Perspectives From A Local • May 30, 2023

Life In Los Altos | Perspective From A Local

by Selena Young

What do you like best about Los Altos? It’s full of natural beauty and encourages its’ residences to try new things. If you want to take up the banjo or knitting there’s a class for that. I also think it’s really cool that the city offers a Newcomers Club, which hosts social gatherings so you can get to know your neighbors.

What kind of transportation is there? It’s a small enough town that there is no real ‘mass transit’ option. There are buses. wonderful walking trails, and bike lanes though. And the Caltrain is about a 10-15 minute drive in Palo Alto so if you don’t have a car it’s not terrible. Though I would suggest owning one.

Favorite grocery store? Foothill Produce has relatively inexpensive produce and a large variety.

Good for kids? Absolutely! Many of the residents here see the school district as something to invest in rather than just benefit from, making it one of the most reputable in the state. On top of that, Los Altos is often ranked in the top 40 safest cities in America.

Best place to get Boba? Teaspoon is by far one of the best places in Los Altos…okay maybe the whole South Bay.

Best place to grab a drink? I really enjoy Honcho’s. They offer a great selection of craft beers, wine, sake, champagne, and specialty cocktails. Plus free popcorn and pretzels! What I really enjoy, is that they have outdoor seating and once a month you can enjoy a live band.

Best place to experience the outdoors? If you have children Shoup Park is a great place to stop by. There’s plenty of slides, jungle gyms, and swings. Plus there’s a cute little creek that kids normally play in. Redwood Grove Park is also a really wonderful spot right next door to visit for a nice walk. It’s a lovely place to get outside, watch the white butterflies in the Spring, or enjoy a picnic. And it’s also stroller and wheelchair accessible! I’d also suggest Windy Hill Preserve and the San Andreas Fault Trail for hiking.

Favorite neighborhood traditions? Oh god, where to begin? The Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Fall Festival every October. Then local merchants oversee the annual Festival of Lights Parade. The Los Altos Village Association hosts a variety of events, including the Easter Egg Hunt and Arts & Wine Festival.

Your favorite fun fact about Los Altos: It earned its place on the map thanks to Sarah Winchester (yes, the same one who built the Winchester Mystery House) and the railroads. Sarah once owned the land the city now encompasses. And when Altos Land Co. needed to purchase a strip of her land for the Southern Pacific Railroad line, she insisted that it buy her entire property. Because they now had more land than required, they set about making the surrounding area a destination.

Claim to fame: Though it’s located in Cupertino today, Apple was born in Los Altos in the garage of Steve Job’s parents.

Final words? Los Altos is a wonderful and welcoming community, surrounded by nature, and filled with heart.

Perspectives From A Local • May 30, 2023

Life In The Rose Garden | Perspective From A Local

by Selena Young

What do you like best about it? The location is wonderful and the architecture is fabulous! Many of the homes are crafted with amazing stonework and historic design. It’s also an incredibly safe neighborhood. At any time of day you can walk down tree-lined streets and revel in the beauty of this neighborhood. Plus, hip vintage boutiques dot the nearby Alameda strip, while dining spans informal eateries, global restaurants, and wine tasting rooms.

How has the neighborhood changed recently? Many of the smaller, cottage-style homes have been renovated or removed and transformed into larger single family homes. Though there are still quite a few centuries-old homes.

What’s the transportation scene like? Nearby is Diridon station, a reliable bus route, and light rail system. I’d say public transportation is fine for commuting to work, but with kids, I would rely pretty heavily on a car to get around.

Tell us something we don’t know about the neighborhood: In the 20’s, the Municipal Rose Garden, from which the neighborhood received its name, was a pear and prune orchard.

Favorite Restaurant? The neighborhood itself mostly consists of residential living, but right down the street on the Alameda is the fantastic LUNA. A prime example of a restaurant living up to its hype, LUNA offers innovative, fresh, authentic, and absolutely delicious Mexican food made with ingredients from sustainable farms. The service is impeccable, margaritas are tasty, parrillada will keep you coming back for more, and there plenty of Vegan/Vegetarian options as well.

Nearest grocery store (and why you like it)? Zanotto’s. On top of their wide variety of produce, which is often locally sourced. I absolutely love that they offer Marianne’s ice cream and Gizdich pies from Santa Cruz. The staff are also incredibly friendly and knowledgeable as well, so it’s pretty hard not to buy up the whole store!

Good for kids? Absolutely! The neighborhood is serene, friendly, and the schools are top notch.

Best place to get brunch? Bill’s Cafe. Get there early because this place is packed around 9 am, but the wait is always worth it! I like to order their fresh squeezed orange juice and Hawaiian pancakes, they’re loaded with bananas and macadamia nuts.

