Wednesday Wishlist: Vertical Forests

As San Jose grows, so will the need to increase building density and build up. I'm not just talking about Downtown San Jose and North San Jose, but many parts of our city. There are a few innovative ideas that can help make dense projects less intimidating, fit better into surrounding neighborhoods, and even contribute in a positive way to the environment.

Lausanne, Switzerland is about to build the world's second "vertical forest." This is a stunning residential tower that will be covered with hundreds of trees and shrubs. Besides the aesthetic benefits, the vegetation filters air pollution and produces oxygen. I can see this type of project working well in Everygreen and South San Jose as old strip malls and shopping centers become ready for redevelopment.

Source: Inhabitat

Silver Spring Networks Moving Headquarters to San Jose

Silver Springs Networks is a company that specializes in smart grid products for energy companies as well as software to help consumers reduce their energy consumption. They have decided to move their headquarters from Redwood City to San Jose. Silver Springs will take on 191,800 SQFT of prime office space at Champion Station (210 and 230 W. Tasman Drive). The company is yet another welcome addition to North San Jose's burgeoning portfolio of tech companies.

Source: SVBJ

Federal Realty Building 1 Million SQFT of Office Space Across from Santana Row

Federal Realty is changing their development plans for the former Winchester Theaters parking lot across from their flagship property, Santana Row. Residential has been completely removed from the project. Instead, they have decided to double-down on offices and develop a million square feet of high-end commercial space across six buildings. Each of those will range between six and nine stories, with parking taking the first three floors on the majority of the buildings. There is no surface parking, all 2,545 parking spaces will be in the garages.

There will be at least one retail component, a 29,000 SQFT grocery store that I'm sure will be popular with residents across the street at Santana Row. There is also a big question mark on what Federal Realty will do with the only Dome that was saved (which you can see on the lower left of the first render below). Speculated use has ranged from a performance arts theater to a beer garden.

This won't be the only major project in the area. Westfield is well underway with a $600 million expansion of Valley Fair. Plans have been submitted for a 12-story boutique hotel at 2850 Stevens Creek, where a gas station currently sits. There is also a proposal for 650 new apartments at 881 S. Winchester Avenue (replacing a 216 unit project), and another one for 160 residential units along with 12,000 SQFT of retail at 751 S. Winchester.

The neighborhood is certainly going to look quite a bit differently in a few years. Hopefully the new Bus Rapid Transit line will be operational by the time these projects are completed. A new Winchester Advisory Group has been meeting to great a plan with recommended transit improvements. At least the office project will not add to weekend traffic and will add much needed parking spaces to the Santana Row/Valley Fair area.

Source: SVBJ

Do You Know the Way to San Jose? (From Brooklyn)

A couple years ago Glove and Boots--famous NYC puppeteers--did an epic twelve hour AMA on reddit. In a unique twist, they answered questions with videos produced on the spot. Below was their answer to "Do you know the way to San Jose?" Thanks to Kevin Zing for sending this in!

Saturday Stats: San Jose has the Most Future-Ready Economy in the Nation

At the 2015 Strategic Innovation Summit held by Harvard University and Dell, San Jose was proclaimed as the most future-ready economy in the country. Their definition of a future-ready economy is one that has sustainable economic output and growth potential. There are three key attributes that the study looked for:

1.) Human capital, or people equipped with the right skills to drive meaningful social and economic change.
2.) Commerce from sustainable business opportunities to continue improving entire economies for year to come. This includes collaboration, such as the formation of public-private partnerships.
3.) Infrastructure prepared to support people, businesses, and technology needed to drive growth and change.

San Jose scored well above average when it comes to human capital, having strong salaries, educational achievements, and by far the highest number of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations per capita. San Jose also nailed it on commerce, having a collaborative and innovation-driven economy. Where we lost some big points was with infrastructure, particularly traffic congestion and poor public transit. Despite that, we still took the top position in the study with San Francisco coming in second and Washington DC in 3rd place.

Source: Dell, SJ Economy Newsletter

Top 25 Future Ready Economies

1. San Jose, CA
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Washington, DC
4. Boston, MA
5. Austin, TX
6. Raleigh, NC
7. Seattle, WA
8. Denver, CO
9. Portland, OR
10. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
11. New York, NY
12. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
13. Houston, TX
14. Atlanta, GA
15. Charlotte, NC
16. San Diego, CA
17. Chicago, IL
18. Louisville, KY
19. Salt Lake City, UT
20. Des Moines, IA
21. Los Angeles, CA
22. Pittsburgh, PA
23. Kansas City, MO
24. Columbus, OH
25. Philadelphia, PA

Frontier Village Remnants Head to the New Museum of Los Gatos and Great America

Many years ago there was a theme park in San Jose called Frontier Village. It had a western theme and was inspired by Disneyland, but never gained enough traction to survive despite having a number of interesting attractions (including gunfights and a roller coaster). A San Jose resident named Shaughnessy McGehee has been collecting and recreating elements of Frontier Village over the years, but is now moving out of state. His vast collection was split among the New Museum of Los Gatos and Great America and the first showing of the collection is already on display in Los Gatos.

For more information, head over to this great write-up (with a lot more photos) at Searchlight San Jose.

Bass Pro Shops Opens San Jose Store

There are very few retailers out there with fans that are willing to drive 50+ miles and plan their whole day around a store visit. Bass Pro Shops is on that short list. They officially opened their San Jose store on Almaden Expressway a couple weeks ago, which is the only one in the Bay Area and the fourth in all of California. About 10,000 people came for the grand opening.

The San Jose store is larger than an average Costco at 145,000 SQFT. It features a huge array of camping, hunting, fishing, boating, and general outdoor gear. If that wasn't enough, it has its own 12-lane underwater-themed bowling alley, a seafood restaurant, a full bar, an indoor archery range, and a 15,000 gallon aquarium worthy of a zoo. The store employs over 200 people.

