June 2014 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• The city plans to reduce permit fees and red tape to hold events in St. James Park. There are a lot of great ideas floating around to activate the park like food trucks, aerobics classes, performing arts, games, and even "Zoo to You" where animals from Happy Hollow Zoo would visit the park. 
• The Dine Downtown restaurant week is being extended to 10 days and will run at 26 Downtown restaurants from June 20-29th. New participating restaurants this year include Blackbird Tavern, Blue Mango, Bluefin Sushi (Downtown is expanding into the Alameda), Da Kine Island Grill, The Farmers Union, First to Market, La Pinata, and Nomikai.
• Camera 12 Cinemas has reduced its rates for the summer. All moves are $5.50 until 6pm and $8.50 afterwards. Students, seniors, children, military, and library card holders (?) pay $7. They also added D-Box motion seats in their largest theater.
• A father-son team is opening the Wolfpack Enclave gaming center at 17 N. Second St. Gamers can rent high-end PCs to pay games for $5/hour. wolfpackenclave.com
• The former P.F. Chang's on Second and San Fernando is becoming M Lounge Bar and Restaurant later this summer, featuring Southeast Asian Cuisines.
• Garlic Bread BBQ Smokehouse is open on Fountain Alley (30 E. Santa Clara #160). Check out garlicbreadsanjose.com for more info.
• Broadway San Jose is adding an extra week of "Wicked," a one-night performance by Jerry Seinfeld, and a five-show package including multiple award-winning musicals.
• The Rotary Club of San Jose is providing Fourth of July fireworks after darkness falls on the Discovery Meadow. During the day, check out the Bacon Festival at Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
• The San Jose Rock Shop is hosting "90 Days of Summer" which is 90 consecutive days of shows for music lovers at 30 N. Second St.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Joint Venture Index of Silicon Valley 2014

The 2014 Silicon Valley Index brings with it some interesting statistics related to our region. Here are a few quick stats from this year's report:

• Silicon Valley has added 46,665 new jobs (22,842 jobs were added in San Francisco). 
• The region's total population grew by 1.31% (13,766 people) versus 0.88% average growth statewide.
• Silicon Valley has 46.5% of all IPOs, 46.9% of Patents, and 47.6% of Venture Capital, and 54.6% of Angel Investment in California.
• Consumption of electricity has declined for five years in a row (189 megawatts of solar capacity helps quite a bit here).
• 45% of households are making over $100,000 a year.
• 75% of commuters are solo drivers, not a dramatic difference from 78% in 2003.
• Caltrain ridership has increased 26.4% from 2010 to 2013.
• For the first time since 2008, Silicon Valley government achieved greater revenues than expenses.

Click here to read the entire report. You can also watch a video briefing below.

Downtown San Jose Street Life Plan

CMG Landscape Architecture was hired by Groundwerx and the Downtown Association to shape a vision of Downtown San Jose's street life. Key to this is creating a sense of place and connecting the pockets of activity we have today to one another (San Pedro Square, SoFA, the Convention Center, etc.).

It is a long read, you you can go through all 6 chapters of the vision over here. There is also a nice abbreviation in slideshow form that the Silicon Valley Business Journal did over here.

I think there are a ton of great ideas in here. You can check out some of my favorites below.

Source: Groundwex

Downtown Parklets

Mobile Solar Hubs

Downtown Stages

Cool Posts

Downtown Shades to mark pedestrian routes

Downtown art walls

Downtown wall features (such as this tailgate wall near the SAP Center)

Mural Corners

Art Sidewalks

Urban Forests

Wall Gardens

"Heroic" Statues

Content Magazine 6.2 Pick Up Party!

Content Magazine is launching their latest issue tomorrow with another one of their famed pick-up parties. This one will take place at Downtown San Jose's newest craft beer hot spot, ISO Beers (75 E Santa Clara St. right next to Ike's Sandwiches). The event runs from 6-8pm.

If you are not a subscriber yet, learn more about Content Magazine over here.

Playful People Productions Presents: Disney Jungle Book Kids

For those with kids, there is a great family event at the Historic Hoover Theater (across the street from the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum). Full details below:

Our tale begins deep in the heart of the Jungle. A baby boy, lost and abandoned, is raised by wolves. He is called “Mowgli”. On the run from Shere Khan, a ferocious tiger who has banished him from the jungle, a human boy named Mowgli is aided by an agile panther named Bagheera. Along the way, the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants, and a giant bear named Baloo, who teaches them the swingin’ musical rhythms of the jungle. After surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. Shere Khan returns, leading our protagonists to rally their follow jungle creatures into battle and restore peace to the jungle.

Our last show sold out prior to the show weekend so be sure to buy your tickets early, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic production.

