Six reasons why San Jose doesn’t suck
Yes, yes, San Jose sucks in a lot of ways, and we all love to bash it, myself included. But there are also some good things going on here that don’t suck, so I started making a list, hoping to come up with ten. However, I only got to six, and it is a bit food-centric. so I am hoping that you can help me finish the list!
6. Golf courses. I counted 11 of ‘um, including Santa Teresa, where you can “play” the 9-hole “executive” course for $11 in flip-flops with nothing but a pitching wedge.
5. Parks and open spaces. No matter which direction I pick, I am a short drive away from good hiking or picnic spot.
4. Ethiopean food. I am obsessed with the quality, quanity, and cheapness of the Ethiopean food in San Jose. Here is my list.
3. Free parking downtown, and everywhere for that matter. Yeah, we are a car culture down here, but at least we have lots of room to put our cars.
2. Indian food. Indian food is everywhere in the Bay Area, and San Jose is no exception. I have a nice choice of yummy buffets to hit up at lunch. Again, quality, quanity, and cheapness rule.
1. Fruit stands and farmer’s markets. We may have built tract housing over some of the best agricultural land in the country, but as a result, we are living right next to a little of best agricultural land in the country. The result: lots of fruit stands and me stuffing myself with nectartines, tomatoes, melons, strawberries, cherries, and corn.
My favorite Indian Restaurants:
Komala Vilas: Sunnyvale
Dasaprakash: Santa Clara
Amber: Mt. View
Madras Cafe: Sunnyvale
Viks Chaat House: Berkeley
Notice how none of these are located in San Francisco? ;-)
That crazy place in Mountain view with the really long name, starts with a V, on El Camino, used to be near Castro Street. Dosas. Super yummy!
I love the weather. I love long evenings that are hot, and the thunderstorms, and heavy rains, when it’s “winter”.
I like the fact that there are no tourists.
I like the Mariani Brothers, the dried fruit, the history of canning and orchards. Good olives, great wine up on the Ridge, apricots trees, stuff like that.
The chapparal, and the lovely golden hillsides… the smell of hot grass and sage, oak trees, tons of roses… great hikes in the foothills and on the other rim, near Alum Rock.
No tourists: didn’t think of that one! And sunshine, too! Both can be seen as pluses or minuses, but no matter how you look at them, they act as good balance to the city.
The Winchester Mystery House.
Okay, just kidding. The Mystery House sucks ass.
Alum Rock Park–some of the best hiking and cross-country running trails in the area.
Also, Tsugaru in Japantown has the best chicken donburi (albeit, teriyaki style) I’ve had, including San Francisco and Japan. Excellent sushi, too.
SJSU library just blows away the lame-ass main library in SF.
kinda strike out on food on ur list but i’ll add mine
- japanese (ok sf got sushi too)
- taiwanese
- vietnamese
I’m all for trying to find the silver lining, but let’s face it, San Jose is terrible if you’re single. Man or woman, it’s consistently difficult to find quality singles without baggage or other issues to deal with. For some reason SF has a dating culture next to which SJ can’t compare. If you love to drive, love sitting in traffic, love being around people with money that don’t appreciate it, San Jose is for you. Go south bay. Woo.
I love the smell of Highway 880 in the morning!
The Tech!
Also, the San Jose Museum of Modern Art, which shames the SFMOMA. Art so modern the artists might still be alive — who knew?
the San Jose Museum of Modern Art is good. And, The Tech Museum of Innovation can be fun too.
I agree on the art museum.
That summer movie night event I went - Cinequest - to TOTALLY rocked. Light sabers! Live action! A happy, beer-drinking, family friendly crowd with blankets and lawn chairs, hanging out in the street watching Galaxy Quest. Plus… the free parking.