Downtown San Mateo Association Announces Winners of "Christmas in the Windows" Contest

On Thursday, January 28th at 3pm, the Downtown San Mateo Association will recognize the winners of the “Christmas in the Windows” contest that benefited local non-profit HIP Housing, in addition to several other community organizations.

In December, the Downtown San Mateo Association (DSMA) launched a new holiday event called “Christmas in the Windows” designed to bring more foot traffic to the Downtown business district and support local community groups while adding festive Holiday cheer to the storefronts.

21 Downtown businesses took part in the contest by decorating a Christmas tree with an “All The Ingredients” theme. Most of the businesses partnered with artists or community organizations and pledged to donate winnings to the charity which helped decorate the tree. The contest was judged and voted on by members of the public who visited Downtown San Mateo during the month of December.

The winners and prizes awarded are as follows:
Best Overall Tree ($500) PlayNTrade Video Games; Decorated by PlayNTrade
Best Theme ($200) J’me Boutique; Decorated by Baywood Elementary School
Most Creative ($200) The Larose Group; Decorated by Peninsula Youth Ballet
Santa’s Choice ($200) Happy Yogurt; Decorated by Happy Yogurt
Board of Directors Choice ($200) East West Bank; Decorated by San Mateo Firefighters

“We’re urging everyone to come out this Thursday to help recognize the important non-profit groups that contribute to our success as a Downtown,” said Kelly Mitter, Executive Director of the Downtown San Mateo Association. “We are proud to be matching the prize money and donating $1,300 to HIP Housing so they can continue their vital work in providing affordable housing in San Mateo County.”

WHO: The Downtown San Mateo Association and Hip Housing
WHAT: Announcement of “Christmas in the Windows” contest winners
WHERE: Hip Housing, 364 South Railroad Avenue, San Mateo CA, 94401
WHEN: Thursday, January 28th at 3pm
INFO: Call 650-342-5520, email events@dsma.org or visit http://www.dsma.org/
PRESS: **Special Photo Opportunity** Contact Liz Stigge at 650-548-6700 or lstigge@prmagic.com

Celebrity Garden Expert Michael Weishan at the South Bay Home and Garden Show

(Santa Clara, CA, January 2010) --- If the weather outside is frightful, the South Bay Home & Garden Show is here to make your home delightful! Join one of the most respected lecturers, writers and TV personalities, Michael Weishan, at the 2010 event, where he'll be a featured speaker from January 22 - 24. Weishan, the former host of "The Victory Garden" on PBS is taking his craft to another level by teaching consumers the art of "Greening the Victory Garden", providing a fun-loving style and his practical, dirt-under-the-nails gardening expertise that empowers audiences around the country to get up and get dirty.

Celebrity speaker Weishan is a renowned specialist in residential garden design, and has a three part seminar series acclaimed by home and garden lovers everywhere. The first is an overview to the history of the "Victory Garden", focusing on why it worked and how it can easily be implemented today in the Bay Area. The second is entitled “It’s All in the Plants”, and includes the importance of laying out the garden in advance. Learn what types of edible flowering annuals for beauty and flare are perfect for your own backyard while learning valuable harvesting tips. His final seminar is about “Going Green in the Garden” which will center on frugality and healthy, home grown vegetables, as well as the importance of putting the garden to bed for the year. Each one of his topics includes recycling, and planning tips made easy.

Nominated to the prestigious Garden Club of America’s National Speakers List, Weishen was also the gardening editor at Country Living for five years and host of PBS' “The Victory Garden”. He is currently the coordinator of a brand-new garden blog made popular through his website, entitled “Old House, Old Garden” which narrates the tales, tips and techniques of Traditional Gardening. He has appeared on numerous national TV programs including The Today Show, CBS Early Show, and his own weekly NPR program, The Cultivated Gardner. An honors graduate of Harvard University, Weishan is active in the Adams House Senior Common Room at his alum mater, and has published three successful books: The New Traditional Garden, From a Victorian Garden, and The Victory Garden Companion.

