Content Magazine Pickup Party Today!

Content is celebrating the release of Issue 7.4 "Phase" tonight with its readers and contributors. This time around the party will be at the Rockbar Theater (360 Saratoga Avenue) and run from 7pm to 10pm. Subscribers and a +1 get in for free and will even receive a drink ticket and appetizer on the house at the Vodka Lounge Bar (random fact, they have over 100 vodkas here). Non-subscribers can still get in by paying $15 at the door per person, and that includes the latest issue.

To subscribe to Content Magazine and get invite to great events like this one, head over here. This is truly the best magazine out there for San Joseans.

Silicon Valley Sign Art Contest

Silicon Valley needs more landmarks. We live in the most innovative place on earth, yet there is a severe lack of branding for the region. A while back, Hafid Alfonso proposed a dynamic sign on the hillside that would serve as a beacon for the Valley. Now to keep the conversation going, he has partnered with the SJSU Engineering Honors Society to discover who has the best idea for a Silicon Valley sign.

The Silicon Valley Sign Art Contest runs until October 25th and the winner will be published on local media (including this site) and presented to a local Chamber of Commerce.

You can find more details below. To participate or learn more about the contest, click here.

Downtown San Jose Restaurant List Updates! (2015 Q4 Edition)

Today we get to discuss the latest changes to Downtown San Jose Restaurants. First off, the good news. We are up to a grand total of 260 eateries! This is yet another record-breaking number for Downtown San Jose! Our little database had 206 eateries in 2011.

As always there were some significant closures as well. The ones that stood out to me were Sonoma Chicken Coup and South First Billiards (which was a cool place, but I'll be the first to say the food was not great). On the other hand, quite a few places opened up in the last few months. Here are some notable additions to the Downtown restaurant scene as well as a look into the future:

• Lou's Beachshack - The third incarnation of Lou's Village, located at the San Pedro Square Market. I love their fish sandwiches, popcorn shrimp, and abalone sliders. This is a solid addition to Downtown and a great nostalgic return of one of San Jose's most famous establishments.
• Oni Mexicantessan - Killer Mexican sandwiches, also at the San Pedro Square Market. This is a sister restaurant to Loteira Taco Bar down the hall.
• Deluxe Eatery & Drinkery - New American restaurant on San Fernando with a notable chef (Chad Ferry: The Plumed Horse, Paolo's, Spagos). Have not been here yet, but I can't wait to try their short rib tater tots.
• Voltaire Coffee House - New boutique coffee shop at the base of 360 Residences. Downtown San Jose has a lot of great coffee shops, and this already ranks among the best. 
• Aura Kitchen - New restaurant/nightclub replacing Motif in SoFA. They landed the chef from Nobu London. I've heard great things about this place even though it just opened.
• HOM Korean Kitchen - The Chipotle of Korean Food comes to Santa Clara St. and is open very late!
• Williams St. Restaurants: Added 6 restaurants that are technically within the boarder of Downtown San Jose: Sonia's Kitchen, SA-By Thai, Da Lat Cafe, Pho Cong Ly, Mi Chalateca, and Creasian. Highly recommend trying out Creasian.
• COMING SOON (Now you can find all "Coming Soon" restaurants at the top of the list)
• Hawaiian Poke Bowl (SoFA Market)
• Milk and Wood (SoFA Market)
• Vitamina Juices & Blends (SoFA Market)
• Origins Juicery (1st St., former Discovery Store)
• San Jose Pizza Co. (Santa Clara Street near San Pedro)
• Uproar Brewery (SoFA, former Zer01 Garage)

Below is the change log from the Downtown San Jose Restaurants Database:

7/31/2015	Chef Monalisa closed
7/31/2015	Added Uproar Brewery in SoFA
8/1/2015	Added Oni Mexicantessan and Lou's Beach Shack, both in the San Pedro Square Market
8/23/2015	Changed the formatting so that restaurants "COMING SOON" will always appear at the top of the list
9/8/2015	Sonoma Chicken Coop and South First Billiards closed
9/9/2015	Added Deluxe Eatery & Drinkery at 71 E. San Fernando
9/13/2015	Added 6 restaurants on Williams St. near SJSU: Sonia's Kitchen, SA-By Thai Cuisine, Creasian, Pho Cong Ly, Dalat Cafe, and Mi Chalateca
9/14/2015	Added Voltaire Coffee House in SoFA
9/21/2015	Motif has been replaced with Aura Kitchen and Bar on South First Street
10/4/2015	Replace Cheese Steak Shop on Santa Clara Street with HOM Korean Kitchen
10/4/2015	Added Origins Juicery, coming soon to 150 S. 1st Street

If you haven't bookmarked it yet, here's the link to the spreadsheet! There is also a permanent link over to the right entitled Downtown San Jose Restaurants.

