Lou's Village is Being Resurrected in Willow Glen!

Remember that new 41,000sqft development in Willow Glen? Well it turns out that one of their anchor tenants is none other than Lou's Village, one of San Jose's original flagship restaurants. Lou's plans to open up in 2012 on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Willow St. For more details, click here!

 

Sherman Cellars Wine Tasting Coming Downtown!

I was reading A Perfect Finish's newsletter--a damn good wine bar on 1st, btw--and stumbled on this bit of news that somehow fell through the cracks of everything else I read about downtown. As of Aug 3rd, we will officially have a wine tasting room in Downtown San Jose! An added bonus is that it will be right around the corner from one of the few wine bars in San Jose (and the only one I know of that is open until 2am on Fri and Sat in Silicon Valley).

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Wine Tasting Comes to downtown San Jose!
Sherman Cellars, 40 Post Street (just down from A Perfect Finish) will celebrate the Grand Opening of their Winery Tasting Room, Tuesday August 3, at 12:00 noon.  Join us, our city Councilman, Sam Liccardo and other dignitaries for the newest tasting room in Santa Clara Valley


Sherman Cellars will feature the wines ofCreekview Vineyards of San Martin.  The winemakers, Teri and Greg Peterson make an incredible array of whites and reds from Santa Clara Valley fruit, including their own estate vineyard.  From Santa Clara Valley Chardonnay to their big Melody Estate bordeaux style red their wines always please. 

After August 3, Sherman Cellars will be open for tasting: Wednesday through Sunday, 11am to 5pm.  

288-WINE (9463)

Bowling for Downtown San Jose?

I go out of the country for a few days and all sorts of San Jose development news pop up. Let's start with this one... trendy bowling may finally be coming to downtown San Jose. Lucky Strikes was supposed to lease the ground floor of The Globe back in 2007, but the recession shut that deal down. Now it looks like Lucky Strikes is reevaluating this opportunity AND Tavern + Bowl is also in the running to take over that spot. The retail space has been soundproofed years ago in anticipation of a bowling alley and is pretty much ready to go when the owners of The Globe (CIM) decide which proposal to accept. For more details, head on over to the San Jose Business Journal.

Video: San Jose - A City Fueled by Innovation, Creativity and Opportunity

Video: San Jose - World of Innovation

Challenges of Local Small Business Owners

Alright everyone, brace yourselves... it's incredibly rare, but I'm actually going to say something negative about San Jose. Often to grow you have to take a critical look at yourself and make a conscious decision to improve. I think that's exactly what we need to do in order to improve the retail scene in San Jose, especially high-potential, burgeoning areas like Downtown.

A couple days ago I had the great pleasure to meet with the proprietor behind Satori, a phenomenal new tea shop located in San Pedro Square next to Peggy Sue's. After hearing her challenges in opening up the store, I decided to break that section out of the blog post I'm planning for their upcoming grand opening. I'm doing this for 2 reasons: 1.) I think this topic requires special attention and applies to many current and potential business owners and 2.) Satori doesn't deserve to have anything negative in their grand opening post--they are 100%, positively, without a doubt the type of business that downtown needs more of... unique products, local character (including local art), community focus, and a new experience for downtown patrons.

Okay, now for the stuff I hate to write about, so I'll make it quick. The proprietor decided to put her entire life savings into a store selling what she's truly passionate about--awesome tea!--and she wanted to do it in the heart of San Jose. How long should it take to open up a small tea shop in San Jose? Two months? Three? Well, it actually took an entire year... every day of which means lost revenue and a lower probability for success. How much should it cost for business licenses and permitting in a 1,000sqft space in an area the city is actively trying to drive retail to? No need to guess, I'll just say it... $15,000. Huh?

