Champions of Magic - Contest Winner

Congratulations to David Gauthier! 🥳🎊

You have won 4 tickets for the internationally renowned show Champions of Magic. 

For those that did not win, you can still purchase tickets over here.

Champions of Magic Giveaway

As mentioned last week, the internationally renowned show Champions of Magic is doing five performances at the San Jose Civic from Dec. 27 to 29. You can buy tickets right now over here starting at $69 per person... but you might be able to get those tickets for free right now. We are doing a giveaway for four tickets for the December 27th show!

To enter the contest, all you have to do is fill out this form (below is an image of what it looks like), check "San Jose," and mention The San Jose Blog. That's it, should take 30 seconds.

We will keep the contest open for a week and then announce the winner next Friday!

LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil Contest

I have attended every major Cirque du Soleil show that has come to San Jose since Varekai and have yet to be disappointed. Their shows are a creative mix of acrobatics, storytelling, and comedy. LUZIA, the latest touring show to come to San Jose, is an ode to the rich and vibrant culture of Mexico. Here is the official description: "LUZIA takes you to an imaginary Mexico, where light quenches the spirit and rain soothes the soul."

San Jose shows will begin on February 9th at the Taylor Street Bridge and continue until March 19th. It may sound like there is plenty of time to get tickets, but weekends sell out far in advance and I would recommend booking your seats as soon as possible. If you can afford it, the VIP "Tapis Rouge" tickets take the experience to the next level with a stellar assortment of food and wine before the show and during intermission, along with the best seats in the house. There are also backstage tours that I have yet to try, but sound quite interesting. You can see all of the options and available seats over here.

My tickets have already been purchased months ago, but the good news for you is that Cirque du Soleil has offered us a pair of tickets to give away!

The contest is open right now and the only requirement is that you are at least 18 years old. Just follow the instructions in the widget below to participate. Good luck!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Norman from San Jose for winning the tickets!

LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil Contest

#12DaysofArts Social Media Scavenger Hunt (Dec 1 - 12)

#12DaysofArts takes over San Jose
San Jose Art Partners Gifting the City with Holiday Cheer Through Social Media Scavenger Hunt

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2016) – For the second consecutive year, San Jose arts partners will give away mystery prizes through a citywide scavenger hunt. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 12, participants can utilize #12DaysOfArts during this social media campaign, to create awareness for the arts in San Jose.

Each day will start anew with a social media clue. Check the Downtown Associations social media daily for directions on where to go; seek out museums, theaters and galleries – search high and low. Go online Dec. 1 to take part and spread the word with, #12DaysofArts. Off you go in search of a mystery prize, to see the arts through a new set of eyes. The first ten players at each location will win, and the next day the hunt starts again.

“We all enjoyed the 12 Days of Arts so much last year that we had to do it again.” Says Sherrill Ingalls, Director of Marketing and Communications at the San Jose Museum of Art. “It’s a fun way for the arts organizations to give back to the people who support the arts downtown year-round and to spread the word about the variety of offerings in San Jose. We hope that people familiar with the San Jose Museum of Art will discover new experiences in theater and music, and vice versa.”

Don’t worry, there will be two grand prizes during this scavenger hunt flurry. Use Twitter and Instagram to post #12DaysofArts, and discover what San Jose holds dear to its heart.

"#12DaysofArts provides everyone with the opportunity to take a timeout from the usual holiday craziness, be inspired and pique our own creative instincts," said Rick Jensen, Communications Director, San Jose Downtown Association. "Enjoy the thrill of the hunt."

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About San Jose Downtown Association
The SJDA is a non-profit, membership-based organization founded in 1986 to represent business and property owners. We make downtown a better place for business, residents and visitors through events, advocacy, marketing and more.

About San Jose Museum of Art
The San Jose Museum of Art celebrates new ideas, stimulates creativity, and inspires connection with every visit. Welcoming and thought provoking, the Museum delights visitors with it’s surprising and playful perspective on the art and artists of our time.

About Team San Jose
Team San Jose (TSJ) is an innovative partnership unifying the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, hotels, arts, labor and venues to deliver an exceptional visitor experience. TSJ manages the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, California Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts, City National Civic, Montgomery Theater, Parkside Hall, and South Hall. For more information, visit www.sanjose.org.