In addition to Weishan, the South Bay Home & Garden Show features hundreds of local home remodeling and renovation experts, lush landscaping, and a star-studded lineup of celebrities such as Anthony Gilardi of HGTV, who will be leading a series on woodworking and local kitchen and bathroom guru Steven Katkowsky, a regular on ABC-TV. Katkowsky has a dynamite presentation on how to “add up” to three times the storage space in any living area.

The all new South Bay Home & Garden Show is now proudly run by Nor Cal Events, and is certain to be the ultimate home and garden destination for the New Year. Expect this exciting show to provide the answers to all your interior design, construction and gardening needs – and it’s just as easy as 1, 2, 3.

WHO: Author, Host and Garden Expert Michael Weishan
WHAT: South Bay Home & Garden Show
WHERE: Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara CA
WHEN: January 22-24, 2010
HOURS: Friday: Noon – 8pm, Saturday: 10am – 7pm, Sunday: 10am – 5pm
COST: General Admission, $10, online $7; Seniors (65+)$8 online $5; Children 12 & Under are Free; Active Military in uniform or per valid ID will receive one FREE admission compliments of Nor Cal Events.
PARKING: FREE parking at the Santa Clara Convention Center
INFO: http://www.southbayhomeshow.com/ or call 408-236-2000
PRESS: The Larose Group at 650-548-6700 or hlaurie@prmagic.com / lstigge@prmagic.com


Celebrity interviews, Digital Images and Additional Information Available

Downtown San Mateo Association Partners with Goodwill for E-waste Drive

On Saturday, January 9th, from 8 a.m. – noon, the Downtown San Mateo Association and Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties will host an e-waste drive at the downtown San Mateo Caltrain station. In an effort to provide Downtown San Mateo with “all the ingredients” for a progressive, eco-friendly community, the DSMA designed an event that will bring a free service to individuals and corporations that want to donate old computers while also helping to build educational and job opportunities.

“In the state of California, you aren’t legally allowed to just throw your computer out with your weekly trash pick up,” said Arnab Pal, business engagement specialist for the San Mateo County Goodwill. “You have to go through an e-waste recycling program.”

There are many incentives for recycling computers and other e-waste through Goodwill. Besides the tax write off benefit, Goodwill makes sure that donated computers are not illegally exported or end up in landfill. All the computer’s hard drives that are refurbished are wiped to the standards of the Department of Defense. Each year, through its refurbishing and recycling program, the non-profit diverts over 2 million pounds of computers, televisions and other electronics from ending up in landfills.

One of the most unique factors about the Goodwill’s e-waste recycling program is it funds Goodwill’s certified computer training programs, which creates opportunities for job training and placement for people overcoming barriers to employment.

“In the IT technician training program, people are placed as interns within Goodwill’s organization and they learn how to refurbish computers and that becomes their primary job,” said Pal. “At a time when many people are struggling with unemployment, we are thrilled to be creating green collar jobs within the local community. Plus, everyone who graduates one of the training programs gets a refurbished computer, setting the stage for their occupational success.”

Goodwill also boasts a highly involved recycling and training center, ReCompute, located in Redwood City. ReCompute recently obtained a portion of the funds from the California Green Jobs Corps, which awarded $936,429 in grants to San Mateo County. The California Green Jobs Corps opportunities offer 1,500 at-risk youth, aged 16-24, career training in energy/utilities efficiency and sustainability, green construction, green waste, agricultural and natural resources, solar power and alternative automotive fuel.

The e-waste recycling event is just another one of the green and sustainable efforts coming from the Downtown San Mateo Association. At the annual Wine Walk last June, the DSMA and the city of San Mateo reached their goal of producing zero waste at the event and are envisioning more cutting edge environmental outreach programs for 2010.

“We are proud that San Mateo County is leading the way in green initiatives here in the Bay Area,” said Kelly Mitter, Executive Director of the Downtown San Mateo Association. “In December, the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club released a report that ranked the city of San Mateo ahead of others in completing the 21 climate action ‘milestones’. We are one of the greenest cities on the Peninsula.”

