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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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!)
Jul. 18, 2007
_(2).jpg) In the land of urban, Silicon Valley sprawl, there is a plethora of chain stores. They all carry the same clothing as every other outlet belonging to the same brand.
My sixteen year old daughter wants nothing to do with that! A favorite shop of hers is Infiniti Boutique, located on West Main Street in Los Gatos (between University and North Santa Cruz Avenues). Recently we spent some time (and money) there, outfitting my youngest for an upcoming family wedding.
 The shop is owned and operated by a mother-daughter team with ecclectic taste that defies pigeon-holing. If there's a name for the style(s), I don't know what it is: contemporary, ecclectice, casual, comfortable, imported, distinctive. Whatever it is, it is not run-of-the-mill.
And neither is the service. Janet Hui, the daughter-owner of the shop and her associates spent a great deal of time with us as various alternatives were tried. Janet understood my daughter's explanation of what she liked (and didn't) and was able to piece together an outfit acceptable to both mother and daughter for this wedding. She and her salesgals were sensitve to cost and budget too.
 Friendly, caring, knowledgeable service at a unique botique that can appeal to a wide variety of clientele. We will be back!
Infiniti Boutique, 120 West Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030 Tel 408 399-7071
(This is not a paid endorsement of any kind and simply reflects this blogger's excellent experience.)
Jun. 9, 2007
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events
 The town of Los Gatos enjoys a truly fantastic Farmer's Market each Sunday morning from 8am - 12:30pm. It is located on Montebello Way and Broadway, two of the streets touching Town Plaza Park (next to the Post Office). Parking can be a bit tricky, but try either across North Santa Cruz on the main part of Broadway or go down University and make use of the underground parking at the new part of Old Town or, if you're early enough, at the Old Town parking lot itself.
At the Farmer's Market, you will find an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and prepared foods of all kinds. Additionally, sometimes there's live music (someone selling CDs) or other entertainment. Most popular with my kids is the Crepe Stand - the crepes are oversized, made while you watch and command a good sized line. I'm told they're worth it!
 For more information on this very neat weekly event, please check out the town's page on the Los Gatos Farmer's Market.
Just one note: Since the town is extremely dog friendly (and highly dog-populated) and the open air market winds around the Park, there tend to be a lot of folks with dogs coming through. Please note, though, that just as you cannot bring pets into a regular grocery store, you are not allowed to wander between the stalls of the farmers market with them either. There are signs posted, of course, but many people just don't notice them.
May. 31, 2007
Categorized in: LG Lifestyle
Los Gatos Boulevard doesn't get the holiday carriage rides or parade in December. It doesn't get the huge quantities of pedestrian traffic. In a lot of ways, it's not the same kind of destination as North Santa Cruz or Main Streets in downtown Los Gatos, areas which are densely populated with cute boutiques, upscale restaurants, art galleries, and shopper-bait.. Los Gatos Boulevard often just doesn't get the same "respect" as downtown Los Gatos.
The Boulevard does, though, have a historical and contemporary place in the story of Los Gatos. It has some great restaurants (Crimson and Viva are top of mind), shops (where would any parent be without Affordable Treasures?), auto dealerships (I'm on my way to the Acura dealer shortly), grocery stores (Lunardi's, Whole Foods, Nob Hill, Jiffy), drug stores, banks and more. Los Gatos Boulevard is where you'll find the funky oil well, the friendly folks at the Los Gatos Ace Hardware Store, where you can take your toddlers for a happy meal or a romp in the Carl's indoor play structure on a rainy day, or get some great buys at Trader Joe's. Los Gatos Boulevard has both an old-fashioned hot dog stand and an old-fashioned hamburger shack - both independently owned - in addition to the Jack-in-the-Box and other fast food places. It does look like an "All American" road with room to stretch out and do the ordinary shopping the people need to do. And it has a gorgeous backdrop of the Santa Cruz Mountains so does look distinctly like Los Gatos.
Jason Sweeney of the Los Gatos Weekly Times (now owned by the San Jose Mercury News and this article is published there) did an excellent feature piece on Los Gatos Boulevard and I wanted to bring your attention to it. He does a wonderful job of discussing current issues and events as well as the history of this important road. You can read his fine piece here: http://www.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_6018059 Jason also discusses how it all began with Forbes Mill.
To learn more about Forbes Mill, please check back here at Live In Los Gatos tomorrow. The Mill will be the subject of tomorrow's post. See you then!
Nov. 22, 2006
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events
Los Gatos Beckons!
So many fun things are happening during the month of December in Los Gatos: come be a part of them!
The Fantasy of Lights is back for the 8th year in a row! From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, Vasona County Park in Los Gatos is alight with holiday cheer! http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/fol/
Friday December 1st, 4 – 6pm: annual tree-lighting ceremony and festivities at the town's Plaza Park.