I think something is not right with the situation above. The message we send out to business owners should be "COME TO SAN JOSE! WE ARE A CITY BUILT ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND WILL MAKE IT RIDICULOUSLY EASY FOR YOU TO DO BUSINESS HERE!  That type message doesn't seem to always align well with reality, and I have heard this from several business owners that I have spoken to, not just Satori.

If you ask anyone that really knows me, I really do love San Jose more than any other city on the planet.  I hate writing anything negative here, but this is one kink that we need to iron out before districts like Downtown can become the magnetic retail destinations they should be. Santana Row is great an all, but we need places where local businesses offering unique products and services can also thrive and grow the collective soul and culture of our great city.

Merc Article on the State of Downtown Dining

There was a great article in the Merc last week about how dining in Downtown San Jose is moving away from traditional restaurants and moving towards casual, inexpensive, and trendy eateries. The map below showcases some promising signs. While 4 places have shuttered their doors, 13 are replacing them. For the full article, just head over here!

RAGING WATERS CONTEST WINNERS!!!

Thank you to everyone that participated in today's contest!  Our winners are Melanie Cregger and Joie Pascual, both of which live in San Jose and will each receive a pair of day passes for Raging Waters!! A huge thanks to Raging Waters for sponsoring the prize for this contest. If you're curious about the answers, here they are:

Posting Time Hints (Posting time was 3:22pm)

HINT #1: San Jose is divided into 10 districts, which one is Downtown San Jose in? 3

HINT #2: The year that San Jose became the State Capital. 1849 >> 1+8+4+9 = 22

Questions:
1.) What was San Jose's original name? El Pueble de San Jose de Guadalupe
2.) Which 2 colors are used in San Jose's flag? Gold and Blue (also SJSU colors btw)
3.) What is the tallest building in San Jose today? The 88
4.) Who was San Jose's first official major after becoming an incorporated city? Josiah Belden
5.) What is the oldest building in San Jose? The Peralta Adobe
6.) What is the name of the lake next to Raging Waters? Lake Cunningham
7.) How many water slide attractions are there in Raging Waters? Would have accepted either 6 or 7 (two of them are usually grouped as one).

THE CONTEST FOR RAGING WATERS TICKETS IS LIVE!!!

Alright folks, here's the drill. The first TWO (2) individuals to answer the following trivia questions correctly will each win a pair of Raging Waters tickets (winners must not be related to each other or to writers for The San Jose Blog). ANSWERS MUST BE EMAILED TO: josh@thesanjoseblog.com

Here are your Questions:
1.) What was San Jose's original name?
2.) Which 2 colors are used in San Jose's flag?
3.) What is the tallest building in San Jose today?
4.) Who was San Jose's first official major after becoming an incorporated city?
5.) What is the oldest building in San Jose?
6.) What is the name of the lake next to Raging Waters?
7.) How many water slide attractions are there in Raging Waters?

Now for a twist. There is a bonus 8th questions that will give you a 5 minute advantage if you are able to guess a correct answer (5 minutes will be subtracted from the time I receive your email with answers to the questions above). The question is: name a single restaurant in Downtown San Jose that Josh Santos has NOT been to. Here is a list of restaurants to help you out. I have to warn you that there are less than a dozen restaurants on that list that will qualify you for the bonus.

Good luck everyone!

 
 

Hints for the Raging Waters Contest!!!

As announced last week, The San Jose Blog is giving away 2 pairs of tickets to Raging Waters! On Wednesday, July 14th at an undisclosed time, we're posting a series of San Jose-centric trivia questions. The first TWO individuals to answer all of the questions correctly win a pair of tickets! 

Today, I'm going to give readers some help with 2 hints that will narrow down the potential posting times. The first hint will give away the hour during which we will be posting the contest questions and the second hint will give away the minutes. I imagine the first one will be fairly easy to crack, but the second hint is far from straightforward and I'll tell you right now the answer is not the most obvious one... Good Luck =)

HINT #1: San Jose is divided into 10 districts, which one is Downtown San Jose in?

HINT #2: The year that San Jose became the State Capital.