Viva Calle SJ is Today! The 50 Tour @ St. James Park!

The amazing Villa Calle SJ event is happening today from 10am to 3pm. Six whole miles of streets stretching from Emma Prusch Farm Park (East San Jose) to Willow Glen to St. James Park will all be shut down, allowing residents to walk, run, bike, or play in the streets. There will be festivals at Emma Prusch, Parque De Los Pobladores, and St. James Park.

Each festival will have food, music, and special activities. One example I wanted to highlight is the "50 Tour" in St. James Park. There will be an autograph signing and story time with four-time Super Bowl Champion Eric Wright as well as San Jose-legend and Gold Medalist, Kristi Yamaguchi. All eight of the Super Bowl Vince Lombardi Trophies for the 49ers and the Raiders will be on display. There will even be a STEM Zone, an interactive space that shows how science and technology fuel innovation.

Please use the handy map below to locate the festivities. I'm going to try to walk from Emma Prusch to St. James Park... we'll see how that goes =).

50 TOUR: CHAMPIONS OF THE BAY PRESENTED BY CHEVRON COMES TO SAN JOSE OCTOBER 11

WHAT: The Tour: Champions of the Bay presented by Chevron will make its next stop in San Jose, joining VivaCalleSJ on October 11, 2015. The 50 Tour will be located at 1-99 East St. John Street, San Jose.

VivaCalleSJ is a free recreational program that closes miles of scenic San Jose streets. This free event brings together the San Jose community to walk, bike, skate, play, and explore downtown San Jose.

This 50 Tour stop will feature an autograph signing and story time with four-time Super Bowl Champion Eric Wright, who was considered one of the best cover cornerbacks of his day; and Kristi Yamaguchi, former figure skater Olympic gold medalist, world champion and philanthropist.

The 50 Tour is the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee’s mobile exhibit designed to celebrate the history of the Bay Area’s championship teams, the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers. This 50 Tour stop will feature the eight Super Bowl Vince Lombardi Trophies of the two teams; the Chevron STEM Zone, an interactive space that demonstrates how science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fuels innovation all around us – through the lens of football; and a youth area that includes the PLAY 60, Play On play space and The Re(a)d Zone early literacy corner.

WHEN: October 11, 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M., with  autograph signings from Kristi Yamaguchi and Eric Wright at 2:00 – 1:00 P.M., followed by story time in the Tour’s Re(a)d Zone.

About the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee:
Working in partnership with Bay Area public officials and the NFL, the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee is responsible for Super Bowl 50 and its celebration elements, including the Super Bowl Village, public exhibits and planning of game day logistics. The Host Committee seeks to make Super Bowl 50 the most giving ever, and is investing in Bay Area community initiatives and high-performing nonprofits through the 50 Fund, its signature philanthropic fund. To be hosted in the state-of-the-art Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara in 2016, Super Bowl 50 will be celebrated through a series of events that showcase all the Bay Area has to offer. For more information, visit www.sfbaysuperbowl.com.

Saturday Stats: San Jose's Economic Growth is #1 in the Bay Area

Of all the cities in the country with more than 300,000 residents, San Jose came in 7th in terms of economic growth between 2008 and 2014. In the Bay Area, San Jose was king of the castle. Oakland came in 13th place and San Francisco was 15th.

Metrics included income growth, unemployment rate decrease, and housing prices. I should also note that this study was for individual cities and not metro areas, making the results even more impressive.

For mid-sized cities of 100,000-300,000 residents, Santa Clara, Fremont, and Sunnyvale make the top 10. For cities under 100,000 residents, Milpitas, Mountain View, and Redwood City were in the top 15.

