San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles 40th anniversary

I am way late on this post since the main event is happening right now, but did want to at least mention that the SJ Museum of Quilts & Textiles is celebrating four decades of existence today. This is always one of my favorite stops during First Fridays and today they are having a free open house until 4pm with tours and interactive art activities.

If you have not visited the museum in a while, they have four new exhibits that are definitely worth seeing. Part of their original mission was to show that quilts were more than just blankets or a women's hobby, but a valid medium for fine art and political expression. Some of the work is quite stunning and you can see a preview over here.

(To see the scope of the above piece, have a closer look here)

Check out a concept for a flying gym at SJC

There are planes with bars, massage rooms, and even showers--but I have yet to see a plane with a gym. A^3 by Airbus in partnership with Reebok and Peloton have created an interesting concept for future planes called Transpose. These modular cabins can be used for a variety of purposes including spas, cafes, and the gym you see below.

Instead of being boarded up like cattle, imagine being up-and-about getting some exercise while still having access to entertainment. You may not be getting on a plane with something like this anytime soon, but if you are flying out of SJC you can swing by Gate 18 and enjoy an interactive full-scale prototype. The model has stationary bikes, a yoga area, and weights.

For more details and a video of exercises to do before getting on a plane, hit the source link below. The prototype will be available until mid-may.

Source: Reebok

First look at Winchester Movie

San Jose is getting some Hollywood action. The movie Winchester tells the story about Sarah Winchester and her 160+ room mansion. It is a bit surprising that it has taken this long for a big-budget movie to tell the story of one of San Jose's top tourist attractions.

Helen Mirren is playing the lead role and her resemblance to the real Sarah is notable in the photos below. The film will start with a skeptical San Francisco psychiatrist (played by Jason Clarke) being sent to the mansion to evaluate Sarah's sanity. It seems that this will be more than just a horror/suspense movie and provide some extra insights into this mysterious woman. The directors revealed one neat tidbit, the real-life Sarah Winchester was an inventor and early adopter. She was one of the first people ever to have a telephone, and the house includes a custom-built intercom and irrigation system. Some of these details might be peppered through the movie, but the flick is designed be be a classic haunted house movie with lots of scares.

Filming will partially take place inside of the mansion itself. The movie is expected to hit theaters during Spring of next year--although I think Friday, October 13, 2018 would be a more appropriate launch date given the mansion's history and Sarah's obsession with the number 13.

Hat tip to our friend D.H. De La O for sending this in!

Source: People Movies

Playful People Productions Presents: Beauty and the Beast JR

Be our guest at Playful People Productions performance of Disney Beauty and the Beast Jr.  You and your family will be transported to the heart of a quaint French town, where the smart and beautiful Belle yearns for something more than her provincial life. When her father gets lost in the woods, he seeks shelter in an old castle, but is soon taken captive by the master of the house—a horrible Beast, who is actually a young prince trapped under a spell. Belle surrenders her freedom to the Beast in order to save her father’s life.  If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the spell will be broken and he will be transformed to his former princely self. If not, he and his household will be doomed for all time. This classical musical love story is a magical tale that comes to life with unforgettable characters, astonishing sets and costumes, and a stunning score including, "Be Our Guest," "Gaston," "Human Again," and the Tony-winning title song, "Beauty and the Beast.”

Our shows often sell out prior to the show weekend. Be sure to buy your tickets early, you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic production.

All Shows at the Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Ave  San Jose, CA 95126

Show Times: (show will run approx 2 hrs with an intermission)
Friday, May 5th - 7:00pm
Saturday, May 6th -  1:00pm
Sunday, May 7th - 1:00pm

Friday, May 12th - 7:00pm
Saturday, May 13th -  11:00am, 3:00pm and 7:00pm
Sunday, May 14th - 11:00am and 3:00pm


Tickets available at www.playfulpeople.net
$12 attendees 12 and up, $8 children 11 and under,  and $6 Children’s floor seating

Tickets at the door (30 minutes prior to curtain)
$15 attendees 12 and up, $10 children 11 and under, and $6 Children’s floor seating


For questions: barb@galiotto.com

Founded in 2010, Playful People Production’s mission is to provide a quality, caring environment where children, teens and their families can have positive theater experiences. We strive to involve all family members in the many aspects of on stage and backstage theater in a safe and fun environment and offer participation in theatrical productions, classes, summer stock and camps for ages 3-103

Downtown Farmers’ Market’s 25th season begins May 5th

Fresh produce, hot food, unique gifts available 
each Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at San Pedro Square

SAN JOSE – The Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market, presented by Kaiser Permanente, opens for its 25th season on May 5 along San Pedro Street between Santa Clara and St. John streets.

The market offers more than fresh-picked fruits and vegetables direct from more than certified organic growers. The market campaign, which continues into November, opens with avocados, citrus fruits, rhubarb and strawberries in late season, the early tree-ripened fruits and berries, plus artichokes, asparagus, peas, green garlic and dozens of other vegetable varieties.

