Veggielution Olympics

Coming August 6th, replacing our workday that Saturday.

Have some fun, win prizes, and support our youth program Dig Crew (and help our summer youth leader Alyssa Quinonez represent us at the National Rooted in Community Conference in Philadelphia, P.A.
Our summer youth leader Alyssa Quinonez will be representing Veggielution and the Dig Crew this summer at the national Rooted In Community conference held in Philadelphia, PA.  Rooted In Community is a national grassroots network of diverse youth and adults working together and committed to fostering healthy communities and food justice through urban and rural agriculture, community gardening, food security, and related environmental justice work.  Alyssa and fellow youth will work to create the Youth Food Bill of Rights to be presented to congress at the conference.  There is even word of presenting it to the First Lady!  For more information, please visit rootedincommunity.org
Alyssa has been working hard to plan and coordinate the Farm Olympics as a way to support her trip to Philadelphia.  She will be participating in the events and gathering donations for her trip.

Sponsor Alyssa

Prizes and Games!

Family-fun, including corn shucking, watermelon seed-spitting, giant vegetable toss, cherry tomato chubby-bunny, relay races, and a corn-on-the-cob eating contest. All this will lead up to our main event, the Weed-a-Thon, with contestants scouring the farm for our Most Wanted weeds and weighing in their bounty at the end to win one of many exciting prizes donated by local businesses.
REGISTER BY AUGUST 2nd!

Saturday Stats: San Jose Ranks #1 in Longevity

Here's a nice statistic for you all. San Jose has the best life expectancy out of any city in the United States! We just barely beat out Honolulu for the top spot. With friendly people, great weather, and low crime... this shouldn't come as a huge shock. Click here to see the full list.

World's Largest Heart Made of People

If you are looking of something really unique to do this Saturday, someone is going for the Guinnness World Record for the largest heart made out of people at the Children's Discovery Museum. For all of the details, check out their Facebook page!

Time	Saturday, July 30 · 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Location	The Field Next To The Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
Created By	Albert Ricardez, Armando Ricardez
More Info	GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD! James Bowser is inviting everyone to join him in breaking the current world record in the Guinness Book of World Records by making The World's Largest Heart Made of People. This event will take place on Saturday in the park next to the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose @3:00pm On July 30th Please bring own refreshments and some to share if possible :) Location: 180 Woz Way San Jose, CA 95110 COME WITH ARM'S OPEN AND READY TO JOIN IN THE HEART PLEASE INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!! HOSTED BY: JAMES BOWSER email: ArtOfPrinting@yahoo.com

"Celestial Summer" Debuts at Axis

Today Axis is hosting an opening celebration for Celestial Summer, the latest exhibition at the Axis Art Gallery featuring photographs taken from the Hubble Space Telescope. You can also enjoy refreshments, tours, and see art works from over 50 local artists in the Axis lobby. If you feel like taking in some views, you can also have a look at the model homes on the 12th floor and the Penthouses.

It all goes down between 5:30pm - 7:30pm tonight at 38 N. Almaden #101.

Downtown San Jose Restaurant List Updates!

I added a brand new page to the Downtown San Jose Restaurants database to make it easier to track changes made to the document. We now have 202 Downtown San Jose Restaurants in the list, along with tons of useful information like numbers, websites, hours, yelp reviews, and costs. Below is a list of the latest changes from the changelog tab:

• 6/19/2011 Changelog started
• 6/19/2011 Thepthai closed
• 6/28/2011 Maceio closed
• 7/1/2011 Popeye's is now Southern Fried Chicken
• 7/5/2011 Added A & K Noodle House on 304 E. Santa Clara St.
• 7/5/2011 Added Osheyo at 273 E. San Fernando St.
• 7/5/2011 Added Peanuts Deluxe Cafe at 273 E. San Fernando St.

If you haven't bookmarked it yet, here's the link to the spreadsheet! There is also a permanent link over to the right entitled Downtown San Jose Restaurants.

