One South Update!

One of our readers sent in the below photo and information, showing the excavation for Downtown's One South hi-rise. The really interesting part is that there is now an archaeological component to the project! Read below for the details, and thanks so much Jordan for sending this in!

"A coworker sent me this picture. From her office, she is able to see into the construction site. Apparently, the construction site has partially become an archaeological dig! According to a reference, that area was the original market that gave Market Street it's name - so it's probably a basement or some interesting foundation of the forgotten market.

You can see workers carefully sifting through dirt on the right hand side of the picture. Hopefully, it's all something that can be photo documented. Any discovery of human bones can possibly delay the project for a bit. Otherwise, the rest of the site is still pushing forward in construction!"

New Eateries Coming to Valley Fair

Here is a quick update on the new places to eat at Valley Fair that should be opening soon (thanks to an anonymous poster):

• Dining Terrace Eateries
• Super Duper Burger
• Chipotle (Replacing Rubios)
• Youji
• Old Port Lobster Shack 
• Other Eateries Opening in Valley Fair
• Coffee Bean
• Pompolo Restaraunt & Lounge
• Bar Code Cafe

Source: Anonymous on Older Blog Post

Saturday Stats: Downtown San Jose Ranked as the Second Most Affordable Neighborhood with a High WalkScore in the Bay Area

We all know that the Downtown San Jose region has an excellent WalkScore, and it is likely to only get better in the future as more retail, residential, and transit options are brought Downtown. In this latest study, Downtown ranks as the second most affordable region in the Bay Area with a high WalkScore. Emeryville came in 1st and Albany came in 3rd. I also think they looked at the greater Downtown region and not the core. There are many places Downtown (like around The 88) that have a WalkScore of 99 or 100. See below for the full press release.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ZipRealty Ranks the Most Walkable Cities
With the Most Affordable Homes Near San FranciscoEmeryville tops the list with median home sales prices averaging less than $400,000.

EMERYVILLE, Calif., July 23, 2013 – ZipRealty, Inc. (http://www.ziprealty.com) (NASDAQ: ZIPR), the leading online residential real estate brokerage and technology provider, has teamed up with Walk Score to rank the most walkable cities with the most affordable homes near San Francisco. To create the list, ZipRealty analyzed data provided by WalkScore.com for each city in the nine-county Bay Area combined with ZipRealty’s own knowledge of current median home sales prices to produce a walkability/affordability ratio. All three of the communities ranked by ZipRealty have a Walk Score of 70 or higher, which means they are “Very Walkable,” according to Walk Score. The Walk Score ratings used in this study are calculated by assessing the walkability of approximately every block across a city or neighborhood, and may vary slightly by specific addresses.

“One of the allures of living in San Francisco is the city’s beautiful and convenient walkability, and that appeal is well-reflected in its lofty real estate prices. With that in mind, we wanted to provide interested home buyers with more affordable options with great walkability beyond the city’s borders,” says CEO and President Lanny Baker. “According to our partner Walk Score, San Francisco is the second-most walkable large city in the United States, behind New York City,” he notes. “In the local study we conducted, the most walkable and affordable communities were quite surprising alternatives to the high average price in San Francisco, which currently exceed $1 million.”

“Walk Score helps people find walkable places to live across the country and throughout the world,” says Walk Score CEO Josh Herst. Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100 that measures the walkability of any address, whether it’s a single-family home or rental apartment. To calculate city- or neighborhood-level scores, the company calculates the Walk Score of approximately every block across a city or neighborhood (points spaced roughly 500 feet apart) and then weights the Walk Score of each point by population density. Therefore, the walkability ranking reflects where people actually reside, so that cities don’t have lower scores due to green spaces or bodies of water, for instance.

The top three most walkable cities outside of San Francisco with the most affordable homes are:

City                                            Median Price                               Walk Score
1) Emeryville (City Center)                           $388,888                                         80

2) Downtown San Jose                               $508,450                                         74

3) Albany                                                   $622,500                                        86

While median home prices of $380,000-625,000 in Emeryville, San Jose and Albany are high relative to average U.S. prices, which stood at $280,500 in the 24 metro areas surveyed by ZipRealty as of June 30, those local home prices are relatively affordable compared to the Bay Area median home price of $620,000. “You can buy a home priced well under the Bay Area median home price average in the cities we ranked, and these places are all very walkable,” Mr. Baker adds.

