Bicycling 23-Miles to Downtown San Jose & Lunch at San Pedro Square Market

It was 1968 when the popular song: “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” was written and composedfor Dionne Warwick by Burt Bacharach. I graduated from Hoboken High School in New Jersey that year. Never did I think I would wind up in San Jose with Cecile opening up a Podiatric Medical Practice specializing in minimally invasive foot surgery in 1975. I also never thought I would become an avid bicyclist in my mid 60s, a half a dozen years ago.

Bill and I began our 23-mile roundtrip bicycling adventure to downtown San Jose by hopping on the Los Gatos Creek Trail that ends at Willow Street. We turned left at Three Creeks Trail that is marked by a 30-foot water tower tank that is marked with the number 3, that serves as an iconic reminder of the city of San Jose cannery days. The four year old trail celebrates the valley’s former railway and canneries it once served back in the day when Silicon Valley was known as “Valley of Heart’s Delight.”

Some of the points of interest were the Giant Mammoth with husks exhibit outside the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose; the San Jose McEnery Convention Center of Innovation; San Jose Museum of Art; The magnificent Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph which was constructed in 1877 and is listed as a California Historical Landmark. The Cathedral was also made a minor basilica by the affable Pope John Paul in 1997. It has majestic domes and thirty-nine exquisite stained glass windows. There is a beautiful gold Holy Water Fountain in the back of the pews. It is open to the public and photos of the interior are allowed. One of the docents who was outside watched our bikes while we explored the interior where another docent who was sitting at a desk shared some facts about the history of the museum. We also visited San Jose City Hall and rode through the silver rings in front. We had the most fun riding through the shooting vertical water fountains on Market Street.

Bill and I had lunch at the colorful San Pedro Square Market. There are a number of exciting food vendors. I had pizza and salad from Pizza Bocca Lupo and Bill enjoyed a pork Bonh Mi sandwich.

Early Morning 28-Mile Beat-the Heat-Bike Ride to Guadalupe Reservoir

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”

—Albert Einstein

My friend and biking buddy, Bill Rothenberg and I enjoyed a nice cool early morning climb from Kennedy Road to Shannon Road to the Guadalupe Reservoir, reaching an elevation just below 1,800 feet.

We had a number of deer sightings, a pleasant encounter with a guy who was kind enough to show us how he maneuvers his black Remote Control Electric RC truck with the name OJ Rain on driver’s side door up a hilly granite wall off the side of the road above the reservoir. You could tell he was as passionate about his hobby as Bill and I were about biking. He told us that there are other hobbyists who spend up to $20,000 in parts to build their own remote control trucks. I took a number of photos of the reservoir showing the contrast between the water level and the dry beds due to the continued drought. On the exhilarating ride down on well-paved surfaces we stopped at a mountain wood carver place who has sold Bill partial tree trunks and thick saw-cut wood in the past that Bill utilized as raw material to make tables and chairs for his back yard. Our two hour ride got us back home at 10:30 AM, early enough to avoid the near triple digit heat wave that is said to continue the next few days.

Postscript: The quote attributed to Einstein that I used below the title of this post is said to have been something the famous physicist wrote in a letter to his son Eduard in 1930. Recently, Bill gave me a laminated poster of Einstein on his bicycle (photo). With the help of my next door neighbor Vladimir, an engineer who is also a fan of Einstein we secured the poster to the only free space on the wall in the corner of my garage just above where I park and charge my e-bike. Bill too has one in his garage which makes him smile whenever he goes for a bike ride.

Guys Night Out: Celebrating Decades of Friendship at the Mint Leaf Thai-Asian Cuisine

“Everybody’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer.”

—W.C. Fields

Larry Fried and I were the first to arrive at the scene, followed by our dear friend Mark Brodsky, former mayor of Monte Sereno & TJ, whose friendship with Mark goes back to their college days at the School of engineering at San Jose State. Dressed in their Hawaiian shirts they brought a little Aloha Spirit to our gathering. Larry and I brought a different type of spirit-enough beer for a small bachelor party:)Fortunately, Mint Leaf encourages patrons to bring your own beer and wine. While I brought some more familiar names like Pacifico, Mango Cart and Heifenweizen, Larry’s offering-a 32 ounce dark jug from Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company from San Carlos-definitely stood out, and was a welcomed sight in the midst of this heat wave we’re in. Our friend Bernie Weinzimmer who couldn't join us for dinner, made a cameo appearance toward the end of our outdoor dining venue and joined us for a beer and stoked some lively conversation. For our two and a half hour gastronomic event we shared imitation Crab-Cream-Cheese Avocado Wontons, and a refreshing Green Papaya Salad with peanuts, green beans, tomatoes and a tangy pungent Chili-lime dressing. It definitely made your mouth pucker and was delish. For our entree TJ had a Spicy Garlic Noodles with New York Steak; I enjoyed a Steamed Tilapia on Fire with Thai Chili sauce, green beans and basil with brown rice. Mark feasted on Basa Fish Fillets with Penang Curry with zucchini, green beans, red peppers and brown rice, and Larry had Prawns with sautéed yellow curry with egg, garlic, carrots, zucchini, green beans, and red bell peppers. We were perfectly satisfied without needing dessert.