Weimers Emerging Artists Award - Call for Artist Submissions - $5,000

Artists in a variety of fields throughout Santa Clara County are encouraged to apply for the fourth annual Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards, which will present three grants of $5000 to selected artists. The award honors the legacy of late San Jose Mercury News columnist Leigh Weimers, a lifelong champion of the arts. For more information: weimersawards.com


Weimers Emerging Artists Award - Call for Artist Submissions - $5,000 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

2014 PAC*SJ Historic Photo Contest

In celebration of Preservation Month this May, the Preservation Action Council of San Jose (PAC*SJ) is hosting their 2014 Historic Photo Contest. In order to participate, all you have to do is send photos of historic structures or artifacts in San Jose to Contest2014@SJHistoricalPhoto.com. The name, category (student or adult) and a description of the photograph must accompany each photo submission. Also, photos must have been taken in 2013 or 2014 and should be in a jpg format. The deadline for submission is April 27th. The winners reception with awards and prizes will take place on June 5th at the Southern Lumber Company, 1402 Monterey Highway, San Jose.

"The mission of this contest is to promote historic preservation by raising awareness of San Jose's historic resources, to celebrate the efforts to preserve our city's history, and to recognize the irreplaceable historic resources that are threatened."

Realtor.com Sharks Contest

If you're a Sharks fan, there is a contest running through March 13th that gives you a chance to win two VIP club-level seats to a Sharks game, a tour of the SAP center, and meet & greet with the team. All of the details are below.

Realtor.com® Users Faceoff with San Jose Sharks for Chance to Win Big

Grand prize winner receives once in a lifetime opportunity to spend the day with the Sharks, VIP seats to upcoming Sharks vs. Washington Capitals game, travel and accommodations

SAN JOSE, Calif., February 25, 2014 – Realtor.com®, a leader in online real estate operated by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), today launched “The realtor.com® FACEOFF,” an online promotion with the San Jose Sharks. The sweepstakes, which is running now through March 13, lets users vote on favorite home features based on choices previously made by San Jose Sharks players. The grand prize includes a day with the Sharks, two VIP seats to the Sharks vs. Washington Capitals game on March 22 and travel accommodations. Contest participants are also eligible to win one of five signed Sharks jerseys and five signed pucks. 

The grand prize winner and a guest will begin game day with a tour of SAP Center watching a Sharks team morning skate and then enjoying a meet and greet with select Sharks players. After which, they will tour Sharks Ice, the Sharks’ training and practice facility, including the locker room, gym and skate sharpening room. Lunch will also be provided by the Sharks at their restaurant, Stanley’s Sports Bar. Later that evening, the winner and guest will have the opportunity to high five players as they skate onto the ice for the game and will be seated in prime Club Level seats.

“We are proud to offer a once in a lifetime opportunity of spending a day with the Sharks as part of our FACEOFF sweepstakes. This is especially exciting after this past weekend of Olympic hockey where we watched Sharks players bring home gold for team Canada,” said Barbara O’Connor, chief marketing officer at realtor.com®. “As a San Jose-based company located a few blocks away from SAP Center, the team is important to many of our employees as well as our audience. Home is a very personal experience for consumers and this promotion offers participants the opportunity to connect directly with Sharks players and learn more about what is important to them in a home.”

 “It's beneficial for the San Jose Sharks to work with a company like realtor.com® that encourages fan engagement. This promotion is a perfect example of that,” said John Castro, vice president of sales and service for the Sharks. “The Sharks are excited to be working with realtor.com® and look forward to dynamic interactive promotions that benefit both organizations as well as our fans.”

To enter, participants can visit www.realtor.com/faceoff now through March 13to cast their vote by sharing their preferences on Facebook or Pinterest or via the alternate method of entry described in the official rules. After voting, contestants can compare their favorite features to the responses from the Sharks.

Sample home feature questions include:

·         After a bruising game where do you sink in to recharge?

·         When the team’s on the road and you're crashing at the hotel, what room do you miss the most?

·         With your teammates over, where do you like to eat?

·         When you’re reviewing the game tape, where do you watch it?

·         What room in your home is all yours?

·         What’s your favorite room in your home? What do you love about it?

