Wednesday Wishlist: Free Wifi

We live in the middle of Silicon Valley in the year 2012. At this point I would definitely expect the entire city to be blanketed in free Wifi internet access.

Comcast is taking some steps to making a ubiquitous hotspot across Silicon Valley, but you have to be a Comcast customer. The internet is becoming the lifeblood of this region, so we need to make sure our infrastructure is very strong in this area.

TWO BUCK Tuesday Today!

From Phantom Galleries by Cherri Lakey

Foin us at KALEID Gallery for this upcoming TWO BUCK Tuesday, October 16th, 7pm-10pm!
Come enjoy an inspired evening of performances, live painting, $2 art & quirky people get together! It's open to all ages and free!

Here’s some of the great things to see and do this time:

This month's Feature Artist Michael Foley will be on hand to answer any and all of your questions about his current exhibition "Keeping Up with Appearances".
Foley will also be on hand making monster portraits...portraits of people are cool, but turning people into monsters make things much better-so come by and become a monster yourself! If that wasn't enough he will demonstrate the making of fake blood just in time for Halloween.


The monsters of California's Great America's Halloween Haunt will be visiting to give you a good scare and a chance at some scary prizes and giveaways!


Shannon Amidon will be demonstrating how to create preserved waxed leaves
and nature to include in your artwork or Autumn décor. If you would like
to participate please bring fresh leaves from your home.


BYO Camera Phone for a photo shoot with You and Harold the Skeleton! Funny costumes encouraged. :)


Face Painting with Lara Sophia


LIVE ART by:

Al Preciado


Nik Caesar


Miguel Machuca


Alexandria Perez


Mim


John Hageman


Jehoiakim Santos


Live Music by Dream House!

TWO BUCK Tuesday, October 16th, 7pm-10pm!


88 South Fourth Street (@ San Fernando)
San Jose, CA 95112
info@KALEIDGallery.com
408-947-1785
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, noon -7pm, free admission

San Jose International Short Film Festival Opens October 18th at CineArts Theatre Santana Row!

If you thought Cinequest was the only film festival in San Jose, think again. Last year the San Jose Short Film Festival really shined with an impressive selection of short films and events spanning several days. It looks like they are raising the bar yet again for their 4th year with the best lineup of features in the event's history. I'm really looking forward to the comedies, which are usually my favorites.

It all starts this Thursday at CineArts Santana Row and continues until Sunday night. For more information either keep on reading or head over to the festival site over here.

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San Jose, August 13, 2012 – Our 4th annual event is back, better than ever with an incredible lineup of short films featuring selected entries from Tribecca, Cannes, Sundance and other top festivals.  With over 70 films cultivated from the hundreds of entries submitted, these World Class productions include performances by Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, X-Men First Class), Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (The Thing, Scott Pilgrim) and many more.

With over 16 short film screening blocks that feature every genre of film imaginable, there is something for everyone, plus industry guests, filmmaker panels, after-parties and more.

This year the San Jose International Short Film Festival kicks off October 18th with the Red Carpet "Opening Night Screening & After-Party" and continues through October 21st.

The SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (SJISFF) distinguishes itself as a festival that caters to filmmakers and their craft. Beginning with the Red Carpet event and "Premiere Selection" screening & Opening Night After-Party at the prestigious Santana Row complex.

Multiple screenings are held each day at CineArts Theatre in Santana Row, with its All Stadium Seating and State of the Art Digital Presentation that include "It's Comedy, Tonight", "The Ink & Paint Club" our tribute to Animation Shorts, "I've Got A Bad Feeling About This" which features Sci-fi and Thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seat, and "Welcome to the Alternative Universe" that captures the essence of Experimental, Cult and the Avant Garde. Also, this year is our NEW screening block “Wish you Were Here”, featuring the best in short foreign film.

Tickets on Sale Now.