Saturday December 2nd, 11 am: The Town of Los Gatos’ 50th Annual Holiday Parade (arrive early to get nearby parking and a good viewing spot) And please bring toys, canned goods, warm weather clothing etc. to the town plaza to support Toys for Tots and St. Luke’s Episcopal Food Pantry for the homeless. Please view this PDF for more info on the 50th anniversary celebration activities and drive: http://www.losgatosca.gov/documents/Events/50th%20Anniversay%20Parade%20Flier.pdf
Beginning December 2nd, Carriage Rides return to town: The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce sponsors these quaint jaunts in horse-drawn carriages through the historic and scenic downtown Thursdays through Sundays through Christmas. Visit the Chamber website at http://losgatoschamber.com/ or phone 354-9300 for more information
A pet-friendly Christmas: anyone who’s been to Los Gatos (the Cats) knows that the town seems to be very dog-friendly. This is true during the holidays too. "Santa Paws" December 3rd, 11 am to 3 pm. Four footed friends get a chance to have a photo taken with Santa. Hosted by "Santa in the Plaza" committee & Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation Department. (408-354-8700)
"Santa in the Plaza" - three dates! December 16, 2 - 4 pm. and December 17, 11 - 3 and December 23 12 -4 at Town Plaza Plark. Photo op! Brought to you by "Santa in the Plaza" committee & Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation Department. (408-354-8700)
Shop Los Gatos! Free Valet Parking will be available downtown. Download a PDF of the town’s many shops and services below. Make a day of it and enjoy great ambiance and unique stores! And do not forget to visit King's Court Shopping Center too. It is located at the corner of Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road, and is home to several of the town's finest, and most unique, shops! One of them is The Wooden Horse, which I think is the best independent toy store I've ever seen, with toys and games aimed at helping children to grow and develop. Another is the Chocolate Dream Box, a yummy Belgian chocolate store. Additionally, enjoy a trip into The Wild Bird Center and Fiori's Hallmark. There are several restaurants right in King's Court, or walk across the street to Whole Foods and grab a salad. For the town's list of shops and services, please click the following link:
http://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentView.asp?DID=681
Nov. 18, 2006
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events
Why Live in Los Gatos?
All of the San Jose and Silicon Valley area has great weather and low crime. Lots of areas are pretty. Several cities have schools that rival Los Gatos for excellence. So why chose Los Gatos to call home in particular?
It’s a fun town. It has a strong sense of community. And there is truly something for everyone. (And yes: excellent schools, low crime, scenic beauty are all here too.)
The outdoors is great in Los Gatos, and it is a big part of what makes this town special. In summer, the townsfolk enjoy free music on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays with Jazz on the Plazz, Vasona Vibrations, Music at Borders in Old Town and Music in the Park. Oak Meadow Park features Shakespeare in the Park under the stars too. The Los Gatos Creek Trail pleases athletes, who can enjoy fabulous scenery for biking, rollerblading, running, or walking. We have great parks throughout the town, and they have everyone in mind from little tots to people on horseback. Our county park, Vasona, has boating and kids and adults can take sailing lessons. Doglovers even have a dog park. Outdoor wintertime festivities include the tree lighting ceremony the first Friday evening in December, carriage rides through the historic downtown, and a holiday parade the first Saturday in December plus a beautiful Fantasy of Lights display each night at Vasona Park from about Thanksgiving through the last day of the year. There is an arts & crafts fair, a Fourth of July town picnic, and an annual carnival too - you name it!
There’s plenty to do indoors too, from shopping and dining toan art museum, a history museum, clubs, volunteer opportunities and spas! Los Gatos boasts a community movie theater on North Santa Cruz Avenue, in the heart of the downtown. Dinner and a movie? Park once: dine, view, and stroll. This is the town experience! Testarossa Vineyards is located at the historic Jesuit Novitiate just steps from downtown and there are many more wineries just into the Santa Cruz Mountains – a very quick drive from town. There are restaurants galore, at every price point and with every taste in mind (steakhouse, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Viet Namese, Indian, Romanian, Mediterranean, hamburger and hot dog joints). One of them, Manresa, has won many culinary awards. Another one, Campo de Bocce, features bocce ball courts – you can eat and play! Additionally, there are many coffee houses (unique as well as the chain stores), a great gelato shop (Dolce Spazio) and even a Belgian Chocolate store.
Shopping is a dream, from toys to clothes to household and electronics to the most expensive cars on the road today.
For a more day-to-day example of the variety that exists, let me use grocery shopping as an example. Though a small town, Los Gatos has every kind of grocery store you could hope for: Trader Joe’s, Nob Hill, Lunardi’s, Whole Foods to Safeway – all without leaving the town. In summer we still have available an old style produce stand on Winchester Blvd, and every Sunday there’s a great Farmer’s Market at the Town Plaza Park.
Many Los Gatons also belong to a faith community of some sort. We have much variety there too! Here you find the sense of community in action each Thanksgiving, as there is an interfaith Thanksgiving celebration hosted by several groups.
The town has a teen center and a senior center. Parks & Rec has classes and "funstuff" for all.
Investigate Los Gatos. It enjoys being a part of a large metropolitan area, but is not swallowed up in it. Los Gatos is distinct. It's fun. It's got a great sense of community and belonging and there really is "something for everyone". Living here is wonderful. Contact me if you'd like more info on the town and living here. It is a great place to call home!
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