The San Jose Sharks Extend Their Lease Through 2025

The City of San Jose and the San Jose Sharks have come to an agreement that will guarantee the Sharks continue to play at the SAP Center until at least 2025. The agreement also allows for annual extensions that can continue all the way up until the year 2040. I don't think anyone expected them to go elsewhere, but now this cements the team in San Jose for at least another decade. By then, perhaps it will be time to build a newer arena in Downtown San Jose.

Source: Bleacher Report

May is National Foster Care Month

There are over 6,000 children in foster care in the Bay Area and 60,000 in California. I think foster parenting is one of the most important way you can contribute to making the world a better place and have a tremendous impact on a child's life. This topic is very close to me since my mother participated in foster care for two decades and made the lives of dozens of children better.

Seneca Family of Agencies was founded 30 years ago in the Bay Area and is headquartered in Downtown San Jose. The agency helps at-risk children and families in the region with a multitude of challenges. Below is a profile of one of their San Jose foster parents, Ryan Adams. For more information on how you can get involved, please visit the Seneca Center website.

Ryan Adams (San Jose) has a passion for youth and a deep commitment to serving others. Prior to becoming a foster parent, Ryan worked with youth in Paraguay for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer and resided for another two years in a Zen Monastery in Monterey. He was also a Seneca employee before becoming a foster parent, and his time at Seneca has been evenly divided among residential, community, and school based programs. He is especially committed to ensuring that all youth receive the highest degree of care, regardless of their level of need. His curiosity and dedication to creating long-lasting, healthy, and impactful relationships with relationships with youth led Ryan to take the lead on permanency related issues, advocating for contact with biological/natural supports. In March 2015, Ryan, with the help of Seneca's Intensive Treatment Foster Care team, successfully transitioned his first foster youth through Seneca's PLUS program - a six month intensive treatment foster program geared toward youth with the highest level of need - from his care back to his home with his biological family. Ryan continues his role as a PLUS Parent and has recently welcomed a second foster child into his home.

Bike Clinic Indiegogo Campaign!

The San Jose Bike Clinic wants to open a permanent bike-repair shop in Downtown San Jose! Nothing like this currently exists in San Jose--although this organization has occasionally done pop-up events in the San Pedro Square Market and Camera 12.

The San Jose Bike Clinic is a non-profit and is entirely volunteer run. They are looking to raise $4,000 and are almost fully funded. To contribute to this great cause (and get some nice perks in the process), head over to their Indiegogo Campaign Page.

The Vision

Imagine a space sustained by volunteer energy, filled with all the bike repair tools and parts you'd need and staffed by knowledgeable volunteer bike mechanics. Imagine the satisfaction of anyone who wants to learn having the knowledge to fix their bike themselves.

We are San José Bike Clinic, and that’s our vision. We believe knowledge is power, and our mission is to get more people on bikes by providing the community with that knowledge and a safe and friendly place to learn. We don’t just give you the tools, we teach you how to use them!

From lubing your chain to fixing a flat to building your own bike from scratch, the volunteers at San José Bike Clinic will steer you through the process and let you do the fixing. If you’ve ever been to a bike co-op or bike kitchen, you get the idea.

Our Roots
San José Bike Clinic started in 2012 when a group of bicycling enthusiasts in downtown San José had a question: What is San José’s biking community missing? 

We already have some of the best weather in the country, flat terrain, an active health and fitness-loving community, an eco-conscious mindset, huge San José Bike Party rides and fun test rides, more miles of bike lanes every year, and some of the best cycling events around. The answer came in the form of San José Bike Clinic, a volunteer-driven, community-minded dream that has become a reality and needs your help to thrive.

The mission of San José Bike Clinic is to build a robust and diverse cycling community through a shared and accessible place for bicycle repair and education. The vision is independence, self sufficiency and education to all in the cycling community.

After testing our idea since 2012 with monthly pop up clinics at San Pedro Square Market and three months temporarily popped up in Camera 12, we are asking for donors and volunteers to help us bring this cause to a permanent location.

How You Can Help

The money raised through our crowdfunding campaign will go toward rent, utilities, security deposit, and upkeep of the permanent space to help make San José Bike Clinic accessible to everyone.

After 6 months we intend to be fully self sufficient and maintain our monthly needs through the sale of used bicycles, bicycle parts, and various levels of membership fees.

