Saturday, December 11, 2010

December 2010 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:
  • Downtown San Jose is in full holiday swing with Downtown Ice, Christmas in the Park, Winter Wonderland, KALEID Holiday Show, the Holiday Parade, You-sing-it Messiah at California Theater, Carols in the California, Santa Go-round, and Concerts at St. Joseph's Cathedral.
  • The $120 million expansion of the Convention Center has been fast-tracked and they are hoping to start the project in 2011 and finish in late 2012. Most of the project will focus on tearing down the old city library and adding 45,000 sqft of ballroom space sitting on top of new meeting space [TSJB: maybe they can squeeze in a new retail space or two on the ground floor]
  • The parking lot underneath 280 on South First has been SoFAed up. The columns have been repainted with colors from the San Jose flag to brighten up the area. This is also the only lot to still offer free parking after 6pm each day.
  • SJSU broke ground on a $90 million project to renovate and expand the Student Union.
  • Four new taxi stands have been added: San Pedro Square, SoFA, and two off 2nd St. in the historic district.
  • PwC expands into the "Sobrato Tower."
  • Taste of Paris and Clubhouse are now open!
To read the full newsletter, click here!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Hundreds of Santa's Helpers to Build 2,400 Bikes at "Bike Build"

A great event to help out needy children is coming to the convention center this weekend, just in time for the holidays! Please have a look at the press release below.


Press Release 
Contacts: 
Jodi Engle 
408-205-8456
jodi@prxinc.com

Ori Nagel
408-966-7801
ori@prxinc.com

TurningWheels for Kids Grants Holiday Wishes
Hundreds of Santa’s Helpers to Build 2,400 Bikes for Needy Kids on Saturday, December 11, 2010

San Jose, Calif. – December 9, 2010 – BMX riders and X-Games Gold Medalists Ryan Nyquist and Joey Garcia are challenging Silicon Valley corporate execs in a tricycle race at this year’s Bike Build on Saturday, December 11th, 2010. In its sixth year, Big Bike Build 2010, presented by TurningWheels for Kids, will gather more than 700 volunteers to build 2,400 bikes for underprivileged kids in one day at the San Jose Convention Center’s South Hall, 435 S. Market St., San Jose. 

The work whistle will blow at 8 a.m. with bicycle construction peaking at 11 a.m. when volunteers will set down their tools to watch the first-ever Great Tricycle Race, pitting the pros against local all-stars:
Gene Banman, CEO of Zero Motorcycles
Dan Fenton, CEO of Team San Jose
Rich Gamboa, Vice President of UBS
Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Joe Parisi, CEO and Founder of Therma Corp.
Joe Rodriguez, Columnist for the San Jose Mercury News 
Josh Thompson, former Strikeforce Mixed Martial Arts champ
Wes Wasson, Chief Marketing Officer and Sr. Vice President of Citrix Systems

Nyquist has taken the Dirt Crown twice in the Dew Tour (’09 and ’10) and won 13 X-Game medals in his legendary BMX career, spanning more than 15 years. Garcia won the Gold medal at the 1996 X-Games and Bronze medals at the 1995 and 1998 X-Games. Their participation was arranged by volunteer Mathew Mardesich, president and CEO of ROG & Co., Inc., which develops action-sport terrain parks for kids.

Twenty children from CityTeam Ministries will also participate in Bike Build and help build the bikes they’ll take home, along with a helmet and lock. The remaining bikes will be given to more than 25 Bay Area charitable organizations for distribution.

TurningWheels for Kids was the vision of Susan Runsvold, a nurse manager at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, who wanted to buy bikes at Christmas and give them to underprivileged children; children she believed might otherwise not receive any present from Santa. Runsvold began what she hoped would be a tradition of collecting money from her friends and colleagues to purchase as many bikes as possible for holiday distribution. 
“A bike is still the No. 1 requested item by children above an iPod or video game or anything else,” states Runsvold. “A bike provides a child with—not only health benefits—but a great deal of independence and joy.”

