San Jose: The Capital of Silicon Valley
-- Semiconductor International, 6/15/2000
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Getting around town
VTA light rail service provides service between south San Jose and the Greater America Industrial Area of Santa Clara. The 20-mile line serves the San Jose Civic Center, the North First Street Industrial Area, downtown San Jose and the residential areas of south San Jose. Operating from early morning until midnight daily, every 10-15 min weekdays; every 15 min Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; and every 30 min evenings. Late night and early morning travelers will have a time transfer with Line 22 in downtown San Jose. VTA rail fares are $1.25 for adults, $0.70 for youth and $0.40 for seniors; a day pass can be purchased for $3, $1.75 and $1, respectively.
Yellow and Checker Cabs serve San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and surrounding unincorporated areas. Taxicabs also are available at San Jose International Airport's Terminal A. Offered 24 hours daily. Phone: 1-408-293-1234.
Historic trolley takes you back to the 1880s where the streetcars ran on 126 miles of trackway in the Santa Clara Valley. Restored by hundreds of volunteers from the San Jose Trolley Corp., the trolleys run every 40 min between the Civic Center Station and downtown; operating April through October, 7 days a week, 10:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Trolleys also serve the Public Museum. Phone: 1-408-293-2276 or 1-408-275-0537.
CalTrain operates between San Jose and San Francisco taking approximately one hour and 25 minutes. A one-way ticket is $4, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and $5.25 all other times. Tickets can be purchased at the station, 65 Cahill St. Call for departure times to and from San Francisco. Phone: 1-800-660-4287.
Dining selections
Bella Mia offers Californian, Italian and seafood options. Outdoor or bar seating is available. The average wait time is 10-20 min. Reservations suggested; casual attire. Open weekdays, 24 hrs; Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Located at 58th S. First St. in downtown San Jose, 1-408-280-1993.
Gordon Biersch is a beautifully renovated restaurant in downtown San Jose with an outdoor courtyard that is reminiscent of European beer gardens. The brewery is showcased behind glass walls and is the centerpiece of the restaurant. The Courtyard stage is home to the area's top jazz, swing and blues bands. Located at 33 E. San Fernando St., 1-408-294-6785.Emile's menus reflect the Swiss belief in making the best use of peak seasonal items. The cuisine is contemporary European, with French, Swiss and Italian specialties of fresh fish and game daily. Its extensive wine list ranges from moderately priced California wines to the finest European varieties. Located at 545 S. Second St., 1-408-289-1960.Menara Moroccan Restaurantis a Moroccan oasis in the heart of San Jose. On request, large groups of 25 or more can enjoy lunch served in the unique Moroccan manner. For dinner, open daily 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Located at 41 E. Gish Road, 1-408-453-1983.Paolo's Restaurant provides highly acclaimed regional Italian cuisine, featuring a wide selection of seafood, pasta, game and other Italian specialties. Conveniently located in downtown San Jose, adjacent to the Center for the Performing Arts and the San Jose Convention Center. Open Monday-Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Located at 333 W. San Carlos St., 1-408-294-2558.
Scott's Seafood San Jose serves fine seafood with an emphasis on freshness and variety. Select from Scott's Classics, daily specials and choices that reflect current market trends. Dine in an understated, warm and comfortable atmosphere, with no fads or gimmicks. Emphasis is placed on the food with exhibition cooking creating a sense of theater and participation. Located at 185 Park Ave., 1-408-971-1700.
