Beavers Find the Way Back to San Jose

Well, I can honestly say that I had no idea beavers ever existed in the Bay Area. For the first time in 150 years, beavers have apparently returned to the Guadalupe River and made a home for themselves within the Downtown San Jose area. Even the beavers see the value in moving Downtown! Check out the video below and the source link for all the info.

Thanks Dan for the tip!

Source: Bay Nature

Saturday Stats: San Jose Leads the Nation in Tech Jobs per Capita

A staggering 33% of all jobs in the San Jose metro are related to Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (also known as STEM jobs). This is higher than any other region in the US. The Washington DC area came in second place with 27%. SF and New York did not even make the top 10 list.

The report also found that areas with high concentrations of STEM jobs are likely to see higher wages, better employment rates, and faster growth. To see the Top 10 list, just click the image below.

Source: SVBJ, Brookings Institute

Click to Enlarge!

The Blackbird Tavern Opens Today!

The official opening date of the Blackbird Tavern has arrived. Perched at the corner of 200 South 1st Street across from MUJI and the Fairmont Hotel, this is one of the most highly anticipated restaurants coming Downtown this year. Brought to you by the same guys as the Naglee Park Garage, the food is likely going to please. Top it off with an impressive bar and live music, and folks I think we're going to have a real hit here. Go check it out and let us know what you think in the comments!

Downtown San Jose Bitter Beer Crawl Tonight

In a sign of the burgeoning better beer scene in downtown San Jose, there’s a bar hop taking place tonight starting at 7 p.m. at Market Beer Co. inside San Pedro Square Market.

With stops at O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub, The Brit, and Good Karma Vegan Café, this beer crawl is organized to showcase some of the downtown spots serving good beer as well as to help your favorite, local beer bar participate in this year’s Stone Bitter Beer challenge. More information can be found here.

Market Beer Company - first stop on the Bitter Beer Crawl in downtown San Jose. Credits: Andy Lee

San Jose Earthquakes' Stadium is Making Progress

With a $1.4 billion stadium rising in Santa Clara, it is easy to forget about the Earthquakes' new stadium. The total cost of this project is going to be $60 million, which is almost a rounding error compared to what the 49ers are spending (they recently announced an extra $75 million on tech upgrades alone). However, having a soccer-specific stadium for the Earthquakes will energize both the team and fans and help take the world's favorite sport to the next level in the Bay Area. Now that ground has been broken and construction is getting into full swing, I think you'll be seeing the Quakes' stadium a lot more in the news. The final product will seat 18,000 people and be home to the largest outdoor bar in North America. Frankly, I can't wait to see how this one turns out.

Source: The Merc

Earthlink is Returning to San Jose!

Talk about a blast from the past. Earthlink was one of the key players in the early days of the internet, back when dial-up was the norm and anything above 56k was considered "high-speed." Back then they competed with companies like AOL and Compuserve. Earthlink used to have a presence in Downtown San Jose, and one of the high-rises even donned the company insignia for several years. After the bubble burst, they ended up consolidating offices.

Now Earthlink is coming back to San Jose, and they are doing so in style. The company is planning to open a huge new data center for its cloud-hosting platform along with a sales office. To top it off they are even acquiring a Sunnyvale-based company called CenterBeam. They are making a big investment in Silicon Valley, so it looks like they are planning to stick around for quite a while this time.

Source: SVBJ

Discover San Jose Retail Store Opens Today!

If this isn't a sign of the times I don't know what is. Yet another retail store is opening up Downtown, and this one is all about San Jose pride! The Discover San Jose store will be located at 150 South 1st Street across from the Fairmont Plaza and will carry souvenirs, historic artifacts, San Jose art, and more. They picked a really good central location and I'm sure store will do wonders in getting the San Jose brand out there more.

The ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening are both happening this afternoon and will feature free food, drinks, and gifts. For more information click here!

New (Non-Downtown) San Jose Restaurants!

There have been a ton of anonymous posts on the blog mentioning new restaurants that are opening all around San Jose. I am conveniently grouping all of the non-Downtown ones into this post. Again most of the posts were anonymous, so feel free to take credit in the comments if you submitted these =).