Opening day features live music by Amigos Music and samples of locally made hummus, cheeses, Indian foods and dips, baked goods, jams and more.

The Downtown Farmers’ Market also offers artisan booths for unique gifts, cut flowers, and gourmet foods.

In the height of the season, the market may include up to 40 vendors.  On average, 2,500 residents, office workers and visitors head to the Farmers’ Market and San Pedro Square for lunch, activities, people-watching and shopping. Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable and washed bags.

Market partner Kaiser Permanente has teamed with the Downtown Association and PCFMA for seven years to focus attendees on healthful and “green” living. Kaiser Permanente will schedule its Blender Bike for Smoothies on occasion, allowing shoppers to hop on the stationary bike and whip up a smoothie made from fresh Farmers’ Market fruit.

Parking validations for Farmers’ Market shoppers are available for the Market-San Pedro Garage at the SJDA information table. Visit sjdowntownparking.com.

Follow the Downtown Farmers’ Market on Twitter @SJ_Downtown and Facebook.com/sjdowntown. Check http://sjdowntown.com/farmers-market-presented-by-kaiser-permanente/. Call (408) 279-1775 for information.

About the San Jose Downtown Association:  The San Jose Downtown Association is a non-profit group of business and property owners working to improve the vitality and livability of downtown San Jose. Established in 1986, SJDA programs more than 100 days of events each year.

Facebook is bringing citywide wireless internet to San Jose

San Jose is a pilot city for one of Facebook's moonshot projects called Terragraph. The goal is to blanket an urban area with gigabit internet using ultra high frequency WiFi. While most WiFi networks run at 2.4 or 5 GHz, Facebook is creating a wireless backbone at 60 GHz. This means very high speeds, but the signal cannot go through walls. The plan is to hang high-speed routers on streetlights and the sides of buildings pretty much everywhere, and then connect them to standard networking gear to get the bandwidth inside of each building. The routers would also broadcast traditional WiFi signals, which might even eliminate the need to use a cellular network in an urban area like Downtown.

There is no formal ETA on when the network will be complete, but the routers should start going up very soon.

Source: SVBJ

Valley Palms Neighborhood Association's "La Caminata" walking event

Tomorrow the Valley Palms Neighborhood Association in collaboration with Project Access (local nonprofit) are hosting a walking school bus event to raise awareness of pedestrian safety issues in East San Jose. As we slowly move to a future when cars are not the only way to get around San Jose, pedestrian access will only become more critical. All of the details from the press release are below.

MEDIA ALERT
                                                                                                                               
Valley Palms Neighborhood Association’s “La Caminata” Walking School Bus Event Sheds Light on Pedestrian Safety in East San Jose

Beginning Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Ends Wednesday April 26, 2017 at 7:30 AM

WHAT:              The Valley Palms Neighborhood Association is hosting a walking school bus event from Valley Palms Apartments to Katherine Smith Elementary School in order to demonstrate the need for improved pedestrian safety in the King/Tully neighborhood of San Jose.

                        An anticipated 150 community residents and their children will form a walking school bus and walk from Valley Palms Apartments to Katherine Smith Elementary School, where council member Tam Nguyen and community leaders will speak on the important issue of pedestrian safety.

WHO:               The Valley Palms Neighborhood Association, the County of Santa Clara Probation Department’s Neighborhood Services Unit, Project Access, Katherine Smith Elementary School, and Overfelt High School have partnered to rally the community and host the “La Caminata” Walking School Bus event. Interview opportunities with Project Access CEO Kathy McCarrell and Santa Clara County Probation Department officials.

WHEN:             Beginning Wednesday, April 26th at 7:00 AM

WHY:                To demonstrate the need for improved pedestrian safety in the King/Tully neighborhood of San Jose.

WHERE:           Begin walk in front of Valley Palms Apartments at 7:00 AM
                        2155 Lanai Avenue, San Jose, Calif., 95122
Meet in front of main gate

End walking school bus at Katherine Smith Elementary School, where presentations will take place at 7:30 AM.
2025 Clarice Drive, San Jose, Calif., 95122

HOW:               Meet in front of main gate of Valley Palms Apartments to participate in the walking school bus.

First Amazon Books in Northern California is coming to San Jose

In the ultimate irony, Amazon is now opening up physical bookstores. Yes, the same Amazon that took down pretty much all brick-and-mortar bookstores in the US.

The first Amazon Books anywhere in Northern California is coming to Santana Row, one block away from where a two-story flagship Borders once existed. The Amazon store will be about 5,500 SQFT and prices will be exactly the same as the website if you are a Prime member. Amazon is even planning to somehow incorporate user reviews in the physical store.

Amazon Books will be located at 333 Santana Row, Suite 2. It will also be joined by a second Silicon Valley Northern Californian location in Walnut Creek later this year.

Source: SVBJ, hat tip to Corin for sending this in!

Update: As pointed out in the comments, Walnut Creek is not in Silicon Valley