Best park? The Municipal Rose Garden of course! It’s the perfect spot to stop for a picnic on a sunny day.

Beloved neighborhood joints? The Rosicrucian Museum is a wonderful place to bring your friends and family. It’s architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak and houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in western North America. The docents are very knowledgeable and the tomb replica is always a hit!

Favorite family friendly activity nearby? The Greek Festival is a wonderful experience for the whole family. There are vendors selling delicious foods, belly dancing, and live traditional music. If you go, you have to get the loukoumades. They’re little fried dough balls of fluffy deliciousness covered in honey and dusted with nuts and cinnamon.

Where are the best places to experience the outdoors? The Heritage Rose Garden is 5 ½ acres and features more than 3,000 rose shrubs. You can sign up for a docent-led tour, adopt a rose, or take pruning lessons there.

Are the stereotypes true? Yes, the Rose Garden is the picturesque site that is in every high school prom and proposal photo.

Perspectives From A Local • May 30, 2023

Life In Palo Alto | Perspective From A Local

by Selena Young

What do you like best about it? I love that the the city is very active in engaging it’s citizens and that preserving the environment is a huge priority for many of its residents.

How has your neighborhood changed since you moved there? Maybe it’s because I was young when we moved here but I see Palo Alto as more of a destination and not just a suburb of the Bay. And as each year passes, more and more money is pumped into the local economy.

Do you need a car to get around? I work on Stanford’s campus so I bike every day. It’s four miles round trip, which isn’t bad at all. Public transportation from Palo Alto is really great. You have Caltrain, the free Stanford shuttle bus service, and Santa Clara Valley buses. While I own a car for the rare weekends away in Tahoe or LA, on a day-to-day basis you can easily get by with just public transportation or a bike.

Tell us something we don’t know about your neighborhood: Palo Alto got its name from a Redwood tree commonly known as the El Palo Alto, or “Tall Stick.” Which has historical significance because it was the campsite for the Portola Expedition Party who discovered San Francisco Bay. It’s also the second historical landmark in the state of California!

Favorite gem? ‘The Gates of Hell.’ Based on a scene from Dante’s ‘Inferno,’ it’s a 180 figure sculpture created by Aguste Rodin. Only six copies exist in the world and this one just happens to be found in Stanford’s Rodin Sculpture Garden.

Favorite grocery store? Piazza’s may be a little more pricey than other grocery stores, but it’s by far my favorite. They have high quality food and an old-fashioned market feel, as Mr. Piazza modeled the store after one in his hometown of Sicily.

Good for kids? Absolutely! The city’s is extremely kid friendly and the schools are highly rated.

Best place to get a coffee? Coupa Cafe is a family-owned business that serves organic, fair trade coffee and delicious treats

Best park? Mitchell Park is great because on top of their playground for local children, they also offer tennis courts and a dog park. I use the dog park a lot, and if you have children the playground offers outrageously adventurous merry-go-rounds that look like they’re out of a French vanguard movie and a Lewis Carroll-styled treehouse.

Beloved neighborhood joints? Definitely the California Avenue Farmers’ Market! There’s nothing better than spending your morning strolling through aisles of fresh, organic produce and supporting local businesses.

What’s the nightlife like? Great! What I love about Palo Alto is its ability to offer something for everyone to enjoy. You can have a casual night drinking wine flights with your friends or ride the bull over at The Old Pro. Another fun place to check out is Nola. It’s a popular New Orleans-themed joint that offers the classics; jambalaya, Hurricane’s, and beignets!

Where is the best place to experience the outdoors? The Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is wonderful. I try to take my dog out for a hike on it every other weekend or bike over to the lake. I know you can also go horseback riding or fishing there as well.

Final words? Home of the Heart of the Silicon Valley!

Perspectives From A Local • May 30, 2023

Life in Mountain View | Perspective From A Local

by Selena Young

What do you like best about Mountain View? It’s quiet, nice and suburban. And it’s so close to two great downtown areas: Mountain View and Los Altos! Both have great shops and restaurants and their own character.

How has it changed recently? Houses have, and continue to, get nicer. Many original homes have been remodeled or rebuilt. It seems like there’s always some construction going on as you drive around the neighborhood streets. As the area becomes more affluent, it has also attracted new restaurants to the downtown areas.

Do you need a car to get around? Downtown areas are easily walkable, as are parks and schools. However, they are a bit of a walk to get to so sometimes it’s easier to have a car to get around. There are also so many places to go just a short drive away for kids and adults alike.

Tell us something we don’t know about Mountain View: Depending on where your home is located you can be in a different school district. Both Mountain View and Los Altos have great schools.

