups, please see the attached poster.

Dates: Friday-Sunday; October 3-5 and 10-12, 2014
Time: Fridays: 4PM-9PM; Saturdays and Sundays: 11AM-9PM
Venue: San Jose Convention Center South Hall
Address: 435 South Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Price: Admission $5/person (children 12 and under are Free); ramen $8/bowl **Cash Only
VIP ticket $60 (presale on website; includes admission, 2 ramen, souvenir, ramen express lane)

Ramen Yokocho Association was established in Southern California in 2013 to promote the understanding of the delicious Japanese noodle soup, Ramen. “Yokocho” means alleyway in Japanese. When you visit Japan, you will see small alleys filled with a variety of shops. Following that tradition, Ramen Yokocho Association is eager to please ramen enthusiasts and ramen novices alike by bringing different styles of ramen noodles to events. There are many kinds of noodles, toppings, and soups depending on the region. Ramen Yokocho is planning to bring the event nationwide.

Some Details re: AFK Gamer Lounge in Downtown SJ

Last week a friend of mine asked me if I knew what happened to the Los Gatos Brewing Company on Santa Clara Street. If there was any news or gossip about why it abruptly shut down. I actually didn't even know it had shut down, but I was not very surprised. The last time I had been there I was not very impressed with their food, and since there are so many other wonderful options downtown, LGBC never made it back to the top of my list. (But that is just *my* experience.)

So I did a quick search and found out that taking the place of the restaurant will be the AFK Gamer Lounge, a new eSports bar & PC gaming center. One-hundred gaming PC's networked together installed with some of today's most popular online games. 

Gamers will gather, play games, enjoy food and enjoy beverages from the bar. There will be memberships and access for casual guests. 

The whole concept is interesting to me as former (short term) player of World of Warcraft and The Sims, but a much longer term player of video games in general. Most of any recent online game exposure is due to my husband (and friends) playing of Starcraft, EverQuest (back in the day!), World of Warcraft, and League of Legends to name a few. 

A few days ago I exchanged emails with one of the owners, Tyler Peckham, and asked a few questions.

JO: In reference to your press release, will you be open on October 18/19 for the League of Legends tournament being held at the SAP Center?

TP. We will be open for some sort of event - however its unlikely it will be a full grand opening.

JO: What popular games will you have installed? Starcraft? WoW? The Sims?

TP: Users will have access to their own library of games (ie. Steam libraries, games that require an online account: LoL, WoW, SCII and many more).  Full list of games is unknown, but the main concept is to first provide access to the games users are already playing, and then second, provide access to some games they may not already have or play. 

JO: Are users limited to only MMORPGs or can they hop on Facebook and play their favorite casual games as well? 

TP: By no means are they limited to MMORPG's. Web browser access is likely, however not 100% (potential security issues).

JO: Members and guests are encouraged to purchase drinks from the bar, what is your plan of attack for keeping liquids away from the computers? 

TP: We are going to start off with some experimentation on methods to allow everyone to game/drink/eat peacefully without restriction. 

JO: Will you be holding tournaments?

TP: YES YES YES

I inquired about some renderings but they didn't have any updated ones on hand yet. Hopefully I'll be able to update soon with a few. For now, if you're still interested be sure to either sign up for email updates via the AFK Gamer Lounge website or follow them on their Facebook page. 

For a more in-depth read, if you can follow Reddit threads, check out their post and the conversation happening over there.

I'm looking forward to checking this place out with my husband and a few friends. I'd like to see what they think about it!

New BART Trains Will Come Just In Time for San Jose Opening

Now that BART is just a few years away from coming to San Jose, we can talk about some of the improvements that you can expect to the system in addition to just the new stations. BART is spending well over $2 billion to replace its aging fleet of 669 train cars and add 300 extra train cars to support increased ridership and future expansion.

The new trains will be quieter, cooler, more comfortable, bike-friendly, and have digital signage on the inside (which you can see in the video down at the bottom). They will also have 3 doors per car instead of 2 in order to make it easier and faster to get in and out of the train. This is especially important since BART functions not only as a commuter train but as a Metro system in dense areas (SF, Oakland, and eventually Downtown San Jose).

