Serve 7.5 Digital

CONTENT

Kristi Yamaguchi

Also FeAturing:

Manresa Bread | Orly Locquiao | KonJoe Tei | Shaun Del Grande | Cinequest | Golden State Brewery

SILICON VALLEY’S INNOVATIVE & CREATIVE CULTURE

CCONTENT

Jan / Feb 2016

The Makers:

Cultivator

Daniel Garcia

Managing Editor

Flora Moreno de Thompson

Editors

Odile Sullivan-Tarazi

Julianne Jigour, Holly Cooper

Circulation/Distribution

Elle Mitchell

Brand Director

Julia Canavese

Production

Kristen Pfund

Publisher

Silicon Valley Creates

Marketeer

Sarah Garcia

Designers

Elle Mitchell, Omar Rodriguez

Photographers

Stan Olszewski, Mark Chua

Audre VanBroers, Scott MacDonald

Writers

Mark Haney, Brandon Roos

Anna Bagirov, Chad Hall

Kate Evans, Michelle Runde

Nathan Zanan, Kevin Biggers

David Perez, Lam Nguyen

Nicole Tindall, Derek Haugen

María Gabriela Huertas Díaz

The holiday season reminds me of food. Dinners and parties with friends and family, which are always accompanied by a meal. Not only is it a way that we commune with each other but the act of serving is so important. The people who prepare our meals are so valuable in our culture, and though I am not a person who likes to cook, I do enjoy pouring the drinks, passing the plates, and helping clean up the dishes because all the while conversation is happening, relationships are growing, and people are connecting. This issue we place before you offers ideas for things you can pair with your holiday gatherings, from recommendations for wine to sip and bread to pass to suggestions for locally crafted gifts. In the spirit of serving, this issue also highlights individuals who have volunteered their talents to build our community. At our holiday tables this season, we raise our glass to thank those who serve.

Enjoy.

Daniel Garcia

The Cultivator

IN THIS ISSUE

Kyle Pellet / Chris Patton / Gilbert Armendariz/ Orly Locquiao / Code for San Jose

To participate in Content Magazine: editor@content-magazine.com

Subscription & Advertising information available by contacting Elle@content-magazine.com

Artist Nikkea Takagi, pg. 24

Tattoo Artist Orly Locquiao, pg. 30

Golden State Brewery, pg. 64

Chef Avery Ruzicka, pg. 50

Need an escape? Don’t have a lot of time? Living in Silicon Valley provides you with all kinds of options for a short getaway. From the beach to the mountains, wineries to windsurfing, the South Bay is one of the best hubs for launching into world-class scenery and activities. So why not take a day trip?

Half Moon Bay, Ca.

Written by Janikke Klem

Photography by Daniel Garcia

Think Half Moon Bay, and you likely think pumpkins, but it’s so much more. Winter is a special time of year along this part of the coast. It’s cool and typically clear, making it a perfect time to day trip from San Jose. Just be sure to bring a jacket—it’s beautiful, but usually chilly.

Take the leisurely drive from San Jose up Highway 280 North to Highway 92 West, and you’ll soon find yourself winding your way over the Santa Cruz Mountains and down through the coastal farm valley that leads into Half Moon Bay. As you get close, watch for the famous horse at Lemos Farm, painted to reflect the changing seasons or holidays. You never know what it will be wearing next.

A great place to begin your day is at Raman’s Chai, arguably the best in the Bay Area. Order the original and don’t ask to change anything. Raman knows what he is doing. While sipping on the comfort of cardamom and honey, jump onto Highway 1 North to Pillar Point Harbor, where Dungeness crab season would normally be in full swing at this time. Even with the season postponed because of harmful algae blooms, though, you can still stroll the wharf and feel the bracing coolness of winter along the coast.

There are several restaurants around Pillar Point Harbor that serve great chowder

and other fare, and it’s still fun to see the fishermen and boats in action. Mavericks Surf Shop is also right there at Johnson Pier. Learn who Jeff Clark is and get a T-shirt to prove it!

Just up the street, stop at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for fish tacos and pale ale. Or indulge in fried artichoke hearts as you sit outside at one of the fire pits and listen to conversations take place among locals and tourists. After a bit of relaxing, head back south about five miles down Highway 1 to take a walk along Poplar Beach, or follow the cliffs. The dramatic views and scenic horizons can bring a sense of calm to anyone suffering from too much Valley hustle.

After soaking in the natural beauty of the coastline, head to Main Street for some retail therapy. A collection of quaint shops, including the Half Moon Bay Wine and Cheese shop, await your perusing. The shop owner is T. J. Rodgers (founder of Cypress Semiconductor), who’s also the owner and winemaker for Clos de la Tech, a winery known for its Pinot Noir. At Rodgers’s shop, you’ll also find a nice selection of wines from vintners of the Santa Cruz Mountains as well as other California regions. And the tasting bar provides a way to sip and discover a new varietal or producer before buying a bottle.

No trip to Half Moon Bay is complete without a stop for sushi at Sushi Main Street (actually located on Mill Street), which has one of the most unique and beautiful settings you’ll find along the coast. It’s a feast for all your senses. Order whatever looks appealing—it’s all excellent.

If you are in the mood for a sandwich instead, stand in line with the locals at the San Benito House Deli. They make their own old-world-style bread to create enormous, delectable feasts for the hands (turkey on olive-walnut bread is this writer’s go-to). Enjoy it outside on the patio, where you’ll often find a fire pit burning and a musician playing.

Half Moon Bay is a tranquil, incredibly scenic coastal destination that’s easy to get to, provides respite from the buzz of Silicon Valley, and offers great food and drink. Head there once, and you’ll be making plans for your next trip back. And when you do come back, consider hiking at McNee Ranch, just north of town—afterward, you might have to stop by the Brewing Company again to quench your thirst with another pint of pale ale!

Directions from SOuth BAY

•Take I-280 N to San Mateo County Exit 33, State Route 92 29 min (31 mi)

•Take State Route 92 W Keep left toward Half Moon Bay 37 min (21.4 mi)

Welcome to Half Moon Bay, CA Population: 11,324

Lemos Farm

12320 San Mateo Rd

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 650.726.2342

Raman’s Chai 101 Main St

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 650.726.6292

Pillar Point Harbor

1 Johnson Pier Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

650.726.5727

Princeton Seafood 9 Johnson Pier

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

650.726.2722

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company 390 Capistrano Rd

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

650.728.2739

Poplar Beach

152 Poplar St Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

650.726.8280

Half Moon Bay Wine and Cheese 421 Main St

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

650.726.1520

Sushi Main Street 696 Mill St

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

650.726.6336

San Benito House Deli 356 Main St

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 650.726.9507

McNee Ranch State Park

Montara, CA 94037

650.726.8819

One of the first towns in San Mateo County, Half Moon Bay was originally named San Benito and then Spanishtown before taking its current name. Pillar Point, the north tip of the Bay, is home to the infamous surfing waves of the Mavericks.

Murals

on our walls

Written by Mark Haney

The tools are few—paint, a brush, a blank wall, and an idea. Yet it is the artistry of working up close, while maintaining the integrity of the larger picture, that makes murals so fascinating. These transformed walls are portals that can take you to another place, another thought process, another view on life. It is through these modern tapestries that San Jose culture is expressed and defined, inviting viewers to pause to reflect on who we are as a society and what are our ideals. The following are only a few of the many wonderful murals throughout San Jose.

When Anno Domini moved to the SoFA District, they wanted people to be able to find them quickly and to give those unfamiliar with the gallery a hint as to what is inside. This collage of international artists' murals signals to those entering South First Street that this is where they’ll encounter the most concentrated arts and culture spaces in the city.

Produced by Anno Domini (2005–2013)

Artists

Photography by Daniel Garcia

1. Anno Domini Mural Collage Anno Domini, 366 S. 1st St, San Jose

(from left to right): Carolyn Ryder Cooley (New York) & Lena Wolff (California); Daniel Jesse Lewis (California); Jessie Rose Vala (New Mexico); David Choe (California); Bruno 9Li (Brazil), Klone (Israel), Adrian Lee (California); Know Hope (Israel)

This piece speaks to the idea of learning to cohabit as technology progresses and to the determination that it takes to exist and push forward.

Produced by Phantom Galleries and San Jose Downtown Association (2015)

Artist: Jeffrey Hemming (San Jose, California)

Nichi Bei Bussan, 140 Jackson St, San Jose

This urban contemporary piece is left to the audience’s interpretation. It allows different people to connect on different levels by going beyond just one story or theme, encouraging viewers to use their imagination to open up numerous narratives and ideas.

Produced by Empire Seven Studios (2015).

Artist: NoseGo (Pennsylvania)

Chevron, 135 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose

This mural is a tribute to John Carlos and Tommie Smith’s famous black power salute at the 1968 Olympics.

Produced by Anno Domini and San Jose Downtown Association (2005)

Artists: Paul Ulrich & Chris Duncan (California)

5. S o FA

The Studio, 396 S. 1st St, San Jose

This mural depicts the eclectic offerings of the SoFA area.

Produced by 1stAct and SoFA District (2009)

Artist: Samuel Rodriguez (California)

2. Fountain Alley Mural: Phylum of the Free Lido Night Club, 30 S. 1st St, San Jose

3. Little Moment

4. Homage

6. Tribute to Rahsaan Roland Kirk Cafe Stritch, 374 S. 1st St, San Jose

This three-story mural is a tribute to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, the late jazz legend who often played multiple instruments at once. When Rahsaan Kirk’s widow saw the mural for the first time, it brought her to tears.

Produced by Cafe Stritch (2014)

Artists: Roger Ourthiague and Chris Anway (California)

7. What You Are, I Once Was Brazilian Blowout Bar, 489 S. Market St, San Jose

This mural is an homage to California and a commentary on the current drought situation, with the hair representing water and the skull being scarcity.

Produced by The Exhibition District (2015)

Artist: Stephanie Azevedo (San Jose, California)

8. Santo Market

245 E. Taylor St, San Jose

John is a sign painter who specializes his fine artwork within a semi-impressionistic style, using an Italian Renaissance color palette. His subject matter includes surreal images of monsters and parodies of Old Masters paintings. This image is a parody of the iconic Japanese woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

Produced by Empire Seven Studios (2014)

Artist: John Barrick (San Jose, California)

ADUlt Coloring

Kyle Pellet is a San Jose–based fine artist and designer. His work stems from the imaginary creatures that he develops as he is inspired by shapes and elements in the real world. Frequently working in gouache, Pellet often peppers his graphic style with a little humor, which is the right fit for the assignment we gave him: adult coloring pages.

pelletfactory.com

Illustration by Kyle Pellet

Christmas in the Park

In the age of tablets and smartphones, desktops and laptops, screens are pulsating and flickering at us at from the billboards along our commute, then at work. We stare at them for entertainment and find some sliver of social connection through a screen. No wonder the physical side of us continues to long for something that the virtual world cannot provide: touch.

Adult coloring books are part of the psychological undercurrent that has become popular in the last few years, where people are drawn to making and to handcrafted goods. We long to create, to touch, to work together in the physical world, shoulder to shoulder. Here we give you the gift of an opportunity to call a few friends over to sit, talk, commune, and color.

“AS A CREATIVE PERSON, YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK AND BE LIKE, ‘YEAH! THAT'S STILL SICK. I DEFINITELY KILLED IT.’ YOU'RE ALWAYS REALIZING STUFF CAN BE BETTER.”

Chris Patton MADE THAT

Even if you don’t know Chris Patton by name, chances are you know his work. The tables and benches at B2 Coffee. The front façade of Loteria Taco Bar. The SJMADE CreateSpace Cube at Valley Fair. The wall panels in Studio Current’s lobby. The front patio of SoFA Market. The two tables by Vero’s Coffee Bar. The stools and butcher block countertop at Konjoe Tei. The front panels and sign for the recently opened Vitamina Juices & Blends. All those clean metal lines creating sleek outlines for the seductive geometry of the woodwork. That’s Chris Patton.

With a studio space in Campbell, Patton, 32, who grew up in San Jose, appears to be well on his way to becoming one of the great San Jose makers. Perpetually booked with a mix of both hip high-visibility and private projects for San Jose’s creative voices and influencers, what’s interesting is how little marketing Patton has had to do to get to where he’s at.

How’d you get into this?

I did construction for my dad’s construction company. As I got older, I was like, “I don’t want to do this, but what am I going to do?” I was always into artistic sort of things, but I didn’t really know how I was going to channel that. So I was doing photography and making wooden and metal frames for some prints, and I was like, “Oh, I like doing this.” Then I made a coffee table for my best friend and I had a lot of fun. I started doing a little bit more on the side and people kept asking me, “Can you make this?” Then I got a job doing tables for San Pedro Square Market. They’re the ones where B2 is. I did five tables for them. At first it was like, “I’m going to take a week off my regular job to do this.” But then I never went back.

How’d you get connected to San Pedro Square Market and SoFA Market?

I got connected to them because a friend of mine has a restaurant in there, Bray Butcher Block & Bistro. I

did a couple stools for him. Then the [San Pedro Square Market] manager at the time liked the stools and asked him about them. That’s how all of my jobs come about: word of mouth. The SoFA thing came about because Nate [LeBlanc], who’s the manager at SoFA, used to work at San Pedro Square Market. SoFA had that whole front patio space to do stuff with. While I was doing that, all the people who have spots inside started asking me to do stuff. In a way, SoFA Market has kind of become my spot, like my showroom. I have all this work there that people can see.

It seems like you’re still having a lot of fun doing this, and for you, getting better at something seems to stave off any sort of creative inertia.

You just keep doing things and you’ll eventually end up doing the wrong thing and learning why it’s bad. That coffee table I made for my friend—at the time, I thought it was sick. Then later on I made him a new one because I was like, “Dude, I can’t look at this thing anymore. This is terrible.” As a creative person, you don’t want to look back and be like, “Yeah! That’s still sick. I definitely killed it.” You’re always realizing stuff can be better.

