Downtown San Jose will be celebrating the grand opening of Ross Dress for Less on Friday, July 16. The department store marks the first major retail store in downtown San Jose in years and will provide a new venue for shopping for downtown residents, workers, and visitors. Ross is located at 27 S. First Street in downtown San Jose at the former Black Sea Gallery store. This location provides Ross with 24,000 square feet of retail space in the downtown location. Ross is the nation’s second largest off-price retail chain that provides the in-season fashion apparel for men, women, and children at 20% to 60% off department store prices.

The San Jose Redevelopment Agency and the City of San Jose will be hosting a Grand Opening Celebration with Ross to welcome in the retail store on Friday, July 16 at 9:00am. The Grand Opening Celebration will be at the Ross store at 27 S. First Street in downtown San Jose and San Jose City Councilmembers are expected to be at the event.

Ross Dress for Less
27 S. First Street
Downtown San Jose
(408) 278-1320

Click here for store hours and directions to the new downtown San Jose Ross Store.

From July 16 Ross Grand Opening in Downtown San Jose:

The week long music festival known as Left Coast Live starts tonight. The upstart event is in its second year in downtown San Jose and promises to be even bigger and better than last year’s inaugural event. Left Coast Live features a variety of live music acts along with a series of film and panel discussions throughout the week. The week long music festival boasts over 100 music groups across 35 stage venues throughout downtown San Jose. Friday and Saturday evenings are the main days where multiple acts will be performing all evening on both days. YouTube sensation OK GO headlines Friday night’s performances while Yo La Tengo will be on the main stage headlining the Saturday night acts.

Left Coast Live is a great chance to check out various music genres and plenty of great live musical acts for the price of one admission ticket.

Read the Mercury News article about Left Coast Live.

Left Coast Live
June 21-26, 2010
Downtown San Jose

Click the following links for the Left Coast Live schedule and for ticket information.

Summer season always brings out some of the best events in downtown San Jose. And best of all, many of these great events are FREE courtesy of the San Jose Downtown Association and its many sponsors. This includes the tradition of free outdoor movies, Starlight Cinemas, on Wednesday evenings from June until August. This year features another great lineup of movies starting off with the classic Harrison Ford film “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (PG, 1981) this Wednesday in San Pedro Square. Films start at dusk so bring a lawn chair and blanket.

Starlight Cinemas will again be rotating locations this year with movies showing in San Pedro Square (2nd Wednesdays of the month), Historic District on Post between First and Market (3rd Wednesdays of the month), and SoFA District at South First and William Streets (4th Wednesdays of the month).

Starlight Cinemas 2010 Lineup

June 9 – Raiders of the Lost Ark (PG, 1981, Harrison Ford) (San Pedro Square)
June 16 – It Happened One Night (Not Rated, 1934, Clark Gable) (Historic District)
June 23 – This is Spinal Tap (R, 1984) (SoFA District)

July 14 – Batman (PG-13, 1989, Michael Keaton) (San Pedro Square)
July 21 – An American in Paris (Not Rated, 1951, Gene Kelly) (Historic District)
July 28 – Rocky Horror Picture Show (R, 1975) (SoFA District)

August 11 – The Goonies (PG, 1985) (San Pedro Square)
August 18 – Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3-D (Not Rated) (1954) (Historic District)
August 25 – Zombieland (R, 2009, Woody Harrelson) (SoFA District)

For more information about Starlight Cinemas or the movies shown at Starlight Cinemas, check out the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) website.

The summer season is off to a rockin’ start with free concerts in downtown San Jose. The Music in the Park series returns for its 22nd year and begins tonight with alt rock band Cold War Kids and will continue every Thursday night in Plaza de Cesar Chavez located along Market Street between San Fernando and San Carlos Streets. The free concerts start at 5:30pm and last will 9:15pm.

Music in the Park is a free concert series presented by the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA). Dos Equis and Metro Newspapers are the presenting sponsors again for this year’s Music in the Park.