Source: SVBJ

Harvest Festival 2015 - November 27-29 at the Convention Center

Next month the Harvest Festival is bringing a huge assortment of arts & crafts to Downtown San Jose. The festival--now a San Jose Black Friday holiday shopping tradition--features 24,000 American-made arts and crafts. In fact, it is the largest indoor arts and crafts show on the West Coast. You have everything from original art, jewelry, clothing, toys, and home decor. Many of the gifts can be custom ordered or personalized.

To compliment the shopping, there will be an assortment of food and music. Several bands will be performing throughout the show including James Garner's Cash Tribute and Le Jazz Hot (French Gypsy Jazz). There will also be holiday-themed entertainers wandering the festival.

While parents shop, kids can play at an expanded and interactive KidZone. Here the tykes can build their own art projects such as gingerbread cookie decorating.

New to the San Jose Harvest Festival this year is a series of Safety and Basic Use classes hosted by TechShop San Jose. Topics include sewing and vinyl cutting. Usually these classes are $90, but will be offered first-come-first-serve for $5 at the festival.

The Harvest Festival will run from (Black) Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29th at the San Jose Convention Center. Hours are 9am-6pm on Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturday, and 10am-5pm on Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for teenagers, and those 12 & under are free. Admission includes the whole weekend, not just a specific day. The first 100 people in line on Black Friday get in for free. Also the first 100 people to visit the Christmas in the Park booth each day will get a special gift.

For more information or to buy tickets, head over to the Harvest Festival website over here.

Santana Row October-December 2015 News and Events

San Jose, CA - It’s finally sweater weather! A perfect time for Kit and Ace to open at Santana Row and introduce its “technical cashmere,” a durable, machine-washable fabric that is the signature of the company’s clothing line.

It’s also pumpkin season and the beginning of Santana Row’s autumn and winter events, including Halloween fun and trick-or-treating during a special Mommy & Me, a weekend of glass pumpkins to buy and admire and in November, the annual tree-lighting extravaganza.

Kit and Ace
Now open, next to lululemon athletica

Kit and Ace, a brand of casual, luxury clothing for women and men, is now open! Founded in Vancouver by the son and wife of lululemon founder Chip Wilson, Kit and Ace’s signature offering is clothing made from Qemir, a “technical cashmere” blend that is machine washable, more durable and resistant to pilling. The selection includes tops, bottoms, outerwear, tanks and simple-silhouette dresses in neutrals such as black, white, gray and dark blue in prices that range from $65 to $130 for basics.

Founders JJ Wilson and Shannon Wilson have a style philosophy that blends functionality with sophistication and fit.

The 3,793-square-foot location at Santana Row features garments for both men and women.

Go Niners!
Take the Round Trip Shuttle to Levi’s Stadium from Santana Row

Avoid the headache of game day traffic! Take the shuttle from The Row to Levi’s Stadium for a hassle-free day that starts with easy parking, shopping and dining perks.
Shuttles leave exactly two hours before game time.
Games:

• Sunday, Oct. 4, Niners vs. Packers (departs at 11.25 a.m.)
• Sunday, Oct. 18, Niners vs. Ravens (departs at 11:25 a.m.)
• Thursday, Oct. 22, Niners vs. Seahawks (departs at 3:25 p.m.)
• Sunday, Nov. 8, Niners. vs. Falcons (departs at 11:05 a.m.)
• Sunday, Nov. 29, Niners vs. Cardinals (departs at 11:05 a.m.)
• Sunday, Dec. 20, Niners vs. Bengals (departs at 3:30 p.m.)
• Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, Niners vs. Rams (departs at 11:25 a.m.)

The shuttle registration begins about 30 minutes before departure time. Registration and shuttles are located near the CineArts Theatre. Your $30 ticket includes:

• Round trip transportation to Levi’s Stadium
• Free parking at Santana Row
• Santana Row shopping and dining incentives

Details:
When you arrive at Santana Row, park your vehicle in the designated, secured parking lot on Winchester Boulevard in the former Century 21 Theatre area. Walk across Winchester Boulevard to Olsen Drive where the registration table and bus will be waiting to load in front of the theater. The bus departs at the scheduled time (two hours prior to game time), and will not wait for passengers.