Yogurtland is Coming Downtown

A brand new Yogurtland is coming to Downtown San Jose near SJSU at 125 E. San Carlos Street.  Some of you may remember this as the old Gamestop space. Thanks to Arlene for the tip!

The Tech After Hours

The Tech Museum is planning to but open from 6pm -11pm one day each month. The next night-time museum event is scheduled for next Wednesday and will include glow-in-the dark drinks, games, music, and dancing. Sounds pretty interesting! More details below:

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

Like our new After Hours Facebook page!   Music and Games Galore
presented by homefrys
Wednesday, August 3
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Get your game face on.
Enjoy music, dancing and games galore! From Nintendo Wii, made-up games by guests, and lots more board games.

Sip on a glow-in-the-dark "Tech-Tini" from our no-host bar.

Explore the entire museum under moody blue lighting and contemporary sounds as you decide whether to play a bevy of board and party games!

Limited cafe menu available for purchase.

Buy Tickets
Tickets are $12.00; $10:00 for members.
Call for group rate for 10 or more!

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

Microchip Technology Moves to San Jose

Another company is choosing to make their San Jose their corporate headquarters. Microchip Technology is moving from Sunnyvale to 98,423 sqft on 450 Holger Way in North San Jose. For more information and a great article on companies deciding to move to our city click here.

VTA Offering Free 4G Wireless to Riders

VTA is the first mass transit agency on the globe to offer a 4G wireless network on ALL trains. The new system launched a week ago on the entire fleet of 100 light rail trains. This is a huge value add that will hopefully get more Silicon Valley residents taking public transit. More info right over here.

The Usuals Event & Contest Tonight

The Usuals Present:
A Photographic Exhibit by Mark J. Sebastian Featuring FlavorInnovator
…Friday, July 22, 2011, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Music by Cutso and Weezy of The Bangerz and DJ Bluz, DJ ThuyVu
Photobooth by John Dsr Agcaoili
Treatbot Karaoke
The art, of course!

MoGo BBQ
Treatbot: The Karaoke Ice Cream Truck

Make sure to get your hair did because John Dsr Agcaoili of Darkside of the Moon Photography & Design will be shooting a free photo booth session in the back with music provided by Dj ThuyVu and DJ Bluz. John is also on Booty Duty, so don’t be surprised if there are some girls milling around. In our store-front window, we will have none other than DJs Cutso and SquareWeezy of the Bangerz crew, serving tracks so hot, you’re going to need a mask to prevent your face from melting. Outside, MoGo BBQ will be providing korean BBQ style burritos and tacos while Treatbot: The Karaoke Ice Cream truck will be serving up dessert along karaoke while introducing two new flavors.

Artist and Venue Info
Mark J. Sebastian
www.markjsebastian.com

FlavorInnovator
www.flavorinnovator.com

The Usuals
www.shoptheusuals.com

July 2011 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• This year's Golden Nail award is going to Redevelopment Agency Executive Directory Harry Mavrogenes for his many years of service to Downtown San Jose.
• Christmas in the Park is seeking $240,000 in additional funding to continue to operate during the holidays.  They are planning to raise this amount through additional corporate sponsorships.
• 16 new artworks created by local high school students have been added to the Downtown Doors program, including new vinyl pieces on utility doors in the Downtown core.
• NextSpace Coworking is now open at 97 S. Second and provides virtual infrastructure for freelancers, telecommuters, and entrepreneurs. Visit their site at www.nextspace.us
• The TechShop is now open at 300 S. Second.
• In just 2 months of leasing, Three Sixty Residences is already 25% occupied!
• 3 new "tree islands" were added to San Pedro Street and overall walk-ability was improved
• 8 new bronze koalas were improted from Mexico and installed on the eucalyptus trees on San Carlos Street.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Hitchcock's "The Birds" Tonight @ Post St.

