TechShop is Coming to San Jose!

As mentioned earlier today, TechShop is planning to open a Downtown San Jose location on 300 S. 2nd Street. At 17,000 sqft it would be one of, if not their largest location. TechShop is membership-based workshop that provides access to tools, equipment, and classes to allow creative people to build whatever they want. It's designed for artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, hackers, roboteers, arts & crafts enthusiats, etc. Instead of buying crazy expensive equipment to create things, you just get a monthly membership and have access to over a million dollars worth of equipment including cool stuff like 3D printers, metalworking and woodworking tools, laser cutters, and fast computer workstations. Think of it as a gym membership for people that want to build things.

What a tremendous resource this would be for Downtown San Jose! This would be 2 blocks away from SoFA (the artist mecca for the South Bay), 2 blocks away from San Jose State University, and in the neighborhood of several start-up companies and incubators. This type of easy-access workshop is exactly what we need to make the fires burn hotter in the burgeoning art and cultural districts of San Jose, particularly the Downtown core. There would also be a retail store open to everyone with basic supplies for projects, such as hardware, paint, pliers, safety equipment, electronic components, and reading materials.

Right now they are looking for help launching this location by asking for volunteers, membership pledges (you would get a membership if the San Jose location is opened), or donations. Fore more information, just click here.

Also here is a list of equipment that you would have access to with membership:

• Epilog Helix 60-Watt Laser Cutters
• Tormach CNC Milling Machines
• 3D Printer
• NextEngine 3D Scanner
• Formech 600 24" x 24" Vacuum Forming System
• Formech Heat Strip Bending System
• Morgan Industries Injection Molding System
• Sewing Machines
• Overlock Sewing Machine
• Tin Lizzie Quilting Machine
• Computer-Controlled Vinyl Cutter
• Powder Coating System
• Lincoln MIG Welders (Steel)
• Lincoln TIG Welders (Steel and Aluminum)
• Hand-Held Plasma Cutter
• Sheet Metal Spot Welder
• Sheet Metal Brake, 16 ga x 50"
• Rotary Sheet Metal Punch
• Sheet Metal Corner Notcher
• English Wheel and Planishing Hammer
• Sheet Metal Shear, 16 ga x 50"
• Sheet Metal Roller, 16 ga x 50"
• Sandblast Cabinet
• Metal Grinders and Sanders
• Metal Chop Saw
• Metal Horizontal Band Saw
• Metal Vertical Band Saw
• Computer Controlled Embroidery Sewing Machine
• Electronics Testing and Soldering Equipment
• Epson R1900 13" x 19" Achival Printer with Continuous Inking System
• ShopBot 4' x 8' CNC Wood Router System
• SawStop Professional Cabinet Table Saw
• Panel Saw
• Wood Planer
• Wood Jointer
• Wood Band Saw
• Wood Sanders
• Wood Scroll Saws
• Wood Lathe
• Drill Presses
• Metal Lathes, 14" x 40"
• Vertical Milling Machines with DRO and Power Feed
• Granite Surface Plate with Digital Height Gauges
• Lots of Machine Shop Accessories and Tooling
• Lots of Fast Computer Workstations with 2D and 3D Design Software
• Complete Stocked Tool Room
• Member Storage Rental
• Private Studio / Office Rental
• Meeting Rooms
• Comfortable HackerSpace Areas with Power and WiFi
• Retail Store with Supplies and Materials
• Free Coffee and Popcorn
• ...And LOTS More!

The Latest on the Downtown SJ Retail Front

I haven't checked out the SJ Redevelopment agency reports in a while, so I thought I would do a quick post on the latest info. Below is data from the August SJRA report. The MMoon is obviously already open and I'm really looking forward to Paesano's (the first restaurant in Little Italy), Pho 69, and Soho Cafe. In the SJ Development Forum, sjdowntownguy broke the news of a 7-Eleven coming to 15 N. Second (Dr. Eu building) and Bank of the West offices coming to 95 S. Market (former McWhorter's). Lastly, at the SJDA meeting yesterday I heard some really great news about TechShop coming to San Jose at 300 South 2nd Street. I found some additional details on this and will break it out into a separate blog post for later today. I think they would be a great addition to the downtown community!