To date, TurningWheels for Kids has raised nearly $900,000 to purchase new bikes and helmets, and it has recently started to visit local neighborhoods to assist with and teach children routine maintenance of the bikes. Thanks to two individual donors who pay all modest administrative fees, 100 percent of donations go to buying bikes and helmets.
Each year, the bikes are bought in bulk, costing on average $85 for a bike and helmet, and are built by hundreds of volunteers coming together for one day of group bike construction, with thousands of children receiving a brand new bike and safety helmet. 

TurningWheels for Kids is a program of the Valley Medical Center Foundation. Every year there are more requests than bikes. This year there are requests for 3,100 bikes and only supply for 2,400. You can lend your support by making a donation at www.turningwheelsforkids.org.

###




2nd Annual San Jose Short Film Festival

Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to write a post about this, so I'll have to "borrow" Cynthia's post from San Jose Metblogs below:


Welcome to the 2nd Annual San Jose Short Film Festival
December 10th, 2010 @ 10:12 AM DowntownEntertainmentFestivalFilmSan JoseWeekend
If you’re having a difficult time waiting for Cinequest 2011 (March 1!) or if you’re just looking for an excellent way to spend a few hours this weekend, the 2nd Annual San Jose Short Film Festival is for you.  Held at Camera 3 downtown this Saturday and Sunday, you will be treated to several short films per session and even have a chance to speak to the filmmakers when it’s over.
Yes, to be clear, this is not a short film festival, this is a festival of film shorts.  This means all films are 15 minutes or less, and some are as short as two minutes.  There are two different groupings of films: Program 1 has 16 different films, and Program 2 has 13 films, and there is a great variety of genres and types of films to see.  Everything from drama to comedy to Sci Fi is represented, and I enjoyed almost every film of Program 1 on Thursday evening.  But the best thing about film shorts is that even if you don’t like one particular film it is over in 15 minutes or less!  And then you’re on to the next one!  Program 1 is about 2 hours 30 minutes long and Program 2 is just under 2 hours, and both have a good variety of shorts with some crossover.
Some highlights from Program 1:
BLUEBERRY is the charming story of a darling young girl whose mother has left “on holiday”.  One day her father, who has suffered from “allergies” ever since mummy left, takes little Daisy to the pet store.  When they come home with their new pet, Blueberry the snake, the story really begins.
WINNER BEST SHORT FILM is actually the title of one of the shorts, and is the hilarious story of a man who is sure he will be successful in the industry based on the results of his recent award winning short film.  This film will be fully appreciated by anyone who is in the film business, who has tried or failed to make their own short film, or who has had to sit and watch endless screeners of bad films.  But truly the audience of film lovers last night were laughing themselves silly.
SHELDON is the sad story of a washed up television show puppet, fresh out of rehab.  With no one willing to give him a second chance on film, what choice does he have but to accept the offer of a celebrity wrestling match?
COCKPIT: THE RULE OF ENGAGEMENT is an excellent Sci Fi entry taking place in 2103 when humans are battling creatures who have perfected mind control.  When one fighter returns from battle claiming he never had any contact with the alien mind controllers, should he be believed, or should he be destroyed to protect the human race?  The moral question in this short makes it an excellent Sci Fi pick.
In my opinion, short films are always a great choice, and with $8 for a ticket that allows you to see 13 – 16 films, you can’t beat the price.  If your mind isn’t made up yet, keep in mind that Camera 3 contains the awesome Psycho Donuts in their lobby AND they serve alcohol.  Pop corn, donuts, wine and beer, and two hours of great film…  what better way to spend your weekend?
San Jose Short Film Festival
Tickets $8
Camera 3
288 S. Second Street
Program 1
Saturday, December 11th, 4pm
Sunday, December 12, 4pm
Program 2
Saturday December 11th, 1pm
Sunday December 12th, 1pm
There is also a FREE Film Forum (at their Festival Headquarters: 110 Paseo de San Antonio) from 1pm – 9pm TODAY (Friday, December 10) with filmmaker interviews, equipment and product demonstrations including Red Cameras, DLSRs and sound equipment, plus a terrific panel discussion where you get to ask the questions from their panel of film experts (starts at 6:30pm) and discuss the state of indie filmmaking in the Bay Area.nd Program 2 has 13 films, and there is a great variety of genres and types of films to see.  Everything from drama to comedy to Sci Fi is represented, and I enjoyed almost every film of Program 1 on Thursday evening.  But the best thing about film shorts is that even if you don’t like one particular film it is over in 15 minutes or less!  And then you’re on to the next one!  Program 1 is about 2 hours 30 minutes long and Program 2 is just under 2 hours, and both have a good variety of shorts with some crossover.
Some highlights from Program 1:
BLUEBERRY is the charming story of a darling young girl whose mother has left “on holiday”.  One day her father, who has suffered from “allergies” ever since mummy left, takes little Daisy to the pet store.  When they come home with their new pet, Blueberry the snake, the story really begins.
WINNER BEST SHORT FILM is actually the title of one of the shorts, and is the hilarious story of a man who is sure he will be successful in the industry based on the results of his recent award winning short film.  This film will be fully appreciated by anyone who is in the film business, who has tried or failed to make their own short film, or who has had to sit and watch endless screeners of bad films.  But truly the audience of film lovers last night were laughing themselves silly.
SHELDON is the sad story of a washed up television show puppet, fresh out of rehab.  With no one willing to give him a second chance on film, what choice does he have but to accept the offer of a celebrity wrestling match?
COCKPIT: THE RULE OF ENGAGEMENT is an excellent Sci Fi entry taking place in 2103 when humans are battling creatures who have perfected mind control.  When one fighter returns from battle claiming he never had any contact with the alien mind controllers, should he be believed, or should he be destroyed to protect the human race?  The moral question in this short makes it an excellent Sci Fi pick.
In my opinion, short films are always a great choice, and with $8 for a ticket that allows you to see 13 – 16 films, you can’t beat the price.  If your mind isn’t made up yet, keep in mind that Camera 3 contains the awesome Psycho Donuts in their lobby AND they serve alcohol.  Pop corn, donuts, wine and beer, and two hours of great film…  what better way to spend your weekend?
San Jose Short Film Festival
Tickets $8
Camera 3
288 S. Second Street
Program 1
Saturday, December 11th, 4pm
Sunday, December 12, 4pm
Program 2
Saturday December 11th, 1pm
Sunday December 12th, 1pm
There is also a FREE Film Forum (at their Festival Headquarters: 110 Paseo de San Antonio) from 1pm – 9pm TODAY (Friday, December 10) with filmmaker interviews, equipment and product demonstrations including Red Cameras, DLSRs and sound equipment, plus a terrific panel discussion where you get to ask the questions from their panel of film experts (starts at 6:30pm) and discuss the state of indie filmmaking in the Bay Area.