All Shows at the Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Ave  San Jose, CA 95126

Show Times:
Friday, June 20th  7:00pm
Saturday, June 21st 10:00am,  2:00pm and 7:00pm
Sunday, June 22nd 10:00am and 2:00pm

Tickets available at www.playfulpeople.net
$12 attendees 12 and up, and $8 children 11 and under

Tickets at the door (30 minutes prior to curtain)
$15 attendees 12 and up, and $10 children 11 and under

For questions: barb@galiotto.com

Playful People Productions provides a quality, caring environment in which children, youth & their families have positive theatre experiences, while being involved in many aspects of on-stage/ back-stage theatre. Our company fills a need of providing beginning through advanced theatre for the whole family to the community. The founders have expanded the program to include classes & summer camps.

Playful People Productions is run by mother-daughter team, Barbara Galiotto & Katie D' Arcey, who between them have approx 50 years experience in the musical theatre world. Both are Positive Discipline trained & worked as early Childhood Educators as well as in theatre. Both have worked as professional directors with children's theatre for many years.

For each production, Playful People Productions employs professional designers, artists, choreographers and directors to guide our students. The company also hires experienced college & high school students to do jobs in the production such as directors, stage managers, lighting, make-up, & set designers, choreographers and assistants. This allows students to gain work experiences in all aspects of theatre. The goals of Playful People Productions are: to provide the community with a variety of performing opportunities for children, youth & families to experience; to challenge young people in the community; provide a safe, caring environment; and to involve parents in a wholesome, well-rounded activity. The founders believe that a good theatre experience will greatly improve the lives of the children.

Saturday Stats: San Jose is the Most Expensive Metro

In the first quarter of 2014, median single-family home sales hit $808,000 in the San Jose metro. This is enough to rank it as the most expensive metro in the US by the National Association of Realtors.

The San Francisco metro (which also includes Oakland) ranked as the second most expensive metro with a median home price of $679,800. To put these medium home sale prices in context, the median for the 170 largest metros combined was only $191,600.

Source: SocketSite

Starlight Cinemas - FREE Films Under the Stars (Jun 14 - Aug 20)

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Enjoy great movies from the 1980s for free, under the stars, on warm San Jose summer nights, at Starlight Cinemas.  Come early and enjoy pre-show fun and games, often as entertaining as the main event.   

The eight-movie series produced by the San Jose Downtown Association begins June 14 with the only non-’80s film of the bunch, “Bend It Like Beckham.”  That film complements the opening day of World Cup soccer from Brazil, with San Jose sharing in four matches live on a giant television screen at Plaza de Cesar Chavez starting at 9 a.m. Check sjearthquakes.com/summerofsoccer for the full World Cup viewing schedule.

The second film of the series, “Back to the Future Part II,” also follows World Cup action, USA vs. Portugal, from 3p.m.-5 p.m. on June 22.  The big screen moves to St. James Park for that viewing.

Starlight Movie Schedule:

June 14 - Bend it Like Beckham (2002/PG-13) - Plaza de Cesar Chavez(following World Cup Viewing at 8 p.m.)
Set in London, Jess dreams of playing soccer like her hero, David Beckham, and will stop at nothing short of her goal. The girl’s independence clashes with her elder sister Pinky, who dreams of a traditional Indian wedding and making perfect meals for her man.
PRE-SHOW:  SJ Earthquakes/soccer-related trivia and games

June 22 - Back to the Future Part II (1989/PG) - St. James Park

(following World Cup Viewing at 6 p.m.)

See what 2015 was imagined to look like 20 years ago as Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel forward in time to prevent the future little McFly from going to jail.  But Biff gets hold of the time-traveling DeLorean, speeds back to 1955 and rewrites history by making his younger self filthy rich.

PRE-SHOW:  “How to make a mini Hovercraft” workshop and movie trivia.

July 16 - Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade (1989/PG-13) - St. James Park

The third movie of the Indiana Jones trilogy, this time with Dr. Henry Jones (Harrison Ford) and his father (Sean Connery) taking up the action.  Directed by Steve Spielberg, the Joneses go after the Holy Grail in a race against Nazis.

PRE-SHOW:  “Map with no names” as a treasure hunt guide to find the holy grail and Indiana Jones trivia.

July 23 - Ghostbusters (1984/PG) - San Pedro Square Market

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Rick Moranis star as NYC-based "paranormal investigators."  After their government grants run out, the former three go into business as The Ghostbusters, ridding The Big Apple of ghouls, ghosts and beasts.

PRE-SHOW:  Sing-off of “Who You Gonna Call” theme song; “Build your own” Sta-Puff marshmallow giant contest; movie quotes/trivia contest.

