Shop San Jose

I am finally getting around to putting together a list of San Jose companies that are making CONSUMER products (not business products). This is easier said than done because most companies in San Jose are focused on making products for other businesses. For everything I buy these days I'll always look up where the company is headquartered and try to buy as close to San Jose as possible. This maximizes the amount of money that will feed back into our local economy.

The list includes companies like Adobe, Netgear, eBay, and Orchard Supply as well as a couple smaller companies that may one day change the world. A great example is Switch, whose product is pictured below. They created the most advanced light bulb in the world, a liquid-cooled LED bulb that produces the exact same type of light as an incandescent using a fraction of the electricity (even less than compact fluorescent bulbs).

I also created a tab called "Almost SJ Consumer Goods" for companies that are located in Santa Clara County, but not in San Jose. It's a short list because I haven't done as much research on these, but am expecting to add many more in the future.

To access the document click the "Shop San Jose" link on the right menu or click here. Also, if there are companies you would like to add to the list just post in the comments.

  

Liquid Restaurant & Lounge

Alright, so two things to mention here:

1.) New Restaurant Alert: Liquid is now open a 32 S. Third. It looks pretty damn nice inside and the menu is solid. I would describe it as Asian fusion.
2.) They are looking to incorporate local art, which is a great new trend Downtown. 488 Cafe--which just opened on the ground flood of the Sobrato Tower--is also showcasing a substantial amount of local art. I hope this trend continue for a long time to come.

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from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Liquid Restaurant & Lounge is all about "new."

We are, in fact, the newest hotspot in Downtown San Jose. We draw in a wide array of people ranging from 20-somethings to 60-somethings. We focus on maximizing the feeling of euphoria when guests come in to experience Liquid.

Hard work and passion has been put into designing and creating the perfect atmosphere where people can enjoy not only their delicious meal from our full lunch and dinner menu and drinks mixed to perfection from our full bar, but also the carefully selected music choices and LED projected lights throughout the walls.

Liquid has some prime wall space to offer local contemporary artists. (Insurance provided, no commission on sales.)

If interested, please contact My Pham to arrange a walk through and to discuss details.

Liquid Restaurant & Lounge
32 S. Third, San Jose
(408) 806-1441.

Fairmont Holiday Celebration

The Fairmont San Jose has big plans this holiday season. On Friday, December 2nd they'll be having a free event featuring two giant chocolate nutcrackers, a Gingerbread Village created by Bijan (Bijan Bakery), Leigh High School's marching band, Ballet San Jose, and Los Merry Mariachis. This is the largest public holiday event I have ever heard of the Fairmont doing, so hopefully they will make this an annual tradition.

Downtown San Jose is the top Christmas destination for the entire Bay Area, and we need more events like the one below to help keep it that way. We lost the Holiday Parade for 2011 (one of the largest parades in the US) and Christmas in the Park is at risk, so this is really the year to go out and support our Holiday events to make sure they come back next year!

SAN JOSE, CA - November 2011 – Are you starting to hear those sleigh bells jingling?  Well, we surely can from where we are decorating. Downtown San Jose’s Christmas festivities, which include the tradition of “The Christmas at the Park,” and the Downtown Ice Skating Rink, can both be found at the area’s premier holiday destination – The Fairmont San Jose hotel. This holiday season, the hotel, already known for its scrumptious Easter and Mother’s Day Brunch, will host several elegant dinners and brunches to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve with Fairmont flair.

In addition, The Fairmont San Jose hotel will be ringing in the season with  a special holiday celebration for the community on December 2, 2011. Starting at 7 p.m., hotel guests locals, and those in neighboring cities can experience a great expression of holiday cheer, as our luxury San Jose hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef, Fernando Arreola, unveils two Giant Chocolate Nutcrackers.

Bring the entire family to this complimentary event and you’ll be greeted by the Marching Band of Leigh High School, as well as the amazing Gingerbread Village created by Bijan, of Bijan Bakery fame. Afterward, guests can dance in the lobby lounge to the sounds of Los Merry Mariachis and take in Ballet San Jose’s rendition of the holiday classic – The Nutcracker.  As the evening comes to a close, guests can sip hot chocolate and listen as the Harker School Choir serenades them.

Start a new family tradition at our San Jose hotel – and enjoy a fun-filled evening you’ll remember all year long.  For more holiday information, visit www.fsjholidays.com or www.fairmont.com/sanjose.

History San José Hosts Heritage Holiday Tea & Tour at the Fallon House

Very interesting event below involving History San Jose, Satori, and the San Pedro Square Market. This will feature what used to be Manny's Cellar in the basement of the historic Fallon House.