There are times where I don’t make as much money as I could because I spent all these extra hours on something. With the [SJMADE CreateSpace] Cube, I made those leveling feet myself. I could have just bought some, but I couldn’t find ones that I liked. I ended up taking some bolts and cutting out circles of walnut. I spent two to three hours making something I could have bought for, like, seven dollars. But I was like, “This will look cool! I want to do this!” It’s probably not the best way to make a bunch of money. But I feel so much better with it looking cool and looking the way I want it to look.

Interview by Kevin Biggers Photography by Stan olszewski

instagram: pattondesign

“WHEN YOU DRAW PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO INSULT THEM A LITTLE BIT.”

Gilbert Armendariz, Self-Portrait

THe Cartoonist

Gilbert Armendariz spends an hour or two of each day getting lost in his sketchbook, drawing cartoonish versions of the people he sees around him—both people he knows and complete strangers who cross his path.

“I like drawing people in public, goofy-looking people,” he says.

When he lived in Berkeley, he would draw people who caught his eye while he was riding BART and turn them into cartoons. The pages of his sketchbook are filled with comic book characters, caricatures, and random doodles that come to the cartoonist’s mind.

Armendariz can sketch realistic portraits and still lifes, but to him cartoons are more fun. He can draw just about anything in cartoon form—shapes, landscapes, still lifes, portraits, buildings, the human figure. Of all these, he prefers drawing people the most. His comic book–style of illustration lends itself to exaggerating his subjects’ features. He sees elongated limbs, pronounced foreheads, ears that stick out—it’s all part of his process to transform human beings into cartoons. “When you draw people, you have to insult them a little bit,” Armendariz says of his drawing style.

Self-described as a shy person—”People sometimes think I’m mean because I don’t talk,” he says—Armendariz lets his artwork do the talking for him. “My art is happy, and sometimes I’m not. I can be a downer,” he says, laughing. Pulling out his sketchbook (or even just a pen) while in social settings allows Armendariz to be a part of the conversation without saying a word. He finds the solitary act of drawing to be meditative and calming.

As a kid, Armendariz was inspired to draw because his dad used to do it. His brother eventually began drawing, too, and Armendariz soon followed suit. One morning, his mother was trying to find him at their home. She ran

from room to room, until she was relieved to find him safely drawing on the floor of a closet. “That’s when I knew drawing was okay,” he says.

He also found inspiration from watching Saturday morning cartoons. Armendariz remembers inheriting his brother’s collection of comic books and reading the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the first big comic book story he had ever experienced. He was shocked by the magical realism and strong language—it was then that he realized the contents of a comic book have no limits.

“You can do anything in a comic book because there are no rules,” Armendariz says.

His talent eventually led him to work with a group of muralists near his hometown of Gilroy, where they painted murals on the walls of local middle schools. Armendariz has also painted murals in children’s bedrooms.

While he’s been drawing since his childhood, Armendariz has only spent time working as a serious cartoonist for the past 10 years, concentrating on improving his illustration skills and working as an artist for hire. Armendariz’s artwork can be found on album art, flyers, posters, and on merchandise for musicians. If you’ve seen flyers for Rockage, you’ve seen his work. He sells drawings, paintings, and comic books, too. He occasionally exhibits his artwork at local comic book conventions, which gives him the chance to meet some of his fans and make new ones.

Armendariz is a talented artist, but he doesn’t let that stop him from practicing every day. “That’s the key to drawing, or anything really,” he says. “Obsession leads to perfection, but I would not recommend that. I don’t follow that, and I am certainly not perfect. I don’t think art should be—but that’s another tangent.”

Interview and Photography by daniel garcia

instagram: antireason

.“AS SOON AS I STARTED TO DIVE DEEPER AND TURN INWARD, THAT’S.

.WHEN I REALLY STARTED TO CONNECT. WITH WHAT I WAS DOING.”.

NIKKEA TAKAGI

Although Nikkea Takagi’s paintings may have a Native American feel, she credits her Japanese background for her influences. Her clean lines and refined details are best showcased on wood, with the natural grain forming the backdrop for her often-lone characters and spirit animals. Nikkea is a co-owner of Black Arrow Printing in San Jose, where she also creates original designs.

How did you start painting on wood rather than canvas?

I tried to paint on canvas, and I hate the texture. I love the smooth feel of wood. I have a lot of really thin, clean lines, and the texture of canvas just...I’m a perfectionist, and those little valleys and peaks just totally don’t jive with me. [laughs]

With the wood grain coming through the background, I didn’t start out painting like that. I was getting really frustrated because I was trying to work with implementing backgrounds and having lots of layers and scenery. I broke a lot of stuff and smashed a lot of paintings because it just wasn’t working out.

I’m more of a focal-point person, and that’s where all the detail is. Sid [Sid Enck Jr., her fiancé and co-owner of Black Arrow Printing] suggested, “Let the wood grain show through. I think it looks awesome.” I did it once—actually, I believe this wolf one was the first one—and I just went with it.

I feel like that’s what’s led me to this style. I used to try to have a different style that didn’t really flow with who I am inside. As soon as I stopped fighting that, a whole new world of work came out. It started to feel really, really good.

What’s the balance between finding your voice and doing the same old thing?

I feel that we’re constantly changing. With every experience, with every minute of every day, there’s something new that’s going on inside of us. Art being a reflection of ourselves, it’s natural for it to progress and change.

The message I really try to send in my art is knowing yourself on the inside. As soon as I started to dive deeper and turn inward, that’s when I really started to connect with what I was doing.

What are some of the things that came out of that?

I’m a really emotional person. Sadness. I need things to hold on to that help me feel stronger throughout my day, that help me to fight that flow of doubting myself and being unhappy. It’s so natural to be pulled in that downward current.

With my characters, the war paint and the markings on the skin and the spirit animals are all amulets of protection and strength and things to hold on to in that battle of trying to be happy and positive. I’d say a common theme in my work is it’s pretty sad. [laughs]

I always got a sense of tranquil rather than sad.

I like that. Maybe when other people look at my work it doesn’t look sad to them. I could definitely see tranquil. I think that’s the bigger message that I’m trying to convey, being OK with yourself, with who you are, and to help others around you, be supportive. Especially with women—I want women to look at my work and find it as a symbol of strength.

Interview and Photography by Daniel Garcia

What is your guiding philosophy for life? What’s your nugget of what makes you tick?

I know that I have what I have, and anything that happens I cannot change and I will overcome it.

My father passed away when I was eight, which at the time wasn’t a huge thing. I was a kid. I think it translated a lot later into acting out. I was just a hellion to bring up. My mom sent me away to boarding school when I was fourteen years old, a therapeutic boarding school. I was running away, taking my own path.

I had a lot of trust issues and relationship issues with my mom after that, and I actually ran away from home for good two months after graduating. I was fifteen years old. We have a great relationship now, but that only started at the age of maybe 22 or 23. I grew up very, very young.

How do you think that translates into your work? Is that part of being strong and triumphing?

I never really thought about it too much...I’ve overcome the anger toward my mom. But I think that, at the end of the day, that was a huge thing that happened in my life that I’ll probably always carry with me. Strength and knowing that you may be alone, but you don’t have to feel lonely, is definitely something that I think translates to my work.

I noticed that you usually have just one figure in your paintings.

Yeah. This painting, in particular, Based on a True Story There are two arrows in her back, and they represent two events that happened in my life that really just put an arrow in my spirit, brought me down. The wolf is the power. Sometimes I relate it to what saved me, what brought me out of that.

“WITH EVERY EXPERIENCE, WITH EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY, THERE'S SOMETHING NEW THAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF US. ART BEING A REFLECTION OF OURSELVES, IT'S NATURAL FOR IT TO PROGRESS AND CHANGE.”

Based on a True Story

Many Arms

instagram: lady.parts

ORLY LOCQUIAO

RISING FROM HUMBLING BEGINNINGS

Written by BRANDON ROOS Photography by mark chua

Though various designs now cover large swaths of his body, Orly Locquiao still remembers his first tattoo.

Right after he turned 18, he walked into a shop near Notre Dame High School with $60 in his pocket and asked what he could get. He decided on a tribal band, though he was only able to get an outline. For another 50 bucks, the tattoo artist said, he could come back and get it filled in. Orly quickly showed off his new ink, but the response was far from what he had hoped for from his friends.

“They looked at me and said, ‘That is the stupidest tattoo I’ve ever seen,’” he recalls. “I kept on telling them, ‘Just wait until it’s done. It’s gonna be dope,’ [but] I never filled it in.” The band has since been covered up by a dragon that wraps around his entire leg.

The humorous moment—one of teenage impulsiveness gone awry— captures who Orly once was. Though at 18 he just stepped into a shop and pointed to something on a wall, he and his Humble Beginnings tattoo shop are now known for crafting detailed, thoughtful pieces tailored to each individual who walks through their doors. But he’ll be the first to admit that the person he was in that shop at 18 isn’t who he’s become since starting in earnest as a tattoo artist himself.

More than 20 years later, he’s grown through two apprenticeships and tattooed everyone from neurosurgeons to professional athletes, including San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Orly’s notoriety now means his sessions are booked out months in advance.

Out of Orly’s discipline came Cukui, a streetwear brand that began as a platform for Orly to showcase tattoo ideas that never made it to skin. The brand recently concluded a pop-up shop run on San Francisco’s famed Haight Street, exceeding the expectations he had when the company started. He says it felt like a milestone when they opened their flagship shop in Japantown five years ago.

Much has changed, but his success has been built through learning from his mistakes and always being mindful of his humble beginnings. * * * * *

Well before getting into tattoos, Orly became fascinated with art through tagging. He remembers the first moment that creative bulb went off: he was in the boy’s locker room at Sheppard Middle School, and he saw a friend of his write his name in Sharpie on a wall.

He loved the simplicity of the expression, and that night he came up with his first tagging name, inspired by a WWF wrestler: Genius. He says the tag he created with that name was one of the ugliest things he’s ever written, but he also admits he remembers how to recreate it.

After graduating from Independence High School, Orly enrolled at several community colleges but never ended up staying past his first term. He was caught up in the party life, “hanging out, smoking, drinking, just having a ball and having no responsibility, living at home,” he says. But when his ways finally started to get him in trouble, his mother suggested he move in with an uncle in Schaumburg, a suburb of Chicago. It was there he found his footing at the Illinois Institute of Art, where he studied graphic design.

He also began driving an hour and a half several times a week to apprentice at a tattoo shop called Trial by Ink on Chicago’s rough West Side. Under the tutelage of Mike Cruz, he began to refine his skillset. “That was a turning point in my life,” Orly says, noting that his time in

and around Chicago was “when everything came into focus. I grew up a lot there. I became a man.”

Four years later, Orly returned home to San Jose and began tattooing out of his house, but he felt he lacked a niche. While studying up on the art of Polynesian tattooing, he came across Po’oino Yrondi, the man who later tattooed the expansive sleeve and chest piece on Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson. After locating his new mentor, he went to apprentice under Yrondi in Honolulu.

“I was there to reconnect with my culture, to reconnect with my roots and find out who I was,” he says of his second excursion away from home. “I was trying to find myself as a tattoo artist and see where I belonged in the industry.” He found his place with Polynesian tattooing, where every piece is created through an intimate, unique process. Each tattoo is meant to project a meaning translated into the style’s distinct aesthetic and to tap into its storied heritage.

With a new outlook and a specialized focus, he returned to San Jose after a few years and opened his first Humble Beginnings shop near Roosevelt Park on Santa Clara Street in November 2002. As Orly recalls, it wasn’t easy.

“I learned business day by day and client by client,” he says. “There would be days and weeks where I’d just do a couple tattoos and barely make ends meet, and there’d be points where I’d be completely broke and have to pull a loan from somebody just because I didn’t want to shut down.” Six years later, he had expanded his clientele enough to move the shop to its current midtown location at the corner of Meridian Avenue and San Carlos Street.

With Humble Beginnings growing, Orly looked to expand his creative endeavors. His old graffiti buddy Sam Rodriguez convinced him to design T-shirts. Since then, the two have spearheaded the designs that have come to define Cukui, a brand “rooted from a melting pot of Chicanos, South Pacific Islanders, tattoo artists, and graffiti heads,” as their site proudly declares.

“All the ideas, all the motivation, it came from a tattooing foundation,” he says of Cukui. “I wanted to mix California and Hawai‘i—the island culture mixed with West Coast living.”

His new venture also offered a chance to start fresh with his younger brother, who handles day-to-day operations while Orly sticks to design and art direction. “After we decided to partner up to do Cukui, that’s when our brotherhood really began,” admits Orly.

In those 20 years since Orly first ventured to the chilly suburbs of Chicago, back when he says he wasn’t the best brother, things are looking much rosier for the man who just welcomed his second child into the world two months back.

“Like they say, if there’s no struggle, there’s no progression. If this takes you down, all you have to do is get back up,” he says. “It’s hard for some people to do it, but if you have the will and you have the tenacity, you can do whatever you want. I have that drive where I keep trying to succeed. If it doesn’t work, I get back up and look at it as a learning curve in my life.”

During the course of our conversations, Orly certainly wasn’t afraid to admit his errors. It seems that he almost embraces them, recognizing that they always lead to a choice: recognize defeat or fight on, for we all rise from our own humble beginnings.

“PEOPLE ENTRUST YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO BE PERMANENT ON THEIR BODIES, SO YOU’VE GOT TO NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED—DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND DRAW...”

CODE FOR SAN JOSE

In the spring of 2014, Kalen Gallagher, an entrepreneur and board member of a local school district, put a call out on social media to see if there was interest in starting a civic hacking group, what would soon become a local brigade of Code for America. Kalen’s post caught the attention of Michelle Thong, a business development officer for the City of San Jose, who was interested in helping start the brigade. As it turns out, these two are on the same wavelength and share a unique passion for connecting citizens with open data and city government.

