How to Spend 50 Perfect Hours in San Jose

San Jose is going to be a primary beneficiary of Super Bowl 50 in early 2016. Several auxiliary events will taking place in Downtown San Jose and the Super Bowl committee even created a whole two day itinerary for those visiting our city. You can see their recommendations right over here.

What do you think of their recommendations? Did they get it right?

San Pedro Square Market 4th Anniversary Party Tomorrow!

Tomorrow marks a very special occasion for the San Jose community. The San Pedro Square Market is turning four!

I'm not sure if you remember the overall sentiment in 2011, but most people expected this project to be a complete failure. Even those commenting on this blog did not believe it could work. Fast forward to today and the SPSM is the crown jewel of Downtown San Jose. It attracts more people than any other food/retail option Downtown and is driving further development and expansion in the immediate area. Without the SPSM, Centerra and Silvery Towers would never happen. I don't think any other project in a decade has had such a strong impact on Downtown San Jose's brand. Heck, it is so successful that it already has two clones coming online in Downtown San Jose alone.

Given everything the San Pedro Square Market has contributed to the area, we should pay it a little respect during its 4th anniversary tomorrow. They are hosting a special event (free admissions) that starts at 6pm and features $4 dishes from all restaurants and live music. It would also be a good time to try out SPSM's two newest restaurants, Oni Mexicatessen and Lou's Beachshack. Both are excellent!

Santana Row September 2015 News and Events

San Jose, CA)  - Hello fall! The seasonal change signals the start of autumn traditions and holiday-inspired events at The Row. In September, Yoga on the Row returns with its annual takeover of Santana Row’s main street as hundreds of yoga enthusiasts unroll their mats for the morning session.

Help Good Samaritan Hospital mark its 50th anniversary at Santana Row, a day of celebration for the entire family that includes music and games.

October brings Halloween fun with a special Mommy & Me trick-or-treating party and a glass pumpkin festival. Then it’s on to Santana Row’s annual holiday events, including the South Bay’s best tree-lighting festivities!

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too, “Superhero Day!”
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m. to noon, Park Valencia
Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman joins the party during this popular kids’ club that features free entertainment, interactive games, hands-on activities and educational fun designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Dress as your favorite superhero and meet the other superheroes at The Row! Live musical performances by Andy Z, Silicon Valley Ballet School and Action Day Primary Plus. Also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more. Meet us in Park Valencia in front of Maggiano’s to pick up your activity sheet.
Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Park Valencia. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.SantanaRow.com.

Go Niners!
Take the Round Trip Shuttle to Levi’s Stadium from Santana Row
Avoid the headache of game day traffic! Take the shuttle from The Row to Levi’s Stadium for a hassle-free day that starts with easy parking, shopping and dining perks.

• Monday, Sept. 14, Niners vs. Vikings (departs at 5:20 p.m.)
• Sunday, Oct. 4, Niners vs. Packers (departs at 11.25 a.m.)
• Sunday, Oct. 18, Niners vs. Ravens (departs at 11:25 a.m.)
• Thursday, Oct. 22, Niners vs. Seahawks (departs at 3:25 p.m.)

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

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

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

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

Summer Yoga Series
Saturday, Sept. 12, last workout of this seasonal event
Registration at 8:30, yoga at 9 a.m., Park Valencia
Yoga enthusiasts have gathered all summer for free yoga every Saturday, presented by lululemon athletica and the weekly event comes to a close on Sept. 12.
Practice your end-of-summer sun salutations under the sunshine at Park Valencia, near Maggiano’s restaurant. The complimentary class, as always, is held outdoors with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact lululemon, 408.557.8721.

Good Samaritan Hospital’s 50th anniversary at Santana Row!
Saturday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
More than 100,000 babies took their first breath at Good Sam over the last half-Century and the hospital is inviting the community to join them in celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary.
Enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the day, including live performances on the main stage in Santana Row Park. Featured music includes Motown, classic rock and modern hits. Stop by the children’s pavilion with entertainment, activities for kids and safety checks. A “learning lounge” will be the site of cooking demos by Santana Row’s top chefs, CPR classes and health chats with Good Sam physicians and staff. You can also visit with first responders, use the Shopping Passport for special offers to Santana Row stores and participate in interactive contests and photo opportunities.
This event is free and open to the public. For a schedule of events and more information, please visit goodsamsanjose.com/birthday.

