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Walking Tour of Downtown Palo Alto

Palo Alto calls itself the "Birthplace of the Silicon Valley" and has a legitimate claim: it is the home of the garage where Dave Hewlett and Bill Packard founded the original Silicon Valley startup, HP.

Image of Palo Alto Plaque

But Palo Alto, with Stanford University to the south, has grown into an upscale community complete with an active downtown area that boasts high-end stores, an affluent atmosphere, and great restaurants.

Feb.17.2007 [ Filed under: Activities, Bay Area Info, Silicon Valley News, Neighborhoods, Palo Alto ] 2 Comments »

Vision North San Jose Gets Boost

Just last March, redevelopment plan for North San Jose was stuck — tangled in a lawsuit by neighboring cities Santa Clara and Milpitas over traffic flow.

Image of Vision San Jose

The plantiffs contended that the proposed redevelopment would create population growth and traffic problems that would spill over into neighboring cities as well as I-880.

How quickly things change.

Feb.13.2007 [ Filed under: Bay Area Info, Silicon Valley News, San Jose ] Comment Here »

Santana Row: Silicon Valley’s Urban Oasis

Image of Santana Row Cafe Santana Row has been described as a cutout of Paris’ Champs Elysees transplanted to Silicon Valley. Its main thoroughfare, which gives name to the neighborhood, is the backbone of this urban oasis, lined with luxury stores and a variety of restaurants.

And when the weekend comes, so do the luxury cars of every make and model. Who needs a car show when you have Saturday nights at Santana Row?

But Santana Row isn’t just another shopping mall. To recreate the urban experience, they’ve created a new neighborhood all unto itself.

Feb.09.2007 [ Filed under: Activities, Bay Area Info, Silicon Valley News, Neighborhoods, Santana Row ] Comment Here »

Goodbye Vallco, Hello Cupertino Square

Image of New Vallco The 80's neon-and-hair relic Vallco Fashion Park in Cupertino lost its battle with Westfield's Valley Fair Mall long ago and was pushed further into complete obscurity by Santana Row.

It's hard to call Santana Row a shopping mall given its balance of city living and planned but not completely contrived urban experiences, but it was even harder to call Vallco competition against the shopping juggernaut that those two adjacent shopping "districts" formed not more than a few miles away.

Vallco (like the mall, its website is under construction) is determined to be more than just the building that houses Todai, the obscenely large sushi buffet.

Feb.08.2007 [ Filed under: Activities, Bay Area Info, Silicon Valley News, Cupertino, Cupertino Square ] Comment Here »

Downtown Sunnyvale Revitalization Gets Desperately Needed Kickstart

Revitalization of Sunnyvale's downtown area has been an on again, off again, on again, but mostly off again scenario, and the centerpiece of downtown Sunnyvale, the Town Center mall, has been closed for quite a while with the exception of the Macy's and Target anchor stores.

Image of Murphy St

Sunnyvale has a suburban image, and while it's consistently one of the safest cities in America and has easy access to 101, 280, 85, and the San Jose Airport, a revitalization of its downtown area could do a lot to cement its place as a must-live destination in the Heart of Silicon Valley. But they're going to have to blow up the Target to do it…

Feb.07.2007 [ Filed under: Activities, Bay Area Info, Silicon Valley News, Sunnyvale ] 3 Comments »

Support for Silicon Valley Mothers

Parents who take care of babies and young children sometimes want to connect with other parents to feel a sense of community and support.

East Bay Moms

There are a number of groups all over the Bay Area that are dedicated to helping working and stay-at-home mothers (and sometimes dads) connect with others, keep fit, and enjoy a range of activities.

Here are a few:

: East Bay Moms :
: Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroups (Santa Clara) :
: The Parents' Club of Palo Alto and Menlo Park :
: Moms' Club of San Jose :
: Redwood City Mothers' Club :

Bay Area Kid Fun has a comprehensive list of mothers' clubs in the Bay Area.

<Credit: The picture is the East Bay Moms group logo.>

Dec.21.2006 [ Filed under: Activities ] Comment Here »

Walking Tours and Hiking Trails Galore

Bay Area Hiking Trails

Experiencing the lush hills, breathtaking views and crisp air, only a few minutes away makes the hiking trail in Silicon Valley and the rest of the Bay Area a favorite destination for a quick weekend getaway.

Finding Your Hiking Trail

Sure, a name like The Association of Bay Area Governments doesn't immediately strike most people as a veritable cornucopia of fun, but they publish their impressive guided photo tours of Bay Area waterfront trails, previewing some of the most amazing views of Silicon Valley and the surrounding areas for you.

This map from their San Francisco Bay Trail Guide Photo Tours site shows exactly how complete their coverage is and how close you can be to that outdoor escape you've been hoping for.

Another complete site for people looking to take in some sunshine is the San Francisco Bay Area Hiker page which guides anyone from weekend walkers to distance trekkers on where the Bay Area's favorite trails are.

They also have photo tours but also a wide-array of detailed nature and wildlife pictures that demonstrate a lot of the wonder of some of the natives you could run into.

Steve's Picks

I have a couple favorite trails. When I'm at the Mariners Point driving range (one of my top picks) in Foster City, I like to head up to the San Mateo Bridge, watching the windsurfers along the way. It's an easy walk usually with a brisk but comfortable wind and the path is completely paved for bikers. I say bikers because I've rollerbladed the trail a few times and, on eight wheels glued to your feet, you begin to think that the pavement is actually the surface of the moon.

Dec.12.2006 [ Filed under: Activities, Bay Area Info, Silicon Valley News ] Comment Here »

The Most Interesting Restaurant Debuts of 2006

Stett Holbrook at Metroactive lists his five favorite restaurants that debuted in 2006. They'll also give you a good tour of Silicon Valley hot spots, from University Ave. in Palo Alto and Santana Row to downtown Los Gatos and San Jose.

Santana Row

: Most Interesting Restaurant Debuts of 2006 :

Dec.11.2006 [ Filed under: Bay Area Info, Silicon Valley News ] Comment Here »

Top Silicon Valley Driving Ranges

Silicon Valley's temperate weather means that golf at the driving range can be a year-round activity. While there are plenty of public ranges where you can hit golf balls in the Bay Area, these stand out.

Burlingame Golf Center

Dec.11.2006 [ Filed under: Activities, Bay Area Info ] Comment Here »

Top Silicon Valley Computer Stores

If you live and work in Silicon Valley, knowing where to get computers; components like memory and hard drives; peripherals like printers, mice, and small speakers; consumables like ink cartridges and special paper; as well as gadgets like MP3 players and PDAs is essential. Here are some of the best places to get your equipment!

Fry's Electronics