A year and a half later, Code for San Jose is going strong. After 40 bimonthly hack nights, nine weekend hack days, and four community hackathons, Code for San Jose has blossomed into a robust group of volunteers who, in their own way, are giving back to the community. In a new world where data and technology touch every part of our lives, this is volunteering 2.0.

Civic hacking happens when citizens take it upon themselves to create a solution to a problem they see in the public realm. A civic hacker can be anyone—student, public servant, designer, entrepreneur, engineer—who is willing to collaborate with others to address local challenges, anyone who wants to make their cities better for everyone. Some people come to hack nights because they are passionate about open data or transparency in governance; some come because they want to work on a project that will help them develop skills in a programing language. One thing unites the group: they are all excited about being a part of something bigger. “People are looking for ways to engage in the community, and they’re excited about using technology for civic good—not just for profit,” says Thong.

This is an intentionally bottom-up volunteer-driven organization, where collaboration and inclusion are embraced. Code for San Jose is a platform for building cool things. Instead of working on for-profit projects, this volunteer group is making tools that shed light on civic issues and that help to address specific community needs. Partnering with local government and nonprofit organizations such as the San Jose

Library, Silicon Valley Bike Coalition, the Greenbelt Alliance, and VTA, Code for San Jose is creating valuable relationships in the community that provide opportunities for collaboration, and shared feedback, on new ideas and apps. The projects they’ve worked on range from providing bicycle safety and advocacy tools, to mapping everything from campaign finance data to local vaccination rates. By building these apps and tools with data that is currently available, Code for San Jose is both demonstrating the value of open data and furthering civic innovation in San Jose.

Building these tools and using coding skills is a new form of civic engagement: the volunteers explore relevant issues and communicate through data visualizations and tools. But it is not just about the code. It’s partly about the process—discovering or thinking about an issue—and partly about working with the processes of government and the infrastructure in the community. It’s no longer just about showing up to a city council meeting to have your voice heard. It’s about finding an entirely new way to participate in local government.

A major goal of the group’s leaders is to help transform the capital of Silicon Valley into a front-runner in the open data and civic technology world. Code for San Jose policy team members are actively petitioning San Jose policymakers to adopt an open data policy that will give citizens full and open access to government documents, databases, and records for the purposes of accountability and greater utility. If these petitions for an open data policy are successful, San Jose could be at the forefront of the civic data revolution with cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Says Gallagher, “Opening data is the first step—the city can’t be a platform for civic innovation and technology without open data.”

If you are interested in civic technology, this is an excellent group in which to find allies and make connections with people who want to do good in San Jose. Come join a hack night. Come meet the members of this community of civicminded hackers, coders, and creators who are making a difference in San Jose.

Written by Nicole Tindall Photography by Daniel Garcia

“PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY’RE EXCITED ABOUT USING TECHNOLOGY FOR CIVIC GOOD—NOT JUST FOR PROFIT.”

_MICHELLE THONG

codeforsanjose.com

facebook: codeforsanjose

twitter: codeforsanjose

meetup: Code-for-San-Jose

github: codeforsanjose

“OPENING DATA IS THE FIRST STEP—THE CITY CAN’T BE A PLATFORM FOR CIVIC INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT OPEN DATA.”

_KALEN GALLAGHER

C INE Q UEST

Based in the Silicon Valley, Cinequest has been ahead of the curve in integrating creativity and technology. With the Cinequest Film Festival (CQFF) and Picture the Possibilities (PTP) program, the organization unites the filmed arts with Silicon Valley’s innovation so that artists, innovators, and youth can create and connect—and transform the future.

Voted Best Film Festival by USA Today readers this year, CQFF showcases premiere films, renowned and emerging artists, and breakthrough technology to encourage global connectivity between artists, innovators, and audiences. The festival presents over 90 world and US premieres by more than 700 participating filmmakers from over 50 countries each year. While celebrating these diverse premieres, Cinequest showcases and implements innovations that have revolutionized filmmaking, exhibition, and distribution.

CQFF’s highest honor, the Maverick Award, recognizes bold, visionary, and creative forces—exemplary in Silicon Valley innovation and the film arts. Awards have recognized guest artists such as Harrison Ford, J. J. Abrams, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ben Kingsley, Kevin Spacey, and Sir Ian McKellen.

Over 100,000 people attend CQFF, yet the festival experience is warm, personal, and electrifying. With CQFF’s hospitality and state-of-the-art venues, all within three blocks of each other, the festival aims to create a sense of home for guests coming from near and far. After all, Cinequest’s mission is to connect members of the global community with exciting advancements in art and technology.

Important, too, to Cinequest’s mission is fostering the next generation of artists and innovators. Cinequest’s PTP project is a leadership program designed to help youth across the globe develop the skill set, confidence, and inspiration to pursue their creative dreams, whether those lie in the realm of the arts, of science and technology, or of both. PTP City Sessions introduce participants to the 7 Powers of Creating program, during which they practice the creative process by making films with mentors. At the PTP Summit Silicon Valley, youth have the opportunity to connect and share their creations with luminaries in art, science, and technology.

It takes quite a team to serve global participants with CQFF and PTP, and volunteerism has been key in ensuring the organization’s success. Cinequest was founded and run entirely by volunteers for its first three seasons, and the spirit of giving remains a trademark element of the festival. Over 700 volunteers, interns, and pro-bono professionals augment Cinequest’s staff and board contributions, allowing Cinequest to produce its programs while building a true sense of community.

cinequest.org

facebook: Cinequest instagram: cinequestinc twitter: cinequest

Photography by Daniel Garcia

the volunteers

Photographed at the California Theatre

chris garcia

Above all else, I like to keep busy. I edit fanzines, a half-dozen different titles—two of which have won the Hugo Award, which is the Oscars of sci-fi. I produce documentaries, help run book giveaways at comics conventions, host three podcasts, edit comic books, work as a curator at the Computer History Museum, and—perhaps my favorite of all—I serve as the co-director of short film programming for the Cinequest Film Festival. I started volunteering for Cinequest after having my heart broken in a brutal break-up. In 2001, my first year volunteering, I worked all but one day of the festival as a theater manager and almost immediately after the festival asked if they needed help viewing shorts. I received an excited “Yes!” and I was off and running.

As a guy with wide-ranging interests, I didn’t just stick with theater managing. I’ve written for the program guide, helped run the VIP Lounge, been a theater announcer, even hauled hundreds of program guides to Napa and Santa Cruz (in the same day!). For almost a decade, I presented Critics for a Day, a program giving fourth graders the tools to critically watch short films. One year, I set a personal goal to teach kids the idea of “genre,” and the kids not only got it but also began using the term in class! Maybe more than any other thing I’ve accomplished in my years helping out, giving those 100-plus kids that arrow for their academic quiver has been the most inspiring.

When not announcing films, I love interacting with the filmmakers. I can often be found in the VIP Lounge, chattering happily with folks or interviewing them for one of my podcasts. I just love surrounding myself with so much talent. Also, the snacks are always wonderful in the Lounge.

Christine (Chris) Marcoida

I was born and raised in San Jose. I graduated from Willow Glen High School and received a bachelor of science in marketing from Santa Clara University. I worked in the technology and medical device industry for more than 25 years before joining the City of San Jose in September 2015. I’ve always loved movies—they are such a powerful medium to communicate and influence thought. I also love to escape into the stories, the characters, and the cinematography. There’s something magical about watching a movie on a large screen.

I am active in the San Jose community as a volunteer for local groups. I joined Cinequest as a volunteer in 2011 as a speaker/presenter on the theater operations team as a way both to volunteer and receive the benefits of seeing amazing independent films for free! What I didn’t know the first year I volunteered was how much fun I would have! I think I’m addicted to being part of the Cinequest family!

What I love about volunteering with Cinequest is hard to nail down in just one word. I love the people—the staff, co-founders Kathleen Powell and Halfdan Hussey, the volunteers, filmmakers, and patrons! I am inspired by their commitment to five-star diamond service. Personally, I love the chance to work on the California Theatre stage. The last time I was on stage as a performer was 1983. I credit children’s theater with providing me a playground to learn how to develop confidence in myself, think on my feet, and adapt to last-minute changes.

I return each year because I feel part of a wonderful community and family with the Cinequest staff, volunteers, and patrons. I want to be part of delivering an unforgettable experience.

NathAn Louie

I’ve been a greeter for the Cinequest Film Festival for over 20 years, and I’m honored that I’ve contributed to the Cinequest experience for this long. You’ll find me at the festival’s big events wearing any number of extravagant outfits, from a dapper all-white top hat and tails combo to an elaborate Beijing Opera costume. The last outfit is my favorite thus far. I picked it up while visiting the Summer Olympics in 2008.

I was born in San Francisco in 1940 to a Chinese immigrant father and a Chinatown-native mother. After graduating from San Francisco State University, I volunteered as a teacher at the California Migrant Ministry in Clearlake, California. I then became a teacher at Lower Lake Elementary while also teaching inmates at the Konocti Conservation Camp.

In 1966, I moved to San Jose to begin teaching at the Santa Clara Unified School District, and I pursued a master’s degree in teaching at San Jose State University. I spent 38 years with the District before retiring. I also spent six years managing apartments while I was teaching so I could buy my own house.

I was first introduced to Cinequest by a friend, and I’ve been a constant volunteer since. Two years ago, I sponsored one of the films screened: a Chinese film called Parallel Maze. I never imagined Cinequest would make such a big difference in my life, so it was a humbling experience that they named the Nathan Louie Volunteer Award after me.

I always enjoy seeing a lot of the same people come back again and again. I hope you all attend this unique film festival and find out why it’s such a colorful and beloved addition to San Jose.

Mary Nguyen

I am a junior at Sacramento State University, where I study nursing, and I hope to enter the Army as a commissioned officer upon graduation. I have spent a year in ROTC and have enjoyed long-distance running over numerous years, during which I have placed in many races.

Required to do service hours during high school, I chose to volunteer with Cinequest and have continued my involvement for the past seven years. I have worked in theater operations for six years, managing a theater as well as performing the roles of Camera 12 liaison and assistant to the director of theater operations. I have also worked in the ticket and box office department. During the festival, I have either taken time off of school to dedicate myself to the organization or traveled back and forth between San Jose and Sacramento. I enjoy meeting new people, both filmmakers and patrons, during the festival, and I have had the honor of meeting some incredible Mavericks over the years.

I find myself taking on new and challenging roles, successfully accomplishing them, and getting great satisfaction from volunteering not only with Cinequest but also with military support groups. My latest involvement has been volunteering at the San Jose USO and assisting the South Bay Blue Star Moms with their fundraising and care packaging efforts to send snacks, toiletries, and assorted necessities to deployed troops across the world. My hope is to be able to continue supporting these different organizations for many years to come.

Sandy Wolfe

After practicing divorce law for 27 years, I knew it was time for a change. I retired in 2001 and looked for an activity that would fulfill my passion for movies, which had begun as a little kid watching New York City’s Million Dollar Movie on daytime TV (despite my pleas, my parents would not allow me to skip school in order to watch Mighty Joe Young for the thousandth time). I contacted Cinequest, and I must have said something right because almost immediately I was thrust into watching films and writing for the festival program guide. Eventually, I became a documentary programmer, and I now help choose the documentaries that show at Cinequest. Over the past 15 years, I have screened almost 4,000 films, and although I do get bleary eyed at times, it is always quite gratifying to discover a gem and especially satisfying when the Cinequest audience appreciates and enjoys the films as much as I did when I first saw them.

In my spare time when I am not screening submissions, I watch old movies on Turner Classic Movies. I write a weekly blog with my extremely subjective recommendations and commentary on the films that will be airing on TCM that week. Name a movie, and I will have an opinion on it—whether I have seen it or not.

The Cinequest team has become a real community to me, and I treasure the friendships that I have made with everyone involved with the festival, from the staff to other volunteers as well as the filmmakers and audience members whom I have met over the years. I never envisioned myself watching movies all day during my retirement—but someone has to do it, and I’m glad it is me.

SHAUN DEL GRANDE

Written by Shadd Williams Photography by daniel garcia

Shaun Del Grande, father of three, CEO of 14 car dealerships, couldn’t be less like your stereotypical car salesman. He’s relaxed with a quiet confidence, at ease with words, but with nothing in his manner and bearing to indicate “car salesman.” Quite simply, Del Grande is friendly, and well...happy. No wonder making “happy car buyers” has been Del Grande Dealer Group’s aim. DGDG has become the predominant presence in auto sales in the South Bay area for good reason.

This guy knows what he’s doing DGDG wins every award out there—sales records, customer satisfaction, the whole nine yards. But the award Del Grande is proudest of is the one bestowed by Top Workplaces. In Silicon Valley—with all the perks and freebies that come with working for some of the most profitable businesses in the world as your competition— that’s saying something. DGDG doesn’t do their employees’ dry cleaning. They don’t have a cereal bar surrounded by a koi pond with 24-hour masseuses standing by. They simply make the people who work for them feel valued. They give them a chance to achieve their goals. They spend time making sure their employees have what they need to succeed.

“We focus on trying to attract, retain, motivate, and promote talented people,” says Del Grande. “We’ve been able to grow by putting this great team of people together. We like to say that we hire attitude, not aptitude.” In building the organization, Del Grande has focused also on finding and developing great leaders from the inside, cultivating that leadership talent from the people he’s got, rather than seeking it elsewhere. From great leadership follows great teams. And from great teams, in turn, comes a superb customer experience.

“If you can deliver the great guest experience,” says Del Grande, “then that’s the holy grail. You’ll have repeat and referral business. But it all starts with having great leaders because that’s what is required to build the teams.”

And so the focus is always squarely on the people. “Our

golden rule is take care of people,” Del Grande says. “People are our most valuable asset.”

Not simply the customers, but the employees too. His “family.” And he doesn’t use that term lightly. He’s connected to the people who work for him, concerned that they are as happy with the company as the company is with them. He knows that in serving the interests of his employees, he serves, too, the interests of the customer.

