SoFA District
The South First Area (SoFA) serves as downtown San Jose's visual arts and entertainment district. Cool, organic and creative, SoFA is a place where you can interact with some of the most eclectic and artistic people in the city.
Spend the day enjoying rich architecture, coffee, galleries such as the Institute of Contemporary Art, Anno Domini, Works and the one-of-its-kind San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.
Return in the evening for a variety of music, a stage production at
City Lights or San Jose Stage, symphony and opera offerings at the
restored California Theatre, and exciting nightlife.
And with places such as Il Fornaio, Eulipia, Original Joe's, Emile's, Motif and Agenda, SoFA is recognized as one of downtown's major culinary destinations.
Come back often, because the artistic elements on the street and the landscape are ever-changing. The unexpected is expected in SoFA.
Anno Domini//the second coming
of Art & Design
366 S. First St.
271-5155
Bo Town
409 S. 2nd St.
295-2125
Brix Nightclub
349 S. First St.
947-1975
Caffé Trieste
315 S. First St.
287-0400
City Lights Theater Company - E6
529 S. 2nd St.
295-4200
Delia's Furniture
630 S. First St.
279-0550
Downtown Yoga Shala
450 S. First St
885-1000
Emile's Restaurant
545 S. 2nd St.
289-1960
Heroes Martial Arts
455 S. First St
288-8857
Il Fornaio
in the Sainte Claire Hotel
302 S. Market St.
271-3366
Jersey's/The Blue Chip Restuarant & Sports Bar
325 S. First Street
971-2898
MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura
Latino Americana
510 S. First St.
998-2783
Motif Restaurant and Club
389 S. First St.
279-1888
Opera San Jose
at the California Theatre
345 S. First St.
437-4450
Original Joe's
301 S. First St.
292-7030
Poly Cleaners #2
493 S. First St.
298-6244
Sainte Claire News Stand
311 S. First St.
275-0242
San Jose Glass Alliance
465 S. First St.
292-7841
San Jose Institute of
Contemporary Art (ICA)
560 S. First St.
283-8155
San Jose Stage Company
490 S. First St.
283-7142
Shellana's Café
325 S. First St.
279-0970
Singlebarrel Speakeasy
43 W. San Salvador
792-7356
SLG Art Boutiki & Gallery
577 S. Market Street
971-8929
South First Billiards Club
& Lounge
420 S. First St.
294-7800
Space 47
47 E. William St.
Symphony Silicon Valley
at the California Theatre
345 S. First St.
286-2600
Wet Nightclub
396 S. First St.
282-8938
Works/San Jose
Market St.
295-8378
New Businesses
Art Glass Center of San Jose
465 S. First Street
The Art Glass Center of San Jose is a project of the San Jose Glass Artist Alliance (SJGAA) to further it's mission of educating the public and offering no cost or low cost art glass experiences. The SJGAA (a non-profit educational organization) has opened the Art Glass Center of San Jose in the historic Herrold Building.
Janett Peace is the President and one of the instructors for the facility. She has transformed the space which is now home to their office and gallery, with open space for workshops, classes and an unique gift shop.
Welcome to BCA Architects: Thirty seven employees and three interns have moved into the renovated BCA Architects building at 505 S. Market Street. BCA was the design brains behind the $3.1 million renovation of its own headquarters and Garden City Construction provided the brawn to bring the former carpet store to life. The Redevelopment Agency contributed $630,000 to the project. BCA’s former home was in Fremont.
Higher Fire Open Now: Dan Dermer left the hi-tech world behind, opening Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery, 499 S. Market St. in SoFA. Dermer has set up a gallery of contemporary ceramics; classes in wheel-throwing; workshops by locally and nationally known potters; private lessons, parties, and team-building events. Phone 295-5765 or check HigherFireStudios.com.
Look for Orchestra Palm Court Cafe: The former auto repair garage at 27 E. William St. has received a facelift. The $110,000 project by Cen-Con, Inc., for developer Mark Williams starts the transformation of the garage into Orchestra Palm Court Café, scheduled to open in 2011. Exterior work, including new doors, lighting, signs and paint, is finished; interior work continues.
More openings: Pho 69 Noodle restaurant and Subway are also open now. Try them.
Events
South First Fridays: 8 p.m.'til late, Art Walk. All venues are free and open to the public. In 2010, SoFA also hosted portions of the ZeroOne SJ Festival, Left Coast Live, SubZero, Jazz Festival and even a World Cup Final Game Viewing Party. Expect more of the same in 2011.
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