Wednesday Wishlist: BART to Santana Row

Mark from Think Bigger San Jose is proposing a different alignment for Phase 2 of the BART extension into Silicon Valley. The Santa Clara BART station is highly redundant with Caltrain service and if not for the maintenance yard nearby, it would be considered mostly unnecessary. Yes, you have SCU and large development projects like the Coleman Highline are being planned for the area, but the need for BART there is far less than the route Mark proposes--taking BART through Midtown to the Santana Row and Valley Fair area. This is a region that is booming and is in desperate need for mass transit access. At the rate "Uptown" is growing, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is not going to cut it. Check out the thoughtful post and discussion right over here.

Santana Row December 2015-February 2016 News and Events

San Jose, CA - Santana Row ends the year on a high note with holiday celebrations that include a Holiday Open House, a benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank; and Santa Paws, a benefit for Humane Society Silicon Valley. Then get ready to count down to 2016 at your favorite Santana Row restaurants and posh Hotel Valencia. Be sure to keep early February open to join football fans for Super Bowl 50 festivities at The Row!

Sephora Now Open

Discover the latest in beauty products and gifts 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 on Santana Row Boulevard, next to Sino restaurant.

“Dear Santa…” Write a letter to Santa and get a letter back!


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.

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, Dec. 20, Niners vs. Bengals (departs at 3:30 p.m.)

Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, Niners vs. Rams (departs at 11:25 a.m.)

Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, Super Bowl 50 (departs at 1:15 p.m.)

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

Your $30 ticket, which can be purchased in the concierge office or at SantanaRow.com, 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.

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, crafts 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.

“Shop, Enjoy and Give” Holiday Open House

A Benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m. to 9 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 $40 ticket and receive $5 off the ticket. (Customers must be 21 years or older.)

Celebrate Chanukah at Santana Row

Sunday, Dec. 13, 3p.m. to 5 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 until March

Dec. 26,  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 March 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 On The Row

Thursday, December 31

Two restaurants are open for lunch and dinner on the last day of 2015 with special menus and festivities for diners who stay until midnight.

LB Steak. Opens at 11:30 a.m. with the last seating at 11 p.m. The restaurant is serving a limited regular a la carte dinner menu plus a $82 four-course prix fixe with these entrée choices:

• Pan-roasted jumbo Day Boat Scallops with wilted spinach, foie gras emulsion and frizzled leeks
• Porcini-crusted filet mignon with Yukon Gold potato and shallot cake, green beans and winter mushroom mousselin

Prix fixe menu items will also be offered on an a la carte basis and the regular lunch menu will be served. There is no Happy Hour that day and all prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. The restaurant will be festively-decorated in the spirit of the occasion and guests for the evening's last seating will receive a complimentary sparkling wine toast and party favors at midnight. For more information or reservations please call, 408.244.1180.

Left Bank Brasserie. Opens at 11:30 a.m. with the last seating at 11p.m. The restaurant is serving a limited regular a la carte dinner menu plus a $68 four-course prix fixe menu with these main course choices:

• Filet Mignon with truffle foie gras sauce, potato gratin and sautéed Bloomsdale spinach  
• Butter poached Maine lobster tail with vanilla scented Happy Boy Farms roasted sweet potato purée

The restaurant's regular lunch menu will be served and there will not be Happy Hour service that day. Prix fixe menu items will be offered on an a la carte basis and all prices exclude beverages, tax and gratuity. Decorations include balloons and streamers and guests for the evening's last seating will receive a complimentary sparkling wine toast and party favors at midnight. For more information or reservations please call, 408.984.3500

New Year’s Eve at Hotel Valencia

Thursday, 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.

Celebrate Super Bowl 50 at Santana Row!

Sunday, Feb. 7

One of the Bay Area’s most-talked about destination for food, fun and festivities

will be hosting Super Bowl events and offering shuttle service to hotel guests from select hotels and to Levi’s Stadium on game day. More details coming soon!

• Live music in the parks and plazas from Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 through Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016.
• Round-trip shuttle service from the Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott hotels in Santa Clara to Santana Row. The free shuttles will be offered Friday and Saturday (Feb. 5 and 6, 2016) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Super Bowl ticket holders can conveniently pick up their tickets in the days leading up to the Big Game. Ticketmaster will be on site at Santana Row, next to Z Gallerie.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Santana Row will have its ongoing shuttle service to Levi’s Stadium for those going to the game. Shuttles depart two hours before game time!

Rainy Day Rewards, 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.