“There is a natural and strong affinity between Walk Score and ZipRealty, which is why we have long been partners,” says Mr. Baker. “At ZipRealty, we are committed to delivering all the information, tools and expert advice serious real estate consumers need, including an accurate and comprehensive database of homes listed for sale, all the tools within our Seller Center and easy and direct access to well-informed local real estate agents. Meanwhile, Walk Score helps people make informed choices about the walkability and commutability of the neighborhoods in which they might reside. In fact, on all of the homes listed for sale on ZipRealty.com, we have published each home’s Walk Score just below the home’s ‘Go See This Home/Request More Info’ call-to-action buttons,” Mr. Baker says.

“The trend in urban areas is moving toward less dependency on cars and a greater commitment to live more sustainably,” says Mr. Herst. “Furthermore, people in walkable neighborhoods weigh six to 10 pounds less than those who don’t. Walk Score has also done extensive research showing that walkable places make people happier and healthier. Finally, short commutes reduce stress levels and give people more free time to be involved in their communities.”

###
www.ziprealty.com

South FIRST FRIDAYS + STREET MRKT Tonight!

In addition to it being a South First Friday tonight, there will be a huge vendor faire with artists, independent retailers, and all sorts of neat stuff. You can read all about it below. I have a feeling that it will be a great First Friday tonight, so come out and see for yourself what SoFA is turning into! You can check out the full lineup of featured art and print out a walking map at the South FIRST FRIDAYS website over here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

South FIRST FRIDAYS presents STREET MRKT

A nighttime DIY urban faire during the art walk that brings together local artists, creative indie retailers and a live music stage with performances by The Trims, and Shovelman with Emcee Avery Burke (of Corpus Callosum) out on South First Street between San Carlos and San Salvador streets.
Free and open to the publlc.

Participating artists / creatives:
Al Preciado , Alan Hackler/Bay Landscape, André Hart, Anna Nguyen Studios, Baysics Clothing, Beadworker, Becca’s Studio, Black Cat Collective, BOLO Vintage, BoomBotix, Bugs and Monsters, Chivaz Wear, Crossroads Trading, Current Tattooing, Cynthia Gonzalez, David Canavese, Death Before Dishonor , EcoMonster, Fernando Amaro, Francisco Franco, Frank Aguilar, Galactic Romance, Gianfranco Paolozzi, Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery, Jumble Jimbles, Kathryn Hedges, Keith Bunnell, Knotty Boards, James Pollard, Jewels by Daisy, Jodi Mascarenas, Lucy and Mabel Jewelry, Luna Park Chalk Arts Festival, Matthew Lopez, Mejia Arts , Mike Borja, Oak Creek Vintage, The One Thousand Thousand Project by Jason McHenry, Original Grounds, Poetry Center San Jose, Radio KKUP 91.5fm , Revolights, SEASONED, The Showroom by the Usuals, SLG /ArtBoutiki , Steven Reece, Steamy Tech, There There, Tinkertart, WomenRisingSJ, Woody Miller, Zenning

Safe & secure bike parking provided by San Jose Bike Valet

In addition to wonderful restaurants and cafés in the district, a wide assortment of gourmet food trucks will be on site in the parking lot next to Anno Domini Gallery.

We appreciate our STREET MRKT partners and sponsors: San Jose Downtown Association, ZipCar and Metro Newspapers.

First Friday August 2nd, 7–11pm
SoFA district in downtown San Jose
(on South First Street between San Carlos & San Salvador streets)

The Beatles Tribute Show "In My Life" - Tickets Go On Sale Today

If you are a Beatles fan, you will definitely want to have a look at this show playing at the Montgomery Theater in Downtown San Jose. Tickets go on sale today and if you scroll down to the bottom you will find a discount code that can be used until August 9th. See the press release below for all the details.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Beatles are back with In My Life, the untold true story of the legendary Fab Four, at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose

Discounted tickets for nationally touring show available August 2 - 9

 

SAN JOSE, CA (07/23/2013)— The time is NOW to reserve your seat in history for In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles, the award-winning musical biography of The Beatles through the eyes of manager Brian Epstein. Featuring live music from renowned tribute band Abbey Road, the show is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades. The multi-media musical plays Sunday, November 3 at 7 pm at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose.

