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*-------------March 30, 2000------------*
*---San Jose News and Gossip Bulletin---*
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**The fourteen year-old dream of a three-mile greenbelt stetching from downtown to the
Airport is slowly becoming a reality. Current thinking is that the Guadalupe Park and
Gardens should be completed within 3 years. San Jose's own version of "Central Park" will
no doubt have the dual effect of both linking diverse neighborhoods and providing a city
meeting place to jog, bicycle, stroll, and people-watch. Also promising for the Park, the
San Jose Preservation Action Council (SJPAC) has moved 8 historic homes onto a lot
adjacent to River Street and the Park. The plan is to resurrect an old Italian
village that once stood on the site, which is not far from famed San Jose
institution, Henry's Hi-Life. While not all of the interested cafes, shops, or bistros
need be Italian, the group is concerned with maintaining an historic ambience to the
plaza. Fingers crossed, the 19th-century buildings should be completely restored by
year's end. And, it is rumored, that several potential tenants are already knocking on
their doors.
**The Alameda neighborhood takes center-stage again (no pun intended on the local
salon!). Word has it that Baskin Robbins and Togos are looking at the former Korean
Palace building, currently undergoing major renovations. Also fishing for space nearby
are Kinko's and a Californian-cuisine bistro. The latter would be a giant boost for the
vintage neighborhood, which is longing for its "place to be seen" dinner-spot. One only
need observe the rapidly-growing weekend crowds at the Alameda Starbucks (and nearby
businesses, like Riga European Deli) to learn that the new residents are eagerly
exploring their surroundings.
**Speaking of the Seattle-based coffee chain, Los Angeles Magazine recently coined the
method of categorizing the hipness of neighborhoods a la the Starbucks Quotient, or the
number of local Starbucks coffee palaces. Well, for better or worse, downtown is now home
to three such branches-- in fact, four if you count the nearby Alameda location. The
newest digs have opened at Park Center Plaza, in the Bank of America Building.
**Imagine a Silicon-Valley-focused sitcom. It could very well be a reality, if a pilot
being developed by the creator of "American Pie" glimpses the light of day. Presently,
the high-school comedy is slated to be set in affluent Palo Alto, but rumor has it that
San Jose film gurus are avidly trying to lure the crew to San Jose - the real capital of
Silicon Valley.
**But, if you must be on TV now, trek over to Polly Esther's in the SOFA district this
weekend. A new FX show, Truth or Dance, has chosen San Jose for its very first episode.
Like MTV's "The Real World," the drama uses fast-cutting camera-action, hip music, and
follows around real club-goers throughout the night.
**We all have read the fantastic lengths to which desperate home-buyers will go for a
Silicon Valley home of their own, however miniscule the square-footage. It's common
gossip at many a dot-com how so-and-so offered several thousand stock options to win over
the heart of a giddy seller. Well, in Naglee Park, the rules are different. The
deal-clincher for a 16th Street home which sold a few weeks ago was the buyer's
willingness to take control of a t-shirt inventory...And not just any t-shirts, but those
that are bought and sold at the neighborhood's popular Fourth of July gathering!
**Named after a Sunnyvale native, who is now worth over $100 million, Woz Way is a short
street on the south side of downtown. With its lucrative heritage, it's no surprise that
a new e-zine would borrow its name. Founded by San Jose State communication studies
professors Andrew Wood and Philip Wander, Woz Way is a seasonal Web magazine with the
purpose of exploring young residents' perceptions of San Jose. Articles focus on the
city's past, present, and future, and are written in the multicultural voices of SJSU
students. Topics have included Christmas in the Park, Japantown, and the controversial
history of Chinese Americans in San Jose. The next issue comes out in about two weeks.
For more information, check out the 'Zine's homepage at
http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/commstudies/woz.
**If you see some funny-looking cars (that look like brightly-colored golf carts) buzzing
around Naglee Park or South University neighborhood, don't fret. Downtown San Jose was
chosen as one of a handful of California sites to demonstrate the small electric
vehicles. The cars, which travel at speeds of up to 25mph, are ideal for neighborhood
cruising, particularly in flat, high-density city centers. For more information on how
you can sign up to try one, send an email over to melissa@salasobrien.com.
**More neighborhood stuff...Wonder no more about the former Julian's Bakery; Black Sea
Gallery has opted to expand into the space, taking over the beloved bakery's old
home...Naglee Park's new hangout, Freddie's Ice Cream & Desserts, has elected to fill the
late-night downtown dessert void, with plans to stay open until midnight. Finally,
Rosemary Gardens residents are working with the city to develop a much-needed
neighborhood park near Sonora & First Streets.
**Sometimes, the greatest heroes make the softest sounds. Rose Garden resident Beryl
Richardson orchestrated an effort to raise funds to save 74 of the more than 350 historic
elm trees in San Jose neighborhoods, including Japantown, Northside, and Julian-St.
James. Ms. Richardson and her team dispatched a local pest control company to provide
root-injection treatments, which are vital to preserving the health of these hundred
year-old treasures.
++ ANOTHER secret neighborhood is hidden just off the Alameda. College Park has its own
Cal-Train station, though the trains only stop there every so often. Nestled near the
esteemed Bellarmine Prepatory School, the quiet haven has a corner store, a deli, and an
old-fashioned barber shop. As with much of the nearby Rose Garden and Alameda
neighborhoods, the area houses numerous Victorians that date back to the late 1800's, and
its narrow, tree-lined avenues make for a fascinating Sunday stroll.
++ Rosemary Gardens has been thrust into the media spotlight of late with the enormous
new Spieker Properties development slated for nearby North First Street. But, the quiet,
homey neighborhood has its own local flavor, expressed through community get-together's,
such as an annual picnic and a Christmas visit from Santa Claus. On tap next, a
block-wide yard-sale from 8am to 4pm on April 29th. For more information, visit the
neighborhood's home on the web, at http://members.tripod.com/rgna.
++ The San Jose Farmer's Market is on the move. Kicked out of its former home with the
impending AboveNet office tower, the market relocates to San Pedro Square for its eighth
year. With an impressive array of fruits, vegetables, and baked goods, not to mention
the occasional celebrity chef, the weekly market has been a favorite of downtown
residents and workers. And, a new Friday timeslot (when many workers have more time to
linger) and a charming neighborhood backdrop, should only augment its success. The weekly
market begins May 19th, and runs from 10am-2pm. For more information, call (408)
279-1775, x40.
++ The Burbank neighborhood hosts its own Woman's Health Day this Saturday, April 1st
from 10am-2:30pm at the Luther Burbank Elementary School District. The day features
health screenings, workshops, and live entertainment. For more information, call (408)
289-9260, x211 or visit the funky central San Jose neighborhood's home on the Web at
http://www.burbankcommunityassn.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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