May 2010 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• Groundwerx gets high praise from their second-year survey:
• 89% of respondents said Downtown cleanliness has significantly improved
• 91% said the overall condition of downtown improved
• 85% approval rating for the second PBID-funded streetscape project
• Sobrato acquires 2 key blocks (no new info here that hasn't already been posted).
• The City Council voted unanimously to reduce fees involved in producing events in San Jose. The immediate impact to the SJDA would be more vendors in Music in the Park, a series permit simplifying the approval process for Starlight Cinemas, and substantial cost reductions in doing street closures.
• Dine Downtown is coming back from June 2nd to June 12th!!! This event kicks off with City Bites on June 2nd from noon to 2pm. At least 29 restaurants will participate including: 19 Market, 71 St. Peter, Affinity, Agenda, Arcadia, Bella Mia, Billy Berk's, The Brit, E&O, Emile's, Eulipia, Fahrenheit, The Grill on the Alley, Gumbo Jumbo, Habana Cuba, Hanuman Thai, Hawgs, Il Fornaio, La Pastaia, Loft, Mezcal, Morocco's, Morton's, Mosaic, Motif, Pagoda, Paolo's, San Pedro Square Bistro, The Capital Club
• 3 new spaces are now open in San Pedro Square: Sante Grill (saw their open sign lit today), La Victoria (re-opening soon), and Starbucks.
• Morton's added a 104-seat banquet room overlooking CityView Plaza.
• Philly Style Food has opened at 93 E. Santa Clara St.
• The Downtown Doors program is seeking to add art to at least 11 new doors downtown. 
• The Civic Auditorium renovation is well underway, expect new seats and new concession areas very soon.
• The RDA is acquiring parking lots in order to be able to widen and realign St. James Street and allow for a new wave of development, including 124 townhomes and 450 condo units.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Genghis Khan is Coming to The Tech!

A new exhibit is heading over to the Tech to replace Star Trek later this month. This will be the first and only west coast appearance of this exhibit featuring over 200 artifacts from Genghis' reign as well as a touch of Mongolian culture (just writing the word Mongolian is making me hungry for some Mongolian BBQ). For all the details, take a look below! If I find any available discounts, I'll post a link here.




Genghis Khan
Opens Saturday, May 22!
Tickets on Sale Now!

Discover the innovation, technological mastery, engineering marvels, the treasures and culture of the world's greatest and most misunderstood conqueror in this one-of-a kind exhibition. 

First and only West Coast appearance opens Saturday, May 22, for a limited engagement at The Tech Museum in San Jose in partnership with Team San Jose.

Learn about the two faces of Genghis Khan: Conqueror. Statesman.

Khan's infamous brutality is well known, but there was another side to the man - that of a gifted, innovative leader who brought stability and unity to his people who would form the first united Mongol nation. Genghis also brought us passports, the pony express, printed money, hamburgers and even pants.

View more than 200 13th century artifacts from Genghis' reign - including gold, silver jewelry and authentic clothing - never before seen outside Mongolia including a 13th century Mongolian princess mummy and her treasures.

PLUS Enjoy live cultural performances, featuring Mongolian singers, contortionists and musicians performing traditional folk arts. 

Prices
Adults: $25.00
Seniors (65+) / College Students with ID: $22.00
Children (ages 3-17): $15.00 

Includes admission to the exhibition and admission to all the galleries of The Tech Museum. Pricing does not include IMAX. 

Order Tickets Now!

San Jose Via Velo "Bike Party" this Saturday!

On Saturday, May 15th from 10am to 3pm, San Fernando Street is being shut down between 3rd St. and 87 for what is essentially a huge bike party. I'll quote the flyer below: "The ViaVelo turns this otherwise busy thoroughfare into a car-free promenade to gather, bike, walk, skate, dance, or stroll on a sunny May day." This event will feature live music on 2 stages, green living demonstrations, children's activities, guided bike rides, organic food cooking demos, a high-tech scavenger hunt via bike, yoga, and some giveaways for kids. Sounds like an awesome event! Thanks to Quan for sending this in.

The San Jose Blog's 1 Year Anniversary!!!

Exactly one year ago today The San Jose Blog launched with a simple premise, and that's to incubate enthusiasm for San Jose. 200+ blog posts later, I have to say I'm extremely satisfied with how things have turned out and it's crystal clear there are people out there that feel just as passionately about San Jose as I do. In fact, over 22,000 individuals have visited this blog since launch. We have even been able to add a second writer to cover the Shark's amazing run this playoff season!

While many San Jose blogs and sites have come and gone over the past year, the overall trend is a positive one. Never has there been such an active community of people that love San Jose. Over the past year, we've seen the launch of I Heart SJ, San Jose 2030, and the resurrection of SJ21. We have some outstanding projects in the hopper like the San Pedro Square Market, Little Italy, the Earthquakes Stadium, HSR, BART, SJC Terminal B, @First, Guadalupe River Park revitalization, the A's Stadium, and at least half dozen high-rises waiting in the wings when the economy improves. Downtown San Jose--the very heart of our city--is the most active it's been in half a century and its potential has never been greater than it is today.

I think this next year will be the one where San Jose is finally recognized as a true world-class city, and we'll be here to blog about it! Thanks so much for reading and supporting San Jose, and stay tuned for a whole lot of posts today in celebration of our 1st Anniversary!

-Josh

Tomorrow is our One Year Anniversary!

One last reminder that tomorrow will be our one year anniversary, expect lots of posts! Be sure to check back throughout the day.

Campbell Trying to Steal First Fridays?

Yesterday I ran into the blog post below on San Jose Metblogs. I think I'll take Downtown Campbell's blatant attempt to rip off San Jose's widely successful South First Fridays as a compliment. I just wish they picked another day (second Friday perhaps) so that these events would not have to compete with one another. This could turn ugly.

*************

Spring in Campbell – Downtown First Friday

By Gary Wiens

May 7th, 2010 @ 4:34 PM Campbell, Events, Fun, Wi-Fi

Stroll tree-lined Campbell Avenue from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm the first Friday each month for late-night shopping, dinning, live entertainment, or just sit at a sidewalk cafe watching everyone else stroll the avenue.

May’s First Friday features the artwork of children 12 years old and younger displayed on Downtown Campbell shop windows as part of the Children’s Art Contest.

Downtown Campbell has a free Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi Hot Spots providing outdoor coverage include Gelato Classico, Sonoma Chicken Coop, The King’s Head Pub, and Orchard Valley Coffee.

In 1892, Benjamin Campbell formed the Campbell Water Company, Campbell’s first utility company, and the 130-foot water tower has become a symbol for Historic Downtown Campbell. Explore over two-dozen historical landmarks with a free walking tour map available from the Campbell Historical Museum.

Downtown Campbell directory and parking map

The San Jose Blog's 1 Year Anniversary - May 11th!

Just a quick post to let you guys know that 2 days from now will be our 1 year anniversary. Expect a ton of content that day!

Free Mother's Day SJMA Admission!