• Santana Row
• Fogo de Chao (replacing Chili's) - epic win for San Jose... this is a world-renowned and highly-rated Brazilian steakhouse. The only other location in California is in Beverly Hills.
• Nicholson Plaza (N. First, center with Round Table and Subway)
• EatViet - this looks like a Vietnamese version of Chipotle, pretty interesting concept
• Crescent Village
• Wahoo's Fish Tacos
• 2-3 other leases pending
• Brokaw Commons
• Bonchon
• Pieology
• @First
• Sajj - Falafels, Shawarmas, and other Mediterranean fare
• San Jose Market Center (Coleman, on Downtown's border)
• Chick-Fil-A (second in San Jose)
• Smashburger (first in Silicon Valley)

San Jose - Century of Hospitality at the MLK Library

San Jose - Century of Hospitality - MLK Library June 24 - Oct. 25, 2013 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Throughout its history, San Jose’s hospitality was world famous, accommodating everyone, from gold prospectors and tourists to the captains of industry.

As the gold rush ended, miners settled and took up farming. San Jose expanded its role as a supply center and became a transportation hub. Local hotels expanded their rooms, including new amenities such as entertainment, saloons, restaurants and retail shops. Tourism flourished with as famous visitors like Thomas Edison and President McKinley came to the city.

Experience the beautiful photos and compelling memorabilia from a century of change in San Jose’s hospitality industry. Presented by the Sourisseau Academy for State and Local History at the downtown Martin Luther King Library.

You’ll see and witness how life dramatically changed from a sleepy Pueblo population to the first State Capital to a modern metropolis.

Content Magazine - Issue 5.2 Pick-up Party

The best magazine in San Jose is hosting yet another pick-up party for it's readers, contributors, and featured personalities tomorrow. What makes this one even more special than its predecessors is the location... Blackbird Tavern! You'll get an exclusive sneak peak into Downtown San Jose's latest watering hole and bistro, and I think it's going to be awesome. To top it off, you will even get a free drink just for showing up. Seriously, what other magazine would do this kind of stuff for its readers?

Map of San Jose Pet Rescues and Shelters

The maps below were created so that the public can be made aware of how many homeless pet organizations are available in the San Jose area. Many of these pets will be euthanized if not adopted, so if you are looking for a pet please start with a local shelter!


Find San Jose Dogs & Puppies


Find San Jose Cats & Kittens

Saturday Stats: San Jose Ranks as the #2 Clean Tech City in the US

Clean Edge has put out a report that looks at clean tech leadership and has ranked all of the metros in the US. Not surprisingly, five of the top 10 were in California. What did surprise me is that San Francisco (which includes San Mateo and Oakland) outranked the San Jose metro. I really have to question this considering the tremendous concentration of clean/green-tech companies in the South Bay. However, #2 among all US Metros is nothing to be disappointed about, especially considering that the next metro on the list was not even close to San Jose.

Source: Silicon Beat

Mass Produce Original Thought @ Empire Seven Studios

Mass Produce Original Thought! combines found, acquired, and artist-made objects with text and image to comment on the place of the individual in our manufactured environment. In this exhibition, typographic voice is given to a wide range of objects. The skateboard deck, a mass-produced consumer good often associated with the seeking of rebellious symbolism, is employed as canvas for a range of messages from sexual angst to societal yearnings. Street signs, fallout shelter signs, and land mine markers are repurposed in poetic conversations between their original and newly imposed messages. Type is integrated into antiques, vintage family artifacts, as well as new materials, by means of sandblasting, painting, laser etching, toner transfer, and letterpress. The result is a conversation of forms that brushes aside distinctions between art, design, and poetry.

Show will run June 14-July 6
Gallery hours: Wednesday and Friday 12-6pm, Saturday 12-4pm

SF Design Week Silicon Valley Party
Wednesday, June 26 from 7-10pm
Artist talk at 8pm

Downtown Willow Glen Hosts the 18th ‘Dancin’ on the Avenue’ On Saturday, June 22 from 2 PM to 8 PM On Lincoln Avenue in the Heart of Willow Glen

San Jose, CA – May 8, 2013  --- On Saturday, June 22 the Willow Glen Business Association will host the ‘Dancin’ on the Avenue’ community and family-friendly festival. Presented by CEFCU, this year’s ‘Dancin’ on the Avenue’ has garnered much community and business support. The street fair will host live music, 15 various food vendors as well as a family atmosphere featuring a Kids’ Court with kid-centric  games and activities.

“This year’s “Dancin’ On the Avenue” will offer the community a fun-filled and family-friendly festival along Lincoln Avenue,” said Valerie Merklin, Executive Director of the Willow Glen Business Association. “Lincoln Avenue is the place to be on June 22!”

