Kickstarter: Monopoly in the Park Picnic Tables

The largest Monopoly board in the world needs your help! There are four tables with checkerboard centerpieces that have to be replaced due to wear and tear over the last 10 years and some vandalism. Since Monopoly in the Park does not receive any funding from the city, they are looking to the community to help fund these new tables that will be available for all to enjoy (and this time they will be coated with anti-graffiti sealer to protect and preserve this investment).

To contribute, please head over to the Kickstarter page over here. Hat tip to Karl Schramm for alerting me to this.

Saturday Stats: Best Cities to Trick or Treat 2014

San Jose has again made the list of Best Cities to Trick or Treat! Zillow creates this list using four equally weighted variables: the Zillow Home Value Index, population density, Walk Score, and local crime data. This should theoretically provide the cities that provide "the most candy, in the least amount of time, with the fewest safety risks."

For 2014, San Jose ranked #5 on the list. This is one slot below last year; however, I could see us easily moving up again next year based on the criteria. Within San Jose the top neighborhoods for trick-or-treating were Willow Glen, Cambrian, Almaden Valley, Rose Garden, and Blossom Valley--in that order.

To see the other cities that made the list, just scroll down or hit the source link.

Source: Zillow

SJ Music Fest @ Plaza de Cesar Chavez Tomorrow

The SJ Music Fest is coming to Plaza de Cesar Chavez tomorrow between noon and 9pm. The event will be headlined by grammy winning R&B band Tony! Toni! Tone'! In addition, you'll have Jingo Santana's Roar (A Santana Tribute), Dakilla, Lumbre, RJae Haas Band, Willie Joe, Darling Bonnie, Jay Lozoya, Myscotto, Bugga Maroo & Tyson. To complement the music, there will be gourmet food trucks, BBQ, beer, and wine.

At 11pm, there is also an after party at Liquid Restaurant & Lounge. The proceeds for the SJ Music Fest will benefit SJ Pulse tech, arts, music, and sports programs in San Jose. More info here.

Sourisseau News: "Our Japanese Neighbors"

The latest edition of Sourisseau News features a more somber story on what happened to Japanese Americans in San Jose during World War II. The video is less than three minutes long and as always is well worth your time. Watch it through the end for a surprisingly ironic ending to the story.


Our Japanese Neighbors from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Silicon Valley Restaurant Week: Oct 15-22

The latest Silicon Valley Restaurant Week is here and it starts today! Dozens of restaurants are participating with fixed price 3-course meals and the bulk of them are in San Jose. In fact, 14 of the restaurants are in Downtown San Jose and 4 are in Santana Row. To see the full list of restaurants along with menus, click here.

Content Magazine Pick Up Party!

My favorite magazine is hosting their latest pick up party at the most unique restaurant in San Jose--Orchestria Palm Court. Part restaurant, part soda bar, part museum of autonomous music machines from the early part of the last century... you won't find another place like this. I couldn't think of a better location for Content to release an issue entitled "Retro." 

The pick up party runs from 6-8PM at 27 E. William Street. Subscribers will even get a free appetizer. While you're there, try a gem salad and anything from their soda bar.

Pick Up Party 
Tuesday, October 14th 6:00-8:00pm

Come celebrate our new issue, 6.4, "Retro," with the Content Magazine community by going back to a time of soda jerks, player pianos and jukeboxes at Orchestria Palm Court. Featured in Issue 5.5, "Feast," come discover this hidden gem for yourself.  

27 E. William Street
(Between S. 1st and S. 2nd)
San Jose, CA 

Subscribers, Contributors and People Featured will get a free appetizer and a copy of the latest issue. Non-subscribers can purchase the latest copy for $5 (50% off) at the Pick Up Party.  

Stop on by. Meet new people. Learn new reasons to love your city.
RSVP (or email us)

More Apartments Planned for SoFA!

SoFA is on fire lately when it comes to new projects. Just as construction for The Pierce is getting into full swing, Core Development Co. is proposing a 105-unit apartment project on 598 S. First Street right across the street. This is an important corner at the intersection of South First and Reed Streets and is currently being occupied by an Enterprise Rent-a-Car (will be relocated).

The building will be either five or six stories--five based on the source link and six based on the rendering--and include 2,170 SQFT of retail on the ground floor. The site of the project is only 2/3 of an acre, making the project quite dense for a building this size. This will be a very nice expansion of the SoFA district, which is quickly becoming the next big hotspot Downtown after San Pedro Square.

Source: SVBJ

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.