Saturday, September 21, 2013

Saturday Stats: SJC Traffic Up 5.4% Year-Over-Year

Thing are looking up for the airport. Passenger traffic rose for the seventh consecutive month in a row. In July 813,628 passengers went through SJC, which is a substantial 5.4% increase over the same month in 2012. Overall, SJC traffic is up 4.9% year-to-date, which means growth is accelerating over time. Sure there were some extraneous factors in there like the Asiana crash and the economy, but this is a good sign for the airport. Keep in mind that the city owns the airport, and the profits (or losses) eventually flow back to San Jose.

Source: SVBJ

http://www.flysanjose.com/fl/images/sjc_logo.gif

http://www.taxihalfmoonbay.com/resources/Taxi%20Half%20Moon%20bay%20to%20SJC%20airport.jpeg


Friday, September 20, 2013

C2SV Technology Conference + Music Festival Announces 2nd Round of Performing Artists

Thee Oh Sees, Bosnian Rainbows, G.F.P., Stumblebunny, Among Latest Additions to Join Iggy and the Stooges and Over 70 Acts in Silicon Valley
 
Breakthrough event celebrates digital innovation explosion as tech fans and music lovers converge on Downtown San Jose Sept. 26-29, 2013
 
SAN JOSE, CA – The C2SV TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE + MUSIC FESTIVAL – Silicon Valley’s celebration of the digital culture revolution among tech fans and music lovers – is pleased to announce the next round of performing artists for this year’s breakthrough “Creative Convergence” event being held Thursday, Sept. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013 in Downtown San Jose.
 
New acts on board for C2SV includeThee Oh Sees, Bosnian Rainbows (featuring former members of the Mars Volta and At the Drive-In), G.F.P. (with Greg Hetson from Bad Religion and skateboarding legend Tony Alva), and Stumblebunny, led by Chris Robison (New York Dolls, John Lennon’s Elephant’s Memory). Those and many more new additions join previously announced headliners Iggy and the Stooges,‘90s alt-rock pioneers The Lemonheads, electro-pop duo The Limousines, Oakland’s The Coup, featuring Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funkstress, and modern funk pioneer Dam-Funk, among others, as the newly re-branded festival expands on the success of last year’s inaugural Silicon Valley Sound Experience to showcase more than 70 emerging and established acts in over a dozen downtown venues. 
 
Tickets, including multi-venue music passes and technology conference passes and wristbands, are on sale NOW at www.c2sv.com.
 
C2SV (Creative Convergence Silicon Valley) affords festivalgoers a rare opportunity to see bands in much more intimate settings than usual, at an affordable all-inclusive price.
 
Iggy and The Stooges guitarist James Williamson — whose intertwining careers personify the “Creative Convergence” of music and technology — will deliver the keynote music address on Saturday, Sept. 28 at noon. Later that evening, he performs with the protopunk legends at St. James Park in San Jose. Williamson’s keynote will be open to badge holders of the C2SV Technology Conference as well as VIP ticket holders for the Iggy and The Stooges concert later that day in St. James Park. The concert ticket is being sold in combination with a wristband that enables concertgoers to experience four days of music by more than 70 acts at 12 venues in Downtown San Jose.
 
THE C2SV TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE + MUSIC FESTIVAL allows Silicon Valley innovators to converge on their home turf with leading innovators in music.
 
Visit www.c2sv.com/music for the latest details on performing artists, more of whom are being added each day.
 
The complete list of performers to date is as follows:
 