Santa-GO-Round 2010 - Dec 12th!

The people that brought you Zombie-O-Rama (SLG Art Boutiki & Gallery) and the San Jose Downtown Association and throwing a unique holiday event this Sunday, December 12th... Santa-GO-Round! Expect to see Downtown San Jose overrun by people in Santa costumes... ice skating, pub hopping, and causing all sorts of holiday mischief! There will also be the obligatory costume contest as well as an innovative toy drive. By giving an unwrapped toy, you will get certificated redeemable for a little something from all of the participating venues listed below. For all of the details, continue reading!


Come down to the Circle of Palms in Downtown San Jose

Here Is Your List Of Events. Check It Twice!

The Circle of Palms is located between  the San Jose Museum of Art and The Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose. Santa-Go-Round activities will be wedged in between the fun of Downtown Ice and Christmas in the Park. Be sure to bring a donation for the Christmas in the Park fund and help keep that uniquely San Jose event alive for future generations.

STUFF GOING ON!


In addition to bringing a buck for Christmas in the Park, Santa-Go-Round HQ wants you to bring a new toy to be donated to Innvision. Metro Newspapers and Channel 92.3 will be on site with giveways and promotions and the SLG Art Boutiki will have a special Santa-Go-Round shirt on sale.

1-4 pm – Discount Skating: Skate Hawaiian Airlines / Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice IN COSTUME and receive $5 off.

1 pm –closing – InnVision-sponsored Toy Drive: Bring an unwrapped toy to Circle of Palms and receive a certificate to collect one free item 5:30 pm-close at each participating business, only on Dec. 12.