The Game Has Changed

“Ten or 15 years ago,” says Del Grande, “the average consumer would visit four dealerships. Today it’s just over one before they buy a car, because they’ve done so much research online that they already have narrowed down their field.” What consumers want today, says Del Grande, is a “trustworthy, transparent, less haggling, smooth, confident experience in buying in car.” They’re not necessarily looking to get the lowest price, but they are looking for a fair one. The Del Grande dealerships aim for this by pricing all their cars at, or lower than, Kelley Blue Book values.

Consumers also want for the process to take less time. Most dealerships average at least three to four hours. Del Grande and his staff do everything they can to keep that to less than two.

Del Grande grew up the son of a car dealer. His father owned what was then Almaden Mazda. “I grew up around the business,” he says. “My dad’s this amazing guy in a nontraditional way, not what you would think of in the old car dealers.”

“The only thing I knew when I started at UCLA,” he continues, “was I did not want to get in the car business.” Del Grande studied economics, and then started working for his father in another capacity in the early ’90s. He’d started a cellular phone business in Northeast Mississippi, with the plan of staying for three months, just enough for a kick start. He ended up staying three years. Del Grande loved the challenge of growing the business. He loved working with his dad.

“OUR GOLDEN RULE IS TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE. PEOPLE ARE OUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET.”

“I think that family dynamics in any business can be very tricky, and I just happened to draw a really lucky card with my father,” he says. “It’s amazing. He was best man at my wedding. He’s my best friend. He’s my mentor, so it’s been, for us, an amazing experience. We’ve been working together for 20 years [in the car business] and three years in the cellular phone company, and just to think how lucky it is for me, and then he’ll tell everybody how lucky it is for him. It’s special. It’s really cool.”

Del Grande returned to Los Angeles and spent some time “learning the car business” before coming back home, to work alongside his father. “I told him I’d love to help him not just run the dealership but to grow and build a dealer group.” After a few years together, Del Grande’s father handed the reins to his son.

“Together we’ve been able to grow the business from a couple of dealerships to fourteen. In 2007, we had 150 people working for us, now it’s 900. We sold 5,500 cars that year. This year it’ll be 31,000.”

Part of this uptick in sales may have also to do with the specialists Del Grande hires. Specialists in everything from particular brands to specific aspects of the customer experience. The investment he puts into his staff far outpaces that of his competitors.

DGDG Does Good

There is a culture to companies that succeed, a culture sometimes adopted by the newbies, a culture unattainable by those who don’t quite make it past their first 90 days. It

is a culture of doing good: good for each other, good for the customer, and good for the community.

A few years ago, Del Grande made something official that had been going on behind the scenes for years. They call it DGDGDG: Del Grande Dealer Group Does Good.

“We’ve always done it,” Del Grande says. “Sometimes we’ve done it anonymously.” Del Grande’s parents gave back to the community from the very beginning: giving to shelters, charities, the arts. “We thought we should recognize [the charitable work done by our staff] because the team here deserves a lot of the praise. It’s not just cash: it’s time, it’s energy, it’s effort. That’s part of our culture, giving back. We have a committee that outlines where funds are going, we pick different groups [and activities].”

“Do [we] do it to try to get something? We give because it’s the right thing for us to do and it’s the right thing that our team wants to do. We’re not doing it to sell more cars. We’re doing it because it feels good.”

Shaun Del Grande has no illusions about what he’s doing. The spark for him isn’t just selling cars, it is the leadership building, the team building, the people he works with. And he loves what he does. “I don’t know a ton about cars,” he says. “I think cars are cool, but I couldn’t change the oil on my car. For me it’s about putting together an experience. It’s not rocket science. It’s really almost all just people.”

“We’re not trying to change the world. We’re just trying to make buying a car and servicing a car a better experience than people expect. Every day if we all put our efforts together, when people leave they say, ‘That was awesome.’”

“IT’S A GAME WE PLAY. I HAVE THREE KIDS. I’LL HEAR THEM YELL FROM THE BACKSEAT, ‘THERE’S ANOTHER ONE, DADDY!’ THEY GET PRETTY EXCITED WHEN THEY SEE THOSE YELLOW DGDG PLATES WHEN WE’RE DRIVING AROUND TOWN.”

“YOU REALIZE THAT, HEY, IF I HAVE THIS POWER TO DO SOMETHING OR MAKE A DIFFERENCE, IT’S HARD TO IGNORE THAT. I LEARNED THAT THE REWARD IN ITSELF IS THE FEELING, KNOWING YOU CAN DO THAT.”

KRISTI YAMAGUCHI

PROMOTING LITERACY AS A PATHWAY TO DREAMS

Written by Derek Haugen Photography by Mark Chua

When Kristi Yamaguchi saw the ice show at the Hayward Southland Mall as a little girl, she was in awe. “Just seeing the lights and the costumes…the performances were just really magical the way they all came together,” she remembers. “As a six-year-old, it’s like wow.”

As a child, Yamaguchi began skating in Hayward and continued in Fremont, California, where she grew up. While a career in figure skating might have struck some parents as impractical, Yamaguchi’s parents never discouraged her from pursuing that path. “Luckily, they didn’t have a clue about what they were getting into,” she says. “Or what I was getting into.” Besides, Yamaguchi had a backup plan: “If I wasn’t a skater, I was going to be a nurse... or to perform on Broadway.”

But figure skating was Yamaguchi’s dream. She was drawn to the intersection of physical technique and artistic performance. “Skating is truly a sport, and the athletes train as hard as, or harder than, any of the athletes in the Olympics. It’s a precision sport,” she says. “To be a good skater, you have to make it look easy even when it’s not, [and that] artistry makes it unique.”

With the artistry comes the more personal, subjective side of figure skating. “Your favorite skater could be some random person who’s 25th in the world,” Yamaguchi explains, “but maybe you like the way they move or the way they interpret the movement. It’s an emotional connection that audiences get with skaters—from their style and their personality. I think it’s important to have both. Some people think, ‘Oh, you got to have jumps,’ but when you look back at the history of our sport…the top [athletes] always had the combination of athleticism and artistry that put them above the rest.”

While she integrates athleticism and artistry in performance, Yamaguchi conducts her day-to-day life with a balance of drive and compassion, of persistence and humanity. Having realized her own childhood dream, she has dedicated her time and energy over the years to helping children have the opportunity to pursue their dreams as well.

Yamaguchi’s performance at the ’92 Winter Olympics took the gold, and she used her visibility to give back. “It’s definitely helped open doors being an Olympian,” she says. “People are more receptive to hearing your story, your cause.” After her Olympic win, Yamaguchi went on tour and began working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “Seeing the effect that we could have on a family, on one child, was eye-opening,” she recalls. “That inspired me… You realize that, hey, if I have this power to do something or make a difference, it’s hard to ignore that. I learned that the reward in itself is the feeling, knowing you can do that. That’s always been great motivation.”

With Make-A-Wish as her inspiration, Yamaguchi established the Always Dream Foundation in 1996. Over the past two decades, the charitable organization has worked to provide opportunities to underprivileged and differently abled children. “I’ve always focused on kids because I had so much support,” says Yamaguchi. “I had great parents that were there and community support. When you see kids who don’t have that, you want to do something to help them.”

In the last five years, Yamaguchi and her husband, hockey Olympian and San Jose Sharks

commentator Bret Hedican, have targeted early childhood literacy as the foundation’s primary focus. “We really wanted to find something where we could put our energy in and go narrow and deep,” Yamaguchi says. “It really came down to ‘If a kid can’t read, they’re not going to have a successful academic career.’ So, we wanted to try to hit that underserved area.”

As a quiet, introverted child, Yamaguchi enjoyed reading. “Early on, I realized the power of books,” she says, “and how they can take you on any adventure—really take your imagination anywhere it could possibly go.”

While Yamaguchi loved reading from a young age, it was the experience of reading to her two daughters, Keara and Emma, that sparked her interest in advocating for literacy. “Reading book after book to [my kids], I was like, this is great! I want to write a book for them,” she says. As she considered writing a children’s book herself, she also began thinking about how her foundation could help foster young readers.

Yamaguchi has now authored two bestselling children’s books— Dream Big, Little Pig! and It’s a Big World, Little Pig! —and her foundation has a variety of initiatives designed to promote early childhood literacy. Always Dream partners with the national literacy organization Raising a Reader to provide reading material to schools and to increase parent engagement in learning activities at home. “We bring in the digital technology side and provide tablets that are preloaded with ebooks for classrooms,” explains Yamaguchi. “A lot of the titles correspond with hardcover [texts], so the kids can experience both platforms and enhance their interest in reading and love of books.” While encouraging a love of reading is central to Always Dream, Yamaguchi notes that technology is also key: “It’s nice to introduce kids to technology because so much of their academic career is going to be centered on it.”

Growing Always Dream nationally is on the forefront of Yamaguchi’s mind. “We started here, and obviously my roots are here,” she says, “but we are expanding out to schools in Arizona and Hawaii. We will probably hit the Big Island next. There’s a lot of need.”

Yamaguchi is also busy creating pieces for Tsu.ya, her line of activewear for women. The endeavor unites her career, love of style, and philanthropy. “I’m a girl,” she laughs.

“I love shopping. I’ve always been interested in fashion, and...the costume plays a big role [in skating]... Activewear was a natural segue because—not being a formal designer—it’s something I know and grew up in.”

Inspired by Newman’s Own and TOMS Shoes, the Tsu.ya brand donates a portion of the proceeds to Always Dream. “We are on the cusp of really expanding and really becoming— and being seen as—innovators in the early literacy space,” says Yamaguchi of her foundation. “That’s something we would love to continue to develop and make a mark in.”

While childhood literacy may be her focal point, Yamaguchi has not left skating behind. She continues to skate alongside other luminaries in shows that support childhood reading, and for the past six years, she’s partnered with Hawaiian Airlines to bring community ice skating to San Jose with Downtown Ice. Every year during the holidays, visitors can enjoy skating there under the twinkling palms, perhaps getting a sense of that same magic that drew Yamaguchi to the ice as a little girl.

“I’ve always focused on kids because I had so much support… When you see kids that don’t have that, you want to do something to help them.”

downtownicesj.com

alwaysdream.org

tsuyabrand.com

AVERY RUZICKA MANRESA BREAD Owner. Baker.

Avery’s story reads like a movie: the young American girl from North Carolina, blonde hair, big glasses, slight lisp, heads to Europe to boarding school, stays with a family in Santander, Spain, and is exposed to food and travel. You can picture the scene: North Spain coastal dinner tables with laughing foreigners and the bright-eyed, curious Avery taking in each new experience. Once she returns home, the European lifestyle and food culture haunts her, calls her back in her junior year of college for a semester in France, which she then extends to a year, because, “I just wasn’t ready to go home yet.” And while there, her food appreciation morphs into a passion for the culinary arts. We return to the US for a short montage of being back at Chapel Hill college to finish a degree in poli sci, with a minor in creative writing. The scene overlaps with her throwing off her graduation cap to a plane touching down in JFK, because she is now in the Big Apple to attend the French Culinary Institute. There she happens to meet Chef David Kinch in a short friendly conversation of the kind you’d expect from a top chef and a student. Avery continues her study and is drawn to taking a baking class, which happened to start as her other studies conclude. She finishes the class, not thinking she would rather be a baker than a chef, but the experience was great. Then another chance to meet David Kinch, and now as a certified chef. Avery expresses her desire to work in his kitchen, but he doesn’t have any openings and Avery has enough experience by this time and isn’t in a position to take a nonpaid internship. No hard feelings, such is life. Then a few months later, she hears through a friend that Manresa is looking for “Front of House” help. Avery, not shy to advantage, sees the opportunity to be a part of Chef Kinch’s work and even though it isn’t a cooking position, she heads to the West Coast. Fade to black to a crossfade of the title slide, which reads “Summer 2011, Los Gatos, California.”

Interview and Photography by daniel garcia

So that was it, you headed out?

I flew from North Carolina out here with my little bag. I didn’t have any, like, kitchen stuff or anything. I met with them and took the position. I was a food runner. That was fab. I had my mornings free and they were making bread, but they didn’t have anyone in particular doing that. I thought, “I’m not really cooking yet,” so I asked, “Can I help? Can I do this?”

You just started helping out where there was a need?

Yeah. They were making four breads. Chef Kendra [Baker], who now owns the Penny and Assembly, had been Executive Pastry Chef at Manresa a couple of years prior and that started them on the kick of actually making some of their own breads.

Then she was gone and I think it was like a game of telephone where she had some great recipes that had been passed down without anybody really having ownership of them.

I started asking questions about why things were happening and the way they were happening. And no one really knew. So David and Jessica [Chef Largey] gave me the opportunity to start slowly taking over all the breads, and then I started changing them.

That was six months of baking bread in the morning. It was just me coming in the morning and doing it because it was just there.

You were helping out in the morning and then you were still food running?

For six months. I had even given David a six-month commitment as a food runner. Then after that, I moved into the kitchen, continued the bread, and I did the amuse station for six months.

After another six months, Jessica asked me which I wanted, that was

finally like a year later, and I was ready to say, “Bread is actually the thing I want to do.” I thought about watching somebody else make the bread every day and the idea kind of broke my heart and I was like, “I think I have my answer.”

At that point were you already starting to experiment and develop some of your own…

Absolutely, yeah, pretty much immediately it was tweaking and then changing entirely. We introduced the baguette. We didn’t have a baguette recipe before. We got rid of one of the breads. I developed a brioche recipe, rather than the one that they were using. But I was definitely hesitant, because it was really exciting, but I was also a little bit...

You were a little shy or apprehensive to, kind of, take too much of the reins?

Yeah, I have a big personality. Everyone has a big personality at Manresa though, so it was tempering that. David and I really got to know to each other, and you know, he put a lot of trust in me and we developed that [relationship].