The official rules for the sweepstakes are located at:http://marketing.realtor.com/faceoff/official-rules.html

Fogo de Chão Coming to San Jose this Month!

Internationally renowned Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão is opening their first Northern Californian location later this month at Santana Row. I will have more information about the restaurant later in February, but for now there is a neat video about the "Gaucho Way" and a contest for a 7-day expedition to Brazil below. I am really, really looking forward to this restaurant!

Brazilian Steakhouse Fogo de Chão, Opening Its First Northern California Location in February, Launches “Expedition Brazil,” A National Contest for Adventure-Seeking “Culture-vores”

Fogo de Chão has launched “Expedition Brazil,” a national contest that is perfectly fit for adventure-seeking Fogo fans. It invites these “culture-vores” into the world of Fogo by offering an insider’s look into the beautiful country of Brazil. One lucky fan and their guest will be awarded one of four, 7-day travel expeditions that include dining at a Fogo restaurant in Brazil. Entries are accepted through Feb. 16, 2014, and judging is based on several criteria such as creativity and uniqueness of the submission, describing why they are perfect to win the exciting journey. Complete details and Official Rules at: www.fogo.com/expedition. Fogo de Chão will open its first Northern California location at Santana Row in San Jose in February 2014.

In September 2013, U.S Fogo de Chão assembled a team of Fogo leadership and Brazilian gauchos to return to Southern Brazil, where the deep cultural roots of Fogo de Chão were formed. They spent time on the family farms of authentic Fogo de Chão gaucho chefs and became immersed in the rich Southern Brazilian culture. “It was during our own expedition to Brazil that we were inspired to fully develop the contest, as we realized what an incredible insider’s look we could provide to our guests,” says Fogo de Chão marketing director Andy Feldmann, “What better way to create something special for our fans than to send them on an unforgettable adventure throughout Brazil, where Fogo de Chão originated?”

The contest was launched in conjunction with “The Gaucho Way,” a short 3-minute film that tells the Fogo story through the eyes of one of their gauchos. The majority of the video was shot on location in Southern Brazil. The story represents the many gauchos that have traveled to the U.S. with Fogo to share their culture here in America. The film brings to life the passion, heritage and distinctive culinary style that Fogo has been known for since it opened its first restaurant in Brazil in 1979, before importing the concept to the U.S. in 1997. The documentary can be viewed at fogo.com/expedition or http://www.youtube.com/fogorestaurants.

About Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão^® Churrascaria - Brazilian Steakhouse was founded in 1979 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and expanded into the U.S. in 1997. There are currently 22 locations throughout the United States and nine locations in Brazil with the recent openings in New York City and the Jardins neighborhood of São Paulo. San Jose, California to follow in 2014. For more information, please visit www.fogo.com. Follow FOGO on Facebook.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Submission period ends on 2/16/14. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S. and DC, 21 and older. Void where prohibited. For Official Rules, click here. Sponsor: Fogo de Chão (Holdings) Inc. 14881 Quorum Drive, Suite 750, Dallas, Texas 75254.

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Win a Pair of Tickets to Menopause The Musical!

The off-Broadway sensation Menopause The Musical is coming to San Jose for 17 performances at the Montgomery Theater between Feb. 6th and 23rd. We are giving away not one, but two pairs of tickets to the opening night performance on February 6th! Ticket prices are ranging between $35-$65.

Entering the contest is simple. Just scroll down to the bottom of the page and use the Punchtab widget (just like our Sharks giveaway). You can get bonus entries for liking us on Facebook, following on Twitter, etc. Again, we are giving away two pairs of tickets and they are for the February 6th performance. The contest only runs until this Friday.

Here is a description of the show: "Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale. The all-female cast makes fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and more!  The laughter-filled 90-minute production includes parodies from the classics of the ‘60s and ‘70s and ‘80s."

For more information on the show click here, and to buy tickets head over here.

Die Hard Sharks Contest Winner

Thank you all for the amazing participation in our contest! We had a total of almost 800 entries, far more than what I was expecting. Please support Die Hard, the San Jose-based sponsor of the contest. They have a great assortment of Sharks and 49ers gear, not to mention your other Bay Area favorites.

Congratulations to Eric Anthony! You have a Sharks hoodie and tee coming your way.

