All Nippon Airways (ANA) Officially Adds San Jose-Tokyo Route!

Well, it's finally official. Come January 11th of next year, San Jose International will have a direct flight to Narita International in Tokyo. To top it off, the plane used is going to be a Boeing 787, a brand new aircraft with incredible amenities and comfort in all classes.

There will be 5 round trip flights each week (no flights on Tues and Thurs). The San Jose flight will depart at 11:45am and arrive in Tokyo at 4:10pm. The Tokyo flight will leave at 4:35pm and arrive at 10:10am the next day in San Jose.

I'm hoping for a fare sale to launch the new route and that many more international flights will be coming to SJC!

Source: SJBJ

SquareCrow’s Ball at History Park Benefits History San José and Second Harvest Food Bank

San Jose, CA – August 9, 2012

Most of us equate square dancing with the angst of grade school gym class or choosing partners. Those days are gone, and these days square dancing, as well as round dancing, is actually fun.

The Third Annual SquareCrow’s Ball will set out to prove just that on September 8 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at History Park.

This year’s SquareCrow’s Ball will also benefit both History San José and Second Harvest Food Bank. Tickets are set at an affordable $15 per person, or $10 and two canned goods, with proceeds going to both nonprofits.

“Folk dancing builds community,” said Jane Maxfield, coordinator of the SquareCrow’s Ball. “Dancing together is not as stupid as you thought it was in grade school. And you don’t need to know how to dance. You can learn everything you need by just coming to the Ball.”

The SquareCrow’s Ball will bring together music, food, dancing and a silent auction. Caller Scot Byars will provide dancers the opportunity to revel under the Light Tower at History Park.

“The SquareCrow’s Ball and dancing under the Light Tower brings a liveliness to History Park,” said Alida Bray, President and CEO of History San José. “This is a wonderful marriage of History Park with historic music and cultural heritage. And we are honored to share that stage with Second Harvest Food Bank.”

Live music by Fiddle Road will demonstrate a diverse musical repertoire  of a colorful blend of Celtic, bluegrass, Cajun and Ol' Timey songs expressed joyfully through guitar, fiddle, mandolin, five-string and tenor banjos, stand up bass and ukulele.

Pies will be offered by Coco’s Bakery Restaurant of Sunnyvale, coffee from Red Rock, and of course, San Jose’s own Treat Ice Cream is available in O’Brien’s Café in the Pacific Hotel at History Park.

History Park is located at 1650 Senter Road, between Phelan and Keyes Avenues, at the south end of Kelley Park. For the purpose of GPS routing, 635 Phelan in San Jose, CA will direct to the south parking lot.

# # # 

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

About SquareCrow’s Ball:

In early 2010 five friends who enjoy square dancing decided to put together a square dance as an opportunity to expose others to the fun of square dancing and to give square dancers an opportunity to give back to others in their community.

The first SquareCrow’s Ball in 2010 brought together members of 14 different square dance clubs and benefited both History San Jose and the Second Harvest Food Bank.  Rich Reel – of El Camino Reelers, Sunnyvale Squares, and Western Star Dancers – was the very gracious and entertaining caller who donated his services and helped make this event such a success.  http://squarecrowsball.wordpress.com/

About Second Harvest Food Bank:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties is the trusted leader dedicated to ending local hunger. Since its inception in 1974, Second Harvest has become one of the largest food banks in the nation, providing food to an average of nearly one quarter of a million people each month. The Food Bank mobilizes individuals, companies and community partners to connect people to the nutritious food they need. Nearly half of the food distributed is fresh produce. Second Harvest also plays a leading role in promoting federal nutrition programs and educating families on how to make healthier food choices. Visit www.SHFB.org to get involved.

The Mmoon Expansion

The Mmoon is expanding! They opened their first location in Downtown San Jose two years ago, offering their unique and delicious empanadas on a spacious corner lot on Santa Clara Street near San Pedro Square. Now they are opening a second location in downtown Los Gatos! Additional info in the release below:




The Mmoon, a family-owned empanada eatery, is excited to announce the opening of their second location in historic downtown Los Gatos this spring. The new location will be at 81 West Main Street, next door to the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to open our second store in Los Gatos. We have learned over the past year that empanadas are new to many people and we look forward to bringing a small taste of Argentina to a wonderful community,” says co-founder, Mike Mendez.

