What's New In San Jose

The city is springing into action and preparing for a bright season of events

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- As spring flowers bloom all over Silicon Valley, the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau and Team San Jose report their best quarter ever since taking over management of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in 2004. Building on this momentum, San Jose is gearing up to host exciting spring and summer events such as the 2nd Biennial 01SJ Global Festival of Art on the Edge (June 4-8) and ongoing crowd-pleasing favorites like Cinema San Pedro (July 9-August 27) and Music in the Park (July 10-September 4). In addition to the budding excitement of anticipated events, industry partners have announced the following destination developments (for a full version of developments, visit www.sanjose.org/pressroom/pressreleases/2008.php):

HOTEL HAPPENINGS

ENHANCEMENTS/OPENINGS/RENOVATIONS

The Doubletree Hotel San Jose recently completed a $200,000 remodel of their front desk and lobby areas. In addition to making the lobby more user streamlined and user friendly, the lobby now includes two airport flight status screens and an airport check-in kiosk. For more information, visit www.sanjose.doubletree.com.

Tova Day Spa, at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose, opened its doors in March. A modern facade luxuriously designed with European sophistication blends perfectly with the latest, most cutting-edge spa treatments and services, with programs ranging from the best in Eastern and Western techniques. For more information, visit www.tovadayspa.com.

AWARDS/PROMOTIONS

Dolce Hayes Mansion’s Executive Chef Stephen Parker was recently named Dolce Chef of the Year at the company’s annual food and beverage conference. For more information, visit www.hayesmansion.dolce.com.

From the latest trends in accessories and spirits, Hotel Valencia’s open-air wine terrace, Cielo, promises to make its newest event “Cognac & Cufflinks” one of the hottest in town. This innovative gentlemen’s happy hour event will offer men the chance to view the latest accessories, including cufflinks, wallets, ties/tie clips, and sunglasses all while drinking the finest in Cognac, Brandy, and more. The first event will be held on Wednesday, May 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call 408-423-5405 or visit www.hotelvalencia.com.

CULTURAL CORNUCOPIA

Ballet San Jose recently announced a five-week, eight-city tour to China scheduled for May and June. The tour, named Goodwill Tour From Silicon Valley, will include performances at the Grand Theater in Shanghai and the Poly Theater in Beijing. Programs will include fully staged productions of The Firebird and Carmina Burana, plus additional ballets by George Balanchine, Lew Christensen, and Dennis Nahat. For more information, visit www.balletsanjose.org.

At the San Jose Repertory Theatre, the 2007-08 season continues with the World Premiere Adaptation of Jeffrey Hatcher’s intriguing Victorian tale of split personality, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, which runs May 10-June 8. The season closes with the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s All the Great Books (Abridged). London’s longest-running comedy troupe lets loose on San Jose from June 21-July 20. For more information, call 408-367-7255 or visit www.sjrep.com.

A special exhibit opened at The Tech Museum of Innovation April 3. Nobel! 100 Years of the Nobel Prize celebrates the extraordinary people who have won the prestigious Nobel Prize. The Tech also welcomed a new IMAX movie, Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure. For more information, visit www.thetech.org.

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE

Groundwerx Ambassadors get around on foot, bicycles, and Segways, promoting safety, ensuring people know what’s going on, and showing them downtown San Jose like few others can. The Downtown San Jose Farmers’ Market at San Pedro Square, starts again on Fridays, beginning May 2 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Summertime comes alive with Music in the Other Park, which brings free outdoor concerts featuring major-league acts every Thursday night in June to beautiful and historic St. James Park in downtown San Jose. Later in the summer, Music in the Park celebrates 20 years of free outdoor concerts in the heart of downtown San Jose on Thursdays, July 10-September 4, 5:30-8:45 p.m. Movie fans are encouraged to come together at Cinema San Pedro for free movies at dusk in San Pedro Square, held 8 consecutive Wednesdays from July 9–August 27. Film enthusiasts can also check out Cinema St. James for free movies at dusk in St. James Park, held 6 consecutive Saturdays from July 19-August 23. For more information, visit www.sjdowntown.com.

South First Fridays, a monthly gallery walk through the South First Area (SoFA) the first Friday of every month, now includes a pedicab option to get around from venue to venue. Each first Friday, 8 p.m. until late. For more information, visit www.southfirstfridays.com.

ATTRACTION ACTION

California’s Great America, Northern California’s premier entertainment destination, is now open for the 2008 season. In addition to a new name this season, the 100-acre combination theme and water park is offering a wide-variety of exciting, new entertainment options that every member of the family can enjoy, such as FireFall, an extreme thrill ride that sends 40 brave riders to a height of sixty-feet and subjects them to a series of high-speed inversions. Endless Summer on Ice, takes the stage May 31, a 30-minute ice spectacular will feature an ensemble of professional ice skaters, lavish sets, dazzling costumes. For more information, visit www.pgathrills.com.

For a full version of the above release, visit www.sanjose.org/pressroom/pressreleases/2008.php.

Contact:

Jeanne Sullivan

650-215-8156

jsullivan@sanjose.org

Yvette Roman

408-792-4120

yroman@sanjose.org

###