First renders of a bright residential tower for SJSU students

Last week Nathan Donato-Weinstein wrote an article about "The Graduate @ SoFA," a new 19-story tower that is being proposed where The Tech Shop and McDonalds used to be in Downtown San Jose (area bound by San Carlos, Third Street, and Second street). The new renderings look quite impressive for the area--I love the bright yellow accents that remind me of a highlighter. We may have some very spoiled SJSU students in a few years.

The L-shaped building has 260 units, with most having four bedrooms. Over 1,000 students could be housed in the tower. There is an amenity deck with a swimming pool on the fourth flour and 10,000 SQFT of retail on the ground floor. There are intentionally very few balconies as a "safety feature" (university students can party pretty hard).

A side benefit to SoFA is that it moves students closer to the Downtown core and places them a block away from South First Street. This will help increase activity and vibrancy in the area.

Rents will go for around $1,000/mo for a room, a bargain in Silicon Valley. While the project is targeted to SJSU students, I don't think there is anything legally preventing non-students from moving in. There is still no ETA on when the building could break ground--the developers are still working on design and entitlements.

Source: SVBJ

The Fourth Annual Cafe Stritch RAHSAANATHON: A celebration of the life and music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk

If you enjoy Jazz music, Cafe Stritch has a multitude of events coming up next week as part of their fourth annual RAHSAANATHON. The events honor the life and music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. For all of the details, please check out the press release below.

San Jose, CA – San Jose’s Cafe Stritch is proud to present its Fourth Annual RAHSAANATHON: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk from Wednesday August 3 through Sunday August 7, 2016

Dorthaan Kirk will be present for all festivities. The RAHSAANATHON’S main event is unique in the entire world. Rahsaan fanatics from around the country will converge on Cafe Stritch for their annual pilgrimage.

For three nights trombonist Steve Turre & The Eulipion All Stars featuring reedman extraordinaire James Carter (tenor sax / clarinet / flute) will create magic at Cafe Stritch. This ensemble will be reprising their three-night stands in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The group will be performing Turre’s arrangements of Kirk’s music Thursday August 4, Friday August 5, and Saturday August 6.  Poet Betty Neals, who co-wrote “Theme for the Eulipions” (the house anthem of Cafe Stritch) with Kirk, will perform the song live. The band includes Charles McNeal (alto sax / soprano sax), Matt Clark (piano), Marcus Shelby (bass), Darrell Green (drums), and Terrie Odabi (vocals). The concerts are from 8:30PM to midnight.

Tickets: $50 available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com

The week’s festivities begin on Wednesday August 3. Cafe Stritch, in partnership with San Jose Jazz (SJZ), will screen Adam Kahan’s feature documentary film The Case of the Three Sided Dream at Camera 3 Theater (located one block from Cafe Stritch at 288 South Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113) at 7:00PM. The Case of the Three Sided Dream is the award-winning documentary about multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935-1977), who went from blind infant to child prodigy, to adult visionary, to political activist, and finally to paralyzed showman. A seemingly superhuman musical force who played literally until the day he died.  Kirk was a musical force beyond category.  He never let anything stop him from pursuing what he called "The Religion of Dreams”.

Following the film, there will be a question and answer session at Camera 3 with Adam Kahan, the movie’s director. This will be followed by a reception and panel discussion at Cafe Stritch at 9:00PM. Adam Kahan will be the moderator of a panel discussion including Dorthaan Kirk, Betty Neals, Steve Turre, and Sonelius Smith. As part of Cafe Stritch’s weekly all vinyl DJ Night (Wax Wednesday), Cafe Stritch’s Artistic Director Maxwell Borkenhagen will be playing a Rahsaan-themed set including Rahsaan classics and selections by related artists (no cover).

