Wednesday Wishlist: Halloween in the Park! (Part IV)

I'm a huge fan of Halloween and this has become one of my favorite wishlist items for San Jose. To sum it up, think Christmas in the Park... for Halloween! There have been several additions and revisions to this concept over the last two years, so please have a look and provide your feedback and suggestions in the comments. Thanks!

The largest draw to downtown San Jose for many years now has been Christmas in the Park. It has continued to grow year after year and brings in visitors from all over the Bay. It's economic impact I'm sure is substantial and helps keep many downtown businesses afloat.

What would you think about a similar event for Halloween? Picture downtown lit up in orange and purple with elaborate Halloween displays assembled by talented local artists. Perhaps a lot of the infrastructure could even be shared with Christmas in the Park (e.g. retail booths). A strong event in October would help maintain traffic between the Music in the Park months and Christmas in the Park. Here are the ideas we have so far:

• Animated Halloween Displays
• Assembled by talented local artists
• Analogous to the Christmas displays that attract many families during Christmas in the Park (almost half a million visitors)
• Family friendly so that everyone can enjoy it (PG/PG13, perhaps around the same level as Great America Halloween Haunt)
• Halloween Lighting
• Orange, purple, and green LED lighting on trees
• May be possible to use new controllable lighting that can go from Halloween colors to Christmas colors with the push of a button, allowing the lights to stay up for Christmas in the Park as well and reducing setup/takedown effort.
• Food Booths with candied apples, chocolates, candy, pumpkin seeds, etc.
• Retail Booths selling Halloween items, for example:
• Artwork (paintings, glass pumpkins, etc.)
• Home decor/crafts like candles
• Light-up hats/necklaces/bracelets
• Costumes
• Zombie/Halloween make-up station 
• Halloween-themed Carnival Games
• Pumpkins
• Instead of the sponsored Christmas trees in Christmas in the Park, how about decorated Pumpkins (can even be Styrofoam so there is no mess/decay)?
• Pumpkin carving station for families. Perhaps a pumpkin carving contest.
• Costumed Entertainers
• Walking around the area, not necessarily scaring people but adding to the ambiance and providing photo opportunities for families
• Haunts
• Would be ideal if these were nearby, perhaps in vacant retails spaces, surface parking lots, the convention center, or at SJSU.
• Potential Events
• Zombie-O-Rama can be used to kick off Halloween in the Park (late Sep. / early Oct. timeframe)
• Zombie Crawl
• Dia De Los Muertes Bike Party
• Horror Movie Trivia Contest
• Weekly horror movie screening (perhaps in the Circle of Palms area?)

As before, please post your suggestions below!

The Tech Museum After Hours Tomorrow!

I was able to make it out to this event last month and can say it's a very welcome addition Downtown! Out of all the things to do at After Hours, my favorite was actually the live band on the roof. You're not able to access this area during normal operating hours and it features a gorgeous sweeping view of Downtown San Jose. It also helped that they had a great band playing that night and a bar with glow-in-the-dark drinks.

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The Tech Museum After Hours
First Wednesday of the month
NEW Longer Hours!
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.After Hours is the new monthly themed event where adults only can enjoy science, technology, entertainment and cocktails together with their friends. Each month is new and different.

Like our new After Hours Facebook page!   Super-Powered Pajama Party
Wednesday, October 5
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Get your game face on.

• Wear your favorite Super Character costume or pajamas to fool your arch-enemies (costumes are optional, clothing is not)!
• Enhance your Super Powers with nifty tools like lasers, electromagnets, electrons, and air!
• Let the Spidey in you try and tackle the giant "Super Sticky Obstacle Challenge".
• Take a photo of you and your trusty sidekick scaling the wall of a city skyscraper.
• Engage in a Super-Powered tug of war!
• Enjoy GIANT GAMES like 4 Foot Tall Jenga-Style Blocks, Over-Sized Chess, Giant Four in a Row.
• Sip on a glow-in-the-dark "Krypto-Tini" from our no-host bar.
• Explore the entire museum under comic book inspired lighting and music as you decide whether to play a bevy of giant games, move to XBox "Wipeout", or just relax with friends!
• Limited cafe menu available for purchase.

