Wednesday Wishlist: One of THESE up to Lick Observatory

April 2011 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Business Improvement District fees are being slightly raised to help offset the loss of funds from the RDA.
• The convention center is a go and will include 125k sqft of new construction, new chillers, new boilers, new cooling towers, new fire alarm and building management systems, and a $20m renovation of existing "front-of-house" public spaces.
• Cinequest rakes in a record 91,000 attendees!
• Liquid Agency is doubling their office space in SoFA.
• Works moved to a new SoFA location at 365 Market.
• MACLA is adding 3700sqft of gallery space.
• Touchstone climbing is coming back Downtown in what used to be WET Nightclub.
• Groundwerx has added multiple new machines to better clean the streets of Downtown San Jose.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Convention Center Bonds Sold

The long overdue convention center expansion project is finally going to happen. $138.4 million in bonds were sold last Friday, which means the city has the cash in hand needed to start construction immediately.

The expansion will require demolishing the old MLK Main Library and adding 125,000sqft of convention and meeting space that will front San Carlos Street. Also in the plans are a general face-lift and modernization for the rest of the center. For more info, click here.

SJMADE + SJEATS

I have never been more proud to be a San Josean. Yesterday the SJMADE and SJEATS events took place and both were completely packed with people coming to support local vendors. SJMADE was entirely comprised of local store owners, artists, and purveyors of San Jose made and inspired goods. The two locations where this took place were entirely filled to capacity throughout the event. To give you an idea of how many people were there, it took me 10 minutes to walk from one side of the old Tied House building to the other. Half way through, all vendors selling food were completely sold out and by the end of the night many of the most popular products were entirely gone.

Going on at the same time was SJEATS. This was the very first event of it's kind in the South Bay and was run by Ryan Sebastian, the proprietor behind San Jose's famous Treatbot Karaoke Ice Cream Truck. It shares some similarities to Off the Grid in SF, featuring multiple gourmet food trucks. The difference was in the number of people. Just about every truck has a 1-2 hour line. Chairman Bao I think hit a 3 hour wait at one point. By the time I got there for lunch, 4 trucks were completely sold out of all food. Dinner was just as crazy with people lining up an hour before the trucks even got there. Despite the long waits, people were smiling, laughing, and having a great time. I went with a pretty large group, so we split up and went to 4 different trucks and then shared everything (and yes, the food was obscenely good). Also, several of the food trucks said this was the busiest they have ever been, period. Some claimed to sell twice as much product as they ever have at any event int the past, including Off the Grid.

What happened to the people tired of waiting for the food trucks? They cleaned house across the San Pedro Square restaurants, which were the busiest I have seen them... ever. By 2pm, The Mmoon was entirely sold out of empanadas. They had to close down for 2 hours and even after reopening they were down to only vegetarian options. La Pinata had a one hour wait. Satori was full, as were Peggie Su's, Los Cubanos, and San Pedro Bistro and Wine Bar.

For those who still fail to see Downtown San Jose's potential, these two events were pretty much proof that the surface hasn't even been scratched on what Downtown can become. One of the highlights for me was getting a glimpse of what San Pedro Square could become after the urban market opens up. When high-quality and unique products and services come together, the people will surely follow.

Little Italy San Jose Events!