Bass Pro Shops is located at 5160 Cherry Avenue and is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday from 10am to 8pm.

Source: SVBJ

Wednesday Wishlist: Michelin Star Restaurants (2016 Edition)

Welcome to the 7th annual Wednesday Wishlist post where the topic is getting restaurants in San Jose worthy of Michelin starts. The Michelin guide is the most renowned rubric in the world for measuring culinary success. I think the foodie culture is continuing to build momentum in San Jose, especially Downtown. I'm optimistic it will only be a matter of time until we have some unique restaurants with national recognition.

Michelin has three different star categories:

• One Star - A very good restaurant in its category with cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard. A good place to stop on your journey.
• Two Stars - Excellent cuisine, skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality. Worth a detour.
• Three Stars - Exceptional cuisine with distinctive dishes and superlative ingredients. Worth a special journey.

I created a Google doc listing all of the star recipients for 2016, along with tabs for all previous years and some general statistics. Below is an image capture from the doc. This year there were a total of 50 restaurants that were awarded Michelin stars, which is up 10 from last year and an all-time high for the Bay Area. 62% of the restaurants are locating in SF, 20% in Wine Country, 16% in Silicon Valley (split evenly between the South Bay and the Peninsula), and 2% in the East Bay. There are 14 new restaurants on the list this year (see image below), as well as one significant upgrade. Manresa (Los Gatos) achieved the elusive three star rating. Manresa is not only the first restaurant in the South Bay to ever get this rating, but it is only the fifth restaurant ever to get a three star rating anywhere in the Bay Area. Several restaurants from 2015 did not make the cut, including Madera, Maruya, La Folie, Boulevard, and the All Spice in San Mateo.

There are also restaurants in the Michelin guide that do not get a star, but are considered "Michelin Recommended." This is already a significant honor. Within this category San Jose scored a total of 13 restaurants, an all-time high for our city. Here are the lucky restaurants:

• Downtown
• Vung Tau
• Back A Yard
• Swaad (NEW)
• The Alameda
• Zona Rosa
• Midtown
• Walia (NEW)
• North San Jose
• Smoking Pig BBQ
• South San Jose
• Bun Bo Hue An Nam
• Thien Long
• Lau Hai San (NEW)
• Willow Glen
• The Table
• Fratello
• Camden
• Rangoli
• Zeni

Swaad (Indian), Walia (Ethiopian), and Lau Mai San (Vietnamese) are all welcome additions and represent how amazing our ethnic cuisines are. All 10 San Jose restaurants that were Michelin recommended in the 2015 guide held on to that status in 2016. If you haven't been to the restaurants above, I can vouch that all of them are well worth visiting. 

Source: Michelin Guide

Broadcom Buys North San Jose Business Park

Broadcom is dropping $207 million for 26 acres in North San Jose that is already approved for up to 1.1 million SQFT in office space. They are purchasing the land from Boston Properties, which hopefully will reinvest those funds in San Jose (They have three proposed office towers in Downtown San Jose).

The location is a vacant business park at 3200 Zanker Road, next to Crescent Village. Apple now owns 80 acres of land not far away and supposedly other large deals are in the works. The North First district went from having the highest vacancy rate in San Jose to being in huge demand over the course of just five years!

Source: SVBJ

Apple Pondering San Jose Campus of up to 4.15 Million SQFT (!!!)

Apple has quietly been acquiring 86 acres of land in North San Jose stretching from Highway 101 all the way to North First Street. Finally, it sounds like their master plan is coming together. While Apple has not submitted a formal proposal for a project, they have come to a development agreement with the City of San Jose that would allow a staggering 4.15 million SQFT of development. This scale would surpass even the Apple Campus 2 project in Cupertino (the giant spaceship).

If even half of that gets built, it would have a dramatic impact on San Jose's tax base, the balance of housing/jobs in the city, and our overall brand. The only negative that stood out to me is the elimination of the height requirement on North First Street (105-feet). That means Apple will likely opt for 4-6 story buildings instead of pushing the limits of office campuses like Samsung did with their San Jose headquarters. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about this one in the future.

Source: SVBJ

November 2015 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Downtown San Jose has a new logo/brand, which you can see down below! The colors symbolize Downtown's diversity of culture, architecture, activities, and business. [Josh: love it!]
• Hawaiian Airlines / Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice is kicking off their extended season on November 13th. This year, the rink will be open through Superbowl Sunday (an extra 28 days). Kristi Yamaguchi will help open the rink during a celebration on November 16th at 5pm.
• The TiVo Santa Run (5K Run/Walk) will take place on December 13th. Dressing up in a costume is highly encouraged, especially since this year there will be a costume contest. 
• The Sobrato Organization revealed plans to develop "Block 3" (the surface lot next to The 88 and what used to be The Rep) with a 23-story, 399-unit apartment tower with retail on the ground floor.
• The San Jose Downtown Association's end-of-year meeting will be on Dec. 11 at Camera Cinemas, 8am, and all are welcome.
• Voltaire Coffee House is now open on the ground floor of 360 Residences. They serve coffee roasted on-site along with waffles and French pastries [Josh: the coffee here is amazing!]
• Crewners Barbershop at the San Pedro Square Market is expanding from one chair to three and adding two more full-time barbers.
• City zoning code has been modified to allow larger signage and new Downtown businesses.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Josh Marcotte from Lost San Jose was Featured in Pixels

Josh Marcotte is San Jose's very own guerrilla urban photographer. He started Lost San Jose a few years ago and has captured hundred if not thousands of photos documenting a San Jose that is long gone. You can learn more about his inspiration and artistic process through a great interview conducted by Pixel Magazine right over here.

