Jim Black

04/01/2023

If you're a San Jose foodie and have yet to try out this ramen shop, it should be on your must-visit list for 2023. Ramen Champ, located at 6229 Santa Teresa Blvd. in South San Jose, is a Japanese restaurant known for its extreme "Buta MAX" ramen dish that comes with a mountain of bean sprouts, extra thick noodles and pork, and a portion size that is abundant.

The restaurant specializes in "Jiro-style" ramen, a Tokyo-style ramen with a cult following in Japan due to its unique components, such as the large mound of bean sprouts and cabbage, the raw garlic, and the generous quantity of braised pork belly. The ramen broth is clear, shoyu-based, and surprisingly light on the palate.

If you're a San Jose foodie and have yet to try out this ramen shop, it should be on your must-visit list for 2023. Ramen Champ, located at 6229 Santa Teresa Blvd. in South San Jose, is a Japanese restaurant known for its extreme "Buta MAX" ramen dish that comes with a mountain of bean sprouts, extra thick noodles and pork, and a portion size that is abundant.

The restaurant specializes in "Jiro-style" ramen, a Tokyo-style ramen with a cult following in Japan due to its unique components, such as the large mound of bean sprouts and cabbage, the raw garlic, and the generous quantity of braised pork belly. The ramen broth is clear, shoyu-based, and surprisingly light on the palate.

03/23/2023

Following the historic winter storm event that severely damaged the high-profile Capitola Wharf, a few details were recently revealed for rebuilding the structure. City staff plans to combine upcoming wharf damage repair work with a previously approved renovation project slated to begin later this fall. According to Capitola Director of Public Works Jessica Kahn, the original scope for the $8 million Wharf Resiliency Project called for the deck to be widened in an effort to enhance public access to the site. Now, the City will also complete the highly-anticipated storm repair damage work within the same project. By doing so, permitting does not change, and the original project scope only experiences limited design alterations.

03/17/2023

Looks like San Jose's culinary scene is about to get a whole lot more "pasta-tively" delicious with the opening of an Italian cuisine food hall! Appropriately named The Littlest Little Italy, the new 5-in-1 food hall is the latest addition to the city's Little Italy neighborhood at 320 West St. John Street. The food hall-style establishment recently took over the former Enoteca La Storia restaurant across the street from Henry's World Famous Hi-Life and can accommodate about 200 people in the historic one-story building.

Five food and beverage businesses operate in the 5,000-square-foot space for The Littlest Little Italy.

Looks like San Jose's culinary scene is about to get a whole lot more "pasta-tively" delicious with the opening of an Italian cuisine food hall! Appropriately named The Littlest Little Italy, the new 5-in-1 food hall is the latest addition to the city's Little Italy neighborhood at 320 West St. John Street. The food hall-style establishment recently took over the former Enoteca La Storia restaurant across the street from Henry's World Famous Hi-Life and can accommodate about 200 people in the historic one-story building.

Five food and beverage businesses operate in the 5,000-square-foot space for The Littlest Little Italy.

03/10/2023

A nearly $1 million project to transform the Rispin Mansion property in Capitola into a community park is expected to start in late summer. At the beginning of March, the Capitola Department of Public Works put an advertisement out for bids for the construction of The Park at Rispin Mansion. Plans for the 0.86-acre park development at Wharf Road and Clares Street, across from the Capitola Library, call for a space that features passive recreational opportunities and focuses on the site's cultural, historical, and open space resources.

03/04/2023

Spring is a season of rejuvenation and renewal, and one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of this season is by going on a hike. For residents of Santa Clara County, hiking provides an opportunity to explore the region's natural wonders, breathe in fresh air, and improve physical and mental well-being. In an effort to encourage area residents to switch up their daily routines and become one with nature, Santa Clara County Parks has organized the Challenge. This challenge features seven handpicked hiking adventures, all nearby,
so you can experience new terrain and spectacular vistas right here in Santa Clara County! Here's how you can complete the challenge and earn a commemorative t-shirt or bandana.