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High Tea on the Lower Level of the Fallon House at San Pedro Square Market

Former Manny’s Cellar to Serve Up Holiday Festivities

San Jose, CA -- October 19, 2011

The tradition of History San José’s annual Heritage Holiday Tea and Tour will be held this year in the area of the new San Pedro Square Market at the Victorian-era Fallon House. The lower level, formerly Manny’s Cellar, has been restored and will be transformed into a holiday tea room for the Saturday, December 3 event.

The Heritage Holiday Tea continues the annual tradition of tea and this year includes champagne, tours of the Fallon House, built in 1855, and of the Peralta Adobe, built in 1797. Located just a stroll across the street from the new San Pedro Square Market and performances by the Liberty Baptist School Band and Choir.

“For long-time San José residents Manny’s Cellar near San Pedro Square conjures up images of beer, burgers and gossip,” said Alida Bray, President and CEO of History San José. “This holiday season History San José will proudly open these historic buildings to our friends. Manny’s is a San José institution and this newly-restored space is perfect for the popular Heritage Holiday Tea.”

Satori Tea Company will present a special blend especially for the Heritage Holiday event consisting of peach, plum, apricot, black tea and flower petals. Named ‘Valley of Hearts’ Delight,’  the tea be will accompany a gourmet catered light luncheon, and also be avaliable for purchase. Guglielmo Wines will provide the champagne served by Shady Shakespeare in the garden while greeted by The Lyric Theatre Carollers.

Throughout San Pedro Square Market will be traditional holiday activities and vendors, old and new alike.

“The Fallon House and the Peralta Adobe historic sites are the convergence of new and old,” said Steve Borkenhagen, Marketing Manager of San Pedro Square Market. “It is a privilege to partner with History San José on the holiday festivities. The new San Pedro Square Market will be a gathering place just as it was more than two centuries ago.”

The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County will demonstrate wreath-making, The Spinners will be spinning yarn, the Lace Museum will host demonstrations of lace-making.

Former Mercury News artist Jim Hummel will be on hand for a book-signing of his latest children’s book, San Jose, California: The Place Where People Help Dreams Come True.

The $45 ticket price, (HSJ members $40) will include tours and a gift bag with specials and discounts from the newly-opened market and Satori Tea Company. Parking will be free in the lot adjacent to the Fallon House, and street parking is free on Saturdays. The Fallon House Historic Site is located at 175 West St. John Street in San José.

Tea times are at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Ticket price includes tours of the Fallon House and the Peralta Adobe. Make checks payable to History San José and mail to 1650 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95113 or call Juanita at 408 918 1045 or email her at jlara@historysanjose.org.

The Fallon House was built in 1855 by one of San José’s earliest mayors. The Victorian mansion showcases 15 fully-furnished rooms typical of the Victorian period. Thomas Fallon was a frontiersman in the John C. Fremont expedition, and Carmel Fallon was the daughter of one of the most prominent Mexican landowners in California.

The Peralta Adobe is San José’s oldest address. Built in 1797, the Peralta Adobe is the last remaining structure from El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe. See the Adobe’s horno, an outside working oven or venture inside the home and see two rooms furnished as they might have been when they were occupied by the Gonzales and Peralta families. It is now surrounded by the new San Pedro Square Market.

Wednesday Wishlist: Earthscrapers?

Here's a unique idea coming out of Mexico city that may allow Downtown San Jose to have 60 story buildings despite the proximity to the airport. The idea of an inverted skyscraper sounds crazy, but the mockups from the short video below are pretty amazing. Imagine something like this under St. James Park or Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

Thanks to Jason for the tip!

Live painting, Music, Demos & $2 Art Sale this TUESDAY at KALEID!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Join us at KALEID Gallery for this upcoming Two Buck Tuesday! Come enjoy an inspired evening of art demos, performances, live painting, scrumptious tastings, $2 art & quirky people get together!
TWO BUCK Tuesdays at KALEID Gallery

Tuesday, November 15th, 7-10pm
It's free and open to all ages!

Here are just some of the interesting artists and crafters you will meet!


Far out music by Tim Thompson!
Space Palette is a musical and graphical instrument created by Tim Thompson that makes use of the Microsoft Kinect, a 3D camera. Standing in front of a wood frame, you wave your hands and "paint" both music and projected visuals. Any number of hands can be used simultaneously, so you and your friends can use it together and become an instant band and light show!