I really hope this will be a system we can be proud of since we will be living with these trains for the next 30 or so years. So far, the plan looks pretty solid. The first 10 "pilot cars" will be delivered in 2015, the first batch of new train cars will do into service in 2017, and the rest of the cars will be delivered over the next four years. .

Sources: BART, SVBJ

Playful People Productions Presents: Disney’s Aladdin Kids and Aladdin Jr

Welcome to Agrabah, the City of Enchantment, and experience the fantastic tale of the street urchin who became a prince! Aladdin, a kind but wily street urchin, falls in love with the beautiful Princess Jasmine. It just so happens that the Sultan has declared that Princess Jasmine must choose a husband by the next day. After she turns down the offers from many wealthy suitors, Aladdin and the evil Jafar battle for Jasmine’s love. With a little help from a wacky genie, Aladdin manages to win Jasmine’s hand in marriage. All of your favorite characters from the hit Disney film – Aladdin, Jasmine, Iago, Jafar, the Genie, and more – are here in Disney’s Aladdin Kids and JR. A musical adventure filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet rides, audiences spirits will sore with excitement. This tuneful award-winning score with songs including “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me” will have your entire family dancing in their seats.

Our shows often sell out prior to the show weekend so be sure to buy your tickets early, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic production.

All Shows at the Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Ave  San Jose, CA 95126

Aladdin Kids Show Times:
Friday, October 3rd - 7:00pm
Saturday, October 4th -11:00am, 3:00pm and 7:00pm
Sunday, October 5th - 2:30pm and 6:00pm

Aladdin Jr Show Times:
Friday, October 10th - 7:00pm
Saturday, October 11th - 2:00pm
Sunday, October 12th - 10:00am  

Tickets available at www.playfulpeople.net
$12 attendees 12 and up, $8 children 11 and under,  and $6 Children’s floor seating

Tickets at the door (30 minutes prior to curtain)
$15 attendees 12 and up, $10 children 11 and under, and $6 Children’s floor seating

Playful People Productions provides a quality, caring environment in which children, youth & their families have positive theatre experiences, while being involved in many aspects of on-stage/ back-stage theatre. Our company fills a need of providing beginning through advanced theatre for the whole family to the community. The founders have expanded the program to include classes & summer camps.

Playful People Productions is run by mother-daughter team, Barbara Galiotto & Katie D' Arcey, who between them have approx 50 years experience in the musical theatre world. Both are Positive Discipline trained & worked as early Childhood Educators as well as in theatre. Both have worked as professional directors with children's theatre for many years.

For each production, Playful People Productions employs professional designers, artists, choreographers and directors to guide our students. The company also hires experienced college & high school students to do jobs in the production such as directors, stage managers, lighting, make-up, & set designers, choreographers and assistants. This allows students to gain work experiences in all aspects of theatre. The goals of Playful People Productions are: to provide the community with a variety of performing opportunities for children, youth & families to experience; to challenge young people in the community; provide a safe, caring environment; and to involve parents in a wholesome, well-rounded activity. The founders believe that a good theatre experience will greatly improve the lives of the children.

The San Jose Stage Company Presents: The Rainmaker

N. Richard Nash’s Romantic Comedy

The Rainmaker

Directed by Jessa Brie Moreno

October 1st - 26th, 2014


Previews: October 1st, 2nd, 3rd


San Jose, CA (September 2014) - San Jose Stage Company’s 32nd season launches with a true piece of Americana in N. Richard Nash’s Romantic ComedyThe Rainmaker. A beautiful, timeless tale of what it means to take a leap of faith in desperately hopeless times.

As described by Nash, “The play takes place in a Western state on a summer day...in a time of drought. I tried to tell a simple story about droughts that happen to people and about faith.”