4:30-5:30 pm – Costume Contest (Downtown Ice):   Categories will be:
Most Inventive Santa Costume
Best Mrs. Claus

• First Prize: Two tickets to Wondercon, the Bay Area's Premiere Comic Book and Pop-Culture event plus gift certificates worth more than $100 to downtown San Jose’s best places.
• Second Prize: $100 in gift certificates to downtown’s best places.

4:30-5:30 pm – “Letter to Santa” contest (Downtown Ice): For children 12 and under.
Write a letter, read it aloud and win a prize. All participants will get a free prize.

5:30 pm – Christmas Carolers: Up to three separate groups of carolers will circulate among participating businesses. Imagine singing all over Downtown San Jose! Feel free to join in – even if you’re out of costume. Caroling route maps and
timetables will be available at Circle of Palms Downtown restaurants, bars and venues participating, each providing discounted options for participants dressed for the event. Don’t forget to donate a toy and receive a special certificate good for a
free item at each stop along the “Go-Round.”

PARTICIPATING VENUES


Mmoon’Empanadas – 177 W. Santa Clara St.
O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub – 25 N. San Pedro St.
Peggy Sue’s Diner – 25 N. San Pedro St.
The Tabard Theatre / Theatre on San Pedro Square – 29 N. San Pedro St.
Satori Tea Shop - 37 N. San Pedro St.
Sonoma Chicken Coop – 31 N. Market St.
Morrocco’s Restaurant – 86 N. Market St.
Carl’s Jr – 15 S. First St.
Bronze Tanning Studio – 36 S. First St.
Macieo’s Brazilian Restaurant – 72 S. First St.
A Perfect Finish Wine Bar – 55 S. First St.
Bella Mia Restaurant - 58 S. First St.
Mezcal - 25 W. San Fernando St.
Azucar – 71 E. San Fernando St.
Loft Bar and Bistro – 90 S. Second St.
Tandoori Oven – 150 S. First St.
Ruffled Feathers – 200 S. First St.
Psyhco Donuts – 288 S. Second St.
Slave Labor Graphics – 577 S. Market St.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Tons of Art Shows Coming Up!

Looks like you won't have to wait for South First Fridays to get your art fix this weekend!


Pellet at Empire 7 Studios

Empire Seven Studios is proud to present the debut solo exhibition by Kyle Pellet. Inspired by good memories, bad omens, fears, hard work, and guilty pleasures, Pellet draws and paints images reflecting the confounding joy and terror of everyday life. For this exhibition, he has created hundreds of drawings and paintings on paper of various dimensions.
If you're still shopping for others (or yourself) this holiday season, this exhibit is an ample opportunity to own original drawings and paintings at very affordable prices! For those who are art collectors, this is a great time to purchase Pellet's work; He has been exhibiting art frequently, and is moving up quickly in the art world.
Opening reception is on Friday, December 10th, 2010 from 8PM 'til late. The first 20 people who purchase a piece at the opening reception will receive a limited-edition signed poster from Pellet.
The exhibit will be on display through December by appointment. This will be E7S' last show for 2010 - Be sure not to miss it!
Empire Seven Studios
525 N. 7th Street, San Jose, CA

Deadstök X at The Usuals

The Usuals and Streetbot present Deadstök X
Friday, December 10, 2010, 7p-10p
We are dusting-off our 2010 Deadstök designs! Expect to see new versions of tees by dNA, Everyday Debauchery, Lost San Jose, Kori Thompson, Lacey Bryant, Michael Foley, Anabella Pinon, Force 129, Wadl, Jane Doe, and more!
And say "Good-bye" to Streetbot! In it's last month with The Usuals, Streetbot is selling all remaining tees at $15. Make sure to grab your limited edition tees!
Cutso and SquareWeezy of The Bangerz will be here! Grab a silog from the WOW Truck, enjoy some beats, and spend some time with us!
THE USUALS
1020 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126

Al Preciado Retrospective @55

Al Preciado invites you to his Birthday Retrospective featuring work from last night and 10 years ago at Gallery TEN10, 1010 East Taylor Street and 21st Street
Much food and great music by Josh and Mitch Waldman, and the Bob and Yumi show!!
Reception: Dec 17th, 6pm to Midnight
More information: apreciado@bcp.org

Print-In Art Show @ Japantown - Dec 12, 3-6pm

Print-In
Come and celebrate a visual, musical, and palatable event 
featuring prints from some of the San Jose’s best artists. 

