Downtown San Jose is getting a new film festival

3-Below--Downtown San Jose's only remaining movie theater--is hosting a brand new event featuring the works of aspiring filmmakers. The short film festival is called "Screen!" and the films will be shown on May 5th, 13th, and 20th. 100% of the ticket sales are going directly to the filmmakers. On June 3rd, they will announce the audience choice winners and award prizes.

This is partially funded by the City of San Jose Parks Department Abierto program and the SJDA. Tickets will be available closer to the event dates at the 3Below website over here.

March 2022 Downtown Dimension Highlights

The March 2022 Downtown Dimension is now available for download.
 
This month's newsletter highlights:  

• As winter turns to spring, signs of hope and optimism bloom in downtown San Jose.
• SJDA's February meeting was rich with PBID Renewal information.  Here are 10 things good for property owners, businesses and residents to know from that meeting.
• Angelina Lopez shares her path to Groundwerx and her Employee of the Month honor.  
• Meet Lauren Nuttall, SJDA's Events and Promotions Coordinator.
• The Carlysle by Acquity Realty is the latest in a long line of developments receiving fee waivers.
• More signs of progress -- new retail, fitness and service businesses.

South FIRST FRIDAYS Tonight

South FIRST FRIDAYS is back this week! Galleries (both permanent and temporary) will be open from 5-9pm, rain or shine. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

Participating venues include the Institute of Contemporary Art (with an awesome new façade), KALEID Gallery, ANNO DOMINI, Works San Jose, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, the SoFA Market, MACLA, Art Ark Gallery, and MACHU PICCHU.

February 2022 Downtown Dimension Highlights

The February 2022 Downtown Dimension is now available for download.
 
This month's newsletter highlights:  

• Property owners sign petition to renew PBID / Groundwerx services
• CreaTV leads Second Street Renaissance in former Zanotto's/Tech Shop location
• SJDA Board President Alan "Gumby" Marques: "Bet on Downtown San Jose"
• Signia by Hilton set to open in former Fairmont
• New director of San Jose Opera explains what she found attractive about downtown before taking job here
• Groundwerx announces its Employee of the Year
• Axe-throwing, anyone? New entertainment options in store downtown
• San Jose is only big city in America to have four congressional representatives
• Poor House Bistro makes its move to Little Italy

South FIRST FRIDAYS - February 2022

South FIRST FRIDAYS is back this week! Galleries (both permanent and temporary) will be open from 5-9pm, rain or shine. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

Participating venues include the Institute of Contemporary Art (with an awesome new façade), KALEID Gallery, ANNO DOMINI, Works San Jose, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, the SoFA Market, MACLA, Art Ark Gallery, and MACHU PICCHU.

Click here for a preview of featured art.

Content 10th Anniversary Pick-Up Party

San Jose's leading publication focused on art and culture is celebrating 10 years in print on March 3rd with the release of issue 14.2 "Sight & Sound." As is tradition, Content kicks off each issue with a party, often including the people featured in the magazine. This time around, they are returning to the venue of one of their very first parties--the San Pedro Square Market.

Issue 14.2 features: Culture Night Market, Brandon “BQ” Quintanilla; 6th Street Studios, Abby Bettencourt; Baunfire, Juan Sanchez; Cartoonist/Writer, Trinidad Escobar; Artist/Muralist, Manuel Villagran; Artist, Caia Koopman; Photographer, Alex Knowbody; Tabrizi Productions, Faran Tabrizi; Photo 125, San Jose State Photographers; Musician, Bennett Roth-Newell; Instrumentalist, Lidia Rodriguez; 408 Collective, Gabe Rangel, Jared Carbajal, Misa James, & Tyler Richards; and Album Picks by Needle to the Groove.

There will be live music, courtesy of the artists in the latest issue, along with an assortment of local artwork on display.

This special event runs from 7pm-9:30pm at the San Pedro Square Market on March 3rd. Subscribers, features, and contributors will get a free drink and gift upon entry.

January 2022 Downtown Dimension Highlights

The January 2022 Downtown Dimension is now available for download.
 
This month's newsletter highlights:  

• After 33 years, SJDA rebrands and has a new logo
• Miro wins the Jim Fox Golden Nail Award
• Meet the 2022 SJDA Board of Directors
• Council redistricting results in downtown 2x representation, with boundary division at Guadalupe Parkway
• Attorney Michael Schwerin shares thoughts of his 33 years of the view from offices at Market and Santa Clara streets
• A new set of Downtown Doors dots the community landscape
• DashMart and Dr. Funk are added to downtown's business roster
• Nine days left to skate at Downtown Ice this season

SJDA 2021 Year in Review

2021's "Year in Review" was just as interesting as the last one. Scott Knies again does an amazing job of highlighting the significant events of the year--both positive and negative.

A few surprises for me were that the Google project in Downtown West is moving forward uncontested (no lawsuits for once), San Jose now has the highest vaccination rate by far among the 10 largest cities in the US, and the MIRO project already has 90 residential leases and a new bar/restaurant concept coming in 2022. 

You can watch the whole presentation, including the unveil of the modern new SJDA logo and MIRO winning the 2021 Golden Nail Award over here.