New Street Food Incubator Launches!

Just about all of the incubators in San Jose are focused on technology, so it is refreshing to see something different coming into the mix. Food Social is essentially a street food incubator, helping street food vendors grow a successful business.

Later this week, you'll be able to try out the various food innovations these street vendors have come up with at Motif. Full details below! (You can also check out their site over here).

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What

Food Social, a street food marketplace, features locally produced fare by the
Bay Area food scene’s next big talents. An incubator for up-and-coming street
food vendors, Food Social creates a whole new meaning to “eating local”. Eat
new dishes ranging from $5-$8, mingle with new friends, and enjoy a beautiful
outdoor terrace along with drink specials all night.

Friday, September 16th 2011, 5pm-9pm.
Motif Lounge
389 S. First St.
San Jose, CA

$5 with online registration, $10 for registration at the door.
Visit www.food-social.org to register for the event.
Music by Sketchmoney

Why

Food Social was created to shine the spotlight on a different part of the street
food vending journey…The very beginning. The idea behind Food Social is to
provide a forum that showcases up and coming street food vendors in a way
never before experienced in the South Bay. After personally experiencing the
long, arduous path toward building a successful cart, we wanted to open up a
channel for new food vendors who are working their way up the ladder to build
fans and share their fresh food ideas with their local community. Attend Food
Social and take an exclusive look at the delight that is being cooked up right in
your backyard.

September 2011 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Groundwerx is continuing to do a great job helping to keep Downtown clean and beautify the most trafficked zones.
• In 3 and a half months, 360 Residences has rented almost half of its units. They may be able to fill the tower as soon as November, which would be a huge boon for SoFA. As for the other residential high-rises:
• City Hights: 85% sold
• The 88: 70% sold
• Axis: 55% sold
• The San Pedro Square Market is having their grand opening on Oct. 22nd.  On Sep 17-18 you will be able to get a preview along with SJ Made and SJ Eats.
• Camera 3 will be hosting video feeds of the world's best operas and ballets.
• The Historic District will be plugging some major retail gaps very soon. Have a look at this:
• Zanotto's Express will be opening soon, offering grab-and-go items (which will no doubt be popular with Downtown residents) at 80 S. First.
• Le Duyen Healthy Spa is coming to 74 S. First St.
• Original Gravity Public House, a beer and sausage restaurant is coming to 66 S. First St.
• Cabritos Mexican Bistro is coming to 72 S. First 
• La Lune Sucree is now open in the former A Taste of Paris location (I've already been here twice, it's amazing... well worth a trip)
• Downtown streets are becoming safer thanks to a "Stay Away" program that prevents people arrested for drug violations from stepping foot back in certain zones (such as St. James Park). So far the program has been successful and may be expanded to more zones Downtown.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

San Jose 9/11 Remembrance Photos

Courtesy of Thomas Wohlmut:

SJMADE with SJEATS @ San Pedro Square Market!

Of all the events I have plugged this year so far, I have to say I am the most excited about the one below. It will usher in a new, major permanent attraction in San Jose. At the San Pedro Square Market sign lighting last week, Sam Liccardo said this was the beginning of Downtown's second renaissance. I think he's right, and the event coming next weekend will show you why.

I actually see this event as a combination of 3 main attractions:

1.) SJMADE - They will be showcasing local vendors (including The Usuals), south bay culture, San Jose art, and live music. This is a great way to support our burgeoning arts, fashion, and crafts community.

2.) SJEATS - The best food trucks in the Bay Area will be gathering along St. John Street right in front of the Market. They'll also be providing some entertainment.

3.) San Pedro Square Market Soft Launch - You will be able to try out the wine bar also featuring plates of fine cheeses and cold cuts, enjoy a mojito or craft beer at the San Pedro Square Bar, have a pizza baked in a hand-made brick oven imported from Naples at Pizza Bocca Lupo, or maybe even get a haircut at Crewners. This will give you a good sample of what's coming with an ambiance you just can't beat.

If you're reading this blog right now, then you have to mark your calendar for this event. Bring the whole family!