Here are a few of the highlights at this year’s “Dancin’ on the Avenue” event:
Four stages will feature an eclectic mix of live music and entertainment, including:  The Cruzers’ rock to soul dance music; SlingTown’s country sound with 7-part harmony with acoustic “attitude”; acoustic rock from Blue House Band; and a top 40 high-energy mash-up from The Peelers. The Community Stage will present family favorite Grammy-nominated David Sharpe and The PapaHugs Band as well as well as performances from local dance groups and musicians.

The festival will be held on Saturday, June 22 along Lincoln Avenue in downtown Willow Glen from 2 PM to 8 PM.

The Kids’ Court area, sponsored by Intero, Western Bancorp and First American Title will be held in the parking lot of Wells Fargo Bank, and have a  petting zoo, a balloon artist, face-painting, games and crafts for the family-friendliest part of the festival.  Two new attractions have been added this year. LEGO Jeep, sponsored by Miramar Hospitality, will allow children to turn a real car into a movable sculpture covered by LEGO blocks. The All-American Fun Zone will feature classic kid’s games and activities like jacks, hula-hoops, cat’s cradle and paper crafts. There will even be two sand tables for the littlest visitors to enjoy.

A Silicon Valley touch: the Willow Glen Business Association will offer the opportunity to purchase beverage tickets in advance online.   Tickets can be purchased using a credit card by going to:  willowglen.org. Advanced sale beverage tickets must be picked up at the Will Call booth located near 1176 Lincoln Avenue, which will open at 2:30 PM the day of the event.

Admission to the event is free, however security entries will be at the two monitored entrances at Willow and at Minnesota, where purses/backpacks will be checked. No outside containers of any kind – even coffee cups – will be allowed in.

Sponsors of the 2013 “Dancin’ on the Avenue” include: CEFCU, Peak Travel, Sereno Group, Intero, Western Bancorp, First American Title, Del Grande Dealership Group, Wells Fargo Bank, Bright Horizons, Bottomley Distributing, Xfinity Comcast, Solar Universe, Provident Credit Union, Culligan Water, Bank of America and Merrill Edge, Barracuda Networks, Comerica, Bloom Bridal Boutique, DeMattei Construction, ProTemp Accounting, Miramar Hospitality, Classic Car Wash, San Jose Montessori School, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, and KRTY/KLIV Empire Broadcasting.

# # #

About the Willow Glen Business Association:

Willow Glen’s merchants have been organized, active and supportive of the community since the 1930’s. By 1988, the Willow Glen Business Association and a Business Improvement District (BID) were in place to assist local business maintain and promote downtown Willow Glen as an ideal place to eat, shop and locate new business. In 2010, the BID gave way to the formation of a CBID with the same goals.

“Dancin’ on The Avenue” is sponsored by the Willow Glen Business Association. Funds generated from the event go towards supporting other projects for the local business district such as holiday events, beautification projects and financial support of local schools.

# # #

The Farmers Union is Opening June 28th!

After sitting vacant since Agave Viejo closed three years ago, the flagship retail space at the corner of San Pedro and Santa Clara is about to burst back to life as The Farmers Union. The restaurant and bar will clock in at 7,000 SQFT, have 60 beers on tap (mostly the craft brew variety), encompass two stories, and be filled with historic photos from San Jose's past. The targeted opening date is next Friday, June 28th. This is a key space to activate since it will welcome visitors to San Pedro Square and is across the street from the new One South high-rise that recently broke ground.

I've said it a dozen times, but I'll say it again... 2013 is going to be a great year for Downtown San Jose!

Source: SVBJ

TWO BUCK Tuesday Today

from Phantom Galleries by PG

Join us at KALEID Gallery for this upcoming TWO BUCK Tuesday, June 18th, 7pm-10pm!

Come enjoy an inspired evening of performances, live painting, $2 art, drop-in sketching table & quirky people get together! It’s open to all ages and free!

Here are some of of the participating artists who will be joining us this time:



Carolann Espino 
will demonstrate working with clay. Specifically she will do hands on demo to create an’ Alice in Wonderland’ Teapot.


David Canavese will be on hand working on his detailed papercraft models. Some of his drawings and detailed micro metal sculptures will also be on display!


Jesse Cupp ran away to join the circus as soon as he could! After living a life of adventure and traveling far and wide, he’s back to amaze and amuse! But just who is this mysterious man… every answer he gives seems to raise more questions. Why did he work on a goat farm? What drove him to teach English in Beijing? And where the heck is Guam? Ask him yourself at Two Buck Tuesday!

