Downtown San Jose Restaurant List Updates!

Here's the latest round of updates:

• Found another restaurant chain with the original location Downtown: New Tung Kee Noodle House
• Added Hawaiian Drive Inn on Santa Clara and 7th
• Made it past the 160 restaurant mark in my mission to patronize every Downtown SJ Restaurant!

If you haven't bookmarked it yet, here's the link to the spreadsheet! There is also a permanent link over to the right entitled Downtown San Jose Restaurants.

Save the Date _ "Blue to the Roots"

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Crossroads, Deb Barba

Canvas Ghost Productions is featuring Bay Area Musicians and Artists.

Blue to the Roots is an exploration of the early 20th Century blues movement.

Dig down into the roots of the Blues: Son House, Robert Johnson and Lead Belly are just a few of the artist that shaped that world. Come see the current artists who are shaping our world.

Children are welcome.

March 19th, 2011 7pm - 10pm
March 20th, 2011 Noon - 5pm

Canvas Ghost
992 S. 8th Street
San Jose, CA 95112
http:www.canvasghost.com

New San Jose Pinkberry and a NEW CONTEST!!!

It's no secret that the Santana Row Pinkberry has been insanely successful. It was the very first Pinkberry in Northern California and still has lines wrapping around it at all hours of the day, even when it's freezing cold outside. Swiftly responding to market demand, Pinkberry is opening a second location in San Jose @ 1110 Blossom Hill Road (Pueblo Plaza Shopping Center).

The new South San Jose Pinkberry is having their grand opening party this Thursday, March 3rd, between 6pm and 10pm. Everyone is invited! You may be thinking, what do they have in store for their very first guests?

• FREE YOGURT 
• Musical Entertainment
• Guest DJ appearance by Evan Taubenfeld, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for Avril Lavigne

To top it off, The San Jose Blog is doing a contest on Tuesday to give away some Pinkberry gift cards! Stay tuned for more details. The format of the contest is still being decided, so make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter just in case! =)




PINKBERRY OPENS SECOND STORE IN SAN JOSE
More Swirly Goodness Comes to Northern California on March 3

SAN JOSE, Calif (February 28, 2011) – Pinkberry, the number one tart frozen yogurt brand, will open its second San Jose location on March 3, 2011 at 1110 Blossom Hill Road – in the Pueblo Plaza shopping center. The Pinkberry Pueblo Plaza grand opening event will be held on Thursday, March 3. Consumers who stop by anytime from 6:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. on Thursday will enjoy free Pinkberry, musical entertainment and a special guest DJ appearance by Evan Taubenfeld, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for Avril Lavigne.

Pinkberry is premium frozen yogurt made with real non-fat yogurt and nonfat milk that is rBST hormone free. Pinkberry is made with only the highest quality ingredients and is the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, resulting in a refreshing, clean and craveable taste.

The Pueblo Plaza location will be will be serving Pinkberry’s six distinctive flavors: the signature Original flavor, a sweet and tangy yogurt with a refreshing finish; Pomegranate, a bold and tangy flavor made with 100 percent California-grown pure pomegranate juice; Coconut, smooth and subtle, made with real coconut puree for a fresh and cool finish; a rich, indulgent Chocolate; Mango, a fruity and light flavor made with authentic Alphonso mango puree for a soothing finish; and a Featured Flavor that rotates seasonally, such as the recent Blood Orange, paired with succulent blood orange pieces, fresh blood orange purée and a crisp waffle cookie.

Customers can personalize every yogurt experience at Pinkberry with any combination of delicious toppings. At Pinkberry, uncompromising quality is paramount and the toppings bar is no exception. Each topping is selected with the highest quality standards, whether it’s Grade-A fresh fruit that is hand-cut daily in-store, organic gummy bears with no high fructose corn-syrup, all natural honey almond granola, 100% pure Pomegranate juice, or rich, premium Belgian chocolate shavings. Toppings are thoughtfully selected as a unique and delicious complement to the various Pinkberry frozen yogurt flavors.

In addition to frozen yogurt and toppings for immediate consumption, Pinkberry also offers Pinkberry Take Home, which is 25 ounces of Pinkberry, swirled-to-order and packed on ice to ensure your Swirly Goodness will get home safely to your freezer. Pinkberry also offers Fruit Parfaits, Smoothies, and Fresh Fruit Bowls as fresh and satiating choices for any time of day.

The new Pueblo Plaza store incorporates modern furnishings and clean lines into an inviting, lively atmosphere that mirrors Pinkberry store concepts across the country and established in Southern California and New York. San Jose residents are invited to experience its uniquely refreshing combination of tastes, textures and flavors as Pinkberry swirls daily in Pueblo Plaza from 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Local fans who want up-to-the minute news and discount offers should sign up to be a Pinkberry Groupie at www.pinkberry.com/groupie. The brand can also be found on Facebook and at Twitter @pinkberryswirl.

About Pinkberry
Pinkberry reinvented the frozen yogurt category when it launched in West Hollywood, CA, in January 2005. Today it is the most talked about, best tasting, premium frozen yogurt, made with high-quality fresh ingredients. From store design to exceptional customer service to irresistible flavors and toppings, Pinkberry provides a social experience that indulges the senses. Pinkberry’s distinctive flavors are expertly crafted to complement its daily fresh-cut fruit and premium toppings that offer an irresistibly tangy, incomparably clean and refreshing taste. Pinkberry is certified by the National Yogurt Association and carries the Live & Active Cultures Seal. Get a taste of Swirly Goodness by visiting www.pinkberry.com.

###

Features of Fury (Downtown San Jose Pillow Fight) Recap

Jennifer Bullock from San Jose Metblogs has a great recap of the Downtown Pillow Fight over at her personal blog right over here. You can also check out her photostream using this link!