I love how related events are being integrated into Downtown San Jose's Starlight Cinema series.  Last week's feature--The Big Lebowski--had an impressions contest and "Lebowski" drink specials in SoFA.  Fido in August will be coordinated alongside a zombie crawl.  And this week's feature will have a Bird Parade before the showing of, well, The Birds. Below is some info pulled from the Sherman Cellar's newsletter, which is a cool little wine shop on Post St. where this week's feature will be playing tonight.

Post Street Movie Night

Downtown San Jose! 

If you are a fan of Creekview

 

Click to View Video

Vineyards wine and you love classic movies, this next Post Street Movie is for you! 

On Wednesday July 20, Post Street Merchants and the Downtown Association present Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" for your nightmare causing entertainment.  Just to wet your whistle, Andy's Pet Shopwill lead a Parade of Birds (have one?  bring it on down) right here in front of Sherman Cellars.  You will not want to miss this movie. 

By the way, Creekview Vineyards wines will be featured at all of the Post Street and San Pedro Square movie nights: click HERE for a complete listing of Starlight Cinema Movies, and the pre-show entertainment! 

Chihuahuas in San Jose

Guest Post by Melissa Lisbon:

For many months, our local shelter, the San Jose Animal Care Center (http://sanjoseanimals.com) has been inundated with dogs, especially small dogs.  Almost 50% of these small dogs are Chihuahuas or Chihuahua mixes.  As a result of the July 4th holiday, the single worst day of the year for pets going missing, the shelter took in an extraordinary number of frightened animals, including a high number of chis.  

Why do we have so many Chihuahuas in San Jose?  Many people believe it is due to the trend set by Hollywood where Chihuahuas act as an "accessory" - thank you Paris Hilton!  The reality is that many people are still not spaying and neutering their chihuahuas and are trying to make a profit from breeding these dogs.

San Jose Animal Advocates (http://sjanimaladvocates.org), a community group dedicated to raising awareness of the homeless pet situation in San Jose, is trying to help bring attention to this issue and engage the community with this ongoing problem.  On Saturday, July 23rd, San Jose Animal Advocates will be hosting a fundraiser, "Buy a book, Save a Dog".  Community donated books, magazines, cds, and movies will be sold to raise money for two local groups who are making a positive impact on the chihuahua dilemma in San Jose.  Proceeds will be split between PAWS for SJACS (http://paws4sjacs.org) and The Perfect Dog (http://theperfectdog.org).  PAWs for SJACS is a non profit organization which supports the San Jose Animal Care Center and funds out-of-state animal transports.  With the money from the fundraiser on the 23rd, we hope to be able to fund another transport of chihuahua mixes to a humane society in Oregon or Washington state.  The Perfect Dog is a local dog rescue group that saves dogs from the San Jose Animal Care Center and the South County Animal Shelter in San Martin (south of San Jose).  Proceeds from this fundraiser will help this local dog rescue to afford to save more shelter dogs.

San Jose Animal Advocates, PAWs for SJACS and The Perfect Dog have also teamed up to develop a website that is specifically geared toward the Chihuahua breed and the Chihuahua crisis in California.  The name of the website is ChiFriends (http://chifriends.org) and the goal is to raise awareness about this great breed of dog and to act as a resource for other area dog rescue groups and shelters.

What else can you do to help with the Chihuahua crisis in San Jose?

 - Adopt a chi from the San Jose Animal Care Center (there is a July adoption special for chis, only requiring licensing fees) 

 - Spread the word about the importance of spaying/neutering your pets

 - Consider becoming a dog foster parent which allows rescue organizations to save more dogs

Two Buck Tuesday Today!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Join us for an inspired evening of art demos, performances, live painting, scrumptious tastings,  $2 art & quirky people get together!!

Two Buck Tuesdays at KALEID Gallery
Tuesday, July 19th, 7-10pm
It's free and open to all ages!


Shannon Amidon will be creating and demonstrating her unique hand woven photographs.  http://shannonamidon.com/


David Mejia our resident portrait artist will draw your portrait on the spot for a small fee.