Spring is a season of rejuvenation and renewal, and one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of this season is by going on a hike. For residents of Santa Clara County, hiking provides an opportunity to explore the region's natural wonders, breathe in fresh air, and improve physical and mental well-being. In an effort to encourage area residents to switch up their daily routines and become one with nature, Santa Clara County Parks has organized the Challenge. This challenge features seven handpicked hiking adventures, all nearby,
so you can experience new terrain and spectacular vistas right here in Santa Clara County! Here's how you can complete the challenge and earn a commemorative t-shirt or bandana.

03/02/2023

Let's chat about down payment. We get this question A LOT! No, you do not need 20% down, we have options ranging from zero down to 20% down and anywhere in between!

With so many options to choose from, let us help find what program works best for you!

03/02/2023

Let's chat about down payment. We get this question A LOT! No, you do not need 20% down, we have options ranging from zero down to 20% down and anywhere in between!
Putting less down can give your buyers more options! If they have a set amount like $15,000 for a down payment, as long as they can afford the slightly higher payment with the PMI, they could use the $15K to buy a $300,000 dollar house and have a 5% down payment. If they wanted to have a 20% down payment, they would only be able to afford a $75,000 home!
With so many options to choose from, let us help find what program works best for you!

Let's chat about down payment. We get this question A LOT! No, you do not need 20% down, we have options ranging from zero down to 20% down and anywhere in between!
Putting less down can give your buyers more options! If they have a set amount like $15,000 for a down payment, as long as they can afford the slightly higher payment with the PMI, they could use the $15K to buy a $300,000 dollar house and have a 5% down payment. If they wanted to have a 20% down payment, they would only be able to afford a $75,000 home!
With so many options to choose from, let us help find what program works best for you!

02/17/2023

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) and the California Small Business Development Center have established an SBA Business Recovery Center in Capitola to provide support for local businesses affected by recent winter storms. The center, located inside Capitola City Hall's community room, will offer a range of specialized services and be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday. In addition to empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners with the support they need to recover from a declared disaster, the SBA also provides local small businesses the resources needed to start, grow, or expand their businesses.

02/14/2023

Be sure to check out this exhibit running through May 28. Want to get an up-close perspective of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel without having to pay for airfare and transportation to Vatican City? Here's an option! Make your way to the Westfield Oakridge Mall, located at 925 Blossom Hill Road in San Jose, for 'Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,' which showcases one of the world's most famous works of art from a never-before-seen perspective. During the one-of-a-kind experience found at 'Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,' visitors will surround themselves in the artist's masterpieces under a life-size perspective.

01/19/2023

The local veteran-owned self-storage facility offers state-of-the-art amenities in a high-profile location.Located at 5878 Silver Creek Valley Road in south San Jose is Silver Creek Self Storage, which recently debuted in two phases and offers a combined 107,400 square feet in 1,100 units.If you're looking for premium self-storage units, warehouse space, and document storage, Silver Creek Self Storage offers the space you need in a convenient location to the Silver Creek and Evergreen communities, as well as The Villages.

01/18/2023

Team registration is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.Capitola Recreation invites local adults to join this spring's upcoming co-ed softball league, starting on March 26, 2023.Registration opens Tuesday, February 28, at 8:30 am.League fees cost $552 per team, and payment must be completed in order to compete.Want to play in Capitola Rec's adult co-ed softball league but don't have an entire team?Single players can call the rec department to inquire about being added to the free agent list.Games may be played any day of the week, Monday through Friday, at 6:30 pm.Joining a local co-ed softball league is a great way for adults to stay active and have fun.

01/04/2023

Want the buy-side and sell-side of a transaction?Your clients can use a new type of home loan, The Trade-In Mortgage by Calque, to buy before they sell.You get the listing on the original home and the purchase on the next home.No required certifications or trainings.