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce's 19th Annual Excellence in Education Awards

Just in time for Super Bowl 50, Joe Montana is giving a keynote speech at the Fairmont as part of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce's signature event: Legends & Leaders. Also on the agenda is the 19th Annual Excellence in Education Awards where the SJSV chamber will distribute awards for Student, Teacher, and Principal of the year. The event will run from 6-9pm on November 19th and registration is required.

For more information, please read the press release below or head over to http://www.sjchamber.com

San José, CA—The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 19th annual Excellence in Education Awards will take place Thursday, Nov. 19 at The Fairmont in San Jose. The awards will be given out at the SJSV Chamber’s annual signature event, Legends & Leaders, and will have keynote speaker four-time Super Bowl Champion Joe Montana.

The 2015 Excellence in Education Awards recipients are:

• Alejandra Fraume Valencia, Gunderson High School—Student of the Year
• Christian Rubalcaba, Selma Olinder Elementary School—Teacher of the Year
• Maria Evans, Washington Elementary School—Principal of the Year

Alejandra was our top choice not only because she is a great student academically-speaking but also because both her peers as well as teachers see her as a leader. She helped her school’s Tennis Team become division champions—the school’s first—and through it all, she made personal sacrifices because of her need to financially help her family (she had to quit tennis because of her job).

Rubalcaba also rose to the top of the nominee list. He is not only an effective leader inside his own classroom, but his leadership and passion extend into his district (impacting curriculum, teaching methods, etc.) as well as the parent community (through his home visits to all his students). He is also an innovator, utilizing technology through his monthly Skype sessions to put his classroom in direct contact with business, education and professional leaders from across the country.

Evans, with her endless dedication to her school community and innovative thinking in terms of collaborative partners to help her better her school set her apart from her peers.

“I’m excited to have been invited to be part of this signature Silicon Valley event,” Joe Montana said. “Our local students and educators are an integral part of our communities and celebrating them through the Legends & Leaders’ Excellence in Education awards is a great way to highlight what’s taking place in our classrooms.”

The Excellence in Education awards first began in 1996 and recognize students, teachers and administrators within the County of Santa Clara that embody the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s spirit of acting as a convener, collaborator and champion within their community.

Along with public recognition, the SJSV Chamber also offers recipients educational grants. Over the course of the program’s history, these grants have totaled more than $80,000.

“These students and educators have a direct impact on the region’s economy: as the future workforce, and, in many cases, as our future leaders,” SJSV Chamber President & CEO Matt Mahood said. “As the organization trusted to be the voice of the businesses, many of which have a direct impact on our region’s economic health, we want to recognize these individuals and let the greater community know about their fantastic work.”

ABOUT THE SAN JOSE SILICON VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit business association representing nearly 1,400 employers and 250,000 employees throughout the greater Silicon Valley. Its mission is to create a strong local economy, provide premier business connections and visibility, represent the interests of business to government, promote the community and initiate political and community action.

Saturday Stats: Even After Cost of Living Adjustments, San Jose Pay is Still #1

Most people know that San Jose salaries are the highest in the country. Another well known fact is that our cost of living is also one of the highest in the country. So the big question is whether our high cost of living negates our high salaries. According to the latest stats from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the answer is... No.

The average pay in San Jose is $75,770 per year, #1 in the country. To put that in perspective, the average pay for the #2 city on the list (San Francisco) is $64,990. 

After you factor in cost of living, San Jose's average pay drops to $62,110, which is still enough for it to be the #1 highest-paying city in the country. San Francisco drops to $53,580, bringing it all the way down to #9 on the list. Durham ended up being the city closest to San Jose in the #2 spot with an average pay of $58,780 after factoring in the cost of living adjustments.

So there you have it. Even after factoring in sky-high rents and other expenses, we are still better off salary-wise than the rest of the country.

Source: SVBJ

Hawaiian Airlines / Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice Returns November 13th!

Downtown Ice returns next week for its longest season in history. The one-of-a-kind skating rink at the Circle of Palms in Downtown San Jose will be open from November 13th all the way until February 7th. Super Bowl 50 will bring in thousands of visitors to San Jose and the rink will be open an extra 28 days to help entertain them.

Hawaiian Airlines / Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice is also hosting an opening celebration on Monday, November 16th at 5pm. Kristin Yamaguchi will be doing a routine to help kick off the season during the ceremony. For more information such as operating hours, pricing, and discounts, read the full release below.

Photos by Daniel Garcia

SAN JOSE – Hawaiian Airlines / Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice returns Nov. 13 to the Circle of Palms in the heart of downtown San Jose’s holiday attractions.  The skating rink will remain open an additional 28 days beyond its normal closing date to accommodate the thousands of visitors expected to stay in San Jose the weeks ahead of Super Bowl 50, to be played Feb. 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

With Hawaiian Airlines as title sponsor, Yamaguchi and her Always Dream Foundation partner with the San Jose Downtown Association to produce the outdoor rink at 120 S. Market St.

“It brings great joy to see all the families celebrate the holiday season at Downtown Ice, which remains one of the most unique and attractive outdoor skating rinks in the country,” said Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic figure skating gold-medal champion.  “I am honored to once again be associated with such a holiday treasure.”

Yamaguchi will help open the rink this season.  An opening celebration is planned for Monday,  Nov. 16, at 5 p.m. at the rink.

More than 200,000 skaters and spectators are expected to attend Downtown Ice between Nov. 13 and Feb. 7.  The rink generates an estimated $3 million in economic impact to the downtown business community each year.

Skaters glide around 32 glimmering palms from which the circular rink gains its iconic form.  During November, early December and after the holidays in January, Downtown Ice is open 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 p.m.-midnight on Friday; noon-midnight on Saturday; and noon-9 p.m. on Sunday.  During the winter break the rink is open 11 a.m.-midnight daily. During the week of the big game in February, the rink will extend its hours.