For more information or to buy tickets please call (408) 294-8324. Or buy online now. (Service charges may apply. Members service charges waived.)

Get directions and parking tips.

Skyline at Tamien Station Grand Open House with Treatbot!

Skyline at Tamien Station is promoting their high-rise apartment community this weekend by offering the first 100 people to tour a voucher for FREE Treatbot. This voucher will even be applicable at the new "Treatbot Golden Master" store at the San Pedro Square Market starting Oct. 22nd. More info below!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Get the Scoop on Lick Ave: Skyline at Tamien Station Serves Up Some SWEET DEALS and Gives Away 100 FREE Treatbot Scoops Oct 8-9th Weekend

San Jose, Ca. (PRESS RELEASE) September 28, 2011 – Skyline at Tamien Station is inviting those interested in luxury San Jose high-rise apartment living to join them for a Grand Open House: Tours-n-Treats on Saturday 10/8 and Sunday 10/9. The first 100 to tour Skyline at Tamien Station this weekend will receive a voucher for a FREE scoop at Treatbot, San Jose’s gourmet ice cream truck from the future. Treatbot will make a special onsite appearance on Sunday, 10/9 from 12-3pm at 1375 Lick Avenue and will give us the dish on their Grand Opening Oct 22 in San Pedro Square Market, where over 20 local purveyors of gastronomic delights and independent retailers will join Treatbot as part of this exciting downtown San Jose project. The new “Treatbot Golden Master” store will be open from 10am - 7pm, located on W. St. John Street and San Pedro St. in downtown San Jose.

The Treatbot gourmet ice cream and karaoke truck will be serving their new custom-made artisan Fall flavors, which include Pumpkin and Tiger Upper Cut, orange ice-cream with fudge swirl, on Sunday 10/9 from 12-3pm. Attendees will tour the community and apartment models, enjoy the amazing city skyline views and learn about some sweet apartment deals and Limited Time Move-in Gifts, such as a 1-Year Membership to our nearby San Jose Club One or an iPad 2!* The public is invited to attend this free weekend event.

About Skyline at Tamien Station Apartment Homes

Skyline at Tamien Station is the solution to stress-free luxury San Jose living. Some of the great features you will receive as a valued Skyline Resident: Our Gorgeous 11 story building offers an expansive outdoor deck with tables, seating and barbecue grills, complimentary Wi-Fi and coffee in our lobby, great selection of movie rentals, fax and copier services at no charge, packages delivered to door, valet dry cleaning, Grand lobby with controlled access entry, gated subterranean parking, Smoke-Free community, beautiful landscaping, pet friendly environment and a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment available 365 days per year. You’ll find Skyline perfectly situated close to several major commute routes (Hwy 87, 101, 280). The community is adjacent to the Tamien Station with light speed access to CalTrain, VTA Light Rail & Bus Line.

Skyline at Tamien Station offers 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes in addition to 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes. The rental rates start from $1840 per month.* To learn more about Skyline at Tamien Station: SkylineSanJose.com or call 855.607.1554. *Restrictions apply. Prices subject to change. Limit: 1 voucher per person, while supplies last. 1 Move-in gift per household for limited time.

Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Today!

