New Interactive Directory Premiers at Santana Row

This year is Santana Row's 10 Year Anniversary. In honor of the occasion, they are planning a few "upgrades."

Santana Row is the very first Northern California location to launch a next-gen outdoor touchscreen directory. In fact, this may be the best outdoor touchscreen available anywhere. Think of this as a giant 46" HD iPad with an interactive map, way-finding (navigation), and constantly updated SR events. It's also fan-less, weather-sealed, and designed for use in direct sunlight.

The technology and programming powering the massive touchscreen was actually developed in San Jose by Array Interactive. To check it out for yourself, just head over to Santana Row between Sino and Left Bank. 

San Jose is Getting a US Patent Office!

In 2010 a staggering 10,074 patents were filed in the San Jose metro area, far more than any other region in the United States. By comparison, the New York metro (with 8 times the population of San Jose) only filed 6,383 patents. San Francisco came in 3rd place with 6,290 patents.

What is crazy, is that anyone who wants to meet with their patent examiner has to fly to the sole US Patent Office in Virgina. To top it off, there is a three year backlog on processing patents. Finally, last year it was decided that the US Patent Office would start opening satellite offices. Out of 600 applications, San Jose was one of the few areas chosen for one of these offices -- although based on the numbers above I think this should have been a no-brainer.


The end result is that Silicon Valley innovators will be able to file and process their patents faster, more conveniently, and at a lower cost. The office will open in 2 years and employ 150-200 patent examiners, which will likely specialize in technology. Sounds like a huge win for San Jose.

Source: KQED, SJBJ

History San José Hosts Series of Family Days: Gold Rush Day on July 15 Launches Series

San José, CA – June 18, 2012  – Summer is a good time to have an adventure, and History Park will provide the backdrop. Gold Rush Adventure Day will allow families to be a ‘49er for a day---as in the original gold rushers of 1849---Sunday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be family activities, including panning for gold, cowboy grub (food available for purchase) and good old-fashioned music. Other activities will include the hand car, trolley rides, pony express relay and the Wells Fargo Stage Coach will be available for photo opportunies.

The second of the series of Family Days will be on Sunday, August 12, Happy Birthday Car 124!, a celebration of Trolley #124’s 100th birthday party. This signature red trolley will be running on its track, there will be a horse car, and hand-car rides will be available. The newly-acquired caboose will also be featured. Vintage vehicles on display will include fire engines, an electric car, and Model T’s.

There will be choo choo crafts for the kids, live music featuring the Peninsula Banjo Band. And what a birthday party! Even the San Jose Giants will celebrate. Party-goers can stay, picnic and watch the fireworks after the baseball game. Food typical of the Gay Nineties will be available for purchase.

The following week, Sunday, August 19, is the annual Fandango at Peralta Adobe, in the heart of the new San Pedro Square Market.

This date is signifant in that it commemorates the death 161 years ago of Maria Luis Peralta. He was the Californio who lived in the Peralta Adobe with his family, and was one of the first Accolades (mayor) of Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe.

Typical of that era, there will be music and dancing, as well as a descedant of the original horses that were brought by the Spanish explorers.

On Saturday, October 13 the last in the series of Family Days, is Filipino-American Heritage Day, celebrating Filipino American Month and to honor the current exhibit, Through My Father’s Eyes. That celebration will include filipino foods, dancing and music, and other activities.

The series of Family Days at History Park is supported, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José.

Upcoming events include:
·      Haunt History Park, safe trick-or-treating, on October 28;
·      Happy Birthday San Jose! At the Peralta Adobe and Fallon House at the San Pedro Square Market on Sunday, November 18;
·      Children’s Holiday Festival with Santa Claus at History Park on Saturday, December 8;
·      the Heritage Holiday Tea is on December 1 at the Fallon House.

General admission is $8 per adult, $5 for seniors and students with a valid ID and children under five are free. Admission is free to members of History San Jose.

For more information call 408 918-1047 or visit www.historysanjose.org

   # # #

About History San José:
History San José is a non-profit organization that collects, preserves and celebrates the stories of diversity and innovation in San José and the Santa Clara Valley. HSJ manages one of the largest and most comprehensive regional history collections in the State of California, from 1784 Spanish governmental records to twenty-first century Silicon Valley technology.
History San José     1650 Senter Road     San José, CA  95112       408.287.2290
www.historysanjose.org

MetroMarks Features The San Jose Blog

MetroMarks is a city-based bookmarking platform and travel companion featuring links to city guides, news, and local events. They have recently added a section for San Jose and lo and behold, The San Jose Blog is sitting in their very first slot! The icing on the cake is that my favorite local blogs are there as well. Have a look over here.

San Jose Taiko shares ‘playdate’ process for Rhythm Spirit 2012 Concerts

San José, CA --- June 18, 2012 --- San Jose Taiko draws inspiration from the digitally-driven Silicon Valley for its “Rhythm Spirit 2012” production September 21 and 22. The company will be at an exciting new venue this year: the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. SJT will also partner with the Zero1 Festival to explore the art form of taiko through the medium of digital expression. The production can already be enjoyed by audiences, as SJT shares the process of merging the traditional with the technological. 

“We hosted a number of ‘playdates’ with specialists in various technological and scientific fields with the intent of bringing the audience along on this journey.  The playdates are meant to be freeform idea jam sessions, where we explore possibilities without fear of failure or worrying about whether it would fit into a typical San Jose Taiko production,” explains Artistic Director Franco Imperial.

