March 2023 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Read the MARCH  2023 Downtown Dimension
 
This month's highlights:

• A Downtown Vibrancy team of downtowners handed the Mayor and City Council  a list of recommendations of how downtown can improve, and the Council may consider some of them for additional funding in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 cycle. Four other teams dealing with other topics also had some downtown-related suggestions.  They are all outlined in the March edition.
• In keeping with the vibrancy theme, San Jose Downtown Association will host a Town Hall Meeting March 9 starting at 4:30 p.m. at Open San Jose, 38 S. Second St. Please attend to learn more about SJDA and how you can get involved in creating a more robust downtown. Register here.
• The other theme of the March edition is about downtown businesses that are going "all in:"
  • Cafe Eden and The Loft are back in business after prolonged closures due to Covid and its lingering effects. Their owners explain what got them back in the game.
  • New-businesses Slice of Homage pizza and Little Wine House, both grew from pandemic-related roots and feature chefs who spent their years of seclusion wisely in training.  
  • And "Littlest Little Italy" (Say that fast three times in a row!) just opened. It divides the 5,000-square-foot, former Enoteca La Storia restaurant into five businesses that pair very well with one another. 
• Say hello to Mark Michaud, who returned to San Jose and has made his mark in a very short time on keeping downtown clean with Groundwerx. 

Please share this subscription information with your neighbors and employees so they can stay up-to-date on downtown business news and information of general interest through Downtown Dimension:

• Click on E-News at the top of SJdowntown.com;
• Click on "Subscribe" near the bottom of most Web pages on SJdowntown.com, or
• Send an email to rjensen@sjdowntown.com with the subject: "Subscribe."

Friend Fest 2023

The first weekend in March 2023 marks the return of a bigger and better version of SJMADE'S Friend Fest: An Art, Craft & Maker Celebration of Best Friends, New Friends, Old Friends, "We're Just Friends", "Wanna Be More Than Friends" or whatever! It's our largest ever with over 175 of your favorite creative small businesses.

Happening on Saturday, Mar. 4 and Sunday, Mar. 5 at Westgate Center in the former Walmart Neighborhood Market space at 1600 Saratoga Ave #501, San Jose, CA 95129. Featuring over 175 artists, makers and creators, a special Friend Fest nostalgic photo booth experience, special Friend Fest programming & activities, and most importantly, lots & lots of friendships vibes.

Free admission for attendees. Open from 11 AM to 5 PM each day. This venue is indoors. Face masks strongly recommended. All ages. 

Event Details

This event is free admission to attend. Free on-site parking. This venue is indoors. 

Event Dates & Times

• Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023: 11 am to 5 pm
• Sunday Mar. 5, 2023: 11 am to 5 pm

Location & Parking

• The event location is the former Walmart at Westgate Center. Westgate Center is located at 1600 Saratoga Ave, San José, CA 95129.
• We recommend that all attendees park in the section of the center's parking lot near the 49ers Fit located at 1600 Saratoga Ave Suite 46, San Jose, CA 95129. The event venue is located next door to the 49ers Fit. 
• Parking in the Westgate Center parking lot is free. 

About the Venue: Westgate Center

Westgate Center features shopping, dining and services for the whole family. Conveniently located in West San Jose, California between the 85 and 280 freeways. Westgate Center features a multitude of shops, services and restaurants including Nike Factory Store, Target, Nordstrom Rack, Gap Factory Store, 49er Fit, Buffalo Wild Wings, Gen Korean BBQ House and more.

Learn more about Westgate Center: https://shopwestgatecenter.com

South FIRST FRIDAY - March 2023

South FIRST FRIDAYS is back this week with multiple galleries (both permanent and temporary) open from at least 5-9pm. Participating venues include ANNO DOMINI, the Institute of Contemporary Art, KALEID Gallery, Works San Jose, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, the SoFA Market, MACLA, Art Ark Gallery, MACHU PICCHU, Natural Do Salon, 1Culture, and Chopsticks Alley Gallery.