LIVE ART BY:

Felipe Jimenez


Al Preciado and friends with special guest Gary Singh



Michael Denning (http://www.facebook.com/MichaelDenningHOCArtisan)



Nic Caesar (http://www.scary-art.com/)



John Hageman (http://www.socialvermyn.com/)



Maricruz Mendoza
and Cecile F. Zapanta


LIVE MUSIC BY: Rebels Kamp

TWO BUCK Tuesday is June 18th from 7-10pm!
free & open to all ages!


88 South Fourth Street (@ San Fernando
San Jose, CA 95112

info@KALEIDGallery.com

408-947-1785
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, noon -7pm

Free admission

The Pierce Apartment Project in SoFA!

Downtown development news is on fire lately. The Piece is a major apartment project that tops out at seven stories but has great stylistic character that changes based on what side of the building you are looking at. This is nothing like the generic apartment behemoths that are popping up everywhere in North San Jose.

The project consists of 230 units, which are split between studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom units (no three bedroom units). Amenities include a pool, spa, fitness center, and a roof deck. There is also 3,500 SQFT available for commercial space on the ground floor of the South Market Street side.

It may not be a high-rise project, but I love the design and think it will add a lot to the SoFA district. Thanks to The Pierce along with the mini-San Pedro Square Market project, you can expect to see a lot more foot-traffic in SoFA over the next couple of years.

Source: SVBJ

 

A Plug to Balance Out all the Father's Day News Today =)

A New Twist to Your Makeup Routine! Joule Face Makeup 
Styling Offers You A Personal Makeup Stylist

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – June 17, 2013
Contact: Pauline Farace, (408) 506.1378, jouleface@yahoo.com, www.jouleface.com

Yves Saint-Laurent once said, “The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy!” And this is certainly true now with a new offering by Pauline Farace of Joule Face, in San Jose, CA. Pauline will work with what you have in your makeup bag, will shop with you for the perfect products, and then teach you how to use them. You can have your own one-on-one makeup styling session, done in the privacy of your home or in her Studio.

"I saw the need for a more personal, hands-on approach to makeup services that wasn't available to women, and that's how Joule Face Makeup Styling came about. I love teaching the proper techniques needed for a flawless makeup look.  I’ll also take the guess work out of makeup and skincare products.  Your makeup routine will be specifically customized to your time, preference and skill level!” says owner Pauline Farace.

Bringing customized and attainable everyday beauty to you is what Joule Face is all about! We’ll teach you how to tap into your inner Joule beauty. Studio Joule, who has served a long-list of clients for 10 years, designed Joule Face with a very clear goal in mind - to allow the everyday person to access makeup lessons, no matter what their age, lifestyle, or budget. Can't wait to see what's in your makeup bag!

Schedule Online: http://www.schedulicity.com/Scheduling/Default.aspx?business=SJEALP
 "Like" us at : www.facebook.com/BrowsIngForBeautyPopUpBrowBar

Saturday Stats: San Jose is in the Top 10 Best Cities for Newlyweds List

Rent.com has proclaimed that San Jose is among the best cities for newlyweds and specifies two key metrics. The first is that 55% of households are led by married couples, the highest among the 10 cities. The second is salary. The annual mean income for San Jose is $69,000 a year, which is again the highest among the top 10. The cities were listed in no particular order, but it was pretty clear that San Jose would have very likely taken the #1 spot had it been more empirically ranked. It was also specifically called out in both the Rent.com article and the Forbes article (which also mentioned that San Jose topped the list for 10 Happiest Cities for Young Professionals).

• Houston, Texas – Rent.com says: “The fourth largest U.S. city offers a plethora of neighborhood options for newlyweds to make their own niche and find a community that works for their growing family.  Couples can take advantage of the thriving bar and brunch scenes downtown to socialize and meet other young married couples.”

• Seattle, Wash. – Rent.com says: “With an above average mean income, the highest percentage of any city on our list with children under six years old, and also having recently legalized same-sex marriage, Seattle is definitely a place for all newlyweds to check out. Newly married couples and young parents alike may enjoy browsing the Boeing Museum of Flight or checking out the Ballard Locks.”

• Dallas, Texas – Rent.com says: “The heartland of Texas pulls at the heartstrings of many newlyweds looking for a friendly town with lots of opportunity to both play and settle down.  With everything from amusement parks to pro sports teams, the town offers something for excitable young families–and with a fairly low cost of living, they will actually have the means to be able to get out and have some fun.”

