Crosswalk patterns nod at history
I really like the splash of color added recently to two downtown streets with the installation of patterned crosswalk designs on Paseo de San Antonio on South First and Second streets.
The eye- catching street art was created by Santa Clara County artist Corinne Okada Takara as a reflection of the area and its history. The blue tones represent the nearby Guadalupe River — in nondrought times, at least. There is a Chinese knot pattern that harkens back to the Chinatown that was once in the area before it was destroyed by a suspicious fire in the 19th century. And a white, stylized circuit design is a nod to Silicon Valley ( or you could see it as representing the chandeliers found in downtown theaters).
The material applied to the pavement is designed to last five to eight years — and this is only the first installation. Other crosswalks along the Paseo will get the same treatment, as will crossings in the SoFA District and San Pedro Square, though those will have their own designs.
It’s all part of the Street Life project funded by downtown property owners, aiming to improve the pedestrian’s city experience. These new crosswalks are a great start, and even better from a safety perspective if they encourage people to cross at the right spot on the street.
Supporters of Good Karma Bikes gathered Thursday at the nonprofit’s Sunol Street warehouse to toast Barry Swenson Builder and Case Swenson, the company’s president. The reason was twofold: Barry Swenson Builder has donated the 7,000- square- foot space for Good Karma for the past two years, and the company will also be providing Good Karma with a new home this fall.
Good Karma Executive Director Jim Gardner announced the bike shop — which provides jobs for the homeless and foster youth who have aged out of the program — will be moving to a new space at 460 Lincoln Ave. in a project called Midtown Arts Mercantile. The shop will share a repurposed industrial building with Chromatic Coffee and a brewpub. Other tenants with an artistic or “maker” flair are being recruited.
Gardner says Good Karma should be moved into the new space by Oct. 1, but until then, it remains open Tuesday through Saturday at 345 Sunol St. California’s Great America just announced that it will have fireworks on July 4 this year after a decade of dark skies over the theme park on Independence Day. The additional fireworks display — the park had already planned one for July 3 — is another option for Silicon Valley residents looking for a pyrotechnics show without resorting to illegal fireworks at home.
And two San Jose radio stations — KBAY and Mix 106.5 — are getting together for the Big Bang Party at the downtown Center for the Performing Arts on the Fourth of July. The event includes a late- night dance party with the band Night Train, food trucks, games and a simulcast of music for the 9: 30 p. m. Rotary Fireworks at Discovery Meadow.
Tickets are $ 10 or $ 20, depending on whether you want a seat at a table, or are OK sitting on a bucket. Get more details and buy tickets at www. thebigbangpartysj. eventbrite. com.
We’re coming up on the 25th anniversary of the dedication of St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica in San Jose this November, and the St. Joseph’s Cathedral Foundation is leading the charge on a fundraising effort to restore its 39 stained glass windows, some of which date back to the late- 19th century.
When the cathedral was restored in 1987- 90, minor work was done on the windows but a full restoration will cost about $ 20,000 each. To help with that effort, the foundation has planned a special event July 12, “Windows of Hope,” featuring the sensational Northwest Boychoir from Seattle in concert at the cathedral. Tickets to the 7: 30 p. m. event range from $ 25 to $ 75, but there’s also a VIP ticket for $ 100 that includes a reception in the cathedral’s rectory. Purchase tickets at http:// tinyurl. com/ o8gmysr.
“The windows are integral to this significant downtown landmark,” said the Rev. Joseph M. Benedict, St. Joseph’s pastor. “The choir has an international reputation and the evening promises to be a great event.”
Last weekend was a big one for Harry Fong, owner of Vintage Wine Merchants at Santana Row. First, his popular wine shop was celebrating its 12th anniversary at the upscale San Jose shopping center. But even more important was that on June 20 he married Sylvie Felx, an Adobe IT manager and regular customer who he met during a wine event. They both love travel, which made for quite a romance, including a third date in Paris ( yes, that Paris) and a Christmas proposal in Hong Kong.
Of course, they had to get married at a winery, in this case surrounded by family and close friends at Regale Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. And on Monday, Vintage held an invite- only reception to toast the 50- something couple’s new life together.
It was fantastic to peruse all the finalists in Visual San Jose, this year’s historic photo contest, a couple of weeks back at Southern Lumber ( which has become history itself now). There were images of Casa Grande in Almaden, a twilight view of Western Appliance and its huge sign over West San Carlos Street and three perspectives on the seemingly doomed Willow Glen trestle. People were rightfully surprised to discover that the second- place photo in the student division — a beautiful shot of Henry’s Hi- Life — was taken by 8- year- old Sydney Martin. She’s got a great eye at a young age and says she hopes to try Henry’s ribs one day with her parents, so she’s got great taste, too.
The best- in- show award, though, went to Christina Warren’s haunting photo of Olsen Drive, with the defunct Century Theaters marquee on the left and Santana Row looming in the background beneath ominous clouds. Warren used a High Dynamic Range ( HDR) setting for the photo and it really makes the image pop. You can see it and the other winners at www. preservation. org.
I’m taking a summer break, but I’ll be back shortly after the July 4 holiday weekend. Have a safe and relaxing Independence Day.