As for everyone else, stay tuned. More contests are coming up, including one next week!

Last Chance: Die Hard Sharks Hoodie Contest!

This is you last chance to enter the contest for a Sharks hoodie and tee sponsored by our friends at Die Hard Co. Just follow the directions in the widget below. Winner announced on Friday!

CONTEST: Die Hard Sharks Hoodie!

Our friends over at Die Hard Co. are so excited about the end of the NHL lockout, they are giving away a Sharks hoodie and a tee!

The contest is simple. All you need to do is follow the directions in the little widget below to enter. You can also get bonus entries from liking Die Hard Co. and The San Jose Blog on Facebook, following our Twitter feeds, etc. It's a neat little app and we will very likely be using it for future contests as well.

Good luck everyone! The contest runs until next Thursday morning. Winner announced on Friday the 18th.

San Jose Marketing Consultant Launches Online Reality Show

15 "solopreneurs" are about to compete for $10,000 in an online reality show lead by Tea Silvestre, a San Jose Marketing Consultant. They will have to compete in weekly marketing challenges and are being mentored by a dozen industry experts. To learn more, have a look at the press release below or click here. The show premiers at the end of January.

BIGSTOCK signs on as Presenting Sponsor for Local Business Woman's Online Reality Show

If you've seen "The Amazing Race" or "Hell's Kitchen" then you're aware of how popular these reality TV competitions have become.

Welcome to "Prosperity’s Kitchen" -- a 12-week online marketing course structured like a reality TV show. Fifteen contestants will compete to win a $10,000 prize package. And BIGSTOCK, one of the world's leading royalty-free image companies, is the presenting sponsor.

PROSPERITY’S KITCHEN premieres this January and will feature 15 solopreneurs learning and competing for a $10,000 prize package. The contestants will be taught by 

Tea Silvestre, aka The Word Chef, a San Jose-based Marketing Consultant who will also be joined by 12 guest mentors including several authors and other influencers.

It is the first reality web sponsorship for BIGSTOCK, one of the leading royalty-free stock image companies serving the small biz community online.

“To have BIGSTOCK choose Prosperity’s Kitchen as their first reality web series sponsorship is an incredible tribute to our program,” said executive producer Tea Silvestre. “Their support will help us maintain the high quality mix of instruction and entertainment for the small biz audience that drew them to PROSPERITY’S KITCHEN in the first place."

“The PROSPERITY’S KITCHEN audience of solopreneurs and freelancers makes up a significant portion of the BIGSTOCK community – from the person who submits images to the designer or blogger who uses them,” says BIGSTOCK General Manager Ben Pfeifer. “Sponsoring this innovative program allows us to support both sides of this model, and encourage independent creativity through licensed visual media.”

As part of the partnership, BIGSTOCK will provide stock images to Prosperity’s Kitchen for their use in developing the series as well as prize packages of image assets for the program’s winners.

BIGSTOCK’s first “on-air” web sponsorship messages will begin on January 21st, with the broadcast of the first episode of “Prosperity’s Kitchen.” The company will also be part of an episode mid-season that talks about content creation and how to best-use stock images in marketing materials.

Funding for the Prosperity’s Kitchen series also is provided by Play-at-Home viewers, with additional support from BLUE HOST web hosting and ANYMEETING web meeting services.

Prosperity’s Kitchen is a Word Chef Enterprises production.

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ABOUT PROSPERITY’S KITCHEN

Prosperity’s Kitchen is a 12-week reality web edutainment series that aims to teach solopreneurs and micro business owners how to market themselves effectively online. Structured like a reality TV competition, 15 contestants will tackle weekly marketing missions in order to showcase what they’ve learned. The contestants are divided into teams of three and will be advised and mentored by Tea Silvestre, aka The Word Chef, as well as 12 other high profile marketing experts. The contestant who outperforms their cohorts will take home the $10,000 prize package (a mix of cash and prizes). Learn more at prosperityskitchen.com

ABOUT WORD CHEF ENTERPRISES

WCE is wholly owned and operated by Tea Silvestre of San Jose, CA. Tea is widely regarded as one of the top marketers in the world of small business. She’s the author of “Attract and Feed a Hungry Crowd: How Thinking Like a Chef Can Help You Build a Solid Business,” as well as the founding producer of the ground-breaking web series, “Prosperity’s Kitchen.”