And the nice thing about the bakery is it’s been a very organic thing. It wasn’t that I walked into Manresa and said, “Hey, let’s open a bakery.” It was—I walked in and said, “I want to be part of this place. I think what you’re doing is incredible.”

It wasn’t that you had the understudy kind of mentality, like, “I’m going to take over.”

[laughs] No. There wasn’t anything to take over. They never had a bread maker position. Jessica really supported doing that, they created a position for me, which is a position that, you know, at that point,

Owner and Baker Avery Ruzicka

nobody had made any money off of bread—that’s a give-away at a restaurant. They saw how excited I was about it. So we slowly...you know, it was helpful, because it was something off of somebody else’s plate. Then it was exciting because we stopped doing cookies as a give-away, and I got to do brioche as a give-away. Until we got to the point where we were doing five breads for service, plus the give-away. We were doing the fruit and nuts bread for crackers, and then the crackers in-house. We’re doing all those things, I’m doing all those things. Then it’s, like, “That’s kind of the max on bread. I don’t know if we can shove more bread at people.”

Overdoing it. [laughs]

That’s when the opportunity for the farmers’ market came along. Again, it was totally by chance—a customer came in who was the organizer of one of the farmers’ market associations. They happened to have a space opening at the Campbell Farmers’ Market.

I think he mentioned to, probably, Esteban [Garibay, general manager], saying, “Hey, we have an opening. Would you guys want to sell your bread?” David and Esteban came to me and said, “There’s this opportunity, and let’s try it.”

Can you make a couple more loaves? [laughs]

So, one Saturday night, I figured out how I want to do it, and did it, dropped off the most bread at that point that I’d made. Not to sell, just to try—they try it, and they say, “OK, this is your product.”

Then they gave us the green light. I was, like, “OK. I’m going to organize myself, and do this,” and we just kind of pieced it together.

We were in Campbell to start, and then because it was still just me—I didn’t have anybody else helping with the bread—I would do all the

bread for the restaurant, go home, sleep for a couple of hours, and then come back. I’d mix everything Friday night into Saturday morning, so then all the bread retarded during the day in the walk-in. And so, I’d do my normal shift on Saturday, starting really early…

So you’re part-owner now. This is such a great story, right? I mean, you came in and volunteered your time… So how did that come about? Talk about that, and the leadership of Manresa, to let you have that opportunity.

Well, again, this has happened in a very organic way. It was not, “We’re going to open a bakery.” It was, “We’re going to sell some bread.” Then, “Oh, wow. People want to buy bread.”

We were kind of between things. The farmers’ market was going well, I was pushing the envelope to bake more bread every week. Andrew [Burnham] and David had once had plans to open a restaurant together, previously, and that had not happened. Andrew had worked at the restaurant when I was there, and I knew Andrew had a background in finance. David’s book was coming out, and we were talking in very general terms about, “Hey, what if we had a brick and mortar place? What if we did this, this would be amazing.”

David had his hands full. There was the book release that fall. He was traveling all over the place. He was like, “Don’t worry. I’m going to find us a space.” I knew that that might happen one day, but he was, literally, about to leave for a book tour. And so I asked Andrew if he would want to come on board, if he could help us out. So Andrew got involved, and without Andrew doing all of the structural work for the business to happen, I wouldn’t be baking bread.

It was a long road, but I knew it was an amazing opportunity to be a partner in something and to be an owner. And I was very clear that that’s

what I wanted because I want to give as much as...I have a lot to give, but I would like to give it to something that’s partially mine. And this is what I’ve decided to commit this part of my life to, so it’s like, “I’m not going to work harder for anybody than I’m going to work for myself,” so I should probably have some part of this.

Andrew wrote our business plan, Andrew put together the investors... Andrew did all of that. And then David was the one who allowed us to do this.

How has it been, going from being so much the doer to being more the coach, the owner, and the manager?

It’s been good. It’s been exciting. I’ve learned a lot about boundaries in terms of...keeping things simple.

It was one thing when it was just me. I could push myself to the brink or I could sleep for two hours or I could sleep in the back of the van or something like that. I never asked those things from any of my teams. But when you’re doing something by yourself and it’s you figuring out how to do things, you can work for 24 hours straight.

But that’s not scalable. Learning what is scalable—you know, that experience of doing it all by myself didn’t really teach me how to create the framework for the team. I had to do that from a different standpoint. And that’s something Andrew’s helped a lot with too. He’s really pushed to keep menus simple, and things like that.

Right now, it’s important that the systems are in place, and that we have a good system of checks and balances. I think I fought that at the beginning—I wanted everything all at once. And that was great, and if I hadn’t wanted that, we wouldn’t have a bakery either. But now, learning that… This is the first time in my adult life that it hasn’t been, “What’s next?” There are questions of “what’s next?,” but we have the bakery. The bakery is here. What’s next is the bakery continues to grow. We each get to grow as part of it and we get to grow apart from it. And so relaxing into that feeling of, “We’re here. It’s OK.”

Baking and breadmaking, what do you marvel at?

That it’s, again, so engaging. And the artistry for sure, you know we want to make this beautiful food that’s an expression, almost on an artistic level, but I’m also here because I want to learn. And this is, I feel, David Kinch. He is an incredibly curious and an intellectual chef. Who doesn’t want to have a job that, every day, is engaging them on both a sensory level and an intellectual level? For me, bread is that. I love it because it is so simple. It’s made of potentially four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast, natural yeast or all of those. That’s all it is… What drove me to bread is the relationship you have with it. That’s why I really think it’s where I’ve ended up. It’s because with each loaf, with each batch of bread, you’re kind of interacting. You’re checking on it. You’re looking in on it. You’re touching it.

We make a handful of breads, we make them every single day, the same bread. And I still find it endlessly engaging.

if you took a loaf from a couple years ago and then compared it to today’s, would you be embarrassed?

Not sure if embarrassed is really it. This is four years of work. I was really lucky because in Manresa they let me take over this thing. Yeah, I dedicated my mornings and my time off—because I was so excited about it—but I remember all these mornings at Manresa. I came in. I was the first one in. I’d open the restaurant, and then I made bread. I did a little bread and then I cut it open and I looked at it, and I did it again the next day. I was having the best time ever. Yeah, I can see the growth but I think would be proud. I am proud.

What would be a good pairing for a couple of the Manresa bread staples that you have?

Two of our four staples are our Levain and our baguette. For the baguette, something just as simple as a sandwich with butter and a really nice hard salami. Super simple. But those three things together are really amazing. You have those textures—the crispy crust of the baguette, then this really creamy, bouncy interior—and then tempered butter and the salami. That’s a pretty great pairing.

The Levain is great as part of a really simple dinner, something like a roast chicken dinner. We used to do something we called chicken bread at David’s house, where when you roast your chicken, you put slices of day-old bread underneath, and it absorbs all of the fats that are coming off of the chicken, and then you just toast it a little longer afterwards. You have this crisp on the outside, really moist on the inside, toast— almost like a chicken bread pudding.

What’s next for you and for experimentation with bread?

Yeah. Continuing to learn about the mill and milling flour because it’s an art craft in and of itself… We have a stone mill here. Everything is different with fresher flours. Flavors are different, hydration is different, fermentation is different… Playing around with different fermentation styles is something I want to work with… I’d like to be doing some stiffer starters, I’d love to incorporate a new bread that does a different style of fermentation. So, a different schedule. Perhaps, potentially a stiff starter, then bulk fermented overnight, then proofed out and baked the next day.

What would be the difference in flavor? Is it sweeter?

It depends. It could be more sour actually. There’s more lactic fermentation in liquid starters. The lactic acid is what gives the dough its creamier flavor, versus the acetic acid, which is what gives it the sharper flavors. And so, a stiffer starter can promote more of acetic acid. It may also be really helpful with the 100 percent whole wheat, fresh milled. Just because of the way that that ferments. When you’re milling your own flour, it’s got a lot of natural yeast on it, on the grain itself... Just learning about how to properly ferment these really fresh-milled flours is totally a new thing.

“WHAT DROVE ME TO BREAD IS THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH IT. THAT'S WHY I REALLY THINK IT'S WHERE I'VE ENDED UP. IT'S BECAUSE WITH EACH LOAF, WITH EACH BATCH OF BREAD, YOU'RE KIND OF INTERACTING.”

KON JOE TE I

RESTAURATEUR JOEY CAMACHO CHANNELS

HIS OWN DIVERSE UPBRINGING INTO THE MENU ITEMS AT HIS ASIAN FUSION RESTAURANTS, KONJOE BURGER BAR AND KONJOE TEI.

Have you always wanted to be a chef?

I’ve always enjoyed cooking. My mom is actually from Japan. Her side of the family has been heavily involved in the restaurant industry. When I was younger growing up in Guam, every Sunday, we would have family barbecues. I ended up becoming the person to do all the cooking for those meals. It just started from there, I guess.

How did Konjoe Burger Bar in San Pedro Square Market come about?

When I went to San Pedro, the landlords wanted a little bit more diversity, because there was already Blush, which was serving sushi. They had On A Roll, which was doing various food. Phonomenal Noodle House, which was doing pho. I asked them, “What are you guys looking for?” and they said, “We really want a burger place.”

I thought about it, and said, “OK, I’m going to do burgers. I’m going to do it the way that I want to do it.” The interesting thing is if you had asked anyone who had known me prior to opening that place, I could probably count on my hands the number of times I’ve made burgers. But I did my homework and started thinking about how I would incorporate Asian cooking techniques into it.

How did Konjoe Tei, your second restaurant, happen?

I felt that downtown needed a ramen shop. I said, “If I’m going to do an izakaya, I might as well just add ramen onto the menu.” That’s how the concept started.

What does Konjo Tei mean?

It basically means, the way that my mom described, is it’s like a gathering. It’s a Japanese word. Konjo is actually a Japanese word, too. A literal translation would be like “having

Intervew and Photography by Daniel Garcia

“I FIGURE BECAUSE [S O FA IS] KNOWN FOR BEING AN ART PLACE, WHY NOT BE VERY ARTSY WITH OUR FOOD?”

“I DON’T THINK THAT YOU SHOULD COME TO US WITH THE NOTION THAT ALL WE DO IS RAMEN, BECAUSE THAT’S NOT ALL WE DO.”

Udon Pasta

Garlic Cream sauce, Salted Salmon, Salmon Roe, Mentaiko, 63 egg

guts.” It’s used to describe someone who has a very strong personality. I guess it’s a characteristic of very successful people. We did a play on it, putting an e at the end because my name is Joey. If you go to Japan, a lot of restaurants will have Tei at the end, and they’ll use their family name for the restaurant. We thought it was fitting for what we were trying to do here.

What’s one thing that you just really love about your work?

Training people. When I look at a person and I see how much they’ve grown over the three months or six months. We’ve been fortunate to have very good employees. Not all of them are in it for the long haul. A lot of them are actually San Jose State students looking for a part-time job.

I’ve had people come in and say, “I’ve never made anything in my life.” I walk into the kitchen, and I see them chopping onions and actually cooking burgers on the grill on the night of a Sharks game night rush, and it makes me feel happy to know I’ve had some sort of impact in their life.

Whether or not they want to stay in the industry, I think we’ve given them some sort of skill set that they’ll have with them for the rest of their lives that they may have not had before.

Give us your best tip for someone who’s coming to eat here.

Just be open-minded. About a week ago, we decided we’re going to change up the entire dinner menu. We’re not going to do ramen at all. That wasn’t very wellreceived. We had a lot of customers who just ended up walking away. The ones that did sit down would say, “We really wanted ramen, but we’ll try it out.”

Since then, I have introduced a bowl of ramen at night. What I’ve been telling individuals is during the daytime, we’re very ramen and rice bowl centric with a very limited, now, small-plates menu.

During nighttime, what we’re trying to do is be more shared-plates focused. We still do have the ramen for those who want it, but it will change every night. It’s basically just dependent on what we feel like serving that night.

I don’t think that you should come to us with the notion that all we do is ramen, because that’s not all we do. That’s not what our name says, either. I think people see the ramen and izakaya, and the izakaya just falls off the edge of the earth.

What I’m trying to do at this restaurant for this area in particular is provide something that’s not here. I’m looking solely at the SoFA district. It’s a very artsy district. I figure because it’s known for being an art place, why not be very artsy with our food?

konjoe.com

facebook: konjoetei

instagram: konjoe

twitter: konjoefood

Ochazuke

Grilled rice ball, salmon roe, salmon, rice pearls

PARSLEY SAGE ROSEMARY & THYME

THE RECIPE OF A SOBREMESA

Written by María Gabriela Huertas Díaz Photography by Daniel GArcia

In Spanish, the conversation carried on around the table, as people sit and relax after a good meal, is known as sobremesa. This word expresses the essence of Spanish culture: that life is to be enjoyed in the company of those we love, as we make an indulgence out of the necessity that is food.

This is the mantra that informs the work of Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme (PSRT), and the reason why today they are arguably the most successful and respected caterer in Silicon Valley. No one can deny themselves the pleasure of being part of this family.

Debbie Blackwell met Vince Guasch over 25 years ago when she was working as a waitress at his restaurant, El Paso Cafe, in Mountain View. Originally from Southern California and then Colorado and Oregon, Debbie grew up enjoying fresh, quality food. Her grandmother canned her own fruit, while her mother baked the daily bread and her father experimented with whatever ingredients he could find on their farm.

After her sister moved to the Bay Area, Debbie followed, landing a retail job at the Vallco Shopping Center in Cupertino. She quickly learned that retail was not for her, and applied for a waitressing gig across the street from the De Anza Hotel in Downtown San Jose. Though she was unqualified and inexperienced, her persistence commanded the attention of the restaurant’s manager, who in time hired her.

Years later, she started working at El Paso Cafe, where she met Vince, by which time she could not only waitress, but bartend and, eventually, cater.