Calligrapher Cari Ferraro will demonstrate these scribal secrets, working with inks and color on paper, from medieval styles to contemporary experimental lettering. She will have on hand a variety of tools to form different styles of lettering. A free sample of calligraphy (one or two words) for all who attend. Extra samples can be done, time permitting, for $2 each. Come and witness the archaic art of beautiful writing.


Give&Take Trading Post with Lara Sophia!
Bring a small item you don't want anymore to trade with another item on the table!
Suggested items include, but are not limited too: books, seed packets, small art supplies, non perishable food items.
Trading only, No drop offs.
Items should be in complete and good condition


Hand Turkeys! with Laura Callin Bennett
You all remember this project from elementary school: trace your hand, then add a beak and feet to create the traditional Thanksgiving bird. Revisit this classic art activity with tips from local artist Laura Callin Bennett.


Gear up for winter with cheapskate pals Courtney and Jo Anne as they show you how to make a snow (flake) mobile. Modernize the timeless tradition of cutting snowflakes and string 'em up into a lovely hanging decoration. Free!


Homemade Playdough! with Lara Sophia
Play with some home made dough and purchase a bit to take home!


Hand Building Clay with Benjamin Shuts
Get your hands dirty with ceramic artist Ben Shuts as he shows you the technique for hand building with clay.


Our resident portrait artist, David Mejia will draw you while you wait for a small fee!

LIVE ART ALL NIGHT by:

Nicholas Caesar

Sue Galaviz

Michael Foley


Enjoy food by Sugar&Spice!
Amber Rogers and Theresa Dunnavant provide delicious sweets and sumptuous vittles for your palette's pleasure!

And check out the current feature exhibitions:

A Box Is A Box Is A Box by Gianfranco Paolozzi
In search of new surfaces to apply my marks, to write my journals, the everyday boxes used as packaging for products that we consume, are becoming my canvasses. the box is a canvas when it is disassembled or not.


Photographs from Italy and Greece by John Eric Paulson
Each day I wonder what photographic surprises await me. When I focus on an area, I look for what I would like to see if it were a perfect world, creating the ideal, capturing the basic beauty and enhancing its drama.


Tuesday, November 15th, 7-10 pm
free & all ages welcome!
FB RSVP here.

KALEID Gallery
88 South 4th Street
Downtown San Jose
www.KALEIDgallery.com
(408) 947 1785

Would YOU like to show off your talents at Two Buck Tuesdays? Let us know!
Just email us at info [at] KALEIDgallery.com

Dishcrawl is Coming to Willow Glen

For those of your who still have not attended a Dishcrawl, it's pretty much a foodies dream. You get to sample food at 4 different restaurants and often get to meet the chef behind the food. We have had many Dishcrawls in Downtown San Jose, but tomorrow is the first one in Willow Glen. My intention was to plug this event, but it's already sold out!

So instead I'll point you to the Dishcrawl Bay Area page: http://www.dishcrawl.com/bayarea/

In addition to doing their epic 4-round Dishcrawls, they are also doing special events at key restaurants throughout the Bay Area. It is absolutely worth trying out. I have done many Dishcrawls and have never been disappointed. As a side-note, the company is headquartered in Downtown San Jose!

Belly of the Beast @ ArtObject Gallery

ArtObject is a really cool 2,000sqft gallery in Japantown. They are doing an opening reception for their latest exhibit this Friday from 6pm-11pm. Well worth checking out!

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For Immediate Release:

New Exhibit @ ArtObjectGallery

592 N FifthStreet, San Jose, CA 95112

Eight of San Jose’s exquisite contemporary painters will be exhibiting at ArtObject Gallery, 592 North 5th Street San Jose, from November 18th through December 16th. With an opening reception on Friday night November 18th from 6:00pm to 11:00pm.  

Michael Buscemi and Karen Ehlers have invited Ben Alexy, Christopher Elliman, Ema Sintamarian, Jason Adkins, Jeanne Vadeboncoeur, and Matt Serna to exhibit with them at ArtObject.  

“Belly of the Beast”  Ben Jonson wrote "Batholomew Fair" (1614): "What do you say to a drum, sir? It is the broken belly of the beast, and thy bellows there are his lungs, and these pipes are his throat, those feathers are of his tail, and thy rattles the gnashing of his teeth".  This is an exhibit of paintings selected by painters. The belly reflects the work that goes on in our studios (at times we are all in the belly). We painters sing with our brushes and sometimes paint with our teeth. We rattle the bushes in our lonesome pursuit. With much work behind us, we sometimes strike moments of genius. 

Please come and write about this truly passionate collection of paintings.

Contact:

Karen Ehlers