San Jose Pop-Up Project Map

Shop local this Holiday Season! There are 23 great shops in Downtown San Jose this holiday season, nine of which are pop-ups. Visit them all using the handy map below!

SantaRun Silicon Valley

Tomorrow there will be a 5k Run/Walk in Downtown San Jose that will benefit Christmas in the Park and Downtown Ice. Dressing up as your favorite holiday character is highly encouraged. The festivities begin at 1pm and the race itself starts at 3pm. For more info head to http://www.santarunsv.com.

Join us on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 3:00 PM for the TiVo “Santa Run Silicon Valley”, a new tradition in San Jose benefiting our favorite holiday traditions; Christmas in the Park and Downtown Ice. Festivities kick off at 1:00 PM on race day with the race starting at 3:00 pm. The TiVo “Santa Run Silicon Valley” is a 5K Run/Walk that is fun for the whole family. We encourage you to dress up as your favorite holiday character or tradition; Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, reindeer, elves, dreidel, menorah, ornaments, tree, candlestick. The ideas are limitless. You can do it as a group too! Bring the whole family for a day of fun; looking at festive displays, community trees and watching live entertainment at Christmas in the Park. Or, warm up those legs before the run and skate at Downtown Ice under the lighted palm trees or warm up with some hot chocolate. Either way, grandparents, parents and kids alike will all enjoy the timeless memories these great activities have to offer.

Content Pick-Up Party + 3rd Anniversary Celebration!

My favorite local magazine is celebrating 3 years in print today! Subscribers can come to the former Rep at 101 Paseo de San Antonio between 7-10pm tonight to pick up the latest issues called "Dine." Of course, Content isn't your ordinary magazine, so they are also throwing in a free drink from local breweries (Hermitage, Laguintas, or Gordon Biersch) and music by Cado and Tim Atlas whom are featured in the issue.

While you are there, check out the pop up shops spread across the ground floor of the Rep lobby. These include The Usuals, The Die Hard Co, Curate Good, Empire Seven Studios, Jen's Cakes, and Liquid Bread!

Holiday SJMade @ San Pedro Square Market This Weekend!

If you want to shop local this holiday season, you have to check out the special Holiday version of SJMADE at the San Pedro Square Market this weekend. You will be able to find all sorts of goodies from San Jose labels, brands, entrepreneurs, and artists. The event will run from 11am-6am both Saturday and Sunday.

Holiday SJMADE is back!!!

December 13th-14th, 2014
11am-6pm
Saturday-Sunday

San Pedro Square Market
87 N. San Pedro Street,
Downtown San Jose

Yes we know, it's been a couple of years since the last Holiday SJMADE but it's back and better than ever!

Are you on the hunt for those unique, fun, one-of-a-kind gifts?  Whether it's for your Mom, your BFF, or your cousin's best friend's brother's great aunt who you've never met, you'll find the most awesome gifts for everyone!

So pack your holiday spirit in your reusable bag and get to the Holiday SJMADE on December 13th & 14th from 11am to 6pm at San Pedro Square Market.

Attending SJMADE is the best way to shop local this holiday season!
San Jose Made (SJMADE) is a vendor fair for local San Jose makers, labels, brands, small businesses, and artists showcasing and selling current projects and goods.

December 2014 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Several formerly homeless people are getting to celebrate the holidays in their own homes thanks to the cleaning ambassador program at Groundwerx, which recruits homeless individuals to volunteer in exchange for food and housing assistance. Out of the 19 volunteers, 8 have found permanent employment.
• Nine Pop-up store are joining established small businesses to take the Downtown San Jose retail scene to the next level. Most are clustered around The Rep and you can find a map over at http://www.sjdowntown.com/popup
• Downtown residential high-rises are exempted from a new $17-per-SQFT housing impact fee for five years.
• An 8-story, 194-unit residential building ha been proposed for the San Pedro Square parking lot next to the Old Spaghetti Factory. It may have retail on up to three sides and will create a new paseo. Unfortunately the buildings housing Satori, Los Cubanos, and the San Pedro Bistro will have to be torn down to make way for the project. All three are great places that I hope will relocate Downtown.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Whole Foods San Jose Grand Opening Today

The other day I had the opportunity to eat dinner at one of the most anticipated new spots in Downtown San Jose. This place, known for its food, also has a microbrewery and tap-room on site. Today, December 9th, is the official GRAND OPENING!

Of course, I'm talking about the new Whole Foods on the Alameda!

As part of a media tour, they served us several delicious courses of food that you can easily find within the store itself. But I'm jumping ahead.

Here's a rundown of what I saw, heard, etc.. 

Parking:

It's been awhile since I've driven past Stockton/The Alameda area. I was driving down Stockton and completely passed up the parking lot entrance (oops) - so a quick u-turn later, I was back in business.

Decor:

The place is huge and it's quite pretty from the outside. It's not a stuffy looking grocery store. Colorful and modern design elements are everywhere. They used a lot of locally manufactured, reclaimed, and recycled materials to decorate the store. I loved it! 