Jodi will teach a free sugar skull demo.  She will provide colored icing to decorate your skull as well as diamonds and other decorations to personalize it. Join in, get creative and make something beautiful! This month there will also be a a cupcake decoration station for you sugar lovers!


This month we have two unique henna tattoo artists, Laurel and Lisa Mejia, who will adorn you will beautiful designs both traditional and contemporary for a small fee.


Michael Denning will be creating art buttons out of his "Zen" drawings as well as helping you to create your very own art buttons out of collage and drawings for Two Bucks. Each button is 2.5" and will cost you Two Bucks to make and take home. Proceeds from his sales will help to benefit non-profit Project Knew Groove, a charity art organization based in Half Moon Bay. He’s also selling copies of his new book for $10. The first 50 copies are autographed and personally numbered. The cover was created on an antique hand-operated tabletop letterpress and all the books are hand stitched.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Denning-Heart-of-Chaos-Artisan/51790415784


Do you love plants but have very little time to care for them? Are you an apartment dweller with limited space? Never fear! Lara Sophia will help you make your very own terrarium! A miniature environment in a bottle, terrariums require very little attention, take up very little space and look great. She will have everything you need to create your own tiny, living world. Bring your own bottle or jar or use one provided for a small fee.
Lara Sophia will also be collecting lightly used shoes for Soles for Souls. Donate shoes to someone in need!
http://www.soles4souls.org/


Featured KALEID Artist Sean Sczepanik will be on site painting live and available to discuss monsters, cartoons and horror films in relation to Layers of Age in Monster Land- a dual site specific mural and exhibition with Steven Sczepanik (which ends July 19th after Two Buck Tuesday!)
http://shoeboxproduction.net/sean/


Crafting for Cheapskates Brings You: Sody Pop Art!
Can you believe it? We have finally improved on Kick the Can! Cut 'em up and create the perfect starburst frame for your brand new collage that you'll make at 2BT. Stick a pin on the back or hang it on your wall- either way, your friends will kick themselves for not thinking of it first. Don't feel like collaging? We'll take only a little offense to your whining, so it's a good thing that you can use an un-decorated sody can as an ashtray or take it home to insert your own photo. Just make it yours.
Pals Jo Anne and Courtney make art on the cheap by using crap from around the house.
http://craftingforcheapskates.blogspot.com/


Robyn Wilson will bring her handmade custom hula hoops for us to play with!
http://www.RobynsHoops.com


Ruben from The School of Arts and Cultures @ MHP will be sharing information about his art program The Art of Drawing Heros while students live paint.  The Art of Drawing Heroes teaches students more than how to draw people but how to better communicate through the practice of art and culture.


photo by Hannah Arista
A feature performance by Tahira: The Pure | Dance Theatre (PDT), a contemporary modern dance company. PDT produces a wide variety of conscious art and uses dance as an avenue for education and awareness of injustices. Using the universal language of art, we believe dance shatters paradigms, transcends through culture and cuts right to the heart.
http://www.wix.com/imanitahira/pdt


Cipacteo will demonstrate Aztec crafts and may also honor us with another impromptu Aztec Dance performance!


LIVE ARTISTS:

Force 129   http://force129.blogspot.com/

Kori Thompson
Andre Hart   http://www.facebook.com/TheAndreHart

Maria Guerra
Ivan Gonzalez

Kimy Martinez   http://www.kimyart.com
Sean Sczepanik
Kimi Star

EAZ    http://eaz-one.com


Chef David Ramsey will be providing samples of scrumptious food from Myth, a new Mediterranean Fusion restaurant which just opened in downtown SJ http://www.mythsj.com/

Haley Goodlet will be making snow cones for $2!  5 nummy flavors to choose from.                                                                                                                              
Sugar & Spice Amber Rogers and Theresa Dunnavant return to tantalize your taste buds with their sweet and savory treats!