Axis Promo #5 - Another Great Downtown Video!

Sharks Sweep Road Trip With Three Wins

The San Jose Sharks mounted a successful road campaign – their second in February – against three strong teams: the Detroit Red Wings (currently 2nd in the West), Pittsburgh Penguins (currently 4th in the East), and the Calgary Flames (currently 7th in the West), returning home with the momentum of a six game win streak. Next Tuesday, March 1st, the Sharks face the Colorado Avalanche at the Shark Tank.

Most impressive about the Sharks’ recent performance has been their overall patience and determination. Each of the three road games resulted in very close contests: the Sharks edged the Red Wings only by one goal at the end of regulation, the Sharks defeated the Penguins with only four seconds left in overtime, and the Sharks needed a shootout win to best the Flames.

Earlier in the season, fans grew accustomed to seeing the Sharks explode in the beginning and opening their lead, before allowing opposing teams to stage their comeback late in the third period. Now, fans have a team to be proud of supporting. The Sharks have since overcome deficits and maintained leads acquired early on. Fans are now witness to the regular season dominating team they've been used to watching.

In addition to the Sharks’ improved efficacy in their team play, the newcomers have all proven to be effective to the lineup as well. Forwards Ben Eager and Kyle Wellwood, in addition to defenseman Ian White, have all significantly contributed to the Sharks’ recent hot streak.

The Sharks have also seen their veteran talent, with the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dany Heatley, become more productive. Thornton’s second star honors for his performance in Calgary, despite not registering a point, came from his high work ethic: setting up his teammates, maintaining great puck control, and capable back-checking. Had several of his set up teammates been able to score, Thornton would have managed a few pretty assists for the highlight reel.

To briefly recap the Sharks’ 4-3 shootout victory over the Calgary Flames, Dan Boyle was out for the first time all season, Logan Couture increased his already-impressive points streak with the assist on the first goal, and Devin Setoguchi scored yet again. Ryane Clowe also did not fail to disappoint, not only scoring the game tying goal late in the third, but burying the only goal in the shootout, beating Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, to seal the Sharks’ victory. (This, of course, during a night when Kiprusoff clearly dominated the net, earning himself a well-deserved first star honors.)

As long as the Sharks maintain their visible patience and determination, Sharks fans should be treated to an exciting March home game stretch to watch their team win more games at the Shark Tank.

Based on the recent trades, acquisitions, and line configurations, there is no doubt the San Jose Sharks are taking their past post-season woes seriously.

New SJSU Football Complex and Athletic Upgrades!

It looks like SJSU is getting some much needed improvements to it's athletic facilities. The $16-20M investment will bring several improvements to Spartan Stadium, new practice fields adjacent to the stadium, a new complex for basketball / volleyball / gymnastics, and indoor tennis courts. For more information, click here.

Downtown San Jose Featured in Rap Video

Originating in San Jose, Projekt SEER is an emerging local rap group that heavily features Downtown in their latest video, SELF HOPKINS. Compton better watch out!

http://projektseer.tumblr.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ESIKMUSIC

projektSEER@yahoo.com

Lacey Bryant Art Show at The Usuals Tonight

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

New works by Lacey Bryant at The Usuals on Friday, February 25th, 7-10pm.
Music, drinks, cupcakes and new Lacey designed t-shirt release.

The Usuals
1020 The Alameda
San Jose, CA
www.shoptheusuals.com

Body Worlds Vital has been Extended!

For Immediate Release

February 23, 2011

Change of Heart: BODY WORLDS Vital exhibition to keep beating through April at The Tech Museum

World-premiere blockbuster extended after solid reviews, overflowing crowds

SAN JOSE – BODY WORLDS Vital, which has sold more than 90,000 tickets in the three months since the blockbuster opened its doors to critical review and jam-packed crowds, will have an extended stay at The Tech Museum.

The popular exhibition will now remain in Silicon Valley until April 24, 2011.

The announcement comes just as Americans take stock of their health during February’s American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had their first heart attack. Nearly every 25 seconds, someone in the United States will have a coronary event, and one person every minute will die from one.

The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Developed specifically for the American audience to educate people on common diseases and preventive care, BODY WORLDS Vital is a specially curated collection made up of real human body plastinates and a large arrangement of individual organs – including the heart – arterial configurations and translucent slices that give a complete picture of how the human body functions. Using multi-media installations as a backdrop, the exhibit shows the body in disease and distress by comparing healthy bodies to bodies that have succumbed to a host of illnesses and medical conditions.

Physician and Creative and Conceptual Designer of the exhibition, Dr. Angelina Whalley said, “I hope that this exhibition at The Tech Museum will continue to inspire visitors by showing the body’s potential and capacity for change. My husband Gunther von Hagens and I created BODY WORLDS to show that the body is so fragile and vulnerable, and yet so resilient and forgiving.”




BODY WORLDS Vital is the latest chapter in the HUMAN SAGA project - a series of curated museum blockbusters that began with exploration of the brain and neuroscience, cardiology and the heart, human development and longevity and aging. BODY WORLDSexhibitions have been hosted by more than 50 museums and venues in North America, Europe, and Asia – and seen by more than 32 million visitors worldwide.

“This exhibition is perfectly aligned with our mission to give visitors high-quality experiences that educate, inform, provoke thought and inspire action - all in the spirit of Silicon Valley," Peter Friess, president of The Tech Museum, said. "BODY WORLDS Vitalgives visitors greater insights into the complexity of their bodies. But, even more than that, the exhibition challenges visitors to take serious stock of their health, propel them toward fuller, fitter lifestyles and, ultimately, wellness."