The Mmoon opened its first location in downtown San Jose in September 2010 and has since
become a popular destination for a quick lunch or pre-Sharks game meal. The eatery features an
assortment of gourmet artisanal empanadas, fresh salads, homemade dressings and sauces
(including their signature blended churri sauce – a secret family recipe spanning four generations).

The Mmoon looks forward to opening their doors to the Los Gatos community the week of May 14th.

About the Mmoon
The Mmoon features Argentine-inspired gourmet empanadas. Founded by the Mendez family in
2010, their mission is to offer quick service and quality food at an affordable price. Simple quality
makes each empanada special. The causal eatery offers catering, delivery and take and bake. The
Mmoon is located in downtown San Jose’s historic San Pedro Square at 177 W. Santa Clara Street.
For more information about the Mmoon, please visit www.themmoon.com.

DRUM! Night 2012 A Hit; Paul Bostaph, Newark, Wins BADASS

DRUM! Night 2012 A Hit With Diverse Drumming Performances; Paul Bostaph Reels In Second Annual BADASS Award

San Jose, Calif., Enter Music Publishing’s third annual DRUM! Night was quite a hit. The event, a benefit for San Jose’s Lincoln High, featured diverse drum concerts and clinics by world-respected drummers and local legends. The third annual benefit, which also included a raffle and silent auction, rocked the San Jose Repertory Theater on August. 10.

“Enter Music Publishing really has made it a commitment to conduct events like this for the good of music education,” said Phil Hood, publisher and co-founder of the company. “Let’s face it. These days, high schools need help from the community to keep music in the educational mix. DRUM! Night, without a doubt, was an attempt to demonstrate the power of drumming to high school-age musicians.”

Paul Bostaph’s Beat Recognized: A BADAAS

Among the highlights of DRUM! Night was the awarding of the second annual BADAAS Award (Bay Area Drummers Achievement Awards) to Paul Bostaph, the local metal star who has been a key member of Slayer, Testament, and other bands.

Last year Mike Bordin (Soundgarden) won the inaugural award. Bostaph, who hails from Newark, Calif., and came to fame playing with Forbidden, before moving on to Slayer, Exodus, and Testament. In his acceptance speech he thanked all the drummers and companies, who have stood behind him throughout his career.

Pre-Event Percussive Highlights: From San Jose Taiko To Roland’s V-Drums Lab

Before the event, San Jose Taiko performed a street concert outside the theater. Inside, Roland set up a V-Drums Lab, so attendees could check out the latest and greatest from the electronic drum manufacturer.

Nate Brown’s Syncopated Stick Tricks And Legendary Drum Kits

In addition, Nate Brown performed a stick tricks clinic for the assembed drummers. At the same time, Drummers Tradition of San Rafael, Calif. created a mini-museum of vintage drum kits including a Ronnie Montrose set (originally played by Denny Carmassi) and the set used on Rick James "SuperFly." Other exhibitions included Louie Bellson memorabilia and Power Wrist Builders.

Kenny Aronoff’s Signature Session

Kenny Aronoff, the all-world session and touring ace who has played on dozens of top hits wowed the crowd with some of the hits from Mellencamp, Smashing Pumpkins, and others he's recorded or performed with. He described the tension of playing inaugurations and major Kennedy Center Events. He also provided great advice to drummers. He noted to the drummers in attendance that if they want a career in music, "Hard work is not just something you do for four years in college. It's your whole life."

During another performance, Tim Yeung (Morbid Angel, Divine Heresy) performed a high-octane set of metal grooves. During discussion with the audience he emphasized the role of listening and relationships, among band members, friends, and musicians and audiences.

Prince Drummers Participate

Cora Coleman-Dunham and her trio with husband Josh Dunham, put aside their busy touring/recording schedule to attend DRUM! Night. The two of them anchored Prince's 2010-2011 percussive lineups. Her set featured great improvisation and melodies she played on her tuned drum set, as well as big funky grooves.