The $13-17 admission covers skate rental and one unlimited skating session.

Discounts and details are at http://downtownicesj.com.  The rink phone number is (408) 291-0525.

Downtown Ice is located within steps of Christmas in the Park displays, which occupies Plaza de Cesar Chavez starting Nov. 28.  These two downtown San Jose holiday attractions are supported in part by participants in the 5-kilometer TiVo Santa Run Silicon Valley held on Dec. 13.  Register at www.santarunsv.com.

Parking information is available at http://parksj.org.

Hawaiian Airlines / Kristi Yamaguchi Downtown Ice skating details

When:  Open daily Nov. 13, 2015 – Feb. 7, 2016

Nov. 13 – 24
Friday: 5 p.m. - midnight
Saturday: noon - midnight
Sunday: noon - 9 p.m.
Monday-Thursday: 5 - 9 p.m.*
* Monday, Nov. 16 the rink does not open to the general public until 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 – 27 (Thanksgiving Holiday)
Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving: 5 p.m. - midnight
Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving: 2 p.m. - midnight
Friday, Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving: 11 a.m. - midnight

Nov. 28 – Dec. 17
Sunday: noon - 10 p.m.
Monday -Thursday: 5 - 10 p.m.
Friday: 5 p.m. – midnight
Saturday: noon - midnight

Dec. 18 – Jan. 3 (Winter Break)
Daily: 11 a.m. - midnight*
*Special Christmas and New Year’s holiday hours
Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas: 2 p.m. - midnight
Thursday, Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. - midnight
Thursday, Jan. 1, New Year’s Day:  11 a.m. – midnight
Sunday, Jan. 3: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Jan. 4 – Jan. 31*
Monday - Thursday: 5 - 9 p.m.
Friday: 5 p.m. - midnight
Saturday: noon - midnight
Sunday: noon - 9 p.m.
*MLK Holiday special hours: noon - midnight Sun., Jan. 17 and Noon – 9 p.m., Mon., Jan. 18

Feb. 1 – Feb. 7 (Super Bowl Week)
Monday - Wednesday: 4 - 11 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday: noon - midnight
Sunday: noon - 9 p.m.

Admission:
Nov. 13 – Dec. 17 AND Jan. 4 – Jan. 31: Children 10 & younger: $13 and 11 & older: $15
Dec. 18 – Jan. 3 (Winter Break) and Feb. 1 – 7: Children 10 & younger $15 and 11 & older: $17

Cash, Paypal, Visa, Mastercard or Discover accepted. Admission includes ice time and rental skates (skate sizes range from toddler 8 to men's 13).
Skate all you want (no in-and-out privileges)/ First-come, first-serve.

Address (starting November 13):  120 S. Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 291-0525 (Rink) or (408) 279-1775 (SJDA)

Promotions:

Downtown Ice and Hawaiian Airlines have combined on airfare discounts to the islands.  Go to apps.hawaiianairlines.com/Affiliate/Booking.aspx

Holiday Hat Trick – combination ticket to Downtown Ice, San Jose Museum of Art, and The Tech Museum exhibition (33 percent discount)

Multiple other discounts are available, but cannot be combined, and are available online at sjdowntown.com/downtownice.

South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk Tonight

Experience the latest South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk tonight from 7-11pm in Downtown San Jose's SoFA District. 20 different venues will be open late and featuring a variety of local art and entertainment. To learn more about the participants before the walk tonight, head over to the South FIRST FRIDAYS website over here!

TiE Silicon Valley Hackathon Addresses Real-Time Global Challenges of Urbanization

The TiE SV Hackathon, powered by Atomiton, is global in nature and will focus on tackling three real-world issues within the “Smart City” overall theme

TiE Silicon Valley, a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the Bay Area and globally, today announced its upcoming Hackathon related to Smart Cities.  The goal of the Hackathon is to provide solutions that solve real world issues caused by urbanization around the globe.  The event will begin in January 2016 and will last for two weeks.  Winners will be invited to attend TiECon 2016, TiE's largest annual conference, and will also have an opportunity to win prizes and publicity.

In this first series of Hackathons, TiE will present a Smart City theme that addresses global urban issues.  Although many urban issues are shared globally, they may have local interpretations based on a particular region.  This is an initiative where governments, academia, developers and corporations are collaborating to make an impact on society across the globe.  To reflect the diversity of urban challenges and solutions around the world, this Hackathon will highlight the following smart city problem spaces:

Smart Parking – Developers take on the role of private parking operators with the goal of optimizing revenue by efficient and competitive management of parking spaces and pricing

Waste Disposal Management – Developers assume the role of private waste management companies that want to efficiently identify, gather and transport solid waste to landfills, while preventing random dumping

Water Access Management – Developers are NGOs working to improve water access by utilizing a fixed amount of funds to guarantee water access to as many households as possible

"Urban population is expected to grow from 50% in 2008 to 75% by 2050. Growth in population, constrained financial and natural resources, carbon footprint, and traffic congestion put a strain on a city's ability to provide sustainable services," stated Venktesh Shukla, president, TiE Silicon Valley.  He noted "TiE's SmartCity Hackathon is a great initiative that will foster innovation in quality of urban services, reduce cost and promote efficient use of resources, leaving a better environment for future generations."

Registration is open to anyone across the globe, whether a TiE member or not, and will provide participants the opportunity to collaborate with other teams at local and international levels.

For more information about the TiE SV Hackathon, please visit http://sv.tie.org/hackathon/.

About TiESilicon Valley
TiE Silicon Valley is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the Bay Area, as well as globally.  TiE strives to inspire entrepreneurs through mentoring, networking, education, incubating and funding programs and activities.  With nearly 50 events held each year, TiE brings together the entrepreneurial community to learn from local leaders, as well as each other.  For more information, please visit our website at sv.tie.org.