Blake's Steakhouse & Bar, San Jose's premier steakhouse, is located in the heart of downtown and is only four blocks from the San Jose Arena. Fine Honduran mahogany complemented by warm earth tones plus extensive perimeter booth seating make for a comfortable, yet elegant dining room. While certified Angus beef cut exclusively for Blake's takes center stage, lamb, fowl and fresh seafood also are available. Homemade desserts, a full bar, an extensive wine list and large selection of draft beer complete the dining experience. Located at 17 N. San Pedro, 1-408-298-9221.Vegetarian House offers lacto-vegetarian, vegan-friendly and international food including Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Italian and French. Toppings for gourmet pizzas include sun-dried tomatoes and vegetarian Canadian bacon. Tofu specialties, many Italian pasta dishes, Asian rice and soup dishes and spring rolls are available. Non-alcoholic cocktails, beers and wines are served at a piano bar. The full name of this place is the Suma Ching Hai International Association Vegetarian House. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Located at 520 E. Santa Clara St., 1-408-292-3798.Agenda Bar, Restaurant and Lounge, San Jose's only supper club, offers fun, great food and music in an upscale, contemporary design. Downstairs is the Speakeasy room featuring D.J. music and dancing; on the street level is a fine restaurant; and on the top floor is a lounge hosting live jazz nightly. The restaurant serves regional California cuisine and a variety of eclectic California wines. The menu offers exciting appetizers, pizza, fresh salads, homemade pastas and entrees. Open for lunch Tuesday-Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dinner Tuesday-Thursday 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5:30 p.m. to midnight. Reservations are recommended. Located at 399 S. First St., 1-408-287-3991.
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A.P. Stumps is an American bistro. Full bar and main dining room are on street level, and patio seating and banquet facilities are available. Beautifully designed with handmade sconces and light fixtures that are breathtaking, not to mention a menu that is sure to leave you talking. Located at 163 W. Santa Clara St., 1-408-292-9928.
Area attractions
Located in Kelley Park, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo has been providing affordable family entertainment, education and fun since 1961. The petting zoo features llamas, goats, guinea pigs and miniature horses. Picnicking is allowed in the park area, although barbecues are not permitted. Barbecues are allowed in Kelley Park. A fee of $4 is charged for parking in Kelley Park. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours in the summer. Admission is $4.50 for adults, $4 for seniors and free for children aged 2 and younger; 1-408-295-8383.
The Winchester Mystery House is a 160-room, $5.5M Victorian mansion that was owned, designed and built under the direct supervision of Sarah L. Winchester. The Winchester Estate tour includes a 65-min guided mansion interior tour featuring 110 of the 160 rooms, a self-guided Victorian Garden tour to explore the Victorian Gardens and outlying buildings surrounding the Winchester Mansion, the Winchester Historical Firearms Museum and the Winchester Antique Products Museum. The Winchester Estate, Cafe and Gift Shoppe are open daily. Allow 2 1/2 hours to tour the estate. Located at 525 S. Winchester Blvd.; 1-408-247-2000.
July shows and events
Music in the Park- Free Thursday evening concert series (July through August) featuring live musical performances by top local, regional and national entertainers. Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1-408-279-1775.
Chinese Summer Festival- Food, arts and crafts, martial arts, Chinese folk dancing, demonstrations and more on July 22. San Jose Historical Museum, 1-408-287-2290.
Gilroy Garlic Festival- World-renowned food fair features garlic dishes and items of all kinds. Four stages of entertainment, plus recipe cook-off featuring local celebrities, children's area and arts and crafts are part of the festivities. July 28-30, Christmas Hill Park, Gilroy, 1-408-842-1625.
Museums
San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles- The museum supports the art, craft and history of quilts and textiles. Textile art transcends culture, ethnic and age boundaries, and encompasses traditional and contemporary forms. Exhibits and programs promote the appreciation of quilts and textile art and provide an understanding of their role in the lives of their makers. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Monday and holidays. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for seniors over 65. Located at 110 Paseo de San Antonio; 1-408-971-0323.
The Silicon Valley Institute of Art and Technology (Art-Tech) is an organization created to celebrate, display and foster interaction between the arts and technology in Silicon Valley. Open only by appointment. Located at Sky Ranch in the East Hills; 1-408-929-9969.
Intel Museum- Open since 1992, the Intel Museum introduces visitors to the microminiature world of computer chips, where millions of electronic components are packed onto quarter-inch squares and time is measured in billionths of seconds. At the museum entrance, visitors are greeted by a figure in a bunny suit. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free. The museum is located in the main lobby of Intel Corp.'s Robert Noyce Building at 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif.; 1-408-765-0503.
Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House- The Ainsley House is an English tudor-style home built in the 1920s. The majority of the house is filled with decor used by the Ainsleys. Tours feature details on the unique architecture and decorative details of the Ainsley House. Adjacent to the Ainsley House is the Museum Store and the Morgan Gallery, named after a prominent Campbell citizen, which depicts the history of Campbell. Open Thursday-Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for seniors 55 and over. Located at 51 N. Central Ave., Campbell; 1-408-866-2119.
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Center for Beethoven House and Museum is the only research archive in North America devoted entirely to the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven. It houses North America's largest collection of first and early editions of his music and even includes a lock of Beethoven's hair. Open Monday-Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Located at the San Jose State University, 4th and San Fernando Streets; 1-408-924-4589.
Fallon House is a fully restored and furnished 15-room Italianate Victorian built around 1855 during the War with Mexico. The structure stood empty for years after the Fallon family vacated in 1878. Reopening as a hotel in 1900, it housed one of the most popular restaurants in the Valley, frequented by celebrities such as John Steinbeck, Fatty Arbuckle and Charlie Chaplin. Admission includes guided tours of the Peralta Adobe. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors. Located at 175 W. St. John St.; 1-408-993-8182.
San Jose Historical Museum- On 25 acres in South Kelley Park, the museum has 21 original and fully restored Victorian buildings including a printshop, candy store, bank, hotel, doctor's office, firehouse, livery and home. There also are exhibits on early Indian, Spanish and Mexican influences on the Santa Clara Valley. There is a fee of $4 for parking in Kelley Park. Open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for youth 6-17. Located at 1650 Senter Rd.; 1-408-287-2290.
San Jose Museum of Art- Built in 1892 as a post office, the museum has a permanent collection of nearly 1000 20th-century artworks, with an emphasis on post-1980 Bay Area artists, and also has changing exhibits of photography, painting, sculpture, mixed-media works and more. The museum also offers a wide variety of educational opportunities accompanying exhibitions including lectures, symposiums, text panels and audio tapes in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Guided tours are available. Open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for seniors. Located at 110 S. Market St.; 1-408-294-2787.
Japanese American Resource Center- The purpose of the Japanese American Resource Center is to collect, preserve and disseminate the arts, culture and history of Japanese Americans, with the emphasis in Santa Clara Valley. There is a rich history of Japanese-American involvement in the life and development of the Valley. A second goal is to promote a more comprehensive understanding of the Japanese-American experience by sponsoring community workshops, forums, lectures and symposia. Located at 535 N. Fifth St.; 1-408-294-3138.
At the Rosicrusian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium, another world awaits you - a mysterious world more than 6000 years old. Come check out the mummy musings exhibit, discover the mysteries of ancient Egypt or spend the day seeing shows at the Planetarium. Call 1-408-947-3636 for show times. Admission to the planetarium is $4 for adults, $3 for children 7-15, $3.50 for seniors and free for children under 7. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Mondays. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, $3.50 for children 6-15 and free for children under 6. Located at 1342 Naglee Ave.; 1-408-947-3636.
Tech Museum of Innovation- The museum contains exhibits and interactive displays designed to show how technology affects everyday life. Covering six areas of technology - space, high-tech bikes, microelectronics, materials, biotechnology and robotics - the Tech combines hands-on exhibits with an industry lab called "The Workbench," and an interactive media lab for all ages. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults; $4 for youths, students and seniors; and free for children under 5. Located at 201 S. Market St.; 1-408-294-8324.
Historic sites
Hensley Historic District is just to the north of St. James Square, a one-mile square area that includes the largest collection of original Victorian residences in the South San Francisco Bay Area. Designated a Historic District by the state and federal governments and San Jose, it features many residences that, having suffered the ravages of time since their proud beginnings in the 19th century, have been painstakingly restored to their earlier splendor.
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Mission de San Jose- Founded in 1797, this was an adobe church completed in 1809. When Mexico won independence from Spain in 1822, the missions were secularized. Mission San Jose was sold and converted into an inn and general store. In 1848, California became a part of the United States, and many of the missions were returned to the church, including Mission San Jose in 1858. An earthquake in 1868 heavily damaged the mission, and the adobe church was destroyed. A preservation effort, started in 1973, reconstructed the church and turned a former monastery building into a chapel and museum, housing exhibits on the Ohlone Indians, mission period artifacts and old photographs and paintings. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donation: $1 for adults, 50 cents for children. Located at 43300 Mission Blvd.; 1-510-657-1797.