A Worthy Cause 
As discussed above, DRUM! Night 2012 was a benefit to raise money for Lincoln High School and proved successful. The Raffle and Silent Auction raised thousands for the school and raised awareness for music education. Lucky raffle winners walked off with a Gretsch Drum Kit, and sets of Zildjian and Sabian cymbals.

About Enter Music Publishing

Founded in San Jose, CA in 1991, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of informative and entertaining drum and music-related media, with distribution in 40 countries. DRUM! Magazine is the company’s flagship publication and continues to set the industry standard for editorial quality and innovation. Enter Music Publishing, Inc. also publishes drummagazine.com, a leading drum-related Web site. The company’s mission is to be the best source of drumming news and information in the world.

Siren Fish & Reptiles Now Open Downtown

Another retail slot has been filled Downtown! Siren Fish & Reptile is now open for business at 18 N 1st Street (near the intersection with E. Santa Clara). They have a pretty impressive collection of lizards, amphibians, snakes, fish, and even birds. Even if you are not a fish or reptile hobbyist, you should still stroll in and have a look.

You can also check out their website over here and their Facebook page here.

Wednesday Wishlist: Taking the Public Art Mural to a Larger Level

On the Think Bigger San Jose blog there is a new post about upping public art to a new level. Mark has a couple awesome ideas in there such as doing a full-building mural on the ugly windowless AT&T building on Almaden and creating rooftop murals that can be seen from airplanes and Google maps, turning all of Downtown into a work of art. These ideas are out-of-the-box, disruptive (in a good way), and exactly what Downtown needs.

To read Mark's post, click here!

Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights are Returning!

My favorite Halloween event by far from last year is not only returning, it's expanding. Fright Nights at the Winchester Mystery House is adding over 100 characters and new surprises in it's 40-min maze entitled "Curse of Sarah Winchester: The Resurrection." I'm hoping most of the Hollywood-caliber props from last year will return as well.

They are also adding a brand new kind of mansion flashlight tour, one without a tour guide. It sounds like there may even be actors in parts of the mansion this time around. Each Fright Night ticket includes access to both attractions. I can't wait! Full details below:

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SAN JOSE, CA, August 12, 2012 -- The award-winning Winchester Mystery House attraction "Fright Nights" returns for a second year kicking off on Friday, September 28, 2012. The world-famous mysterious, rambling and reportedly haunted home of Sarah Winchester has more thrills and exciting additions to last year’s award-winning Maze and House tour.

Throughout September and October (see complete schedule below), the grounds of the Winchester Estate will be transformed into the world’s most terrifying Halloween experience. Filled with haunted walk-through attractions, roaming scare performers, and nightmare inducing tales, “Fright Nights” will once again be an open house visitors won’t want to miss.

“We are excited to bring 'Fright Nights' back to life for a second year at the Winchester Mystery House," said Brett Tomberlin, President, Imagination Design Works, the production team behind the special event. "To give visitors even more, we are stepping up the 40-minute maze by adding over 100 spine-chilling characters and surprises around every corner. The ‘Flashlight Tour’ is also ramped up in a way that will shock and awe visitors."

CURSE OF SARAH WINCHESTER: THE RESURRECTION
Maze Length: 40 Minutes
Guests at “Fright Nights” will have the exclusive opportunity to experience the all-new “Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze” – an interactive, multi-sensory gateway between Heaven and Hell which will be opened exclusively for visitors of “Fright Nights.” For a lifetime, Sarah Winchester built and rebuilt her house to avoid a treacherous curse and to escape her husband’s legacy of damnation. Those who perished by the Winchester rifle are seeking revenge, and are now ready to sacrifice souls before midnight strikes.

Visitors find themselves trapped inside a mansion empowered by the undead, traveling through the Corn Fields of Winchester Mystery House, into the haunted ruins of the family Graveyard and ultimately, a showdown with Sarah herself in the middle of one of her infamous séances.