Ticket and Screening Information: www.sjsff.com

September 2012 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• The SJDA is implying it is against Measure D (the minimum wage hike) since it will result in businesses reducing hours, cutting jobs, raising prices, and/or relocating outside of San Jose.
• Scott's Seafood, which is on the top floor a 6-story parking structure, now has an outdoor patio with fireplace offering views of the city. They also expanded their indoor bar and lounge.
• The Chevron on Fourth and Santa Clara has added an Extra Miles convenience store.
• Grocery Outlet and Bargain Market is now open at the former Albertsons space.
• Devine Grind Coffee Shop is open at 27 Devine St.
• The Little Cheese Shoppe at San Pedro Square Market is now open.
• Dark Hours Gym is open at 97 N. Almaden with classes for martial arts and fitness.
• Charles Le Photography has moved into 42A S. First St.
• Downtown's music scene has grown steadily: in June there were an average of 40 live music events per week, by July that number was over 50, and in August it exceeded 60.
• After 8 years without a medical center, the Gardner Downtown Health Care Center opened Aug 9th at 725 E. Santa Clara. A $50m three story building is also opening in 2015.
• Dec 16th will be the inaugural Santa Run Silicon Valley benefiting Downtown for the Holidays events like Christmas in the Park.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

The Fairmont Celebrates 25 Years

The flagship luxury hotel in Downtown San Jose is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this month. They took a huge gamble coming Downtown back in 1987 when it was a much different environment than it is today, but I think it paid off very well for them. The Fairmont consistently have some of the highest occupancy and average room rates Downtown and have even pulled off a substantial expansion. The relationship also works both ways as the hotel has brought thousands of events Downtown and has helped sponsor dozens of community endeavors like Christmas in the Park. Today, it is hard to imagine the San Jose skyline without the Fairmont Hotel.

To celebrate the Anniversary, they have a variety of promotions going on which you can read all about in the press release below.

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SAN JOSE, CA (October, 2012) Twenty-five years ago, the site of a prestigious hotel was proposed for construction to meet the demand of a quickly, developing city core.  Opening its doors in 1987, The Fairmont San Jose was the first luxury hotel of its kind in downtown San Jose. Serving as a hub of creativity, connection and discovery, the hotel has served as a backdrop for the brilliant inventions and events in Silicon Valley.

The hotel has also become a favorite venue for generations of families, from holiday celebrations to wedding receptions and special occasions. As a way to give back to the community and our loyal guests, The Fairmont San Jose is delighted to celebrate 25 wonderful years of hospitality and offer the community the following promotions:

Pizza and Pinot at The Lobby Lounge
Every day, Offered throughout the month of October 2012
The Fairmont San Jose’s Lobby Lounge will feature selections of Greg Norman Pinot Noir with a selection of freshly baked gourmet pizza. $25 for two glasses of wine and one pizza plus tax & service

Silver Afternoon Tea
Every day, Offered throughout the month of October 2012
Afternoon Tea includes assortment of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream, lemon curd and fruit preserves, and a wonderful array of French pastries. The Fairmont San Jose’s famed afternoon tea service may be booked for $25 per person. $12 for children under 12 (All prices plus tax & service).

Please call 408-998-1900 or visit www.fairmont.com/sanjose for reservation details

$25 Local Wines
Every day, Offered throughout the month of October 2012
A selection of local favorite wines, offered at $25 per bottle.

About The Fairmont San Jose
The Fairmont San Jose located in the heart of Silicon Valley, combines high-tech excitement with the elegance of Fairmont style.  The hotel offers 805 deluxe guest rooms, including 77 luxurious suites, and 65,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space, presented with the perfect balance of contemporary and traditional designs.  The 20th floor is devoted to a collection of grand penthouse suites, with its own private boardroom and spectacular city views. The 4th floor (Cabana Level) features lavish -style rooms framing a 58’ swimming pool, sun deck, men’s and women’s saunas, steam rooms, health club and spa.

History San José Honors Filipino American History at History Park This Saturday, October 13

San José, California – October 9, 2012 --- The entire month of October celebrates Filipino American History Month (FAHM). This year History San José (HSJ) will hold a series of events with activities for both families as well as adult education. This Saturday, October 13 at History Park, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., in partnership with the Filipino American National Historical Society’s (FANHS) Santa Clara Valley Chapter, History Park will host a Filipino American History Day.

