Carping about there being “nothing to do” in San Jose is frivolous and without merit. There are a myriad of soul stirring adventures in San Jose. One need not travel to god-forsaken San Francisco for a culture fix. The following San Jose field trips will fill up one’s spiritual gas tank—assuming one has a soul.
Trip One - From downtown San Jose, drive south on First Street to the Burger Bar. Enjoy the 1960’s ambience (a beautiful and natural state of decay much prized by aficionados) that includes the fabulous “Dealin’ Doller Dan” sign. Eat 17 burgers for $1.43. Feed a pigeon. Now, drive to the Happy Hollow Zoo—it’s not far. The zoo is accessible and the animals are a hoot. Spend an hour watching the parrots. If your bowels are in an uproar, this experience will calm them.
Trip Two - Watch a San Jose Giants game. Yes, it’s minor league baseball, but the ambience is pleasant and amusing, and the players are probably better than the ones in Frisco … and plenty of fun contests, like giving out prizes for the dirtiest cars in the parking lot. Last time I was there, a lady sang the National Anthem like it meant something. Quite a relief to hear it sung without affectation. Eat a chili-dog and cheesy nachos.
Trip Three - The joy of Alviso. If you have not made the effort to explore the historical section of Alviso (Alviso is technically part of San Jose) you are depriving yourself. Start with a beer at Vahl’s—the bar is in the back, about 35 feet from the railroad tracks. Don’t ignore the abandoned harbor or the nature trail that leads out into the bay. Yes, you can walk out into San Francisco Bay along the salt evaporation ponds. Birds, fresh air, and you are practically alone—and within the city limits. This trip is more healing than Tiger Balm.
Bonus Trip - The bus tours of the defunct Albino enclaves in upper Alum Rock Park are worthy of note, and discussion.
Merry Christmas and God bless Tiny Tim.
You forgot collecting cans and bottles on the gaudalupe river!
Further proof that there is nothing to do in San Jose
Eric, your story reminds me of why I live in San Jose… the simple things are sometimes the best. Oh, I would like to hear more about that albino enclave in Alum Rock Park… legend or fact?
Eric: You are more easliy entertained than I.
Walker#1: your fun trip requires grappling with the homeless for the prized cans and bottles.
What is preventing San Jose from developing the Alviso waterfront to be like Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf or Cannery Row?
Three cheers for recognizing what we have in our backyard.
The Merc reported this morning that we are effectively leaderless, since Gonzo is damaged goods and the City Manager is tired of delivering the mail. We now have an opportunity to return City staff to the old City Hall and convert the new building into some kind of entertainment venue. While I disagree with an earlier blogger who suggested that the animals/monkeys at Happy Hollow Zoo be given a shot at running the City, there may be other uses for the new building that could put us on the map. We need to be a destination, in one way or another. Collecting bottles and cans (see #1) on the G River is not inspiring. Let’s get our creative juices flowing and come up with ideas for the reuse of the new City Hall.
All those who say, theres not much to do in San Jose, I would like to know what they do for fun?
Pho Hoa, I’d like to know why they don’t either. I thought about it before, but if they did develop it, they might get mashed by people from downtown on why they didn’t put it in downtown..
Downtown is the place to be. Just check out this video of Santa Clara Street at night: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3040689656954093739&q=san+jose
Here is a problem I have. When I have family or friends from out of town where do I take them IN San Jose? Think about when everyone is staring at each other during the holidays wondering what to do. Some places you can only do once in your life, really.
1. Winchester Mystery House (really hasn’t everyone been there once?)
2. Christmas in the Park and dinner downtown
3. The movie theatres (Century, AMC, Camera)
4. A Sharks Game
5. Deli at LaVilla and walk in Willow Glen
6. Children’s Discovery Museum or the Tech and an IMAX Movie.
7. Walk down on the River Trail
8. Valley Fair / Santana Row
9. Lou’s Doughnuts for a breakfast treat
Anything else?
Girl From The Net, you’re right on! The politicians would scream foul were anything of consequence developed outside the boundaries of downtown. I’m amused at how parochial our local officals have been regarding the County’s desire to develop the Fairgrounds.