World Cup Finale in Downtown San Jose

Matt Bruensteiner from San Jose Metblogs has some great photos of the World Cup Championship Match in SoFA! I wish I could have made it, looks like a great event... I'll mark my calendar for 2014.

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From the better late than never file, here’s a few photos from the World Cup championship game showing downtown on Sunday. A pretty impressive crowd filled South First Street, just south of San Carlos, where the Jumbotron was set up:

The Dutch fans were the champions, at least in the Funny Hats competition:

 

But it was Spain’s fans who got to cheer in the 116th minute:

Final score, Netherlands 0, Spain 1, and Spain will be world champions for the next four years.

Click here for the original post!

July 2010 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• High Speed Rail officials have decided that an aerial structure should be used to bring HSR into downtown San Jose (as opposed to an underground option).
• The City Council approved a 4 story parking facility near the HP Pavilion if a Downtown San Jose A's Stadium is approved.
• The State is planning to build a 20-courtroom, 234,000sqft facility across from St. James Park.
• The second Dine Downtown week resulted in at least 4,500 three+ course dinners sold!
• 12 new pieces of art have been installed on utility doors throughout Downtown.  This brings the total to 37 pieces of art from 15 participating high schools.
• Ruffled Feathers Eatery is now open!  They are in the same spot as the former Asqew Grill, right next to Camera 12.
• The Agenda Restaurant is now Bayonne and their basement is a speakeasy-style lounge called Single Barrel.
• A sports bar called Savu is replacing Hawg's Seafood next to The Rep. They signed a 10 year least with 2 additional 5 year options, and are paying market rent.
• San Jose is getting 2 major sporting events in 2012, th US Figure Skating Championships and the US Olympic trials for men's and women's gymnastics.
• Groundwerx is about to initiate their next beautification project at on San Carlos St. between 2nd and 4th St. 

To read the full newsletter, click here!

We're Giving Away 4 Raging Waters Tickets!!!

The San Jose Blog is happy to announce that we're going to have a little contest to cool you off this summer! We're giving away 2 pairs of tickets to Raging Waters exactly one week from today, Wed, Jun 14th!!

This contest will be part skill and part luck.  The skill component will test your knowledge of San Jose with a series of trivia questions. The first 2 people to answer all of the trivia questions correctly win (the winners can't be related to each other or to any of the posters on The San Jose Blog). Sounds simple right? Of course, there's a catch. I won't be giving out the exact time when the trivia questions will be posted on Wednesday, but you'll get a hint or two. AND... there's a second catch, which is a side-contest that may give you an advantage in winning the tickets (the specifics of the side contest will not be revealed until the 14th).

Stay tuned for additional details!

Santana Row Punches Recession in the Face, Adds 3 New Stores

Earlier today, Santana Row announced a handful of new merchants. First off, we have the first Yard House in Northern California, which will occupy the entire retail space in the 300 block of the Row (at the entrance, adjacent to Crate & Barrel). This will be a flagship 10,000sqft restaurant with 130 beers on tap and a scheduled February 2011 opening.

Joining the Yard House we have the first South Bay locations of 100% Pure Cosmetics (Oakland-based) and Jest Jewels (SF-based).  We can also round out the news with a 1,000sqft bar and lounge expansion at Straits, which should be open for business very soon.

San Jose Sharks: Draft and Free Agency Update

What an exciting last couple of weeks this has been! First began the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, where exciting young prospects were selected, and then began the opportunity to sign players with a "free agency" status. While the Sharks still have some decisions to make concerning their 2010-2011 team, as general manager Doug Wilson aims to create a roster rife with playoff success.