This family day celebrates the heritage, and features dance performances by the DS Players from Mission College in Santa Clara (12:30 – 12:50 p.m.), Ron Quesada and Kulintronica (1 – 1:20 p.m.) and live music by the Melecio Magdaluyo Quartet (3 – 3:30 p.m.), as well as a Filipino martial arts exhibition by Suro Jason Inay (3:40 -3:50 p.m.).

FANHS will award former NBA-great Raymond Townsend with the Santa Clara Chapter’s ‘Outstanding Filipino American Award’, between noon and 2 p.m. As a basketball stand-out at Archbishop Mitty High School, Townsend went on to play basketball for Coach John Wooden at UCLA, winning numerous awards, including MVP. He was in the first round draft by the Golden State Warriors, and later played for the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers.

Townsend has since founded the RT Basketball Development League in San José, created programming for youth with special needs, and is focused on development of youth of his culture and heritage.

Also at History Park will be Filipino food furnished by food trucks: Chutney Mary’s, Yumsilog, WOW!, The children’s crafts and activities will include story-telling by author Tony Robles, a Fil-Am history scavenger hunt,  wind-chime and bookmark-making activity.

Through My Father’s Eyes: The Filipino American Photographs of Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado (1914 – 1976) is a photographic exhibit documenting Filipino American life in San Francisco during the 1940’s and 1950’s, and is inside the Gallery in the Pacific Hotel at History Park.

Admission is free for History San José members, adults are $8 each, children five and under are free, and seniors and students are $5 with valid identification. The series of Family Days at History Park is supported, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José.

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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 The Alvarado Project:
The Alvarado Project is a non-profit founded in 1998 and is headed by Executive Director Janet Alvarado. The Alvarado Project has an advisory board. It is a community-based volunteer organization of artists, students, and educators. The project seeks to foster
multicultural understanding, strengthen the community through art, cultural programs, and collect historically significant artifacts and material about the Filipino American community.
www.thealvaradoproject.com

About Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)
Founded in 1982, the Filipino American National Historical Society is a national organization with 28 chapters throughout the United States. The Society’s mission is to promote, preserve and document the contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States and to provide education on the significance of the Filipino American experience.  www.fanhs-santaclara.org

October 2012 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Here are my notes from the latest edition of Downtown Dimension:

• The Downtown Doors project was recognized by the International Downtown Association (IDA), where the president of the IDA even said that the program sets the standard for best practice in the industry.
• The next HER city event is Oct. 25 and features appetizers and drinks in the Hedley Club followed by the musical MEMPHIS (including a backstage tour). Tickets are available at sjdowntown.com/hercity.
• Hawaiian Airlines and KIristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation will be title sponsors for Downtown Ice, kicking off Nov 16th.
• The parking lot wall on Almaden and Woz has been adorned with new artwork, which extends across 33 sections of wall and 1,868 sqft. The project took 2 months to complete.
• The Poppy Farm at the San Pedro Square Market is now regularly open for buisiness, as is Loteria Taco Bar.
• AJ's Hot Dogs is now open in SoFA.
• The Earthquakes are breaking ground on their new soccer stadium with a public ceremony on Oct. 21. They are also trying to break the Guinness World Record for most people taking part in a ground-breaking ceremony.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

San Jose Trail Count 2012

In mid September the San Jose Trail Program took an annual count of trail usage during peak travel periods. The results are looking pretty good for 2012.

At the Guadalupe River/Coleman, there was a 3.4% increase in usage over last year despite a partial closure for paving. Guadalupe River and San Fernando showed a huge 34.5% increase in usage. Los Gatos Creek at Hamilton was up 13.9%. Los Gatos Creek at Auzerais stayed the same while Los Alamitos Creek at Camden was up 6.4%. They also counted 82 people in what will become a new future trail in the Five Wounds neighborhood.

Here is the trend for the total number of trail users:

• 2007 - 243 users
• 2008 - 420 users
• 2009 - 531 users
• 2010 - 561 users
• 2011 - 593 users
• 2012 - 613 users

For more information click here, or expand the image below. A big thank you to Yves Zsutty for submitting this information.