About Atomiton
Atomiton is a Silicon Valley-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology company focused on delivering the next generation middleware to power interconnected and smart systems. For more information, visit www.atomiton.com.

New Proposed High Rises Would be San Jose's Tallest Buildings!

When a 1.4 acre piece of land across from City Hall was sold to a Chinese developer, many urbanists were hoping for (perhaps even demanding) an office tower to be built in this prime space. Others (myself included) would be happy with any sort of building there--including another residential tower--to replace the mostly vacant chunk of land next to San Jose's most iconic building. Well, it turns out we are getting the best of everything in this latest Downtown San Jose project!

The "SJSC Towers" would consist of not one, but two 295-foot tall towers. That would make them the two tallest building in San Jose. The one on the west would be a 28-story residential building with 350 condos. The eastern building would house 344,157 SQFT of office space in a 20-story building with soaring ceilings. The ground floor would have around 20,000 SQFT of retail, nearly equivalent in size to the San Pedro Square Market.

The residential component would have high-end amenities, including a skydeck and community facilities on the entire top floor. It even looks to me like it might have a swimming pool, or at very least a hot tub, 280 feet towards the sky! Now that would be a unique amenity.

The architecture is anticipated to raise the bar for San Jose. The towers will have the same design language but not be clones of one another. They will also compliment the architecture of City Hall across the street.

Needless to say, this has tremendous potential. I can't wait to see the initial designs and hope this will get fast-tracked into reality.

Source: SVBJ

Santana Row November and December 2015 News and Events

San Jose, CA  - The holidays are weeks away and Santana Row is in the midst of planning very special celebrations to mark the season. This year, Santana Row partners with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area to help grant a wish for a teen with cancer who is dreaming of seeing Paris. She’ll be part of the annual tree-lighting event, a spectacular annual tradition at Santana Row.

In December, get all your shopping done during the Holiday Open House, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank and get ready to count down to 2016!

Sephora Grand Opening
Friday, Nov. 6
Discover the latest in beauty at Sephora’s Santana Row location! Explore its unrivaled selection of makeup, skin care, fragrance and more from classic and emerging brands.
The 5,339 square-foot store is located next to Sino restaurant.

Go Niners!
Take the Round Trip Shuttle to Levi’s Stadium from Santana Row
Avoid the headache of game day traffic! Take the shuttle from The Row to Levi’s Stadium for a hassle-free day that starts with easy parking, shopping and dining perks.
Shuttles leave exactly two hours before game time.
Games:
Sunday, Nov. 8, Niners. vs. Falcons (departs at 11:05 a.m.)
Sunday, Nov. 29, Niners vs. Cardinals (departs at 11:05 a.m.)
Sunday, Dec. 20, Niners vs. Bengals (departs at 3:30 p.m.)
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, Niners vs. Rams (departs at 11:25 a.m.)

The shuttle registration begins about 30 minutes before departure time. Registration and shuttles are located near the CineArts Theatre.
Your $30 ticket includes:

• Round trip transportation to Levi’s Stadium
• Free parking at Santana Row
• Santana Row shopping and dining incentives

Details:
When you arrive at Santana Row, park your vehicle in the designated, secured parking lot on Winchester Boulevard in the former Century 21 Theatre area. Walk across Winchester Boulevard to Olsen Drive where the registration table and bus will be waiting to load in front of the theater. The bus departs at the scheduled time (two hours prior to game time), and will not wait for passengers.

Levi’s Stadium drop-off site:
The bus will park at the official shuttle drop-off location at the stadium. One hour after the conclusion of the game, the bus will depart from the same location. All passengers not on bus at the specified departure time, will not receive transportation back to Santana Row.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Give Thanks”
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. to noon
The holidays remind us to pull together and help those less fortunate. November’s program encourages kids to bring a canned food item that will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Holiday fun includes face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts Kids will be entertained by music and live performances.

Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Park Valencia. In the event of rain, the location moves to CineArts Theatre. Mommy & Me & Daddies, Too is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit SantanaRow.com.

Santana Row’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Celebrating the Season with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Santana Row is delighted to announce its partnership with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, an organization which helps make wishes come true for local children such as Lili. Lili is 14 years old and battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects white blood cells. Make-A-Wish paper stars can be purchased in the Santana Row concierge office during the month of November and Lili’s wish will be celebrated during the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7 p.m.

The festivities begin at 3 p.m. with an Elf on the Shelf Scavenger hunt. The fun continues throughout the evening with live music, costumed characters, carolers and performances by local theater and dance groups. The highlight of the night takes place in Santana Row Park with the lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree, one of the most anticipated holiday events in Silicon Valley. There’s also a rousing performance by the Academy of Villains from America's Got Talent (the group appeared on season 7) and So You Think You Can Dance (season 11 and 12). Many of the restaurants will offer dining specials, kid-friendly menus and holiday-themed cocktails during the event. In-store parties and hot chocolate sampling will also add to the festivities!

Details:

• Support Lili and Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area with a donation in any amount through the organization’s paper stars campaign. The stars can be purchased during November at Santana Row concierge and Lili’s wish will be celebrated during the tree-lighting ceremony.
• Get your Elf on a Shelf scavenger hunt list at Santana Row concierge, visit each location, spot the elf and get a sticker. Return your card to concierge to receive a prize. One lucky winner will receive a $250 Santana Row gift card!
• 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Photos with Santa in the antique San Jose Fire Department truck in Park Valencia. Donate a toy for the annual Toys for Tots drive and take a photo with Santa! Live children’s entertainment.
• 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Tree Lighting Ceremony in Santana Row Park featuring a live performance from Ballet San Jose’s The Nutcracker; Children’s Musical Theatre’s Marquee Production of The Little Mermaid; and a very special performance straight from America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance--the Academy of Villains!
• 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Live music, choirs, carolers and photos with Alice in Wonderland from Ballet San Jose. Activities for children and families in Oak Tree Lounge.
• Start your holiday shopping: If you spend $200 or more on Tuesday, Nov. 17, present your dated receipts to the Santana Row concierge and you will receive a free pair to tickets to The Nutcracker performed by Ballet San Jose. Tickets are available while supplies last.