2010 Music in the Park Lineup

June 3: Cold War Kids (alternative rock). Openers: Jesse Malin & St. Marks Social, plus winner of Channel 92.3 “My Music in the Park” band contest: San Jose based Ambience. Sponsored by Channel 92.3.

June 10: Lenny Williams (R&B) and Prince Damons (Hip Hop/R&B). Opener: Beaufunk. Sponsored by KBLX 102.9FM.

June 17: Skatalites (Ska/Reggae). Opener: Sarazino (Afrolatin Reggae). Sponsored by MOViN 997.

June 24: BoDeans (Rock/Pop). Openers: Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, and The Careless Hearts. Sponsored by KFOG. 97.7 and Left Coast Live.

July 1: English Beat (Ska/New Wave). Opener: The Odd Numbers. Sponsored by Alice@97.3.

July 8: Tonic (Rock/Pop). Opener: Green River Ordinance. Sponsored by Mix 106.5.

July 15: Don Carlos (Reggae). Opener: Zili Misik (tropical/afrobeat/neo-soul). Sponsored by Live 105.

July 22: The Gaslight Anthem (Alternative Rock). Opener: New Politics. Sponsored by Channel 92.3 FM.

July 29: Pete Escovedo Orchestra (Latin/Jazz). Opener: Tortilla Soup.

August 5: Foreverland (14-piece Michael Jackson Tribute Band). Opener: Love Stoned. Sponsored by 98.1 KISS FM.

August 12: Eek-A-Mouse (Dancehall Reggae). Opener: The Hold Up. Sponsored by Live 105.

August 19: Y&T (Classic Rock). Opener: OTR Band. Sponsored by 98.5 KFOX.

August 26: Pato Banton (Reggae). Opener: Whiskey Avengers. Sponsored by Alice@97.3.

Dine Downtown, downtown San Jose’s restaurant week, returns starting today for its second year, June 2 through June 12, 2010. The downtown event showcases 30 of downtown San Jose’s finest restaurants and eateries. Each of the restaurants will offer prix fixe promotion menus for $20, $30 or $40 per person for the Dine Downtown event.

You can get a sneak peek tasting at each of the participating restaurants during the Dine Downtown kick off event, City Bites, at lunchtime today, Wednesday, June 2. Participating restaurants will offer free snack size trial samples at their restaurant locations. This is a great way to sample the tastey items on the restaurant menus and take part in this fantastic event. Be prepared and take a walking map to route your favorite food destinations for City Bites.

The Dine Downtown Restaurant Week and City Bites kickoff event is a San Jose Downtown Association event. Check out the SJDA website for links to participating restaurant prix fixe menus. Restaurants participating in this years Dine Downtown event include:

