SAM'S CORNER

Happy Holidays From District 3 Staff

Happy holidays! 

It’s hard to believe that our first year is already approaching its close.  It takes my mind back to the beginning of 2007, when I felt such enormous gratitude for the opportunity to serve you and to have an impact in the important decisions that affect our community’s quality of life.  Thank you, again, for this opportunity.

I’m fortunate to work with some of the most dedicated, bright, talented, and fun people on the planet.  I know I can speak for them—Kevin, Khanh, Ragan, Rhonda, Roma, and Ruth, along with wonderful volunteers like Jo Schweitzer and Dorothy Roller--when I say that we’ve taken great pleasure in serving you this year, and we look forward to the opportunities and challenges that 2008 will bring.

Please enjoy a festive and peaceful holiday season. 

Sincerely,

Sam Liccardo

Contact Us
P: (408) 535-4903
E: district3@sanjoseca.gov
W: www.sanjoseca.gov/district3

D3 Staff
Sam Liccardo, Councilmember
Khanh Bui, Staff Director
Roma Dawson, Policy Director
Ruth Cueto, Council Assistant
Ragan Henninger, Council Assistant
Kevin Schwaba, Council Assistant
Rhonda Hadnot, Exec. Assistant

Changes to Parking Downtown

Starting Jan. 1, 2008, a $2 flat rate will be charged to cars entering city parking garages and lots after 6 p.m. seven nights a week. However, parking will still be free at city parking facilities during the daytime on weekends, two-hour validations will still be applicable and the Fourth Street Garage will provide one hour of free parking after 6 p.m. for patrons of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. For more information on parking downtown, please visit http://www.sjdowntownparking.com/

City Holiday Closure

The District 3 offices, and most City departments, will be closed for the holiday from December 24th – January 1st. We’ll reopen on January 2nd. The City’s call center, (408) 535-3500, will continue to operate except for the following dates: Dec 24, 25, 31 and Jan 1, 2008.

Downtown for the Holidays
There’s no better place than downtown San Jose for the holidays. Here are just a few of the events happening right in the heart of our City. For more detailed information on any of the events below, please visit http://www.sjdowntown.com/eve.html

Downtown Ice
Daily through Jan. 13
Circle of Palms
www.sjdowntown.com
Skate under the stars and glide among a circular ring of 32 palm trees in one of the most creative and unusual settings ever for an ice rink. Definitely an only-in-Silicon-Valley event, Downtown Ice is guaranteed to bring smiles and create lifelong memories for you, friends and family.

Holiday Gallery of Gifts
Through Jan. 19
88 S. Fourth St.
www.kaleidgallery.com
KALEID gallery presents this holiday favorite, now in it’s sixth year.  A wonderful assortment of original works of art, photography, textiles, jewelry, hand-blown glass, candles, handmade books, clothing, cards and unique gifts by over 70 local artists.

Winter Wonderland
Daily through Jan. 1
Park Avenue and Paseo de San Antonio
www.winterwonderlandsj.com
Thrills await as you drink in the festive holiday mood. This year, a new International Market will bring a downtown shopping experience (think ornaments), glass-blowing demonstration and desserts from around the world.

Christmas in the Park
Daily through Jan. 4
Plaza de Cesar Chavez
www.christmasinthepark.com
San Jose's best-known holiday tradition, now in its 27th year, allows people to stroll among 60 animated displays, hundreds of decorated trees and thousands of twinkling lights.

Holiday Train Exhibit
Daily through Dec. 26
Fairmont Hotel
www.fairmont.com
A traveling exhibit of electric trains speeding through the scenic landscapes and unique attractions of the USA, England, Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Mexico, France, Philippines and Switzerland is making its annual stop over in San Jose.

Body Worlds 2 and the Three Pound Gem
Daily through Jan. 26
The Tech Museum of innovation
www.thetech.org
Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds 2 & The Three Pound Gem presented by The Health Trust. The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies.

Holiday productions
Multiple venues
www.artsopolis.com
Catch a matinee or evening performance of these great events:
"A Tuna Christmas" at San Jose Stage Co.
"Christmas Carol" at City Lights Theatre Co.
"This Wonderful Life" at San Jose Repertory Theatre
Dennis Nahat's "The Nutcracker" at the Center for the Performing Arts,
"Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Center for the Performing Arts

South First Fridays
First Friday of every month (Jan. 4, Feb. 1)
8 p.m. until late
Galleries in the SoFA District from 300 - 520 S. First St.
www.SouthFirstFridays.com
An eclectic evening of arts and culture on the First Friday of every month in downtown San Jose's SoFA district.  Participating galleries include: Anno Domini, GreenRice Gallery, MACLA, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, Works, KALEID, Space 47, and San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. Free and open to the public.