The fact that we have to make this list confirms we have nothing to do… sad..
All of those ideas are great if you are married or have a family. Going to Happy Hollow with the guys to feed the pigeons just seems a bit anti-climactic.
San Jose Entertainment ideas
Downtown Ice, Nutcracker and other concerts, events and theater
http://www.sjdowntown.com
San Jose Things to Do
http://www.sanjose.org/
Events by Sports, Theater, Music, Family & Kids etc
http://www.sanjose.org/events/
Willow Glen Holiday activities
http://www.downtownwillowglen.org/
Wishing that everyone will have a great holiday with family and friends
Ed
Re #11 list.
The Bark in the Park dog festival is NOT to be missed (only once a year though). And, lunch at Original Joe’s (this can be done much more than once). And, a Falafel at El Falafels. And if your friends have kids, I really do recommend the Happy Hollow Zoo. Heck, I’m a broken down middle-aged man and I like that zoo. The San Jose Museum of Art, depending on the exhibit. The San Jose CART race now, if it comes back. Vahl’s restaurant truly is a blast from the past—as is Alviso. I wasn’t kidding about Alviso, honest.
So many San Jose wonders, so little time.
Barnum,
Let’s turn City Hall into Fry’s Electronics.
Barnum,
Santa Clara Valley Expo and Historical Museum.
A few more for the list:
A walk down Lincoln Avenue.
The Rose Garden.
Take a stroll through downtown. It always seems to be changing, these days for the better. Stop and notice the public art. Think about it. Love it. Hate it.
Visit a Santa Cruz Mountain, or South County, Winery. (OK, not San Jose, but close enough.)
The Falafal Drive-In on West San Carlos St.
Take a drive down Monterey Highway from San Jose all the way to Gilroy, especially in late summer when the fruit stands are in business. (Do it soon before they screw up the Coyote Valley!)
Take a walk in your own neighborhood. Say hi to someone you don’t know.
Eric’s right, Alviso is an unspoiled treasure. Please, DON’T let it become another Fisherman’s Warf!
I’ve never seen Mal Content so upbeat.
San Jose Highlights
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3679432451180474881&q=san+jose
San Jose Techie ‘s Saturday Night Date
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1553088838218545010
4087513697538&q=san+jose
Don’t forget:
1) Mark’s Hot Dogs
2) Lou’s Doughnuts
3) Kukars House of Pizza
All landmark San Jose eateries!
I like the idea of getting the “places to go” by other people who care about San Jose. As much as I like the folks at the CVB there should be places only the locals really know about!
I have not been to Vahl’s or El Falafels – and I don’t think I have spent much time in Alviso!
Merry Christmas – and it’s great to see a happy Mal Content this time of year!!
The Rosicrucian Museum is worth 2 or 3 visits—includes cat mummies. And Alum Rock Park remains as mysterious and unexplored to most San Joseans as the Dark Continent was in the 19th century. There you will find odd sulphor springs and evidence of albino enclaves.
No matter what your religious affiliation is, the San Jose Cathedral would be a nice place to visit.
RGC & Local – I’m always upbeat about San Jose. I like the city and the people.
It’s the antics at Silly Hall that make me a malcontent. That, and a comment made by Larry Stone to the effect that most of the people posting comments here are “a bunch of malcontents.” That was the inspiration for “Mal Content” as my SJI handle. Thanks Larry!
Jean – Let’s remember:
Giorgio’s Pizza on Foxworthy.
Tacos Al Pastor on Bascom (near the infamous Pink Poodle).
Schurra’s Candy on The Alameda
and Race Street Fish & Poultry, just around the corner from one of my other favorite only-in-San Jose places…Mel Cotten’s Sporting Goods. (A good place to get boots for a hike to the albino enclaves of Alum Rock Park.)
Merry Christmas!