Tickets go on sale August 2, but through August 9, a discounted rate on tickets is offered. Ticket prices range from $40 - $60, but you will be able to take $10 off all tickets during this time. Use promo code "BEATLES" when purchasing tickets between these dates. Tickets may be purchased by phoning (408) 792-4111, visiting www.sanjosetheaters.org or dropping by the Box Office located at 135 W. San Carlos in San Jose. The Box Office is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 5 pm. The Montgomery Theater is located at 271 S Market St in San Jose 95113. The show is appropriate for all ages.

More than just a Beatles tribute concert, In My Life gives the audience the chance to “be there” at pivotal moments in the extraordinary career of The Beatles: Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club, The Ed Sullivan Show, Shea Stadium, Abbey Road Studios and the final live performance on the rooftop of their Apple Corp offices. With manager Brian Epstein serving as narrator, In My Life allows the audience to get a glimpse inside the world of The Beatles from their point of view, as well as hear some of the greatest songs ever written. Historical settings such as the Cavern Club are established on stage with videos and images, which play behind the actors and musicians on a video screen. 

With their tight harmonies, flawless renditions, custom–tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to detail, they recreate the magic of The Beatles, including the Fab Four’s cheeky personalities and familiar onstage banter.  Progressing through their various musical stages, the audience re-experiences the psychedelic era of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the creation of the haunting “Blackbird” and the raucous rock and roll of “Revolution.”

 

As we approach the 50^th anniversary of the British Invasion, NOW is the time to celebrate one rockin’ blast from the past with In My Life. Don’t miss this true story of the very first and most successful quartet of all time. Relive the songs you came to love, as you’re transported back in time for one special night. Whether you were old enough to remember The Beatles or a new fan, In My Lifewill get you up on your feet and dancing in the aisles.

The Beatles appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show remains one of the most iconic moments in music history, as 78 million Americans were glued to their televisions. February 9, 2014 will mark the Golden Anniversary of that golden moment. Join us as we relive that unforgettable time in music to the sounds of “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” a song that first played in America on December 17, 1963 at a Washington, D.C. radio station. From then on, these ordinary boys from across the pond were catapulted into record-breaking stardom!  

The four musician/actors cast to play John, Paul, George and Ringo were selected from 220 Beatle tribute musicians and are age appropriate for the Beatles (22 – 32 years of age). The band features Chris Paul Overall ("Paul"), Gregory Wilmot ("John"), Jesse Wilder ("George") and Axel Clarke ("Ringo"). Brian Epstein is played by Alxander Jon.

“The show delivers!” said the L.A. Times. “If you see one tribute show, see this one – smart and loads of fun,” said the O.C. Register. “This is the ticket for you,” said the Idaho Statesman. “The most original of all the shows on The Beatles,” San Diego Theatre Review.

 

Downtown San Jose Renaissance Faire

The Renaissance Faire kicks off this weekend in Downtown San Jose near the HP Pavilion SAP Center. I have yet to check this out, but I hope this becomes as successful as the Gilroy one. The Faire features shows on three stages, hundreds of costumed performers, jousting, games, and medieval-themed shopping. Print out the image below for $2 off each adult admission.

SoFA Gets a $200k Grant for Pop-up Shops and Public Art!

Out of 254 applicants, the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded MACLA a $200,000 grant to support the SoFA Creates & Connects program. 59 cities nationwide were awarded these types of grants, but most were around $50,000. Only San Jose and Houston claimed the top prize of $200,000.

The program will feature new public art installations and events. Some of the cool things you can expect are illuminated directional signs by French artists at Zero1, a new shade structure in the park adjacent to MACLA, an arts event series, and "Pop-up Tiendas (Shops)."

In addition to the new mini-SPSM, Cafe Stritch, several hundred new apartments, and a convention center expansion nearby, and a new weekly food truck event... it seems like SoFA is about to explode into a thriving district. We're on the right track!