In The Rainmaker Lizzie’s hopes and dreams have run dry when the charismatic Starbuck arrives out of nowhere, selling promises of rain - Lizzie must decide: is he a con man, or does he hold the key to everything she desires?

"The notion of dreams coming true might seem a preposterous conceit in a more cynical era, yet The Rainmaker, N. Richard Nash's unabashedly optimistic 1953 teleplay-turned-Broadway-hit, still has the power to keep disbelief at bay...
After nearly half a century, ‘The Rainmaker’ still makes a handsomely staged case for miracles." - LA Times

The cast includes Randall King* as HC, Johnny Moreno* as Bill Starbuck, Allison F. Rich* as Lizzie Curry, Will Springhorn Jr.* as Noah Curry, Michael Bellino as Sheriff Thomas, Brandon Leland as Jimmy Curry and Joe Estlack as File. [*Actors’ Equity Association]

SHOWS:

Previews: October 1st & 2nd @ 7:30 pm / October 4th @ 8:00 pm

Opening: October 4th @ 8:00 pm

Run Dates: October 1st - 26th, 2014


Wednesday & Thursday @ 7:30 pm

Friday & Saturday @ 8:00 pm

Sunday @ 2:00 pm


WHERE: San Jose Stage Company - 490 South First Street, San Jose, CA

TICKETS: For tickets ($20-$65) or more information, please call the box office at 408.283.7142 or order online www.thestage.org

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“San Jose Stage Company’s 2014-15 season continues to bring bold, diverse and innovative works to The Stage,” said Randall King, Artistic Director and co-founder of the San Jose Stage

“Our 32nd season reflects the climate of today’s of socio-political, economic, emotional and atmospheric turbulence of our times”, said King.

The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash / Oct 1 - 26, 2014


A Weekend With Pablo Picasso by Herbert Siguenza /Nov 12- Dec 7, 2014

Venus In Fur by David Ives / Feb 4 - Mar 1, 2015


Death Of A Salesman by Arthur Miller / Apr 1 - 26, 2015


New Musical (soon to be announced) / Jun 3 - Jul 26, 2015

“The plays examine the thirst for love, the need for acceptance, our passions, hopes, faiths and fears - a theatrical season framed in tales of romance, art, politics, seduction, and book-ended in la familia. The Stage is set to traverse these provocative landscapes,”added King.

San Jose Stage Company has extended its offer to honor SJ Rep subscriptions. Please call the box office 408 283 7142.

The Stage is located at 490 South First Street at William Street in the SoFA district of downtown San Jose.

Season 2014-15 Subscriptions available at 408 283 7142 or www.thestage.org

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About San Jose Stage Company:

Launching its 32nd season, San Jose Stage Company is recognized as the San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Off-Broadway Theatre and is now the South Bay’s only fully professional resident 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 the 2nd largest theatre and 8th largest performance arts organization in Silicon Valley (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal), 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. San Jose Stage Company has produced over 150 productions, including 13 world premieres and 45 regional new works.

Annually, The Stage employs over 150 artists, serves a diverse audience of 25,000, offers five core education and outreach programs and has housed over 300 independent performance groups. Located at the Gateway to the City’s Arts and Entertainment District, San Jose Stage Company, the SoFA Districts first arts anchor organization, continues to promote San Jose’s stature as a burgeoning regional arts center by providing live theatre experiences that enrich the quality of life in the community.

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Saturday Stats: San Jose is the #2 Job Market in the US for Recent Grads

The Atlantic has crunched some numbers to find what the best job markets are for recent college graduates. They took the largest 100 metros in the US and looked at the following five factors:

• The percent change in jobs requiring post-secondary education from 2010 to 2014. 
• The percentage of 25-34 year olds who hold these positions.
• The average wages for these jobs requiring post-secondary education.
• The concentration of these jobs based on their "location quotient," or LQ for short.
• The share of new jobs requiring post-secondary education that can be attributed to local economic conditions or competitiveness.

The San Jose metro crushed it, with a #2 ranking. The SF Metro took the top spot in this one, with New York in 28th. You can see the Top 10 below; head to the source link for the full list.