Iggy and The Stooges
Thee Oh Sees  
Bosnian Rainbows
The Lemonheads
OFF! (Keith Morris from Circle Jerks and Black Flag)
The Limousines
Deafheaven
The Coup
Mondo Generator
Tera Melos
G.F.P. (Greg Hetson from Bad Religion and skateboarding legend Tony Alva)
Party Ben
DAM Funk (DJ Set)
Sleepy Sun
Black Milk
BVMO
The Revival (Julius Papp and The Selecter DJ Kirk)
Tom, Dick and Harry
Sonido Clash
The Phenomenauts
Oro 11
Deejay Theory
Picture Atlantic
Soulful Obsession
The Trims
Brother Grand
E V Kain
DLRN
Affinity DJs
The Trims
Finish Ticket
Workout DJs
Dirty Ghosts
The Jurassic
The She’s
Penthouse Penthouse
Stumblebunny
Cartoon Bar Fight
Finish Ticket
Torches
Claw Hammer
Bibles and Hand Grenades
Amonie
Haptic Synapses
The Icarus Line
Onward, Etc.
Shinobu
The Flames
Containher
Holy Child
The Albert Square
Trails and Ways
Holy Child
Talky Tina   
Fatso Jetson
The Bang
Dinners
Curious Quail
K-VON
Dirty Pillows
The New Trust
Occult Wisdom


* * *
 
The Creative Convergence Silicon Valley (C2SV) technology conference will feature three days of speakers, including many notable Silicon Valley CEOs, entrepreneurs, technologists, authors and academics.   
 
Other speakers include Internet personality Robert Scoble (Rackspace, Scobleizer); author and entrepreneur Jeff Stibel (the bestseller “Breakpoint”); and Yahoo! chairman Maynard Webb.
 
Complete information about the conference can be found at www.c2sv.com.

www.c2sv.com
@C2SVTech
@C2SVMusic
Facebook.com/C2SVFestival 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Halston Coming to Valley Fair

Valley Fair is about to get one of the very first Halston retail stores. This particular designer is known for "retro" styles based in the '60s and '70s. What makes this significant is that there are only two Halston Heritage standalone stores in existence, one in New York City and the other in Los Angeles. This would make San Jose it's third location and the only announced store for Northern California.

Valley Fair is turning into a destination for these exclusive hard-to-find brands. It's days as a typical suburban mall are numbered, especially with their future expansion that will bring many more unique brands, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and a Santana Row-ish outdoor area.

Source: SVBJ

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Reddit Conversation with Sam Liccardo

Even if you could care less about San Jose politics, I would highly recommend reading this Reddit conversation with District 3 Councilmember Sam Liccardo. Some of the topics he covers include:

  • Downtown nightlife
  • How to compete with other Downtown areas in the South Bay and SF
  • The Homeless
  • Housing costs
  • BART to San Jose
  • Crime
  • The Gold Club
  • The 49ers move
  • Building codes & fees
  • The A's Ballpark
  • Downtown High-rises
  • Population growth and density
  • Office vacancies
In other words he covered almost every topic important to Downtown San Jose, and he did a pretty good job of addressing the questions directly and only dodging a couple. He even made a comment about the airport location specifically for Anthony Dominguez ;)

"It means that some locations are limited to 25 or even 20 stories, which isn't tall enough to justify the very large additional costs of steel construction (typically required on anything 10 stories or more). We also have a high water table due to the proximity of the Guadalupe, so developers have to pump water--permanently-- in order to install underground garages. So, our geography undermines our ability to build a skyline. That's why I'm proposing next week that we move the airport to Moffett Field. Just kidding." 

It's a great read, definitely worth 15min of your time! Again, here is the link.


http://www.sanjoseca.gov/images/pages/N151/liccardo_lg.jpg

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Is There a Second New Westin Hotel Coming to Downtown San Jose???

I have one big question for tonight, what is this project below? At first I thought this was Lew Wolff's re-branding of the Sainte Claire as the Westin San Jose. Have a close look... even in the completely unlikely scenario that the City would allow a developer to dramatically face-lift a historic building, there is no way they could make it look like the render. The Sainte Claire is a six story building while the render is either 11 or 12 stories. The shape is also completely different. So again, I ask the question... what the heck is this project?

The text below reads: Ehm Architecture provided Schematic Design and Design Development Services for Starwood Hotels on this 500-room hotel in downtown San Jose. The project is in the entitlements phase.

Could this be a brand new, unannounced project in the Downtown area?  Downtown San Diego has two Westin Hotels, so it may be a possibility. If anyone has any other news, please send it in. Huge hat-tip to Franco for finding this.

