Downtown Districts in 30 Seconds

Baseball San Jose: Episode 2

Wii Party Tour Coming to Santana Row

SAN JOSE CONSUMERS TO PARTY HEARTY

AT EXCLUSIVE Wii PARTY TOUR STOP

Interactive Wii Party Airstream West Coast Tour

Rolls Into San Jose on Dec. 17

WHAT:           It’s not often that holiday shoppers can gather together for a free, hands-on look at one of the season’s most remarkable games. Families and friends in the San Jose area will be on their feet and having a blast when Nintendo of America’s extraordinary Wii Party Airstream West Coast Tour makes a stop at Santana Row on Dec. 17 – one of only five scheduled stops in the region. Consumers of all ages and backgrounds are invited to experience the one-of-a-kind social fun of the new Wii Party video game aboard a special Nintendo-themed Airstream trailer. In addition to providing a fun-filled break for holiday shoppers, theWii Party Airstream West Coast Tour will offer area residents a chance to win their own Wii console and a copy of Wii Party.

Created exclusively for the popular Wii system, Wii Party is designed to get families and friends on their feet and having fun together. The game features 13 party game modes and more than 80 entertaining minigames, some of which take the action from the TV screen into the living room. For example, “Animal Tracker” challenges players to pick up the Wii Remote making a particular animal sound, while “Hide ‘n’ Hunt” asks players to locate a controller that’s been cleverly hidden by another player. Whether they’re playing cooperatively or competitively, Wii Partygives every player a turn in the spotlight by putting their customized Mii characters at the center of the action. More information about Wii Partyis available at http://wiiparty.nintendo.com.

WHO:            Kids, adults, teens, parents, game enthusiasts and holiday consumers of all kinds

                     WHEN:          Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

                                          11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

                     WHERE:        Santana Row – Park Valencia

                                          3055 Olin Avenue

                                          San Jose, CA 95128        

San Jose Bike Party - Xmas Ride Tomorrow

Bring a thermos of coco cause it’s gonna be a cold but awesome night as we ride through some of the best decorated neighborhoods of San Jose. Decorate your bike with tons of lights as we show folks how we roll.

We will be doing a canned food drive at the START of the ride, so bring a CAN!

Route and Prerides will be announced Closer to the ride.

Wednesday Wishlist: Yoshi's @ San Jose

Yoshi's is a legendary Jazz Club at Oakland's Jack London Square with a secondary location in San Francisco. It brings in top tier Jazz performances in an intimate setting and even has a sushi restaurant as a part of each club. Given we have one of the largest Jazz Festivals in California, I think there is definitely a market for a 3rd Yoshi's location in San Jose.

Right outside Diridon station there are high hopes of building a new entertainment district so that people coming from all over the Bay Area (and even California with High Speed Rail) could have easy access to San Jose entertainment options. A Yoshi's would be perfect either there or in SoFA!

Pho 69 Press Release

I've received additional information on Pho 69's opening ceremony this Saturday! The ribbon cutting takes place at 2:30pm in SoFA and features traditional lion dancers. Sounds like a nice stop to make before heading to Christmas in the Park.

For Immediate Release:                                    Contact:

December 13, 2010                                           Khanh Bui: (408) 394-0369 or pho69noodlea@gmail.com

Something Hot is Coming to your Mouth at Pho 69

San Jose, Calif. -  An enticing new restaurant has come to Downtown San Jose.  Restaurant goers throughout the city are invited to sample the unique sights, sounds and tastes of Pho 69, conveniently located in the eclectic SoFA District, next to Original Joes’ (321 S. 1^st St., San Jose, CA 95113).

Join us for the grand opening on Saturday December 18^th, ribbon cutting and lion dancers at 2:30pm.

From the moment you enter into the inviting surroundings of this contemporary restaurant, you quickly realize this is not your typical Pho restaurant.  The knowledgeable staff greets you with a warm smile and you are immediately captivated by Pho 69’s thoughtful, savvy service.

The aroma of the rich pho broth with hints of star anise and cinnamon is a welcoming invitation to the forthcoming hot bowl of luscious rice noodles that is sure to warm you during this winter season.  The pho comes in a variety of broth options including traditional beef, free range chicken, locally farmed vegetable and seafood, all expertly prepared and gingerly tended to maximize flavor.

Along with the enticing aroma of comforting hearty pho, the modern interior complements the experience. Earth-toned glass tile covered walls, large lantern style pendent lighting and the warm orange of the hand embroidered chrysanthemum banquettes are a gentle complement to the subdued modern nickel-shaded sconces, historic green stair case and uplifting white textured tiles surrounding this contemporary eatery. The walls have been outfitted with museum grade hangers and left intentionally naked as Pho 69 puts out a call to local artist to exhibit their craft.

The relaxed sophistication of the dining room of Pho 69, with its stylishly trendy comfortable furnishings, muted lighting, and blend of soft and vibrant colors is the perfect neighborhood place to meet up with friends or have a business lunch.

Noted for the aromatic and simple but elegant preparation of its local products, modern Vietnamese food has become the new darling of the culinary world. The open kitchen sends the aroma of fresh herbs and spices wafting to your table as you anticipate your meal.  With all of your senses engaged, you know you've come to the right place to sample the delicious fare of Vietnamese cuisine.

Aside from pho, savor Pho 69’s other dishes such as the fresh grilled BBQ pork Vermicelli bowl with julienned vegetables, fresh herbs, bean sprouts and caramelized brown sauce. Continue your dining journey with fresh spring rolls with grilled tiger shrimp, hot and crispy crab eggroll or the roasted Japanese eggplant with crunchy shallots.  If you need just a quick bite, then have a Vietnamese sandwich filled with pickled daikon and carrots, cilantro, jalapeño, your choice of grilled meats, and for the indulgent, request the pate spread.

With so much to offer, there is always something hot coming to your mouth at Pho 69.

Pho 69 is situated at the gateway of the SoFa district in Downtown San Jose. Operating hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., closed Sundays. There is ample parking in the many lots in the neighborhood, many of them free after 6pm. 

New Electric Car Charging Stations Downtown

As a little Christmas present to electric car drivers, the week of the 20th will kick off the ability to start using the charging stations right in front of City Hall between 4th and 5th on Santa Clara Street. Coulomb Technologies will be installing at least 5 EV stations, 4 in front of City Hall and one in the San Fernando and Fourth Street garage. This is in addition to the 2 in the Convention Center installed earlier this year.

San Jose is the first city in the country to put in these charging stations. Likely Coulomb will try to turn the space in front of City Hall into a "demo" zone showing other cities how non-obtrusive EV charging solutions could be deployed in their city. Some ideas they are throwing around for this area are repaving part of the sidewalk with green recycled concrete and adding solar cooling stations.

For more info, check out the SJ Business Journal article over here.

San Jose Downtown Association End of Year Slideshow 2010

A nice recap of 2010 in Downtown San Jose, spread across 4 short videos!