Source: SVBJ

Santana Row Nabs Fogo de Chao and Scotch & Soda

As if Santana Row needed any other good news, Fogo de Chao is opening up 9,000 SQFT Brazilian steakhouse in the former Chili's space in early 2014. This is a very highly-rated restaurant and will be only the second location in California, with the other being in Beverly Hills. I apologize in advance to Chili fans, but this is going to be one heck of an upgrade. It will also be the only Brazilian Churrascaria in San Jose.

Scotch & Soda is an Amsterdam-based fashion retailer that only has seven locations in the US: New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Now you can add San Jose to that list. The 1,840 SQFT store will be next to Kate Spade New York and opens late Fall of this year.

For more info, check out the press release below.





Santana Row Welcomes Brazilian Steak House Fogo de Chao and Fashion Retailer Scotch & Soda

Exciting Additions Coming to Silicon Valley’s Premier Destination


San Jose, CA (July 18, 2013) – A Brazilian churrasco restaurant is opening early next year and a European-based fashion retailer is slated to open this fall at Santana Row.

Fogo de Chao, opening early 2014

The International Brazilian steakhouse opens its first Northern California restaurant at Santana Row, bringing the best of the centuries-old culinary tradition of churrasco to Silicon Valley.

The 8,978 square-foot restaurant is being constructed in the former Chili’s space on Winchester Boulevard and Olin Avenue. It will showcase a beautiful dining room with seating for 250 guests, several private and semi-private dining areas, outdoor seating and a lively bar. The interior of the restaurant will reflect a mixture of Northern California and Brazilian modern design.

The style of cooking goes back centuries and is known as, “The Gaucho Way of Preparing Meat.” An important element of the culture is churrasco: roasting meats over pits of open fire for delicious barbecues. Traditionally, it is served at every festive occasion, especially family gatherings. For more information about the restaurant, go to www.fogodechao.com.

Scotch & Soda, opening late fall, 2013

Amsterdam-based fashion brand Scotch & Soda is opening its first South Bay location at Santana Row in time for the holiday season.

The 1,840 square-foot store will be located on the corner of Tatum and Santana Row, next to kate spade new york.

Scotch & Soda at Santana Row will offer high-quality clothes and accessories for men and women. Rich in detail, they’re typically inspired by the best tried-and-tested classic and vintage styles and enriched with a wealth of inspiration from around the world. Though Scotch & Soda has been around since the ‘80s, the international fashion brand as we know it today originated in 2001 when the new owners combined their broad experience and shared love for making great garments. The women’s collection, Maison Scotch, entered the market with the Spring/Summer 2010 collection and accounts for a large part of the company’s continuous growth. For more information about the store, go to: www.scotch-soda.com.

About Santana Row

Santana Row a 1.5 million square foot mixed used development in the heart of San Jose, California, is Silicon Valley's premier destination for shopping,

dining, living and nightlife. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, parks and plazas, Santana Row features over 70 retail shops, more than 20 acclaimed restaurants, a 212-room boutique hotel and six-screen movie theatre. In addition to the dynamic retail collection, Santana Row offers 622 residential units featuring a fitness center, rooftop pool and resort-living accommodations, and 65,000 square feet of office space at 300 Santana Row, its newest office address. Santana Row is a property of www.federalrealty.com (NYSE:FRT), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.santanarow.com.

About Federal Realty

Federal Realty Investment Trust is an equity real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, management, and redevelopment of high quality retail real estate in the country’s best markets.  As of September 30, 2012, Federal Realty's portfolio (excluding joint venture properties) contained approximately 19.1 million square feet located primarily in strategically selected metropolitan markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, and California. In addition, the Trust has an ownership interest in approximately 1.0 million square feet of retail space through a joint venture in which the Trust has a 30% interest. Our operating portfolio (excluding joint venture properties) was 95.1% leased to national, regional, and local retailers as of September 30, 2012, with no single tenant accounting for more than approximately 3.1% of annualized base rent. Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 45 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty is an S&P MidCap 400 company and its shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. For more information, please visit www.federalrealty.com.