Vince Guasch is a jack of all trades. Originally from the Bay Area, he moved to Barcelona in the ’70s to live with his grandmother for three years. There he developed a passion and an admiration for Spanish culture, language, and food. His paellas are famous, sought-after, considered masterpieces by some.

And yet, Vince’s ventures into the restaurant business were but a byproduct of an entrepreneur’s life, with its failed attempts and spectacular but rare wins. He learned the business from the man in whose restaurant

he would have breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day in lieu of payment for advertising in Vince’s newly defunct magazine.

But Vince’s introduction to the restaurant business is the epitome of who he is. And his story is a familiar one in Silicon Valley, where grand discoveries force you to reimagine and reinvent the things you take for granted.

Debbie and Vince have pioneered what it means to be a family business. Years ago, Debbie worried about how often the sobremesa was all about work. And taking a vacation, or doing anything unrelated to the family business, seemed almost impossible. Then one day Vince announced, “[PSRT] is who we are and what we are.” It was that simple, and after that, everything made sense. They had built not just a business, but a life, a marriage, and a family on that business. When your job is the natural outcome of a deeply held desire to lead a life worth passing on to your children—and to enjoy every moment, every breath along the way—work is not work anymore.

PSRT is an expression of this family’s ideal, of their pursuit of a good life. The business is successful because it is true to its core principle: that the essence of life is to enjoy it with those we love.

It should come as no surprise that Debbie and Vince’s children have not only actively participated in furthering the family business, but that they are intent on keeping it alive as well. Amelia, the couple’s eldest daughter, is currently pursuing a degree in business and hopes to take over the reins of the company.

What will Debbie and Vince do once the children take over? Only one answer seems to fit: retire in Spain.

The family has visited the Iberian country every year for as long as they can remember. They recently visited San Sebastian in the Basque Country for the first time and completely fell in love with it. Debbie dreams of traveling every road in Spain, visiting every town. Regardless, one thing is sure: they will continue to enjoy the company of their loved ones around a spread of fresh, delicious food. Buen provecho

Debbie Blackwell and Vince Guasch

psrt.com

facebook: PSRTcatering instagram: psrtcatering

Caffe Frascati

Written by Anna Bagirov Photography by Neal Waters

Raised in England, Roger Springall knew even as a young boy that he wanted to get into the computer industry and move to France. He did both, which probably explains his unique blend of feverish ambition and go-withthe-flow ease. Driven as he is, Roger possesses a Southern European warmness and openness that resounds in his Caffe Frascati coffee shop in Downtown San Jose’s SoFA district.

In his 20s, Roger moved to France and began a long career in tech that took him to many different places—one of which was Frascati, a small Italian town in the Alban hills outside Rome. Known for its white wine, majestic villas, undulating countryside, and temperate climate, Frascati became Roger’s home for the next three years There, he enjoyed wine in the cafes, learned Italian, explored nearby villages, and adapted to the more languorous lifestyle.

In 1986, Roger’s job at Apple took him to the not-solanguorous Silicon Valley, where he longed for the slower pace he’d enjoyed in Europe, and the cafes that went with that. He found nothing that compared. Then, in 2007, after 30 years in tech, Roger decided he was done with computers. He set out to create what he thought San Jose was missing.

Roger knew nothing about the coffee business. The First Street space he found had been empty for 30 years. He had to build his cafe from scratch. But Roger was determined. “You really got to do what is in your heart,” he says. “You can’t overthink it.”

Roger bought old furniture and refinished a vintage wooden bar by hand. “I wanted people to come in and think this place had been there forever,” he says. He insisted on a four-foot-high bar because Italians sip cappuccinos while standing. Roger designed one of the interior walls with a window into the Saint Claire Newsstand next door, showcasing the neighboring shop’s selection of newspapers and cigars—another European touch.

The cafe opened in 2008 as part of the Caffe Trieste chain, originally the iconic cafe in San Francisco that brought the first espresso coffee house to the West Coast. Three years

later, Roger made the cafe independent, changing its name to Caffe Frascati as an homage to the Italian town where he’d lived.

Caffe Frascati serves a signature coffee blend Roger created with a private coffee roaster. The menu offers European beers and, of course, the town’s legendary white wine, as well as a wide selection of paninis, salads, soups, and pastries.

Patrons may enjoy their beverages and food downstairs, where photographs of famous patrons and local art adorn the red walls. Or, venture to the upstairs seating area overlooking the floor below, where you can melt into pillowy, weathered leather chairs. Or maybe you prefer an outdoor sidewalk table, surrounded by potted plants.

Early on, Roger purchased a piano for the cafe, inviting patrons to play—he didn’t know any musicians at the time, but he knew he didn’t want his cafe to be quiet.

Over time, Caffe Frascati has become a local artistic hub and creative oasis. Now you can hear live music ranging from alternative funk to bossa nova, and there’s even a monthly opera event in collaboration with First Street Opera. “Opera’s stigma is that it is just for rich people,” says Roger, a lifelong lover of the form, who’s excited to support First Street Opera’s mission to increase opera’s accessibility. “Where else can you buy a glass of Chianti, listen to live opera, and chat with the artists after the show?” he says.

The cafe also offers weekly stand-up comedy and openmic nights, and has drawn crowds by hosting events, like sidewalk art shows and live acts, that promote local artists.

Outside, Roger basks in the scene of patrons enjoying their cool drinks and foamy mugs in the sunshine. “The best thing is I can just sit here and see every table is taken,” he says. “People are just enjoying themselves, having a beer. That is great.” The French call the good life la belle vie, and the Italians call it la dolce vita. In any language, the phrase seems fitting for Caffe Frascati. After all, what is the good life without a good cup of coffee or glass of vino?

caffefrascati.com social media: caffefrascati

“THE BEST THING IS I CAN JUST SIT HERE AND SEE EVERY TABLE IS TAKEN. PEOPLE ARE JUST ENJOYING THEMSELVES, HAVING A BEER. THAT IS GREAT.”

Caffe Frascati Owner Roger Springall

GOLDEN STATE BREWERY

Written by Michelle Runde Photography by Scott MacDOnald

Not everyone is cut out to run their own business; it requires a perfect blend of professional business experience, incredible work ethic, passion for the product, and just a dash of good fortune. When you meet Seth Hendrickson, you know this is someone who has those traits. Hendrickson is the owner and founder of Golden State Brewery, which opened this past March and specializes in high quality ales inspired by the state of California. Hendrickson, who’s been in restaurants for 12 years and a general manager for everything from steak houses to French restaurants, tells his story, “I’ve been brewing at home for about nine years now. A couple years ago I decided to start a beer company. That didn’t end up working out; timing wasn’t great. But about a year ago I knew I was going to start this company.”

Although Hendrickson was ready to start this business by himself, in April he found himself a business partner by the name of Brian Gomez. “I was looking for the next adventure,” says Gomez. “I’m born and raised in downtown Mountain View, so this is home. I got a call from a mutual friend of ours, and he said I should meet Seth.” Hendrickson brought over some cold Heritage Honey Ale. “We started talking, and it was a match. We went through the ideas; the vision...how do we get there...and just like that I was on board. We shook hands that day.”

Hendrickson and Gomez are not thinking small; they aim to become the state beer of California, the go-to drink for everyone in the Golden State. “I decided to make everything California based: we have the bear, the star, the state on the bottle, everything,” Hendrickson says. “The Poppy Pale Ale is the state flower; Eureka IPA is based on the gold rush; and the state bear for the Heritage Honey Ale. These are all proprietary recipes that I’ve developed over the last nine years, just from being passionate about beer,” says Hendrickson. In addition to the four core styles Golden State currently makes (the Heritage, Poppy, Eureka!, and soon-to-be-released Golden Gate Red), they also plan to add seasonal beer styles throughout the year. “We’re looking to make a Cold Brew Coffee Porter and a Banana Brown Sugar Brown. We make

__Co-founder Seth Hendrickson

that with tons of brown sugar and freeze-dried bananas. It’s like if you woke up to the smell of banana bread baking, and then you add a great brown beer,” describes Hendrickson. He won’t tell any more than that. “We’re not going to release our other flavors verbally yet. They’ll be a surprise.”

Finding Golden State’s brew is getting easier for local Bay Area residents. “We’re currently in over 70 bars, restaurants, and stores. We also recently partnered with Young’s Market distributors. We’ll be getting into BevMo, Whole Foods, Safeway, and other big-box stores,” says Hendrickson. Golden State’s brick and mortar brew house will be in an unexpected location: an industrial complex on the outskirts of Santa Clara. Hendrickson and Gomez fell in love with 1252 Memorex Drive the first time they saw it. They have a clear vision for their future bar and brewery, and the former site of Memorex (once the leader in VHS and cassette tape manufacturing) fits their needs perfectly. Hendrickson explains the choice of locale: “We’re going to be the first brew house in Santa Clara since 1925. There was one before then, but it was shut down during Prohibition and there hasn’t been a brewery in Santa Clara since. We’re about three miles away from Levi’s Stadium, about a mile from the Earthquakes, and we’re a mile away from the airport: we’re centrally located.”

Even though Golden State Brewery’s headquarters is not yet open to the public, they are still producing their core styles locally. “We started out in our test location in Treasure Island and contract brew out of Hermitage in San Jose,” explains Hendrickson. They are planning to open in December, and hope to attract locals in Santa Clara and San Jose who will make this a regular watering hole. Once you’ve tried the flagship Heritage Honey Ale, you’ll know Golden State is worth looking for.

goldenstate.beer facebook: GoldenStateBrewery instagram: goldenstatebrewery twitter: brewgoldenstate

Co-founders Seth Hendrickson and Brian Gomez

“I DECIDED TO MAKE EVERYTHING CALIFORNIA BASED: WE HAVE THE BEAR, THE STAR, THE STATE ON THE BOTTLE, EVERYTHING.”

WINE

three world-class wineries in our own backyard

Photography by daniel garcia

J. LOHR VINEYARDS & WINES

Written by Michelle Runde

The best wines often come from an individual truly devoted to the craft, and that could not be truer than for Jerry Lohr at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Jerry came to the Central Coast 40 years ago to plant grapes in what was then a relatively unknown growing region. Using the agricultural knowledge he gained from having grown up on a farm in South Dakota, Jerry planted his first vines in Monterey County. Today, J. Lohr has 3,700 acres of vineyards across Paso Robles, Monterey County, and the St. Helena appellation of Napa Valley. Headquartered in San Jose, J. Lohr recently celebrated its 40-year anniversary as a family-owned, family-operated establishment. The winery is also part of the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing program, which indicates an ongoing commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

J. Lohr’s presence in San Jose has been growing in recent years. As businesses have opened around The Alameda, more and more people are discovering the winery’s tasting room, which lies just off the main drag of the burgeoning area. J. Lohr engages with the local community as well, hosting wine and cheese evenings during the summer, as well as wine and chocolate nights, corporate dinners, and small private events throughout the year. The winery’s Paso Robles location is not to be missed: it boasts a three-acre photovoltaic tracking system—a solar energy grid that not only provides sustainable energy to the vineyard but also creates a beautiful light show when the midmorning sun strikes on a clear day. So whether you’re in San Jose, Monterey, Napa, or Paso Robles, be sure to take a moment to enjoy some wine with J. Lohr.

jlohr.com

1000 Lenzen Ave San Jose, CA 95126

408.918.2160

facebook: J.LohrWines

instagram: jlohrwines

twitter: JLohrWines

SAVANNAH-CHANELLE VINEYARDS

Written by Flora Moreno de Thompson

The next time you’ve got some friends in town and don’t know where to take them, drive up Congress Springs Road to Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards in Saratoga for a bit of wine tasting and to take in the beautiful scenery.

Named after owners Kellie and Mike Ballard’s two daughters, Savannah-Chanelle already had a storied history long before they bought the winery in 1996. It was originally purchased in 1901 by Pierre Pourroy, a French immigrant. He built the stately family villa on the property overlooking the vineyards and named it Montmartre —builders misspelled it as Monmartre, and you can still see the typo in the building’s entryway. The winery barely survived the Prohibition era, and changed hands a few times before being purchased by the Ballard family.

Perched high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards has a great view of the Silicon Valley on a clear day. The surrounding vineyards and mountains are a beautiful backdrop to experience the winery’s famous Pinot Noirs.

Visitors to the winery can sample wines in the Redwood Tasting Room from 11am to 5pm everyday, with live music available on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5pm. The scenic grounds make for a great spot to have a picnic or to sit in one of their Adirondack chairs and enjoy a nice glass of wine.

REGALE WINERY AND VINEYARDS

Written by Michelle Runde

Many areas in California are renowned for their impressive wineries, but most people don’t think of the South Bay as one of those regions. Thanks to Regale Winery and Vineyards, Los Gatos can boast such a destination. Larry Schaadt bought the vacant land in 2005 with a vision of creating a winery that would bring the classic Italian-Napa elegance to the South Bay. “I wanted to build a place where people would feel like they’d driven hundreds of miles to a beautiful winery, when really it was just a few miles away,” says Larry. Regale’s primary focus is Pinot Noir, but it also produces Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Many of the grapes are grown outside the estate, in the Anderson Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Santa Rita Hills, Napa Valley, and Santa Cruz Mountains. Regale even bottles its own olive oil from a grove of Italian olive trees that Larry planted on the estate. Regale is a popular choice for private events, birthday parties, and corporate functions, and also hosts several events for its wine club members each year. Regale does not sell its wine to restaurants or stores; the winery is committed to keeping production at a small scale. “We’ve chosen to make just enough wine each year for our members and our events. Anyone can go to a store to buy wine nowadays; for us, the allure is the experience of tasting wine in a vineyard setting,” says Larry. When you’re craving a classic California wine experience but don’t want to drive to Napa, head to Regale for a glass. You won’t be disappointed.