From The Mmoon Newsletter:

The San Jose Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon is this Sunday, Oct. 2nd. The race starts 20 ft. from the Mmoon at Santa Clara Street & Almaden Avenue. Watch the race from our patio while enjoying breakfast. We'll be open at 6:30am to serve up fresh coffee, hot chocolate, homemade cookies and of course empanadas.   Look for all our empanadas off our menu and come taste some great breakfast options:  Breakfast Ham, Breakfast Sausage, Berry, Banapple and Spinach.                     Store hours for Sunday: 6:30am-2:00pm Event Details Half Marathon Start Time: 8 am Start Line: Santa Clara Street at Almaden Avenue Finish Line: Park Ave. just before Plaza de Cesar Chavez    The Mmoon 177 W. Santa Clara St. San Jose, California 95113 408-999-9288

Mindil Beach Markets @ The Caravan on Oct 6th

Canadian band Mindil Beach Markets is touring the area for the first time and is playing at The Caravan on October 6th. They only play original music (no covers) and have a pretty eclectic style. They describe it as Rock with undertones of Reggae, Funk, and Hip Hop. You can listen to one of their songs below to see if their tunes are up your alley. Personally, I really like the vibe on the songs I've heard and I'm glad we have access to unique entertainment like this midweek. Again, they'll be at The Caravan Downtown on Oct. 6th!

Spirit of Japantown Festival TODAY

Thanks to Glady for submitting this.  Today is the Spirit of Japantown festival featuring all sorts of demonstrations, food vendors, fanime, and San Jose Taiko.  More info below!


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San Jose Japantown is one of the last three major Japantowns that remain in the United States. Japantown Community Congress of San Jose (JCCsj) was created to continue the cultural and historical preservation of our 120 year-old, multi-ethnic Japantown. The JCCSJ is composed of Japantown advocates, including representatives of major organizations, members-at-large, residents, businesses and property owners. We invite everyone to be a part of our unique experience! (One day only from 10am to 5pm.)

Food vendors, Arts & Crafts, Car Club Expo, FanimeCon anime all day, Martial Arts demonstrations, San Jose Taiko, Scojourners, Spirit of Hawaii stage, Beer/Wine/Sake Garden, Midori Bonsai Exhibition, Ikebana Arts, Kids Zone, Open Houses, storytelling, Southwest Airlines Raffle, Gift Certificate Raffle - and ALL Japantown OPEN!

 Hosted by Japantown Community Congress of San Jose

Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights are Live!

Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights Launches Today!

I would go so far as to call this the most anticipated Halloween attraction anywhere in the Bay Area this year. One of the most mysterious and haunted places in the world is finally getting a maze attraction for Halloween! For some behind the scenes information, check out their newsletter below:

Secrets of the New "Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze" We asked Fright Nights' Production Designer Jeff Schiefelbein to share some insight, EXCLUSIVELY for our 13th Hour Newsletter subscribers, on Winchester Mystery House's newest event! How did you get started in the Haunted Attraction business? While I was growing up, my parents always hosted elaborate Halloween parties for their friends. As a child I was mesmerized by the decorations and costumes and when I was 15 years old I put together my first haunt in the yard of my parents' Orange County home.  The rest is history. What was the planning process like for the "Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze?" When people hear that the Winchester Mystery House will be unveiling an all new Haunted Maze this year the typical response is, “Finally!” So in one sense it has been in the making for many years. In actuality, for this year's event we began planning with a site visit in March 2011. This has been a unique process because usually we get to work with an empty warehouse and have free creative rein on what goes in it. With Fright Nights we had to build it around existing buildings and a specific theme. You can't just throw vampires and zombies into the mix! We saw it as a challenge and opportunity and I am proud to say that we took full advantage of what the Winchester Estate had to offer. Plants come to life in the green house, the 15 foot rack of the fruit drying shed becomes a perfect butcher shop, and the tool shed, already full of scrap metal and tools from Mrs. Winchester's day, was easily transformed into a blood-curdling, twisted machine shop. Anything we should keep our eye out for in the maze? We incorporated the number 13 everywhere! Thirteen candles here, 13 pumpkins there, pumpkins carved in the number 13, 13 slash-marks on the wall, etc. Also, the seance room has some of the most advanced special effects used in any maze I've worked on.  We took a topographical map of the room and have a 360 degree projector that makes the entire room come to life. We hired on a very talented sculptor, he's worked with Disneyland on the Indiana Jones Ride and Pirates of the Caribbean among other things, who has created a life-size replica of Mrs. Winchester's tombstone and a fully functional fountain as if those killed by the Winchester Rifle took over Mrs. Winchester's Egret Fountain themselves. For more information on Jeff and the others in the Fright Nights production team visit, http://winchestermysteryhouse.com/frightnightscredit.cfm. Fright Nights take place on consecutive weekends and selected weekday nights beginning Friday, September 30 through Halloween, Monday, October 31, 2011. Additional event dates are: September 30; October 1, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. Fright Nights begin at 6:30p.m.; closing hours vary throughout the event. Ticket sales began June 1, 2011 at WinchesterMysteryHouse.com/tickets with a new "Slasher Savings" option providing discounts of up to $20 for selected dates. To buy tickets to our Fright Nights event visithttp://winchestermysteryhouse.com/frightnights.cfm.