July 30 - Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985/PG) - St. James Park

Celebrate a “drive-in” movie experience on bicycle with San Jose Bike Party.  Watch as Pee-Wee Herman sets out across the U.S. on the adventure of his life to retrieve his beloved bike, which was stolen from him in broad daylight.  This was Tim Burton’s directorial debut and a stepping stone for Paul reubens and composer Dany Elfman.

PRE-SHOW:  Tequila dance-off; bike contests; DJ’s on bikes. 

August 6 - Pretty in Pink (1986/PG-13) - San Pedro Square Market

John Hughes writes and directs this '80s Brat Pack romance resembling Cinderella.  Molly Ringwald survives the wackos around her, including a boy hopelessly in love with her, her father and a record store co-worker to realize her potential

PRE-SHOW:  Alice@97.3 radio 18^th Anniversary ’80s themed dance night.

August 13 - Gremlins (1984/PG) - St. James Park

These little things are cute as long as they don’t see bright lights, get wet or feed after midnight.  So what happens?  All three things, and pandemonium ensues. Starring Hoyt Axton, Keye Luke, John Louie, Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Corey Feldman, Judge Reinhold and even the film’s producer - Steven Spielberg.

PRE-SHOW:  Rockage Retro Gaming Festival video games; Chiptune DJ; Stripe vs. Gizmo contest.

August 20 - Airplane (1980/PG) - San Pedro Square Market

This spoof of the Airport series of disaster movies relies on hilarious sight gags, groan-inducing dialogue, and deadpan acting -- a comedy style has been imitated for the past two decades. Alcoholic pilot Ted Striker has to land the plane after the captain gets food poisoning.  Lloyd bridges and Robert Stack have to talk him down.  Leslie Nielsen launches a career as slapstick leading man.  Please, don’t call him Shirley.

PRE-SHOW:  Comedy Sportz Improv troupe performance.

Movie night details include:

• Admission: FREE and open to general public
• Movies begin at dusk
• Pre-show entertainment begins about 7 p.m. (except World Cup datesJune 14 and June 22)
• BYOB or C - Bring Your Own Blanket or Chair
• Visit: www.sjdowntown.com/starlight; www.cinequest.org; www.sjdowntownparking.com; www.sjearthquakes.com/summerofsoccer

Starlight Cinema Series sponsors and supporters are: San Jose Downtown Association, CINEQUEST, Metro Newspapers, SanJose.com, City of San Jose, Republic Services, McEnery Family, San Pedro Square Market, San Jose Bike Party, and radio partners: KCBS 740 AM, Alice@97.3, Live 105.3 and NOW 99.7

San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) is a non-profit group of business and property owners working to improve the vitality and livability of downtown San Jose for more than 25 years. SJDA produces events such as Downtown Ice, Starlight Cinemas, Downtown Farmers' Market at San Pedro Square and Dine Downtown. Visit www.sjdowntown.com. 

facebook.com/sjdowntown

twitter.com/sj_downtown

New Willow Glen Dishcrawl!

Dishcrawl is coming to a new San Jose neighborhood on June 18th at 7pm. This is the best way to try out several different restaurants in one night! After meeting up with other foodies, you will walk over to four different eateries and get a sampling of the food at each venue. To get tickets before it sells out, head over here.

INFORMATION

We're here to experience the true foodie side of Willow Glen that few people know! The saying goes, "Good things come in small packages." And that's what we have to say about this quaint but vibrant neighborhood. Join me, Amel and all foodies around to sample the best tasting cuisine that has always laid in our backyards.

I’m a Vegetarian: Vegetarian options are available, however we may not be able to accommodate other dietary restrictions. If you have any particular requests or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Beverage Policy: Drinks not inclusive of the ticket price. Drink specials and pairings may be available at discretion of the participating restaurant.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations are taken only if given 48 hours advance notice. All Dishcrawl events are held rain or shine.

Questions?: Contact me! I'm Amel, your San Jose Dishcrawl Ambassador!  My email is Amela@dishcrawl.com.

About Dishcrawl: Dishcrawl is dedicated to re-imagining the way people think about food, drink, and their community. You can find local progressive dinners, exclusive chef encounters, and other fun food events in every city! From culinary experiences in real life to great stories about local culture online, Dishcrawl spans 250 cities across the US, Canada, and soon the UK. 
Make life more delicious and visit Dishcrawl.com.

It's a guessing game! We’re keeping the names of the restaurants we will be visiting a secret for now, but here and there we’ll give you some hints. Follow us on Twitter @DishcrawlBos and be the first to know!

Where to Meet Us: All ticket holders will be notified of meeting location via email, 48 hours prior to the event.