19Market Restaurant - 19 N. Market St.; 280-6111
71 Saint Peter Mediterranean Grill - 71 N. San Pedro St.; 971-8523
Affinity - in the Downtown Hilton, 300 Almaden Blvd.; 287-2100
Agenda Restaurant - 399 S. First St.; 287-3991
Arcadia Modern American Steakhouse - in the SJ Marriott, 100 W. San Carlos St.; 278-4555
Azucar - 71 E. San Fernando St.; 293-8482
Bella Mia Restaurant & Bar - 58 S. First St.; 280-1993
Billy Berk’s - 99 S. First St.; 292-4300
Britannia Arms Downtown - 173 W. Santa Clara St.; 278-1400
E&O Trading Company - 96 S. First St.; 938-4100
Emile’s - 545 S. Second St.; 289-1960
Eulipia Restaurant & Bar - 374 S. First St.; 280-6161
Fahrenheit Restaurant & Lounge - 99 E. San Fernando St.; 998-9998
The Grill on the Alley - in the Fairmont Hotel, 172 S. Market St.; 294-2244
Gumbo Jumbo Cajun Fusion - 80 N. Market St.; 294-8626
Habana Cuba Restaurant - 238 Race St.; 998-2822
Hanuman Thai Cuisine - 1 E. San Fernando St; 286-2482
Hawgs Seafood Bar - 150 S. Second Street; 287-9955
Il Fornaio - in the Sainte Claire Hotel, 302 S. Market St.; 271-3366
La Pastaia Ristorante & Enoteca - in the Hotel De Anza; 233 W. Santa Clara St.; 286-8686
Loft Bar and Bistro - 90 S. 2nd St.; 291-0677
Mezcal Restaurant - 25 W. San Fernando St.; 283-9595
Morocco’s Restaurant - 86 N. Market St.; 998-1509
Morton’s The Steakhouse - 177 Park Ave.; 947-7000
Mosaic Restaurant & Lounge - in the Four Points by Sheraton, 211 S. First St.; 282-8888
Motif Restaurant and Club - 389 S. First St.; 279-1888
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro - 98 S. Second St.; 961-5250
Pagoda Restaurant - in the Fairmont San Jose, 170 S. Market St.; 998-1900
Paolo’s Restaurant - 333 W. San Carlos St. # 150; 294-2558
San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar - 20 N. Almaden Ave.; 298-9463
Silicon Valley Capital Club - 50 W. San Fernando St. #1700; 971-9300
Sonoma Chicken - 31 N. Market St.; 287-4098

The San Jose Downtown Residents Association (SJDRA) will be holding its evening social this Thursday, February 18, at 19Market, the modern Vietnamese bistro and bar located in downtown San Jose. The SJDRA’s evening social is a great way for downtown residents to mingle and interact with other downtown residents and discover various downtown eateries and establishments. This installment of the evening social is being hosted at 19Market which is located about two doors down from Sonoma Chicken Coop on Market Street. The restaurant and bar at 19Market offers a contemporary twist on some very authentic Vietnamese dishes. The menu at 19Market includes classics such as spring rolls but also offers variations such as duck spring rolls, basa spring rolls, and crab and avocado spring rolls. Entrees at 19Market feature mango chicken, saigon steak, shaking beef, steamed lemongrass seabass, and tiger prawns. The bar at 19Market also features some creative concoctions to their libations such as the saketini, VungTau Long Island, and 19Market-hito. The restaurant itself offers an elegant yet stylish dining room. Check out 19Market this Thursday evening with other downtown residents and get 15%off your tab.

San Jose Downtown Residents Association
Evening Social
Thursday, February 18, 2010
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: 19Market
19 N. Market Street
Downtown San Jose

To RSVP or for more information about the SJDRA Evening Social, please call (408) 535-0123.

If you’ve ever been a fan of Star Trek (and I know you have), the Tech Museum of Innovation will be hosting its newest exhibit “Star Trek: The Exhibition” from October 23, 2009 through February 28, 2010. The exhibit is described as “an interactive exhibit of authentic Star Trek artifacts from the past 40 years” and will include a replica of the bridge from the USS Enterprise NCC-1701, as featured in the original Star Trek televsion series. This will be an awesome experience for anyone who grew up with Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock. But there will also be pieces from the more modern versions of Star Trek (i.e., The Next Generation and movies) as Star Trek: The Exhibition is the world’s most comprehensive collection of authentic Star Trek artifacts and information that has ever been put on public display. The gallery will host an impressive array of exhibits featuring television and movie sets, character costumes, and props from all five Star Trek television series and eleven Star Trek feature films. There is also an opportunity to ride in a full-motion flight simulator through a Star Trek adventure. Now how cool is that?!?!

Star Trek: The Exhibition
The Tech Museum of Innovation
180 Park Avenue
Downtown San Jose
Exhibit from October 23,2009 through February 28, 2010

For more information about Star Trek: The Exhibit, visit the website. For ticket and price information, visit The Tech Museum.