Perhaps the largest piece of news, aside from the last update where Evgeni Nabokov's departure and Patrick Marleau/Joe Pavelski's re-signing were announced, the Sharks have signed a new goaltender: Antero Niittymaki of Finland - a two-year contract for $2 million per year. Previously playing for both the Philadelphia Flyers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, he is mostly noted for leading Team Finland to the silver medal during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy (where he was also voted the tournament MVP). Nabokov, meanwhile, has returned to the KHL (Kontinental Hockey League, in Russia), where he, today, signed a four year contract with the SKA St. Petersburg team. Best of luck to him there!

As far as the draft picks from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, here are the Sharks' selections (hat tip to sharkspage.com for the names and stats):

1st round (28th overall) – Charlie Coyle
Position: RW/C
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Size: 6-foot-2, 202-pounds
Shoots: Right

3rd round (88th overall) – Max Gaede
Position: RW
Birthplace: Maryland, MN
Size: 6-foot-2, 187-pounds
Shoots: Right

5th round (127th overall) – Cody Ferriero
Position: C
Birthplace: Boston, MA
Size: 5-foot-11, 190-pounds
Shoots: Right

5th round (129th overall) – Freddie Hamilton
Position: C
Birthplace: Toronto, ON
Size: 6-foot-1, 187-pounds
Shoots: Right

5th round (136th overall) – Isaac MacLeod
Position: D
Birthplace: Nelson, BC
Size: 6-foot-4, 205-pounds
Shoots: Left

6th round (163rd overall) – Konrad Abeltshauser
Position: D
Birthplace: Bad Tolz, Germany
Size: 6-foot-5, 190-pounds
Shoots: Left

7th round (188th overall) – Lee Moffie
Position: D
Birthplace: Wallingford, CT
Size: 6-foot-1, 200-pounds
Shoots: Left

7th round (200th overall) – Chris Crane
Position: RW
Birthplace: Virginia Beach, VA
Size: 6-foot-0, 189-pounds
Shoots: Right

Here's hoping the Sharks can utilize both their veterans and new talent this upcoming year. Although I am confident we can make playoffs again, we need to win, plain and simple.

Hopefully the Sharks can make a couple more good moves before the free agency and trading period ends. Currently, there are quite a bit of high-valued trades/signings going on, although mostly rumored. The hottest topics right now in the NHL concerning free agents are Mike Modano (the greatest American player ever, now dropped by the Stars and very likely to sign with the Red Wings), Ilya Kovalchuk (2001 first pick and solid player having issues choosing between the Devils and the Kings; that and his high salary demand), and for San Jose fans, Owen Nolan (arguably one of the best Sharks players who is rumored, albeit somewhat unlikely, to come back to play at the Tank).

Here is to the upcoming season!

Photos from Epic First Friday (SubZERO)

While there wasn't a South First Friday this weekend, I do have a few photos from the phenomenal SubZERO First Friday in June!

Scott's Seafood Expanding in Downtown SJ

It looks like Scott's is the latest of many restaurants that are double downing in San Jose's cultural epicenter. This will make it the 5th Downtown restaurant to expand this year (Morton's, La Vics, Flames, and Diabolos/Azucar are the other four). It's pretty rare to see restaurants expand even in a strong economy, so seeing five expanding today within a few city blocks is a great sign for Downtown.

Scott's will be adding outdoor seating for up to 60 people. Keep in mind that this restaurant is on the top floor of a 6 story building, so a nice view will come along with that al fresco dining experience. In addition, Scott's is planning to upgrade the furniture, lighting, and paint in the interior portion of the 8,500sqft restaurant.

Happy Fourth of July 2010!!!

I hope everyone has an amazing Fourth with family and friends! If you are still deciding what to do tonight, below are 4 different venues providing major fireworks shows in the South Bay tonight. There is also a more extensive list over at SJ Metblogs. Have fun!