Okay, so maybe your right, there isn’t all that much to do in San Jose that might be exciting to the average visitor or tourist. Call me boring or unexciting if you will, but, it’s good enough for me. If you ask me, that’s not just San Jose, that’s the whole south bay area. So, when your out of town family and friends decide to come for a visit, I’m not the slightest bit offended if you want to take em to San Francisco. It’s a great freak show, last time I was there I got a hoot out of the guy that was wearing the thong bikini and tennie shoes with sox, comming up to our car while we were at a red light. On a serious note it’s hard to compete with the ocean, great scenic views, yummy dungeoness crab, pier 39, golden gate bridge, alcatraz, old victorian houses.. I applaud San Francisco for all their tourist trapps.. However, with all that being said, I still LOVE San Jose and it’s entertainment enough for me. If it wasn’t, I’d be outa here and move to Boston…
#5: Money and interest in it as a destination.
Ryan #10: I feel so stoopid that I missed such fun.
RGC # 14: check out the video on # 10—you could go get stoopid with the homies. BIG FUN!
Dinner @ Vin Santo on Lincoln Ave.
I say if you can’t handle the boredom in San Jose, move out. Or join a commitie to try and move the ocean, and golden gate bridge to the center of town.
Good Calls:
Tacos Al Pastor (definitely an unsung hero)
Race Street (great for healthy take out BBQ’d salmon)
Vin Santo (best date place in SJ, although I wouldn’t know lately)
The top ten “tourist” attractions in San José, as compiled by the Merc back in … uh … awhile ago:
10. History San José
9. San José Museum of Quilts & Textiles
8. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
7. San José Municipal Rose Garden
6. San José Museum of Art
5. Raging Waters
4. Winchester Mystery House
3. Children’s Discovery Museum of San José
2. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
1. The Tech Museum of Innovation
Also keep in mind the San José Flea Market, which has the distinction of being the largest outdoor market in the country.
Downtown San José is a great destination during the holidays, what with Christmas in the Park, Downtown Ice, and the Winter Wonderland rides and all. Plus there’s ALWAYS a ton of great dining options downtown.
San José has several great options for sports fans, topped of course by the Sharks, but also including the Sabercats arena football team, Giants single-A baseball club, Fight Night at the Tank, and more.
Great theatre options, too: American Musical Theatre of San José, San José Repertory Theatre, Opera San José, Symphony Silicon Valley, Ballet San José Silicon Valley, etc. Plus, there’s nothing better than catching a great headliner at the Improv.
These are just a few options; the City of San José isn’t actually going to make a schedule for you. You have to use your own head a bit. If you don’t like it and think there’s NOTHING to do, why not move to someplace like Butt Crack, North Dakota and try that?
Oh, and just for the record: Top Dog is better than Mark’s Hot Dogs any day of the week.
Top Ten Reasons
“Why there is nothing to do in San Jose”
10. Nerds are more amused with their computer games and online dating.
9. When you ask residents “what is there to do”?, they tell you to go to elsewhere.
8. The Quakes are gone.
7. There are only so many times you can go to the Winchester Mystery House.
6. No wonder that old lady went crazy, because she was living in San Jose.
5. Hockey is only half of the year.
4. San Jose cannot steal the Oakland A’s anymore.
3. There is already a Capital of Entertainment out there, and San Jose could not steal that title.
2. Because Gonzo stole all the animals out of the Happy Hollow Zoo, so he could find a scapegoat.
1. Because everyone is at home.
San Jose Techie ‘s Saturday Night Date
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1553088838218545010
Somebody mentioned fairgrounds. The fairgrounds IS in San Jose. Tear down everything and build it into the ultimate entertainment locale. There is pleanty of parking with room for a total sports venue ie: baseball stadium, soccer stadium, football stadium, concert hall and whatever other type of entertainment. Just because the County owns the property doesn’t take it out of San Jose. Nothing of any great value is happening there now. No more agricultural fair. It woudn’t be the money losing, bankrupt facility that it is presently.
You know, you really have to pour some out for the homies sometimes.
Downtown can be so hood sometimes. And this is coming from someone who went to Overfelt. And if you disagree, just check out the Google video I referenced in comment #10.
