Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Viva CalleSJ: Calle >> Matsuri (San Jose's Japantown, Kelley Park, and Tamien Park)

Viva CalleSJ is back for it's 3rd event of the year! Miles of city streets will be completely shut down to let people walk, run, dance, bike, unicycle, skateboard, or hoverboard down the streets of San Jose. 

Calle >> Matsuri features three activity hubs which are festivals-within-a-festival that highlight the local area. This time the activity hubs will be at Japantown, Kelley Park, and Tamien Park. You can expect live music, vendors, food, activities, bike parking, and good times at all of the hubs. In between the activity hubs you will still find all sorts of interesting stops, hydration stations, and stores. Watch the video below to get a feel for the event if you've never done one.

As an added bonus, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo will be providing free admission for anyone participating in the Viva CalleSJ. This is the first time I remember this happening, so it's worth taking advantage of--especially if you're going with your family.

The event takes place on Sunday, September 10th from 10am to 3pm (streets are closed until 4pm). There is no beginning or end and the traffic flows in both directions. It's completely free and you can use the handy map below to locate the routes and festivities. For more info, head over here.





Monday, September 4, 2023

San Jose housing project upsized in "Uptown"

The site of the former Century 24 domed movie theater at 741 South Winchester Blvd. is destined to become an affordable housing project. The developers SyRes Properties LLC is increasing the number of units to 264 in a seven-story residential building.

The project would have 35 studios, 113 one-bedroom apartments, and 116 two-bedroom apartments. 20% of the units units would be considered affordable, which allow the complex to qualify as a housing development for very low, low, or moderate-income households. This designation allows the developer to apply for a "builder's remedy" which not only accelerates the project through city planning but enables to builder to add more units to the project.

The project would also include a community room, a 3rd floor outdoor space, a gym, and co-working spaces for residents. However, the biggest draw might be that is is just blocks away from Santana Row and other development projects around the Winchester Mystery House.

Source: The Merc





Sunday, September 3, 2023

Rollati Ristorante - New 7,000 SQFT flagship restaurant coming to Downtown San Jose

There has been some debate lately on the state of Downtown San Jose. A viral video has been circulating around showing all the empty storefronts throughout Downtown, but it glossed over not only areas that are very active today but failed to point out the exciting new projects coming to our city's core. Rollati is definitely one of those projects.

The Silicon Valley Business Journal snagged an exclusive about the new restaurant. If you have a subscription you can access it here. Below are my notes.

Rollati Ristoranti is coming from the same team behind Left Bank Brasserie, LB Steak, Meso Modern Mediterranean and Camper in Menlo Park. It will be one of the anchor tenants on the ground floor of the Miro apartment towers across from City Hall. The restaurant is 7,000 SQFT large (massive) and will seat up to 189 people between an indoor dining room, bar and lounge, private dining rooms, a retail cafe, and outdoor space. A large outdoor dining area will be on both sides of the restaurant and accommodate up to 52 people.

The "retail cafe" definitely piqued my interest when I read the article. This will be a market that sells pastas, house-made sauces, and some prepared items like meatballs. It's catered towards the residents upstairs and Downtown workers that might want to quickly grab some items to take home.

The CEO of the company behind the restaurant described the menu as a "love letter to Italian-American cuisine" and stated that "a modern American-Italian restaurant hasn't been done in the caliber we're hoping." Bring it on I say!

Two sides of the restaurant space will have floor to ceiling windows to let in a lot of natural light and the vibe is going to be modern yet nostalgic.

The grand opening is slated for some time in September and dinner hours will be 5pm-9pm Sunday through Thursday and 5pm to 10pm on Friday and Saturday. For near real-time photos and additional info as it becomes available, follow The San Jose Blog on X.

Source: SVBJ



Saturday, September 2, 2023

San Jose's secret video game vault in Downtown San Jose

Downtown San Jose already has several great venues for gamers. You have the epic-sized Guildhouse and LvL Uproar Brewery in SoFA, Miniboss for arcades and pinball, and San Pedro Social. However, did you know there is a treasure trove of video game nostalgia in a basement at 124 East Santa Clara Street?

Below a nondescript IT repair shop is Gameshop Downstairs. Here you can find classic games, vintage consoles, and all sorts of memorabilia from the many decades video games have been around now. If you're looking for Pokémon trading cards, yes they have those too.

As games are increasingly going digital, it's nice to know there is still a place where you can find a physical piece of gaming history. The N64 was my favorite console of all time and you can still buy cartridges here instead of dealing with eBay or garage sales. If you love games, I'd highly recommend swinging by next time you're in the area. Full address and hours below:

Gameshop Downstairs
124 E Santa Clara St, #B
Monday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday Closed

Friday, September 1, 2023

South FIRST FRIDAY (+ STREET MRKT) Sep 1st, 2023 in Downtown San Jose

South FIRST FRIDAYS is back today with multiple galleries open from at least 5-10pm. 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.

In addition to FIRST FRIDAYS it is also a STREET MRKT featuring over 50 artists a beer/fermentation garden, live music, and food trucks.