“WALK WITH THE SPIRITS” FLASHLIGHT TOUR
Tour Length: 35 Minutes
Tour the mansion as you never have before - on your own. Since her death, millions of people have visited Sarah’s home and many have reported sighting ghosts. Do the phantoms she communed with or perhaps Sarah herself still lurk nightly in the maze-like corridors of the Winchester Mystery House?

You'll tour the rambling, mysterious mansion with only the moonlight, a souvenir flashlight, and your imagination to provide illumination through the bewildering labyrinth of rooms and stairways. Guests experience bone-chilling creatures and blood-curdling moments as they find themselves trapped inside the mansion empowered by the undead.

EVENT DATES, TIMES, LOCATION AND ADMISSION:

WHERE:
Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House
525 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: 408.247.2101

TICKET INFO:
"Slasher Savings" Pre-sale tickets from Aug. 12 – Sept. 9: $35 or $50 VIP

Two-pack tickets available at any Northern CA Costco from Sept. 10 – Oct. 31: $54.99

From Sept. 28 – Oct. 14: $40 or $55 VIP From Oct. 15 – Nov. 3: $45 or $60 VIP

Tickets available for purchase starting August 12th by visiting WinchesterMysteryHouse.com/tickets

*VIP tickets include front of line access
*Regular and VIP tickets include access to the Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze and Walk with the Spirits Flashlight Tour

FRIGHT NIGHTS DATES AND TIMES:
September 28-29
6:30pm – 12:00am

September 30
6:30pm – 11:00pm

October 7, 29, 30
6:30Pm – 11:00pm

October 14, 18, 21, 25, 28
6:30pm – 11:30pm

October 5, 6, 31
6:30pm – 12:00am

October 12, 13, 19, 20
6:30pm – 12:30am

October 26, 27
6:30pm – 1:00am

November 2, 3
6:30pm – 12:00am

Featured event partners and key sponsors include: Ghirardelli Chocolate, Dead Dog’s Hot Dogs, Psycho Donuts, Monster Energy Drink, Crystal Head Vodka, San Jose State University, Santana Row, Costco and Togo’s. Media partner includes: 94.9 The Wild.

ABOUT THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE:
The Winchester Mystery House is a California State Historical Landmark (#868) and was designed and built by Winchester rifle heiress, Sarah Winchester. The attraction is one of the top tourist attractions in the world and has recently been honored with the following accolades: World's Most Haunted Places #2, Travel Channel; The Scariest Locations In America #3, HauntWorld Magazine; 10 Great Places To Get Spooked #5 USA Today.

ABOUT IMAGINATION DESIGN WORKS (IDW):
IDW Productions is an independent entertainment Production Company formed for the purpose of creating feature length motion pictures, television programming and live entertainment productions. The company is owned and run by Brett Tomberlin and is the creative entity behind this year’s Fright Nights. IDW has also announced a major feature film about the House slated to premiere in 2013. Fans are invited to follow the Winchester Mystery House and Brett Tomberlin on Twitter at: twitter.com/WinchesterHouse or via Facebook at: facebook.com/winchestermysteryhouse (Official).

TWO BUCK Tuesday Aug 21st!

from Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Join us at KALEID Gallery for this upcoming TWO BUCK Tuesday, August 21st, 7pm-10pm!
Come enjoy an inspired evening of performances, live painting, $2 art & quirky people get together!
Here’s some of what you have to look forward to this time:

LIVE ART by:

Nik Caesar

Brianna Stevens

John Hageman

Fernando Armo

Joe Perea

David Canvese

Al Preciado

Steven Borelli will also be on hand painting live and available for conversation about his current feature solo exhibition "Creatively Maladjusted".

Listen to the sweet sounds of an indie/electronic/80’s set by J. Swizza & DJ Coco


Enjoy live improvisational belly dance by Nour El Ain!


Delicia Bites brings savory and robust flavors to traditional Mexican flan. With each spoonful of these delightful bites your taste buds will be taken on a flavorful journey. ~Buen Provecho
Tuesday, August 21st, 7-10pm
It’s free and open to all ages!


88 South Fourth Street (@ San Fernando)

San Jose, CA 95112

info@KALEIDGallery.com

408-947-1785

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, noon -7pm, free admission