• Raleigh, N.C. – Rent.com says: “Come down South if you want to enjoy the sweet, seductive life that only this unhurried region can offer.  More than 25% of children are under the age of six in Raleigh, for lots of options when it comes to finding friends for play dates and get-togethers. Get to know new families at the Marbles Kids Museum or try out the historic carousel and train at Pullen Park.”

• Washington, D.C. – Rent.com says: “The nation’s capital city offers a wide breadth of romantic opportunities for newlyweds to enjoy depending on what strikes their fancy – everything from cultural excursions (the Smithsonian), to political events, to walking through slices of history at every street corner.  With a high mean annual income, newlyweds are more likely to be able to enjoy all that the city offers.”

• San Jose, Calif. – Rent.com says: “San Jose reigns supreme in the percentage of married households with almost 55% percent of households led by married couples and the highest annual mean income available across our list at $69,000 a year.  As the largest city within Silicon Valley, it is no wonder the young and flexible set up shop for both business and a prospective family.”

• Minneapolis, Minn. – Rent.com says: “The City of Lakes is a great spot for newlyweds to settle down. With an above average mean income rate, newlyweds can take advantage of all that the city has to offer, including the romantic views off Lake Harriet or the Minnesota Fringe Festival.”

• San Diego, Calif. – Rent.com says: “The second largest city in California offers newlyweds a myriad of options for entertainment to enjoy together – everything from a bustling downtown scene to a gorgeous beach life to iconic landmarks such as the San Diego Zoo is sure to keep couples hopping. Not to mention, San Diego is close enough to many other landmarks in California for loads of mini-romantic, weekend getaways.”

• Charlotte, N.C. – Rent.com says: “Don’t let its Southern charm fool you, Charlotte is a hot-bed of activity as the second largest financial center in the U.S. after New York City in terms of assets due to the headquarters of Bank of America and the East coast operations of Wells Fargo. Despite these titans of industry making Charlotte their own, the cost of living is fairly low and newlyweds can enjoy all that the city has to offer.”

• Tulsa, Okla. – Rent.com says: “With the lowest cost of living on our list, Tulsa offers newlyweds a great foothold when it comes to stepping out on their own. As the cultural capital of the state, newlyweds can experience the ballet, the opera, several major museums and even be immersed in nature via the Tulsa Garden Center or the nearby Ozark Mountains.”

Source: Forbes

June 2013 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Summer is going to be filled with several Downtown events:
• Dine Downtown goes from June 21-30
• Starlight Cinemas starts June 12th and ends on August 21st with the 5th annual Zombie-O-Rama.
• Music in the Park returns for one day on July 19th
• The Downtown Farmer's Market is open every Friday from 10am to 2pm through November 15th on San Pedro Street.
• The 33rd annual Fountain Blues Festival kicks off on July 20th at St. James Park.
• San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is scheduled from Aug. 9-11th.
• Three new restaurants are opening soon:
• The Farmers Union gastro-pub and sports lounge is taking a huge corner space at 151 W. Santa Clara St. and will feature a wood-fired oven, 20 HD TVs, and over 50 beers on tap.
• Blackbird Tavern will be coming to 200 S. First St. with a diverse menu of fresh pub food and French bistro favorites. Live music will also be a key attraction here.
• Orchestria Palm Court is opening their doors at 27 E. William next to the San Jose Stage and will have some very unique music machines to entertain diners.
• Chef Mo's Cafe is open at 261 N. Second St. in the Germania Hall and is serving artisan Braunschwiger, German salami and chicken sandwiches, spinach and berry salad with mango chutney, and several other options.
• Downtown Doors is expanding to a total of 80 sites throughout Downtown (21 new sites!)
• Downtown San Jose is getting enhanced security patrols courtesy of the PBID district program (Groundwerx). Two officers are scheduled for 32 hours each week to deter "quality of life" crimes such as trespassing, vandalism, and drinking in public.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Misora @ Santana Row Set to Open on October 2013

The newest luxury rental home project at Santana Row is just about ready. Phase 1 consists of 212 homes which will range from 456 SQFT studios (a first for Santana Row) all the way up to 2,780 SQFT penthouse suites. There will be high-end outdoor amenities like a 75-foot lap pool, Baja pool, sun lounge, spa, outdoor BBA, al fresco dining, a roof-level pet park, and landscaped gardens. Indoor, they will have a wine cellar with lockers, billiard and gaming tables, a fitness studio, a serenity lunge, a private cinema, cafe, conference center, and a concierge. Construction began in Feb 2012, pre-leasing happens later this month, and move-ins should start in October.