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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.

Development Plan Around San Jose's First BART Station in Berryessa Might be Changing

The plans for one of the most important redevelopment in San Jose was developed over 10 years ago, which might as well be a century in terms of the development mindset in Silicon Valley. The San Jose Flea Market Area--which is in the immediate vicinity of the first and likely only BART station in San Jose for many years to come--is supposed to be redeveloped into 2,818 residential units and a paltry 365,622 SQFT of commercial space across 120 or so acres (4-6 story buildings). That might have been fine in 2004, but by 2017 our needs for housing, commercial, and supporting retail around mass transit are going to be quite different unless there is a major economic shift.

Going small near BART will only add to future traffic problems and reduce the effectiveness and potential of our multi-billion dollar BART extension. Currently the developers are looking to add 37,000 SQFT of ground-floor retail and an extra 95 units to the northern section of the Flea Market site. It is a tiny step in the right direction, but is far from enough. We have a golden opportunity here to go dense and add tax-generating commercial space accessible to 80% of the Bay Area's population.

As an example, please watch the video below of what is being built in Milpitas a quarter mile away from the Milpitas BART station. The Flea Market project is transit ground zero, the BART station is right there in easy walking distance. What you see in the video below is the absolute minimum we should be doing with the San Jose BART station.

Source: SVBJ


The District in Milpitas from The Registry on Vimeo.

An Emotional Game

An emotional game.  A passionate game.  A game only the most ambitious can win.

I write, of course, about the NHL, and more specifically, our Sharks.  In today’s fast paced sport with largely even teams, skill can only go so far before work ethic and desire must take over to be advantageous.

Skill certainly helps define how well a hockey player can execute in any given game, but as any ardent observer of hockey can confirm, it is the will and hunger that ultimately determines the difference between winning and losing.  In an era where there each game presents no discernible certainty of victory, it is only true desire, which in turn fuels better execution, that provides the advantage.

Many can assume that the Chicago Blackhawks or the Los Angeles Kings, the only two teams to have had multiple Stanley Cup Victories in the last six years, are the strongest teams and have the best chance of winning.  While having postseason success is indeed the mark of superior hockey playing, by skills alone, it is inconclusive to determine, on stats alone, that the current Blackhawks or Kings team are better than any other team out there.  The Blackhawks, for example, have dropped the last three games in a row.

From a standpoint of skill, the Sharks are unquestionably one of the top NHL teams in the league.  If the results of today’s hockey are dictated by skill alone, the Sharks would have no problems finishing in the very top amongst perennial playoff contenders each year.  I mean, look at Joe Thornton, arguably the best playmaker on the ice today (still!), and a combination of terrific young talent (e.g. Karlsson, Donskoi, Hertl) to complement the veteran leadership.  How about the amazing consistency of Captain Joe Pavelski?  Fans will remember, of course, that the Sharks did not qualify for the playoffs last year for the first time in over a decade.  Why is that?  What happened?

The lackluster finish should be clear to fans of the team.  As a whole, there was a lack of emotion, a lack of passion.  No aggressive net crashing.  No accurate passing or shooting.  No desire to take it to the postseason, despite having the skill to do so.

Often times, just by watching the first five to ten minutes of any Sharks game, I can predict the end result.  From a game’s onset, if I witness energetic speed, pinpoint pass and shot accuracy, and aggressiveness, the Sharks generally have a good chance of winning.  Some of the most exciting games I have witnessed the Sharks play came against the rival Anaheim Ducks last year (a team that finished high in the league standings), where their overt display of toughness and energy allowed them to win in four out of their five total contests (with their only loss coming from overtime).  Sure, the Sharks had moments of brilliance against other teams, but the body checks were not as hard, the players did not appear as fast, and the team did not seem to quickly adapt to their opponents’ changing strategy.

It is easy to see when our boys in teal decide to “turn it on,” like in such instances where one would be convinced their proficiency at scoring goals is better on the penalty kill or even strength than the power play.  The team’s proficiency is more than just executing good strategies.  It is the requirement to be hungry and aggressive.  Watch any NHL game today, and you will find that most goals come from an intense rush from one end to another, and with players cognizant of each other’s position as to increase the awareness of where a passed or rebounded puck will end up.  Remember, proper crashing of the net translates to goals, as does reading, understanding, and adapting to the opposition.

