at first glance, san jose seems like nothing other than san francisco’s boring older brother. and while that may be true in some cases, it’s just that san jose has a more quiet sort of charm. it’s not really an under 21 kind of city. you’re going to need a car, you’re going to need a job, and you’re going to need id. but armed with all three, san jose is just thriving with tiny treasures for anyone who appreciates food, architecture and ethnic enclaves.
san jose is california’s oldest city. and the architecture shows it. if you have a dog, san jose can be a great place to take him out for strolls. the city of san jose has set up a series of signs downtown informing passerbys of the historical merit of the random buildings they may happen across. and if you live in the neighborhood, you can get on the web and find out if your building is a structure of merit. and even the new buildings are intriguing. willow glen’s architecture is reminiscent of a visit with david the gnome, and both martin luther king jr library and city hall both try to capture what the name silicon valley really means. space age silver, juxtaposed angles and long curves can fascinate the eye.
the position near the pacific allows for so many different cultures to reside all at once. and the food is the best way to take advantage. authentic ramen from a japanese surfer, polenta dinners at local churches, a chain of super taquerias with a fresh trimmings bar, ethiopian food with music from the country are just a few of the ways to spend a night out. and while san jose’s night scene is rather small, everyone in it is super friendly. the karaoke bar in japantown is a scene where people are comfortable enough to go acapella to the postal service or to rap to the audience sinatra-style & even the local meatmarket of mission ale house is equipped with bouncers so friendly they’ll buy you a strong drink. the blank club stages both local acts and big names that san francisco sees next. but the thing about the blank is that no matter where you stand, you’ll have a good view, and no matter what you drink, it’ll always be good.
there are local spots of culture that require driving to, but they’re really quite eclectic and interesting. there may only be one major art museum but there are museums on random topics such as technology, quilts and egypt. and while you drive to them, you have a choice of three award-winning college music that’ll provide you with the melodies of talented new artists from every genre you could imagine.
there’s nature in this city, too. stacy’s wag’n train, a local business, provides an in-depth guides to all the dog parks and there are many, many other safe and beautiful parks to explore as well. not to mention that even from every suburban block or from every freeway overpass there are beautiful, panoramic vistas of mountains surrounding this valley on every side. the clouds could inspire those from five to ninety-five of what the gods of the skies are trying to express.
people complain about the transportation, but really it’s just another matter of having the right equipment. with an internet connection 511.org is accessible. simply type in where you are and and where you need to be and you’ll have step-by-step directions and maps to wherever you need to go. perhaps it’ll be the yankee pier, located in the trite santana row, but supplied with oysters flown in fresh from maine, delicious ahi tuna, the best cosmos in town and service that can’t be beat. not to mention the fact that this is the safest big city in america. so no matter where you’re riding the bus to, where you’re walking to, you can feel safe with your headphones on, walking to the beat of your favourite drummer.
all in all, i can say that it’s a grownup’s city. if you look on the bayareafamous craigslist, you can find great deals on rentals and the things to furnish it. if you want to party every night and take the train home from the party, move to new york or san francisco. but if you want cheap rent, great food, a wide palette of a variety of culture and a safe place to walk your dog, san jose’s not the stupid bore those under 21 want to tell you it is.