Levi’s Stadium drop-off site:
The bus will park at the official shuttle drop-off location at the stadium. One hour after the conclusion of the game, the bus will depart from the same location. All passengers not on bus at the specified departure time, will not receive transportation back to Santana Row.

Glass Pumpkin Festival at Santana Row
Friday-Sunday, Oct. 9, 10 and 11, Santana Row Park

Experience the magic of glass! Stroll through thousands of hand-blown glass pumpkins crafted by BAGI (Bay Area Glass Institute) artists and renowned glass artisans from around the country. The pumpkins are unique gifts for friends and family and are a perfect addition to fall decoration. Some even make beautiful year-round display pieces: the pumpkins will be available in an assortment of colors, sizes and a range of prices. This is a once-a-year event, so come early and find the perfect glass pumpkin!

Details:  4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11. The event takes place at Santana Row Park, across from Left Bank Brasserie.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Halloween Family Fun Fest!”
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Park Valencia

Trick-or-treat around The Row and enjoy pumpkin decorating, live musical performances and other activities during this popular Halloween event for children.

Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Park Valencia. Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too is a free kids club held on the second Tuesday of every month (except October) from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit SantanaRow.com.

Cars & Croissants
Oct. 24 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.

A look ahead to November and beyond…

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Give Thanks”
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. to noon

The holidays remind us to pull together and help those less fortunate. November’s program encourages kids to bring a canned food item that will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank. Holiday fun includes face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts Kids will be entertained by music and live performances.

Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Park Valencia. In the event of rain, the location moves to CineArts Theatre. Mommy & Me & Daddies, Too 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 SantanaRow.com.

Santana Row’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Santana Row kicks off the 2015 holiday season with the annual Light Up the Row tree lighting ceremony, a joyous day of celebration for the entire family. The day of holiday festivities begins at 3 p.m. with photos with performances by dancers from Ballet San Jose. The fun continues throughout the afternoon and evening with live music, costumed characters, special guests and performances by local theater and dance groups.

The highlight of the day takes place at 7 p.m. in Santana Row Park with the lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree, one of the most anticipated holiday events in Silicon Valley. Many of the restaurants will offer dining specials, kid-friendly menus and holiday-themed cocktails during the event. In-store parties, hot chocolate sampling, cookies and appetizers will also add to the festivities of the day.

Details: The celebration is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with tree lighting slated for 7 p.m. in Santana Row Park.

• 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Photos with Santa in the antique San Jose Fire Department truck in Park Valencia. Donate a toy for the annual Toys for Tots drive and take a photo with Santa! Live children’s entertainment including Andy Z.
• 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Tree Lighting Ceremony in Santana Row Park featuring a live performance from Ballet San Jose and local school groups.
• 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Live music, choirs, carolers, photos with Alice in Wonderland from Ballet San Jose and activities for children and families in Oak Tree Lounge.
• Start your holiday shopping: If you spend $200 or more in one day and present your same day receipts to the Santana Row concierge you will receive a free pair to tickets to The Nutcracker performed by Ballet San Jose. Tickets are available while supplies last.

“Dear Santa…”
Write a letter to Santa and get a letter back!
November 17 through December 10

Write a letter to Santa and receive a reply! Beginning Nov. 17, every child who leaves a letter for Santa in the mailbox outside of the Santana Row concierge office will receive a reply from the red-clad, jolly fellow! Each letter must include the child’s name and a mailing address. The letters must be dropped in the box by Dec. 10. Concierge is located near the garage between Sino restaurant and Left Bank Brasserie.

Cars & Croissants
Nov. 28 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.

The Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market
Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Maker's Market Santa Cruz is coming back to Santana Row, just in time for holiday shopping! Craftspeople, artisans and other creative types will set up their unique, handmade wares in Santana Row Park near Left Bank brasserie and Village California Bistro.The Maker’s Market is dedicated to supporting the community by giving local artists, crafters, culinary creators and musicians a venue to showcase and sell their goods at a regular market while also financially benefiting a local non-profit, Mountain Community Resource which helps families and the elderly in need with food, medicine, and other necessities.