Meat Department:

We learned about their rating system (displayed above the counter) -- the higher the number, the better that the animal was treated. Nice to know. 

Also, they have a big ole container full of bacon. 

Cheese Department:

They have many different kinds to choose from, and it is nice to know that if you are curious they'll bust one open for you on the spot and give you a taste. I picked up one package of a cranberry-orange cheese. I neglected to ask what the heck do I eat with that? Or what do I prepare it with? Next time I will ask.. and someone will tell me. Because that's how it works. ;)

The Berliners:

Custom-filled donuts made on the spot. Just for you. Maybe for your friends, if they're lucky.

Pizza:

Their official pizza dude (Matthew Driscoll) is on the U.S. Pizza Team. Look at him go!

Then I tasted their pizza - super yum. Did you see that fancy shmancy brick pizza oven too? Game nights are going to be filled with people buying some pizza or a hockey-themed (cute) sandwich and heading up the patio for a beer. (WHAT? Beer you say?! Keep reading...)

Microbrewery:

San Jose is home to the company's first on-site microbrewery and tap room in California called Mission Creek Brewing Company. 

"Mission Creek Brewing Company is located in a two story, 5,600 square-foot 'outbuilding' separate from the main store itself. The ground floor houses coffee and fresh juice bars, along with some seating. The second floor is home to the tap room, with eight bar seats, a birds-eye view of the brewery, and access to outdoor seating for around 75. A retractable roof and outdoor heating protect guests in inclement weather."

Neato, right? Here's the view from the patio.

As part of the tour/media day, we were treated to a three-course dinner (or .. is it five when you count the starter and dessert? I clearly don't have to many "course" meals…) The spread of tasty nibbles were delicious and the decor on the tables quite nice!

I have to say, everything was delicious. Not twisting my arm to say it at all. That's one of the things I really like about Whole Foods. If I was out running errands at one of my old jobs, I might find myself near the Hamilton location. I'd run in to their prepared foods section and try not to go too crazy buying things. They have a TON of delicious things to try. So I knew going in I was going to be enjoying my meal.

And lastly, we got a little sweet goodie bag with various products they carry in the store:

Now, some people flat out won't go to Whole Foods because products are not the cheapest in the land. No, they're not. You will be paying a decent amount for some products. But, don't let that stop you from ever going there. Buy some treats, try something new that nobody else carries. Want to make a nice gift basket for someone? This is a perfect place for that. Do you work downtown and want to grab a bite to eat - like I mentioned above, their prepared foods department (bakery, pizza and sandwiches, etc) have a ton of delicious options. Treat yourself! Or maybe you run a business nearby and you need to get some food for a client coming in for a lunch meeting? Swing by there and pick up a spread. If it's not your go-to grocery store, it certainly can be a place to stop by occasionally. Don't rule it out!

I'm hungry now just thinking about all the goodies.. so I'm gonna munch on some of my lemon pistachios.. or maybe a carrot cake cupcake.. 

Website: www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/sanjose

Facebook: facebook.com/WFMSanJose.    

Instagram: @WholeFoodsMarketSanJose

ALSO!

From Dec. 11-24, the store is hosting “The Great Holiday Giveaway,” offering one gift with a value up to $200, via its Facebook page and http://thegreatholidaygiveaway.com.

Sourisseau News: Car Culture

The latest edition of Sourisseau News offers a glimpse at early car culture in San Jose. You'll even find a photo of the famous (infamous?) Letcher's Garage, the very first garage on the west coast and the site of a gruesome domestic murder/suicide. Watch the full two minute video below!


Car Culture from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Julian Street Realignment Bringing More High-Rises Downtown!

Nathan Donato-Weinstein from the Business Journal always seems to publish at least one story a month that really gets me excited about development Downtown. His latest treasure is for SVBJ subscribers only, but the gist is that the Julian Street realignment is almost a go and it will bring some really sweet projects to the northwestern corner of Downtown San Jose.

Currently, Julian street has an awkward curve design to make it easy to get the Highway 87, but makes several blocks completely useless from an urban design perspective. San Jose is about to collect a $24 million state infrastructure grant to correct this design mistake from the 70's and revert Julian back to a traditional grid ripe for development.

In total, there will be over 1,000 residential units in this North San Pedro area consisting of townhomes, midrises, and towers. Earlier this month, Barry Swenson submitted plans for a the 18-story beauty pictured below with 313 units and three stories of parking. The tower would be located at the corner of Terraine and Basset. Barry Swenson is also planning a second tower with 200 units at Devine and N. San Pedro. If that isn't enough new development for you, First Community Housing is planning a 135 unit mid-rise in the area and Intracorp has four projects ranging from a 408-unit apartment building to townhomes.

All this would come together superbly with Centerra, Silvery Towers, and the San Pedro Square Market expansion!

Source: SVBJ (Subscription Required)