Tickets: $10 for movie tickets only / $20 for movie ticket and reception at Cafe Stritch including hors d’ oeuvres and one alcoholic beverage. Tickets are available at http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/camera/advance?i=18314

On Sunday August 7 Cafe Stritch will host a birthday celebration for Rahsaan. August 7, 2016 would be Rahsaan’s 81st Birthday.  The evening will include New York based Rahsaan biographer and multi-instrumentalist John Kruth performing Rahsaan-related readings and songs. The evening’s main event is The Sonelius Smith Quartet featuring Claire Daly. The group includes Sonelius Smith (piano), Claire Daly (baritone sax / flute), Howard Wiley (drums), and John Shifflett (bass).  Smith played with Rahsaan on multiple recordings including Rahsaan Rahsaan (1970), Natural Black Inventions (1971), and Blacknuss (1972).  This is a musical homage to Rahsaan Roland Kirk in voice and music featuring tunes by RRK, his friends, and other kindred spirits. The concert will be celebrating Rahsaan, one of the most original jazz artists ever to live. The concert is from 7:00PM to 11:00PM.

Tickets: $15 available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com

Cafe Stritch will be presenting the photographs of house photographer Ron Orlando from August 3 through August 31.  Mr. Orlando is a photographer who is passionate about photography and jazz.  He has been taking photos of jazz musicians since the 1980s. This exhibit is entitled Jazz Exploration. It is composed of photographs of jazz musicians taken at Cafe Stritch since 2014.

Press from past RAHSAANATHONS:
http://jazztimes.com/articles/166119-review-the-26th-annual-san-jose-jazz-summer-fest
http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_26260902/cafe-stritch-catches-jazz-lightning-bottle
http://www.metroactive.com/features/columns/Rahsaanathon-Cafe-Stritch-Rahsaan-Roland-Kirk.html

Other Information:
http://www.cafestritch.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cafestritch
Tickets for all concerts are available at www.brownpapertickets.com

Cafe Stritch is located at 374 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113  (408) 280-6161

SJC upgrading its "International Terminal"

Yes, I realize this is a second post about SJC this week. The airport is on a roll with adding new flights, especially international flights that bring millions of tax dollars, convenience, and recognition to our city. San Jose went from having two international routes a few years ago to eight (Guadalajara, Cabo San Lucas, Tokyo, Beijing, London, Frankfurt, Vancouver, and Shanghai). The airport is doing so well, it's time to expand the international facilities.

Despite flying out of SJC 100 times, I didn't get to got to fly internationally out of San Jose until a few weeks ago. My wife an I took a vacation to Barcelona and got to utilize the direct flight on British Airways from San Jose to London. It was an exceptional experience, far better than flying internationally through SFO or Oakland. On the way back, I finally got to go through San Jose's customs facility. I have gone through customs/immigration dozens of times, and have never had a better experience than San Jose. Even though we were sitting in economy, we were able to go from the plane, through customs/passport control, get suitcases, and be outside waiting for our ride within 15 minutes (!). If you fly a lot, you know this is pretty much impossible... not in San Jose.

The "International Terminal" is somewhere between Terminal A and Terminal B. On a return flight after going through customs, it spits you out in a place I never even knew existed in the airport that feels like it's from the 80s. This is the area currently being upgraded. The 5,600 SQFT project includes a second baggage carousel, an indoor waiting area for family and friends to welcome your arrival, a snack area, comfortable seating, and new restrooms.

The project will cost a total of $8.2 million (coming from unspent bond proceeds) and should be completed Spring 2017.

Source: ETN Global Travel Industry News

Downtown San Jose's One South tower finally gets a tenant

After a whole year, one of the most central and well-trafficked corners in Downtown San Jose has been leased. One South is a high-end apartment tower bound by Santa Clara Street, Market Street, and San Pedro Street. Sadly, its three retail units have sat empty despite residents fillings up the 312 units upstairs. Now, a gourmet coffee shot with some food options is going to nab that prime 1,730 SQFT corner space at the intersection of Santa Clara Street and Market Street.

