Interesting Webinar Tomorrow on Improving Communities

Webinar: Knight Soul of the Community: Why People Love Where They Live and Why It Matters

A New Approach to Improving Communities
Based on Gallup Research

On November 15, 2010, Gallup and the Knight Foundation will host an event and broadcast it live via a Webcast, to share the results from the Knight Soul of the Community study. The study’s goal is to determine what drives community attachment or emotional connection to a place. Leaders can use this information to improve the vitality of their own communities. The Knight Soul of the Community study represents the result of three years of research and shows fascinating insights into the importance of community attachment and ways to build it.

Speakers include Paula Ellis, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Knight, Jon Clifton, Deputy Director of the Gallup World Poll, and Katherine Loflin, Lead Consultant, Soul of the Community.

Gallup and Knight Foundation invite you to join us as we discuss the community attributes that drive an emotional connection to a place. Media, policymakers and non-profit and community-based organization leaders are encouraged to view this live Webcast.

Live Webcast

The Knight Soul of the Community: Why People Love Where They Live and Why It Matters event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on November 15, 2010, and will be broadcast live on the Soul of the Community website. There is no cost to attend and no advance registration is needed to view the Webcast. For more information, contact Paul Wiseman at 305.860.1000 x124.

SLG Hosts a San Jose Comics Festival Mini-Show Today!

It's pretty awesome that we have a comic book publisher / store / gallery in SoFA. It is way down the street where First and Market merge, and they are definitely a hot spot for First Fridays (they usually have food, music, and free comics). If you missed them last week, you have a chance to visit today and meet some local aspiring Stan Lees (you know, the creator of Spider Man, X-Men, Hulk).

San Jose Comics Festival Mini-Show
Saturday November 13th Meet dozens of local comic book creators in the relaxed atmosphere of the SLG Publishing Warehouse/Gallery/Entertainment Megaplex. Attending includes Gene Yang Mick Gray Rich Koslowski Jon "Bean" Hastings and more. FREE ADMISSION!

Ballet San Jose - The Production (Part 4 of 5)

Part 4 of Ballet San Jose's compelling documentary takes us backstage to show the tremendous amount of work required for production. Just click the link below to watch the video!

Part 4: http://blip.tv/file/4365103

Older Parts

Part 1: http://blip.tv/file/4262451 

Part 2: http://blip.tv/file/4303425

Part 3: http://blip.tv/file/4332357

Rubio's Contest!

I have started messaging those who I believe to be the winners for the Rubio's contest. Why the ambiguity in that sentence? Unfortunately, due to high volumes of traffic, Twitter imploded right around noon time. It wasn't accurately recording retweeters for a solid half hour! Fortunately, archaic technology saved me... pen & paper. Even though Twitter wasn't recording all of the retweeters, I was able to see the last person that retweeted and wrote down usernames "just in case." In order to prevent technical mishaps in the future, I think we'll do the next contest by singing telegram.

Twitter issues aside, Congratulations to all of the winners! I highly recommend their fish tacos =) I would also like to send out a huge thank you to all participants and to Rubio's for providing the gift certificates!

SJC Terminal B Retail is Fully Leased

The 50,000 sqft of retail space in San Jose International Airport's shiny new Terminal B is now 100% occupied. The last couple spots were taken by San Jose Joe's (Original Joe's) and Tres Gringos.

In other retail news, The Pasta Market is now open at the San Jose Market Center off Coleman.

San Jose Metblogs: Veteran's Day Parade Today

San Jose actually hosts the largest Veteran's Day event in Northern California. If you're lucky enough to get the day off, read below or at the San Jose Metblogs site for more details on today's festivities!

92nd Annual Veterans Day Parade

by Gary Wiens

November 8th, 2010 @ 11:05 PM Downtown, Free, Holidays

Thursday November 11 is Veterans Day. There will be a memorial ceremony and a parade in downtown San Jose; also, in honor of Veterans Day, entrance fees waived at National Parks.

The Parade’s Opening Ceremony begins on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month with a memorial ceremony at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Market Street.

The Parade begins at noon from Delmas Street (near HP Pavilion) and travels east along Santa Clara to Market Street. The Parade then proceeds south on Market Street and ends at San Carlos Street.

In addition, entrance fees waived on Veterans Day at public recreation lands managed by the National Park Service.

On Veterans Day, there is no postal service and libraries are closed.

Veterans Day
Thursday, November 11, 2010

11:00 am – Opening Ceremony
12:00 pm – Parade

Hotel Montgomery Moves

Below is an interesting 3 minute documentary on how the Hotel Montgomery was moved to make way for the Fairmont Annex. It still holds the record for the heaviest structure ever moved and is now home to the only Starwood hotel in San Jose, a Four Points by Sheraton. It also happens to be the nicest Four Points I've been to (I don't know of any others that have bocce ball courts or a nightclub). If it wasn't for the small boutique size, it could easily pass for a normal Sheraton or Westin hotel.

CONTEST!!! GIVING AWAY TEN (10) $10 RUBIO'S GIFT CERTIFICATES RIGHT NOW

The contest is now live! Just head on over to The San Jose Blog's Twitter Page and retweet (RT) the Rubio's post. The first 10 people to retweet will snag a $10 gift certificate. Again, there will be TEN (10) winners so your chances are great!