Live In Los Gatos

Los Gatos, California

Los Gatos real estate, neighborhoods, condos, houses, homes, market trends, history, events, lifestyle, parks, events, businesses, home, Mary Pope-Handy

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Live In Los Gatos

Why We Love Living In California

Apr. 9, 2008
Categorized in: LG Lifestyle

Our son, Brian, is knee-deep in trying to decide where to go to college next year. He's been accepted at a couple of schools here in California, the "sunshine state", as well as some in chillier places - Seattle, Chicago, and Vermont. My siblings, who now live in Massachusettes, keep telling him how lucky he is to be in California, where even our cold days aren't so cold.

To that end, Brian showed me a you tube tourism video that may not capture all the diversity and high level of education here in Silicon Valley, but certainly does convey the fact that this is a state where there's lots to do and enjoy. I liked the video and wanted to share it with you, too.

Visit the Los Gatos Farmer's Market!

Mar. 9, 2008
Categorized in: LG Lifestyle
Every Sunday, Los Gatans gather downtown at the Town Plaza Park area for the farmer's market. Stop by!


(Photos for this show taken with Palm Treo 700, btw. Also, when this slideshow ends, a link will appear to offer you others to view as well. Enjoy!)

Are you familiar with Live Action Role Playing?

Jul. 11, 2007
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events


NEROWEST Fantasy Live Action Roleplaying (at Belgatos Park)Do you like fantasy? Midieval costumes? Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Renaissance fairs? Mythological battles of good vs evil in books or even video games? If so, then you should be introduced to Live Action Role Playing (LARP), and you should know that it's happening right here in our own Los Gatos.

Belgatos Park is the home (at least part of the time) to Nero West,"a live-action, live-combat roleplaying game where players take on the roles of fantasy heros and heroines, waging battles with necromancers, goblins, zombies, and other mythical beasts and diving into the mystery and intrigue of this fantastic society" (from the NeroWest website, www.NeroWest.com).

So that's the description, but the reality is that if you see the NeroWest participants at Belgatos Park, you'll find a group that's all dressed up in fun costumes, doing a role playing game and having a fantastic time in a gorgeous setting. I'd been curious about it for months but Sunday, when Bella and I took our daily trek through the park, I had the chance to chat with a few of the nice participants. They filled me in and gave me a card. Very cool stuff. And it seems to be very affordable as well - low cost for the most serious participants, and free for the more casual volunteer. Do check it out!

If you're interested in learning more, visit the NeroWest website: www.NeroWest.com, or give them a call at 1-800-249-9909.

Mary Pope-Handy, Realtor, CRS, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, ASP, RECS, CNHS
Helping Nice Folks to Buy & Sell Homes Since 1993
Co-Author: "Get The Best Deal When Selling Your Home In Silicon Valley"
Intero Real Estate Services, Los Gatos, CA (Silicon Valley)
408 357-5760 (Direct); 408 204-7673 (Cell); 408 715-0201 (eFax)
www.PopeHandy.com  www.ValleyOfHeartsDelight.com  
emailto: Mary@PopeHandy.com
Blog: www.LiveInLosGatos.com

Free Music Lineup This Weekend in Los Gatos

Jul. 6, 2007
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events


The weather this weekend is anticipated to be nearly perfect in Los Gatos, with temps reaching only to the low or middle 80's. It's a perfect time to be outdoors, and what better way than to take in some of the town's delightful free music?

Here's what's doing in downtown Los Gatos this weekend:

Saturday, July 7, 12 noon - 2pm at Border's in Old Town: Daphna Rahmil (Jazz & Folk)

Saturday, July 7: 5 - 7 pm at Vasona Park: Leanne Weatherly Band (Jazz)

Sunday, July 8, 6:30 - 8pm at the Civic Center Lawn: Becca and Carlos Reyes (country)

From Los Gatos to Santa Cruz: A Quick Trip

Jun. 12, 2007
Categorized in: LG Lifestyle

The beach at Santa Cruz, CAHave you been "over the hill" yet this season?

To locals, that means traversing the Santa Cruz Mountains (also known as The Coastal Range) to get to Santa Cruz county. Usually the destination is one of the many beaches along the Monterey Bay: Santa Cruz, Capitola, Rio del Mar being some of my favorites. Depending on traffic, the trip is usually about a half hour by car. So by Silicon Valley standards, it's very close.

The Log Ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, CA - photo by Mary Pope-HandyA major destination on the other side of "The Hill", particularly when out-of-town visitors arrive on your Los Gatos doorstep, is The Boardwalk. This year, the Boardwalk is celebrating its 100th aniversary, so there's even more going on than usual!

For instance, this Saturday night, the Boardwalk features a fireworks display that should be incredible in honor of the milestone birthday. The show will be choreographed to music and will begin at 9pm.

