SoFA Sundays

This new event somehow snuck under my radar. Several SoFA arts groups have come up with a monthly "SoFA Sundays" event centered around Gore Park. The event includes food trucks, performances, music, and a variety of community activities. Participating venues are ICA, MACLA, SJQT, the San Jose Stage, City Lights Theater Company, the SoFA Market, Cafe Stritch, and the Continental.

The first event was on July 26, 2015 and you can get a recap over here. Below is the full schedule for the rest of 2015.

SoFA Sundays Schedule

• August 9, 12pm-5pm
• September 13, 12pm-5pm
• October 4, 12pm-5pm
• November 15, 12pm-5pm
• December 13, 12pm-5pm

Source: The Merc

Updated Renders for the Post & San Pedro Tower!

The proposed Post & San Pedro Tower has a brand new design that looks even better than the previous render (the last photo down below). The new owners of the project--Simeon Residential Properties and Kinship Capital--wanted something more dynamic and lively. They used a wider variety of materials and now there are tons of setbacks and balconies, which makes perfect sense in a city that has 300 sunny days each year.

The design isn't the only change. They have added 20 more units to bring it to a total of 202, while keeping the height and footprint of the building the same. Also added: an outdoor pool, spa, and dog park on the fourth floor. Parking is three levels below ground and two above ground, with no separate exterior garage.

There will be two retail pads: 1,500 SQFT on San Pedro, which would be ideal for a cafe or deli, and 3,200 SQFT on Post Street that is being earmarked for a boutique gym. Given that Post Street does not have a significant retail presence, Simeon is considering offering a moderate discount on rent to bring someone into the space (makes perfect sense, which more Downtown developers would do the same).

It looks like this is really coming together nicely. If the Post & San Pedro Tower comes to fruition, it will be another great asset for Downtown San Jose!

Source: SVBJ

New Render

New Render

Previous Render

SJSU Campus Village Phase II

San Jose State University's newest student housing building is now well under construction. The $126 million building will be next to Campus Village Phase I and have 850 beds across 10 floors. This will allow SJSU to move further away from it's prior reputation as a commuter school and attract more students from out of state or the country.

Check out the latest construction photos below courtesy of Robertee from the San Jose Development Forum.

Jade Leaf Filling Long Vacant Spot Downtown

Remember McWhorters in Downtown San Jose on Market and San Fernando? That retail space has been empty for what seems like an eternity. Finally a new tenant is taking its place, and it looks like a solid addition to Downtown's restaurant scene.

As you can see from the sign, Jade Leaf will have food, a bar, and a live jazz lounge. So we're getting both a restaurant and a new live music venue, double win!

Source: Nate Donato-Weinstein's Twitter

Saturday Stats: San Jose is the Second Best City for Summer Jobs

Based on metrics such as job growth, availability of part-time employment, and summer activities, the San Jose metro was ranked as the second best city for summer jobs. There are nearly 400 service sector positions currently available in San Jose, and you can't beat the weather or the variety of festivals and activities we have throughout the summer.

Denver was at the top of the list, while my two favorite competitors (San Francisco and New York City) did not rank in the top 10.

Source: ZipRecruiter

San Jose Jazz Summer Fest - Aug 7-9th

The 26th annual Summer Fest this August features over 100 performers on 12 different stages. You have every incarnation of Jazz imaginable as well as R&D, Blues, and Salsa. It is one of the largest and most renowned Jazz festivals anywhere and is a must-attend event for Bay Area music lovers!

New this year is special programming for the South First Area (SoFA). On Friday night there will be new indoor and outdoor stages in the district, providing an extra-lively South First Friday. Speaking of lively, there will be all sorts of late night parties. They have done 24-hour Jazz marathons in previous years, and I'll look forward to seeing what they have planned this year.

For all of the details, head over to The San Jose Jazz Summer Fest website. Tickets are already available for purchase over here.

Time Map of San Jose Annexations (1900-2014)

It is fascinating to see how San Jose has grown via annexation over the years. The 45 second time lapse video below takes us from the 1900s all the way to last year. The expansion between the 50s and 70s is especially significant. Willow Glen, Berryessa, and Alviso were all independent cities at some point in the past. Even our job-center, North San Jose, was mostly independent until the 60s and 70s. Check it out below.

Source: Hillrise from the San Jose Development Forum

Veggielution: Bounty of Heart's Delight

Each year, Veggielution throws the premier gourmet dining event for vegetarians and veggie lovers--Bounty of Heart's Delight. This year, Matthias Froeschl from Nashmarkt is preparing a five course feast. If you haven't been to Nashmarkt before, it is easily the best restaurant in Campbell and I'm sure Matthias will do an amazing job.

This event includes a tour of the farm, appetizers, the feast (featuring San Jose grown veggies), local beers and wines, hay rides, a silent auction, and even a barn dance. Tickets are not cheap, but you will get what you pay for and the proceeds go towards supporting San Jose's urban farm and their numerous community programs.

Bounty of Heart's Delight takes place on Saturday, August 22nd at Emma Prusch Park. Click here to buy your tickets!