Amazing Downtown San Jose Photo!

I came across this today at San Jose Has A Blog. I love this photo!

Click here to read the photographer's comments regarding this photo!

San Jose Politics: Proposed Runoff Election Changes

If you're interested in San Jose politics (or a free lunch), then you might want to check out this event happening at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library Room 225, from 12pm-1:15pm this Thursday:

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CA EVENT: Instant Runoff Voting (San Jose)

In order to be elected to office in San Jose, a candidate must secure a majority of the votes cast. Sounds simple enough, but if no candidate receives a majority, then a runoff election is held in which the top candidates must compete again. This process is not only lengthy and results in voter fatigue and low voter turnout, but can cost $500,000 per election. There must be a better way to elect our leaders.

In May, the San Jose Elections Commission had Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) on their agenda, and heard it described as a cheaper, quicker, and more civil way to run elections. Join us for a discussion of how IRV works and what it can do for San Jose.

This event is free and open to the public and lunch will be provided.

The event is jointly sponsored by the New America Foundation and Common Cause.

Featured Speakers
Sam Liccardo
Councilmember, San Jose City Council (District 3)

Steve Chessin
President, Californians for Electoral Reform

Ash Kalra
Councilmember, San Jose City Council (District 2)

Ellen Wheeler
Member, League of Women Voters Los Altos-Mountain View

Moderated by
Terry Christensen
Professor of Political Science, San Jose State University"

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Sign up for this event here!

San Jose Improv - SPECIAL EVENTS

I have been to both the Punchline and Cobb's Comedy Club in SF, and have to say I have always had a better experience ant the Improv in downtown. The seating is better, location is better, and we've consistently been getting top tier acts month after month. If you've never been to a live comedy show before, this is the place to go. You'll probably be coming back for more.

Here is a list of some of the "special events" coming this summer (Improv's way of saying: "these our our big name acts"):

Jim Breuer: Jun 25-28

Josh Blue: Aug 14-16

Kevin Nealon: Aug 21-22

Eddie Griffin: Sep 11-12

Gabriel Iglesias: Sep 25-27

I've seen Jim Breuer, Josh Blue, and Gabriel Iglesias... all were amazing. By the end of Gabriel Iglesias' routine I was laughing so hard I was almost in tears. Gabriel also gets respect for brining in San Jose Lightrail and pedicabs into some of his jokes.

June 2009 Downtown Dimension Highlights

I have just received the latest issue of Downtown Dimension, a great newsletter put out by the San Jose Downtown Association that covers what's happening in downtown San Jose. Here are some highlights from June's issue: 

• SoFA is becoming more pedestrian-friendly with 3 new sidewalk extensions for outdoor seating and 200 new planters.
• Later this summer SoFA will receive two new murals, bike racks, and illuminated tree lighting (nice!).
• Music in the Park schedule (Thursdays from 5:30-9:15pm):
• June 11: Sierra Leone's Refugee Allstars (world/reggae)
• June 18: Third Eye Blind (allternative rock)
• June 25: Pete Escovedo (Latin jazz)
• July 2: The Tubes (classic rock)
• July 9: Eek-A-Mouse (reggae)
• The City is asking over 30 downtown nightclubs to help pay for policing costs.  Annual charges to club owners would range from $1,200 to $33,000 depending on club size.
• 25 downtown utility doors have be converted into art projects for aspiring local talent.
• The Old Wagon Saloon & Grill has opened up on 73 N. San Pedro St. and features buffalo, free-range turkey, and calamari fries.
• Agave Viejo is open on 151 W Santa Clara and boasts over 93 brands of tequila.
• Pearl Nigh Club has opened up in what used to be Vivid Night Club, 8 S. First St.
• Groundwerx will be emphasizing work with the downtown homeless population, connecting them with housing services that will hopefully get them off the streets.

To subscribe to this free newsletter, click here.

SubZERO 2009 Photos Coming Soon

The SubZERO festival hit downtown SJ yesterday, and from what I heard so far it was a huge success. Unfortunately I couldn't be there, but I'll be collecting photos to post early next week!

History San Jose Expands Historic Trolly Line

The historic trolley line inside of History San Jose has been expanded so that the trolleys can run from History Park to the Japanese Friendship Gardens. That is a photo of the inaugural run using a 1912 trolley.  

For more information, you can check out the History San Jose Blog.

DINE DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE *** Restaurant Week 2009 *** June 3-13

Starting tomorrow you'll be able to enjoy a 3 course dinner at one of 27 different venues for the fixed price of either $20, $30, or $40. This is a great opportunity to try out some of the amazing restaurants in downtown San Jose at reasonable prices!

You can quickly view the fixed price menus by clicking here!

I would also like to point out that the Silicon Valley Capital Club is also on the list. This is a members-only club on the top floor of the Knight Ridder building next to the Fairmont, so unless you have a friend that's a member this will be your best opportunity to try out the club's dining room. There are 2 massive balconies up there and the views are spectacular. This is currently the only downtown San Jose dining venue more than a few stories off of the ground (Scott's Seafood comes in second being on the 6th floor of a parking structure), so if you're a San Jose enthusiast you have to check it out!

Again, here's the link to the menu's. Cheers!

Tallest Proposed Hi-Rise in San Jose

Okay, so the current economy isn't exactly a harbinger of optimism to the San Jose construction scene. Despite everything, there still are quite a number of projects on the table, particularly in the downtown San Jose area. There's a handy San Jose Future Highrise Map link on the right hand menu to this blog to give you an idea of how many projects are shovel ready, approved, or proposed (along with photos if we have them).

I wanted to highlight the tallest approved project, the One South Market building by KT Properties and designed by Ankrom Moisan. If completed, it should stand somewhere between 315-338 feet tall and be the tallest building between San Francisco and LA. Also, it couldn't be in a better location with easy access to San Pedro Square, 1st St, 2nd St, and Market. For more details about the building head down past the photos!

Description from the Ankrom Moisan website:

"Located in the heart of downtown, the building is adjacent to the San Pedro Square dining and entertainment district. New retail space at street level and the addition of permanent residents will increase pedestrian activity in the district and make it safer through a significant number of "eyes on the street." The building design uses a modern palette of materials, with a transparent curtainwall skin at the base that rises to a glass and stone tower designed in a Mondrian-like pattern. The tower will be a striking presence on the San Jose skyline, offering residents views of downtown and the surrounding Santa Cruz and Diablo Mountain ranges. Residents of the 300 luxury condos will enjoy a variety of amenities, including a landscaped elevated plaza deck with lap pool and spa. Bus and lightrail access is only one block away. 1 South Market is designed as a 22-story, 610,000 sf building with 300 luxury condominiums."