   SparkPlugArt has invited a small group of artists to join them in an all day 
printmaking extravaganza. A remarkable gathering of six San Jose artists pooling 
their talents together, experimenting with several different processes and creating 
a exciting body of new prints that will be original and unique! At the end of the 
event all prints will be for sale!

   So come get prints fresh off the press, hear live music and enjoy some good food. 
You and your friends are invited to stop by ArtObjectGallery and party! 

Drop by the ArtObjectGallery in Japantown • San Jose • CA
Print Sale and Party • 3pm - 6pm • Sunday December 12th

* Hear live music by Jamie Dewrance and Russell Barbera *

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Wednesday Wishlist: San Jose's Double-Decker Bus

I think I'm going to start a new regular post about wishlist items. These are ideas--some small and some large--that I think would make San Jose an even better and more interesting place to live. You guys already know one of my big wishlist items, Halloween in the Park. When you swing by Christmas in the Park this year, imagine that for an extra month each year, but with a Halloween twist. But that's not my idea for the day...

London has just unveiled the design for their latest generation of iconic double decker buses (just in time for the Olympics). When I use the word iconic in that sentence, I really mean it in its truest form. Think of a red double decker bus... what's the first thing that comes to mind? Try to stare and the photo below and NOT think of London. You can't, can you?

Pure and simple, San Jose needs a Double-Decker Bus. Something iconic that when people lay eyes upon it, they will immediately think of San Jose. Even cheap, dynamic LED lighting would go a long way (imagine if every bus and light-rail train was lit teal during sharks games). Or perhaps LCD screens on the sides of the bus displaying art that changes with every stop. There are lots of options that could go a long way in adding character and interest in even the most mundane things you can think of... like buses. Just ask our friends from across the pond below.

New London Routemaster Double-Decker Bus Prototype

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Veggielution Mushroom Growing Workshop on Dec 11

Veggielution--San Jose's own urban farm--is putting together a series of workshops. Some are going to be free and others are going to have a small fee for materials. This weekend they're hosting one that teaches you how to grow your own Oyster mushrooms at home, details below! I should also have the complete schedule of 2011 workshops soon.



Veggielution announces new workshop
Grow your own edible Oyster Mushrooms at home!
Saturday Dec 11, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
at Veggielution Community Farm
647 South King Road
San Jose CA 95116

Veggielution Community Farm is offering an incredible, affordable workshop—an amazing deal at $30! Workshops like this, which are rare in the first place, often cost twice as much. Register now or learn more:www.veggielution.org/workshops.

Workshop Description
Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow at home!! We will teach you the basics of mushroom cultivation, tell you how to gather the necessary supplies like mushroom spawn, and send you home with your own bag of Oyster spawn in straw that will produce beautiful blooms of Oyster mushrooms in your kitchen.

These mushrooms have a mild flavor and are delicious in a stir-fry or soup. This workshop is a great value, and will set you on the path to harvesting mushrooms year-round in your own home!

Instructor Raymond Gallardo has specialized in home mushroom cultivation for more than 12 years. He learned tips and techniques from master growers to develop a tried and true method for growing in a home environment. He and his wife, Sarah, developed the first home cultivation workshop of its kind in the Bay Area, which they have now taught at several local farms (including last year at Veggielution) with wildly successful results.

About Veggielution
Veggielution empowers youth and adults from diverse backgrounds to create a sustainable food system in San Jose. Our one-acre urban farm engages the community by providing access to healthy and local food, creating youth leadership opportunities, and developing creative solutions to social and environmental justice issues.

We are a nonprofit community farm seeking to create a sustainable food system in San Jose. We currently farm about 1 acre at Emma Prusch Park in East San Jose, with the possibility of expanding to up to 10 acres at the park. Our volunteer workdays, youth programs, sliding scale farmstand, and community workshops give people a chance to get their hands dirty growing veggies, and learn the importance of eating healthy food and knowing where it came from.