Below is a map with all of the galleries to check out across three different districts. I would also suggest stopping by the Unzipped Pavillion at 320 S. First Street. One of the coolest pieces of urban art in San Jose has been locking behind a chain-link fence for most of it's existence and it appears to finally be accessible to the public as part of the San Jose Winter Jazz Fest gallery. This space will eventually be used for a high-rise project, so check it out before it's too late!

It all goes down this Friday, March 3rd. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Click here for a preview of featured art!

Content Pick-Up Party 15.2 "Sight & Sound"

Content Magazine is releasing their next issue on Friday, March 3rd. As is tradition they are hosting a party to celebrate the release, which is taking place at Open San Jose (38 South Second Street, next to the Improv). Music will be provided by Needle to the Groove and visual art will come courtesy of artists featured in issue 15.2. This also coincides with South First Fridays, so you can enjoy one of the newer art exhibitions at the same time.

The event takes place from 6:30-9:30pm and is free to the public. Content Subscribers also get a complimentary beverage and hors d'oeuvres.

For more info and to RSVP, head over here.

Join us in celebrating the release of Issue 15.2, “Sight and Sound,” at Open San José on Friday, March 3 from 6:30-9:30pm at the next Content Pick-Up Party.

 

Enjoy music and visual art by 15.2 featured artists Danny Fernandez, Jimmy Castañeda, Trinh Mai, Angela Johal, John Todd, San José Photo Walk (Julie Chon, Diana Mae, 35mmallie, Yvonne Yeh, Sheldon Chang), Kelly Peters, Gathering Artisans Collective (James, Clarice, and Jafar Green), Kayla Dinh, Andrew Saman, Silicon Valley Gay Men's Chorus, Azeem Ward, and Raue (Paige Kalenian and Jax Huckle), and album picks by Needle to the Groove. You can also catch the opening of a new South First Friday exhibition at Chopsticks Alley and an art auction at Works/San José!

 

Become a Content Magazine member today to grab your advance copy of Issue 15.2 at the Pick-Up Party and receive a complimentary beverage and hors d'oeuvres as a toast to your support and 11 years of Content Magazine.

St. Patrick's Day in San Jose

It looks like the San Jose Downtown Association is gearing up for a big event in Downtown San Jose this year. The contest involves finding Lucky the Leprechaun at various San Jose businesses for a chance to win $100 in gift cards. If you have a business Downtown, now would be the time to sign up (see below). For everyone else, mark your calendar for March 10-19th.

To see all Downtown St. Patty's Day events and specials, head over here.

SJDA will help promote your St. Patrick's days events
San Jose Downtown Association will help promote your St. Patrick's Day events and specials.  Check out SJDA's St. Patrick's Day page; both celebration promotions and events will reach our Downtowner Online subscriber list; and we'll publicize the events on our social media. Send us the info. 

Participate and get Lucky the Leprechaun in your window!
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and this March SJDA will paint the town green. Join us for a fun and festive Leprechaun Hunt to create excitement downtown and drive people into your business as they look for Lucky the Leprechaun all around downtown. Customers will snap photo(s) with Lucky and post on social media using the hashtag #DTSJLucky or upload it to our webpage using the QR code on the sign for a chance to win $100 in gift cards to participating downtown businesses. Businesses can participate by signing up by March 1 using this form. Participation is free but limited to the first 100 businesses.

Calling all Downtown SJ Residents

A new study has been kicked off with a goal of improving Downtown activation. If you happen to live in Downtown San Jose, there is a tempting offer below to participate that will take very little time and be a contribution to the local Downtown community. Happy Friday!

Dear Resident,

Our office has been contacted by a marketing firm who is recruiting a small group of downtown

residents for research focus groups to discuss downtown activation and events.

They are scheduling focus groups for next Wednesday (February 22nd), 5 and 6:30 PM, at Open

San Jose, 38 South Second Street. Each participant will be paid $100 plus a gift card to downtown

businesses. Participants must be a downtown resident for more than a year and not a student at

SJSU.

