Zillow Ranks San Jose the #4 Best City to Trick-or-Treat in the US

Taking in statistical factors such as crime, population density, walk-ability, and home values, Zillow has ranked the 20 best cities for Trick-or-Treating in the US and San Jose came in at a respectable 4th place! Click here for more info. Thanks Jon for the tip.

Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween Art Show @ Works in SoFA

Nightmares Group Show Opens on Halloween

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

My Favorite Nightmares An Art Show curated By Lacey Bryant


Nightmares. As creepy or repulsive as they may be, they fascinate us. They linger in our minds long after we've woken, leaving us distracted by thoughts of otherworldly fears. It is often the strange things that play in our heads at night that inspire us to create upon waking. Sometimes these unsettling dreams are rearranged from the events of our daily lives; our brains putting them into a senseless order, helping us to see our thoughts from an inside out perspective. Other dreams seem to make no sense at all and yet perhaps it is this “otherness” that causes us to dwell, at times giving rise to an almost a manic need to recreate the scenes that dance across our sleeping eyes, if only to have some relief once the images have been transferred to the canvas.
When we celebrate the bizarre terrors which overtake us in our sleep we are able to see what base fears we share. This will be a show of real and imagined nightmares, monsters, things that go bump in the night or cause us to gasp awake. The reoccurring night terrors that we just can't get enough of. An admission that we kind of like to be scared.


Receptions on Halloween, October 31 7-11pm & November 5 8-11pm
Exhibit dates: October 31-November 25.


WORKS San Jose
451 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Gallery: 408-286-6800
Voicemail:408-300-6405
gallery@workssanjose.org


Music By:
Deathat, J Swizza, and Dax Tran Caffee


Featuring Artwork By:
Alda Mendoza, Andrew Goldfarb, Barbara Weiss, Bee Adams, Ben Shuts, Christine Benjamin, Dax Tran-Caffee, Deb Barba, Donna Eck, Elaine Baculi, Erikka Hugger, Freddie Vega, Glenn Domingo, Helen Laishley, Jaclyn Alderete, Jasper Thomas, Jen Renzel, Jena Hosking, John Kurtyka, John Renzel, Joshua Marcotte, Julie Bilyeu, Karen Carlo Salinger, Kate Saturday, Keith Bunnell, Kevin Deaton, Kimberly Gebert, Kimy Martinez, Kurtis Rykovich, Lacey Bryant, Lily Mae Martin, Lydia Rae Black, Matthew Seigel, Mary Coleman, Michael Buscemi, Michael Foley, Michelle Waters, Mike Borja, Natacha Est Gauchere, Nicolas Caesar, Patti Garcia, Peg Grady, Pinelopi Vassilaki, Reiji Hirayama, Shannon Amidon, Steevn Reece, Stefan Thompson, Steve Belmarsh, Steven Rubalcaba, Timothy Tsun, Victoria Q Legg, Yumico

Halloween in San Jose 2010! (UPDATED

Here is a revised list of places to visit this weekend for Halloween:

World's Largest Haunted House - San Jose

A massive haunted maze that is easily the longest single Halloween "scare" attraction in the Bay Area this year. This is a haunt that actually started in San Jose (at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, same place where they are today) and has spent the last few years in Gilroy and Morgan Hill. Hopefully they're back for good as this is the scariest Halloween attraction in the Bay Area. The cost is $18 per person ($16 if you get the coupon off their website here).

Halloween Haunt @ California's Great America - Santa Clara

The largest Halloween event in Northern California by a mile. Knott's Berry Farm was the first amusement park to throw special events for Halloween, and now that Great America is owned by the same parent company (Cedar Fair Parks) we get to share in the action. The third annual Halloween Haunt is on par with last year. They claim to have the exact same 6 haunted mazes from last year, but Carnevil (the clown one) is 90% new and vastly improved. The also have a haunted ride called Black Widow's Cavern (Logger's Run) which is completely new this year (it used to be Camp Gonnagetcha).  There are also 4 Halloween shows, 3 are unchanged from last year but unfortunately the musical "Fangs" replaces a very entertaining Ed Alonzo Show (his magic show got moved to Knott's Berry Farm). I hate to say it, but Fangs is definitely worth skipping to focus on the other attractions. An added bonus is that all rides worth going on are still open and the roller coasters are being run with all the lights turned off. The cost is between $25-40 per person, but it's a lot of bang for your buck. Also for 2010, Halloween Haunt has been expanded to be open on Sundays in addition to Fridays and Saturdays.

Pirates of Emerson - Pleasanton 

The preeminent Bay Area Halloween event for almost 2 decades is returning this year with an expanded event. There are 5 haunted mazes this year, a Halloween Carnival (perfect idea for Halloween in the Park), and several other attractions such as a 3 story mobile home from Burning Man. This is MUCH MORE intense than Great America, so don't bring your young children to this one. You'll get scares from every angle, including above and below you. The haunts are extraordinarily well done, and they only let in small groups... so you'll get what you pay for. The cost is $20 per person, but this year they are also selling "Monions" while let you access the carnival games and some of the special attractions. Expect to drop $25-30 for a full experience. If anyone from Pirates is reading this, please have a look at the SJ Convention Center or one of the many empty parking lots in Downtown San Jose next year ;)

Swank Farms - Hollister

This actually features 2 different main attractions. The first is a massive cornfield maze + treasure hunt, that could easily be a multiple hour excursion. The second is a very long haunted maze that is supposed to be quite good this year. Last year they actually had 2 different mazes, but they've been combined into one mega attraction for 2010.