WHO: Downtown San Mateo Association and Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties
WHAT: Free e-waste computer and electronics recycling event
WHERE: Downtown San Mateo Caltrain Station, 385 First Avenue, San Mateo CA, 94401
WHEN: Saturday, January 9th from 8 am – 12 Noon
INFO: Call 650-342-5520, email events@dsma.org or visit http://www.dsma.org/
PRESS: Contact Liz Stigge at 650-548-6700 or email lstigge@prmagic.com


The Downtown San Mateo Association has “All the Ingredients” to promote downtown businesses and to assist in building a responsible and sustainable community

Cream Puff Experts Bring Delicious Desserts to Downtown

Media Contact: Frances Larose/ Sofia Rodriguez
650.548.6700 / flarose@prmagic.com

Announcing Beard Papa’s new store in

Downtown San Mateo

(San Mateo, Calif., December 2009) --- Since arriving in northern California in 2006, Beard Papa’s has been growing non-stop. The first Bay Area franchise was opened in San Francisco, then another and the concept quickly expanded to Berkeley, Cupertino, and now Downtown San Mateo.

Beard Papa’s owners, Yuan Ongpin and Luigi Cruz, have over 20 years in the restaurant industry and understand the nuisances of sophisticated consumers. The opening ribbon cutting celebration, December 18, 2009 at Beard Papa’s, 365 2nd Street in Downtown San Mateo, comes just in time for the Holidays.

Beard Papa’s has mastered the art of fresh and natural cream puffs and has successfully brought these originally Japanese treats to the northern Californian market. After Yuan Ongpin and Luigi Cruz first tasted these delicious custard and whipped cream with vanilla bean filled pastries, in Beard Papa’s New York store, they immediately fell in love with them and decided to bring them to the Bay Area. All the ingredients in the Beard Papa’s line are completely preservative free and fresh and geared to the sophisticated consumer.

Everyone is invited to indulge in these tasty pastries at their store opening party, where there will be free tastings of their delicious desserts. To start the holiday celebrations early, Beard Papa’s will also be giving away a surprise gift to the first 50 people who order one dozen or more puffs.

San Mateo Mayor John Lee will cut the ribbon at noon at the new store introducing everyone to this new taste sensation. Beard Papa’s has fans all over the world and was described by Epicurious.com, a website run by Gourmet and Bon Appetit magazines as “wildly addictive” and the cream puffs were included in their “2005’s Best Food Trends & Happenings”.
Beard Papa’s is another element of “All the Ingredients” offered in Downtown to provide customers with the best recipe for food, fun and entertainment.

Who: Beard Papa’s fresh and natural cream puffs
What: Beard Papa’s Store Opening and Ribbon Cutting with Mayor John Lee
Where: Beard Papa’s. 365 2nd Avenue, San Mateo
Why: To mix in a delicious new ingredient to Downtown San Mateo’s flavor
Info: For more information go to http://www.beardpapasf.com/ or call 650-342-PAPA

Ribbon Cutting for Downtown San Mateo’s Delicious Chinese Restaurant

Sun’s Chinese Cuisine offers great quality and prizes

Great food, first-class service and affordable prizes make Sun’s Chinese Cuisine stand out in Downtown San Mateo.

Another tasty ingredient for a fun, food and entertainment recipe in Downtown, this Chinese restaurant will host its official ribbon cutting today, December 17, 2009 at 5:30pm and everyone is invited to the party! The ribbon cutting will be performed by Mayor John Lee to inaugurate the ceremony, and San Mateo area Chamber of Commerce CEO, Linda Ashbury, along with several chamber ambassadors will be present to celebrate the festivities.

The friendly staff of Sun’s Chinese Cuisine always makes sure that customers have a good time while enjoying flavorful and unique food that combines north and south Chinese traditional dishes. The variety of flavors will leave everyone satisfied and the unmatched quality will offer San Mateo community an unforgettable and delectable experience!

WHO: Sun’s Chinese Restaurant and the Downtown San Mateo Association the festivities
WHAT: Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting
WHERE: B Street, Downtown San Mateo
WHY: To add another cross-cultural cuisine to the worldly mix of over 130 Downtown restaurants
INFO: For more information about the many businesses and services in downtown, please visit http://www.dsma.org/

Holiday and Album Signing Party at J'me Boutique

(San Mateo, Calif., December 2009) --- On December 16th, visit J’me Boutique in Downtown San Mateo and discover “All the Ingredients” for a perfect holiday by shopping, sipping a cocktail and listening to melodic music from Erica Sunshine Lee.

