US Chamber of Commerce Coming to Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is grabbing more national political attention lately and one of the most powerful lobbying groups is seeking to open a satellite office in the area. The goal is to lure VCs and startup companies to join the organization, which already has over 300,000 members. A few large tech companies in the area such as Apple and Yahoo are no longer members, likely because they are large enough to operate their independent lobbying group in Washington DC.

While a location has not been decided yet for their outpost, I have to say they could not pick a better place than Downtown San Jose. They would have easy access to both San Jose and Santa Clara County political operations, the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, the new Patent Office, and thousands of companies within a 10 mile radius. It is also the only location that is easily accessed by multiple freeways, Light Rail, Caltrain, Amtrack, and soon Bus Rapid Transit. The last part of my pitch is the hundreds of restaurants, cultural and entertainment venues, convention center, and Arena within walking distance. I hope they take a very serious look Downtown and honestly would be surprised if they picked any other location.

Source: SVBJ

VTA Light Rail Turns 25!

Last Friday, VTA celebrated 25 years of Light Rail service in Silicon Valley. Each morning during my commute, I am seeing more and more people hopping on Light Rail along Tasman. I think with the 49ers Stadium, BART, and the upcoming efficiency improvements... the system is finally going to get the traction it deserves.

Check out the map below to see what the system will look like in 2017. There will be a new Red Line from Mountain View to Alum rock, which will include express service during peak hours. Mountain View will get double tracked, Santa Clara will get pocket tracks near the Stadium for peak transit during games and events, and Almaden will get a direct connection to Downtown San Jose and Mountain View. There are also talks of expanding the system from Alum Rock to Eastridge Mall and from Winchester to Los Gatos.

Saturday Stats: San Jose is the #8 Most Compact/Connected Large Metro in the US

San Jose gets a lot of flack for being sprawled out; however, based on two large scale studies of urban sprawl in the US it turns out we are not doing too shabby. In the Smart Growth America study, we were the 8th most compact and connect metro in the US with a population greater than 1 million people. In fact, we got higher index scores than Oakland and Chicago metros.

In another study entitled Urban Sprawl in the United States: 1970-2010, San Jose had a "sprawl score" of 21.04 in 1970, 16.5 in 1980, 16.33 in 1990, 15.25 in 2000, and 14.13 in 2010. Without really going into how the numbers were calculated, the conclusion is that sprawl decreased by a third over the past 40 years in San Jose. So the reality is that like LA, we are a lot more dense than the general perception.

Source: Smart Growth America, Hat tip to Russ Lopez fro sending this in!

Fantasy Faire This Weekend at Guadalupe River Park

Renaissance Productions is hosting the Fantasy Faire San Jose next to the SAP Center. The event will feature hundreds of costumed performers across multiple fantasy genres (ogres, pirates, sci-fi, steampunk, etc.) as well as shopping, arts & crafts, and various performances. The Fantasy Faire runs from April 12-13th and guests of all ages are welcome (but not pets). For more info, just head over here.

Empire Seven Studios Anniversary Show

The San Jose arts scene is not just expanding in Downtown San Jose, but in other parts of the city as well. Empire Seven Studios is the anchor studio in Japantown and they are gearing up to celebrate their Sixth Anniversary. Tomorrow between 7-11pm they are doing an open reception for their latest exhibit featuring tons of artists, live music, and a taco truck.

The coolest part of the anniversary event will likely be the live murals at AEF Grocery, Santo Market, The Esplanade, and Towing Services. These will nicely compliment the three existing murals at 10th & Empire, 8th & Empire, and 7th & Empire. Check out the great map below with the locations of all the murals. For more info, check out the Empire Seven Studios website.

Inaugural Silicon Valley Contemporary Show Starts Tomorrow

In a major win for the San Jose art scene, a new event called Silicon Valley Contemporary (SVC) is premiering tomorrow at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. As you can tell by the map below, this is going to be a huge event featuring hundreds of artists and 52 galleries across 10 different countries. There will even be video art and digital installations from around the world, which I think is the genre of art that will play a significant role in defining a strong brand image for San Jose in the near future. Traditional art such as paintings, photography, prints, and sculpture will also be featured.