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Silicon Valley Restaurant Week kicked off last night and a number of downtown San Jose restaurants are participating in this first time event. Over eighty restaurants throughout Silicon Valley, including over a dozen downtown San Jose restaurants, are participating in the “prix-fixe” dinner menu option. Restaurants from Los Gatos all the way up to San Carlos are offering special fixed $35, three-course dinner meals during Silicon Valley Restaurant Week. The event, which is similar to the Dine Downtown Restaurant Week earlier this year, continues the tradition of offering diners an opportunity to enjoy and experience new restaurants on a special set menu.

Silicon Valley Restaurant Week
October 14-21, 2009
Participating Restaurants throughout Silicon Valley

Downtown San Jose Restaurants include:

Agave Viejo Mexican Cantina and Tequila Lounge, 151 W. Santa Clara Street, www.agaveviejous.com
Arcadia, 100 W. San Carlos Street, www.michalemina.net
Billy Berk’s, 99 S. First Street, www.maxsworld.com
Emile’s, 545 S. Second Street, www.emilesrestaurant.com
Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, 99 E. San Fernando Street, www.fultralounge.com
Habana Cuba, 238 Race Street, www.998cuba.com
Il Fornaio, 302 S. Market Street, www.ilfornaio.com
La Pastaia, 233 W. Santa Clara Street, www.lapastaia.com
Loft Bar and Bistro, 90 Second Street, www.loftbarandbistro.com
McCormick and Schmick’s, 170 S. Market Street, www.McCormickandSchmicks.com
Morton’s The Steakhouse, 177 Park Avenue, Suite 100, www.mortons.com
Mosaic, 211 S. First Street, www.mosaicmontgomery.com
Paolo’s, 333 W. San Carlos Street, www.paolos.com
Scott’s Seafood, 185 Park Avenue, www.scottsseafoodsj.com

For more information about Silicon Valley Resturant Week or to see prix-fixe menus, visit www.siliconvalleyrestaurantweek.com. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.

Convention Sports and Leisure International’s (CSL) economic impact analysis will be one of the main topic’s of discussion at tonight’s Diridon Good Neighbor Meeting. The meeting, which is held by the San Jose Redevelopment Agency (SJRDA), will include a presention by CSL discussing other major league ballparks that have been built in urban areas as well as detailing the economic impact report that was accepted by the San Jose City Council and RDA at the September 15 Council meeting. Find out more about the potential Major League Baseball stadium in downtown San Jose at tonight’s meeting.

Diridon Good Neighbor Meeting
San Jose City Council
City Hall Wing
September 24, 6:00 pm

The agenda and other related documents for the Diridon Good Neighbor Meeting can be found on the RDA website.

It will be a dog’s day come this Saturday, September 19 at Bark in the Park at William Street Park in downtown San Jose. This year’s theme for the dog festival is “Dogs Take the Lead.” The annual event, which runs from 10:00am to 5:00pm, is the largest dog festival in the US with over 3,500 dogs and 14,000 of their two-legged owners and admirers attending the event. The day-long, canine celebration is fun for the whole family with contests, music, celebrities, demonstrations, dog-related vendors and services, and kids activities. Featured activities at Bark in the Park include a dog costume contest, silly dog trick contest, and dog/owner look-alike contest. Does the owner look like the dog? Or does the dog resemble the owner? Other activities include a dog agility course, rabies vaccination shots, herding demonstrations, and dog rescue organizations. Get your bark on at Bark in the Park!

Bark in the Park is a fundraising event hosted by the Naglee Park Neighborhood’s Campus Community Association. Proceeds from Bark in the Park benefit the Naglee Park Neighborhood CCA, Humane Society Silicon Valley, and San Jose Animal Care Center.

Bark in the Park
Saturday, September 19
10:00am - 5:00pm
William Street Park
William and 16th Streets
Downtown San Jose

Scheduled events:
Dog Costume Contest at 11:00am
Silly Dog Tricks at 12:00pm
Pet/Owner Look-Alike Contest at 1:00pm