Postscript: Since I hadn't taken a photo of Bernie as he wasn't able to join us for dinner, but did join us for drinks afterwards, I included a photo of him from another venue.

Clebrating My 72nd Birthday at our Daughter Michelle & Kyle's Home

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”

—Voltair

“Life should not only be lived, it should be celebrated.”

—Osho

Birthdays are a blessing. Once a year we gather with family and friends. Celebrating each others life is a good reminder to be grateful for what we have. When we honor our birthdays, we’re honoring our mothers who gave birth to us. Special thanks to Michelle and Kyle who cooked up a storm for the occasion; to my dearest Cecile, the best life partner and friend I could ever hope for, who brought the birthday cake from “Icing on the Cake," our son Jason and his partner Alex, Kyle’s mom, Kim and Al Chien and last but not least our loving and entertaining granddaughters Lyla and Emmy whom we all cherish and adore and are the light of our lives.

Speaking of light, I would like to share a wisdom story by Naomi Ramen, bestselling author of Kitchen Table Wisdom, a modern retelling of a timeless story about The Birthday of the World:

“In the beginning, there was only darkness, and then a great ray of light ended the darkness and the world was born—the world of a thousand things. It was filled with light. Then something unexpected happened, and the light of the world broke into millions of sparks of light. These sparks

fell everywhere. They fell into everyone and everything. This is why you were born and I was born, and everyone was born—to find the light…”

Love and light to all,

Dennis

Dinner at Bodega SF with My Cousin Joey and His Family Following Their Hawaiian Island Cruise

“Cousin to cousin, we’ll always be, special friends from the same family tree."

Cecile and I were so happy to have the opportunity to hook-up with my cousin Joey Micalizzi, his wonderful wife Natia, and their lovely twin daughters Victoria and Allyssa in San Francisco following their seven-day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America. The love birds who reside in Staten Island, NY, renewed their wedding vows as they sailed by the stunning Na Pali coastline of the island of Kauai this past weekend. Joey’s late father Nino and my late mother Maria were brother and sister and both grew up in Roccalumera, Messina in Sicily before moving to Hoboken, NJ. Joey’s mother, my zia Maria, at 85 is my last remaining family member from the old country.

We all met at Bodega SF, a Multi-Generational Vietnamese Restaurant that specializes in authentic Northern Vietnamese cuisine that Victoria found online. It had been almost three years since we saw them last. We could tell just being in their company how they were filled with the Aloha spirit. We talked about their exotic trip and trips to come, as well as their visiting the local sights like the Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods. After sipping Asian style cocktails, a tasty dinner and desert, my cousin Joey made it clear that he and Natia were treating us and they also surprised us with some colorful outfits for our granddaughters Emmy and Lyla. They fly back today to the East Coast. They will be missed.

Lunch at Auntie Mame’s Cafe in Scotts Valley Celebrating the Owner’s 30 Years of Food Service

Little did Cecile and I know we walking into a celebratory event marking owner Norma Corona’s 30 years at the popular eatery, Auntie Mame's in the Santa Cruz Moutains. The reason we wound up in Scotts Valley—25 miles from our home in Los Gatos—is I had to exchange a gift T-shirt at Cycle Sport. Across the way we saw decorations and a big Banner that read "Auntie Mame’s 30 Years with Norma: CONGRATULATIONS to our mom Norma."

Cecile had a BLT on toasted bread and I had a lean cheeseburger, fashioned to fit a long french roll rather than your typical round patty with a side of fruit. After lunch, we went to look at the colorful murals of Camp Evers, a historic settlement dating back to the 1920s right at this very spot that consisted of a small store, gas pumps, dance hall and tents that became a resort and rest stop for travelers. I especially liked the 3D effect of the antique cars.

Interesting History of Auntie Mame's:

Norma’s daughter Ashly Garcia, had written on Facebook “this restaurant is my mom’s world. She eats, breathes and sleeps Auntie Mames." And, Ashly should know, she grew up in Auntie Mame’s. Her mom was pregnant with her while she was waiting on tables. When her mom had her, she sat at the bar barely able to look over the counter. As the years passed she remained at the counter while watching her brothers Marco and Ivan bus the tables. Now, she helps her mom run the place. Norma began working at Auntie Mame’s in Scotts Valley in 1993 and in 2002 she purchased the restaurant. Ashly and her brothers are so grateful to all the customers for supporting their mom during some challenging times, especially during the pandemic, where they had to jump through all the bureaucratic hurdles in order to survive. The silver lining was outdoor seating being permitted and Ashly and her siblings willingness to hold down the fort with one cook and work without pay to get through the crisis of COVID-19 that affected so many restaurants.