Last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning was a good example of the polarizing impact of playing with emotion.  The Sharks lost 4-3 in regulation, but at one time was at a 4-1 deficit in the third period.  Early on in the game, the Sharks were indeed not playing well, made worse by bad reads, such as missed passes to the point (i.e. the area in the back of the offensive zone where defensemen often stand) and lack of energy.  This is not to say the Sharks displayed no energy (besides, who am I to comment on the ethic of seasoned pro athletes?), but I have seen far better execution.

At the second half of the game, with the Sharks at that point down 2-0, the team started performing extremely well.  The Sharks not only maintained significant control of the puck, but managed to get off a lot of shots through to Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop as well.  Most notable was the performance of Brent Burns, likely the best example on the Sharks of playing complete, passionate hockey.  At of today, Burns is third in the league in points for defenseman, and first in goals (with ten).  During the game, Burns not only got unleashed his devastating shot (with a team leading seven), and scoring, he also set up plays for others, and at one defining moment of an offensive power play push, blocked a clearing attempt by the Lightning and kept the play moving.  This play set up the first goal of the game from a blast by Matt Tennyson.

Shooting repeatedly at the net, skating hard, and having constant awareness of one’s teammates is critical in the NHL for steering one’s team to victory.  The Sharks may have unlocked their potential late in the game, the attempted rally was too late to overcome the struggles of the first half, complemented with timely blocks and fortunate saves by the Lightning.  With a game as fast as the NHL, even dropping one’s guard for one minute can be the difference between winning and losing, especially in games where the decision is by one goal.

If the Sharks play like they did the second half of yesterday’s game, they will finish at the top of the Pacific Division.  Likewise, if they do not, the team must attempt to rely on their skill to win games; however, as I mentioned earlier on, how far can skill alone really take a team in the NHL? This year, we finally have solid leadership with the team of Joe Pavelski (C) - Joe Thornton (A) - Logan Couture (A). May they inspire the team to carry through a successful 2015-2016 season!

(Despite how the game turned out, wishing all the best for goaltender Ben Bishop, whose unprotected neck was the unfortunate recipient of Tomas Hertl’s deflected stick.  Hope for a speedy recovery!)

Downtown for Dogs

Our friend Mark from Think Bigger San Jose has an interesting article on the benefits of dogs in Downtown San Jose. He knows this firsthand as he has three of them himself. Downtown dogs have to go out several times per day to use "the facilities" and stretch their legs. This means residents have to go out more frequently as well, and in turn that means more eyes on the streets and lower chances of people doing stupid things (graffiti as an obvious example). This contributes to a safer and nicer community. It's an interesting point.

Plus dogs are great conversation starters. Who doesn't like running into a friendly pup at the San Pedro Square Market?

Check out the post right over here.

Saturday Stats: San Jose Metro is the #1 Mid-sized Region for College Students

The American Institute for Economic Research ranked San Jose as the top metro area for prospective collect students in a recent study. They defined a mid-sized metro as having a population between 1 and 2.5 million and the criteria included work opportunities, cost of rent, culture, diversity, and access to bars and restaurants.

Not surprisingly, we excelled at metrics tied to jobs, the economy, at STEM (science, technology, and math). San Jose was also first in diversity and #4 when it comes to bars and restaurants. However, our metro struggled when it came to rent costs and entertainment.

Austin came in second place followed by Pittsburgh, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City. You can access our profile right over here.

Source: SVBJ

SoFA Market Getting Traction

Now that the SoFA Market has been open for just over a year, it finally seems like it is getting the traction it deserves. 8/10 of the retail pads are now leased. The SoFA Market is currently home to Vero's Coffee, The Fountainhead Bar, On the Flipside, Konjoe Tei, Pokebowl, and Vitamina. Two places are coming soon: Milk & Wood (Gelato on a Stick) and Toasted Craft Sandwiches. It also sounds like the ninth lease will be a pizza joint. Hit the source link below for a nice article on the market's journey. Five years ago, nobody would have thought a project like this would work Downtown. Now we have both the San Pedro Square Market and the SoFA Market helping to rejuvenate their respective areas.

Source: SVBJ

Bentek Expanding San Jose Manufacturing Facilities

Bentek is a true homegrown San Jose Company that builds electrical products for a variety of industries. They were founded here in 1985 and still remain headquartered in San Jose (2350 Harris Way). They are adding 100,000 SQFT of manufacturing space at 1991 Senter Road in Central San Jose. The space will be used to build AC/DC power products for both the solar and semiconductor industries. Over the past three years alone, the company has grown from 100 to 240 employees, and they are expecting to continue growing in the near future.

Source: San Jose Economy Newsletter