“Dear Santa…”
Write a letter to Santa and get a letter back!
November 17 through December 10
Write a letter to Santa and receive a reply! Beginning Nov. 17, every child who leaves a letter for Santa in the mailbox outside of the Santana Row concierge office will receive a reply from the red-clad, jolly fellow! Each letter must include the child’s name and a mailing address. The letters must be dropped in the box by Dec. 10. Concierge is located near the garage between Sino restaurant and Left Bank Brasserie.

Cars & Croissants
Nov. 28 and every fourth Saturday of the month through December
9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.

The Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market
Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Park Valencia
Maker's Market Santa Cruz is coming back to Santana Row, just in time for holiday shopping! Craftspeople, artisans and other creative types will set up their unique, handmade wares in Santana Row Park near Left Bank brasserie and Village California Bistro. The Maker’s Market is dedicated to supporting the community by giving local artists, crafters, culinary creators and musicians a venue to showcase and sell their goods at a regular market while also financially benefiting a local non-profit, Mountain Community Resource which helps families and the elderly in need with food, medicine, and other necessities.

Santa Paws, a Benefit for the Humane Society Silicon Valley
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Your furry friends are ready for their holiday close up! Bring your canine and feline friends to Santana Row's Park Valencia for a keepsake photo with Santa Claus.
Photos are $20 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Humane Society Silicon Valley. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. in Park Valencia.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Celebrate the Season”
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to noon
The last Mommy & Me of the year will be held in the lobby of the CineArts Theatre and will include live entertainment from Andy Z, story time with Mrs. Claus, treats, craft-making and more holiday fun!

Details: 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby of CineArts Theatre. Mommy & Me & Daddies, Too is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit SantanaRow.com.

Holiday Open House, a Benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Give to those in need while you complete your holiday shopping during Santana Row’s Holiday Open House, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank, which provides groceries and food to families and individuals in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Purchase a $40 ticket on SantanaRow.com or at the Concierge center and receive complimentary food and wine tastings in Santana Row shops and restaurants, a signature Santana Row wine glass and exclusive shopping discounts. Enjoy holiday fashion modeling and special seasonal offerings. Bring a donation of canned food into concierge when you purchase your ticket and receive $5 off the ticket. (Customers must be 21 years or older.)

Celebrate Chanukah at Santana Row
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Park Valencia* near Maggiano’s restaurant
Santana Row celebrates the Jewish Festival of Lights in Park Valencia with family activities that include decorating dreidels, Jewish story time, arts and crafts and the lighting of the Menorah.
*In the event of rain, this event will be held inside the via between Left Bank and Sino restaurants.

Cars & Croissants, last gathering of the year
Dec. 26 and every fourth Saturday of the month
9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month from spring through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.

New Year’s Eve at Hotel Valencia
Dec. 31
Ring in the New Year in white and gold at the hottest spot on Santana Row. Hotel Valencia’s New Year's Eve celebration is always the toast of the town! Bid farewell to 2015 and welcome 2016 by taking advantage of the holiday package.

New Year’s Eve Valencia Masquerade Gala includes:

• Luxury guest room for two
• Champagne upon arrival
• Admission to the Masquerade Gala featuring a DJ and an assortment of festive food stations
• Midnight Champagne toast
• Grand deluxe breakfast with mimosas, served on New Year's Day
• Late check-out at 1 p.m. on New Year's Day
• *Guests are encouraged to bring their own festive masks as limited quantities will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Rates from $585 per room, per night, double occupancy, exclusive of tax; additional guests are $125 per person and subject to maximum occupancy.

Rainy Day Rewards, Nov. 1 through March 31, 2016
Here’s hoping the rainy season returns! Santana Row is optimistic and wants to reward shoppers and diners braving bad weather. When there’s a 70 percent or greater chance for rain, they will be offered discounts that include 15 percent off purchases at participating shops and restaurants, a free signature Santana Row golf umbrella for customers who spend $150 anywhere on The Row and a $20 gift certificate to a participating shop or restaurant for customers who spend $300 on a designated Rainy Day.

No need to get wet: Customers can pick up a complimentary umbrella to use while shopping and dining and then return it before leaving. The yellow umbrellas are conveniently located throughout The Row: outside Concierge, Via between Village California Bistro and Lark Creek Blue and the valet parking lot in the Winchester Parking Garage.