Mask Making workshop with Carla Almanza-Dequant When: Sunday April 3rd - 11:00am - 5:00 pm Created By: Little Italy San Jose More Info: Mask making workshop with world famous artis, Carla Almanza - Dequant.  Lunch is included @ Paesano Ristorante. Cost $105 - Portion of proceeds will go to Little Italy 501c3. (Class requires a minimum of 5 participants) Details: Design and decorate a Venetian half mask.  All essential materials included. Blank "Carta Pesta" half mask, paints, ribbons, glue imported italian papers for decoupage, trim, gold and silver leafing, and glitter.  Please bring any specialty items you may want to add to you mask such as jewels, feathers, and lace. Carla will add her artistic touch to finish your mask. Reservations/Contact: Kathy Winkelman - gioiacustomerservice@yahoo.com Little Italy San Jose Wine Club Release #2 When: Tuesday April 19th - 5:30pm - 7:30pm Where: Paesano Ristorante (Patio) 350 West Julian #1, San Jose, CA What: Taste 4 Wines (La Tunella Biancosesto, Luisi Moscato D'Asti, Paolo Manzone Barbera, Attilio Ghisolfi Barolo) Details: $10 tasting fee (Includes tasting of 4 wines and Little Italy Logo wine glass) *If you buy wine at the event you will get $5 off your order from tasting fee Reservations: Contact Joshua DeVincenzi Melander (408) 394-2893jcmelander@yahoo.com Viva La Moto (Vintage Vespa & Ducati Show) When: Sunday May 22nd 12:00pm - 5:00pm Where: Little Italy San Jose (350 West Julian) Details: Festival with vendors and enthusiasts of Vintage and new Italian motorcycles.  Bring your own bike or enjoy those on display.  Food, and wine will be available. Price: Free

SJMADE + SJEATS Today

Local clothing, art, crafts and 20 food trucks... sounds like a plan!

South First Friday Tonight!

It's that time again, another Friday Friday! The weather is perfect tonight for a walk around SoFA with friends to checking out the latest local art while perhaps sipping on some wine.

The big change this month is that the Works galley has moved one street over to the ground floor of the Convention Center facing Market Street. Let's wish them well in their new home.

Sharks Clinch Playoffs With Home Blowout Victory

That’s right – the San Jose Sharks beat their rivals, the Dallas Stars, to the tune of 6-0.

In preparation for the game, each team had something to fight for: the Stars to lift themselves back into the playoff race (as they are currently placed ninth in the West), and the Sharks to guarantee placement in the post-season top eight. During this 2010-2011 season, the Stars have had much success against the Sharks, but perhaps last night was not their night. Either way, a game that emerged as a hard-hitting playoff-style game resulted in an absolute blowout by the Sharks.

(Even though I tend to give an update once every two to three games, this game rightfully deserves its own accolades on The San Jose Blog.)

No scoring occurred until the last five minutes of the first period, when a carry in/spin-o-rama setup by the very effective Joe Pavelski allowed a pinching Dan Boyle to score his seventh of the year.

Near the beginning of the second period, the Sharks were given a power play, allowing Logan Couture to tie the rookie goal lead with his 31st of the year. Most impressively, however, was during the middle of the second period when the Sharks were shorthanded on three different occasions (with minor penalties), and the Sharks proceeded to kill each penalty. The second period ended with a nifty goal by Marc- Edouard “Pickles” Vlasic to put the Sharks up to a 3-0 lead.

Naturally, as a D-man myself, it is always great to see the defensemen score.

During the third period, the Sharks extended their lead by yet another three goals. Patrick Marleau, currently on a miraculous scoring streak, contributed two of them. Additionally, Marleau released an unbelievable twelve shots on net during the game, a new Sharks franchise record for shots on net in one game by one player.

Both fans and players alike, however, were most likely to be awed by Ben Eager’s goal with just under six minutes left in the period. A pass by Jamal Meyers that went slightly behind Eager was picked up by him, put between his legs, sent over to his backhand, and shot right into the net past a stunned Dallas defenseman and goaltender.

Rather than explain this further, here is a video as proof of its "amazing factor":



As far as the performance of the other players, it is very hard to single out names and honorable mentions, because, quite frankly EVERYONE played well. Over 75% of the team had at least one point. Although not tallying goals, forwards Dany Heatley, Jamal Mayers, and Joe Thornton each had two assists.

If the Sharks were lacking on point totals, this game definitely evened out the playing field, so to speak.

With five games left on the horizon, it is now important for the team to prepare for the playoffs.

GO SHARKS!