New Retail Openings
• Morton’s Steakhouse – expansion (177 Park Ave.)
• Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt (567 Coleman Ave., Ste. 10)

New Retail Lease
• Soho Café (30 E. Santa Clara St., Fountain Alley)

Retail Under Construction
There are four retail stores or restaurants in the Downtown currently under construction or in the permitting process:

Opening Third Quarter 2010
• La Victoria - expansion (131 W. Santa Clara St.)
• Paesano’s Sicilian Restaurant (350 W. Julian St.)
• The MMoon Empanada Restaurant (177 W. Santa Clara St.)

Opening Fourth Quarter 2010
• Pho 69 Restaurant (321 South First St.)

San Pedro Square Market Press Release!

Foodies Rejoice! Bacon flavored ice cream. Spaghetti tacos. Pulled pork sammies with cole slaw and Carolina vinegar sauce.  Watch a martini fly through the air at 15 mph without spilling a drop. Step up to a bar that sells T-shirts, not alcohol. The San Pedro Square Market is coming soon!    A place unlike anything in the South Bay. Flash mobs, tango dancing, Shark away games projected on The Fallon House. We are breaking the mold with this project.   -Saturday morning fitness camps   -Grab a cocktail and walk from building to building while visiting your favorite vendors.   -Free music in the plaza! Everyday!   -Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings---in the middle of St. John Street.    -Rock climbing walls, big wheel races, treasure hunts and stroller Jeopardy.   If we tell you anything else, it will ruin the surprise!   Foodies rejoice! Finally a we are going to have our own Food Mecca. No more searching for cool food. Our vendors will be pushing the envelope everyday with their products and flavors.

The 2011 Amgen Tour Bike Race Will Finish in San Jose

Looks like the Amgen Tour will conclude it's 2011 race in San Jose (assuming Downtown). The Amgen Tour is the largest race in the US and has included San Jose in some form since 2006. Next year we'll get the most prestigious component of the race! More details right over here.

World Zombie Day Movie Night - 10/10/10

Play Pool, Watch A Movie and Fight Hunger

World Zombie Day is the day that all undead across the world join together as one to help fight world hunger. Almost every city that has ever hosted a zombie walk will be joining together on October 10 to shamble along for world hunger.

We here at zombie-o-rama central are going to put our own unique spin on things, so we will be having a World Zombie Movie Night. Get in your favorite zombie attire and come by South First Street Billiards for an early evening of dinner, drinks and pool. The shamble on over to the SLG Art Boutiki for a zombie movie screening.

No make-up required, just bring yourself and a canned food item which we will donate to a local food bank.

Doors at the SLG Art Boutiki will open at 4:00 PM for those people who would like help with make-up (zombification prices start at $5.00), then it moves on to South First Billiards for pre-movie pool, drink and dinner specials.. Then over to the Art Boutiki for screenings of My Wife is a Zombie and Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated.

What better way to spend 10.10.10

Don't forget a canned food item.

www.zombieorama.com
www.artboutiki.com
www.sofapool.com
You can also follow our event on facebook.

SLG Art Boutiki opens at 4:00 PM. Make-Up artists will be on hand for people who would like zombie make-up. South First Billiards opens at 6:00 PM for early diners and pool players.

SLG Art Boutiki - 577 S. Market Street SJ 95113
South First Street Billiards - 420 S. First Street SJ 95113
408-971-8929 for more information
BRING A CANNED FOOD ITEM!

Metro Celebrates The Best of Silicon Valley 2010

The Metro has just released their 25th "Best Of" feature and it's available online for your entertainment and consumption. Staff and reader picks of everything from top restaurants to favorite museums are just a single click away.

VTA Express Light Rail Coming on Monday

Looks like Light Rail users received a new express option starting today! New express trains will shave up to 6-8min of commute time and finally offer WiFi (after all we are in Silicon Valley right?). The current express route will bypass the Highway 87 portion of Light Rail, but express trains are expected to be deployed to the entire system soon. Fore more details, check out this Merc article.

