Sunflower Coming to San Jose

There has been a lot of retail news lately. It seems like we'll soon be filling up a lot of empty storefronts.

Sunflower Farmers Market is coming to what used to be an OSH in South San Jose (1130 Branham). The store should open in Q3 2012, creating 100 jobs.

Cavium Returns to San Jose

Cavium is a networking company that started in 2000 in three small office rooms in San Jose. As they grew they moved to Santa Clara and then Mountain View. Now they're coming back to San Jose and are taking over 113,831 sqft on North First Street. Forbes recently named this company one of the top 5 fastest growing technology companies in the US. This could be a very big win for the city if they continue to expand and bring more jobs to San Jose.  For more info, check out the print edition of the San Jose business journal (pages 1 and 24).

San Jose Made Event This Weekend!

Come support local vendors and clothiers at the SJMADE event this weekend in San Jose's midtown district! The past couple events were a huge success, so let's keep fueling the flame for quality local products.

Photolog: Nigel Who? Fashion Show

I happened to stumble upon this event and thought this should be a fun night out.  I figured with a brand name such as Nigel Who? the designs must be as interesting.  I’m no male fashionista (I would like to consider myself Geek Chic but that’s probably pushing it.  By the way is there a word for male fashionista?) but I like what I saw.

Ronnie Bogle’s, the designer of Nigel Who?, 2011 Summer Collection made use of cooling colors and fabrics.  Not only that but a lot of the designs had a sense of flow, movement and bounce.  Below are examples of pillowy bouncy dresses.

But the summer isn’t just about showing lots of skin.  There are also wonderful free flowing full dresses that would look great when a warm summer wind went by.

The range of designs is very diverse but they all stuck with the main principles.

 

 The event itself had a great turnout.  Even the kids were enjoying themselves.

To read more about Ronnie Bogle you can head over and read the article on the Content.

To see more designs head over to our Facebook T2L site.

Mad Science Bike Party Tomorrow

The latest Bike Party--which is Science themed--is coming tomorrow between 6pm-10pm.  It kicks off at Cannery Park (401 E. Taylor Street) and features food trucks, a raffle, local clothing vendors, and even a performance by SJ Taiko! More info can be found right over here.

San Pedro Square Market Sign

Courtesy of Karl Schramm:

M8trix Updates

M8trix is a new card room that is being built near Bay 101 and will be replacing Garden City Casino on Saratoga. Last week there was a Merc article with some additional tidbits on this $100 million project:

• Technology will be featured throughout the casino, including a 15ft LED chandelier and indoor lighting that can by changed on the fly.
• High-stakes card games will take place on the penthouse floor of the tower, with panoramic views of the South Bay.
• There will be a new bar in the gaming area, Asian noodle eatery, and a sports bar & grill. In total there will be 210 LCD TVs.
• The second phase of the project with an estimated completion in 2014 will cost over $120 million and feature a 220 foot high luxury hotel with up to 600 rooms and a four star restaurant.

That last tidbit has me particularly excited. San Jose is long overdue for a W or Westin Hotel, which the Merc mentioned. I remember there also being talks of a celebrity chef restaurant on top of the Phase 2 tower, but it was not mentioned in the article. Click here for more.

San Pedro Square Market Updates

From the San Pedro Square Market Blog:

The San Pedro Square Market is getting better and better everyday. Our Market Manager Steve Borkenhagen has leased five new tenants in less than two weeks bringing us up to 80% occupied.

With so much going on, we needed to let everybody know what is on tap in the coming months. First, we will be filling you in on all of our new tenants, concepts andevents. Second, we are planning a fashion show with the help of our newest tenantJoelle Cruz, stay tuned for our upcoming blog post for all of the details on the above items. Now for the good stuff, Our first San Pedro Square Market restaurant spotlight: Pizza Bocca Lupo.

Located in the El Dorado Bakery Building, Pizza Bocca Lupo will be run by a native Neapolitan with a passion for thin crust pizza. Owner-operator Ron DeVries was trained in Naples, Italy by one of the first pizzerias to be VPN (Verace Pizza Napoletana) certified. Pizza Bocca Lupo will be the first Neapolitan pizzeria in the south bay that bakes in a hand-made brick oven imported from Naples (on its way now). The oven cooks the pizza in 1-2 minutes at very high temperatures giving them a distinct taste and texture.

The pizza will be baked using the same ingredients as the best pizzerias in Naples:  very fine Tipo 00 flour, authentic San Marzano Tomatoes grown in the vulcanic soil of Mount Vesuvio, fresh mozzarella, and more. High quality locally-found ingredients will also be available.

Ron is going to be a wonderful addition to our project and I must say I cannot wait to taste his pizzas there is nothing better than a thin crust, wood fired pizza.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blogs:

The El Dorado Bar

Nine.Ten.Eleven.

Vino Vino

Upcoming Events

New Leaf Coming to South San Jose

The former Cosentino's by Silver Creek Country Club will soon become a New Leaf Community Market. This should be a nice spot for them.

Obon Festival Going on Now!

Come enjoy the 76th annual San Jose Obon festival, a time when generations of families and friends come together and enjoy a rich cultural experience in one of the three remaining Japantowns in the United States.

Partake in the traditional dancing and indulge in Japanese favorites: sushi, beef and chicken teriyaki, gyoza, udon, tempura, and festival favorites such as corn on the cob and strawberry shortcake.

Special: Jack Matsuoka, a renowned cartoonist best known for the collection of cartoons that he drew during his imprisonment in the Poston detention camp, designed the Festival shirts as well as banners along Jackson St. in Japantown. He will be signing copies of his book, "Poston: Camp II, Block 211," at the ACCP Bookstore during the Festival.

The public is also invited to learn about Japanese symbols and practices in a brief "Buddhism 101" session at 11:30am and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday in the San Jose Buddhist Temple (640 North Fifth St).

SATURDAY, JULY 9th: 12pm-10pm
12:00 Food Booths Open
12:30 UC Berkley Taiko
1:00 Games/Bookstore Opens
2:00 Buddhism 101
3:00 Bingo Opens
4:00 UC Irvine - Jodaiko
5:30 San Jose Taiko
6:30 Chidori Band
7:30 Chidori 50th
7:45 Odori starts

SUNDAY, JULY 10th: 12pm-8pm
12:00 Food Booths Open
12:30 UC Berkley Taiko
1:00 Games Open
1:30 UC Irvine - Jodaiko
2:00 Buddhism 101/Bingo Opens
4:00 San Jose Taiko
5:00 Chidori Band
6:00 Odori starts
7:00 Raffle

If you are interested in volunteering go to
www.volunteermatch.org

Check out www.sjbetsuin.com for more information.