Central Park in Santa Clara 
http://santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=41&recordid=2457
July 4th All City Picnic - Breakfast, entertainment, music, carnival games, face painting, swimming, food. Fireworks display at 9:30pm. Sunday, July 4, 2010. (408) 615-3140

San Jose Municipal Stadium 
http://www.sjgiants.com
San Jose July 4th Fireworks Celebration - San Jose July 4th Fireworks Celebration - 95.3 KRTY'S All-American Country Jam - concert featuring Country Music Artist Chris Cagle and a performance by Ash Bowers. Sunday, July 4, 2010. 588 East Alma Avenue, San Jose, CA. 408-297-1435.

Shoreline Amphitheater  
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/422326
The 24th Annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular - featuring the San Francisco Symphony and music from Wicked, Rocky, West Side Story, Peter Pan, Titanic, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars and many more! 4-pack of Reserved Seats are only $79! Tickets at LiveNation.com

Cupertino 
http://www.cupertino.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=3418
4th of July Celebration - All Day Sunday July 4, 2010. 7am - 9:30am Breakfast at the Quinlan Community Center, 10am Parade with family concert to follow, 6:45pm musical entertainment at Creekside Park, Hyde Middle School or Sedgwick Elementary. Fireworks begin at 9:30pm. (408) 777-3110, (408) 777-3120

Proposed ordinance threatens San Jose Bike Party

Worth of a read if you enjoy biking or supporting groups and organizations that add value to our community:

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The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has a proposed Special Event Ordinance on their June 22 agenda for discussion at 10am.
This ordinance threatens the existence of San Jose Bike Party, as well as any rides of more than 50 riders! It’s overreaching and possibly prohibited by the CVC.
The Silicon Valley Bike Coalition has posted its position on this issue, and have setup aFacebook event with information as well. We urge you to read the proposal and SVBC’s position statement, then take action.
Some of the ways you can help:

• Write, e-mail, or call your County Supervisor. SmartVoter.org has their contact information.
• Show up at the Board of Supervisors meeting, June 22 at 10am, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 70 West Hedding St, San Jose, CA.
• Spread the word! Blog, tweet, Facebook, etc!

Update

At the June 22 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Supervisors voted unanimously to table the matter until August 2010. It will go back to committee for revision. The video from the meeting is available on the SCC Public Portal.A big thanks to all those that attended the meeting, contacted their Supervisors, and spread the word. Hopefully the ordinance will be reasonble and consistent with the CVC when it comes up again in August.

Proposed ordinance threatens San Jose Bike Party

Almaden retail plan estimated at $30M-$50M - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal

There's a massive retail development being planned right around the corner from Westfield Oakridge and Almaden Plaza called Almaden Ranch. After being built, this should bring the total retail in the area to nearly 3 million sqft, perhaps giving Valley Fair/Santana Row some competition for shoppers' attention. Hopefully they're able to squeeze in a few unique stores and restaurants in between the anchors. Here's the summary from the Business Journal:

• 350,000 - 400,000sqft of retail on 40 acres of agricultural land
• 2 anchors, a few sub-anchors, restaurants, small shops, and a gas station (20-30 tenants)
• Speculated anchors include Lowe's, JCPenny, and The Home Depot
• Potential Spring 2012 opening 

For more information, have a look at the full article right over here: Almaden retail plan estimated at $30M-$50M - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal

BART to San Jose Inches Closer to Reality

According to the Transbay Blog, it looks like we are a tad bit closer to getting BART in our neck of the woods:

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Record of Decision issued for BART to San Jose

25 JUNE 2010

by Eric

BART to San Jose has advanced one step forward in the New Starts process.  The Federal Transit Administration has now issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the BART extension, which marks federal approval of the project’s environmental impact statement.  The ROD only covers the initial phase between Warm Springs and Berryessa, including two new stations at Milpitas and Berryessa.

VTA seeks a $900 million federal contribution toward the $2.1 billion Berryessa extension.  The ROD qualifies VTA to move forward in the process, and the next step is to execute a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) in February 2011, which would allow VTA to obtain the federal funding it needs to build the project.  Construction could begin in 2012, and revenue service could commence in 2018.

