Double Carpool Lanes Coming to the South Bay

The first double carpool lanes in Northern California are going to be built in a 3 mile stretch on 101 between 85 and Embarcadero in Palo Alto. These are extremely rare (had a real hard time finding a photo) and exist on just a few freeways in SoCal.

Eventually these will become double toll lanes, which is part of a much larger project to create double toll lanes stretching from Morgan Hill through San Jose and up to San Mateo. Toll lanes allow single drivers in the carpool lane for a fee that increases with higher congestion. So far the only toll lane in San Jose proper is along 237.

Highway 85 is also going to get the double toll lane treatment as soon as 2015 and 880 is going get it's first carpool lane in each direction between 101 and 237.

Source: Marin Independent Journal

Downtown San Jose Murals

From the SJDA website:

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Keep an eye out for a collection of murals covering the walls and adding color to the downtown landscape. The murals celebrate the people and places that make San Jose, Silicon Valley and California great. A walk along First Street will reveal most of these murals. See how many you can find.

	Artist: Location: Corner of E San Salvador and S First St. Behind Studio Theater building. 2009

Artist: Location: Corner of E San Salvador and S First St. Behind Studio Theater building‎. 2009

	Homage Artist: Chris Duncan & Paul Urich Location: Corner of E Santa Clara & Fourth Street 2005

Artist: Anno Domini Location: Anno Domini Corner of W San Carlos and S First St. Opposite California Theatre San Jose.

	Artist: Location: Fountain Alley Parking Lot, off Second Street between Santa Clara and San Fernando. On wall of San Jose Bar and Grill. 2008

Artist:  Morocco's Location: At the corner of W St John St. & N Market St.

	Artist: Lorna Sulgit Location: St. John and Notre Dame streets, on the wall of the former Rosicrucian Press building 2011

Artist: Lorna Sulgit Location: St. John and Notre Dame streets, on the wall of the former Rosicrucian Press building 2011

	Artist: Lorna Sulgit Location: St. John and Notre Dame streets, on the wall of the former Rosicrucian Press building 2011

Artist: Lorna Sulgit Location: St. John and Notre Dame streets, on the wall of the former Rosicrucian Press building 2011

	Artist: Lorna Sulgit Location: St. John and Notre Dame streets, on the wall of the former Rosicrucian Press building 2011

Artist: Paul Gonzalez Location: On the fence of the former Porter Stock Building

	Artist: Paul Gonzalez Location: On the fence of the former Porter Stock Building

Artist: Jet Martinez Location: Parking lot of the Robert F. Peckman Federal Building, South First St.

	A Place in Mind Artist: Jose Arenas  Location: On the wall of Miami Beach club, Corner of E San Salvador and S First St. 2009

A Place in Mind Artist: Jose Arenas Location: On the wall of Miami Beach club, Corner of E San Salvador and S First St. 2009

	A Place in Mind Artist: Jose Arenas Location: On the wall of Miami Beach club, Corner of E San Salvador and S First St. 2009

A Place in Mind Artist: Jose Arenas Location: On the wall of Miami Beach club, corner of E San Salvador and S First St. 2009

	Shades of San Jose Artist: Joey Piziali Location: SoFA Parking lot 2010

Shades of San Jose Artist: Joey Piziali Location: SoFA Parking lot 2010

5 Strawberry Tips Courtesy of the Veggie Box

Did you know that strawberries had shoulders? I had no idea that's what the top of the strawberry was called, let alone that a strawberry is considered ripe when the red color reaches all the way to the top of the shoulders near the sepals (leafy bits) ... Just throwing down some of the knowledge I learned by watching this video from our friends over at the Veggie Box, located at the San Pedro Market Square in Downtown San Jose.



So, tomorrow, during the Farmer's Market, check out the Veggie Box and buy yourself some juicy strawberries! (And if you use them in some kind of tasty-delicious recipe, share that with us!)

The San Jose Blog Turns 3!

After 3 years, over 1100 posts, and half a million visits... I'm going to take a moment to go back to the original premise of this blog--to show that San Jose is a world-class city. But how the heck do you measure world-class? It seems like something that is completely subjective.

