The Light Between Two Towers is getting recognized

The documentary film relating the San Jose Electric Light Tower and the Eiffel Tower has received its first two awards. It was recognized as an Official Selection for both the Rome Independent Prisma Awards and the Depth of Field International Film Festival. If you haven't seen the movie yet, we highly recommend doing so. You can watch The Light Between Two Towers over here. 

Mamma Mia! @ The Stage

Donna and the Dynamos
Allison F. Rich (Tanya), Adrienne Herro (Donna), Jill Miller (Rosie)
Courtesy photograph provided by The Stage in San Jose.

As an ABBA fan, I knew that I wanted to see Mamma Mia! playing at The Stage in San Jose even if my friends may jokingly say, Here We Go Again! Upon seeing the Broadway tour production at the Center for Performing Arts and watching every movie of its franchise, I know that The Stage would give its own take allowing every audience member to love its song and story.

The set of Mamma Mia! at The Stage in San Jose.
Photograph taken and with permission by John Huân Vu.

Sitting on the last row—also known as row 5—at The Stage, the simple stage was elegant on "an island sparkling in the iridescent blue of the Aegean in 1999." I was surrounded people from all ages from an elementary school daughter to two seniors going on their lovely date on a Sunday afternoon.

As the Overture starts, the five band orchestra is found playing at the center back part of the stage led by The Stage former cast member and now conductor, Martín Rojas Dietrich. Despite the small theater, the orchestra was able to deliver all the songs allowing an ABBA fan to feel the music resonating in their hearts.

Although I came in with high expectations, what really hit the musical out of the park were the three cast members that made Donna and the Dynamos (Donna, Tanya, and Rosie) including their delivery of the infamous song, "Dancing Queen."

Allison F. Rich, musical director and cast member, continues to deliver a solid performance as Tanya including her seductive flirtation with Pepper, played by Michael J. Wu, in "Does Your Mother Know." Jill Miller, who played Rosie, performed a great duet with Jeffrey Brian Adams, who played Bill, in "Take a Chance on Me" with a nod to some future BDSM.

Donna, played by Adrienne Herro
Courtesy photograph provided by The Stage in San Jose

Nevertheless, to round out the trio was a spectacular performance by Adrienne Herro who played Donna. From the first scene to the last, Adrienee Herro evoked Donna's character as a mother who is not only confused and frustrated but also loving and fun. The audience can relate to Adrienee Herro when she delivered her anguish in "The Winner Takes it All" for feeling cheated by Sam, played by Noel Anthony, to her elation in "Super Trouper." Personally, I can envision Adrienee Herro playing the character Diana in one of my personal favorite musicals, Next to Normal. She was a great actress!

I want to give a callout to the crew under Bethany Deal, Costume Designer, and Ge Jia, Costume Design Assistant, for creating the amazing costumes worn by Donna and the Dynamos along with the fathers (Harry, Bill, and Sam). Instead of doing the same costume style but with different colors, they used the same fabric and silver color but using different styles to represent each of the respective personalities. See the photograph of Donna and the Dynamos to understand why I loved their costumes. Heck, I'd love to buy any of the ones worn by the fathers!

Unfortunately, one of the things that made me really cringe throughout the show was when the ensemble and cast members were wearing masquerade masks. Although I could understand the significance to blend into the background, there are alternative ways such as the use of lighting, similar colored costumes, or maybe not even having them wear masquerade masks at all.

Despite my cringe, I was proud of the men who were willing to wear adorable flippers and go shirtless in "Lay All Your Love On Me" with Sky, played by Sam Saustine, and the boys, played by Michael J. Wu, Sean Okuniewicz, Vinh G. Nguyen, and James Zongus. Along with the girls played by Allison J. Parker, Brigitte Losey, Sarah Bylsma, Monica Moe, Brittney Monroe, and Tracey Shaw, the audience were engaged throughout the storyline including after the bows with some audience members standing (and dancing) to their final song!

It was a fun show and you can catch a performance playing from Wednesdays to Sundays now until July 7, 2019. You can purchase tickets online at The Stage website at www.thestage.org or at their box office at 490 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, (408) 283-7141. Discount tickets are available for students and seniors. As a word of caution, this show may not be appropriate for everyone and discretion is strongly advised due to the some language, a lot of sexual innuendos, and taboo humor. I personally had some good laughs and I believe you will also too!

Written by John Huân Vu.

Apple is building a flagship two-story store in San Jose

San Jose is finally getting an Apple store worthy of being in Silicon Valley! As part of Westfield's $1.1 billion expansion, Apple will move to a two-story location facing the new Santana Row-style outdoor dining district. In the image below I marked where I think it could go. Based on the description it could be anywhere on the walkway closest to Stevens Creek Boulevard and it will feature both indoor and outdoor areas.

Westfield is calling this out as an "anchor" tenant for their expansion which will have over 150 new retail stores, multiple new restaurants, and a Bloomingdale's department store. Apple tends to pull out all the stops for their flagship locations and I can't see what they come up with for San Jose.

Source: SVBJ

San Jose holds 3rd place in US solar rankings

We just hit the highest level of atmospheric carbon dioxide in 3 million years. Fortunately, some cities are doing their part to reduce CO2 as much as possible. San Jose has the highest per-capita electric vehicle adoption of any major city in the United States and now we are 3rd when it comes to per capita solar adoption.

Only sunny San Diego and Honolulu (where electricity rates are insane) are ranked higher than San Jose. San Francisco came in 20th place.

As the prices of solar systems drop and electricity becomes more expensive, hopefully adoption of clean energy will continue to rise.

Source: SJ Economy Blog

Symphony Silicon Valley presents Beethoven’s Ninth with Tatsuya Shimono conducting. Season Closing Performance!

WHO: Symphony Silicon Valley presents

WHAT: Beethoven’s Ninth

WHEN: Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 8:00pm

Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 2:30pm

WHERE: The California Theatre, 345 South First Street in downtown San Jose, 95113.

Easy, inexpensive parking is just one block away at San Jose City Garage on San Carlos Street with entrances on 2nd and 3rd Streets.

WHY: Beethoven's Ninth is the unquestioned champion of the concert hall, a work that sums up the Classical age, looks forward to what would follow, and has come to represent courage, hope, and triumph around the world. Every December, innumerable Ninths are performed throughout Maestro Shimono's homeland to mark the turn of the year. SSV last played it to packed houses for the Symphony's 10th anniversary, This June it will be introduced by one of Dvořák's most joyful short works, festive and deeply felt.

PRICES: $50 - $94  

BOX OFFICE: 408.286.2600 or www.symphonysiliconvalley.org

Or visit the Box Office between 10am and 5pm, Monday through Friday at 325 South First Street in downtown San Jose, between San Carlos and San Salvador Streets just one-half block from the California Theatre. 

PROGRAM:

Antonín Dvořák: Te Deum, Op.103

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

Conductor: Tatsuya Shimono

Soloist(s): Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale

About Tatsuya Shimono

Born in Kagoshima in 1969, Tatsuya Shimono cemented his international reputation as a conductor by winning First Prize at the 47th Besançon International Competition in 2001. Since then he has guest conducted major orchestras in Japan and abroad. He received great acclaim for his debuts in subscription concerts with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009, and then in March 2010, made his debut with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.

More: http://www.symphonysiliconvalley.org/musicians.php?pagecontID=66&MusID=234

About Symphony Silicon Valley

The Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale, directed by Maestra Elena Sharkova, has become known for its eclectic mix of vibrant programs. It most often performs at the California Theatre, where it accompanies the Symphony in performing major works. The Chorale also performs pieces from the classical and popular repertoire on its own and with guest soloists. Each December the Chorale presents a holiday concert, Carols in the California, that combines traditional and unusual holiday music with a refreshing major work and audience participation.

More: http://www.symphonysiliconvalley.org/musicians.php?pagecontID=66&MusID=88

Photo courtesy of Symphony Silicon Valley

About Symphony Silicon Valley:  Founded in 2002, Symphony Silicon Valley has progressed from daring idea to exciting reality, rapidly becoming the greater South Bay's premiere orchestra and a notable community success story. 

As the Mercury News wrote:

Symphony Silicon Valley began as a phoenix orchestra, rising from the ashes of the old San Jose Symphony.  But ...the "new" orchestra…is becoming a fixture on the scene, with its own way of doing things.  One night it may play Ellington, the next Mozart…carving out its own identity with numerous guest conductors, some unique repertory and a celebrated new home at the California.