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Latest San Pedro Square Market Video

Saturday Stats: San Jose ranks 16th in Volunteering

According to the Business Journal, we ranked 16th in volunteering among 51 large cities in the country. Looking at it from the state level, California ranks 41st in the nation. So essentially, we're a standout from a low-ranking state!  For the full article, click here.

SJC Gains Yet Another Flight (Kauai, HI)!

San Jose International's opulent expansion already seems to be paying dividends. Alaskan Airlines is adding yet another direct flight to Hawaii. They added Maui and Kona flights earlier this year, and now Kauai is receiving SJC express treatment. Fares will start at $179 each way and flights kick off March 27th, 2011. More info in the San Jose Business Journal.

Sharks Re-Sign Marleau and Pavs

Many Sharks fans rejoiced yesterday as news surfaced of the re-signing of the Sharks' playoff heroes: Joe "Pavs" Pavelski and Patrick Marleau. This is great news as both players are integral pieces to the team's success.

Not surprisngly, fans grew nervous of the futures for some of the fan favorites, especially due to the decision to not re-sign Evgeni Nabokov. In addition, the NHL had some interesting trades, notably the Chicago Blackhawks' decision to deal playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien to the Atlanta Thrashers and the Montreal Canadiens' decision to deal their "brick wall" goaltender Jaroslav Halak (who had led the team past two powerhouses: Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals and Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins) to the St.Louis Blues. These decisions alone make the prospect of trading big names something less of a surprise. Fortunately, two team favorites re-signed to stay with Silicon Valley's favorite and most popular sports team.

Pavelski signed a four year, $16 million contract to stay with the Sharks. With his strong post-season performance, Pavelski is just too valuable of a player to dish out, and the Sharks know it. Additionally, given the Sharks have consistently made playoffs each year, only to eventually lose, the team's management understands they cannot be pulling any punches with stacking their team. Strong playoff performers are a must. Although Pavelski managed a respectable 51 points during the regular season, he flourished in the post season with an amazing 17 points in 15 games, including 9 goals - a statistic he led the NHL in for a period of time.

As important as it may be to have strong regular season performers to qualify for playoffs, it does not get you the Stanley Cup.

This is why it was also smart to re-sign Patrick Marleau. Marleau has spent his entire NHL career with the Sharks, after being drafted second overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft (coincidentally behind the first pick Joe Thornton, who went to the Boston Bruins for his first eight seasons before coming to the Sharks). Although Marleau got off to a slow start in the 2010 playoffs, he quickly proved critics wrong by scoring in the most critical of times. Notably, his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Five at the HP Pavilion was critical in vaulting the Sharks past the Red Wings into the next stage of the playoffs.

As an opinionated San Jose Sharks hockey fan (and occasional hockey player), I have confidence the Sharks will be able to build a lethal squad this year. Although the choice not to re-sign Nabokov was an emotional one for me, I am sure a lot went into the decision and I wish him the very best. My confidence for this year, however, was solidified when I agreed to another year of season tickets.

Keep your eye out on this blog for more updates. The 2010 NHL Entry Draft takes place in Los Angeles this weekend, so keep your eye out for new young prospects.

Here's to the next successful year!

The San Jose Sharks - An Update

Now that the playoffs are over, I need to discard any animosity I have for the Chicago Blackhawks and congratulate them on their Stanley Cup win. It was deserved, they played very well, and not to mention, up until their win, the Blackhawks had the longest Cup drought out of any active NHL team - 49 years.

Now the 2009-2010 season is over, preparations for next season begin. Before I get into the current details, I would first like to congratulate the San Jose Sharks on their twentieth anniversary! For longtime Sharks fans like myself, I am sure we all remember those days of trekking all the way to the Daly City's Cow Palace to catch the first two seasons of hockey while the then-named San Jose Arena was being built. Silicon Valley hockey fans owe it to the Sharks for creating one of the country's most loyal and exciting sports franchises, and to further illustrate my point, San Jose can now be accurately called a hockey-loving "fin"atical home base! Since the Sharks came into prominence, new teams and even new ice rinks have been springing up all over the Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. Ice hockey went from unusual to mainstream.

