EXCLUSIVE: San Pedro Square Market Confirmed Tenants!

I'll start off by saying that I think The San Pedro Square Market is the most exciting project underway in Downtown San Jose right now. If you happened to be at SJ Eats 2.0 over the weekend, you got a sneak preview of what San Pedro Square will be like after the Market is open--especially if you were eating some Treatbot ice cream next to the Peralta adobe (they will be one of the permanent tenants).

What I have for you today is a list of signed leases that will be moving into the Urban Market this year. Some names I can't share yet, but I can at least tell you what they will be selling. So far we have:

• Naples-Style Wood Fired Pizza
• A Wine Bar also featuring Cheese, Charcuterie & Panini
• A Full Service Bar in the El Dorado Building
• Vietnamese Sandwiches and Spring Rolls
• San Pedro Square Newsstand & Gift Shop
• Treatbot Karaoke Ice Cream
• The Usuals, San Jose's own Clothing Shop
• Veggiebox
• La Fina Cocina, Latin Kitchen Products
• Glo, Handmade Jewelry
• Crewners, Classic Single Chair Barbershop 

There are also a number of leases that are in process right now, and I'll provide juicy details as soon as I get a green light! More news (and interviews) to come later this month.

Grand Plans for the Diridon Station

Some very exciting changes are in store for the Diridon area. It's a key transit hub in the bay area that connects Caltrain, Light Rail, Ace, Capital Corridor, Amtrak, and multiple Bus lines. By the end of 2012 it will also be home to a bike sharing station and by the end of the decade it should also house BART and High Speed Rail. It very well may become one of the busiest transportation depots in the US someday. Add to that a potential ballpark across the street, and you have an area with a lot of potential.

Below are some images from the planning department showing 3 planned "zones" the Diridon area is being divided into.  The innovation zone is going to be focused around housing emerging companies, the central zone will feature retail and entertainment, and the southern zone will be primarily residential. A lot of thought has also been put into an art plan that will blanket all three zones. Have a look at some of the images below for more on the overall vision!

New Restaurant will Come to Former Smoke Space

The proprietor behind Sabor Tapas Bar & Lounge has plans to open up a new restaurant in what used to be the Smoke Tiki Lounge and Smokehouse. No news on what the restaurant will be called or what type of food they will have, but interior work is already underway and it is expected to open this summer.

Lost San Jose Updates!

One of my favorite local photographers, Josh Marcotte, has recently updated the Lost San Jose site with tons of new photos (such as the one below)! He also has an art show going on through May 27th at Good Karma featuring the Alviso Slough. Check out the site right over here!

E&O Trading Company is Being Replaced by a Mediterranean Restaurant

The owners of Flames in Downtown San Jose are bringing a 6,000 sqft Mediterranean/Greek restaurant to South First Street in the space that used to house E&O Trading Company. The plan is to launch the restaurant by late summer. When it opens, it will be the only Greek restaurant Downtown. There was one planned for Post Street, but plans feel through late last year. Click here for more info!

On an unrelated note, there is also a new Yogurt shop coming to Santa Clara Street.  It will have some big shoes to fill with Penguin Froyo gone.

The San Jose Blog Turns Two!!!

Today is our second year anniversary! What started out as a humble personal blog has become one of the largest online communities for people who love San Jose.

The original goal of this blog was to show people that San Jose is an amazing place to live, and I think we've achieved that. The goal for the next year will be to go beyond just showcasing and promoting what makes SJ great, and also try to highlight what makes San Jose unique from other cosmopolitan cities around the world. There is a unique culture here, and I don't think it gets enough recognition.

As for what is in store today, we have a lot of great content coming soon and that includes some exclusive info! So sit back, have a slice of cake, and enjoy the posts coming every 2 hours or so all day long.

The San Jose Blog's 2 Year Anniversary is Tomorrow!

We have a lot of content headed your way tomorrow, including some exclusive news.  Please stay tuned throughout Tuesday as we'll have posts coming to you morning through night!

Happy Mother's Day!

I have 2 quick plugs for this Mother's Day.  The first is Morocco's, which is having a really nice Mother's Day Dinner today:

Mother's Day at Morocco's & Belly Dancing With Sandra

Sunday May 8th | 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Join us for Family Style Dining all day! $29.95 gives you access to our unlimited 8 Course Family Style menu. View at www.moroccosrestaurant.com/moroccan-menu.html. $20 gets you unlimited Bloody Marys or Mimosas from 11am to 3pm. Belly Dancing performance will occur around 7PM with Sandra. Preview her at http://www.raks-sharki.com/ Enchant your friends and family today with beautiful dishes and a hearty time in the magical Morocco's Restaurant.

And the second is The Usuals, which is having a Mother's Day Sale:

 

The San Jose Blog Anniversary This Tuesday

Next week is The San Jose Blog's 2 year anniversary! This is just a quick heads up that you can expect many posts coming your way on Tuesday, May 10th as well as a few upgrades to the site itself!

SJ Eats 2.0 - Today!

More food trucks. 300% more space. Held at the Peralta Adobe in San Pedro Square, the historical heart of the city. We are bringing some of the best food trucks and carts in the Bay. Site of the soon to be open San Pedro Square Market. FREE admission.

LUNCH (11a-3p)

Babaloo - Organic Cuban

Bill's Beer Steamed Hot Dog Cart

Cabana Dave's - Globally Inspired

Curry Up Now - Indian Street Food

Hapa SF - Organic Filipino

Iz It - Hawaiianese

Louisiana Territory - Cajun

MoBowl - Rice Bowls

MoGo BBQ - Korean Mexican

No Way Jose - Mexican

Seoul on Wheels - Nontraditional Korean

Tac-Gos - Mexican

Treatbot - Karaoke Ice Cream

Wow - Filipino Silogs

DINNER (5p-9p)

An The Go - Noodles

Curry Up Now - Indian Street Food

House of Siam - Thai

Kara's Cupcakes - Dessert

Little Green Cyclo - Vietnamese

Louisiana Territory - Cajun

MoGo BBQ - Korean Mexican

No Way Jose - Mexican

Southern Sandwich - Southern BBQ

Tikka Bytes - Custom Indian

Treatbot - Karaoke Ice Cream

Quick Dog - Hot Dogs

Wow - Filipino Silogs

LIVE MUSIC 1st Run(12pm-3pm)

12p-12:30p Christian Vela from Los Hot Boxers(Latin)

12:30p-1:00p TBA

1:00p-1:45p Native Brew(World)

1:45p-2:00p Musical Break

2:00p-2:30p Troy Curtis(Acoustic)

2:30p-3:00p Lani Grooves(R&B/Soul)

LIVE MUSIC 2nd Run(5pm-9pm)

5p-6p Jam session featuring local mc's and members of Panthelion, Citabria, Rebelskamp, and much more!

6p-6:30p Rebelskamp(Jam Band)

6:30p-7:00p Aivar(Reggae/Rock)

7:00p-7:30p My People's(Reggae)

7:30p-8:00p Cado(Latin)

8:00p-8:45p Paolos/Elias(Reggae)

At 5pm there will be a jam session with members of Panthelion, Citabria, Rebelskamp, and much more. We are going to create a drum circle cypher with some of the illest local mc's around! Make sure to come and watch this magic unfold.