Open Forum: Homelessness in San Jose

Okay, today we're going to do things a little bit differently. There is no real post, just an open topic for discussion on one of the worst problems San Jose faces (especially Downtown) as well as many other Silicon Valley cities... homelessness. There are at least 7,000 homeless people living in the San Jose metro right now. What should we do about it?

Should we follow the San Francisco route and put millions and millions of dollars into programs supporting the homeless, even going so far as to make it fully legal for people to sleep in public places like parks (proposed law), or will that just attract more homeless people? Should we go the New York route and do everything possible to get homeless out of the city, or is that immoral? They even went so far as to ban food donations to homeless shelters, which was also done in several Texas cities. Or perhaps is there some middle ground, such as taking good care of all homeless that were born in the San Jose area, but asking everyone else to leave.

There is no right or wrong answer, this is an open topic and I just want to hear your thoughts.

Downtown San Jose Walking Tours Return this Weekend!

If you haven't been on one of these walking tours yet, I would highly recommend checking this out even if you live Downtown and think you know everything about the area. The tour guides were as entertaining as they were informative, and the whole experience was a lot of fun! This next tour starts and ends at the San Pedro Square Market and is scheduled to begin right before lunch (11am) this Saturday. More info below:

JUNE BLOOMS DOWNTOWN WITH SAN PEDRO SQUARE WALKING TOUR THIS WEEKEND

This weekend enjoy a great opportunity to discover some of the unknown stories of San Jose and also support San Jose Walks & Talks, whose aim is to help students uncover some of their hidden talents as they prepare for their future careers.

This Saturday our one-hour Adobe to Adobe walking tour will start from the Peralta Adobe in San Pedro Square and visit some well known and some unknown downtown sites. Along the way student-guides tell some of the historic, funny, tragic and surprising stories of San Jose. Our guides are local San Jose students who’ve done their homework about the city of San Jose. Our guests are local residents and a few tourists… just about anyone who enjoys a walk and a talk.

If this weekend doesn’t fit into your schedule future tours can be booked in advance for your group, large or small, by contacting us at www.sanjosewalksandtalks.org  Go to our contact page to email us directly and we’ll be back in touch right away.

Our tours start in various neighborhoods downtown and are designed as a circular. Most tours cover somewhere between 2 to 3 miles and the starting location and time is sent to you by email confirmation. Public tours for individuals are currently free of charge but we hope if you enjoy the tour you’ll consider tipping the student guides. For private groups there is a nominal charge – contact us for more details.

Downtown San Jose Courthouse Funded and Breaking Ground Next Month

Santa Clara County is building a brand new $230 million Family Justice Center bordering St. James Park. The building will only be eight-stories tall, but will take up nearly a quarter million square feet on the block bound by West St. James, North First, DeVine, and North Market. The building will contain 20 court rooms and consolidate various courts throughout the San Jose area. This will also open multiple new development opportunities throughout Downtown.

Groundbreaking is scheduled to happen on July 16th!

Source: SJBJ

HP Pavilion will be Renamed SAP Center

Software giant SAP is going to be taking over naming rights for the HP Pavilion, which was previously the Compaq Center and the San Jose Arena before that. The founder of SAP happens to be the majority owner of the Sharks, so it makes sense. The city is going to receive $1.675 million each year for the five year term of the contract and the Sharks will receive an equal amount.

I have to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the name. Instead of calling it "S-A-P" Center, I can see people calling it the "sap" Center. What is the urban dictionary definition of a sap?  

A fool; someone who is prone to being taken advantage of, or who has been taken advantage of, usually in a situation that is easily perceived by others as foolhardy.

So based on branding implications alone, I prefer the HP Pavilion. I think I'll just continue to call it the Shark Tank or San Jose Arena for now. What do you guys think?

Source: The Merc

Saturday Stats: Santa Clara County is Growing the Fastest in California

There was a substantial population boom in Silicon Valley during 2012. Santa Clara County grew by an astounding 1.6% over the year, more than any other major county in all of California. The state average for population growth was half that at 0.8%. San Mateo, Alameda, and San Francisco also grew by over 1% but nothing matched Santa Clara County. This is great news. Since there is very little room for sprawl left in the Valley, as population grows our cities are becoming more dense. As density rises, the average cost of delivering services to residents should decrease while the market for world-class amenities increases. Congestion will also increase, but that will hopefully push government to improve public transit infrastructure throughout Santa Clara County.

Source: SVBJ