Once we're open, we'll ensure the shop's sustainability by charging daily, monthly and annual membership fees that grant access to the shop and all its benefits. We won't turn anyone away for lack of funds. For those who can't afford the fees, we'll offer opportunities to volunteer hours in exchange for membership.

Since we’re a program of the nonprofit Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, all donations to this crowdfunding campaign and once we’re open are tax deductible except for any perks you receive.

What You Get in Return

We're offering perks for various levels of support we're asking for, everything from stickers to T-shirts, shop aprons, and water bottles. We're also offering one-month and one-year memberships at certain levels so you can visit the shop you helped make a reality, along with memberships to the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition that include benefits like discounts at local bike shops.

If you’re passionate about cycling and want a place where the cycling community can learn, repair bicycles, and connect with each other, then help us make San José Bike Clinic into a downtown institution by donating today and inviting other bike-minded friends, family, and colleagues to join you.

Share this campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and email lists with people you think would share our vision. If you prefer to donate time we are always looking for new volunteers to help make San José Bike Clinic a community destination for all kinds of riders. Email sjbc@bikesiliconvalley.org if you'd like to join our team.

May 2015 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• Mayor Sam Liccardo laid out his vision to keep the momentum going Downtown, which includes:
• "Build the heck out of it" - the current housing boom needs to be encouraged. We also need to see major transportation investment in order to support it, especially with BART. He also mentioned we need more high-end hotel rooms to attract more major events to the Convention Center.
• "Take up the slack" - the existing commercial vacancy rate needs to come down and rents need to go up in order to see major new office construction Downtown. There are now 110 tech companies Downtown, and they want Class A space. Liccardo is encouraging converting Class B to Class A space in order to cater towards these tech tenants.
• "Bring it outdoors" - with 300+ days of great weather, we need to leverage outdoor space. This means improving the Guadalupe River Walk, St. James Park, and implementing Street Life Plan projects.
• The first Music in the Park concert this year will be June 18th and feature Grammy-nominated Reggae band Sister Carol.
• SoFA Market Update
• Two new SoFA Market venues opened: On The Flipside burger bar [Josh: had the Black & Blue burger there last week and it was great!], and The Fountainhead, a craft cocktail bar with architecturally themed drinks.
• Coming soon:
• Konjoe-Tei: Ramen from the owners of Konjoe
• Hawaiian Poke Bowl: specializing in Poke rice bowls and Acai bowls
• Milk and Wood: unique house-made gelato pops
• Vitamina Juices & Blends - fresh juices, smoothies, and healthy snacks
• The Ritz is bringing live music to the long-vacant building at 400 S. First St. Corey O'Brien is the proprietor (who also ran the Blank Club).
• Red Rose Restaurant is now serving healthy Mediterranean fare at 30 E. Santa Clara St.
• The AFK Gamer Lounge is now open in the former Los Gatos Brewing space.
• SJSU construction projects totaling $320 million are currently in progress with more to come.
• The city is moving full speed to make San Jose the country's best city to bike. Currently there are 236 miles of bikeways, up from 197 in 2009. 69 more miles are planned by the end of 2016 and a total of 164 more miles of bikeways by 2020.
• The city installed 47 signs that encourage pedestrians to walk to a variety of Downtown destinations.

To read the full newsletter, click here!

Burnt Almond Cake, a San Jose Specialty

Burnt Almond Cake was actually invented in San Jose in 1936. I'm sure most of us have had some slices at a birthday party or other event. Check out this KQED article to learn about Peter's Bakery in East San Jose, perhaps the most famous local spot that sells this delicacy.

Sources: KQED, I Heart SJ

Saturday Stats: San Jose Population Growth

New population estimates from the California Department of Finance were released at the beginning of the month. The department pegs the population of San Jose at 1,016,479. This puts us at a growth rate of 1.4% percent year-over-year, which is the second largest growth rate for all large California cities. San Francisco came in at 1.3%.

One surprise to me was the growth rate for Milpitas. 3.9% is a pretty impressive number for a city its size.

Source: usedmedia from the SSC Forums

Valley Brews on May 29th!

The New Leaders Council (NLC) Silicon Valley is a nonprofit that trains the next generation of political entrepreneurs and leaders. They are hosting a fundraiser and networking event featuring local craft brews (Good Karma Artisan Ales, Hermitage, Santa Clara Valley Brewing, and Camino Brewing Company). In addition to the great drinks, there will be a panel to discuss entrepreneurship and what it takes to start a successful craft brewery.