“We’ve tried to use true play as a way to create and explore.  From the ideas generated at these sessions, we will choose a few that resonate with us and will continue to develop them.  CreaTV and 1stACT will help us document these sessions, which will be shared with our audiences through social media and during our September concerts.  By the time any audience member steps into the theater in September, they will have an idea of what it took to create a particular piece.  We feel the entire audience experience will be enhanced because of this.”

To date, playdate topics have included the sonification of seismic data and use of the Xbox360 Kinect Sensor.  Idea partners range from PhDs from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) in Madison, Wisconsin to the software hacking community in San Francisco.

Executive Director Wisa Uemura adds, “Zero1 has been an amazing thought-partner in the early stages of this concept.  This year, we’ll be presenting our concert program differently than we have in the past – we will be speaking to the process and actually allowing audience members to come onstage to experience the technology.  Our hope is to provide a more interactive and engaging experience.”

There are three performances of Rhythm Spirit 2012: Friday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 22 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. All shows will be held at the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors if purchased in advance ($30/$25 at the door).  All seats are reserved, and group rates are available. Ticket information is available by visiting www.taiko.org or by calling 408-293-9344.

# # #

About San Jose Taiko:

San Jose Taiko, with a deep respect of cultural traditions and a commitment to artistic excellence, is dedicated to the advancement of the taiko art form through the development of its world-class Performing Ensemble and the San Jose Taiko Conservatory. Located in the heart of Japantown of San Jose, the company performs throughout the Bay Area, the United States and abroad.

Since 1973, San Jose Taiko (SJT) has integrated this historical Japanese art form with other world rhythms. All compositions performed by SJT are written or arranged by members of the group. Composing, choreographing, designing and producing costumes, and handcrafting of the drums are part of the holistic process in which all members participate. Through this singleness of mind and spirit, harmony is achieved and the music rings with unity and clarity.

Enrich the human spirit. Connect people beyond cultural and demographic boundaries.
San Jose Taiko, 565 North 5th Street, San Jose, CA 95112    408 293 9344      taiko.org

Gen110 Connects 1,200 South Bay Homes with Local Power

The solar energy market is continuing to gain traction in San Jose. Gen110 has recently issued a press release announcing that they have completed solar installations in over 1,200 South Bay homes. What is especially interesting is that one of those 1,200 is a Ida Perracci's house in Alum Rock. She decided to have solar installed on her 100th Birthday (!) ... I guess it's never too late to go green. Check out the full release below along with a photo of Ida.

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Distributed energy leader helps 100-year-old San Jose customer save money with solar


San Jose, Calif., June 13, 2012 - Gen110, the leading distributed electricity company, today announced it has brought cost-effective distributed power to more than 1,200 households in the South Bay in the form of solar electricity. The company now powers more than 40 percent of solar installations in the San Jose metropolitan area, California’s third-biggest solar market.

Gen110’s approach helps energy-intensive households lock down higher-tier energy rates while avoiding rate hikes prevalent to South Bay power customers. By providing access to the best technologies and financing solutions available with a low upfront investment, Gen110 helps customers save approximately $50,000 over twenty years on their energy bill.

“Many South Bay residents don’t know they’re overpaying for energy, or that alternatives exist to help lower their bills. That’s where Gen110 comes in,” said Michael Abramovic, director of Gen110’s South Bay office. “Savvy South Bay customers have been quick to understand that our solution makes smart economic sense, and we’re pleased that so many have decided to replace their higher-tier energy use with distributed power.”

For many of the region’s retired residents living on fixed incomes, this spells opportunity: 100-year-old Ida Perracci of Alum Rock was one of the first to recognize its potential benefit to her wallet and the environment. Perracci signed on to install a Gen110 power plant on her home on the day of her centennial birthday party, locking into predictable energy rates starting now.

“You’re never too old to go solar,” said Perracci. “I’ve lived in Alum Rock for decades, and for the first time my electricity bill will stop going up. And while the price is right today, solar will continue to benefit my family for years to come.”

About Gen110

Gen110 is the leading distributed energy company providing a cost-effective, alternative
way for heavy energy users to purchase residential power. Gen110 has helped more
than 2,000 homeowners in California avoid utility rate hikes by producing approximately
13 gigawatt hours of electricity annually at their own homes. A private company based

in San Francisco, Gen110 was founded in 2009 to free customers from total dependence
on traditional utility companies. To learn more, visit gen110.com. You can also follow us
on Facebook (facebook.com/Gen110) and Twitter (twitter.com/gen_110).

Free Chalk Art Workshop

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

In preparation for the 5th annual Luna Park Chalk Art Festival on September 22, 2012, there will be a FREE chalk art workshop featuring 3D chalk art with expert street painters Wayne and Cheryl Renshaw.

To register, email info[at]lunaparkchalkart[dot]org

Workshop will take place on July 8th, 3-5pm at the Joyce Ellington Library, 491 E. Empire St., San José, CA 95112

Happy 4th of July San Jose!

The closest thing to an official fireworks show we have this year is happening at the San Jose Giants stadium around 9:30pm. If you are a History San Jose member, you can watch the fireworks for free from within their venue. You might also be allowed to watch for free at Kelley Park next to History San Jose.

Hope you all have a fun and safe 4th!