In total SVC will have around $100 million in contemporary art available for acquisition, which is the largest selection of important art work for acquisition ever assembled in Silicon Valley. The event also includes an assortment of speakers, meet & greets with the artists, and side-events like a contemporary home tour.

The main exhibition runs from 11am-8pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11am-6pm on Sunday. There is also a VIP preview event tomorrow. Tickets start at $25. For more information and tickets, visit the SVC website over here.

 

Santana Row April Events

Below is a look at events happening at Santana Row for April and May. You have everything from celebrity chef book signing at Sur la Table, Easter Bunny photos, dancing in Park Valencia, various charity events, and a fashion show with Vernon Davis from the 49ers.

Santana Row April 2014 Happenings

And a Look Ahead to May and Beyond

Events, Promotions, New Openings at Silicon Valley’s Premier Destination


 

San Jose, CA – Sunshine and warm nights brings a busy beehive of activities to Santana Row. Spring events include a personal appearance by author/celebrity chef Carla Hall, a day of dance in Park Valencia and an evening of glamour at the second annual Beauty Bash. May welcomes the return of Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too and a new weekly yoga series presented by Lululemon.

 

Personal Appearance by Carla Hall, Co-Host of ABC’s The Chew

and “Fan Favorite” on Bravo’s Top Chef All-Stars

Saturday, April 12, 5 p.m., Sur la Table

Celebrity chef Carla Hall will be doing a cooking demo at Santana Row Park and signing copies of her new book at Sur la Table.

Carla’s Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World (on-sale April 1, 2014, Atria Books, $29.99) offers a delicious collection of imaginative new variations on soulful favorites from one of America’s favorite food personalities. Hall was a finalist in the fifth and eighth seasons of Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars, Bravo’s competition show. She is one of five cohosts of The Chew, a talk show centered on food.

Her new book was Inspired by her love of family suppers and international flavors and offers a mouthwatering variety of foods from around the world along with heartfelt stories of connecting with people through food.

 

Photos with the Easter Bunny

A Benefit for the Autism Diagnostics & Consulting Center

Sunday, April 13, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Hippity-hop on over and have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny at Santana Row!

The holiday rabbit will be ready to strike a pose at Park Valencia for $10, with proceeds going to the Autism Diagnostics & Consulting Center.

Plus, enjoy face painting, cookie decorating for $1 and Easter egg decorating for $3.

 

Dancin’ Downtown Festival

Sunday April 27, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Santana Row and sjDANCEco has partnered again this year to bring local and regional dance artists together to celebrate National Dance Week in a free outdoor festival that features the diversity and the wealth of our dance community. 
Join us at Park Valencia for a day of dance.

 

 

A look ahead to May and beyond…

 

Second Annual Beauty Bash: A Benefit for Dress for Success

Wednesday, May 7, 6 to 9 p.m.

Join some of Silicon Valley’s best known fashion bloggers and editors and fresh style and beauty voices at the second annual Beauty Bash!

For the second year, Santana Row brings together pampering and primping for a good cause. Beauty Bash is an evening of style and beauty tips with makeup, hair and fashion experts, retailers and salons.

This year, an after-party at Hotel Valencia caps the evening of fashionable fun.

It’s all to raise funds for Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that provides interview suits, confidence boosts and career development to low-income women.

The public is invited to shop, nibble and enjoy cocktails while talking to the style experts who will be stationed at more than a dozen stops, including C. Wonder, Calypso St. Barth, Jest Jewels, Scotch & Soda, Diesel and Brooks Brothers. Guests are invited try the latest hair and make-up trends from professionals and receive personalized consultations from the experts and a mini-magazine with a collection of tips and inspirations from them. An after-party ends the night at Hotel Valencia.

Tickets are $20, or $15 with the donation of a gently used accessory (jewelry, bags, scarves) and available at SantanaRow.com beginning April 14. Guests receive a "passport” for in-store events, a wine glass (wine will be poured in the stores) and a gift bag.

 

Cielo at Hotel Valencia Grand Opening for the Season

Thursday, May 15, 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Enjoy breathtaking sunset views overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains at Cielo, Hotel Valencia’s seventh floor rooftop terrace, open during the warm months of the year. Sample paella, sangria and an assortment of passed tapas for $20 while listening to live flamenco-style music.
Reservations required. Call 408.423.5405.
Must be 21 years of age or older.