Holiday Open House, a Benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Give to those in need while you complete your holiday shopping during Santana Row’s Holiday Open House, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank, which provides groceries and food to families and individuals in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Purchase a $40 ticket on SantanaRow.com or at the Concierge center and receive complimentary food and wine tastings in Santana Row shops and restaurants, a signature Santana Row wine glass and exclusive shopping discounts. Enjoy holiday fashion modeling and special seasonal offerings. Bring a donation of canned food into concierge when you purchase your ticket and receive $5 off the ticket. (Customers must be 21 years or older.)

Rainy Day Rewards, Nov. 1 through March 31, 2016

Here’s hoping the rainy season returns! Santana Row is optimistic and wants to reward shoppers and diners braving bad weather. When there’s a 70 percent or greater chance for rain, they will be offered discounts that include 15 percent off purchases at participating shops and restaurants, a free signature Santana Row golf umbrella for customers who spend $150 anywhere on The Row and a $20 gift certificate to a participating shop or restaurant for customers who spend $300 on a designated Rainy Day.

No need to get wet: Customers can pick up a complimentary umbrella to use while shopping and dining and then return it before leaving. The yellow umbrellas are conveniently located throughout The Row: outside Concierge, Via between Village California Bistro and Lark Creek Blue and the valet parking lot in the Winchester Parking Garage.

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 of www.federalrealty.com (NYSE:FRT), headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.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 90 properties include over 2,600 tenants, in approximately 21 million square feet, and 1500 residential units.

Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 48 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, visit www.FederalRealty.com.

October 2015 Downtown Dimension Highlights

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

• San Jose is rebranding its parking facilities as PARK SJ to clearly differentiate city-owned lots (Market and San Pedro Square Garage, Second and San Carlos Street Garage, Third Street Garage, Fourth Street Garage) from private garages. These four garages have over 3,400 spaces and the Downtown validation program will not be changed.
• A huge urban tech campus has been proposed near Diridon Station. This would include 800,000 SQFT of modern offices, 325 residential units, plenty of retail, and 2,400 parking spaces (a net increase of 1,600 spaces). The first phase could be completed by 2017.
• San Jose will be included in several Super Bowl 50 events:
• Super Bowl Opening Night will take place Feb. 1 at the SAP Center
• The NFC Champion will stay at the Marriott Hotel Downtown and practice at SJSU
• Downtown Ice will be extended to February 7th to celebrate the Super Bowl
• There will be an expanded South First Fridays and Winter Market on February 5th
• A Super Guadalupe River Run (5K and 10K) will take place on the morning of February 7th
• VivaCalleSJ is going to transform the streets of San Jose on October 11th. Six whole miles of streets from East San Jose to Downtown will be closed down to automotive traffic from 10am to 3pm, letting residents freely walk, run, or bike throughout the streets. There will be several gathering hubs with vendors, activities, and entertainment. The 8 Super Bowl Vince Lombardi Trophies won by the 49ers and Raiders will be displayed at St. James Park.
• The 27,000 SQFT, five-story building at 100 E. Santa Clara is being converted into the upscale 44-room Hotel Clariana. It will also have a lobby bar, lounge, gift shop, and should be open in time for the Super Bowl.
• The interactive light sculpture called "Show Your Stripes" at The 88 now offers 318 different lighting schemes (up from 129). Anyone can change the lighting scheme by dialing (408) 287-0128 and typing three digits followed by a # sign. Some of the new patterns includes 192 for wonderful avocados, 378 for sun smooch, 358 for sizzling chaos, 215 for flying hearts, 249 for wold view, and 444 for deep blue black hole. The names and numbers can be downloaded from sanjoseca.gov/showyourstripes.
• The Hotel De Anza is wrapping up a $5.7 million renovation, modernizing its public spaces, meeting rooms, and 100 guestrooms.
• Aura Kitchen + Bar replaces Motif at 389 S. First St.
• A new La Vic's is now open at 291 N. Fourth Street.
• HoM Korean Kitchen is now open at 76 E. Santa Clara Street, offering Korean favorites made from scratch.
• The US Patent Office will officially open at San Jose City Hall on October 15th!

To read the full newsletter, click here!