The Dinner Detective - San Jose

I thought I knew about every entertainment option Downtown, but this one is completely new to me. Apparently there is a murder mystery dinner show at The Hilton called The Dinner Detective. It is a fully interactive show along with a four course meal that sounds very intriguing. The cost is $81 per person, which sounds completely worth it for this kind of unique and intimate experience. For more information, head over to The Dinner Detective website.

The History and Craft of the Cocktail

Cache Bouren and Tomoyo Yoshinaga from the famous Singlebarrel "speakeasy" in Downtown San Jose will be touring seven libraries in Silicon Valley to talk about the colorful history behind craft cocktails. The free presentation will also discuss different techniques and styles of mixing and are unique to the craft cocktail movement. While there won't be any alcohol served (darn) you will be able to sample various herbal flavors often used in cocktails. Also on display will be a selection of vintage bar equipment.

To see the full list of presentations, scroll down to the "WHERE and WHEN" section below.

From Santa Clara County Library District:

The craft cocktail movement, with its emphasis on spice, flavors and intelligent mixing, has been an outgrowth of the growing interest in slow food. Providing the opportunity to taste and experience a variety of cocktail concoctions has fashionably become the center of many popular new restaurants and bars.

Lesser known in the craft cocktail trend is the cocktail’s vivid and colorful history of how these drinks came into being or the characteristic ideas and expertise that go into making a distinctive and flavorful beverage.

A free presentation, discussing the history of the cocktail as well as techniques and styles of mixing that are unique to the current craft cocktail movement, will be offered at various SCCLD Libraries from now until January 2015.

Craft bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts, Cache Bouren and Tomoyo Yoshinaga will be touring seven SCCLD libraries.

Bouren, with over twenty years of hospitality and beverage experience, will share his passion for high quality ingredients paired with exceptional service and classic bar techniques.

He was most recently featured as one of the “South Bay’s preeminent tastemakers” in the San Jose Metro June 11, 2014 article, “Craft Cocktails in San Jose.”

WHERE and WHEN:

· Morgan Hill Library, Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 PM
· Milpitas Library, Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00 PM
· Campbell Library, Monday, November 17 at 7:00 PM
· Gilroy Library, Saturday, November 22 at 1:00 PM
· Cupertino Library, Thursday, December 11 at 7:00 PM
· Saratoga Library, Monday, December 15 at 7:00 PM
· Los Altos Library, Tuesday, January 13 at 7:00 PM

The events are free and open to the public. No reservations required. No Alcohol will be served at the event; however, library books describing many of the recipes highlighted in the demonstration will be available for check out.

Patrons will have the opportunity to sample and identify various herbal flavors often used in cocktails.

Along with the demonstration, vintage bar equipment will be on display.

National BRA Day at Santana Row

Breast cancer survivors Peggy Fleming and Kim Vestal are judging a BRA Art show and decorating contest at Hotel Valencia (Santana Row) this Wednesday, October 15th from 4pm-7pm. The winners will get a shopping spree at Victoria's Secret. This is part of a national campaign to support women and their families who are living with breast cancer and undergo mastectomies. To learn more and register, click here.

Pumpkins in the Park Tomorrow

If you are looking for a kid-friendly Halloween event, look no further than Pumpkins in the Park tomorrow at the Discovery Meadow in Guadalupe River Park. The event runs from 10am to 4pm an includes all of the activities listed below:

• Giant Pumpkin Patch
• Costume Swap with Children's Discovery Museum
• Costume Parade
• Carnival Games
• Kid-Sized Straw Bale Maze
• Great Food
• Fresh Apple Cider
• Guadalupe River Education
• Lots of Free Kid's Activities
• Children's Concert

For more information check out the Pumpkins in the Park website over here.

Huge E-Sports Event Coming to San Jose

One of the largest "e-sports" events ever to take place in the US is coming to San Jose. The Intel Extreme Masters tournament will host up to 18,000 people on Dec. 6-7 at the SAP Center. Instead of watching a Sharks game, visitors will watch teams competing in League of Legends and StarCraft video game competitions. You are probably asking yourself the same question I did... "is there really enough demand for 18,000 people to come watch others play video games?" Twitch--a site that streams people playing video games and tournaments--claims that it will stream the tournament live to an estimated 4.5 million viewers. Wow.

Given we are in the middle of Silicon Valley, San Jose should become a video game mecha. There is a real opportunity here, especially given how popular e-ports apparently are becoming. For more info on the Extreme Masters tournament, check out the website over here.

Source: SiliconBeat

Citation Homes Bought Toys R Us Site For Mixed-use Project

Santa Clara-based Citation Homes recently purchased a parcel at 751 S. Winchester Boulevard in San Jose. The only thing on the lot today is a Toys R Us, which will eventually be razed to make way for a mixed-use project that is still in the early planning stages. There aren't many details, but one of the things we know for sure is that the new project will contain both retail and housing.

However, don't expect shovels in the ground anytime soon. Toys R Us has a lease that runs at least until early 2016 and could likely be extended even further. For more info, hit the source link below.

Source: SVBJ

Changing Boundaries: The History of San Jose

The first full-length feature film about San Jose is going to premier at the California Theatre on January 22nd. Changing Boundaries will track the stories of of the working people, political leaders, and dreamers who built this city. Interviews that will be weaved into the film include Tom McEnery, Blanca Alvarado, Norm Mineta and a variety of historians.

CreaTV San Jose, History San Jose, and Norm Kline Productions are working in partnership to produce this documentary. The film is directed by Tricia Creason-Valencia and narrated by actor Peter Coyote. The musical score is composed by Robert Barry of Soundtek Studios and will reflect the historic time periods and rock and roll "firsts" in San Jose.

I can't wait to see the final product! For more information follow the Changing Boundaries Facebook page over here and check out the trailer below. You can also get your tickets for the premier here.

October 2014 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• The San Pedro Square Market--which transformed the block and became one of Downtown's most popular destinations--is celebrating its 3 year anniversary. Spuds Potato Bar is now open and brings the total number of businesses to 25. A two-story expansion on a 13,000 SQFT parcel across the street is already in planning.
• The Downtown Ice skating rink is under construction and the Circle of Palms and opens at 5pm on Nov 14th. Twice per night at 6pm and 9pm the lights on the trees will dance to music.
• The SoFA Market is open at 387 S. First Street. The Falafel Bar and Vero's Coffee are the first two vendors. Next up is the Fountainhead Bar [Josh: with architecturally-themed drinks], a Ramen restaurant, and perhaps a burger or pizza place.
• SoFA-based Cowgirl Bike Courier has started delivering legal docs, medical supplies, packages, flowers, and groceries throughout San Jose.
• AFK Gamer Lounge is moving into 15,000 SQFT at 163 W. Santa Clara (formerly Los Gatos Brewing Company) and will feature more than 100 networked gaming rigs.
• Developers, bankers, and investors will get a glimpse of how hot Downtown San Jose has become during a "Center of Opportunity" tour on Oct. 30th.
• The Downtown Association is seeking event producers and artists to increase activation of Downtown's public spaces with events, exhibits, and interactive projects. The Downtown San Jose Activation Fund will issue grants up to $3,500 for original programming and up to $7,500 for special productions that bring people together for dance, deep discussion, or positive social interaction.

To read the full newsletter, click here!