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

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.

Win San Jose SaberCats game tickets!

Attention San Jose SaberCats fans! 

Want to win tickets to an upcoming game? 

(Date choices are: June 23, July 7, OR July 14)


Contest is for TODAY JUNE 21st - ENDS AT 10PM!

Please read all the details below and fill out the form! Good luck everyone!

** Contest has ended! Winners will be notified by email! **

Many thanks to iolo technologies & Fry's Electronics for the ticket opportunity!

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! =)

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

Xanadu Contest!

It's time for yet another contest! This time for one of San Jose's newest performing arts venue, and a place that I've been meaning to check out for some time now, The Retro Dome! What was once Century 25 near Westgate is now home to musical theater, retro film, live music, and comedy.

We're giving away 2 tickets to their latest production, Xanadu. Despite being based on a bad 80s movie, the Broadway version has become a smash hit, winning multiple awards and a Tony nomination. This is the very first time Xanadu is being performed in the Bay Area.

To win your free tickets, email your favorite San Jose memory from the 80s to josh@thesanjoseblog.com. If you weren't alive or can't remember the 80s, then ask your parents or friends. Feel free post your memory in the comments as well. I'll share some of the best ones at the end of the contest.

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

PINKBERRY CONTEST WINNERS!!!

Thanks again to everyone that participated in the Pinkberry contest. Choosing winners was a huge challenge since all of the answers were great! Listed below are the 5 winners:

San Jose is eclectic – Payge
San Jose is progressive - Arlene
San Jose is visionary - Kevin
San Jose is unique – Heidi
San Jose is home – Joie

Congratulations guys! If you're a winner, please send your mailing address to josh@thesanjoseblog.com and I'll send over your gift card.

For everyone else (including those that did not participate), your consolation prize can be the Pinkberry party today with FREE yogurt and musical entertainment, featuring Evan Taubenfeld (lead guitarist for Avril Lavigne). The party goes from 6-10pm at the new Pinkberry location in the Pueblo Plaza Shopping Center, 1110 Blossom Hill Road. Enjoy!

Pinkberry Contest Entries

The Pinkberry contest is now closed for business. Thank you to all who have participated! Contenders for the 5 Pinkberry gift certificates are:

San Jose is awesome
San Jose is innovative*
San Jose is eclectic
San Jose is in
San Jose is cool
San Jose is legendary*
San Jose is underrated
San Jose is unique
San Jose is dependable
San Jose is home
San Jose is genesis
San Jose is hip
San Jose is inspiring
San Jose is ingenious
San Jose is visionary
San Jose is diverse
San Jose is faboo
San Jose is progressive

The two with asterisks were actually submitted by The San Jose Blog contributors, so they don't qualify =). Winners will be announced tomorrow morning!