San Pedro Square Market Sign

Courtesy of Karl Schramm:

M8trix Updates

M8trix is a new card room that is being built near Bay 101 and will be replacing Garden City Casino on Saratoga. Last week there was a Merc article with some additional tidbits on this $100 million project:

• Technology will be featured throughout the casino, including a 15ft LED chandelier and indoor lighting that can by changed on the fly.
• High-stakes card games will take place on the penthouse floor of the tower, with panoramic views of the South Bay.
• There will be a new bar in the gaming area, Asian noodle eatery, and a sports bar & grill. In total there will be 210 LCD TVs.
• The second phase of the project with an estimated completion in 2014 will cost over $120 million and feature a 220 foot high luxury hotel with up to 600 rooms and a four star restaurant.

That last tidbit has me particularly excited. San Jose is long overdue for a W or Westin Hotel, which the Merc mentioned. I remember there also being talks of a celebrity chef restaurant on top of the Phase 2 tower, but it was not mentioned in the article. Click here for more.

San Pedro Square Market Updates

From the San Pedro Square Market Blog:

The San Pedro Square Market is getting better and better everyday. Our Market Manager Steve Borkenhagen has leased five new tenants in less than two weeks bringing us up to 80% occupied.

With so much going on, we needed to let everybody know what is on tap in the coming months. First, we will be filling you in on all of our new tenants, concepts andevents. Second, we are planning a fashion show with the help of our newest tenantJoelle Cruz, stay tuned for our upcoming blog post for all of the details on the above items. Now for the good stuff, Our first San Pedro Square Market restaurant spotlight: Pizza Bocca Lupo.

Located in the El Dorado Bakery Building, Pizza Bocca Lupo will be run by a native Neapolitan with a passion for thin crust pizza. Owner-operator Ron DeVries was trained in Naples, Italy by one of the first pizzerias to be VPN (Verace Pizza Napoletana) certified. Pizza Bocca Lupo will be the first Neapolitan pizzeria in the south bay that bakes in a hand-made brick oven imported from Naples (on its way now). The oven cooks the pizza in 1-2 minutes at very high temperatures giving them a distinct taste and texture.

The pizza will be baked using the same ingredients as the best pizzerias in Naples:  very fine Tipo 00 flour, authentic San Marzano Tomatoes grown in the vulcanic soil of Mount Vesuvio, fresh mozzarella, and more. High quality locally-found ingredients will also be available.

Ron is going to be a wonderful addition to our project and I must say I cannot wait to taste his pizzas there is nothing better than a thin crust, wood fired pizza.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blogs:

The El Dorado Bar

Nine.Ten.Eleven.

Vino Vino

Upcoming Events

New Leaf Coming to South San Jose

The former Cosentino's by Silver Creek Country Club will soon become a New Leaf Community Market. This should be a nice spot for them.

Obon Festival Going on Now!

Come enjoy the 76th annual San Jose Obon festival, a time when generations of families and friends come together and enjoy a rich cultural experience in one of the three remaining Japantowns in the United States.

Partake in the traditional dancing and indulge in Japanese favorites: sushi, beef and chicken teriyaki, gyoza, udon, tempura, and festival favorites such as corn on the cob and strawberry shortcake.

Special: Jack Matsuoka, a renowned cartoonist best known for the collection of cartoons that he drew during his imprisonment in the Poston detention camp, designed the Festival shirts as well as banners along Jackson St. in Japantown. He will be signing copies of his book, "Poston: Camp II, Block 211," at the ACCP Bookstore during the Festival.

The public is also invited to learn about Japanese symbols and practices in a brief "Buddhism 101" session at 11:30am and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday in the San Jose Buddhist Temple (640 North Fifth St).

SATURDAY, JULY 9th: 12pm-10pm
12:00 Food Booths Open
12:30 UC Berkley Taiko
1:00 Games/Bookstore Opens
2:00 Buddhism 101
3:00 Bingo Opens
4:00 UC Irvine - Jodaiko
5:30 San Jose Taiko
6:30 Chidori Band
7:30 Chidori 50th
7:45 Odori starts

SUNDAY, JULY 10th: 12pm-8pm
12:00 Food Booths Open
12:30 UC Berkley Taiko
1:00 Games Open
1:30 UC Irvine - Jodaiko
2:00 Buddhism 101/Bingo Opens
4:00 San Jose Taiko
5:00 Chidori Band
6:00 Odori starts
7:00 Raffle

If you are interested in volunteering go to
www.volunteermatch.org

Check out www.sjbetsuin.com for more information.

Hot San Jose Nights @ The Santa Clara Fairgrounds

If you're a classic car enthusiast, then there is a great event for you happening this weekend. This year's Hot San Jose Nights is featuring a classic car show, auction, live music, and even a destruction derby. For more info, check out Steve Natale's blog right over here as well as the video from last year's event below.

Myth Grand Opening!

Downtown San Jose's newest restaurant (and nightclub) is starting their grand opening bash tonight. They'll have free appetizers and modern Greek cuisine to munch on, as well as live music and DJs. For more info, click on the flyer below.

WE ARE ROBOTS by Paco Excel @ Empire Seven Studios

This Saturday between 7pm and midnight, Empire Seven Studio is hosting an artist reception for graffiti artist Paco Excel. His latest work focuses around how people are becoming more connected with technology than humanity (appropriate theme for Silicon Valley, don't you think). This exhibit will also be on display at Empire Seven Studios on 7th Street until August 27th, which is open 6pm-9pm Mon-Fri.