Tickets are $35 pre-sale and $40 at the door. For more information and to register, head over here.

Santana Row May-July 2015 News and Events

 

San Jose, CA  - Special celebrations and warm-weather activities abound at Santana Row in May! Mark calendars for Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day and a benefit fashion show featuring Silicon Valley executives and luminaries. Returning to The Row are annual favorites: Mommy & Me kids club, Yoga in the Park and the seasonal opening of Cielo on the rooftop of Hotel Valencia.

 

Summer Yoga Series

Every Saturday beginning May 2 and continuing through September 12

Registration at 8:30, yoga at 9 a.m., Park Valencia

Join yoga enthusiasts for free yoga every Saturday, presented by lululemon athletica.

Practice your sun salutations under the sunshine at Park Valencia, near Maggiano’s restaurant, from May 2 through September 12. The complimentary classes are held outdoors, with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. each week. For more information, contact lululemon, 408.557.8721.

 

Alexis Bittar Trunk Show at Annieglass

Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Just-opened Annieglass presents the latest jewelry collection by Alexis Bittar, whose pieces are often featured in fashion magazines and coveted by celebrities. Known for his artfully crafted bracelets, earrings and necklaces using high-quality Lucite, metal and semi-precious stones, Bittar has been an Anniglass collector for almost 20 years while Annieglass designer and founder Annie Morhauser has worn Bittar’s jewelry for two decades, too. The store opened at Santana row in mid-April and is located next to Left Bank Brasserie. Stop by on May 2 and enter to win a special piece of Annieglass.

 

Cinco de Mayo at El Jardin

Tuesday, May 5, noon to closing

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with live mariachi, salsa dancing with Son de Kali and a tequila bar crawl that takes revelers from El Jardin to Thea Mediterranean and Consuelo Mexican Bistro. There’s also raffle prizes and free rides home with Lyft.

 

Mother’s Day Dining at Santana Row!

Sunday, May 10, various locations

Make your dining plans this Mother’s Day at Santana Row where mom has her pick of what she’s craving on her specialSunday.

 

Amber India: Offers a full buffet all day on this Sunday of menu favorites. Price is $40 to $50. Please contact restaurant for more details, 408.248.5400.

 

Fogo De Chao: Moms receive a complimentary lunch or dinner for her NEXT visit with a purchase of full meal on Mothers Day. For more information or reservations please call Fogo De Chao, 408.244.7001.

 

LB Steak: On Mother's Day, the restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving select regular menu items for brunch and lunch until 3 p.m. Additional special a la carte options will also be offered with mom in mind.

Brunch specials include:

• Banana French toast with candied walnuts
• Chantilly cream and Vermont maple syrup
• Prosciutto and asparagus quiche with San Daniel prosciutto and Delta Queen asparagus
Special for dinner includes Surf and Turf with a porcini-crusted filet, grilled lobster tail, lemon herb butter and asparagus. All prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. For reservations please call, 408.244.1180.
 
Left Bank Brasserie: The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Mother’s Day and serving a limited regular brunch/lunch menu and specials from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the regular lunch menu from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and the regular dinner menu from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The brunch specials will include:
• The Farmer, His Garden, His Pig and His Hen with grilled house-made sausage, a three-egg scramble with scallions, cilantro, tomato, and cheddar cheese and roasted Yukon gold potatoes with fines herbs
• The BLT Sandwich with country Levain bread, goat cheese, tomatoes, arugula, bacon, a sunny side up egg, hollandaise sauce and a petite salad
• Lost Bread, a traditional thick French toast with orange cream, maple syrup and bacon
• The Eggs With The Eggs, smoked salmon and salmon hash with red onions, tomatoes, parsley, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce
• Ham and Spinach Quiche, a Parisian ham, onion and spinach quiche with organic mixed greens with a mustard vinaigrette
• Eggs Benedict, poached eggs with Parisian ham, English muffins and hollandaise sauce, served with Yukon gold potatoes with fines herbs (also a la Florentine - with spinach)
• The Cow and The Hen with a grilled skirt steak with two sunny side up eggs and Yukon gold potatoes with fines herbs. All prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. For reservations please call, 408. 984.3500.
 
Lisa's Tea Treasures: Open from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and serving mimosas, tea, chicken wrap, salad, dessert, sandwiches and savory scones. Price is $35.95 per person. Reservations recommended, for more details, call,408.247.3613.
 