As always, $2 art will be on sale throughout the evening!
Tuesday, July 19th, 7-10 pm - free & all ages welcome!


KALEID Gallery 
88 South 4th Street 


Downtown San Jose
http://

www.KALEIDgallery.com
(408) 947 1785

Italian Night Earthquakes Game this Wednesday

From Little Italy San Jose:

Wednesday July 20th will be "Italian Night" hosted by Little Italy San Jose as the San Jose Earthquakes face off with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University. "Italian Festivities" begin at 5:30pm and the games starts at 7:30pm. Pasquale will sing the Italian, American, and Canadian National Anthem. We will have Italian games, Italian food and wine, and special Little Italy Earthquake jerseys signed by the entire team sold as a fundraiser. Tickets are $18 each and $6 of each ticket sold goes to Little Italy 501c3. Please buy your ticket from us to ensure we get credit.

Follow the Link to buy your Ticket:
http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?pid=6965267&agency=MXED_TGS17

or send us an email for tickets jcmelander@yahoo.com

Buy "Italian Night" Tickets here

San Jose Could Get High Speed Rail This Decade

The California High Speed Rail Authority has been getting a lot of flack for the proposed first phase of the HSR system that will one day connect all major cities in California. They are planning on building the least expensive (and least controversial) portion of the track first which would would essentially connect Fresno and Bakersfield, giving it the nickname "the train to nowhere." Now, they are saying that before revenue service begins, they will extend the tracks either to San Jose OR south to Palmdale or San Fernando Valley.

If the San Jose route is chosen, that means that we could have access to the fastest rail system in the country this decade. A 250-mile trip between Downtown San Jose and Bakersfield would take just 1 hour and 49 minutes. There would also be a second Santa Clara County station in Gilroy. For more info, click here.

Global Social Benefit Incubator 2011

I know quite a few entrepreneurs read this blog and I just wanted to quickly plug an event going on next month at Santa Clara University centering around social/philanthropic entrepreneurship. All of the details are below!

Register Today! GSBI 2011!

Please join Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society for a day of business plan summary presentations by the 2011 Global Social Benefit Incubator entrepreneurs from around the world. Products and services developed by the 2011 class include: biogas-powered milk coolers for Ugandan farmers; microfranchise training and employment opportunities for slum youth in Kenya; probiotics to improve health in Mexico; solar-powered chicken and egg production in Haiti; and women-created fashion and furniture from recycled garbage in the Philippines.  Agenda Thursday, August 18, 2011  Mayer Theatre, Performing Arts Complex,  Santa Clara University  Continental Breakfast 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.   Morning Business Plan Summary Presentations 8:00 a.m. - 12:25 p.m. (Clean Energy sector presentations) Lunch 12:25 p.m. - 1:25 p.m. Afternoon Business Plan Summary Presentations 1:25 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Reception 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Register Today! GSBI Class of 2011 Federico Maria Grati : Agroils SRL – Smart Oil, Ghana, www.agroils.com Lesley Silverthorn : Angaza Design, East Africa, www.angazadesign.com Salinee Tavaranan : Border Green Energy Team, Thailand / Burma, www.bget.org Henry Osadolor : Centre for Community Development - Nutrition On Your Doorstep, Nigeria Hakeem Adebola Lawal : Design Peak - My Cola Light, Nigeria, www.designpeak.dk Ola Abraham : EastWind Laboratories, Nigeria Slavka Macakova : ETP Slovakia – Centre for Sustainable Development, Slovakia, www.etp.sk Shawn Frayne : Haddock Invention LLC, Guatemala, www.haddockinvention.com Guirlaine Celius : Haiti Community Development Inc., Haiti Jeroen Verschelling : Kamworks Ltd. – MoonLight, Cambodia, www.kamworks.com Maria Springer : iSmart Ben Lyon : Kopo Kopo Inc., Global, www.kopokopo.com Julian Cuevas : Kurago Biotek, Mexico, www.kuragobiotek.com Mark Joaquin Ruiz : MicroVentures Inc. – Hapinoy, Philippines, www.hapinoy.com Piyush Jaju : Punam Energy Private Ltd. – ONergy, India, www.onergy.in Therese Clarence Fernandez-Ruiz : Rags2Riches, Inc., Philippines, www.rags2riches.ph Katherine Lucey : Solar Sister, Uganda, www.solarsister.org William Kisaalita : Thermogenn, Uganda Sebastian Ernesto Africano : Trees, Water & People, Haiti, www.treeswaterpeople.org Jessica Mayberry : Video Volunteers, India, www.videovolunteers.org

