My Favorite Pockets of San Jose

San Jose has over 300 days of sunshine a year. We are only 45 minutes from the beach, 1 hour from San Francisco, and 3 hours from Lake Tahoe. Some of my favorite activities include exploring the many trails at the county parks, going for a drive in the hills at sunset, and enjoying the many ethnic dining options, including Ethiopian, Cuban, Thai, Indian, Mexican, and Vietnamese.

Summer brings the most festivals and concerts including the Jazz Festival. But even in the fall, we have the Gypsy Cinema series, which features free movies at outdoor venues like St. James Park and the Circle of Palms; just bring a lawnchair. The Museum of Art offers free admission. San Jose is home to many film festivals including Cinequest and the International Latino Film Festival. Visit the tree-lined Alameda, a continuation of the historic El Camino Real, and the nearby Rose Garden district to view gorgeous, historical homes.

Quick Tips:

If you find yourself in downtown San Jose on a Friday or Saturday night, you might think you've stumbled into a riot. The sad truth is that every weekend brings an abundance of police presence, roadblocks, and roving gangs of thugs (sorry, but if you're wearing a knee-length red shirt and baggy pants and a mean attitude, you are a gang member in my eyes).

Skip all this and visit downtown during the week. You will find nightclubs offering everything from '80s to salsa to punk-rock karaoke. Looking for a brewery? We've got the Tied House. Need some theater? We've got two. Plus, we now have the opera.

You may hear people recommending Santana Row. I won't, if only because it is artificial urbanity. If this is what we are now considering a community, then we might as well start moving into the malls. Yes, it's pedestrian-friendly, but if you want the real thing, go to Los Gatos. Should you find yourself in San Jose on a Tuesday morning, tune in to 103.3fm from 7am-9am to hear me play the best in international pop/soundtracks/celebrity karaoke.

Best Way To Get Around:

Because of the suburban sprawl, the fastest way to get around is by car. But if you find yourself without one, there is always the lightrail. It only runs in a straight line, but from downtown you can access South San Jose, Campbell, and Mountain View.

This hotel originally opened in 1911, but not at its current location. Actually it was located 186 feet away, but through a spectacular engineering feat, the entire building was moved in one piece.

 Guestrooms include Egyptian-cotton bed linens, leather-like wall coverings, and Burberry-plaid lounge chairs. I booked a one-bedroom suite (room no. 420), and what I enjoyed most was that the decor and feel of the room made me feel like I was staying in a friend's home. Even the sofa bed was comfortable. The mirrored door opens to a roomy bathroom stocked with bathrobes, Q-tips, cotton balls, a vanity mirror, and Aveda amenities. In the master bedroom was a Brookstone CD player mounted on the wall. I called the front desk regarding the CD lending library, but most of the music was boring (Sheryl Crow, Third Eye Blind, etc.). I really liked the desk with a work area for two people on opposite ends.

The patio area features Zen-like monolith water fountains among sofas and a bar. Fancy a game of bocce ball? That's here, too. And then there's the restaurant. Paragon Restaurant & Bar is a handsomely decorated environment with a menu featuring French brasserie plates. The bar area features ultra-lounge seating with a selection of 100 chilled vodkas.

Bush won't let us visit Cuba and Miami is on the other side of the country. But that doesn't mean you can't find great Cuban food in San Jose. The chef came out of retirement to open his 17th restaurant in downtown San Jose. This is a family-run restaurant, with help from his wife and grandson. The walls are decorated with maps of Cuba and portraits of important Cuban figures. Purses made from Cuban cigar boxes are available for purchase at the register.

The emphasis here is on slow-cooked food that is rich in flavor. Most meals include white rice, fried plantains, and black beans. The menu also offers some Brazilian and Puerto Rican dishes. The shrimp dishes are the best!

Don't let the location fool you. The stromboli here is one of San Jose's best-kept secrets. The decor reminds me of a relative's home circa 1975, but that's part of the appeal. Plus the pizza guy is GORGEOUS. A little eye candy is always fun. The menu includes pizza, pasta dishes, and sandwiches. The restaurant offers a simple selection of draft and bottled beers as well.

Located near the intersection of 85 and 17, Royal Taj brings a quiet dining experience with traditional Indian decor and rattan room dividers serving as curtains. Frequently appearing on "Best Indian Food" surveys, this restaurant is a great place to bring a first-timer who has never experienced Indian food.

Budget dining is back! They offer Vietnamese sandwiches priced under $3, iced coffee with milk priced under $3, shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce priced under $3, and avocado/mango/lychee shakes priced under $3. When the neon sign says "hot bread," you're in luck. French baguettes are priced at $1 each.

The Evergreen area offers limited dining options, but this Japanese restaurant stands out among its competition. Sushi bar and booth seating is available. You can order traditional sushi like hamachi, maguro, or unagi, or order the crazy rolls like The Jerwinator, featuring salmon skin and macadamia nuts. I don't usually order dessert when I have Japanese food, but the tempura ice cream here is the best!

Yuri's has been open for over 15 years. The pricing is reasonable for sushi, and on certain nights, the chefs will create rolls that aren't on the menu but should be. The location is in a mini mall and the restaurant closes at 9:30pm.

Scott's Seafood has a prime location on the top floor of a parking garage in downtown San Jose, with grand views of the valley. This is THE spot to impress your date, but you've got to bring them at sunset. During certain times of the year, the sunset makes the East Side hills look a shade of pink. Gorgeous. I usually prefer to dine at the bar, but if you prefer a table, be sure to request window seating.

The service is simply outstanding. Aside from the great food, the service is one of the reasons why I will always eat at Scott's. I've tried other seafood restaurants in downtown San Jose (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to mention names), and they pale in comparison: no view, lousy service, and questionable food. There is a room available for private parties, partitioned by a heavy velvet curtain. The restaurant has an open kitchen, so you can see the chefs hard at work.

My favorite appetizers are the crab cakes, the calamari, and the clams (even though they no longer offer the mussels sauce). The baby greens salad with candied pecans and stilton bleu cheese is very refreshing. Main courses range from Australian lobster tail to filet mignon and even a pasta dish for vegetarians.

Bring out your inner rock star at this karaoke studio. Private rooms for rent include sofas, two microphones, and a disco ball that starts rotating when a song starts. It's open very late, which is a real treat in Silicon Valley, so call ahead to let them know you're coming. Sneak a blank tape to the front desk and they'll record your singing session as a souvenir!

The International Latino Film Festival was founded in 1977 to benefit the San Francisco Bay Area and the world by promoting cinematography of significant artistic merit created by or about Latinos, and celebrating cultural understanding through the art of film an filmmaking. Through films that express the cultural diversity of our many countries and roots, we inspire the Latino population, challenge negative stereotypes, and share our rich cultural heritage with the public at large. www.latinofilmfestival.org