Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights

It's finally October, one of my favorite times of the year. This year's Halloween season has more South Bay attractions than at any point in the past. Next week I'll have a full list of events along with feedback and recommendations. So far I have already attended one event which takes it to a whole new level, and that's Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights.

As I mentioned in a previous post, for their sophomore year Fright Nights has invested a considerable amount of time and money into expanding the original maze (already the best from 2011) and doing a new self-guided flashlight tour in the mansion itself. Here is feedback on both attractions:

Walk with the Spirits Flashlight Tour (35min)

This is a spin on the original flashlight tour. Instead of having a tour guide walking you through the mansion, it is entirely self-guided with an audio headset telling you history about each room along with stories about various encounters. They did a good job setting the ambiance by turning off all the lights and letting you explore on your own. There may not be any actors that will jump out in your face, but there is definitely a subtle psychological effect that I don't want to spoil. I would recommend looking through every nook and cranny, and definitely peering into all the windows. This sets the tone for the main event...

Curse of Sarah Winchester Resurrection (40min)

I have done just about every single haunt attraction within 50 miles for the past several years, and this is the single best maze I have ever been to, period. I would be surprised if there is another one in California at this caliber.

The maze is really designed for you to take your time and absorb the atmosphere. In fact, there are some areas that have no actors at all and are purely designed for ambiance, telling a story, and building suspense. The quality of the props and atmospheric design is beyond any other attraction I have ever been to. I would recommend taking your time, looking at all the intricate details.

As for scares, there really is no shortage here. I don't want to ruin anything, but I will say that there is a huge variety in what you will experience and a ton of surprises. I am glad that the seance room is back (where writing starts appearing on the walls) but the overwhelming majority of the maze is brand new. We're talking double the length of the previous year, double the number of actors, and giant new props.

Conclusion

Fright Nights is the new benchmark to which all other haunt events will be compared. I would be shocked if anything else in 2012 comes close to this, so if you have to pick just a single "haunt" event to go to this year, this is it. I would try to go early to avoid long lines, but to help with the wait they do have food trucks, snack shops, live music, and a bar this year.

Again, incredible event and congratulations to everyone involved for putting this together. The anticipation is already building for 2013, where Fright Nights will coincide with the release of a Hollywood movie about (and filmed in) the Winchester Mystery House. 

Leigh Weimers Memorial

Today is the memorial for Leigh Weimers, a long-time San Jose Mercury News columnist that retired in 2005 and was succeeded by Sal Pizarro. In his final column, he has a great quote that I really love and wanted to share:

"As I've said before, I'm convinced that when historians come to write about what has happened here over the past four decades, they'll compare Silicon Valley to Florence at the start of the Renaissance. After all, what took place in Italy back then was the development of new ways of looking at art, music, commerce, the world. And the technological developments here during the past 40 years have been no less global. Information now is available everywhere. Societies that experience this information explosion can never go back to the closed-off life they once led. The world has shrunk. And it's because of the people around us here in Silicon Valley and the wonders they've wrought. Is this all good? Nothing is. But on balance, we're tremendously empowered." (Source)

The memorial service is at St. Joseph's Basilica (Downtown) at 3:30pm.

Saturday Stats: San Jose Tops The List of Richest Cities

Among the 25 largest cities in the United States, San Jose ranks as having the highest median household income by far. Even our neighbors up north were 10% behind. The national median income is $51,000, in California it is about $60,000, and it San Jose it is a whopping $77,000. I'm surprised New York was not in the top 5, but it is easy to forget that most of New York's 8 million residents live and work outside Manhattan. The full list is below:

1.) San Jose - $77,000
2.) San Francisco - $70,000
3.) Washington, D.C. - $63,000
4.) Seattle - $61,000
5.) San Diego - $61,000

Source: Huffington Post

Impact of Redevelopment on Downtown San Jose

Interesting 6 minute discussion about redevelopment Downtown with Bert Robinson, managing director for Bay Area News Group:

Earthquakes Stadium Groundbreaking Ceremony is on October 21!

Well, it looks like there is one San Jose stadium that is in the bag. The groundbreaking ceremony for the $60M Earthquakes stadium is taking place Sunday, October 21st at 1125 Coleman Avenue. So far multiple Fortune 100 companies have shown interest in naming rights and 7UP Bottling has already become a founding partner and sponsor.

The team is even shooting for the Guiness World Record for largest groundbreaking ceremony. 4,533 people will have to dig with commemorative shovels for 2 minutes in order to break the current record which was set in India. If you want to participate in the record breaking, sign up right over here!

Source: SJBJ

Little Chef Encounter

San Jose just pops up in the most unexpected places...

A few weeks ago my husband and I were on a trip in Oahu, Hawaii and we decided to hit up the North Shore for all the delicious shrimp (and other) food trucks in the area. So of course, we go to the famous Giovanni's Shrimp Truck for some good eats.

So there we are... standing in line, and what do I see, at eye level as we are waiting for the delicious shrimp we just ordered?

WAIT. I know that logo!!

You Lil stinker -- the Little Chef Counter has made it's way out to Oahu! How fun to spot a local logo in a far away spot. Rumor has it, there are some stickers floating around in New York too. Have you seen them? Share them here in the comments!