About the Global Social Benefit Incubator The GSBI empowers socially-minded entrepreneurs to build economically sustainable organizations and to solve problems for people living in poverty around the world. The signature program of the Center for Science, Technology, and Society at Santa Clara University, this capacity and skill-building program combines online and in-residence exercises with training and mentoring from academic leaders and Silicon Valley executives over an intensive eight-month period. Entrepreneurs graduate from the program with practical and strategic business tools to allow their companies to “scale”, meaning they increase revenue faster than expenses.   More Information About the Center for Science, Technology, and Society The mission of the Center for Science, Technology, and Society (CSTS) is to promote the use of science and technology to benefit underserved communities worldwide, primarily by working with socially-minded entrepreneurs.  The CSTS implements its mission through its signature program, the Global Social Benefit Incubator, its partnership with The Tech Museum in The Tech Awards program, Frugal Innovation, social capital services, and its numerous educational and public engagement activities. Through these programs, the Center has worked with nearly 1,000 social enterprises affording the Center unique insights into leading business models and innovations for the developing world and emerging markets. More Information

AXIS Bans Smoking

AXIS residents voted to officially become a NON-SMOKING building. This goes so far as to include even outdoor balconies and patios. I think this is a good move and will create a healthier and more family-friendly environment for residents and guests. Hopefully The 88 and City Heights will follow suit.

Sunflower Coming to San Jose

There has been a lot of retail news lately. It seems like we'll soon be filling up a lot of empty storefronts.

Sunflower Farmers Market is coming to what used to be an OSH in South San Jose (1130 Branham). The store should open in Q3 2012, creating 100 jobs.

Cavium Returns to San Jose

Cavium is a networking company that started in 2000 in three small office rooms in San Jose. As they grew they moved to Santa Clara and then Mountain View. Now they're coming back to San Jose and are taking over 113,831 sqft on North First Street. Forbes recently named this company one of the top 5 fastest growing technology companies in the US. This could be a very big win for the city if they continue to expand and bring more jobs to San Jose.  For more info, check out the print edition of the San Jose business journal (pages 1 and 24).

San Jose Made Event This Weekend!

Come support local vendors and clothiers at the SJMADE event this weekend in San Jose's midtown district! The past couple events were a huge success, so let's keep fueling the flame for quality local products.

Photolog: Nigel Who? Fashion Show

I happened to stumble upon this event and thought this should be a fun night out.  I figured with a brand name such as Nigel Who? the designs must be as interesting.  I’m no male fashionista (I would like to consider myself Geek Chic but that’s probably pushing it.  By the way is there a word for male fashionista?) but I like what I saw.

Ronnie Bogle’s, the designer of Nigel Who?, 2011 Summer Collection made use of cooling colors and fabrics.  Not only that but a lot of the designs had a sense of flow, movement and bounce.  Below are examples of pillowy bouncy dresses.

But the summer isn’t just about showing lots of skin.  There are also wonderful free flowing full dresses that would look great when a warm summer wind went by.

The range of designs is very diverse but they all stuck with the main principles.

 

 The event itself had a great turnout.  Even the kids were enjoying themselves.

To read more about Ronnie Bogle you can head over and read the article on the Content.

To see more designs head over to our Facebook T2L site.