Tea’s writing is often seen on some of the biggest blogs on the Internet, including Copyblogger, Problogger and MarketingProfs. She’s also a frequent speaker at entrepreneurial events across the globe. Learn more at thewordchef.com

CONTENT's San Jose Photography Contest

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

San Jose Photography Contest
San Jose is a city of vastly diverse communities and cultures. Content Magazine is featuring these communities and celebrating you, our local artists. We invite you to submit your original photographic image(s) that displays and/or reflects your neighborhood–your community. Whether your 'hood is a place or a person, submit your best image(s) which will judged by San Jose creative professionals and, then, winner will be published in Content Magazine Issue 3.4 Nov/Dec. 2011.


Rules:
Contest is open to South Bay resident photographers of 18 years and older of every skill levels. Photos must not be previously published, must be suitable for publishing by Content Magazine. (Entrees must be a current resident of Santa Clara County to qualify.)


Prize:
Photographers of winning photos will receive:
• Photos published in the Neighborhood Issue of Content Magazine.
•Recognition on the Content Magazine Facebook Fan page.
•Images published on Content-Magazine.com.
•Two copies of Content Magazine Issue 3.4 Neighborhood
•Portfolio review by Content Shapers Additional honorable mention photos will be posted on the Content-Magazine.com Webpage.
WINNER NOTIFICATION - Winner will be notified in November 2011.


Deadline:
Contest begins September 9, 2011. All submission must be received by mid-night October 10, 2011.


To enter contest, visit www.content-magazine.com

Nothing Bundt Cakes Contest Winner!

It was a very difficult decision with so many great entries, but we finally have a winner.

Congratulations to Jonathan with the Runaway Groom story! You'll be enjoying a lot of great cake over the next year.

A huge thank you to all those that participated, especially our runners up Chrystal and Diana. Of course I would also like to thank Nothing Bundt Cakes in Willow Glen (1702 Meridian) for sponsoring this contest. Everyone please go check them out!

Nothing Bundt Cakes Finalists!

Thank you for all of the great entries into our Nothing Bundt Cakes Contest! Up for grabs is free cake for a year from Nothing Bundt Cakes in Willow Glen. I have managed to narrow it down to the 3 finalists below.

Before announcing a winner, I would love to hear your opinions on which story should win. Chrystal's brussel spout bundt cakes, Jonathan's runaway groom cake, or Diana's puzzle cake? The final decision could be impacted by your comments below!

Here are our three finalists:

Chrystal

I have an unusual daughter.  As a 5 year old, she once told me that she was hungry.  Could I please make a veggie platter as a snack for her?  Now don't get me wrong!  Chloe likes sugar with the best of them, and at one point wanted to be a "meat taste tester" when she grows up.  (Shall I send the picture of the "steak cake" she wanted for her 10th birthday?  It came with "peas" and "mashed potatoes" in the form of jelly beans and ice cream with chocolate sauce, and thanks to strawberry cake, it looked rare when cut into.)

Last year for her 11th birthday, she requested that her cake look like brussel sprouts.....  These were made with two mini bundt cakes each, covered in fondant.  The use of fondant was a new experience for us.  

She is on a roll!  For number twelve, she wants a cake that looks like broccoli - ?

Jonathan

The day of the wedding it was snowing.  It wasn't just a light sprinkle but rather large fluffy flakes that kept falling.  My sister was getting married and in the preceding days I had picked up a number of tasks to help with the wedding.  Some of them were rather simple errands like shuttling people around town, or picking up supplies at the store.  The deepening snow made this somewhat harder but I pressed on and after the ceremony drove and slipped and slid down to the country club that was the site of the reception.