Although the Cup has yet to come to San Jose, the team's promising results, stemming from many consecutive playoff entrances in the top-seeded position and the willingness to form a strong group of players, make that current dream a very possible reality in the near future. General Manager Doug Wilson, himself an ex-Shark (also the franchise's first Captain) with a very respectable NHL career, has been making great decisions, and as long as he remains at the helm, fans can expect great things out of the Sharks.

This, of course, brings us to some vital updates made between the playoffs and today. Despite the 2010 NHL Entry Draft taking place this weekend, where the Sharks have the 28th pick in the first round, there were a couple of big decisions that took place, as many of you fans know, with (expected) mixed emotions.

The first of which, and to me the most significant (and emotional), was the Sharks' decision not to re-sign star goaltender Evgeni "John" or "Zhenia" Nabokov, who as of now is an unrestricted free agent. Nabokov was originally picked up by the Sharks (the only NHL team he has played for) in the 1994 draft, although he never played until 2000, when he eventually replaced Steve Shields as the main goaltender of the team. As the starting goaltender, Nabokov had a very impressive campaign, putting up high save percentages and wins, helping lead the Sharks to consecutive playoffs.

Although it is hard to justify the means for trading Nabokov, there is a lot of talk about the salary cap hindering the ability to pay him, one of the NHL's best netminders. While some critics peg his inability to play in clutch situations, namely the playoffs, most of this criticism comes from frustrated fans who fail to recognize the great many fantastic saves he does make. Overall, however, there is a general outcry from loyal Sharks fans, the great majority of which claim he will "truly be missed." That is true. We will all miss you, Nabby!

The second piece of news came a couple weeks ago when Sharks' team captain and defenseman Rob Blake announced his retirement from hockey. Blake is mainly noted for his leadership both on and off the ice and his long campaign as captain of the Los Angeles Kings and his Stanley Cup win in 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche. He had a stellar NHL career, complete with multiple All-Star appearances, selection for the NHL First All-Star Team (in 1998), and winner of the prestigious defenseman award, the James Norris Trophy, also in 1998.

Thank you, Mr.Blake, for making your last great season in San Jose. We are honored to have had you here!

As new decisions and updates take place, I will try to keep them updated here. Thank you to all of you loyal fans who have supported and will continue to support your San Jose Sharks!

The Usuals Present Works by Al Preciado

Looks like there's a party this Friday at San Jose-centric clothier, The Usuals! Why not swing by and check out some local art, free munchies, and perhaps grab an I [Heart] SJ shirt while you're at it? Info from Facebook below:

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Date:	Friday, June 25, 2010
Time:	6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:	The Usuals, 1020 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126

Description

On June 25th at 6pm, The Usuals are excited to open Al Preciado's recent works in "Transformations." Please join us for a night of great artwork by Al, a little music, and light refreshments. See you soon...

Merc Article on the 49ers

Last week there was a great article in the Merc about the 49ers moving down south, definitely worth a read!

My favorite lines from the article:

• Did you feel it? The gravitational center of Bay Area sports shifted southward Tuesday night. [referring to Measure J]
• Think about it. If Santa Clara County has the largest population in the nine-county Bay Area (fact) and has the most enthusiastic sports fans (opinion), then why shouldn't it also possess the home field of the Bay Area's most popular team?
• When the Super Bowl is played here in 2018 or 2019, do not forget this moment. It did not happen by accident. The whole project took a leap of faith by both the 49ers and a city that was willing to take a gamble that joining the limited ranks of NFL cities would be a net benefit, not the horrible tragedy that anti-stadium voices proclaimed.

Click here to read the full article!

Update on the Mmoon!