Additionally, every Friday night (beginning June 22nd) there will be free concerts at the Boardwalk, called Bands on the Beach. The music begins at 6:30pm and again at 8:30pm.

The Giant Dipper, built in 1924, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Photo by Mary Pope-HandyThere are some good deals to be had at the Boardwalk if you just plan ahead.  First, if you think you'll be back more than once this season, get a season pass. This is especially helpful if you have visitors here from out of the area. Also if you visit the amusement park's site, there are cupons you can print online too. Oh, and admission is free - it's only the rides, food, and souveniers that will cost you. Even if your goal is simply people-watching, you'll have plenty to do at the Boardwalk!

And here's a little secret that I didn't find on the Boardwalk's website: starting June 25th, "1907 Nights" are back. On Monday and Tuesday evenings after 5pm, rides are a mere 75 cents each (the Giant Dipper is usually $4.50!!)

So go early (avoid monstrous "beach traffic" if you go on weekends by getting onto Highway 17 by 10am), park close, and pack layers so you can stay a good long time, even if the fog rolls in. Have a great time.  And don't forget the sunscreen! 

Summer Has Begun:
Reminder on Free Concerts in Los Gatos

May. 29, 2007
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events

The music starts this Saturday, June 2nd!  Mark your calendars! 

Kudos and thanks to theLos Gatos Observer for putting out a composite list of ALL the free summer music series in Los Gatos. Please visit this page and print it out!
http://losgatosobserver.com/los-gatos/summermusic07.pdf

No Prohibition in Los Gatos

Mar. 28, 2007
Categorized in: Los Gatos Businesses


Carrie Nation is probably turning over in her grave.

A strong advocate for the Women's Christian Temperance Movement, Carrie Nation was opposed to alcohol in a very big way. History has it that she attacked dozens of bars together with a band of praying & singing women and eventually wielded a a
hatchet to make her point. In fact, in later years this seems to have become her "niche market" as her newletter was called "The Hatchet". Though jailed some 30 times, she paid her fines with lecture fees and  (believe it or not) the sales of small souvenier hatchets. 

I suppose it is true that "actions speak louder than words".  But it's also true that irony is one of the funniest forms of humor.

And so it is quite humorous indeed to most folks in Los Gatos that the town's most popular bar (and there's no shortage of them)  is named none other than "Carrie Nation's".  In case you don't know this colorful bit of history, the beveled glass in the main door portrays an ax.  (If nothing else, it's a conversation starter!)   Located at 8 North Santa Cruz Avenue (close to Main Street), Carrie Nation's is a fun place to stop in for a drink if you have a sense of humor and enjoy the old "fern bar" atmosphere.

Of course, I'm not saying that the folks who run the bar have a sense of humor themselves. Once, when my kids were small, we'd seen the Holiday Parade on a cold December morning and one of small our kids desperately needed to use a restroom. My office was too far down the street for practical purposes (that is, when the child says "I need to go" he or she usually means NOW). We went in the back door of Carrie Nation's, and zoomed down the stairs like folks on an urgent mission to the restrooms. There was no walking through the bar area or anything like that. When we emerged, two minutes later, there was a scowling employee waiting for us and quite ready to escort us out.  You'd have thought we had pick pocketed our way down the stairs.

All I could think of was that the dour disposition of the gal for whom the bar was named had somehow been imparted on a unsympathetic employee.  (That was a lot of years ago, and I imagine that person has since had children of his own and perhaps has learned to think about the urgency of a young person's need for a restroom.)

I have never been back since! But even so, I love that front door. It tickles me every time I see it.

There are many fine bars in Los Gatos. I was intent upon writing about them here until I found an excellent article in the San Jose Mercury News which did a beautiful job reviewing them. Depending on your mood and the circumstances, you may prefer Viva (at Los Gatos Blvd and Blossom Hill), Mountain Charlie's, The Black Watch, or Johnny's, or Double D's or any of the great sites in town from Steamer's or The Wine Cellar or who knows what. Read the article.  If you have kids in tow, I do suggest Double D's  (at Highway 9 and North Santa Cruz Avenue) or Johnny's Northside Grill (532 N Santa Cruz Ave)Both are most welcoming!

But whether you frequent bars or not, next time you are in downtown Los Gatos, take a gander at 8 North Santa Cruz and enjoy a chuckle at the image of the hatchet on the door there.  Imagine what Carrie would have to say!



Blog entry by Mary Pope-Handy,
Los Gatos Enthusiast,
Los Gatos & Silicon Valley (San Jose area) Residential Real Estate Specialist and
Realtor, CRS, ABR, SRES, ASP, CNHS, RECS, E-Pro,
Intero Real Estate Services, 518 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030
www.PopeHandy.com
Do not use without permission, please.

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