Twitter Promotion @SantanaRow invites Tweets and Instagram tags
For a Chance to Win Gift Cards to Restaurants at The Row
Santana Row’s Twitter campaign and photo contest continues through the @SantanaRow Twitter handle. The contest invites anyone at Santana Row to Tweet or Instagram photos of a new outfit, haircut, meal, event or artsy shots and then tag it with the hash tag #LifeonTheRow. Every month, Santana Row will post an album on Facebook with all of the photos with the #LifeonTheRow hash tag. The person who took the best or most original photo will win a gift card to a Santana Row restaurant.

~~~

About Santana Row
Santana Row, a 647,000 square foot mixed-use development in San Jose, CA, is Silicon Valley’s premier destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Santana Row features over 70 shops, 20 restaurants, a boutique hotel and movie theatre. In addition to the dynamic retail & restaurant collection, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 65,000 square feet of Class A office space. Santana Row is a property of www.federalrealty.com (NYSE:FRT), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.santanarow.com.

About Federal Realty
Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Founded in 1962, our mission is to deliver long term, sustainable growth through investing in densely populated, affluent communities where retail demand exceeds supply.  Our expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities.  Federal Realty’s 90 properties include over 2,600 tenants, in approximately 21 million square feet, and 1500 residential units.

Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 48 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. For additional information about Federal Realty and its properties, visit www.FederalRealty.com.

Video: New Projects to Raise Downtown San Jose Skyline

CBS has created a nice two minute segment highlighting the high-rise boom in Downtown San Jose. They mention four project, but that is just scratching the surface. Expect Downtown to look quite a bit different five years from now than it does today.

Source: Rick Upton and Dirt Patch from the San Jose Development Forum


Transcript:

SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) — New high-rise projects are about to push San Jose’s historically low-rise skyline to new levels. But there’s a catch to all of this development.

When Mayor Sam Liccardo pulls up the blinds at his 18th floor office at City Hall, he sees a city growing up.

“I think you’re going to see more unique architecture as the downtown evolves,” Liccardo said.

That evolution is taking off again. At least four new high rise commercial and residential projects in the pipeline for Downtown San Jose. Dramatic, soaring projects that will reshape the city skyline and bring thousands of more residents to live here.

“We are seeing much more interest and investment in the downtown than I think anyone has seen in several generations,” Liccardo told KPIX 5.

But the sky is not the limit. Downtown San Jose lies in the final approach flight path to Mineta San Jose International Airport. The FAA has restricted buildings to 24 stories on the south end of downtown and 18 stories closer to the airport.

It will forever give the city a “blockier” look than a Manhattanized one.

“I’m certain we have lost an opportunity to build dozens of high rise towers because of the height restrictions imposed by the airport,” Liccardo said.

When new buildings go up, parking will go away. Acres of surface level parking lots, a downtown mainstay for decades, will slowly disappear as new buildings take their place.

“We’re going to have a lot of underground parking to replace that,” said Jimmy Starkovich, who has worked in Downtown San Jose for 40 years.

“San Jose is really starting to become alive,” he said.

Several New Restaurants Coming Downtown!

There were definitely some high-profile restaurant closures over the past couple years. However, those empty spaces will soon be filled with the next generation of Downtown San Jose restaurants.

The most significant recent closure in my mine is that of Sonoma Chicken Coup, a Downtown staple for many years. Sonoma left a 8,000 SQFT void in San Pedro Square, a gigantic space to fill in the restaurant world. Sushi Confidential is slated to take over that giant space with their second restaurant. The first is a Campbell hotspot offering innovative twists on Japanese food. The Downtown San Jose location will likely have the largest outdoor space of any Sushi restaurant in the Bay Area and be a welcome addition to our restaurant scene. The goal is to open by Super Bowl 50 on February 7th.

Up next is Blackbird Taven, which was located in what must be the unluckiest corner in Downtown San Jose. ASQEW Grill, Zing, and Ruffled Feathers Eatery were all predecessors at 200 South First Street. The proprietor behind B2 Coffee is looking to turn that luck around with their 3rd coffee shop called Social Policy. Of course they will have amazing coffee, but the larger location will also allow more bakery items, lunch fare, and small plates. Oh, and they will also have beer and wine! The store is already under construction and may be open before the end of the year.

Last on the list for today, the Fahrenheit Lounge space is being filled with the popular Pieology chain. I'm sure it will be a huge hit with SJSU students and provide a solid casual option for that part of Downtown.

I have also updated the Downtown San Jose Restaurants Google Sheet with these latest changes.

Source: SVBJ, SVBJ Article #2

WeWork Wants to Build Co-Working Office Space Downtown

WeWork is the leading co-working office company in the United States. Co-working is a hot product for entrepreneurs right now who don't need a lot of space but are looking to be part of a start-up culture and atmosphere. It usually involves a minimal amount of dedicated space and a whole lot of shared resources that include everything from conference rooms to beer and popcorn. Currently, NextSpace on 92 S. Second is the only co-working location in Downtown San Jose.

WeWork is a $10 billion company (with 30,000 members) that is looking to build its first Silicon Valley location in Downtown San Jose. While the company has five offices in San Francisco, there are none in the South Bay.

The rumor is that they are looking to lease between 70,000 and 90,000 SQFT of office space from the Towers@2nd complex on Second Street. These are twin high-rises with Ike's Sandwiches and ISO:Beers on the ground floor. It is also the complex housing the San Jose Mercury News.

If this comes to fruition, it will mean a lot more startups coming to Downtown San Jose. This would no doubt continue to drive the cultural Renaissance Downtown San Jose is experiencing and help fill vacancies with office and retail. Downtown is proving to be an ideal place where people can work, live, and play. As entrepreneurs graduate from co-working to their own dedicated spaces, there are options of all shapes and sizes in Downtown San Jose along with enough housing coming online to put their workers withing walking distance. The future is coming, and it's looking good.

Source: SVBJ

Playful People Productions Presents: Guys and Dolls

Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls JR, is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend, nightclub performer Adelaide,whose chronic flu is brought on by the fact she's been engaged to the same man for 14 years. Nathan turns to the slick, high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced and pure-at-heart missionary Sarah Brown. Guys And Dolls JR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

Guys and Dolls is a cornerstone of the musical comedy stage that continues to delight audiences over 50 years after its Broadway premiere. Featuring the songs "Luck be a Lady" and "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat," this musical is the perfect balance of story, dance, music, and romance.