Santana Row October/November Events

OCTOBER EVENTS

LavAzza Espression slated to open Monday, October 8

LavAzza, known as “Italy’s favourite coffee” since 2007, is expanding its presence in the U.S. and opens its first cafe Bay Area coffee shop/cafe at Santana Row. The shop brings a contemporary and innovative approach to coffee with Espression cafe, a place where customers can experience an extraordinary blend of coffee creations and eclectic dining in an artfully designed environment. The menu ranges from traditional Italian coffee drinks to fresh baked goods, panini sandwiches, chocolate drinks and gelato. LavAzza’s history goes back 110 years when founder Luigi Lavazza opened a small grocery store in Turin, Italy. He is credited with inventing the concept of the blend, the art of mixing coffee of different origins to obtain a flavorful brew.

LavAzza opens at 300 Santana Row, at the entrance of the office lobby across from Crate & Barrel.

San Jose International Short Film Festival, Oct. 18-21

For the second year, Santana Row is the host venue for the festival, which kicks off with a Red Carpet opening night and after-party on Oct. 18. Hundreds of the best short films from 25 countries will be screened over four days with genres that include comedy, drama, sci-fi, animation and documentary. The event also features workshops and technology demonstrations, plus nightly filmmaker receptions.

Tickets go on sale in September. For more information, go to www.sjshortfest.com.

Mommy & Me “Halloween Family Fun Fest,” Tuesday, Oct. 30

Superheroes, princesses and little monsters are all invited to Santana Row’s Mommy & Me Halloween festivities. Costumed or not, kids can trick-or-treat on The Row, decorate pumpkins, play with balloon animals, get face paintings and listen to music by Andy Z. Complimentary trick-or-treat bags are provided. Capture the day with a 5x7 picture taken by a professional photographer for $10 at the Halloween set in Santana Row Park.

When: 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at Park Valencia. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.SantanaRow.com.

NOVEMBER EVENTS

Light Up the Row! Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 13

Santana Row celebrates the 2012 holiday season with the annual Light Up the Row Tree Lighting Ceremony honoring the 10-year anniversary. The day of festivities include Santa photos, children’s activities, hot chocolate samplings, live music, carolers, costumed characters, special guests, performances by local theater groups and the lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree, making this one of the most exciting holiday events in Silicon Valley.

Time: Festivities are scheduled from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with tree lighting slated for 7 p.m.

3 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Photos with Surfin’ Santa in Park Valencia

7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Tree Lighting Ceremony in Santana Row Park

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Live music, choirs, carolers, hot chocolate sampling and activities for children and families throughout The Row

Where: Tree lighting takes place at 368 Santana Row, across from the Left Bank Restaurant on the giant chess board in Santana Row Park.

Get your holiday shopping done, or get started! Guests will receive an exclusive shopping card good for 20 percent off any one item at select shops and restaurants on The Row. Pick up a card at Vera Bradley or the Concierge Center from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 13 and it’s valid through Sunday, Nov. 18.

Mommy & Me “Give Back to Your Community,” Tuesday, Nov. 13

The holidays encourage us to pull together and help those less fortunate and November’s program encourages kids to bring a canned food item that will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Holiday fun includes face painting, balloon animals, Arts & Crafts with Action Day, “Beaming with Health” scavenger hunt, building animals out of unusual veggies and mini manicures for little ones by Lavande nail spa. Moms and kids will be entertained by music and performances by Broadway San Jose, the Harvest Scarecrow and Andy Z. Snacks are provided by Happy Family Brands and there’s a drawing to win a $50 gift card from The Container Store.

When: 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at Park Valencia. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.SantanaRow.com.

Rainy Day Rewards, November 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013

When there’s a 70 percent chance for rain, shoppers and diners braving bad weather will be rewarded with discounts that include 15 percent off purchases at participating shops and restaurants, a free signature Santana Row golf umbrella for customers who spend $150 anywhere on The Row and a $20 gift certificate to a participating shop or restaurant for customers who spend $300 on a designated Rainy Day.

No need to get wet: On all rainy days,  customers can pick up a complimentary umbrella to use while shopping and dining and then return it before leaving. The yellow umbrellas are conveniently located throughout The Row - outside Concierge, Via between Village California Bistro and Lark Creek Blue and the valet parking lot in the Winchester Parking Garage.

The 49ers Have Already Sold $670M in Seats

While the Santa Clara stadium is a little bit outside the scope of this blog, most of the people that are going to fill these seats are San Joseans. The Niners have already sold a staggering $670M in seat licenses. This is more than any other team in history 2 years before opening. Selling every single seat before the 2014 opener seems like a sure thing.

The good news for San Jose--besides residents having easy access to games with no taxes or financial risk--is that there are not many pre/post game options in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. That means that a lot of people are going to hop on light rail, and go to the nearest hub for the pregame or afterparty, and most of those places are going to be in San Jose. You can also expect San Jose hotels located near light rail to do very well on game days.

As a side note, this also shows a very strong market for professional sports in the South Bay, and should be additional evidence for Lew Wolff and the MLB to get their act together and allow the A's to move to Downtown San Jose.

Source: The Merc