Saturday, June 30, 2012

Vocera IPO

I know this is a bit of old news, but I have to many any San Jose-based IPOs. Vocera is mobile medical communications specialist that raised $94 million in their IPO late March. Unlike Facebook, their stock has actually been performing well. They were expecting stocks to initially trade at $12-14 per share, and the first day closed at $16. Now, a mere quarter later their stock is trading over 50% higher than their IPO debut.

Hopefully we'll see many more successful San Jose IPOs this year.

Source: SJBJ

Friday, June 29, 2012

Silicon Valley Reality Show

Finally, a reality show I might actually watch. Mark Zuckerberg's sister, Randi, is one of the co-producers of  this new show about to hit Bravo. The premise is simple. "Silicon Valley" will chronicle the lives of young local entrepreneurs that aspire to become the next Steve Jobs, Larry Page / Sergey Brin, or Mark Zuckerberg. I am hoping this will be far more interesting than watching bored housewives spend their husbands' money or cooking competitions to see who can make the best catfish ice cream.


It's about time we have a reality show about something that actually matters. Entrepreneurs are the people that have the ability to literally change the world. The only way to permanently increase the standard of living across the globe is through innovation. Anything else is just redistributing money from one party to another. Fortunately for us, we happen to be right in the heart of innovation and finally there is going to be a TV show to share with the world exactly how exciting our entrepreneurial ecosystem can be.


Source: VentureBeat

Thursday, June 28, 2012

San Jose Creatives Blog

I stumbled upon this blog recently where creative folks from San Jose are interviewed. Each week they feature a different artist, designer, musician, craftsman, etc. They ask the same 13 questions to each interviewee in order to see what makes each "creative" unique.

Check out the San Jose Creatives Blog over here.

San Jose Creatives

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wednesday Wishlist: San Jose Grizzlies

It looks like San Jose could have another shot at a NBA team. Robert Pera, a billionaire who founded San Jose's Ubiquiti Networks, purchased the Memphis Grizzlies a couple weeks ago. I believe this is the same team that Larry Ellison tried to buy and move to San Jose.

While Robert Pera hasn't given any indication that he would like to move the team, I think it is definitely in the realm of possibility that he'll want them closer to home when their current lease expires. The HP Pavilion is already capable of supporting an NBA team so many of the hassles other Bay Area sports teams are facing with moving (A's, 49ers, Warriors, etc.) would not apply. No new construction, votes, or territory disputes would exist to impede a move.

The Bay Area can definitely support two NBA teams, so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that Pera will one day make this happen!

Source: The Sale Lake Tribune




Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Downtown San Jose Bags Grocery Outlet

An anchor retail spot next to City Hall has been leased! Grocery Outlet is filling the void that Albertsons and Su Vianda left behind at 272 E. Santa Clara Street. They are signing a 10 year lease on the 24,000sqft space and plan to open as soon as the end of 2012.

Having easy access to groceries is a key selling point to getting more residents and residential developments Downtown. By the end of 2012, The San Pedro Square Market will also become a viable grocer since it will have a butcher shop, cheese shop, and potentially a bakery in addition to Veggie Box (which is stellar by the way) and two farmer's markets a week. Then in 2014 the long wait for Whole Foods will finally come to an end. 

With four anchor grocers Downtown (five if you include Trader Joe's in the San Jose Market Center), we'll be in great shape for residential expansion.

Source: SJBJ

Monday, June 25, 2012

New Downtown San Jose Project: Illuminating Downtown

San Jose has received a $600k grant from ArtPlace--a national organization that funds art projects--in order to build something that could potentially be incredibly cool. The project is called Illuminating Downtown and the goal is to light up parts of Downtown using art and technology. The initial focus areas will include SoFA, San Pedro Square, and Santa Clara St. & 87. The first project will be on Santa Clara St. and is expected to be installed by Winter 2013. If any of these projects will be in similar scale to The 88's interactive light feature, they can't come soon enough.

If anyone has additional info on this, please post in the comments. Thanks!

Source: SJBJ

Sunday, June 24, 2012

San Jose Stage Company Presents The Buddy Holly Tribute Concert at the California Theatre

Friday, June 28, 29 and Sunday, July 1

San Jose, CA -- June 12, 2012– San Jose Stage Company presents a Buddy Holly Tribute Concert at the legendary California theatre in downtown San Jose.