Rosie McCann's Irish Pub & Restaurant: Open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch, which includes one complimentary mimosa for mom. There’s special brunch and cocktail menus celebrating the day. For more information please call,408.247.1706.
 
Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too, season kick-off event
Tuesday, May 12, 10 a.m. to noon
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. Special guest for the kick-off event is Buddy from Dinosaur Train. Families can 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 visit www.SantanaRow.com.
 
Cielo Seasonal Grand Opening at Hotel Valencia
Thursday, May 14, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The rooftop bar is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy warm San Jose evenings and a sunset view. Cielo opens for the season with a flair: live Latin music by Amy Dabalos, sangria, wine tastings, tapas and paella! Tickets are $30 and guests must be at least 21 years old.
Reservation required. Call 408.423.5405 for tickets.
 
Cars & Croissants
Saturday, May 23 and every fourth Saturday of the month
9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.
 
B#SV! (Be Sharp, Silicon Valley!)
Thursday, May 28, Santana Row Park, across from Left Bank Brasserie
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
San Jose Jazz and the Silicon Valley Education Foundation team up to bring you an evening of fashion with a purpose with B#SV! Be Sharp, Silicon Valley features Silicon Valley executives and regional luminaries working the catwalk in the latest looks from Santana Row retailers.
The evening includes live music, wine and appetizers. Tickets are $30 and all proceeds benefit San Jose Jazz’s music education programs and the Silicon Valley Education Fund’s STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) education programs. To purchase tickets, go to www.sanjosejazz.org.
 
A look ahead to June and July…
 
Santana Row’s Annual Poolside Soiree
The annual summer fashion shows take place at a new venue with stylish surprises and special guests!
Saturday, June 6, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Misora Resort-Style Residences
The popular summer event returns for the seventh year with an exciting venue change: for the first time, the two poolside runway shows will take place at Misora, Santana Row’s resort-style residences.
As always, the fashion shows will feature the season’s best fashions for women and men as well as style surprises and special guests.
Shows are 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and tickets are $50. Included in the price is poolside seating to view the 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 The Row, prize drawings and in-store events.
Its also a chance to see what luxury living is like at Misora, the 212-unit luxury residential complex. Completed last year, it boasts such amenities as a lounging pool with cabanas and a lap pool, concierge services, private cinema, fitness studio, chef’s demonstration facilities, wine lockers and a wine tasting room.
Tickets go on sale in April at www.SantanaRow.com and at the concierge office.
 
Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too, “Into the Wild Day!”
Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m. to noon
The popular kids’ club features free entertainment, interactive games, hands-on activities and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Join us for “Into The Wild Day” where families are invited to take a walk into the wild side with a special performance from The Happy Birds. Also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more. Meet us in Park Valencia in front of Maggiano’s to pick up your activity sheet.
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 visit www.SantanaRow.com.
 
Cars & Croissants
Saturday, June 27 and every fourth Saturday of the month
9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.
 
Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Celebrate Summer!”
Tuesday, July 7, 10 a.m. to noon
The popular kids’ club features free entertainment, interactive games, hands-on activities and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Join us for live musical performances by Andy Z and take part in programs “Let’s Play in Spanish” and the San Jose Public Library. Also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more. Meet us in Park Valencia in front of Maggiano’s to pick up your activity sheet.
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 visit www.SantanaRow.com.
 
Santana Row Beer Walk
Wednesday, July 29, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Stroll The Row and sample 20-plus beers while enjoying the shopping and dining incentives offered during the third annual Beer Walk! Cool off with a walk around Santana Row while tasting brews from microbreweries. The beer stops are stationed in a restaurant or shop for easy sipping and strolling. Tickets are $30 and available atwww.thebeerwalk.com.
 
Twitter Promotion @SantanaRow invites Tweets and Instagram tags
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 or Instagram photos of a new outfit, haircut, meal, event or artsy shots and then tag it 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 visitwww.santanarow.com.
 
 
 
About Federal Realty
Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Founded in 1962, our mission is to deliver long term, sustainable growth through investing in densely populated, affluent communities where retail demand exceeds supply.  Our expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities.  Federal Realty’s 89 properties include over 2,600 tenants, in approximately 20.2 million square feet of retail space, and 1,500 residential units. 
 
Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased  its dividend rate for 47 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. For additional information about Federal Realty and its properties, visitwww.FederalRealty.com.