The tenant is Proper Cup, and they'll fit right in with the other high-end, non-chain coffee shop proliferating Downtown. Their focus will be on artisanal coffees and teas with great customer service. Proper Cup will also be offering sandwiches and soups.

If you happen to be one of the lucky residents of One South, you're about to get one more reason to love where you live. Proper Cup is going to offer room service to residents so they can order coffee and have it delivered without having to go all the way down the elevator.

Construction of the coffee shop will begin at the end of September with a goal to be open in November. One down, two more to go. The remaining retail units are 3,201 SQFT (corner space) and 1,603 SQFT.

Source: SVBJ

San Jose street art map

Brian Eder created a handy map showing you were to find murals and significant street art installations throughout San Jose. Now that everyone is walking around collecting imaginary pets, you might as well incorporate some of these murals into your walks. Many of these works are very impressive and and several were painted just in the last two years.

Source: “Find Beauty in the Streets of San Jose this Summer” by Cherri Lakey KQED Arts

Mural by Ian S. Young (Photo by Cherri Lakey)

Mural by Jeffrey Hemming (Photo by Brian Eder)

Mural by Galen Oback (Photo by Cherri Lakey)

Mural by Jamie Friedman & Notre Dame H.S. (Photo by Brian Eder)

Mural by LAuruS Myth (Photo by Cherri Lakey)

Street print design by Scape Martinez (Photo by Cherri Lakey)

Mural by Nosego (Photo by Cherri Lakey)

SJC gets nonstop service to New York metro

Finally, after all the amazing international additions at San Jose International Airport we are landing some new domestic routes. The most requested domestic route at SJC is between San Jose and New York. Currently we only have a red-eye flight (an overnight flight) to New York on JetBlue, and it's not even a daily flight. Now Alaska Airlines is stepping up to the plate and launching San Jose's first nonstop service to the New York area in quite some time.

The new flight will begin March 12, 2017 and uses a Boeing 737. It will depart seven days a week at 6:30am and arrive at Newark at 2:55pm. The return flight will depart Newark at 4:05pm, arriving back in San Jose at 7:40pm. Tickets will be available for purchase starting July 25th. The flight will be very convenient for both business and leisure travelers. I'll take an early flight over a red-eye any day of the week.

Alaska is also adding service from SJC to Burbank starting on March 17, 2017. Thank you Alaska Airlines for investing in San Jose!

UPDATE: Removed "first ever" based on comments below that American and Continental previously had nonstop service to New York.

Source: SVBJ

Playful People Productions Presents: Disney Jungle Book KIDS

Our tale begins deep in the heart of the Jungle. A baby boy, lost and abandoned, is raised by wolves. He is called “Mowgli”. On the run from Shere Khan, a ferocious tiger who has banished him from the jungle, a human boy named Mowgli is aided by an agile panther named Bagheera. Along the way, the two meet a sinister snake named Kaa, a herd of elephants, and a giant bear named Baloo, who teaches them the swingin’ musical rhythms of the jungle. After surviving a dangerous encounter with a band of monkeys led by King Louie, Mowgli and Bagheera are forced to run for their lives. Shere Khan returns, leading our protagonists to rally their follow jungle creatures into battle and restore peace to the jungle.

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 Theater, 1635 Park Ave  San Jose, CA 95126

Show Times:
Friday, August 5th - 7:00pm
Saturday, August 6th - 11:00am, 3:00pm and 7:00pm

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 3-103

Saturday Stats: San Jose is the 2nd healthiest region in the US

Great news, we just ranked as the second most "healthy" metro in the country. The study looked at two dozen measures of health factors and health outcomes (such as average lifespan).

San Jose has a very low premature death rate at 0.2%, an adult obesity rate of only 19.6%, and only 7.1% adults do not have health insurance. Only 9.1% of San Joseans smoke, the fourth smallest share of any US city. The best part is we ranked highest on the metric that is most important, life expectancy. Our average lifespan is comes in at an impressive 82.7 years.

Source: 24/7 Wall St., Thanks to Barclay Livker for sending this in!