Who's Responsible for Raiding the Victorian Gardens? This poor soul was simply trying to park his car for Fright Nights in the VIP parking lot when he fell victim to the spirits of those killed by the Winchester Rifle. It looks pretty real doesn't it? The Winchester Mystery House has partnered with the best in the business to bring you the ultimate spine-tingling experience this Halloween. Imagination Design Works Productions is an independent entertainment Production Company formed for the purpose of creating feature length motion pictures, television programming and live entertainment productions. The company is owned and run by Brett Tomberlin and is the creative entity behind this year’s Fright Nights. The name Sinister Pointe may not seem too familiar to you, but if you are a haunt enthusiast in the Southern Californian area you have probably been to at least one of their haunts. They have been devloping haunted attractions throughout Southern California for over 14 years including Queen Mary's Dark Harbor, Irvine's Realm of Darkness, and the themed "Saw" and "Silent Hill" mazes (Universal Studios Florida transported the "Saw" maze to their park!). Jeff Schiefelbein, quoted above, is the creator and mastermind behind this gruesome company. While the above two companies hail from Southern California, the "Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze" couldn't have been completed without the help of some local Bay Area companies! For instance, our "VIP Parking Lot" was a true collaboration provided by J.A.Y.S Towing and Transportation, Delta Chargers (they provided a full-size yellow school bus), and Pick n Pull, "We sell parts, we sell cars, we buy cars!" What are you waiting for, grab your tickets now to experience the all new "Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze" yourself! To buy tickets online go to http://winchestermysteryhouse.com/shop/department/tickets. Supernatural Fans Get the Chance to Win a Trip to Winchester Mystery House's Fright Nights! Could it be? Are the Winchester Brothers on their way to the famed Winchester Mystery House? No, not really... but their fans are! If you are in the following ten areas across the country - Boston, Washington DC, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Hartford, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Austin, and Jacksonville - then be sure to tune into your local CW affiliate station for instructions on how you can win a trip for two to San Jose, California, to experience Fright Nights at the Winchester Mystery House! Did Supernatural creator Eric Kripke really get the idea for the Winchester surname from Mrs. Winchester's famed home? He reveals all in an article on www.starpulse.com: Interviewer: Why did you pick the name Winchester? Does it have any supernatural significance in relation to the Winchester House? Eric Kripke: "The Winchester House is, indeed, one of the reasons I chose the name... I was a few days away from production and had to come up with a new name in a hurry. 'Winchester' just popped in my head, in part because of the Western connotations (and I wanted 'Supernatural' to have the vibe of a modern-day Western), and in part because of the Winchester Mystery House." Rentmaster, Angie and Noelle Talmon. "A 'Supernatural' Spin-Off? Death by Bad Taco? Series Creator Eric Kripke Explains." Starpulse.com. 14 Feb 2008. <http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/02/14/a_supernatural_spin_off_death_by_bad_tac.>