CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device
Several downtown San Jose craft cocktail bars are banding together this month to help out the staff of Jack Rose Libation House in Los Gatos, which closed down with scarce notice at the end of March. And they’re doing so in the perfect way by adding the classic Jack Rose cocktail to their menus for the rest of April and donating the proceeds to the bar’s former employees.
The effort started after Jack Rose employees stopped in last weekend at Haberdasher, the throwback bar in San Jose’s SoFA District. Owner Cache Bouren said he was floored to hear how they were suddenly let go, and, knowing they all had bills to pay and might not be able to jump right into another job, came up with the idea for “One Last Jack Rose.”
“The folks that either fall into, or fall in love with, this business are a rare breed of human that spends hours on their feet, with no guarantee of pay, job security or health care, yet they do their jobs every day with such honor and passion,” Bouren said. “It really infuriates me when I see them taken advantage of or treated as expendable or disposable.”
From April 16-30, Haberdasher will be joined by downtown neighbors Five Points, Loft, Rookies, SP2, 55 South, Paper Plane and Miniboss in the fundraising effort. Jim Stump’s Vesper in Campbell and The Table in Willow Glen also have signed up.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Jack Rose, it’s a classic pre-Prohibition cocktail made with applejack — a sort of apple brandy — along with grenadine syrup and lemon or lime juice. It was said to be a favorite of author John Steinbeck and was mentioned in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises.”
Bouren said he preferred the cocktail campaign over a straight donation because it would give Jack Rose Libation House fans a way to say goodbye to a popular lounge on Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. But anyone wishing to skip the drink and donate directly can do so on GoFundMe.com (search for #onelastJackRose).
LABOR LEADER TO SPEAK FOR YWCA: California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Wednesday the inaugural Dolores Huerta Day — coinciding with the labor movement leader’s 89th birthday — and the YWCA of Silicon Valley also picked that day to announce she would be the keynote speaker at its 29th annual Inspire Luncheon on Oct. 30.
Registration opens July 1 for the fundraising event, which annually draws more than 1,500 people and has had a stellar lineup of speakers including Anita Hill, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Janet Reno, Gloria Steinem and Geena Davis. Go to www.ywca-sv.org for updates.
FALCON EGGS HATCHED: It’s been quite a week for fans watching the nature-driven reality show starring Clara and Fernando El Cohete, the peregrine falcons that nest atop San Jose City Hall. Three of the falcons’ four eggs hatched, and people were glued to the city’s FalconCam as mom and dad started taking care of the falcon chicks, or eyases.
But then suddenly the server hosting the FalconCam went down, leaving everyone in the dark about what was going on in the nest box. Was a pigeon dinner on the way? Was Fernando being a good enough dad? And was that fourth egg going to hatch? (It didn’t. That’s nature.) But by Thursday, the city’s IT staff had things up and running again. You can see for yourself at www.sanjoseca.gov/falcons. In the meantime, pass the pigeon — I mean, popcorn — because I’ve got some bird-watching to catch up on.
CHILD ADVOCATES’ SMART BET: Child Advocates of Silicon Valley honored former Executive Director Karen Scussel as a CASA Hero and Legend for nearly two decades of work with the agency at its Vegas-themed spring fundraiser last Saturday at Club Auto Sport in San Jose.
In her presentation remarks, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Shawna Schwarz noted the Scussel served as a court-appointed special advocate for 17 foster youth during her time with Child Advocates. And the very first of those foster youth, Deborah J. Rutledge, delivered a keynote speech about her experience and got a standing ovation of her own, too.
The fundraiser, which also served to introduce new CEO Fred Ferrer, raised more than $425,000 for the nonprofit, which expects to serve more than 1,000 foster children this year.
SILICON VALLEY COMIC-CON ADDS TO LINEUP: David Harbour, the star of the new “Hellboy” movie that opened this weekend, is the most recent addition to the lineup at Silicon Valley Comic-Con, which returns for its fourth year in downtown San Jose in August. The show, founded by Steve Wozniak, has already announced appearances by “Aquaman” star Jason Momoa, “Gotham” stars Morena Baccarin and Ben McKenzie and the original Hulk himself, Lou Ferrigno.
Tickets, passes and photo/autograph packages are already on sale for the Aug. 16-18 show at www.svcomiccon.com.
TEAL TUNES: Here’s the bet that Gary Scott Thomas and Julie Stevens of KRTY (95.3 FM) have set up with their counterparts at KYCE The Coyote in Las Vegas: When the Sharks win the series against the Golden Knights, the Vegas station will have to play Dionne Warwick’s 1968 classic “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” the next morning at the top of every hour of their show. In the unlikely event that Vegas wins? Gary and Julie have to play Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas.” All respect to the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, but “Go Sharks!”