Local,
This town will never endorse a vote on a baseball/soccer stadium. That was just pie in the sky stuff Conzo (Ron G) made up just to keep his polls up, and now that can’t save him either. BART to SJ is a fairytale and he can’t use that right now. Who knows maybe Conzo will try to steal a NFL football team.
With the exception of 1-2 disgruntled people it seems all of us take great pride in San Jose and enjoy what the region has to offer – I think that’s wonderful.
The conversation lead me to wonder: Where do San Joseans actually spend quality leisure time and entertainment dollar?
And.. the idea of sports facilities keeps coming up. Are the A’s or a soccer stadium something the people of San Jose would value? On what terms and at what cost?
Local,
Where do San Joseans actually spend quality leisure time and entertainment dollar?
Short answer: We don’t.
Long answer: Because of our demanding work schedules, high cost of living and segregated land use planning, most of us spend much less time leisurely hanging out than say—someone in Vancouver. Its important to understand that we cannot apply standard concepts of family/work/leisure to our city.
What I am encouraged about is the explosion of what Howard Shultz of Starbucks fame calls the Third Place. Its not home or work. Its something else. Its Starbucks. Its Borders. Its the library. Its church. Its the places where people go when they aren’t sleeping, working or watching television. The killer app of placemaking is lowering the opportunity cost of visiting a Third Place. For the most of us, it takes too long and too much effort to visit some coffee shop Downtown because of the sheer distance. Downtown is reduced to an event space where we watch concerts and visit Christmas in the Park. Instead, lets focus on a “Main Street” type of program where Third Place environments can flourish in short distances from our homes.
In my mind, San Carlos from Downtown to the 880 is a perfect candidate for a “Main Street” rezoning. It has good proportions, street parking and street-facing retail. And ther you have it: a linear downtown connecting Downtown proper with Santana Row. You heard it here first.
Ryan, maybe we should give them back king and story?
Ryan,
Keep chewing on those meds!
Batman, nicely put!
Batman #33: Those are the Murky’s top ten? Wow! #s 1, 2, 8, & 10 are the only ones worth the gasoline to get there.
What is Con/Vis’s top ten…anybody know?
Ryan# 39: Walker #40 is right—keep poppin’ ‘em, man.
The street you speak of might have been great for RDA $$$ when they had them, ‘cuz it sure as hell is blighted.
But now they can barely pay their salaries @ RDA, so that cheeseball strip you prefer will hafta wait.
And it’s close to Valley Med, to renew your ‘scrip.
I know this has nothing to do with the topic, but, I think it’s funny when people say they don’t think San Jose is the Capitol of the Silicon Valley. Maybe they percieve the capitol as the birth place of the computer. San Jose may not have been the birthplace of technology, however San Jose has more computer companies then any other bayarea city and ships out the most in volume of product then any other city in the bayarea. Then on the second hand, that information came out of the mouth of Ron Gonzales. Does anyone know whether or not it’s true?
La Victoria on San Carlos should be #1. Just came back from there and it was packed as usual.
Eric, I’ve done about all the things that you mention… all good stuff. But the mystery remains and I want a clear answer. How would one go about locating the albino enclaves in Alum Rock Park. I know you’ve been there but, aside from one Underbelly column a few years ago, you’ve never elaborated on your clandestine visit.
RE: Albinos!
When I was a teenager (late 70’s-early 80’s) my mom told me this story about this “Albino Colony” that lived in the Santa Cruz mtns and they would come out at night and chase cars!! I’ve kinda pictured it as “Night of the Living Dead.” LOL I’ve also heard other locals talking about the albino rumors too. It’s funny how this legend lives on. I’m very curious now about the mention of Alum Rock Park and the albino enclaves…and is this just a silly local folklore??
DeDe, I wish I could answer your question but only Eric can do that. Perhaps he’ll indulge us with a reply.
Re the questions on Albinos (#45, #46). I will address the albino issue in near future. Local legend places the albinos in many surrounding hillside locations around good old San Jose. True stories? Or a method to keep children out of the parks at night?