Panel Advocates Denser Downtown

A panel led by mixed-use development advocate Alan Talansky is pushing for a denser downtown, music to my ears. The panel consists of designers, architects, and economists and they will present their report on development options at an event sponsored by the High-Speed Rail Authority and the Urban Land Institute. They idea is that after HSR is built, San Jose will be a massive hub with a flagship transit facility at Diridon station. Based on what's written in the San Jose Business Journal, the panel is recommending:

• Increase building height caps [heck yes!]
• Increase the density of office building [yes, please!]
• Increase housing density [I really like these guys!]
• Develop more restaurants and entertainment venues [yes, yes, yes!]
• Increase connections between Diridon to downtown and surrounding neighborhoods [running out of ways to say yes!]
• Create a mixed-use, multi-purpose ballpark [you had me at increasing height caps!]
• Establish shuttle service between downtown and SJC [are they reading my mind?]

Whoever these guys are, I wish them all the luck in the world! Heck, I'll taken any one of the items above. More than 3 would be nirvana. For the full article, click over here. I'll also post some random photos of buildings that were in planning before the economy crashed, just to demonstrate where the development direction was going even before HSR.

San Jose Metblogs: Vote for your favorite BRT station design

Personally, I really like the Matrix option. It seems inline with the art style that is helping define San Jose's unique identity. Which one did you vote for and why?

Vote for your favorite BRT station design

from San Jose Metblogs by Matt Bruensteiner

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a system where specially designed buses in dedicated lanes enable highly efficient public transit comparable to light rail with much lower construction and vehicle costs. VTA has completed an environmental impact report and begun preliminary engineering to build a BRT system for the Alum Rock-Santa Clara corridor (replacing the current Rapid 522 service). A future project would add BRT service between Eastridge Mall and De Anza College via Stevens Creek Blvd, supplementing the current route 23 local bus.
Now they’re asking for your input on two options for the design of bus stations along this route. The designs and survey are here.
Thanks to Carrie on the NNASJ mail list for pointing out this survey.

Halloween in the Park, Part III

Happy October everyone! Since I'm a huge fan of Halloween, this is actually one of my favorite months of the year. Last October, I had what I still think is an excellent idea... Halloween in the Park! Think Christmas in the Park (which is Downtown's largest event btw) with a Halloween theme. This should be a collaborative effort to really come up with a compelling proposal, so please post your thoughts in the comments and perhaps we can turn this into a reality. Here is where we left off from last year:


The largest draw to downtown San Jose for many years now has been Christmas in the Park. It has continued to grow year after year and brings in visitors from all over the Bay. It's economic impact I'm sure is substantial and helps keep many downtown businesses afloat.

What would you think about a similar event for Halloween? Picture downtown lit up in orange and purple with elaborate Halloween displays assembled by talented local artists. Perhaps a lot of the infrastructure could even be shared with Christmas in the Park (e.g. retail booths). A strong event in October would help maintain traffic between the Music in the Park months and Christmas in the Park. Here are the ideas we have so far:

• Animated Halloween Displays
• Assembled by talented local artists
• Analogous to the Christmas displays that attract many families during Christmas in the Park (almost half a million visitors)
• Family friendly so that everyone can enjoy it (PG/PG13, perhaps around the same level as Great America Halloween Haunt)
• Halloween Lighting
• Orange, purple, and green LED lighting on trees
• May be possible to use new controllable lighting that can go from Halloween colors to Christmas colors with the push of a button, allowing the lights to stay up for Christmas in the Park as well and reducing setup/takedown effort.
• Food Booths with candied apples, chocolates, candy, pumpkin seeds, etc.
• Retail Booths selling Halloween items, for example:
• Artwork (paintings, glass pumpkins, etc.)
• Home decor/crafts like candles
• Light-up hats/necklaces/bracelets
• Costumes
• Zombie/Halloween make-up station 
• Halloween-themed Carnival Games
• Pumpkins
• Instead of the sponsored Christmas trees in Christmas in the Park, how about decorated Pumpkins (can even be Styrofoam so there is no mess/decay)?
• Pumpkin carving station for families. Perhaps a pumpkin carving contest.
• Costumed Entertainers
• Walking around the area, not necessarily scaring people but adding to the ambiance and providing photo opportunities for families
• Haunts
• Would be ideal if these were nearby, perhaps in vacant retails spaces, surface parking lots, the convention center, or at SJSU.
• Potential Events
• Zombie-O-Rama can be used to kick off Halloween in the Park (late Sep. / early Oct. timeframe)
• Dia De Los Muertes Bike Party
• Weekly horror movie screening (perhaps in the Circle of Palms area?)

As before, please post your suggestions below!