When I got there and began work on my next job (DJ-ing the wedding) the cake had just arrived.  It was carried to the back of the room and sat on its appointed table, bare of any decoration save the frosting.  Sitting on the table next to the cake were two plastic figurines of a bride and groom.  They stood watch next to the cake examining the empty room, waiting for their turn in the spotlight.  Finished with my work at the DJ table I walked over to examine the cake more closely.  I was joined by the wedding organizer at the country club who observed that the figurines were not in their rightful place atop the cake.  The bride and groom weighed more than they appeared and the groom was especially challenging for the organizer to perch on top the cake as his tiny plastic feet had trouble gripping the frosting.  Their trim proportions were misleading 

No more than a couple minutes later I heard a loud *THONK* and saw that the groom had made a suicidal dive off the top of the cake, careening off the layers and excavating some of the delicate frosting.  His escape had been noticed in time to make adequate repairs to the cake before it was too late.  Later it was discovered that the plastic couple had just been intended to stay on the table and do their posing there.  The cake remained delicious, flowers and ribbons took their place as the correct finishing touch.  But if I was superstitious I would have to say that the groom figurine jumping off the top of the cake has to be one of the worst signs of bad luck possible.  Thankfully though, it was just a cake.  And we ate it. 

Diana

The Puzzle Cake

I once tried to make a cake for my boyfriend many years ago.  The plan was to make two, small chocolate cakes, stack them on top of each other with banana custard in the middle, then white frosting with chopped strawberries on top.  Sounds easy enough, but to anyone who knows me, this may have been a little too advanced for me.  Rumor has it one of my cookies I baked in the past was so hard that the duck I fed it to in the pond sunk to the bottom, never to be heard from again.  But I was optimistic that this cake would not suffer the same fate and all my other cooking travesties and that maybe, JUST MAYBE, I would be able to successfully cook something.  

My chocolate cake pieces came out ok, but they were sort of lopsided.  My pan must have been uneven?  Totally the pan's fault, no doubt about it.  My custard came out ok, with only a few small patches of dried custard powder but with the icing and cake, I was sure you would barely even notice.  So far, the cake was a winner.  When you have the cooking experiences I have had, you don't worry whether the result is perfect, only if it can be disguised as perfect.  

I iced the cake and was still doing ok, but while I was putting the strawberry chunks on top, a crack formed on the top of my cake.  After a few angry insults directed at the cake, I believed I could just "glue" the crack together with frosting.  Afterall, frosting is pretty sticky, right?  Worse case scenario, I could just fill in the crack with frosting like painters do with Spackle on a wall.  In a better mood, I shoved the cake into the fridge and waited for my boyfriend to come over.  By the time my boyfriend got there, my cake sabotaged me.  The crack came back and had deepened.  The custard worked like a slip and slide and an entire chunk fell off my cake and on the fridge shelf.  

Completely upset, I tried to pull the cake out of the fridge and put it safely on the counter, but the cake was determined to embarrass me and more chunks fell on the floor.    I think a few "lucky" pieces actually got as far as the counter before they too betrayed me.  I call it a Puzzle Cake because I hadn't quite given up on it and spent the next few minutes trying to fit the pieces back together, telling my boyfriend, "NO!! IT'S STILL GOOD!!  THIS CAN WORK!!  I'M STILL GOING TO EAT IT!!"  I don't remember if he actually ate any, but the moral of this story is ... just buy a cake.  It's easier, less of a mess, and tastes a LOT better.  You can always just take the price tag off and claim it as your own.  Your boyfriend can't prove it.

Nothing Bundt Cakes Contest is LIVE!

Alright guys, up for grabs is a gift card for FREE CAKE FOR A YEAR! This comes courtesy of the new Nothing Bundt Cakes in Willow Glen at 1702 Meridian Avenue. Each month for 12 months, the winner will receive a surprise ranging from a dozen Bundtinis, Bundtlets, or a traditional 8-10 inch bundt cake! This is the sweetest contest prize we've ever had (I need to stop doing that).

To participate, email the best story you have involving a cake to josh@thesanjoseblog.com!  Extra bonus if it's a bundt cake. Double extra bonus if you have a photo that goes with the story.

There is no length requirement for the story, it could be a sentence or several paragraphs. The winner will be judged on the entertainment value of the story. The contest is open ALL day today! This weekend we'll announce who the winner is and post some of the best stories. Have fun and good luck!

"Fine Print" - To participate you must be at least 18 years old, not affiliated with the San Jose blog, and have an address in the Bay Area. Gift Card is only valid in the Willow Glen location of Nothing Bundt Cakes and the cakes must be picked up in person.

Nothing Bundt Cakes Contest!

