Nissan's Drive Electric Tour Comes to San Jose

If you're wondering what it would be like to drive a 100% electric car, you can put your assumptions to the test this weekend. Nissan is showing off their Leaf electric vehicle in Downtown San Jose, which is already well equipped to handle "EVs" thanks to multiple charging stations. You can register for a test drive by clicking right over here. Press release below:

NISSAN DRIVE ELECTRIC TOUR

All-electric Nissan LEAF brings

23-city consumer test-drive tour to San Jose

WHAT:         The “Drive Electric Tour…sponsored by the 100-percent electric Nissan LEAF” gives consumers a first-ever chance to experience all-electric driving. In addition to the first public test-drives, the tour also provides information about the car, its technology and its features.

The public will have the opportunity to drive the LEAF in San Jose starting on October 29 at the Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Marathon.

WHEN:        Friday, October 29: 9am-6pm

         Saturday, October 30: 8am-6pm

         Sunday, October 31: 8am-5pm

WHERE:        Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Marathon

                         Almaden/Woz Parking Lot

                   232 Woz Way

                         *The drive electric tour will be located at the Almaden / Woz Parking Lot, corner of S Almaden & Woz Way.

           

PHOTO/VIDEO:       

·         Consumer reaction to first-ever test-drive of an all-electric vehicle

·         Displays and interactive kiosks about alternative technology

·         Nissan spokesperson on opportunity and advantage of all-electric vehicles

MORE:          Interested drivers can learn more about the tour, and register to drive the Nissan LEAF at www.drivenissanleaf.com.

Sales of the Nissan LEAF begin in December in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Tennessee. In January 2011, sales begin in Texas and Hawaii. The Nissan LEAF will be available nationwide by the end of 2011.

Singlebarrel - Coolest Bar in Town

While I'm not a big drinker, over the course of my life I think I've been to at least 90% of all the bars in Downtown San Jose and a good portion of the top places in the greater bay area. Singlebarrel is far and away the coolest bar I've ever been to.

It's easy to miss since it's in the basement below Agenda/Bayonne and a barrel is the only signage adorning the exterior. Depending on the time you go, there may be a line wrapping around the corner helping you find your way. However, it is worth both the search and/or wait. By the time you get to the bottom of the steps, you find yourself in a different time--you've just entered a prohibition-style speakeasy! The ambiance is dark and relaxed, with old-school music playing in the background. The bartenders are even dressed in era-appropriate attire.

Now on to the best part... the drinks! Most of the menu is inspired from classic recipes and they are made primarily the original way. Everything is made from scratch. If a drink uses fruit, they're going to cut up fresh sample before infusing it into your drink. I was also surprised to see the bartenders crack raw eggs to extract fresh egg-whites for some of their cocktails. Speaking of the bartenders, the service is phenomenal. They are extremely knowledgeable regarding the full history of all their drinks: how they were invented, who drank them, how they became popular, etc. In addition to the history, the service is outstanding in general. 

2 of my favorite drinks:

- Ramos Gin Fizz: ONLY SERVED BETWEEN 5-6PM (and worth coming early for), takes a solid 10 minutes to make, tastes amazing, and you get a refill when you're halfway done.

- The Old Fashioned: The original cocktail. Aged whiskey, sugar, bitters, lemon, and the magic Singlebarrel touch... a giant spherical Japanese ice cube (it keeps the drink cold for longer without diluting it).

Singlebarrel is the type of unique attraction that we need more of Downtown and in San Jose in general. Definitely worth visiting, and I recommend going early for the full drink selection and extra-exceptional service.

A Peek at Brocade's New San Jose Headquarters

Below is a quick 6min video talking about the Brocade campus that now anchor's San Jose's @First development. It's always nice to see another world class HQ open up here. Brocade will join Cisco, eBay, Adobe, Cadence, and many others with flagship offices in San Jose.

Southwest Adding Flights to Austin

It looks like Southwest is kicking off 2 new daily nonstops between San Jose and Austin. The new "nerd bird" flights kick off November 7th.

World's Largest Haunted House

Well, I was fairly confident that there were no Halloween Haunts in San Jose proper this year thanks to Gyro's "hiatus," but it looks like there is one at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds billed as the World's Largest. Click here for more information and click here for a $2 per person coupon. I'll try to check this out soon and let you know if it's worthwhile!



UPDATE: Made it there yesterday, and it's worthwhile. It's the scariest one that I've been to in the Bay Area this year and is 2-3 times longer than your typical maze.

Zillow Crowns the Winchester Mystery House as the #1 Haunted Home in the US

From "Top 10 Haunted Homes in the U.S.":

(Flickr photo: harshlight)

1. Winchester House (above)
Location: San Jose, CA
Notable ghost: Sarah Winchester

As one of two homes in California sanctioned by the U.S. Commerce Department as being haunted (the other is the Whaley House, below), the magnificent Winchester Housestands alone as perhaps the most bizarre haunted home in the U.S. It was inspired and designed by Sarah Winchester (photo), widow of William Winchester, founder of Winchester rifles. Legend goes that Sarah was deeply affected by the deaths of her daughter, Annie, in 1866 and then her husband, William, in 1881. Sarah consulted a medium who instructed her to build a house to ward off evil spirits. Construction on the Winchester House started in 1884 and continued for 38 years — until Sarah’s death in 1922.

Sarah reportedly held nightly seances to gain guidance from spirits and her dead husband for the home’s design. What resulted was a maze-like residence full of twisting and turning hallways, dead-ends, secret panels, a window built into a floor, staircases leading to nowhere, doors that open to walls, upside-down columns, and rooms built, then intentionally closed off  — all to ward off and confuse evil spirits. Read more about Sarah and the fascinating Winchester House. (Photo of Sarah Winchester: freewebs.com)
> See more San Jose, CA real estate
> See San Jose, CA home values

Art Show @ The Usuals Tonight!

Time	Friday, October 29 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location	The Usuals 1020 The Alameda
Created By	The Usuals
More Info	A group art show celebrating life & death. Featuring Local Artists: Force 129 Christine Benjamin Patricia Black Lacey Bryant Michael Buscemi Michael Foley Joel Ruiz Garcia Josh Marcotte (Lost San Jose) Frances Marin David Nelson Anabella Pinon Tea Shack Project Kate Stewart Sara Tomasello Kristine Taormino Kori Thomson Wadl Wadl Jessie Jane Walden Jesus Villegas ....and more Deathly Beats By: Nate LeBlanc Squareweezy (Bangerz) Vida Treats by: La Senora Nava STREETBOT!! If you attend this opening night in costume or with a Dia De Los Muertos painted face, you'll get 10% off of your purchase (artwork excluded). "Dia De La Vida" will be on view through Nov. 18th. During store hours: Sunday - Thursday 11am - 7pm Friday - Saturday 11am - 8pm

Ballet San Jose - Beginnings (Part 1 of 5)

Ballet San Jose is just kicking off their 2010-2011 Season, so what better way to start things off than a really interesting documentary about their history! Click the link below for part one of their five part documentary series... and if you didn't think a ballet documentary could end with a cliffhanger, guess again =)

Part 1: http://blip.tv/file/4262451