Any hidden gems? One of my favorite spots I found recently is a tiny coffee shop in downtown Mountain View called 1oz Coffee. It’s incredibly minimalist in decor and menu options. But they serve a great cup of coffee if you’re willing to wait for the pour over.

Good for kids? Yes, it’s really kid friendly. The neighborhood streets are wide and have speed bumps to make sure traffic doesn’t go too fast in the area. Schools and parks are also within close proximity which makes it easy for families and kids. I see a lot of families with kids in the area. And I find that neighbors are friendly and kids will often play together in the afternoons and weekends.

Best place to get a coffee? Alexander’s Patisserie has great coffee and you can always treat yourself to one of their beautiful pastries or cakes. I like to order the chocolate-banana croissant and a coffee. They also have delicious truffles! My go-to are the early grey, coconut rum, and cassis.

Best park? Cuesta is a great little park with rolling paths, BBQ areas, and abundant playgrounds that are filled with sandboxes, slides, and swings. Nearby there’s also tennis courts and a large grassy field for dogs to play!

Beloved neighborhood joints? Vive Sol and Cascal. Vive Sol, in Mountain View, combines a classy vibe with an authentic Mexican feel. And Cascal is a great tapas bar with awesome Happy Hour deals. Their cocktails are quite tasty, roasted cauliflower is to die for, ceviche is impeccable, offer outdoor seating, and host live music on the weekends.

Where are the best places to experience the outdoors? Rancho San Antonio, otherwise, you can easily head out of town. It offers trails that feature all sorts of elevation; farms that house a number of animals; an abundance of wildlife; number of vista points; and perfect picnic areas. It’s great for hiking, running, biking, or even a walk with your kids.

Perspectives From A Local • May 30, 2023

Life In Los Gatos | Perspective From A Local

by Selena Young

What do you like best about Los Gatos? Where to begin? For one, you’re only a 30 minute drive from a relaxing weekend in Santa Cruz and an hour from the City. There’s also a great variety of restaurants downtown. Ranging from the family friendly to our three Michelin star, Manresa. On top of it all, you’re nestled amongst the hills, it’s a luxurious little Mount Hamlet.

What do you like least about Los Gatos? A lot of people feel the need to tell you that it means ‘The Cats’. I tell them it explains all the cat statues.

How has it changed? The library’s been moved to a new modern location. Other than that really, it’s the changing of the guards in downtown; from boutique clothing stores to juiceries and whatever the latest trendy fitness regime is.

Do you need a car to get around? If you’re going out for a night on the town, a rideshare is relatively affordable and once you’re there you can walk to anything. But you’ll probably want to hop in your car to hit up your nearest grocery store. Everything you need is only about a ten minute drive away.

Favorite grocery store? Lunardi’s. They recently expanded their store so the produce and wine selection are much bigger now. You can always find what you’re looking for, even if it’s 1.5 quarts of ice cream, and the customer service is unbelievable! You’re not a customer there, you’re family.

Good for kids? Absolutely! It’s an incredibly safe and friendly town. The elementary schools host a wonderful annual chorus and musical performance. The middle school has quarterly honor roll breakfasts and goes all out for their end of the year open house. And the high school hosts a fun student/faculty talent show. Every week you can also find hordes of faculty and residents supporting all of the high school’s athletic programs.

Best place to get a coffee? Depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a serious biker and wanna hang out with others who share your passion, the Los Gatos Roasting Co. is for you. If you wanna try the world famous CCC (basically a milkshake of Chocolate, Coffee and Cream) it’s the Great Bear. A Verve and greek yogurt lover? Try Cafe Dio. But if you’re out meeting some friends or family, the Purple Onion Cafe has a wonderful atmosphere!

Best park? Vasona –There’s so many things you can do! You can BBQ, take the kids to the airplane park, ride the carousel, fish, paddle boat, follow the Creek trail to Campbell, or even ride around in a small train! And during the Winter months, there is also a Holiday in the Park event that I would highly suggest. You can either drive through or walk – but you need to get your tickets early!

Beloved neighborhood joint? The Cats is a great BBQ joint and bar a couple minute drive up 17. On the weekends they have live music there and you can bet that everyone’s out on the dance floor!

Where are the best places to experience the outdoors? St. Joseph’s and the Jones trails are great for mountain biking, running, or even a nice walk. Or Castle Rock is just a quick drive up 17, for scenic views of the Santa Cruz mountains.

Final words? As my high school field hockey coach once said, “I will forever bleed orange and black” (the school’s colors). And when you’re a resident here you really believe that. It’s not a town, it’s a family.