Tomorrow we'll be hosting our latest contest courtesy of the brand new Nothing Bundt Cakes in Willow Glen (1702 Meridian Ave)! We have had a lot of great prizes in the past, but this one takes the cake--yes, I had to say it.

The winner will receive a gift card good for FREE CAKE FOR A YEAR.

More specifically, the winner will receive a free cake each month for a 12 month period. The best part is that the prize will vary from month to month. One month it might be a traditional 8-10 inch bundt cake, the next month could be a Bundtlet, and the next might even be a dozen Bundtinis. Each month will be a different surprise!

The contest will start Wednesday at 1pm and will be open all day. The winner will be announced over the weekend. Best of luck and please visit Nothing Bundt Cakes to thank them for doing this great promotion! =)

New Contest This Wednesday!

Our latest contest is happening Wednesday afternoon and has the best prize yet! More details are coming very soon. I won't say what the prize will be yet, but the photo below may provide a hint.

Xanadu Contest!

Just a reminder that we are giving away 2 pairs of tickets to Xanadu at the Retro Dome (valued at $88 each pair). This is the Broadway version that has become a huge hit, winning multiple awards and a Tony nomination. 

To win your free tickets, email your favorite San Jose-related memory from the 80s to josh@thesanjoseblog.com. If you weren't alive or can't remember the 80s, then steal a memory from your parents or friends!

Winners will be selected on Friday, good luck!

Every great while, along comes a musical that shows mankind the power of hope over despair, that illustrates in story and song the injustices of society and the common good of the common man. That musical is...Les Miserables.  THIS IS XANADU!

XANADU is the hit musical that took audiences and critics by surprise when it transformed an obscure film into the hottest comedy on Broadway. For the first time since its Broadway run, XANADU hits the Bay Area and takes over The Retro Dome. With its score of pop gems, a script that redefines musical theatre satire, and a finale lit by glitter balls and glow sticks, this hilarious, roller disco musical adventure rolls along to pop hits “(You Have to Believe We Are) Magic”, “All Over The World”, “Suddenly”, “I’m Alive”, “Evil Woman”, “Have You Never Been Mellow” and “Xanadu.” Based on the Universal Pictures cult classic movie, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, XANADU is the most ridiculously wonderful time you’ll ever have in a theatre!

"I LAUGHED THE ENTIRE TIME! IT'S A GREAT MUSICAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!" - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN "HEAVEN ON WHEELS! CRIMINALLY FUNNY!" - THE NEW YORK TIMES

What is it? Xanadu is the hilarious new hit musical on wheels that is based on the Universal Pictures’ cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. This roller skating musical adventure was winner of Outstanding New Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Award) and Outstanding Book of a Musical (Drama Desk Award) during its recent Broadway run. The show received raves from the New York Times, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Daily News and Time Out News, among many others.

Xanadu’s clever tale surrounds a Greek goddess (on roller skates, of course) who seeks to inspire a hapless artist in 1980 to create the world’s first roller disco! Now appearing for the very first time on the west coast at The Retro Dome, the best-reviewed musical of the 2007-2008 Broadway season brings a score of all the songs from the film plus three supersonic pop gems from Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, a script that redefines Broadway satire, and a finale that pulls out all the (roller skate) stops directly to local audiences.

When is it? Xanadu previews the weekend of February 25-27 and premieres March 4, 2011. Showings are on Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.

Where is it? The Retro Dome is conveniently located near the intersection of three cities: San Jose, Saratoga and Campbell, CA, at 1694 Saratoga Ave in San Jose, Calif. 95129 (at the corner of Saratoga Avenue and Prospect Road).

Who's in it? An extraordinarily talented cast of triple threats headline the production. Click here to get to know the artists.

Where can I get tickets? Tickets can be purchased online (click the link above), over the phone at 408-404-7711 or in person. The Box Office window is open Tuesday through Friday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and by appointment, and phone orders can be placed Tuesday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. During event days, The Retro Dome is open 90 minutes prior to showtime.

How much is it? Tickets are $44 and there are discounts available for students, seniors and military ($34) and children ($24). There are also discount for groups. Parking is free there are no additional box office fees.

Want to learn more? Click here for an interview with Director/Producer, Scott Evan Guggenheim