For three performances only as a special benefit performance for the Stage, the stories and music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valenz, and the Big Bopper will be performed. Not everyone knows that Waylon Jennings had a role in ‘the day the music died.’

The Buddy Holly Tribute Concert is the story of February 2, 1959, told through music as well as the narrative of Waylon Jennings, who gave up his seat on the airplane that crashed. Waylon will tell the story of the musicians, the music and the legend as it really happened.

Randall King, director of the Buddy Holly concert says of this show, “Buddy Holly, like Elvis, broke the rules of popular music and laid the foundation of rock and roll in a musical rebellion that continues to this day”

“Without Buddy and the Crickets, there would have been no Beatles.” Buddy is the guy who changed made music what it is today. The history of the evening that he died is legendary and this concert will tell the true story,” added King.

The lead role of Buddy Holly will be played by Travis Poelle. San Jose Stage Company originally co-produced "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story," which ran for eleven weeks at The Stage* before transferring to San Francisco. Poelle received critical praise for his work as Buddy.

Also from San Jose is actor/singer Manuel Romero, who plays Ritchie Valenz. Also getting raves for this role, Romero has recently released a CD and has won a Latin Grammy.

Buddy Holly’s celebrated quote says it all, “If anyone asks you what kind of music you play, tell him ‘pop.’ Don’t tell him ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ or they won’t even let you in the hotel.”

Performances are Thursday, June 28 at 8 PM; Friday, June 29 with opening remarks and concert at 8 PM; and Sunday, July 1 at 3 PM.

Sponsorships are still available by calling The Stage and will include an exclusive VIP pre-show reception at the California Theatre for Friday’s performance.

Tickets are $75 and $100 and are available online at www.thestage.org or through the Box Office by calling 408.283.7142. Visa and MasterCard are accepted, and discounts are available for groups, students and seniors.

The California Theatre is located at 345 South First Street in downtown San Jose, CA and is handicapped accessible. The elaborate California Theatre opened in 1927 and is today one of the best preserved examples of historic movie houses of the ‘20s.

*Reviews for “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story”:

“Travis Poelle slings his Stratocaster like a Tommy gun while playing Holly as a defiant charmer” - San Jose Mercury News

“More than anyone else, Poelle carries the show...performing with a verve that delivers Holly’s passionate musicianship. He looks like Holly, and he rocks out irresistibly.” - San Francisco Chronicle

"Manuel Romero as Ritchie Valens had the audience roaring" - Metro

"Manuel Romero is a pitch-perfect Valens leading the ensemble on a rousing La Bamba" - San Francisco Chronicle

  # # #

SAN JOSE STAGE COMPANY

Founded in 1983, San Jose Stage Company is recognized as The Bay Area's Premiere Off-Broadway Theatre, and known for its devotion to new and cutting-edge work and for its commitment to showcasing high-quality local talent. In 1986, San Jose Stage Company set precedence as the first arts organization to negotiate and receive support from the Redevelopment Agency and the City of San Jose when over $500,000 was appropriated in support of the development of a new 200-seat theatre featuring a 3/4-thrust stage, which opened in 1990. Now in its 29th Season, SJSC continues to center its operations in this facility and has successfully produced over 138 productions and premiered 44 new works, including 11 world premieres and is acclaimed for maintaining high artistic standards, investing in local talent and supporting the region’s community of working artists while taking artistic risks. In addition to its core programming, San Jose Stage Company offers five core education and outreach programs and has housed over 200 independent performance groups. San Jose Stage Company is a vital force in the community and has earned a reputation for artistic excellence by providing high-quality, edgy theatrical experiences that engage, educate and provoke audiences. San Jose Stage Company serves an audience base of 30,000 and is recognized as a leader in the arts for a theatre of its size. For more information www.thestage.org



Saturday, June 23, 2012

Saturday Stats: Elon Musk Infographic

Connecting this post to San Jose is going to be a little bit challenging. Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla and they did try to set up shop in North San Jose at one point. In addition, the flagship Tesla store is in Santana Row. Okay, I'm stretching it... but this infographic is so neat that I had to share.

Elon Musk: The Real Life Tony Stark
Created by: OnlineGraduatePrograms.com