Capitalat the

Photographer: Audre Van Broers, Van Broers Photography

Model: Lana Kohn for Stars Management

Art Director/ Stylist: Eric Belladonna

Assistant Wardrobe and Prop Stylist: Elle Mitchell

Hair: James Griffiths for Brazilian Blowout Bar

Make-up Art: Tomiko Carrillo

Production: Kristen Pfund

Silicon Valley Capital Club Celebrating 25 Years

Location: Silicon Valley Capital Club | San Jose, CA

Celebrating 25 Years

50 W San Fernando St, San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 971-9300

Cake - Minicakes by Tasha

www.minicakesbytasha.com

Flower Arrangements - Citti’s Florist

www.cittisflorist.com

Jacket - St. John, Nordstrom Valley

- Elizabeth

Blouse -

-

Fair, $1,995

Dress

and James, Nordstrom Valley Fair, $545

Vince, Nordstrom Valley Fair, $265

Hat

Ted Baker, Santana Row, $65

Gloves - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $135

Clutch - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $219

Heels - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $150

Dress - Alice + Olivia, Nordstrom Valley Fair, $440

Vest - Rag & Bone, Nordstrom Valley Fair, $575

Hat - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $85

Gloves - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $135

Heels - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $185

Fur and Stockings - Stylists

Fur Vest - St. John, Nordstrom Valley Fair, $4,495

Skirt - Donna Karan, Nordstrom Valley Fair, $850

Hat - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $89

Gloves - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $135

Heels - Ted Baker, Santana Row, $185

Necklace and Glasses - Stylists

ANN BRIDGES

Novelist

Much of your new novel Private Offerings takes place in Silicon Valley. What is it about this place that people should know?

Even when the hills are brown, we see golden opportunities everywhere. Call it historical naiveté, call it dreaming—it fuels the entrepreneurial spirit.

Who do you love to read, and if you could steal one of their powers, what would it be? Hemingway’s pithiness inspires me, as perfectly exemplified by his six-word story: “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.” Readers fill in the blanks from his emotional imagery, rather than the novelist writing it all out for them.

Stephen King said, “Belief and reader absorption come in the details: An overturned tricycle in the gutter of an abandoned neighborhood can stand for everything.” Your thoughts?

Suspense requires stoking the reader’s curiosity with tiny details, enticing him or her to discover what happens next. If the details are too scant or unbelievable, it breaks the pact the author makes with the reader to embrace the plot and characters’ foibles and consider future possibilities. I add a little twist at the end of my novels to challenge the reader’s premise and encourage future open-mindedness about their own prejudices and initial conclusions.

What question are you never asked that you want to answer? And what’s the answer?

Why do you focus on business themes in your novels?

Eighty percent–plus of Americans work in a business their entire lives, yet few understand its basic underpinning and goals. I want to demystify its inner workings, and share it with those impacted most. Stories involving China and Silicon Valley’s ongoing influence on our lives provide invaluable lessons and a timely investment in our future. As we encourage women’s business success with Silicon Valley–sized dreams, my novels also provide pragmatic, realistic scenarios of insider experiences with an inspirational touch.

Cocktails in Marin with J. K. Rowling or penniless in London with Shakespeare?

Brunch with Michael Crichton at Buck’s of Woodside talking about the ethics of technology with VCs.

Interview by David Perez Photography by Daniel Garcia

Interview by David Perez Photography by Daniel garcia

Ann Bridges has worked among Silicon Valley’s corporate elite. Her work aims to reinvent the suspense genre with challenging plot twists and a sobering look at financial realities otherwise concealed.

AuthorAnnBridges.wordpress.com

facebook: authorannbridges twitter: abridgesauthor

Excerpt used by permission of author, Ann Bridges

“NO ALBUM, NO EP, JUST ARTISTS MAKING MUSIC FOR PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO.”

_Giovanni Giusti

CRUELS

REMOTE CONTROL

Alife constantly on the road has inspired Giovanni Giusti to use mobiles devices and apps in ways that most of us have never dreamed of. From shooting, producing, and editing his latest music video entirely on his iPhone to collaborating with artists across the globe with only his laptop, Giusti has taken devices that we typically take for granted and turned them into tools for creating, producing, and promoting his latest musical project, Cruels.

What inspired you to shoot the video for your song “Give It Up” with only your iPhone?

For the past few years, I’ve been taking trips to Italy to visit my family. Last summer, during one of these trips, I started filming slow motion footage of each day with my iPhone 5s. I’d then cut [those pieces] together to post on social media. Around that time, I started the Cruels project and would add the music I was making to the videos. After a few 15-second Italy videos, I felt like I could completely produce a music video from my phone if I could shoot enough footage.

How did you go about producing the video?

I didn’t even have a song fully finished or know what song it would be for, but I knew I wanted to try and do it completely on my iPhone. Over the next year, with the help of friends and family, I would shoot very centered, slow motion shots of subjects in cool locations. The slow zoom effect you see is just me moving back and forth through the frame. No fancy dollies or cranes, just me using my feet to create the effect. Right about that time, I finished a track called “Give It Up” featuring a UK artist called Salt Ashes. It was the first fully finished Cruels song, and I knew the tropical-house-type vibe would fit perfectly with what I was shooting. I used my iPhone to edit the clips together on the iMovie App. I have huge hands, so working on such a small platform almost drove me to the brink of insanity. That just made it all the more satisfying when I completed the video.

How has the video been received by the media and your fans?

Vice picked up the video and pretty much blasted it. I’ve also received very positive feedback from fans. I had my doubts prior to the release of the video and almost sprang for a “higher quality” camera. In the end, I’m glad I stuck with it. Art is best created with the eye and heart, not the gear. The gear can help get your idea across, but it all starts with and relies on your vision.

What about the song itself? What was the process you used to create it?

Salt Ashes, who I found on SoundCloud, provided vocals to me via email. The vocals she sent me were to a different beat I’d previously produced. I wasn’t completely happy with the original version I’d sent her, so I started building a kalimbainspired sound around her acapella vocals. We both loved the new vibe and put it on SoundCloud. The song was picked up soon after by EDM.com and got a massive amount of play. My friend was shopping at an H&M in Spain and heard it and sent me video of him with this “what the hell” look on his face. “Give It Up” has just passed 300K plays on Spotify, and with that type of positive response, I definitely feel like I’m on to something with the Cruels project.

How is Cruels different from your other projects?

Collaborating with singers via SoundCloud has been the most exciting thing about Cruels. The moment they send videos / voice notes in the studio, singing over what I’ve created in my bedroom, is very exciting.

I’m working with some really amazing new singers like K.Flay, Rush Davis, prXmise, Maddie Duke, Georgia Buchanan, and Kida. In that, it feels like what I’ve done in the past. Where it’s different is how much broader of a spectrum I can cover. There are R&B vibes, there are House vibes, there are downtempo vibes—all of them going to be released one by one. No album, no EP, just artists making music for people to listen to. I want it to be about creating and sharing and, so far, I think we’ve achieved that.

facebook: cruelsmusic instagram: c_r_u_e_l_s soundcloud: cruels

Interview by Lam Nguyen Photography by Matt Cross

ALBUM PICKS

Curated by Tommy Aguilar @ungrammar

Bilal, In Another Life, LP (BBE)

Bilal is a vet. Considered by many in the industry as a pioneer, blazing his own trail, he blends jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, rock, and electronic sounds with his mesmerizing, otherworldly vocals. It’s a sound that is unmistakably and recognizably his once you hear and come to learn it. Featured on one of 2015’s best records in Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, Bilal followed up with his own release, In Another Life, out now on BBE Records.

After releasing his debut, 1st Born Second , on a major label back in 2001, Bilal had his second album, Love for Sale, shelved by label disapproval. He returned in 2010 from a long hiatus and released the bright, electric, post-punk experimental Airtight’s Revenge independently. The return was followed by a mixtape, and then another album, the critically acclaimed A Love Surreal . Now, with In Another Life, Bilal has seemingly produced and delivered a trilogy of works that all make manifest his rather diverse and deep musical influences and sounds. In Another Life is a collaborative work with composer-producer Adrian Younge, which gives it a raw, unfiltered soul and funk flavor throughout.

Goldlink, And After That We Didn’t Talk, LP (Soulection)

Washington, DC’s Goldlink entered my ear drums when I first heard the track “Sober Thoughts,” a song produced by one of my favorite producers, Montreal’s Kaytranada. The track struck a solid chord sonically with its soulful, boom-bap hip-hop playfulness—yet lyrically, the grit and grime took me aback, like, who is this dude? Stunned by a seemingly future-sounding record, I became hooked and dug for more.

Catching the attention of Rick Rubin, GoldLink made it onto XXL’s Freshman Class of 2015. And now, after a slew of singles, his first official album, And After That We Didn’t Talk, was released in November. More of the self-labeled “future bounce” sound is apparent throughout, with production contributions by Soulection’s Louie Lastic and Sango. One of the early singles, “Dance On Me,” had my anticipation soaring, and it did not disappoint. This is a unique and original album from an artist voicing his direction, and laying a blueprint for the future of music.

Raury, All We Need, LP (Columbia)

A breath of fresh air, Atlanta’s Raury has brought a folky sound to modern R&B, soul, and hip-hop with the release of his second album, All We Need Currently only 19 years old, he signed and released his first mixtape, Indigo Child —and signed with Columbia records—a year ago, at the age of 18. A prodigy, perhaps. He is definitely pushing the envelope ahead of the post-hiphop generation. XXL deemed him enough of the rap diaspora to include him in their Freshman Class of 2015. Far from being just a rap artist, he creates music that blends an acoustic touch with sung and rapped lyrics that delve into modern consumerism and poverty. So authentic is his music, others might deem it disorganized or direction-less, but this is precisely why I enjoy it so much. Raury is the future.

avoid the bowl

For some, it’s about competition: the joy of a hard-won victory, the crushing blow of defeat. For others, it’s an afternoon with family, chili-cheese dip, and the latest pop superstar. For me, the Super Bowl means a quiet winter afternoon to explore my hometown. If you’re looking to get off the couch on the 7th (or any other day), here are a few of my favorite South Bay alternatives...

GoKarts (Fremont) lemanskarting.com

Hot dog (Eastide)

Mark’s, 48 S Capitol Ave

Trampoline Dogball (Santa Clara) sjc.skyhighsports.com

Farmers’ Market (Japantown) japantownsanjose.org

Real Escape Game (Santa Clara) realescapegame.com/sj-mroom

Downtown Ice Skating (DTSJ) downtownicesj.com

Emma Prush Farm Park (San Jose) pruschfarmpark.org

Comedy Show (DTSJ) comedysportzsanjose.com

Live Music (San Jose) Jazz: cafestritch.com Local: artboutiki.com

Wine Tasting (Santa Clara County)

See page 66.

Karaoke (Japantown: Closed Sundays)

7-Bamboo Cocktail Lounge 162 East Jackson Street

Hike/Play a piano

Almaden Quicksilver County Park newalmaden.org

Read a book

Recycle Book Store on the Alameda Kepler’s in Menlo Park Hicklebees in Willow Glen for kids

Go Dancing (Sunnyvale:1st & 3rd Fridays) Facebook: ForDancersOnly

Exhibits (DTSJ)

William Wegman exhibit sjmusart.org

Jim Campbell, LED light exhibit sjica.org

For more Content Magazine recommendations: Follow us on Instagram @Contentmag and search #ContentExplore.

Written by Margot Helm

C O N T E N T P I C K S

The magical, mysterious, and mystical reality of life is that the good and enjoyable existence is experienced through giving— not receiving and hoarding. Even our idea of success has been distorted by the appetite of our commercial world, but here, during the holiday season, we provide gift suggestions that allow you to serve and give on two levels: (1) These are all recommendations and items from locals, meaning you can benefit our local economy and community. (2) These items will give your friends and loved ones joy. We know this is not the only way you can support the local community and experience the joy of giving—perhaps, if you’re able, you can give to a local charity. But if you’re looking to put something in a stocking or under a tree, then here are some of our favorite ideas.

Opposite page: Kaleid Gallery is a great place to find paintings, jewelry, and other creations by local artists. Items range in price so that anyone can launch into the world of art buying.

Kaleidgalery.com

Photography by Daniel Garcia

Bronze Coral Drop Tile Necklace by Visual Confections (Linda Ritter) $65.00

Statement IV by Julia Meridian

Sojourn Box features treats from several NorCal areas to give you a “virtual tour” of the style and “flavor” of each area. Currently, they have hand-picked boxes from Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and our favorite, Silicon Valley.

sojournbox.com

Roxanne’s Biscotti offers simply delicious treats. For a winter day’s snack with a nice cup of Chromatic Coffee, these will hit the spot for any sweet tooth you know. Personal favorite: butterscotch.

roxannesbiscotti.com

It is actually hard to find one thing that we love from Redemption Boutique because there are so many locally and California-made items that we want to celebrate. However, this handcrafted razor and brush by Laws Finest is so beautiful in function and craftsmanship that we had to select it. Now it won’t be so difficult to find your dad that perfect gift!

shopredemption.com

Rice, Noodle, Fish is part memoir and part travel guide by Matt Goulding, author of Eat This, Not That, as he eats his way through Japan’s food culture. We love this book not just because we love sushi, Japan, travel, and the photography but mainly because the creative director and designer of this book is South Bay designer and founder of ANML Studio Doug Hughmanick.

We are big fans of his work, and the digital magazine Roads & Kingdoms roadsandkingdoms.com

LAB

gatherings for culture creatives

On November 14, an eclectic group of people gathered in a warehouse tucked away in a quiet neighborhood bordering downtown San Jose for a truly unique artistic and culinary experience at Content Magazine’s third LAB: “Iron Chefs.”

After entering the warehouse, people quickly realized that this was no ordinary space. The School of Visual Philosophy, founded by Yori and Dana Seeger, is a creative work space crafted for people across the community who are interested in creating art.