Sources: Franco Rancadore, EHM Website


TWO BUCK Tuesday at KALEID Today

From Phantom Galleries:

TWO BUCK Tuesday is this week on September 17th, 7pm-10pm at KALEID Gallery!
Come enjoy an inspired evening of performances, live painting, $2 art, drop-in sketching table & quirky people get together! It’s open to all ages and free!
Here are some of of the participating artists who will be joining us this time:


KALEID artist Joe Perea will be sharing his unique way of drawing, and will help you come up with your own work of art using his technique of building upon circles as a starting point. He believes anyone can learn to draw and express themselves with confidence and he loves inspiring people to try it out for the first time.


Artist Carolann Espino will demonstrate the art of creating assemblage and decorative boxes using various types of objects, vintage glass, odd objects, curiosities. She will demonstrate the way to create a crackling effect as well as training your eye to create unusual art objects. Bring your own boxes due to supply limitations. However,nobody will be turned away from the demonstration. Her motto is "Think outside of the box." "Be Bold and Allow yourself to express whatever is revealed. That is the best art because it expresses your authentic self.


Pals Lacey and Lara spent many years playing with colorful, smudgy oil pastels together. They are reuniting for this evening to teach you how to have fun doing collaborative drawing in oil pastels. There will also be a special $2 sale of lots of oil pastel drawings from the vault!


Nik Caesar will create little monsters for your pleasure.


Al Preciado Andre Hart will collaborate on a flower painting for their upcoming show at KALEID


David Mejia will draw your portrait while you wait.


Enjoy sweet beats by Illvino!

Layout 1
And check out the feature exhibition What's Under the Bed new works by Mark Damrel, and Donny Foley.

TWO BUCK Tuesday is September 17th!

All ages & free!

RSVP https://www.facebook.com/events/216270351875757/

KALEIDlogo_160
88 South Fourth Street (@ San Fernando)
San Jose, CA 95112
info@KALEIDGallery.com
408-947-1785
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, noon -7pm
Free admission

High-end Health Club Replacing Century Berryessa 10

Many Berryessa residents were worried that the former Century 10 Movie Theater was going to be turned into a Walmart. It now looks like that space is going to be a massive 130,000 SQFT VillaSport gym. Actually, calling it a gym may be an insult. The existing VillaSports in Texas and Colorado feature amenities like outdoor water slides, whirlpools, full-service spas, massive amounts of equipment, and kid's areas that are in-and-of themselves larger than many gyms. Residents in the area should be pretty happy about this!

They are ready to build the health club as soon as they receive the final sign-off from the city. I'm not sure what the monthly fees will be for membership, but I think they will be a bit higher than your typical 24 Hour Fitness. Check out some images below that the Business Journal scooped up from a Colorado VillaSport .

Source: SVBJ






Monday, September 16, 2013

Massive 2 MILLION SQFT Office Project Proposed for North First!

Nathan Donato-Weinstein from the Business Journal nabbed what will likely be the largest development scoop of the year. 10 freakin towers proposed on North First Street!!! The project spans 20 acres at First Street and Brokaw which consists of some empty land and the Bay 101 casino. It would likely be built in two phases, Phase 1 on the area currently vacant with Phase 2 coming in after the casino moves to their new home closer to M8trix.

The buildings would each be about seven stories--which is tall for your typical tech campus, think Brocade in the @First area. Total square footage would clock in at a jaw-dropping 2,025,350 SQFT. In terms of sheer size of an office project, this would come second only to the new Apple Campus in Cupertino. This dwarves all other planned office projects in the Bay Area, including expansion project by Samsung, Facebook, Linkedin and Google (their Bayview Campus).

No potential tenant has been named, but there is speculation that it will be a huge tech company like Microsoft, Amazon, or Apple.

Amenities will include 7,103 spaces of mostly underground parking (Lightrail is also across the street), an underground pool, a soccer field, and courts for basketball, racquetball, and squash. Check out photos of the modern curved glass buildings below! I really, really hope this goes through.

Source: SVBJ