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

Yoga on The Row for the Third Year in a Row!
A benefit for the Art of Yoga Project
Sunday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. start, free to participants
Bring your mat and your best yoga form for Yoga on The Row! Athletic lululemon athletica presents the popular event, a fundraiser for the Art of Yoga Project, an organization that works to rehabilitate teenage girls in the juvenile justice system by teaching them art, yoga, and journaling. lululemon athletica will donate $1 to the organization for each participant who attends this complimentary yoga event. The goal this year is to get 1,000 yogis and their mats to line the main street of Santana Row and the park.
Registration will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and class begins at 10 a.m.
Please arrive with a mat, towel, and a smile! All levels welcome.

Sugarfina, gourmet candy shop
Now open!
It’s a candy store for grown-ups who have a sweet tooth, both in selection and ambiance but attracts candy lovers of all ages. Sugarfina is a retail concept that offers select sweets from around the world in an elegant, boutique setting. Customer favorites include Champagne gummy bears from Germany and Rainbow Kyoto Blossoms from Japan.
Founded by Rosie O’Neill and Josh Resnick in Southern California, Sugarfina’s
883-square-foot shop is open next to Donald J. Pliner.



About Santana Row
Santana Row, a 647,000 square foot mixed-use development in San Jose, CA, is Silicon Valley’s premier destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Santana Row features over 70 shops, 20 restaurants, a boutique hotel and movie theatre. In addition to the dynamic retail & restaurant collection, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 65,000 square feet of Class A office space. Santana Row is a property of www.federalrealty.com (NYSE:FRT), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.santanarow.com.
 
About Federal Realty
Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Founded in 1962, our mission is to deliver long term, sustainable growth through investing in densely populated, affluent communities where retail demand exceeds supply.  Our expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities.  Federal Realty’s 90 properties include over 2,600 tenants, in approximately 21 million square feet, and 1500 residential units.

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

New Mural called "Little Moment" in Japantown

Japantown is building quite a collection of impressive murals. The latest one is called "Little Moment" and is located at 140 Jackson Street (on the side of Nichi Bei Bussan). The giant mural was done by Nosego, a Philadelphia based artist known for colorful and emotive public art. What do you guys think?

Source: Hi-Fructose

The Guadalupe River Trail Has a New Work of Public Art

Check out this amazing metal mammoth that is roaming the Guadalupe River Trail in Downtown San Jose! The project commemorates the mammoth fossils that were discovered in the Guadalupe River bed several years ago. These are exactly the types of projects that we need to interest more people in exploring and discovering San Jose's parks.

Source: Cardinal2007 from the San Jose Development Forum

Saturday Stats: It is 17% Cheaper to Buy than Rent in San Jose

While the costs of buying a house and renting are both astronomical in San Jose, a Trulia report claims that it is still 17% less expensive to purchase a house than to rent in our area. The study covered the largest 100 metros in the US and uses quality-adjust measures so that the comparison is apples-to-apples (it did not compare average rents to average home values, which would have been very biased towards buying).

While 17% seems significant, it was the second lowest figure in the entire study. Honolulu came in at the lowest with 16% and San Francisco was 5th at 24%. This means that it is a tougher call than most metros in the US on whether you should try to buy a home here (assuming you can afford the down payment) or rent. One other tidbit of information is that San Jose has the 8th highest average HOA fees in the country.

To see the full Renting vs. Buying report, click here.

Ready for the Bacon Festival of America?

The Bacon Festival runs today and tomorrow from noon to 7pm at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. In order to get everyone ready for the event, a few weeks ago the organizers decided to launch bacon from San Jose into SPACE. Check out the delicious journey in the two minute video below, then head over to the Bacon Festival of America!

New Boutique Hotel Coming to Santa Clara Street

It looks like the former San Jose Entrepreneur Center on Santa Clara and 3rd is going to be transformed into boutique hotel called the Hotel Clariana. The five-story building was originally built for dorms but has been used for Class B/C office space over the last several years. After the conversion, there will be a new lobby and 44 hotel rooms on the upper four floors. Unlike the original dorms, each room will have its own bathroom (in case you were wondering).

There is no official ETA for opening, but one of the sleuths from the San Jose Development Forum learned that they are hoping open by the Super Bowl. A hotel on this corner could really help improve the block, which is neither Downtown's cleanest nor safest today. While it is always tough to lose office space, something that is open seven days a week is likely the best use for this corner.

Source: SJSharks DowntownGuy and Robertee from the San Jose Development Forum