We have a quick update on the Mmoon, the empanada purveyor taking downtown by storm this summer. Their website is set to go live on July 1st and they are planning to have their soft opening on July 29th if all goes well! I also have an updated mission statement:

Mission

We believe that empanadas made at the Mmoon are out of this world.  Simple quality makes each empanada special. Our mission at the Mmoon is to offer quick service and quality food at an affordable price.

We are passionate about understanding where our food comes from, how it is produced and how far it is shipped before it lands at the Mmoon. Close partnerships with our suppliers ensure that our standards and values are aligned.

Our menu is simple and designed to keep the focus on providing quality, quick service gourmet food. We offer eight different types of freshly baked empanadas, an assortment of salads, homemade dressings and sauces, and a selection of beverages. 

The Mmoon provides a dining environment equal to the quality of its food. When customers walk through the door, they are greeted by staff who are proud to welcome them into a space that is sparkling clean, visually cool and eclectic; and filled with good music.

At the Mmoon, we value integrity, honesty and creativity. We respect our relationships with each other, our customers and the planet at large.

Welcome to the Mmoon.

Good News for the San Jose A's =)

Joann Freda from San Jose Day-by-Day is the first blogger to break the news... the city council approved the EIR tonight for a pro baseball stadium in downtown San Jose! Thanks to everyone that attended the meeting to show their support.

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tuesday, june 15, 2010

The A's May Have Just Moved One Step Closer to San Jose

People leaving the city council meeting tonight

Tonight I attended a city council meeting during which the council voted to certify the environmental impact report concerning a major league baseball stadium in downtown San Jose.  I have been an A's fan for about 28 years, ever since my oldest daughter started earning A's tickets by reading books for the A's reading incentive program.  Tonight the council heard many people speak on concerns about noise, parking, traffic and more.  But the council never lost sight of the immeasurable positive impact a major league baseball team can have on a city.  Go A's! 

Baseball San Jose: You're up to bat, San Jose!

Tomorrow we have a chance to help bring pro baseball to San Jose! The Baseball Stadium EIR is on the city council agenda, and the more people that can attend and show their support the better. Shills from the San Francisco Giants will no doubt be on hand to do whatever they can to block the move, so we need all the positive reinforcements we can get! More info below from Baseball San Jose:



Here is an invitation from Michael Mulcahy, Pro Baseball for San Jose Co-Chair, for everyone to attend tomorrow's very important San Jose City Council meeting concerning the ballpark's Environmental Impact Report:

Dear Baseball Supporters: 

Tuesday night, June 15 at 7pm, the San Jose City Council will consider the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Downtown San Jose Ballpark site. This will be another important opportunity for the public to weigh in with its support as we work to bring the A's to San Jose and make the Ballpark a reality while generating the jobs, economic development and tax revenue that our city needs so badly. And let us not overlook the value of community pride, international recognition and identity driven by major league sports. 

We realize this is a busy time of year but please plan to join me—and Susan Hammer—and many of our supporters in attending the meeting and expressing your support for the EIR and the Ballpark plan. As you may have read in the Mercury News, last month the SF Giants' attorneys, under cover as Stand for San Jose, attempted to derail the Planning Commission's approval of this very same EIR and we expect them to do the same next week. This SF Giant’s backed organization is working hard and relentlessly to deprive our City of charting its own course. It's time now for our group and our broader community to step up and make our voices heard in support of our own future. 

It’s time for the real San Jose to stand for San Jose! 

I look forward to seeing you Tuesday night. Please spread the word to your personal network of San Jose and ballpark supporters that this will be an important evening. We would appreciate knowing if you can attend, so please reply toprobaseballforsanjose@gmail.com. 

Sincerely,
Michael Mulcahy 
Co-Chair, Pro Baseball for San Jose

Again, the City Council meets:

Tuesday, June 15th @ 7 PM
San Jose City Council Chambers
200 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose