Google's vision for Diridon takes shape

We are getting closer and closer to the most significant mixed use project in Downtown San Jose history. Last month, the Station Area Advisory Group (SAAG) provided the first public viewing for the initial Diridon Station plan. The key principles for the project are locating jobs and housing near transit, connecting people to nature, creating partnerships, and making sure the San Jose brand is represented.

The numbers being thrown around for this project are surreal. 5.5 million SQFT of new office space followed by another million SQFT on the San Jose Water building site, 3,000-5,000 new housing units, 500,000 SQFT of retail/arts/hotel space, and 15 acres of green spaces.

It will take many years if not decades for this to all come together, but the direction is both promising and exciting.

Source: SJ Economy Blog

SJC is getting a new international flight in 2020

New gates, passenger records, and now we are getting our international flight roster back on track. San Jose International is on a roll!

Air Canada is adding SJC's 10th international route on May 4th, 2020. Nonstop service to Toronto will be provided in an Airbus A220-300 with 137 seats. 12 of those are business class and the rest are economy in a comfortable 3+2 seat layout (fewer middle seats!).

Each day the flight will leave Toronto at 8:55am and arrive in San Jose at 11:28am. The return flight leaves SJC at 12:15pm and arrives in Toronto at 8:10pm.

Below is our full list of international flights. Unfortunately the Shanghai and Frankfurt routes have been cancelled. Toronto is likely to be a successful route given it was the 12th most requested by business travelers.

• Asia
• Tokyo
• Beijing
• Europe
• London
• North America
• Vancouver
• Toronto
• Guadalajara (served by two different airlines)
• Cabo San Lucas
• Morelia
• Zacatecas
• Leon

As an added bonus, Southwest is doubling their nonstop Hawaii destinations by adding flights to Kauai and the Big Island this January. The Kauai flight will run Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting January 19th, 2020 while the Kona flight runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays starting January 21st 2020.

Sources: SVBJ, SVBJ (2)

SoFA Street Fair this Sunday 2-9pm

You can rock out while lounging on a sofa this weekend at the 10th SoFA Street Fair. We're talking 80 performers across 15 stages spread across three city blocks. Admission is free and the answers to all your questions are below. Help spread the word over here!

*SoFA Street Fair - Fall Edition 2019

*Sunday, 9/29/19, from 2-9pm 

*4 outdoor stages and 11 indoor venues throughout the SoFA District of Downtown San Jose (South First Street between San Carlos St and Reed St). 

Downtown San Jose’s premiere live music showcase - The SoFA Street Fair - returns Sunday, September 29th, with over 80 bands/DJ’s/performers on 15 stages, over 7 hours, within 3 City blocks of San Jose’s arts and entertainment hub known as the SoFA District. 

This 10th edition of the SoFA Street Fair remains free, all ages and introduces some exciting new elements that include: 

- The Dub Rock Records outdoor Reggae Beach stage, featuring some of the best Bay Area Reggae-fusion bands, plus fun “sandy beach” elements ;

- The Women Powered XX Stage tucked inside the comfy, sofa-filled 455 South First Street warehouse space, featuring some of the areas most popular female-fronted bands (such as SOCORRA; SWEET HAYAH; STEELY NASH and CHLOE ZELMA from Zelma Stone Band), plus a special Comedy & Music set by RACHEL WARNER. 

- THE FRANCIS EXPERIENCE music/spoken word collective curated inside at The Haberdasher Speakeasy Stage;

- The Streetlight Records “SoFA Swap” marketplace inside Forager Tasting Room & Eatery - which also doubles as a stage with one of the festival’s most eclectic line ups - ranging from blues/soul; to indie punk and alt rockers, to folk/Americana and French cabaret duos... and culminating in arias and duets by FIRST STREET OPERA. 

Band announcements are being shared daily on social media platforms @sofastreetfair #sofastreetfair and the full downloadable schedule will be linked from this Facebook Event several days before the event: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/2461426314127167/?ti=icl

A few more teasers include  ...

* The Parque de Los Pobladores Main Stage headliner is third wave ska band MONKEY - San Jose natives who have toured internationally and enjoyed success for 24 years and counting.  (@monkeyskaband)

* The Reggae Beach outdoor stage headliner is KRUEL SUMMER, a Reggae/hip hop/indie fusion San Jose band that boasts former members of the Billboard and iTunes chart-topping reggae band The Holdup. (@kruelsummermusic)

* The liveandlocalsj.com outdoor stage continues to rotate different local talent from diverse genres each year, welcoming for the first time.... indie/soul Americana rockers DOGCATCHER; punk/pop power trio PARK MOUR; the R&B/Hip Hop fusion of Dox Black & The Aquanets; the Nu-jazz/hip hop of FRANCIS EXPERIENCE TRIO, Garage style rock’n’rollers CASUAL VIBES; and Old Timey jazz outfit RETRO NOTES.

With over 80 artists, almost any genre of music and entertainment can be enjoyed every half hour - and 10 out of the 15 venues/stages are all ages.

You can also enjoy signature San Jose features such as:  Mighty Mike McGee’s variety show, sofas in the street, live wrestling, arts and crafts vendors, local craft beers and wine, special Sunday hours to nosh at your favorite SoFA District restaurants/cafes - plus a variety of gourmet food trucks.  

Inspirational video for a new San Jose Landmark

Why should the capital of innovation continue to be deprived of a world-class landmark? Urban Confluence is working to fix this problem with a global competition to design a modern version of the San Jose Light Tower next to the SAP Center. The submission deadline has been extended to January 15th, 2020 and you can learn more over here.

In the meantime, Urban Confluence has provide an inspirational video (below). I can't wait to see the winning designs!

Planned Developments along Stevens Creek Blvd.

CTA25 from the San Jose Development Forum created a nice map of all the development projects that are in progress along Stevens Creek and West San Carlos. This goes to show that the development boom is extending well outside of Downtown San Jose. Now all we need is a hyperloop or some other form of mass transit running along this corridor.

Click on the image below for the full resolution.

Hotel Valencia's Oktoberfest

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Hotel Valencia’s Oveja Negra Restaurant on Thursday, 9/26/19 from 5:30pm – 9pm.

Cost is $40 per person and must be 21+ to attend. Oveja Negra will serve up tapas, a build your own Bratwurst station (yum!) and beer tastings from Santa Clara Valley Brewing, Hapa’s Brewing Company, Camino Brewing, Clandestine Brewing & Original Pattern Brewing Company.

Reserve your tix by visiting Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unruly-oktoberfest-at-hotel-valencia-2019-tickets-68870005039

Prost!!!

Brews+Bites this Saturday!

New Brews + Bites event celebrates growing local beer and food cultures - event Sept. 14 in Circle of Palms, downtown San Jose

SAN JOSE – Brews + Bites allows participants to eat and drink their way around Circle of Palms, testing and tasting craft beers and gourmet foods produced by local businesses, on Sept. 14.

“We’re highlighting our emergence of locally crafted beers and downtown’s longstanding diversity of food options,” said Caitlin Hartley, SJDA events and promotions manager.

Brews:  Altamont Beer Works, Camino Brewing, Good Karma, Gordon Biersch Brewing Co., Hermitage Brewin Co., Off the Rails Brewing, Sonoma Springs Brewing Co., Strike Brewing Co., Wildcide Cider, Umunhum Brewing, Uproar Brewing,

Bites by:  Farmers’ Union, Fast Foodie, Habana Cuba, Hawaiian Poke Bowl, Jackie’s Place, Konjoe, Lee’s, Olla Cocina, Umi Hand Roll, Sushi Confidential.

Bites 

The Farmers Union - San Pedro Square

Pork and ricotta meatball in marinara sauce with garlic bread

Fast Foodie Truck 

Currywurst spiced sausage, purple kraut and sweet mustard on a soft bun

Habana Cuba - SoFA District

Beef empanadas

Hapa Musubi - Paseo de San Antonio

Spam musubi spam soaked in hapa sauce with sushi rice wrapped in seaweed 

Hawaiian Poke Bowl - SoFA District

Shrimp ceviche

Jackie’s Place - Japantown

Chicken and waffle slider

Konjoe Burger Bar - San Pedro Square

To be determined

Lee’s Sandwiches - San Jose

Famous Vietnamese iced coffee

Olla Cocina - San Pedro Square

Taco

Sushi Confidential - San Pedro Square

Cabo conspiracy roll with spicy crab, avocado, habanero tobiko, jalapeno, and tempura crunch

Umi Hand Roll Bar - SoFA District

Mini salmon skin handroll and garlic truffle edamame 

Two rounds of admissions should help keep taste buds and suds flowing:

·       The VIP session for $50 allows patrons access at 1 p.m., an hour earlier than everyone else.

·       General admission begins at 2 p.m.

Each combination ticket entitles its holder to a commemorative 5-ounce mug, five beer tastings and five food tastings.

Beer-only tickets for five tastings are $25 and a package of food-only tastings are $20.  Additional tickets are available for brews at 1 for $5 or 5 for $20 and bites at $3 for $10.

The event ends at 6 p.m.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brews-bites-tickets-69333070079 and at http://brewsandbitessj.com.

San Jose Light Tower Blueprint

A historically accurate blueprint of the San Jose Light Tower is now available as a poster. This was commissioned to demonstrate the technical features of the tower for the documentary film "Light Between Two Towers."

The poster is available in a variety of sizes and is a great way the show off your San Jose historical cred. You can order it over here.