The Symphony's artists, nationally recruited, locally resident, with an average performance tenure in San Jose of over 20 years, are recognized as among the best in the greater Bay Area.  Led by an exciting roster of distinguished guest conductors on the European model, the Symphony is an anchor tenant of San Jose's magnificently restored downtown California Theatre, one of Northern California's most outstanding music halls.  There, audiences and critics alike greet its concerts with enthusiasm.

Symphony Silicon Valley is setting an example of an innovative business model in the arts -- market driven and financially conservative, with low overhead and the flexibility to match its programming to its support base.  It earns 60% of its revenue each year – an extraordinarily high proportion for a symphony of its size.

Downtown San Jose Safeway to close

Unfortunately, The Safeway market in Downtown San Jose will close by June 14th. This was one of the first "Market" concepts that Safeway built and is the most central grocery store in Downtown San Jose. Grocery Outlet, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods are all in the periphery of Downtown San Jose and are difficult to walk to.

One of the key reasons appears to be a situation with free parking. The parking structure beneath The 88 was owned by the former Redevelopment Agency and the city offered free 2 hour parking for Safeway patrons. Once the lot was sold per legal requirements of the now defunct agency, the city was no longer able to offer free parking and it put the Safeway at a significant disadvantage.

If you dig a little deeper, I don't think the real reason is parking but that there are still not enough people living in Downtown San Jose. Many towers are under construction and once they are built hopefully we will be able to support a Safeway-sized market with or without free parking.

It will be interesting to see how long the space takes to get leased and what will replace the Safeway. It could be an opportunity for something even better, we'll see.

Source: SVBJ

Santana Row is welcoming Vince, Brandy Melville, TravisMathew, Sauced BBQ & Spirits, and Cosecha

Santana Row has just announced five new retail and restaurant offerings. They continue to attract unique stores that are not easy to find and in some cases are the first location in Silicon Valley.

Retail 

Vince is a luxury brand offering shoes, handbags, and home items. The 2,378 SQFT shop will be next to the newly expanded Lululemon store. The only other Bay Area stores are in Palo Alto and San Francisco.

Brandy Melville is a tendy women's apperel line from Italy. The 3,122 SQFT store will open in the summer.

TravisMathew is a lifestyle apparel company for men. The 1,911 SQFT store has a ping pong table and classic arcades (!!!), so it will likely be my new favorite Santana Row spot. This will be the very first location in Northern California.

Restaurants

Sauced BBQ & Spirits is a new Southern-inspired restaurant featuring BBQ and numerous beer, wine, and whiskey options. It will open in the parkside location next to Maggiano's this fall.

Cosecha is a revamped version of Consuelo's with the same ownership and an 800 SQFT expansion. They will offer modern Mexican dishes with local ingredients.

It has been announced before, but is worth mentioning again that Blue Bottle Coffee is opening soon in the former Pinkberry location in the middle of the park and Meso Modern Mediterranean will be the new restaurant in Santana Row's new capstone building next to CineArts movie theater.

For the full press release, see below.

Santana Row Continues to Draw Cutting-Edge Eateries and Stylish Shops

San Jose’s most popular neighborhood welcomes Vince, Brandy Melville, TravisMathew, Sauced BBQ & Spirits & Cosecha to its vibrant merchant roster

SAN JOSE, Calif.—May 14, 2019—Santana Row continues to attract top brands & eateries, making it the most sought-after dining and shopping scene in the Bay Area.  As Santana Row prepares to welcome Splunk in the newly developed 700 Santana Row office campus, a new generation of retail and restaurants are opening to meet the standards of Silicon Valley tastemakers.

Santana Row today announced the signing of Vince, Brandy Melville, TravisMathew and Sauced BBQ & Spirits; plus a renovation and expansion of Cosecha, formerly Consuelo’s at Santana Row. Brandy Melville, Vince and TravisMathew will offer on-trend clothing and accessories, while BBQ darling Sauced, and the under-construction eatery Cosecha will offer foodies two new vibrant restaurants; adding to the already incredibly dynamic dining scene.

Luxury retail brand Vince will bring California-inspired, everyday essentials to Santana Row in summer 2019. Vince encompasses a modern, timeless aesthetic and effortless sophistication, best known for creating elevated yet understated pieces for every day. Known for its range of luxury goods, Vince offers women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, and home fit for a global lifestyle. The collections are inspired by the brand’s California origins and embody a feeling of effortless style. Vince will debut in a 2,378 sf shop located next to the newly expanded lululemon.

