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*-------------March 2, 2000-------------*
*---San Jose News and Gossip Bulletin---*
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**Great news for downtown's current and future residents: Rumor has it that national
health club giant 24 Hour Fitness is seeking downtown digs, and hopes to locate
in the Pavillion Plaza, in the space adjacent to Abovenet's new headquarters. Not only
would the club provide more everyday ammenities for those living nearby, but it would
also plaster a highly-recognizable name in the city center. Risk-averse retailers who are
playing the waiting-game (and I hear there are several) might very well be swayed by this
as well as by the pending House of Blues move.
**Speaking of nightclubs, Polly Esther's opened last weekend to great fanfare in the
bustling SOFA District. While the club's owners refuse to talk numbers, they would
concede that the success of two rainy weekend nights eclipsed even their own optimistic
projections. On tap for the club: Lisa-Lisa performs on April 1st. Meanwhile, word has it that several SOFA-businesses are working to petition the city to party on until 4am on
weekends. While observers are quick to point out the city's stringent stance on previous
nightclub proposals (not to mention the police costs of such a feat), it is worth
pointing out that many other cities manage to keep the peace in the wee hours. In fact,
the idea would be to stop serving alcohol at 2, thereby giving club-bunnies time to
sober-up before hopping into their cars. (Many a downtown partier notes that an all-night
diner would also serve the same purpose.)
**On the Sports Scene...With the astounding draw of last year's NCAA Women's College Cup,
which shattered attendance records for both the finals and semi-finals, rumor has it the
city hopes to land the Men's College Cup too. This wouldn't happen for a few years, but
with the proven economic viability of other San Jose sporting events, we probably have a
good shot at winning the internationally-televised championship.
**Many downtowners have been curious about the hammering noises coming from the historic former Metropole Hotel. Turns out the property owner is very close to a lease-signing, but don't expect a retail tenant. A rep from Haury Properties points to the extreme crunch for office space downtown, which has greatly driven up rents. In fact, Haury Properties had coveted some of the space for themselves, but the proposed business tenant demanded the entire building. Thank goodness there are at least eight downtown skyscrapers in various stages of development (most of which should be completed by 2003).
**The new Boston Property office towers slated for Almaden Ave. may add something very
special to the city skyline. The latest plans feature building caps that mirror the
nearby mountain ranges. Many cities (e.g., San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid) have
unique identifying skyscrapers, and we may just have found ours.
**Our high-tech capital is always in the news; but now we have a Disneyland connection.
Folks down in Anaheim are working on a documentary on California history, part of which
will focus on the birth of Silicon Valley. You can find them shooting at Stanford this
week....Speaking of technology, Xerox Corporation announces a major new exhibit at the
Tech Museum, which will explore the future of reading. The exhibit, which opened March
1st, features high-powered multimedia displays, such as a room-sized comic book that lets
you "walk" through the story. In addition, Xerox, Adobe, and the San Francisco Center for
Book and Universal Laser Systems will sponsor eight Bay Area artists to spend time
"in-residence" at the Museum, both designing and producing interactive books.
**Overheard at hot-Willow Glen hangout Peet's Coffee this past weekend: "I'll have a
tall non-fat mocha, with extra chocolate." The millenium version of the Big Mac, fries,
and diet coke?
**Neighborhood Stuff: Berryessa welcomes the venerable weiner stand that has managed to
achieve landmark status; the Planning Commission unanimously approved The Orange's move
from its present hard-to-miss residence in Alum Rock (soon to be replaced by a housing
development)...In other news, the Alameda neighborhood welcomes Papa John's Pizza and a
new beauty supply store; North-side residents successfully rebelled against the proposed
widening of Taylor Street, between First and Fourth, which would have severly dampened
Japantown's walkability; and Naglee Park ushers in Freddie's Ice Cream & Desserts to its
burgeoning neighborhood center, at 11th and San Carlos.
++ San Jose celebrates Mardi Gras in style, with a major bash on Post Street, gradually
becoming our own "Little New Orleans." Despite the drizzle and fog, over 4,000 showed up
for last year's festival. This year, Waves owner Joel Wyrick expects over 10,000. The
party kicks off at 6pm, complete with live reggae, blues, hip hop, and jazz bands; DJ
dancing; cajun delicacies; and ample beads and masks. For more information, visit the
historic alleyway's splashy web site, at www.postst.com.
++ Hoop-It-Up Hits Downtown....The nation's best 3-on-3 basketball tourney definitely
knows the way to San Jose. Beginning this month, the tour will stop in 44 cities around
the country, arriving here June 3-4th. The San Jose event is expected to draw over 14,000
players and fans into downtown. To register, visit the Tournament's web site at
www.hoopitup.com.
++ Visit the San Jose News and Gossip Bulletin web site at
www.angelfire.com/ca4/sanjosengb. The site features past issues, links to EVERYTHING that
screams San Jose, as well as the Bulletin's mission statement.
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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