South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk Tonight

Experience the latest South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk tonight from 7-11pm in Downtown San Jose's SoFA District. 20 different venues will be open late and featuring a variety of local art and entertainment. To learn more about the participants before the walk tonight, head over to the South FIRST FRIDAYS website over here!

TiE Silicon Valley Hackathon Addresses Real-Time Global Challenges of Urbanization

The TiE SV Hackathon, powered by Atomiton, is global in nature and will focus on tackling three real-world issues within the “Smart City” overall theme

TiE Silicon Valley, a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the Bay Area and globally, today announced its upcoming Hackathon related to Smart Cities.  The goal of the Hackathon is to provide solutions that solve real world issues caused by urbanization around the globe.  The event will begin in January 2016 and will last for two weeks.  Winners will be invited to attend TiECon 2016, TiE's largest annual conference, and will also have an opportunity to win prizes and publicity.

In this first series of Hackathons, TiE will present a Smart City theme that addresses global urban issues.  Although many urban issues are shared globally, they may have local interpretations based on a particular region.  This is an initiative where governments, academia, developers and corporations are collaborating to make an impact on society across the globe.  To reflect the diversity of urban challenges and solutions around the world, this Hackathon will highlight the following smart city problem spaces:

Smart Parking – Developers take on the role of private parking operators with the goal of optimizing revenue by efficient and competitive management of parking spaces and pricing

Waste Disposal Management – Developers assume the role of private waste management companies that want to efficiently identify, gather and transport solid waste to landfills, while preventing random dumping

Water Access Management – Developers are NGOs working to improve water access by utilizing a fixed amount of funds to guarantee water access to as many households as possible

"Urban population is expected to grow from 50% in 2008 to 75% by 2050. Growth in population, constrained financial and natural resources, carbon footprint, and traffic congestion put a strain on a city's ability to provide sustainable services," stated Venktesh Shukla, president, TiE Silicon Valley.  He noted "TiE's SmartCity Hackathon is a great initiative that will foster innovation in quality of urban services, reduce cost and promote efficient use of resources, leaving a better environment for future generations."

Registration is open to anyone across the globe, whether a TiE member or not, and will provide participants the opportunity to collaborate with other teams at local and international levels.

For more information about the TiE SV Hackathon, please visit http://sv.tie.org/hackathon/.

About TiESilicon Valley
TiE Silicon Valley is a not for profit organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in the Bay Area, as well as globally.  TiE strives to inspire entrepreneurs through mentoring, networking, education, incubating and funding programs and activities.  With nearly 50 events held each year, TiE brings together the entrepreneurial community to learn from local leaders, as well as each other.  For more information, please visit our website at sv.tie.org.

About Atomiton
Atomiton is a Silicon Valley-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology company focused on delivering the next generation middleware to power interconnected and smart systems. For more information, visit www.atomiton.com.

New Proposed High Rises Would be San Jose's Tallest Buildings!

When a 1.4 acre piece of land across from City Hall was sold to a Chinese developer, many urbanists were hoping for (perhaps even demanding) an office tower to be built in this prime space. Others (myself included) would be happy with any sort of building there--including another residential tower--to replace the mostly vacant chunk of land next to San Jose's most iconic building. Well, it turns out we are getting the best of everything in this latest Downtown San Jose project!

The "SJSC Towers" would consist of not one, but two 295-foot tall towers. That would make them the two tallest building in San Jose. The one on the west would be a 28-story residential building with 350 condos. The eastern building would house 344,157 SQFT of office space in a 20-story building with soaring ceilings. The ground floor would have around 20,000 SQFT of retail, nearly equivalent in size to the San Pedro Square Market.

The residential component would have high-end amenities, including a skydeck and community facilities on the entire top floor. It even looks to me like it might have a swimming pool, or at very least a hot tub, 280 feet towards the sky! Now that would be a unique amenity.

The architecture is anticipated to raise the bar for San Jose. The towers will have the same design language but not be clones of one another. They will also compliment the architecture of City Hall across the street.

Needless to say, this has tremendous potential. I can't wait to see the initial designs and hope this will get fast-tracked into reality.

Source: SVBJ

Santana Row November and December 2015 News and Events

San Jose, CA  - The holidays are weeks away and Santana Row is in the midst of planning very special celebrations to mark the season. This year, Santana Row partners with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area to help grant a wish for a teen with cancer who is dreaming of seeing Paris. She’ll be part of the annual tree-lighting event, a spectacular annual tradition at Santana Row.

In December, get all your shopping done during the Holiday Open House, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank and get ready to count down to 2016!

Sephora Grand Opening
Friday, Nov. 6
Discover the latest in beauty at Sephora’s Santana Row location! Explore its unrivaled selection of makeup, skin care, fragrance and more from classic and emerging brands.
The 5,339 square-foot store is located next to Sino restaurant.

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, 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.

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
Celebrating the Season with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Santana Row is delighted to announce its partnership with Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, an organization which helps make wishes come true for local children such as Lili. Lili is 14 years old and battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects white blood cells. Make-A-Wish paper stars can be purchased in the Santana Row concierge office during the month of November and Lili’s wish will be celebrated during the Tree Lighting Ceremony at 7 p.m.