Popular boutique Brandy Melville, the women’s apparel line from Italy known for its trend-setting styles with a beachy, comfortable vibe will open a 3,112-square-foot space in summer of 2019 at Santana Row. This Instagram favorite has a cult following known for its rich fabrics, fine quality and excellent prices.

Additionally, premier men’s apparel brand TravisMathew, known for leading the way in quality and lifestyle apparel with styles for both work and play, will open its first Northern California store at Santana Row.  You can find classic arcade style gaming consoles and ping pong tables in the 1,911 sf space. With a casual SoCal vibe and clothing that effortlessly transitions from the course to daily life, TravisMathew has established itself as a leading innovative brand in the sportswear world. The Santana Row location will carry their exclusive California capsule product and will open in fall 2019.

In addition to Vince, Brandy Melville and TravisMathew; Sauced BBQ & Spirits will be making its debut this year, moving into the parkside location next door to the popular Maggiano’s Little Italy. Sauced is a Southern-inspired restaurant concept influenced by modern flavor and design, founded by two cousins with a passion to bring authentic, Southern BBQ to Northern California. Besides featuring multiple Southern styles of barbecue, the restaurant touts numerous beer, wine and whiskey options. You can expect outdoor patio seating at this new, hip foodie experience opening in fall 2019.

In addition to the best-in-class operators vying for space in Santana Row, existing merchants are flourishing with opportunity to evolve and progress in response to consumer demands. Mexican bistro Consuelo’s is undergoing a major revamp and 800-square-foot expansion, re-opening as Cosecha under the same ownership. Cosecha will offer modern-inspired Mexican cuisine sourced with local ingredients in its diverse menu of wood grill plates, traditional fare and beyond. The announcement of these new restaurant openings and renovations comes on the heel of Barry’s Bootcamp, Meso Modern Mediterranean and Blue Bottle Coffee lease signings at Santana Row.

"Being on the cutting edge of mixed-use trends is in our DNA at Santana Row. We are ever-evolving and looking for ways to make room for the best-in-class brands that our customers are talking about, purchasing from and following. It is important to our strategic vision to recapture core retail spaces when sales dip and our consumers shift focus. Our connectivity to our on-site community and the 13 million annual visitors allows us a unique vantage point that separates us from big box malls and gets our customers offline and into our businesses” said Jeff Kreshek, Senior Vice President West Coast Leasing at Federal Realty Investment Trust.

With 834 homes, 50 shops, 30 restaurants, a CinéArts movie theatre, the boutique Hotel Valencia and added new developments like 700 Santana Row, Santana Row continues to evolve and thrive since its opening in 2002.

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 98 properties include over 2,800 tenants, in approximately 23 million square feet, and over 1,800 residential units. 

Federal Realty has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in 1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 49 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.

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San Jose ranked 2nd best small business growth city

For the 2nd year in a row, San Jose was ranked as the 2nd best metro for small businesses in the US.  The analysis was based on the financials of almost 30,000 companies. San Jose also had the highest average credit score of any city.

Miami took the crown for being the #1 growth city for small business, while San Francisco came in 3rd place. Below is the full list.

Top 25 Cities for Small Business 2019

1. Miami (No. 3)
2. San Jose, CA (No. 2)
3. San Francisco (No. 4)
4. New York (No. 1)
5. San Diego (No. 9)
6. Los Angeles (No. 5)
7. Boston (unranked)
8. Sacramento, CA (No. 10)
9. Baltimore (No. 16)
10. Washington, DC (No. 7)
11. Philadelphia (No. 22)
12. Chicago (No. 12)
13. Seattle (No. 14)
14. Riverside, CA (No. 6)
15. Minneapolis (unranked)
16. Phoenix (No. 11)
17. Las Vegas (No. 18)
18. Charlotte, NC (No. 24)
19. Nashville, TN (unranked)
20. Raleigh, NC (unranked)
21. Detroit (No. 20)
22. Oklahoma City (unranked)
23. Houston (No. 21)
24. Cleveland (unranked)
25. Pittsburgh (unranked)

Source: SJ Economy Blog