If you’re interested, please contact Dan Orloff with Orloff Marketing at dan@orloffmarketing.com

408-202-3188.

Thank you,

Orloff Marketing

Valentine's Day in San Jose

The clock is ticking to plan a date for that special someone for Valentine's Day. Fortunately the San Jose Downtown Association has a long list of suggestions for Downtown San Jose. All of the options sounds great to me, but I would highly recommend The Silicon Valley Capital Club. This is a members-only club at the top of the KQED building and they only offer dinners to non-members a couple times per year. If your partner has never been there before it will make for a memorable and romantic surprise evening (be sure to check out the balconies).

Below are the recommendations from the SJDA:

Celebrating Valentine's Day downtown?   Scott's Seafood is offering a prix-fixe, 3-course dinner for $95, with entree choices ranging from 12 oz NY Steak to their signature Seafood Sautee.  The FAB is offering a 5-course dinner for $120 per couple, with the choice between a Ribeye steak or Chicken Alfredo, plus offering a special V-Day dinner special on Sunday night as well, for those who want to get away from the big game.  The Silicon Valley Capital Club is continuing the tradition of opening to non-members for major holidays, and is now taking reservations for dinner specials on Tuesday and this Saturday night. They offer an extensive menu of offerings, plus optional wine pairing.  Morton's Is offering a 3-Course V-Day Special from Friday through Tuesday, plus a special cocktail for the occasion called "Love in Bloom."  The Grill is offering a 3-course Filet Mignon dinner on V-Day, for $110 per person.  Solo Vino is Little Italy is celebrating V-Day with a Wine and Cheese Pairing, themed "Explore Sonona," and Mama Kin is jump-starting V-Day on Saturday night with a special Valentine's Show featuring the smooth baritone sounds of vocalist Nicholas Bearde.  This is by no means a comprehensive list, so check with your favorite hotspot or eatery to see what they might be cooking up for the big night.

Looking for unique gift ideas?  Check out Plant Slut, one of the MOMENT shops on San Pedro, for 15% off everything this weekend.  Plant Lush is holding a V-Day Cookie Decorating workshop on Saturday and Ashy Aromas in San Pedro Square Market is holding candle making "date nights" all weekend, with wine tasting, music, charcuterie, and a chocolate fountain. The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy is once again offering the opportunity to Adopt a Rose in the Heritage Rose Garden, which places a plaque with your personal inscription in front of your rose bush, plus a gift box for opening.  Rosies and Posies is your source for a traditional bouquet of roses and heart-shaped box of chocolates, but get your order in early! 

February 2023 Downtown Dimension Highlights

Read the FEBRUARY 2023 Downtown Dimension   This month's highlights: San Jose Downtown Association CEO Alex Stettinski has had a very busy and active first months and likes what he has seen so far of downtown San Jose.  Looking ahead, he's ready to take more important steps toward an improved and more prosperous center city. Downtown city council rep Omar Torres, who was sworn into his elected position in January, answers our questions in the tradition of our incoming District 3 representatives. To keep up with the times and bring news and information to downtown businesses and more downtown audiences, Downtown Dimension will make a transition to an all-digital format starting this spring. Workingman's Emporium is making plans to move. That store and its owner, Gary Wing, have seen it all after 54 years in downtown. Thang Le, owner of several local Lee's Sandwiches locations, is modernizing the menu and concept for a new generation of customers. Like so many Groundwerx Clean Team members, Joel Ramirez went beyond the call of duty during the recent storms to keep downtown "ship-shape." Please be sure you click through to read this edition! Business owners and subscribers: Please share this subscription information with your neighbors and employees so they can stay up-to-date on downtown business news and information of general interest. To subscrbe: Click on E-News at the top of SJdowntown.com; Click on "Subscribe" at the bottom of most Web pages on SJdowntown.com, or Send an email to rjensen@sjdowntown.com with the subject: "Subscribe."