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*-----------January 20, 2000------------*
*---San Jose News and Gossip Bulletin---*
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**With the abrupt, but not unexpected, closing of the UA Cinema downtown, things are
being shifted around for the San Jose Film Festival, now in it's 10th year. Renting
equipment (for use in the now-empty building) is out of the question. And for that
matter, so is using the building at all. It is hoped that the Towne Theater and
Camera 3 can pick up the slack. Unfortunately, some of the screenings must be held at the
AMC Saratoga, way out on the West-side. Still, the line-up is fantastic, emphasizing just
how far we've come: Peter Fonda, Wes Craven, Robert Young, and Alec Baldwin! By the way,
to volunteer to assist with publicity, box office sales, operations, or any one of a
dozen other crucial tasks, please call (408) 995-5033, or visit the Festival's home on
the Web, at www.cinequest.org.
**As reported several months ago, House of Blues is on the verge of signing a lease for
the 75-year old Woolworth's building on South First St. The move would begin a bridge for
the city's heart between dining central and retail mecca, as the chain has a
nationally-recognized name and would operate a retail store (selling clothing, books,
etc.) at the site. And if that doesn't convince you of the city's potential, a major
competitor is said to be ready to duke it out with HOB for the space. Rumor has it that
San Francisco-based Bill Graham Presents suddenly sees the potential for its own intimate
concert hall at the very same location.
**The next time someone mocks the outrageous prices of homes in the Silicon Valley,
retort with this: San Jose is the 10th best metro area in the nation to stow away funds
for the future. Reliastar Financial has released its annual list of the top 125 metro
areas to earn AND save money, considering 15 measures of financial security, such as
household income and wealth, income protection, job creation and job quality. In fact,
we're right behind Lancaster, Pennsylannia and Ft. Wayne, Indiana. (Mum's the word that
the city's ranking was dramatically distorted because of the incredibly-high average
salaries.) Still, the low crime rate, miniscule unemployment level, and a proactive
approach to our financial future (participation in retirement savings plans) did work in
our favor.
**Catapult your mind 25 years into the future...Imagine driving South from
downtown, along Monterey Road. You gaze at business hotels, interspersed with funky
marquees and popular theme restaurants. The streetscape is clean, with plentiful flowers
and trees, making it feel like a San Diego thoroughfare. Your destination: the Santa
Clara County Fairgrounds. But, not the dusty, disorganized plot of land you saw a quarter
century ago; rather, one of the hippest musical venues and exposition centers in the
State.......Such are the long-range plans of the County and the RDA. And, speaking of the
Fairgrounds, the County Fair has been moved to May 11th-21st this year, to avoid the
notoriously miserable August heat.
**Japantown's Miraido Village is still seeking tenants to lease out the ample first-floor
retail space. And rumors still are popping up that Blockbuster and Walgreens are
interested. Unfortunately, for one long-time neighborhood resident, an independent,
Asian-oriented coffee-house (sorely needed in Japantown) was just not in the cards for
the one-year old complex. Hmmm...
**At last, San Jose's government access channel is about ready to go on the air. Like
other California cities (e.g., San Diego) and towns (e.g., Santa Clara and San
Francisco), residents will soon be able to watch the drama unfold at city council
meetings and other selected events. The goal here is a good one: to involve residents in
city politics and issues. Eventually, the channel may also include a news
magazine, interviews with your favorite city celebrities, and so on. The curtain rises
in early April on cable channel 37A.
**The Cyberpresence of San Jose-focused sites continues to expand. San Jose Weather
(www.sanjoseweather.com) offers the latest temps, forecasts, and radar information for
the city with 300 days of sunshine. And, for those winter birthday guys and gals, check
out the Silicon Valley Store at www.siliconvalleystore.com; the Mercury News-owned
e-market offers a number of local companies (as well as the Tech Museum and the
Convention and Visitor's Bureau) peddling high-tech gadgets and tourist souvenirs.
+A secret neighborhood centers around the corner of Julian and 17th Streets. As with most
of the older, North side of downtown, the area is very pedestrian-friendly and features
rows and rows of houses from the mid and early parts of the 20th century. At night, the
white and yellow lights on the trees (put up by local businesses) provide a charming
backdrop for a meal at Casa Vicky or Lai Lai Chinese - both of which are packed daily
with locals. Look for more hidden neighborhood gems in the future in this space.
++The San Jose News & Gossip Bulletin is on the Web. The site includes the Bulletin's
mission statement, past issues, as well as numerous links to San Jose neighborhoods.
Check out www.angelfire.com/ca4/sanjosengb for details. ATTENTION: Online neighborhood
groups, business associations, and city promotions organizations -- if appropriate,
please provide a link to the Bulletin from your own site.
++ Keep the gossip coming!! I want to emphasize that all sources shall remain completely
anonymous.
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Please send all news or gossip regarding new business openings, redevelopment projects,
celebrity sightings, and other interesting gems concerning San Jose to
todd_95130@yahoo.com.
To be added to the bimonthly bulletin, please email the above address.
The San Jose News and Gossip Bulletin is a free bimonthly newsletter intended
to boost city pride, to foster a vital link between city districts, and
to provide information on current and future plans for downtown and the
neighborhoods. Information is gathered from a variety of sources,
including non-profit organizations, neighborhood business
associations, local and national newswires, as well as city government
meetings and documents. All items are written by myself, unless otherwise noted.
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