A Stroll Around Downtown San Jose

Downtown San Jose is actually very walkable. Within the downtown area, there is a trail system that runs along the Guadalupe River. The trail passes through several parks, and goes past the Children's Discovery Museum.

The San José Water Company building  was constructed in 1934. The San José Water Works building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a City Landmark. The building is the oldest privately owned water utility in California and combines both Moderne and Spanish Colonial Revival architectural elements. You can see the high walls in front of the building - flood control was a major design requirement when constructing the Guadalupe River trail.

I pass the very pleasant Guadalupe River park on my way through downtown, which is across from the Shark Tank (HP Pavillion, soon to be SAP Center).

The City has done it's best to preserve a wooded environment along the river wherever possible.

This is the AXIS Condo, which I pass on my walk - gorgeous design.

I make my way past the historic Hotel De Anza, an Art Deco gem - specifically, Zig Zag Moderne. The hotel opened during the Depression, in 1931.

This is the Britannia Arms, a watering hole for homesick Brits.

The South First area (SOFA) is filled with restaurants, clubs, galleries and shops.

The local Muji outpost is in the SOFA area, directly accessible by VTA Light Rail.

Unlike BART, VTA Light Rail is clean and pleasant.

Many people don't realize that many of San Jose's Native American and immigrant residents lived along the banks of the Guadalupe River. The local Italian community got it's start here.

San Pedro Square contains one of Spanish California's oldest settlements, the Peralta Adobe, was built in 1797 and is the last remaining structure from El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe. Across the street, early San Jose mayor Thomas Fallon built his large house in 1855. San Pedro Street is lined with historic buildings dating from the turn of the last century. 

The San Pedro Square area also is filled with restaurants and entertainment venues.

The San Pedro Square Market Building has numerous restaurants serving Tapas, Middle Eastern, Continental, brewpub fare, Asian, Italian, Cuban and retro American style food.

The old Fallon House, with a brand new condo looming in the distance.

This is the Peralta Adobe, the oldest structure in San Jose. The City of San Jose was founded in 1777, and is one of the oldest cities in the U.S.

San Pedro Square sponsors free live music and entertainment during the summer months.

This is the view of the Britannia Arms from the San Pedro Square side - plenty of outdoor seating.

Amazingly, Salmon spawn in the Guadalupe River - I even saw a jumping Salmon the evening that I took this photo.

 The City has done it's best to landscape the areas under the freeways, providing walkers, runners, and cyclists with paved trails.

 This is the back of my old office building at 333 W. San Carlos. During the 1995 flood, the Guadalupe river came all the way up to the back door of the building - hence the flood control measures now built into the trail system.

The Guadalupe River Trail is an island of tranquility in an otherwise very urban area.

I walk past the Shark Tank on my way home.

Sometimes, I'll cut through San Jose Diridon Station instead of walking around.

San Jose Diridon was built in 1935 and designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival Style - the interior is quite beautiful, with a trussed, wooden ceiling.

San Jose enjoys sunshine 300 days a year, making solar-powered parking meters possible.

The VTA Light Rail Station is directly in back of the main train station. I can walk out of my parking garage and take the Light Rail or Caltrain - it's very convenient.

I'm very grateful for the great year-round weather which makes my daily evening walks possible.

Hope you enjoyed my mini-walking tour!

Jamilla

Mitsuwa Market Japanese Gourmet Fair and Nihonmachi - San Jose

Yesterday, I went with my friend Cat to the Mitsuwa Market Japanese Gourmet Fair in San Jose. I was lucky to learn about this from Shop n' Chomp, who lives in LA and went to the fair at her local Mitsuwa.

There were numerous food stands offering everything from Sushi to Matcha Waffles. The store was heaving with people.

One of the most popular offerings was the "Tako-Yaki" (Octopus) stand. There was a long line for this one.

I went for the Green Tea and Custard Waffles. Delicious.

Mitsuwa also offers cream-filled Manju in addition to the traditional bean-filled variety offered at the food stands.

For lunch, I had the Uni (Sea Urchin) Croquettes. Really a uniquely Japanese flavor.

Green Tea Waffle.

Custard Cream Waffle

After lunch, we toured the Kinokuniya bookstore, which is attached to the Mitsuwa.

Cat books were particularly popular, including titles like "Cat Getting out of a Bag".

Chinglish guides and books with pictures of appallingly translated signs were on offer.

I loved the stickers - like these Rillakkuma dress-up stickers!

This was the Santoku Ramen line - we decided to buy lunch from the kiosks to avoid lines.

After lunch, we headed off to San Jose Nihonmachi (Japantown). There are lots of restaurants to choose from, with yummy offerings, above.

We stopped off at Nijiya Market to pick up a few items - I even found Obachan's Seedless Li Hing Mui plums and Matcha Kit Kats. The Strawberry Mochi is divine.

We picked up some fresh Manju from Shuei-Do Manju Shop.

We had some Affogato at Roy's Station.

I got some home made firm Tofu at San Jose Tofu - Cat was disappointed because they had sold out of the Silky Tofu.

We were too full to have some Bubbie's Mochi Ice Cream or Hawaiian-style Shave Ice, but I've been promised by my Hawaiian friends that they will treat me to the originals when I'm in Honolulu!

Hope you enjoyed the gastro tour!

Jamilla

Maker Faire, San Mateo

In May, I went to the Maker Faire in San Mateo with Cat and some of her work colleagues. What exactly is a Maker Faire, you ask...

"Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned."

In other words, it's a high-tech and low-tech festival of innovation. 

So what is weird and wonderful? I loved the motorized cupcake vehicles, above.

There was no shortage of food.

I attended a lecture on "Can Chickens Lay Plants?" which was mind-bending and informative. There were numerous lectures during the Maker Faire from "Ninja Engineering" to "Value in Fixing".

Exhibits ranged from Alternative Energy to Steampunk, from Kinetic Art to Woodworking.

No one went hungry at the Maker Faire - I had some fabulous Tacos de Asada and Cocateles de Frutas.

The holographic DJ booth was amazing.

This is a "kinetic art"exhibit, representing a forest. It was surreal.

Cat having a moment in the kinetic art exhibit.

If you have never been to a Maker Faire, I highly recommend it. The Maker Movement is picking up steam across the U.S., and there are Faires in many cities now - and outside the U.S. too.

Jamilla