The festivities begin at 3 p.m. with an Elf on the Shelf Scavenger hunt. The fun continues throughout the evening with live music, costumed characters, carolers and performances by local theater and dance groups. The highlight of the night takes place in Santana Row Park with the lighting of the 40-foot Christmas tree, one of the most anticipated holiday events in Silicon Valley. There’s also a rousing performance by the Academy of Villains from America's Got Talent (the group appeared on season 7) and So You Think You Can Dance (season 11 and 12). Many of the restaurants will offer dining specials, kid-friendly menus and holiday-themed cocktails during the event. In-store parties and hot chocolate sampling will also add to the festivities!

Details:

• Support Lili and Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area with a donation in any amount through the organization’s paper stars campaign. The stars can be purchased during November at Santana Row concierge and Lili’s wish will be celebrated during the tree-lighting ceremony.
• Get your Elf on a Shelf scavenger hunt list at Santana Row concierge, visit each location, spot the elf and get a sticker. Return your card to concierge to receive a prize. One lucky winner will receive a $250 Santana Row gift card!
• 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.
• 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Tree Lighting Ceremony in Santana Row Park featuring a live performance from Ballet San Jose’s The Nutcracker; Children’s Musical Theatre’s Marquee Production of The Little Mermaid; and a very special performance straight from America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance--the Academy of Villains!
• 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Live music, choirs, carolers and photos with Alice in Wonderland from Ballet San Jose. Activities for children and families in Oak Tree Lounge.
• Start your holiday shopping: If you spend $200 or more on Tuesday, Nov. 17, present your dated receipts to the Santana Row concierge and 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 through December
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., Park Valencia
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.

Santa Paws, a Benefit for the Humane Society Silicon Valley
Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Your furry friends are ready for their holiday close up! Bring your canine and feline friends to Santana Row's Park Valencia for a keepsake photo with Santa Claus.
Photos are $20 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Humane Society Silicon Valley. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. in Park Valencia.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too: “Celebrate the Season”
Tuesday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to noon
The last Mommy & Me of the year will be held in the lobby of the CineArts Theatre and will include live entertainment from Andy Z, story time with Mrs. Claus, treats, craft-making and more holiday fun!

Details: 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby of 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.

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.)

Celebrate Chanukah at Santana Row
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Park Valencia* near Maggiano’s restaurant
Santana Row celebrates the Jewish Festival of Lights in Park Valencia with family activities that include decorating dreidels, Jewish story time, arts and crafts and the lighting of the Menorah.
*In the event of rain, this event will be held inside the via between Left Bank and Sino restaurants.

Cars & Croissants, last gathering of the year
Dec. 26 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 from spring 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.

New Year’s Eve at Hotel Valencia
Dec. 31
Ring in the New Year in white and gold at the hottest spot on Santana Row. Hotel Valencia’s New Year's Eve celebration is always the toast of the town! Bid farewell to 2015 and welcome 2016 by taking advantage of the holiday package.

New Year’s Eve Valencia Masquerade Gala includes:

• Luxury guest room for two
• Champagne upon arrival
• Admission to the Masquerade Gala featuring a DJ and an assortment of festive food stations
• Midnight Champagne toast
• Grand deluxe breakfast with mimosas, served on New Year's Day
• Late check-out at 1 p.m. on New Year's Day
• *Guests are encouraged to bring their own festive masks as limited quantities will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Rates from $585 per room, per night, double occupancy, exclusive of tax; additional guests are $125 per person and subject to maximum occupancy.

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.

Video: New Projects to Raise Downtown San Jose Skyline

CBS has created a nice two minute segment highlighting the high-rise boom in Downtown San Jose. They mention four project, but that is just scratching the surface. Expect Downtown to look quite a bit different five years from now than it does today.

Source: Rick Upton and Dirt Patch from the San Jose Development Forum


Transcript:

SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) — New high-rise projects are about to push San Jose’s historically low-rise skyline to new levels. But there’s a catch to all of this development.

When Mayor Sam Liccardo pulls up the blinds at his 18th floor office at City Hall, he sees a city growing up.

“I think you’re going to see more unique architecture as the downtown evolves,” Liccardo said.

That evolution is taking off again. At least four new high rise commercial and residential projects in the pipeline for Downtown San Jose. Dramatic, soaring projects that will reshape the city skyline and bring thousands of more residents to live here.

“We are seeing much more interest and investment in the downtown than I think anyone has seen in several generations,” Liccardo told KPIX 5.

But the sky is not the limit. Downtown San Jose lies in the final approach flight path to Mineta San Jose International Airport. The FAA has restricted buildings to 24 stories on the south end of downtown and 18 stories closer to the airport.

It will forever give the city a “blockier” look than a Manhattanized one.

“I’m certain we have lost an opportunity to build dozens of high rise towers because of the height restrictions imposed by the airport,” Liccardo said.