 

Lunch on The Row + A Matinee Show!

May 1 through 31

Enjoy a two-course $20 lunch special at a participating restaurant on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and receive a free ticket to the movie of your choice at CineArts Santana Row.

Present your itemized same-day receipt to the Santana Row concierge from the participating restaurant and you’ll receive a voucher for a complimentary movie ticket that can be used for a matinee that day or at a later date.

Limit: one ticket per person, per day, while supplies last.

Restaurant choices include LB Steak, Left Bank, Rosie McCann’s, El Jardin, Consuelo’s, Thea and Lisa’s Tea Treasures.

 

Free Yoga on Saturdays, presented by Lululemon Athletica

Begins May 3 and held every Saturday through September

Practice your sun salutations under the sunshine at Park Valencia every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. The complimentary classes are held outdoors, with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. each week. For more information, contact Lululemon, 408.557.8721.

 

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too

Tuesday, May 13

The popular kids’ club returns for the season with free entertainment, interactive games, crafts and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Meet “Super Why” at a meet and greet, courtesy of KQED. Families will also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more.

Details: 10 a.m. to noon 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 visitwww.SantanaRow.com.

 

Save-the-Date: Santana Row’s Annual Summer Fashion Shows, featuring Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers

Saturday, June 7, two shows at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

This popular summer event returns for the sixth year with two poolside runway shows at Santana Heights and a catwalk appearance by the popular 49er.

A portion of the sales will benefit the Vernon Davis Foundation for the Arts, created by the athlete/artist/philanthropist to promote art education and art appreciation among youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

 As always, the shows will feature the season’s best fashions for women and men as well as style surprises and special guests.

Runway shows are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Included in the price of the $50 ticket is poolside seating to view the fashion show, access to the Beauty Lounge, pre-event champagne, wine and light hors d’oeuvres, a Passion for Fashion shopping card that entitles guests to discounts around Santana Row, prize drawings and in-store events. Tickets go on sale in April at the concierge office and online at www.SantanaRow.com.

 

Twitter Promotion @SantanaRow Invites Tweets #LifeOnTheRow

For a Chance to Win Gift Cards to Restaurants at The Row

Santana Row’s Twitter campaign and photo contest continues through the @SantanaRow Twitter handle. The contest invites anyone at Santana Row to Tweet photos of a new outfit, haircut, meal, event or artsy shots and then Tweet it to Santana Row with the hash tag #LifeonTheRow. Every month, Santana Row will post an album on Facebook with all of the photos with the #LifeonTheRow hash tag. The person who took the best or most original photo will win a gift card to a Santana Row restaurant.

 

 

About Santana Row

 

Santana Row, a 647,000 square foot mixed-use development in San Jose, CA, is Silicon Valley’s premier destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Santana Row features over 70 shops, 20 restaurants, a boutique hotel and movie theatre. In addition to the dynamic retail & restaurant collection, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 65,000 square feet of Class A office space. Santana Row is a property ofwww.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, development, and redevelopment of high quality retail assets. Federal Realty's portfolio (excluding joint venture properties) contains approximately 20 million square feet located primarily in strategically selected metropolitan markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, 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 95.8% leased to national, regional, and local retailers as of December 31, 2013, with no single tenant accounting for more than approximately 3.5% 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 46 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.

New Mixed-Use Development Coming to The Alameda!

A six-story building with 140 apartments, around 10,000 SQFT of retail, and 10,000 SQFT of second-floor office space is coming to the Alameda right next to the new Whole Foods. It's a transit-oriented project near Diridon and right on the border of Downtown. In fact, I would consider this to be a part of the Downtown area--which seems to be pushing outwards in all directions.

This is the first project that the developer Chandler Pratt & Partners is doing in the Bay Area, but if it goes well you can expect more. They are specifically looking for "high-quality infill sites" which is exactly what we need to focus on in San Jose.

The total cost of the Alameda project will be around $60 million and the plan is to break ground Spring 2015.

Source: SVBJ