Well, it turns out that there is an organization called GaWC that objectively defines, categorizes, and ranks "global cities" based on multiple criteria. They are also based out of the UK, further increasing objectivity when it comes to US cities. Their criteria for global cities includes:

• Economic characteristics: corporate headquarters, financial output, number of financial services companies, cost of living, etc.
• Political characteristics: influence on and participation in international events and world affairs, hosting headquarters for international organizations, demographic diversity, etc.
• Cultural characteristics: museums, galleries, film festivals, professional sports teams, educational institutions, tourism, historic features, etc.
• Infrastructural characteristics: advanced transportation systems, mass transit, major international airports, communications, hospitals, prominent skylines, etc.

Their research is legitimate and well respected internationally. They have 4 different levels of global cities:

1. Alpha Cities - very important world cities that link major economic regions and states into the  global economy
2. Beta Cities - important world cities that link their region or state into the world economy
3. Gamma Cities - world cities linking smaller regions or states into the world economy
4. Sufficiency Cities - There are NOT considered world cities, but have sufficient services so as to not be overtly dependent on world cities

Each "global city" category is further subdivided into normal, plus, or minus... similar to letter grades in school. Sufficient cities can either have a "sufficiency" or "high sufficiency" ranking.

Okay, now the real question... how has San Jose done based upon the research?


2000 Rankings: High Sufficiency


2004 Rankings: High Sufficiency  


2008 Rankings: Sufficiency  


2010 Rankings: Gamma+  

There you have it folks. In the latest rankings, San Jose is now objectively considered to be a world-class city for the first time. I've said many times before that we're on a great trajectory, and now there is even scientific data to back it up. The future is only going to get brighter and there is so much to look forward to. Soon we'll have new teams to root for (Earthquakes, A's, and the South Bay 49ers), more transit options (BART, BRT, Zipcar), and tons of development projects Downtown, Midtown, and on North First.

Thanks for reading and for any and all contributions you make towards making our city a better place!

Wednesday Wishlist: 3D Street Art

I think this is the level of street art we should be shooting for! These types of projects add character and get people to come check it out, interact with the art, and show the photos off to their friends. Check out the images below which are not photoshopped or doctored in any way as well as the "making of" video.

Dishwalk With Dishcrawl And Food Social

Try 10 dishes in Downtown SJ on a Saturday, followed by a Food Social reception of foodpreneurs at 4pm! This is a self guided tour through 10 restaurants.

Saturday, May 12th from 2-5pm. Tickets are $29 online, $39 the day of.

Participating restaurants are: Little Chef Counter, Vino Vino, La Pinata, Sonoma Chicken Coop, Sabor, Myth, Firehouse, On a Roll, CreParis, Food Social's Halal.

Dishwalk drink specials for $2-4 from the restaurants while you're eating away.

Experience a self-guided tour of food littered with acoustic artist popups all afternoon in Downtown San Jose's San Pedro Square.

Artists confirmed: Paul Kimball (Careless Hearts), Kaila D'Sa, Vivienne Castillo, Nate Castillo We eat and drink rain or shine.

Email hi@dishcrawl.com with questions.

Please Note: The registration/meeting location will be revealed to all ticket-holders 48 hours before the event via email. Strictly vegetarian options will not be available for this event. We're sorry, but cancellations are only taken if given 48 hours in advance. Thanks for understanding!

Food is included, drinks are CASH, so make sure to bring some. :)

Click here for tickets!

San Jose Budget May See Surplus in 2012-2013 Fiscal Year

After 10 years of budget deficits, service cuts, and layoffs... it looks like we may have finally turned a corner. In the budget year beginning July 1st, San Jose has a $9M budget surplus. This means that the city will be able to staff 4 new libraries, a community center, Lake Cunningham Skate Park, and maintain programs to suppress gang activity.

For all of the details, just check out the source link below!

Source: The Merc

Cool Music Video with Multiple Downtown SJ Shots

Here is a popular music video (almost 4.7 million views) that uses shots from Downtown San Jose multiple times--can you spot them all? About 10 seconds in you'll find the coolest presentation of City Heights ever. Thanks to Tommy for finding this!