When new buildings go up, parking will go away. Acres of surface level parking lots, a downtown mainstay for decades, will slowly disappear as new buildings take their place.

“We’re going to have a lot of underground parking to replace that,” said Jimmy Starkovich, who has worked in Downtown San Jose for 40 years.

“San Jose is really starting to become alive,” he said.

Several New Restaurants Coming Downtown!

There were definitely some high-profile restaurant closures over the past couple years. However, those empty spaces will soon be filled with the next generation of Downtown San Jose restaurants.

The most significant recent closure in my mine is that of Sonoma Chicken Coup, a Downtown staple for many years. Sonoma left a 8,000 SQFT void in San Pedro Square, a gigantic space to fill in the restaurant world. Sushi Confidential is slated to take over that giant space with their second restaurant. The first is a Campbell hotspot offering innovative twists on Japanese food. The Downtown San Jose location will likely have the largest outdoor space of any Sushi restaurant in the Bay Area and be a welcome addition to our restaurant scene. The goal is to open by Super Bowl 50 on February 7th.

Up next is Blackbird Taven, which was located in what must be the unluckiest corner in Downtown San Jose. ASQEW Grill, Zing, and Ruffled Feathers Eatery were all predecessors at 200 South First Street. The proprietor behind B2 Coffee is looking to turn that luck around with their 3rd coffee shop called Social Policy. Of course they will have amazing coffee, but the larger location will also allow more bakery items, lunch fare, and small plates. Oh, and they will also have beer and wine! The store is already under construction and may be open before the end of the year.

Last on the list for today, the Fahrenheit Lounge space is being filled with the popular Pieology chain. I'm sure it will be a huge hit with SJSU students and provide a solid casual option for that part of Downtown.

I have also updated the Downtown San Jose Restaurants Google Sheet with these latest changes.

Source: SVBJ, SVBJ Article #2

WeWork Wants to Build Co-Working Office Space Downtown

WeWork is the leading co-working office company in the United States. Co-working is a hot product for entrepreneurs right now who don't need a lot of space but are looking to be part of a start-up culture and atmosphere. It usually involves a minimal amount of dedicated space and a whole lot of shared resources that include everything from conference rooms to beer and popcorn. Currently, NextSpace on 92 S. Second is the only co-working location in Downtown San Jose.

WeWork is a $10 billion company (with 30,000 members) that is looking to build its first Silicon Valley location in Downtown San Jose. While the company has five offices in San Francisco, there are none in the South Bay.

The rumor is that they are looking to lease between 70,000 and 90,000 SQFT of office space from the Towers@2nd complex on Second Street. These are twin high-rises with Ike's Sandwiches and ISO:Beers on the ground floor. It is also the complex housing the San Jose Mercury News.

If this comes to fruition, it will mean a lot more startups coming to Downtown San Jose. This would no doubt continue to drive the cultural Renaissance Downtown San Jose is experiencing and help fill vacancies with office and retail. Downtown is proving to be an ideal place where people can work, live, and play. As entrepreneurs graduate from co-working to their own dedicated spaces, there are options of all shapes and sizes in Downtown San Jose along with enough housing coming online to put their workers withing walking distance. The future is coming, and it's looking good.

Source: SVBJ

Playful People Productions Presents: Guys and Dolls

Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, Guys and Dolls JR, is an oddball romantic comedy. Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find the cash to set up the biggest craps game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck; meanwhile, his girlfriend, nightclub performer Adelaide,whose chronic flu is brought on by the fact she's been engaged to the same man for 14 years. Nathan turns to the slick, high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson for the dough, but Sky ends up chasing the straight-laced and pure-at-heart missionary Sarah Brown. Guys And Dolls JR. takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.

Guys and Dolls is a cornerstone of the musical comedy stage that continues to delight audiences over 50 years after its Broadway premiere. Featuring the songs "Luck be a Lady" and "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat," this musical is the perfect balance of story, dance, music, and romance.

Our shows often sell out prior to the show weekend. Be sure to buy your tickets early, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic production.

All Shows at the Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Ave  San Jose, CA 95126

Show Times:
Friday, November 6th - 7:00pm
Saturday, November 7th -11:00am, 3:00pm  and 7:00pm
Sunday, November 8th - 11:00am, and 3:00pm


Tickets available at www.playfulpeople.net
$12 attendees 12 and up, $8 children 11 and under,  and $6 Children’s floor seating

Tickets at the door (30 minutes prior to curtain)
$15 attendees 12 and up, $10 children 11 and under, and $6 Children’s floor seating


Founded in 2010, Playful People Production’s mission is to provide a quality, caring environment where children, teens and their families can have positive theater experiences. We strive to involve all family members in the many aspects of on stage and backstage theater in a safe and fun environment and offer participation in theatrical productions, classes, summer stock and camps for ages 3-93.

Playful People Productions is run by a mother-daughter team, Barbara Galiotto and Katie D’ Arcey, who between them have approximately 50 years of experience in the musical theater world. Both are Positive Discipline trained and worked as early Childhood Educators as well as in the theater.