As guests poured into the space, they were greeted by the smell of roasted chilies and other delectable foods crafted by chefs Stacey Clinesmith of Your Beeting Heart and Lisa Ahmad of Mirchi Cafe. Guests began to dine on delicious tapas-style hors d’oeuvres, including: lamb meatballs with yogurt and cucumber; tortilla espanola; chicken in mustard cream sauce; pan con tomate; Spanish olives; gato d’ametlla (almond cake); and manchego and membrillo. The food was plentiful, drinks were flowing, and people were buzzing with excitement around workbenches set up as dining tables.

Yori began by walking through the process of creating a green sand mold for iron casting. Once the mold was finished, guests were asked to join him outside near a smoldering furnace. With guests at a safe distance and Yori armored for iron casting, he poured the molten iron into the cast created moments before. Part one, making the iron skillet, was complete.

Part two was learning to use the skillet. Guests moved back inside to the culinary stage, where Stacey had prepared a cooking demonstration of her favorite tapas. To begin, she created an aioli sauce for patatas bravas (fried potatoes). Next, she prepared gambas alijo (garlic shrimp), utilizing the iron skillet and explaining the process of seasoning and treating a new cast iron skillet. Guests were encouraged to taste and ask as many questions as they liked.

Then, it was time to reveal Yori’s freshly casted iron skillet. Having cooled from 2800° to about 1000°, the iron was set, but still too hot to touch. Yori, with protective gloves, crashed the mold away, revealing a fully formed iron skillet, ready to fry an egg—and since the skillet was so hot, that’s just what was done!

Guests were also able to design their own logo to be branded onto the personalized skillets they would be receiving as a memento of the night. In the end, “Iron Chefs” was cast into the memories of all who attended.

Content is grateful for the partnership and support of Knight Foundation, School of Visual Philosophy, Your Beeting Heart, Mirchi Cafe, Regale Winery, Liquid Bread, Lagunitas, Mach 7 Sound, and Whole Foods Market on The Alameda.

Stay tuned for more information on the next Content LAB: SUSHI & STYLE

January 21, 2016

Written by Victoria Felicity Elizondo

Photography by Andrew Avitt & Victoria Felicity Elizondo

M W SU T

Downtown Ice

In California, winter wonderlands look a little different. Skate under the palm trees with an extended run of Downtown Ice, and enjoy the lights of the city at the same time.

Circle of Palms thru Feb 7 downtownicesj.com

Talking Art: Perception vs. Reality

A panel featuring artist Jim Campbell, scientist Dr. David Stork, and Whipsaw, Inc. CEO Dan Hardin discussing the physiology and the psychology of art viewing and art making.

San Jose Stage Company sjica.org

Super Bowl 50

Both a sporting event and a cultural phenomenon, the Super Bowl turns 50 this year—and its epicenter is in the Bay Area’s backyard. The excitement of many thousands of sports fans descending on the area will be felt from pubs to galleries. Watch for everyone to get caught up in the flurry of activity in the week leading up to the big day.

The game will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and the teams will be practicing at San Jose State University and Stanford University.

Open Mic at Red Rock Coffee

The second floor is set up for local artists to come and display their talent at this open mic, hosted by barista Jake Wichman. Connect with local artists and enjoy some live entertainment.

Red Rock Coffee Weekly redrockcoffee.org

Pippin

Pippin is Broadway’s high-flying, death-defying hit musical! Full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats, and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked, Pippin will lift you up and leave you smiling.

SJ Center the for Performing Arts Jan 5–10 broadwaysanjose.com

Play on Words

This collaborative literary performance series pairs performers with both up-and-coming and already established writers, resulting in a live performance.

Cafe Stritch playonwordssj.wordpress.com

11

The Winter’s Tale ShakesBEERience combines beer, food, and a staged reading. Actors will unpack the language of The Winter’s Tale in a playful, unique, and accessible way.

Cafe Stritch Facebook: BuckHillProductions

Motown On Mondays

DJs, producers, musicians, and music enthusiasts who share a passion for soul music and dancing converge on Monday nights.

the Continental Bar weekly Motownonmondays.com

Silicon Valley Reads

In 2016, Silicon Valley Reads focuses on climate change and introduces an emerging literary genre, eco-fiction, with two outstanding books speculating about a future with extreme weather.

Heritage Theater siliconvalleyreads.org

Engage(dot)Next 3.0

How can arts groups and artists communicate brand, voice, and goals? At this 3rd annual conference, sessions will focus on storytelling across different platforms, including digital and traditional media.

School of Arts & Culture @ MHP svcreates.org

ImagineSJ: Theater

FutureArtsNow! and Kooltura Marketing host a monthly event series to provide a platform for San Jose’s newest and most innovative thinking. January’s event will focus on theater.

City Lights Theater koolturamarketing.com

Valley of the Heart Famed playwright, director, and producer Luis Valdez’s sweeping epic illustrates the ironic divide between America’s ideals and its actions.

San Jose Stage Company Feb 10–Mar 6 thestage.org

10

Levi’s Stadium Feb 7 sfbaysuperbowl.com

TH F S jan/feb

Content LAB

Sushi & Style

Make the art of sushi and styling your own. At this unique networking event, meet local fashion designers, style bloggers, sushi chefs, and other specialists who will be sharing their industry secrets.

Kit & Ace - Santana Row content-magazine.com

Kid Koala’s Nufonia Must Fall

Scratch DJ and producer Kid Koala present an adaptation of his graphic novel Nufonia Must Fall. Directed by K. K. Barrett, this preformance unfolds via real-time filming of miniature stages and puppets.

Bing Concert Hall live.stanford.edu

XLIII: A Contemporary Requiem Mexico City–based composer/ musician Andres Solis and choreographer/dancer Sandra Milena Gómez create a sitespecific, immersive performance with a contemporary take on the requiem genre.

Mission Santa Clara scupresents.org

The Mountaintop

15

Vans “Off the Wall” the Screaming Hand

The Screaming Hand has been a symbol of skateboard culture for 30 years. In honor of Jim Phillips, some of the world’s most influential artists pay homage to this iconic image.

Empire Seven Studios Jan 16–30 empiresevenstudios.com

15

A portrayal of the last night in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the play moves beyond realism and into the marvelous. King meets motel maid Camae, but she is no ordinary chambermaid...

Pear Theatre Jan 15–31 thepear.org

Club Lido

12

The “Club Lido” project proposes a narrative where Asian and Latino cultures intersect in both a fictional space as well as a real location.

Empire Seven Studios Feb 12–Mar 4 empiresevenstudios.com

Jtown 5th Annual Beerwalk

16

23

Explore the unique boutique shops, art studios, and great restaurants within San Jose’s Japantown, all while sipping on great beers and enjoying the social enthusiasm of shopkeepers and beer lovers alike.

Japantown San Jose japantownsanjose.org

Screenprint Showdown

30

The Screenprint Showdown will be a first-of-its-kind screenprinting and graphic design competition, held during Super Bowl Week.

San Pedro St screenprintshowdown.com

SJ Jazz Winter Fest

27

Young artists pushing the boundaries of jazz, R&B, and hip hop perform alongside the legends of jazz in this intimate music festival.

Downtown San Jose Feb 27–Mar 8 sanjosejazz.org

To have your event considered for listing, send to: press@content-magazine.com

Contributors

The production of Content Magazine would not be possible without the talented writers, editors, graphic artists, and photographers who contribute to each issue. We thank you and are proud to provide a publication to display your work. We are also thankful for the sponsors and readers who have supported this magazine through advertisements and subscriptions.

Want to be a part of the Content community?

Contact us at: Editor@content-magazine.com

HOLLY COOPER

Holly is a freelance editor and content writer for web and print, working on everything from books to corporate intranets to a film festival website. She’s also a volunteer tutor for elementary school kids, a music freak who attends every live show possible, and has been car-free for 16 years.

AUDRE VANBROERS

A native of San Jose, Audre studied photography at Academy of Art University. She enjoys shopping at local thrift shops and managing her online store, Bolo Vintage. BOLOvintage.com

NEAL WATERS

Neal is a multiplatform journalist with over 20 years of experience. He is best known for his wildfire photography and is currently revolutionizing digital content production. He is a graduate student in San Jose State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

NICOLE TINDALL

Nicole is an arts, culture, food, and design fanatic. She is an active community member in this vibrant city we call home—and is every day inspired by the people creating the past, present, and future of San Jose. twitter: @wonderosity

KYLE PELLET

Born, raised, and residing in San Jose, Kyle is an artist and illustrator working to conjure portals into gross parallel (and often fictional) universes. His work has been published by Arthur Magazine, Valley Cruise Press, McSweeney’s, and Lucky Peach instagram: @pelletfactory

MARÍA GABRIELA HUERTAS DIAZ

María is an urban planner, social entrepreneur, writer, polyglot, and idea translator. Her work explores structures, human relationships, and the interactions between people and the built environment. She believes stories are the basis of the common conscience and paramount to inspiring everyone and anyone to create positive, meaningful change.

MARGOT HELM

Margot wants to live in a world of travel photography, street art, and jazz CDs that come bundled with dark chocolate. By day, she is the grantwriter and data wrangler for SVCreates. By night, she can be found teaching or DJ’ing for swing dancers, or enjoying a mocha at Cafe Borrone.

JANIKKE KLEM

Janikke is the VP of Community Relations and Government Relations for Tech CU. A San Jose native, she loves exploring the Bay Area, contributing to her community, and participating in the growth of urbanism in the South Bay. Her real full-time job is raising her twins, Soren and Elsa.

WHERE DO YOU WALK, SAN JOSE?

California Walks is the statewide voice for pedestrian safety and healthy, walkable communities for people of all ages and abilities. We foster connections between advocates at the local level as well as coordinate statewide policy advocacy with our local partners. Here in San Jose, we work both with a coalition of individual residents and with community-based organizations, as well as with city and county agencies.

Much of our work is rooted in policy, empowerment, and advocacy. At the same time, we aim to celebrate walking and the sense of community that can be gained when we’re able to interact with our cities, and our neighbors, on a human scale. To foster the desire and demand for a truly vibrant and walkable San Jose, we’ve created a new project called “Walk San Jose” with support from the Knight Foundation and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.

The premise of Walk San Jose is simple: a series of community-identified walking loops across the city, each focused on a different neighborhood and its people, history, architecture, public art, natural resources, and

more—the possibilities are truly endless. The loops are intended to be explorations of a community’s assets, as defined by the community itself. The overarching goal of Walk San Jose is as simple as the premise: let’s expose residents and visitors to our city’s diverse communities; let’s introduce people to local issues, opportunities, and challenges and the conversations around them; and let’s do this while promoting increased physical activity, community building, and advocacy for built-environment changes all through the lens of walking.

Each loop will debut publicly with a celebratory group walk, culminating with reflective, connecting discussions over food and drink at an establishment within that neighborhood. After the debut walk, loop cards will be available in shops, libraries, and offices throughout the community. The 4”x 6” loop cards are free, handheld, and self-guided, and we’re working on an app component.

Please join me on a walk soon, and get in touch about how we can help curate a loop in your neighborhood! You can keep up with the process and events on our website.

Written by Jaime Fearer, Planning & Policy Manager, California Walks

californiawalks.org/walksj

social media: californiawalks

Thank You

This issue is made possible with the support of our partners—companies and organizations who share our desire to support and develop the creative community of the South Bay. We are grateful for their contribution and support and for actively taking part in the betterment of our region.

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged.

Knight is working to support the urbanization of a traditionally sprawling city with a specific focus on Central San Jose. Our investments tap into the region’s creative energy and disruptive history to accelerate the city’s significance as a well-connected, transport-accessible hub for culture and innovation in the South Bay.

Working with partners in the public and private sectors, we support a range of projects from prototypes and popups to in-depth research and sustained organizational support.

www.knightfoundation.org

Filco Events has been working on festivals, fundraisers, and events in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1988. Each event is individually tailored to the special needs and goals of the organization. While fundraising is always a significant part of festivals, other priorities include media attention, corporate support, and volunteer building, as well as the opportunity to showcase specific programs and services to the community.

In all cases, advancing long-term goals while still raising significant revenue gives each event purpose and recognition for many years into the future.

From logistics to concessions to volunteer coordination, we can contract key elements of large festivals, provide consultation, or actually direct the entire production.

We are also available for national and multi-city events.

www.filco.com

Proud Sponsor of Content Magazine Pick-Up Parties for 2015

Hawaiian PokeBowl is a delicious fusion of Hawaiian poke (diced sushi-grade fish) and Brazilian hospitality! After five years at the San Pedro Square Farmers Market where they grew a loyal following, Hawaiian Poke Bowl has expanded to the SoFa Market, a super cute urban hipster food court with spacious wooden farm tables creating an industrial loft setting. The family runs every aspect of the business from the prep to serving the costumer with a total dedication to quality and freshness. They specialize in organic, wild, local fresh food. Check them out, right next to Fountainhead Bar.

THAnK YOU

www.hawaiian-pokebowl.com

Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme offers a quality of service and cuisine that has raised the industry bar. Our services begin with a handshake and a smile: we delight in understanding your vision and executing each step. Our goal is to bring a restaurant-caliber dining experience to the location of your choosing. With a sommelier on staff, you are guaranteed a vast selection of wines from around the world. Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme offers signature cocktails, meticulously crafted with house-made tonics and infused syrups inspired by the aromatics of our namesake. With over 25 years of designing amazing experiences and a precedent for the best standards of service, you will see why our clients choose PSRT for the important moments in their lives and careers.

www.psrt.com

winter 16 FEST

Feb 27 – March 8

LEADING EDGE • JAZZ GIANTS

John Scofield & Joe Lovano Quartet

Nicholas Payton Trio

Bria Skonberg

Delfeayo Marsalis & Ellis Marsalis Quartet

Jackie Ryan Sextet

Blues Guitar Slingers

Many more to be announced. Tickets on sale now!

Performances subject to change.

Presented by

sanjosejazz.org

be content

south bay creative culture

Thursday, January 21st

San Jose, CA 95128

General Admission: $75 Content Subscribers: $50 Students: $25