Our shows often sell out prior to the show weekend. Be sure to buy your tickets early, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic production.

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

Show Times:
Friday, November 6th - 7:00pm
Saturday, November 7th -11:00am, 3:00pm  and 7:00pm
Sunday, November 8th - 11:00am, and 3:00pm


Tickets available at www.playfulpeople.net
$12 attendees 12 and up, $8 children 11 and under,  and $6 Children’s floor seating

Tickets at the door (30 minutes prior to curtain)
$15 attendees 12 and up, $10 children 11 and under, and $6 Children’s floor seating


Founded in 2010, Playful People Production’s mission is to provide a quality, caring environment where children, teens and their families can have positive theater experiences. We strive to involve all family members in the many aspects of on stage and backstage theater in a safe and fun environment and offer participation in theatrical productions, classes, summer stock and camps for ages 3-93.

Playful People Productions is run by a mother-daughter team, Barbara Galiotto and Katie D’ Arcey, who between them have approximately 50 years of experience in the musical theater world. Both are Positive Discipline trained and worked as early Childhood Educators as well as in the theater.

Happy Halloween 2015!!!

Hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween tonight! Do you have a favorite neighborhood for trick-or-treating? Post it in the comments.

Sourisseau News: Ice Cold Beer!

In the latest installment of Sourisseau News, learn about the history of beer in San Jose. The local beer scene is exploding today, but its history goes back over 150 years. Eagle Brewery was founded in 1853 by a German immigrant and was the first brewery in San Jose. The brewery itself was located the corner of Market and San Carlos, where the Westin San Jose (previously the Saint Claire) currently sits. For the rest of the story, you'll have to watch the two minute video below!


Ice Cold Beer! from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

The New San Jose Patent Office is Open for Business!

Silicon Valley's Patent Office is officially open at City Hall, taking about 35,000 SQFT between three floors. After fierce competition regarding where the office would be located, Downtown San Jose scored a huge win thanks to a lucrative offer from the city.

The Patent Office is currently open to the public. Not only are there several computers that can be used for patent research, but they are offering free courses on topics such as starting companies, trademarks, and the process for registering patents.

The Silicon Valley Business Journal grabbed some photos of the interior a couple weeks ago, and it looks more like a tech office than a government office (minus the court room). Hit the source link for more information and the full photo-set.

Source: SVBJ

San Jose Might Become First City in California to Get Google Fiber

Google Fiber is quite possibly the best internet service provider in the United States. Residents that are lucky enough to live in one of the very limited number of Google "Fiberhoods" are able to purchase 1,000 Mbps internet access (download and upload) for $70/mo. That is many times faster than the fastest "elite" services that Comcast and AT&T offer, at a fraction of the cost. You can also add 150 TV channels for another $60. Even those that do not purchase the service benefit, competing internet providers are forced to offer faster services and/or drop prices in order to compete with Google.

If you are strapped for cash and live in an area serviced by Google Fiber, no worries. You can also choose to get 5 Mbps internet access at no cost--$0/mo. Elementary Schools in Fiberhoods get the Gigabit internet service at no cost. The service is so attractive that several companies moved to Kansas City specifically to get Google Fiber. The internet has become an integral part of people's lives, and no one understands this more than the people living in Google's backyard... so when are San Joseans getting Google Fiber?!

Now the good news. Google has applied for permits to build two shelters called "Fiber Huts" in San Jose. These are the structures required to roll out Google Fiber, and Google would not be building them unless they are serious about an expansion of the service to San Jose. The rumor is that an official announcement for the service could come as early as next month!

If San Jose is selected for Google Fiber service, they would install 2,300 miles of fiber (some below ground and some using utility poles). Existing infrastructure would be utilized, so disruptions should be minimal. This would be another big win for San Jose. It seems like we're on a roll lately with good news around major development and infrastructure projects!

Source: The Merc

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

UPDATED: Added a couple new ideas that were submitted this month

In what has become a San Jose Blog October tradition, today we have a Wednesday Wishlist post for Halloween in the Park. The idea is to build on the momentum that Christmas in the Park brings to San Jose each year and create something of similar scale for the month of October with Halloween in the Park! A lot of the infrastructure such as wiring, lighting, and booths might even be able to be shared between the events. The goal would be to make Downtown San Jose the epicenter of October Halloween experiences.

Below you will find brainstorming ideas we have collected for this concept so far over the years. Please have a look and provide your feedback and suggestions in the comments. Thanks!

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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 Area. It's economic impact is substantial and helps keep many Downtown businesses and restaurants alive.

What would you think about a similar event for Halloween? Picture Downtown lit up in orange and purple with elaborate Halloween displays assembled by local artists. Perhaps 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 summer months and Christmas in the Park. Here are the ideas we have so far:

• Animated Halloween Displays
• Created by 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 programmable LED 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/take-down costs.
• Halloween Food
• Booths with candied apples, chocolates, candy, pumpkin seeds, etc.
• Food trucks
• Trick-or-treating station - a free piece of candy to anyone wearing a costume any day in October (could also be used to hand out promotional flyers for Downtown events/businesses/resources)
• 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
• Pirates of Emerson and Candlelighters (Fremont) do a good job of providing family-friendly games themed around Halloween
• A handful of children's rides could also be added to the Paseo and reused for Christmas in the Park
• Interactive Art
• ZERO1-style, but with a Halloween spin.
• Halloween-themed video game kiosks and/or arcades
• 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. 
• 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 / Mazes
• Would be ideal if these were nearby, perhaps in vacant retails spaces, surface parking lots, the San Jose Convention Center tent, or at SJSU.
• Could partners with one of the established San Jose haunt providers such as Deadtime Dreams or The World's Largest Haunted House.
• Potential Events
• Zombie-O-Rama can be used to kick off Halloween in the Park (late Sep. / early Oct. time-frame)
• Zombie Crawl
• Dia De Los Muertos Events
• Halloween/Dia De Los Muertos Bike Party
• Horror Movie Trivia Contest
• Weekly horror movie screening (perhaps in the Circle of Palms area?)
• Costume Ball

Inspirations:

• Candle Lighters
• Pirates of Emerson
• The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze (photos below)