Erica Sunshine Lee hails from Nashville and has an eclectic style of music that blends country, folk and rock genres. She is an accomplished songwriter and just released her new album “Road to Recovery” in October.

In November, Lee received top honors as the winner of the Bay Area's Country Colgate Showdown, and most recently, she was nominated for the 2009 Atlanta Country Female Vocalist award.

The album signing party is just one of Downtown San Mateo’s many events to showcase high quality arts and entertainment to residents and visitors of the community and greater Bay Area.

Anyone who brings a new toy donation for the "Toys for Tots" program will be entered to win a fabulous $100 shopping spree at J'me Boutique.

Before the party, the Downtown San Mateo Association encourages everyone to walk around the shopping district and view all of the decorated holiday trees displayed in the “Christmas in the Window” contest. The public can vote for their favorite tree and enter to win a fabulous “Night Out in Downtown” prize package.


WHAT: Holiday Party and Album Signing

WHO: Musician Erica Sunshine Lee and J’me Boutique owner Jamie Sears-Turri

WHEN: Wednesday, December 16th from 7-10pm

WHERE: J’me Boutique in Downtown San Mateo (302 Baldwin Avenue)

WHY: To create a fun environment where the public can relax AND shop for those much needed Holiday gifts.

INFO: For additional information, please contact Jamie Sears –Turri at 650-685-2038 or visit http://www.dsma.org/

San Jose Harvest Festival Rolls Out Brand New Performer

Comedian John Park joins the festival entertainment line-up

(San Jose, Calif., November 2009) --- The Harvest Festivals have always been known for providing attendees with innovative and fun entertainment, and for the 2009 San Jose Harvest Festival, happening November 27-29, the show has brought in a hilarious new act to entertain the crowds.

John Park is brand new to the Harvest Festivals and brings a humorous twist to all of his performances. Park entertains the whole family with his juggling, jokes, spinning plates and much more. He has appeared on HBO’s The Larry Sanders Show and has opened for musical giants such as The Grateful Dead, Huey Lewis and the News, and Marie Osmond.

Cash Tribute will also hit the stage for a rockin’ set and is a favorite act of many festival-goers. A tribute to the “Man in Black”, this band re-creates the original sound of Johnny Cash’s greatest hits. Played with conviction, accuracy, and sincerity, Cash Tribute gives an honest appreciation of one of America’s enduring musical legends.

Scott Land Marionettes will wrap up the featured performances with a whimsical and family friendly show. Kids of all ages love watching these colorful marionettes bounce around to Scott Land’s intricate and funny storylines.

In addition to the main stage performances throughout the day, the Harvest Festival also offers strolling entertainers and performers to treat customers to an up-close and personal experience. One of the acts, Mama Claus and Eddie the Elf, meander through the aisles of the San Jose Convention Center in festive Holiday attire and sing to people browsing for gifts.

With his own kind of quirky energy, Washboard Willy has become a Pied Piper of rhythm in children of all ages. During his performance he and his partner Wishboard Wanda pass out hand-held rhythm instruments to the kids and encourage the children to be part of Willy's Washboard Jamboree.

The Harvest Festivals are the largest indoor arts and crafts show on the West Coast, boasting over 24,000 handmade American gifts. Guests can browse jewelry, pottery, original art, clothing, toys, specialty foods, holiday decor and more!

What: The San Jose Harvest Festival Original Art and Craft Show®
When: November 27-29, San Jose Conventions Center, San Jose CA
Hours: Friday: 9am – 6pm, Saturday: 10 am – 6pm, Sunday: 10 am – 5pm
Tickets: Adults: $9, Seniors (62+): $7, Youth (13-17): $4, Group Tickets (10 or More): $5, Kids 12 and Under: Free
Info: For tickets and additional info, call 415-447-3205 or visit http://www.harvestfestival.com/

Press: Call Liz Stigge at 650-548-6700, onsite at 650-245-2667 or email lstigge@prmagic.com