San Jose Photos & Images From the Past Year!

And one that's a bit older than the last year, but worth posting anyway:

Dine Downtown San Jose - RESTAURANT WEEK JUNE 2-12, 2010!!!

More juicy bits on Downtown San Jose's second Restaurant Week! This event has grown from 27 restaurants last year to 31 restaurants this year. There is only one restaurant not participating that was part of the original run, A.P. Stumps (sadly no longer open). The 5 newcomer restaurants are: Affinity, Hanuman Thai Cuisine, Motif, Pagoda, and Sonoma Chicken. For all the details, keep on reading!

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Download this Save the Date Reminder for City Bites Sampler Day:
June 2 and the 2010 dates June 2-12.

2010 Dine Downtown Participants

City Bites

Chef Profiles

Our Sponsors

Become our FAN

2010 Dine Downtown Participants
Click on a restaurant to see their special Dine Downtown Menu

• 19Market Restaurant - 19 N. Market St.; 280-6111
• 71 Saint Peter Mediterranean Grill - 71 N. San Pedro St.; 971-8523
• Affinity - in the Downtown Hilton, 300 Almaden Blvd.; 287-2100
• Agenda Restaurant - 399 S. First St.; 287-3991
• Arcadia Modern American Steakhouse - in the San Jose Marriott, 100 W. San Carlos St.; 278-4555
• Bella Mia Restaurant & Bar - 58 S. First St.; 280-1993
• Billy Berk's - 99 S. First St.; 292-4300
• Britannia Arms Downtown - 173 W. Santa Clara St.; 278-1400
• E&O Trading Company - 96 S. First St.; 938-4100
  
• Eulipia Restaurant & Bar - 374 S. First St.; 280-6161
  
• Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge & Restaurant - 99 E. San Fernando St.; 998-9998
• The Grill on the Alley - in the Fairmont Hotel, 172 S. Market St.; 294-2244
  
• Gumbo Jumbo Cajun Fusion - 80 N. Market St.; 294-8626
• Habana Cuba Restaurant - 238 Race St.; 998-2822
  
• Hanuman Thai Cuisine - 1 E. San Fernando St; 286-2482
  
• Hawgs Seafood Bar - 150 S. Second Street; 287-9955
  
• Il Fornaio - in the Sainte Claire Hotel, 302 S. Market St.; 271-3366
  
• La Pastaia Ristorante & Enoteca - in the Hotel De Anza; 233 W. Santa Clara St.; 286-8686
• Loft Bar and Bistro - 90 S. 2nd St.; 291-0677
• Mezcal Restaurant - 25 W. San Fernando St.; 283-9595
• Morocco's Restaurant - 86 N. Market St.; 998-1509
• Morton's The Steakhouse - 177 Park Ave.; 947-7000
• Mosaic Restaurant & Lounge - in the Four Points by Sheraton, 211 S. First St.; 282-8888
• Motif Restaurant and Club - 389 S. First St.; 279-1888
  
• P.F. Chang's China Bistro - 98 S. Second St.; 961-5250
  
• Pagoda Restaurant - in the Fairmont San Jose, 170 S. Market St.; 998-1900
• Paolo’s Restaurant - 333 W. San Carlos St. # 150; 294-2558
• San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar - 20 N. Almaden Ave.; 298-9463
• Silicon Valley Capital Club - 50 W. San Fernando St. #1700; 971-9300
  
• Sonoma Chicken - 31 N. Market St.; 287-4098
  

Participating restaurants displaying this sign offer two hours of validated parking at designated parking lots and garages.  sjdowntownparking.com/parking_validation.html

Restrictions 

Some restrictions may apply. These restrictions may include (but are not limited to):

• Prix Fixe menu prices do not include tax, beverages and gratuity (unless otherwise noted).
• Prix Fixe menus are per person (unless otherwise noted) and may not be split or shared.
• Prix Fixe menus may not be valid with Passport Cards, Discover Downtown San Jose cards, Downtown Arts & Dining Gift Certificates, other promotional offers, coupons, or discounts.

Please call individual restaurants for details about their restrictions.

The 88 is Offering 1/2 off HOA dues for 2 years (click to enlarge)

No SJ Blog Anniversary is Complete Without a San Jose Sharks Music Video

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.