The cost is $25 per person.

The Scotts Valley High Haunted House - Scotts Valley

A high school production may seem out of place on this list, but I assure you that this one is 100% worthwhile. I've attended this the past two years and each year it has been my single favorite haunt. As opposed to your typical maze where you have people randomly popping out at you, each year there is a unique story with hundreds of actors, making you truly feel like you're immersed in a horror movie. You can also forget the saying "don't touch the actors and they won't touch you." Last year's hospital theme included surprises like receiving fake shots and other miscellaneous medical experiences. There was also a part where they separated EACH person in your party and sat you in a small dark room by yourself. Insanely scary and much more interactive than any of the major venues. Plus the money connected is donated to charity. One caveat, due to how awesome this haunt is there may be a 2-3 hour wait. At least you'll have the high school dance team dressed up as zombies entertaining you while you wait (and performing Thriller in its entirety every 15min).

The cost is ~$10 per person. Oct 21-23 only, starting at 7pm. 555 Glenwood Dr., Scotts Valley.

ON HIATUS FOR 2010:

Gyro's 4D Fear Factory - San Jose

Ballet San Jose - Starting Again (Part 2 of 5)

Part 2 of Ballet San Jose's documentary shows us how the ballet company actually got started thanks to a big kick-off from a very famous ballet artist. Just click the link below to watch the video!

Part 2: http://blip.tv/file/4303425

Older Parts
Part 1: http://blip.tv/file/4262451

Nissan's Drive Electric Tour Comes to San Jose

If you're wondering what it would be like to drive a 100% electric car, you can put your assumptions to the test this weekend. Nissan is showing off their Leaf electric vehicle in Downtown San Jose, which is already well equipped to handle "EVs" thanks to multiple charging stations. You can register for a test drive by clicking right over here. Press release below:

NISSAN DRIVE ELECTRIC TOUR

All-electric Nissan LEAF brings

23-city consumer test-drive tour to San Jose

WHAT:         The “Drive Electric Tour…sponsored by the 100-percent electric Nissan LEAF” gives consumers a first-ever chance to experience all-electric driving. In addition to the first public test-drives, the tour also provides information about the car, its technology and its features.

The public will have the opportunity to drive the LEAF in San Jose starting on October 29 at the Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Marathon.

WHEN:        Friday, October 29: 9am-6pm

         Saturday, October 30: 8am-6pm

         Sunday, October 31: 8am-5pm

WHERE:        Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Marathon

                         Almaden/Woz Parking Lot

                   232 Woz Way

                         *The drive electric tour will be located at the Almaden / Woz Parking Lot, corner of S Almaden & Woz Way.

           

PHOTO/VIDEO:       

·         Consumer reaction to first-ever test-drive of an all-electric vehicle

·         Displays and interactive kiosks about alternative technology

·         Nissan spokesperson on opportunity and advantage of all-electric vehicles

MORE:          Interested drivers can learn more about the tour, and register to drive the Nissan LEAF at www.drivenissanleaf.com.

Sales of the Nissan LEAF begin in December in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Tennessee. In January 2011, sales begin in Texas and Hawaii. The Nissan LEAF will be available nationwide by the end of 2011.

Singlebarrel - Coolest Bar in Town

While I'm not a big drinker, over the course of my life I think I've been to at least 90% of all the bars in Downtown San Jose and a good portion of the top places in the greater bay area. Singlebarrel is far and away the coolest bar I've ever been to.

It's easy to miss since it's in the basement below Agenda/Bayonne and a barrel is the only signage adorning the exterior. Depending on the time you go, there may be a line wrapping around the corner helping you find your way. However, it is worth both the search and/or wait. By the time you get to the bottom of the steps, you find yourself in a different time--you've just entered a prohibition-style speakeasy! The ambiance is dark and relaxed, with old-school music playing in the background. The bartenders are even dressed in era-appropriate attire.

Now on to the best part... the drinks! Most of the menu is inspired from classic recipes and they are made primarily the original way. Everything is made from scratch. If a drink uses fruit, they're going to cut up fresh sample before infusing it into your drink. I was also surprised to see the bartenders crack raw eggs to extract fresh egg-whites for some of their cocktails. Speaking of the bartenders, the service is phenomenal. They are extremely knowledgeable regarding the full history of all their drinks: how they were invented, who drank them, how they became popular, etc. In addition to the history, the service is outstanding in general. 

2 of my favorite drinks:

- Ramos Gin Fizz: ONLY SERVED BETWEEN 5-6PM (and worth coming early for), takes a solid 10 minutes to make, tastes amazing, and you get a refill when you're halfway done.

- The Old Fashioned: The original cocktail. Aged whiskey, sugar, bitters, lemon, and the magic Singlebarrel touch... a giant spherical Japanese ice cube (it keeps the drink cold for longer without diluting it).

Singlebarrel is the type of unique attraction that we need more of Downtown and in San Jose in general. Definitely worth visiting, and I recommend going early for the full drink selection and extra-exceptional service.

A Peek at Brocade's New San Jose Headquarters

Below is a quick 6min video talking about the Brocade campus that now anchor's San Jose's @First development. It's always nice to see another world class HQ open up here. Brocade will join Cisco, eBay, Adobe, Cadence, and many others with flagship offices in San Jose.