Source: The Atlantic, hat-tip to Dan De La O

BASIS Independent Now Open in Silicon Valley

BASIS Independent in North San Jose is off to a good start with the largest first-year enrollment recorded by any private school group in the country. BASIS Independent is a private school with a strong emphasis on STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and I'm sure will be a huge asset to the San Jose community. Check out the press release below.

BASIS Independent Schools open flagship schools on both coasts

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and BASIS Independent Brooklyn welcome founding classes in California and New York; Largest private school opening in history

September 16, 2014 (Silicon Valley, CA) – In an unprecedented move, BASIS Independent Schools announces the opening of not one but two new private schools in the most globally advanced and competitive educational markets in America. BASIS Independent Silicon Valley and BASIS Independent Brooklyn begin classes with the largest first-year enrollment recorded by any private school group in the country.

“The American demand for global quality education has never been greater,” said BASIS Independent Schools CEO Dr. Mark Reford. “Parents on both coasts recognize that an internationally benchmarked curriculum featuring rigorous studies and passionate faculty is critical to our children’s success and happiness.” 

The two new schools are based on the proven education model of the BASIS charter school network led by Michael and Olga Block, deemed by scholars, national rankings and international tests as amongst the best in the world. BASIS.ed schools offer a STEM-focused liberal arts and sciences curriculum benchmarked against the highest international standards and employing the most talented teachers from around the world.

On the west coast, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, is a stunning redesign of a former IBM office building located in San Jose, the capital of Silicon Valley. The state-of-the-art glass-front, three-story 80,604 square foot building will be completed with the additions of a 7,501 square foot gymnasium and 6,000 square foot cafeteria. The school opened to grades 5-11 with an enrollment of nearly 600 students, a record number for a first-year private school. The 12th grade will be added next year. The school can accommodate 800 students.

The east coast school, BASIS Independent Brooklyn, is completing construction of its brand new modular-constructed 90,000 square foot architectural masterpiece in Red Hook. Built 12 feet above ground level, the new high tech, six-story school will feature abundant indoor and outdoor learning spaces with views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and New York Bay. The school opened to grades k-8 with high school grades to be added over the coming years. Various transportation options are available. The school will accommodate 1000 students.

The new schools are founded on the educational leadership of Michael and Olga Block, known for their relentless pursuit of academic excellence and as the founders of BASIS.ed, the management company for the highly successful charter school network of sixteen schools and counting. The new Independent Schools will be the first of a separate network of private schools to open across the country. Michael Block is a Stanford-educated economist and former university professor and Olga is a former vice dean of Charles University in Prague. Their education model marries exemplary world-class standards with the American spirit of creativity.

BASIS Independent Schools CEO, Dr. Q Mark Reford, is an international school leader and educator. Born in Northern Ireland, Reford was educated at Oxford University and later taught there in their Stanford University program. He moved to America in 1993 and has since been a teacher, administrator and Head of School in some of the most outstanding independent schools in the country.

“As President Roosevelt said in his first inaugural address, ‘Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort,’ quoted Dr. Reford. “That describes the essence of BASIS Independent schools and the spirit you feel in our classrooms, hallways and playgrounds.  Our students are taught a love of learning that will serve them a lifetime.”

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BASIS Schools were founded in 1998 by Michael and Olga Block. In 2009, they created BASIS.ed to manage the growing network of BASIS charter schools, with 2014 marking the introduction of their first two private schools. The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, and Newsweek consistently rank BASIS.ed schools among the best high schools in America. For more information, visithttp://www.basised.com/ or http://basisindependent.com/.

Real Escape Room San Jose

An interesting new attraction is coming to North First Street. "Escape from the Mysterious Room" is a game where you trapped in a room with 10 other people. Inside are mysterious codes and puzzles that needs to be solved in order to escape from the room. Essentially... it's a real-life video game.

The game being hosted at 777 N. 1st, Suite #740 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting October 3rd (next week). For more info click here.