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SJMADE with SJEATS
San Jose, California
September 17 & 18, 2011
San Pedro Square Market

PRESS RELEASE

San Jose Made (SJMADE) found its roots in San Jose, CA, where brother and sister, Mike and Marie Millares of The Usuals, ran small trunk shows featuring products from local brands. The small trunk shows have, since, grown into larger-scale vendor shows for locals who are building independent brands, creating collections, or designing goods in the San Francisco South Bay Area. SJMADE events house vendor and artist booths alongside live music performances by local acts. In response to the growing demand for local goods, SJMADE partnered with SJEATS hoping to continue this unique homegrown shopping and food experience in San Jose, CA.

Some of the Bay Area’s best food trucks are coming to San Pedro Square Market for SJMADE with SJEATS, a vendor and food truck festival based in San Jose, CA. Cuisines spanning the globe will be represented, from Filipino street food to chrome karaoke ice cream trucks. SJEATS was founded by husband and wife team, Ryan and Christine Sebastian. The couple operates Moveable Feast, a traveling food truck and live music event. Thousands of people have attended Moveable Feast events to sample local fare from gourmet food trucks with a helping of live music.

SJMADE with SJEATS is scheduled to run 11:00a to 7:00p on Saturday and Sunday, September 17th and 18th at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose. Admission is free. The growing schedule of vendors and food trucks is available online at: http://www.sanjosemade.com.

9/11 Events Tomorrow

Office of Cultural Affairs - Office of Economic Development

        

San Jose Fire Department 9/11 Patriot Day Tenth Anniversary

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Street Closures:

·        Market Street, from Julian to St. James will be closed from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

·        Market Street, from San Fernando to Santa Clara Street, will be closed from 12 Noon to 1:00 PM.

·        Divine Street, from First Street to San Pedro will be closed from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Schedule of Events:

11:00 a.m. (recommended arrival time for guests) – The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, 80 South Market Street, San José

11:30 a.m. - Memorial Mass celebrated by Bishop Patrick McGrath

12:40 p.m. - Memorial March down Market Street to San José Fire Station 1, 225 North Market Street

1:00 p.m. - Reflections on 9/11 by keynote speaker Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and “Ringing of the Last Alarm”

1:20 pm - Open House at San José Fire Station 1

If you have any questions please contact Fawna Ferguson, Promotions and Events Officer with the City of San José, Office of Cultural Affairs at (408) 793-4350 or by e-mail at:Fawna.Ferguson@sanjoseca.gov

CONTENT's San Jose Photography Contest

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

San Jose Photography Contest
San Jose is a city of vastly diverse communities and cultures. Content Magazine is featuring these communities and celebrating you, our local artists. We invite you to submit your original photographic image(s) that displays and/or reflects your neighborhood–your community. Whether your 'hood is a place or a person, submit your best image(s) which will judged by San Jose creative professionals and, then, winner will be published in Content Magazine Issue 3.4 Nov/Dec. 2011.


Rules:
Contest is open to South Bay resident photographers of 18 years and older of every skill levels. Photos must not be previously published, must be suitable for publishing by Content Magazine. (Entrees must be a current resident of Santa Clara County to qualify.)


Prize:
Photographers of winning photos will receive:
• Photos published in the Neighborhood Issue of Content Magazine.
•Recognition on the Content Magazine Facebook Fan page.
•Images published on Content-Magazine.com.
•Two copies of Content Magazine Issue 3.4 Neighborhood
•Portfolio review by Content Shapers Additional honorable mention photos will be posted on the Content-Magazine.com Webpage.
WINNER NOTIFICATION - Winner will be notified in November 2011.


Deadline:
Contest begins September 9, 2011. All submission must be received by mid-night October 10, 2011.


To enter contest, visit www.content-magazine.com

Alaskan and Hawaiian Airlines Adding More SJC Flights

Alaska Airlines is adding new daily nonstop flights to both Kauai and the Big Island in Hawaii starting March 12th. To add to the Aloha party, Hawaiian Airlines is offering 3 new weekly nonstop flights direct to Maui starting January 10th. (their first service direct from San Jose to Maui). Hawaiian Airlines is also doing an introductory rate of $298.40 for the roundtrip flight if you book within the next 4 days.

I think it's safe to say SJC is pretty much covered with flights to Hawaii. Hopefully they will start adding some some new International flights soon. More details over here and here.