It all goes down today, September 1st. As usual admission is free and all ages are welcome. Click here for a preview of featured art! Below is a map with all of the galleries to check out across three different districts. Keep scrolling for a list of artists and food trucks.


South FIRST FRIDAYS presents:

STREET MRKT an indie urban art faire 
5pm–10pm, free admission (spend it with the Artists!).
So. 1st St. between San Carlos & William streets

50+ talented artists gather together out on So. 1st St. transforming the SoFA District into a lively outdoor gallery for the evening. We’ll have stunning paintings, unique sculptures, mesmerizing jewelry, chic fashion and even on the spot experiences like custom poems and the Deep Legends Bus with DJ Dirty Beats . Support our amazing artists and help our local art scene thrive!

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Soloman Acosta
Rebecca Anguian 
Bay Area Glass Institute  (BAGI)
The Blunt Letters
Bolo Vintage
Julianne Bonnet 
Budding Art Foundation
Bungalow Glow Candle Co.
Jarold Cadion Art 
Emmanuel Cervantes-Mejía + Michael Rogan 
Crossroads Trading Co.
Curious Shapes / Brian Corbin
Current Tattooing
Jennifer DeChenne
Lorenz Dumuk 
Eraeon Clothing
Faded Visualz 
Flow State Sound Healing & Arts 
Force129 & Betty Proper 
Luisa Garcia
Glass Scout Studio
Cynthia Gonzalez
Ali Hall 
Hand in Hand Henna 
Higher Fire Clay Space & Gallery
Chris Jalufka
Jodi408
KNS Beauty Essentials
La Madre Bruja 
Land and Sky Fine Art / Joe Mandrick
The Local Creative Show  by StageOne
Frankie McFly 
Julianne McKay
Judit Navratil
Roger O. Jr.
OaxaCali Studios
Tania Okay 
Jean -Luc Pedanou
Leslie Perez Jewelry
Purl Bailey (AKA Marilyn Roaf)
Francisco Ramirez
Random Marks- the Art of Doug Edwards
Art of Joseph Richardson 
Mason Roberts 
Rene Schilling Sears
South Bay Ceramics
Suha Suha
Sujata Tibrewala
VMGC Designs
Heylu Wheat

Live Music:
6:30pm & 8pm: Bloc de la Soul (S 1st St and San Salvador intersection)
5pm–10pm DJ Dirty Beats & the Deep Legends Bus

Flipside Lovers DJs in the beer garden, plus delicious food trucks!

BEER GARDEN & FOOD TRUCKS

On Tap…
Clandestine Brewing
Fox Tale Fermentation

plus…

3 Brothers Kitchen
3 Hermanos Mexican Grill
Akita Gourmet Sushi
Chickn Bros.
Lemongrass Lane


Thursday, August 31, 2023

BEAUTIFICA 360 at The Tech Interactive

BEAUTIFICA is a follow-up to one of the best selling planetarium music experiences in the world. The show provides a 360 degree journey through real and artificial worlds paired with an immersive audio experience. It's a sensory experience suitable for all ages 6 and up.

The Tech Interactive is screening it on their IMAX Dome Theater this weekend on Friday, September 1st and Saturday, September 2nd with showtimes at 6pm, 7:30pm, and 9pm.

There are still a few seats available. For more info and tickets to this unique experience, click here. 

Here are a couple promo codes if you are going with kids or larger groups:
BEAUTIFICAFAMILY - 10% off for adults booking with children
BEAUTIFICAGROUP - 10% off when booking 6 or more tickets








The WOW Festival 2023 in Downtown San Jose

A three-day music festival is taking place this Labor Day Weekend at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The WOW Festival is showcase of emerging talent from San Jose and beyond, curated by Outside Live and featuring genres like indie rock, hip hop, EDM, folk, and more. 

Within the festival will be a variety of attractions, activities, food, a full bar, and "good vibes." Speaking of which, bad vibes are explicitly prohibited from this event according to their website.

It's open to all ages, although VIP tickets are 21 and over. The WOW festival runs from September 1st to 3rd, starting at noon each day and most musical acts ending around 10pm. For more info, head over here.





Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Stunning animated murals by San Jose Storyboard

I missed the SoFA Block Party and didn't get to see the insane animated mural that San Jose Storyboard put together. The picture below doesn't do it justice, you have to watch the short video to see what the mural was actually like. I also love their mission statement:

"Our mission is to transform Downtown San Jose into a global epicenter of artistic innovation and creativity. Through pioneering immersive public art, we showcase large-scale illuminated, animated, and projection-mapped murals and landmarks that pay homage to our city's heritage while pushing the limits of creative expression.

By seamlessly blending art with urban spaces, we strive to ignite the imagination of both residents and visitors alike, fostering an inclusive and vibrant community that celebrates the profound power of artistic storytelling. Together, we aspire to establish Downtown San Jose as an inspiring destination that not only connects people but leaves an indelible and transformative impact on all who encounter its extraordinary art scene."

Vibrant, dynamic, interactive, digital art is really how the San Jose art scene can stand out. We don't need a sea of skyscrapers to be a global city. However, a thriving art scene that is unique and compliments the innovative spirit of our region will go a long way to giving a sense of place to Silicon Valley.