Peralta Adobe- Constructed during the 1790s by a member of the 1777 De Anza expedition, the Peralta Adobe eventually became home to the family of Don Luis Maria Peralta, one of San Jose's most successful and responsible leaders. This humble adobe structure is San Jose's oldest historic landmark and contains rustic furnishings and humble decorations appropriate to the period. Admission includes guided tours of the Fallon House. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for seniors. Located at 175 W. St. John St.; 1-408-993-8182.
St. James Park and its environs were the heart of 19th century San Jose. While the Plaza had been the center of the older Hispanic settlement, St. James Park and the surrounding buildings reflect the aspirations of an emerging American city. Monuments commemorate speeches made here by President McKinley and Senator Robert Kennedy, both assassinated shortly after their visits to San Jose. Today, the park is a welcome counterpoint to San Jose's busy downtown. Located at North 2nd and St. James streets.
St. Joseph Cathedral- St. Joseph's was the first church built in the Pueblo San Jose. The original adobe structure was built in 1803 and was replaced several times. The current structure was designed in 1875 by architect Bryan J. Clinch and is one of the last remaining examples of 19th century architecture in the country. The cathedral is filled with beautiful handpainted murals, stained glass windows, impressive artwork and a custom-built organ. Tours are available by appointment. Located at 90 S. Market St.; 1-408-283-8100.
Gardens
Japanese Friendship Garden-San Jose's sister city Okayama, Japan, made generous donations for the garden's cultivation and landscaping. Migratory waterfowl, Koi fish and other wildlife inhabit three ponds. Winding paths around the ponds and over knolls, as well as a series of footbridges, lead to a teahouse where visitors may relax and enjoy refreshments. Located in Kelley Park (1300 Senter Road), there is a fee of $4 for parking. Open daily 10 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free; phone: 1-408-277-2757.
Municipal Rose Gardens- San Jose's 51/2 acre Rose Garden draws visitors from the United States and all around the world. The garden is exclusively devoted to shrubs of the rose family and features more than 3500 rose shrubs with 189 varieties represented. Every six to eight weeks, year round, there's a new flush of roses, so visitors can enjoy colorful, showy blooms throughout the seasons. Open daily 8 a.m. to 30 min before dusk. Admission is free. Located at Naglee Avenue, between Dana Avenue and Garden Drive; 1-408-287-0698.
Overfelt Gardens- Visitors will enjoy natural wildlife sanctuaries amid a peaceful pond setting surrounded by beautiful trees, shrubs and flowering plants and accented by the Chinese Cultural Garden. The gardens offer the perfect setting for walking, reading, nature photography, writing, drawing and painting, or just relaxing. Open daily 10 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free. Located at Educational Park Drive and McKee Road; 1-408-251-3323.
Wineries
J. Lohr Winery- J. Lohr, one of the new generation of California wineries, planted its first premium vines in 1972, with a limited production of quality wines first offered to the public in 1976. Today, visitors will find many award ribbons proudly displayed on its tasting room walls. Tasting daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekend tours 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is free. Located at 1000 Lenzen Ave., San Jose; 1-408-288-5057.
Byington Winery- Set in a spectacular Santa Cruz Mountains location, Byington Winery is housed in a 17,000 ft2 Italian-style Chateau and includes 82 acres of the oldest grape-growing appellation in the United States. The property is an excellent picnic site. Tasting daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 21850 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos; 1-408-354-1111.
Emilio Guglielmo Winery- Founded in 1925 by Emilio and Emilia Guglielmo, the winery offers premium table wines, vintage dated varietals (Mount Madonna) and limited estate bottled varietals (Guglielmo Private Reserve). Dessert, fruit wines and methode champenoise are also available, along with a gourmet food selection. Tasting Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Tours by appointment. Located at 1480 E. Main Ave., Morgan Hill; 1-408-779-2145.