A 15-Mile Bike Ride with My Daughter Michelle for the First Time Since Her Childhood

“Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.” —Boris Pasternak

I was pleasantly surprised today. I led my daughter Michelle on a 15-mile bike ride on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The seed for such a happening was planted yesterday when Michelle and her husband Kyle brought our granddaughters over for a visit yesterday. The subject of bicycling came up. Kyle, an avid cyclist had recently bought Michelle a Trek bike that she hadn’t had the opportunity to ride yet. The last time she was even on a bike ride was while attending a wedding in Colorado recently where she and Kyle rode about seven miles on rental bikes with the kids. I told Michelle I look forward to the day when we could ride together. Kyle offered to watch the kids, and before I knew it Michelle and I hit the Los Gatos Creek Trails this afternoon. I don’t remember the last time I was able to be with her, never mind ride with her without having to worry about attending to our beautiful granddaughters. I have to say when our beautiful Michelle was riding right behind me in the bike lane for the first time ever, I felt emotional and grateful at the same time. The last time I rode with her was when she was a toddler sitting on a child seat on the back of my bike.

It is pretty special when moments of unexpected joy come our way. “It is not that we seize them,” said the late British-American anthropologist, Ashley Montagu, “but that they seize us.” Michelle and I agreed we will do it again. She found it as joyful and relaxing as I did. Thanks Kyle for paving the way to make this happen.

An Awe-Inspiring Viewing of Sharks & Other Underwater Creatures at Ripley's Aquarium Invoked Memories of My Shark Cage Dive in South Africa

"Many people continue to think of sharks as man-eating beasts. Sharks are enormously powerful and wild creatures, but your more likely to be killed by your kitchen toaster than a shark!

—Ted Danson

Cecile and I along with friends Nelson and Susan Bye had quite an amazing experience seeing a collection of 20,000 aquatic wildlife on display from around the world at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto recently. They have one of the most extensive jellyfish exhibits, Pacific Sea Nettle jellyfish, stingrays, and an assortment of mesmerizing sharks in their 135,000 sq. ft. interactive aquarium that immerses its visitors in a thrilling underwater adventure.

One imaginative exhibit is described as a “heart-pounding Journey through Dangerous Lagoon,” where we stepped onboard a moving sidewalk that transported us through North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel. This is the home of the most fearsome-looking animals like Sand Tiger Sharks, Green Sawfish and Green Moray Eels. Kids and adults alike were emoting oohs, aaahs, and wows as these majestic creatures were gliding mere feet from the top of our heads.

There were also a kaleidoscope of colorful fish and coral that is home to over a 100 species of fish. They also have a Discovery Dive for those who wanted to swim with sharks with their public S.C.U.B.A dive program where you can get up close and personal with the sawfish, sharks, turtles and fish on a 30-minute guided dive in Dangerous Lagoon.

As if that weren’t enough stimulation for you, you can spend an evening exploring and learning about marine animals that grace its waters and tuck into your sleeping bag for an unforgettable evening beneath the “Dangerous Lagoon” shark tunnel protected by the glass enclosures. It’s a slumber party to remember.

Postscript: I had my extreme adrenaline-inducing adventure cage diving with great whites with my brother-in-law in South Africa to satisfy my curiosity and I got sea sick from the swells:). See photos of the shark cage and a great white.

Biking 25-Miles Roundtrip Along the Sheltered Los Gatos Creek Trail to Lexington Reservoir

“You don’t stop doing things because you get old. You get old because you stop doing things.”

—Rosamunde Pilcher

After Bike riding the Los Gatos Creek Trail to Lexington Reservoir County Park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Bill and I rode around and above the 338-acre man made reservoir clockwise. This is one of our favorite rides as it is totally sheltered from car traffic. The first half the loop is quite steep, but settles to a steady climb after a couple of miles. The downhill part with all its twists and turns is quite exhilarating with a top speed of around 27-miles an hour. The last leg of the ride is under a wooded canopy of cool shade. The views are spectacular as can be seen by the photos. There is a narrow opening that enters onto a dirt road that takes you further down to the waters edge where people in small numbers fish and set up their private little picnic areas. One section runs below and along the side of a curvy area of Highway 17. The side of the supporting structures below are filled with paintings from graffiti artists. Bill spotted wild turkeys, a deer and a coyote that ran off into the brush. The heat and dry winter months has taken its toll and water conservation is in effect, especially between certain canyons where water level is usually more shallow and is consumed by evaporation by the sun. The Smoky the Bear sign along the upper part of Highway 17 near Bear Creek road was out warning people that the FIRE DANGER WAS VERY HIGH TODAY!

We Had a Pleasurable Dining Experience with Friends at Michelin-Rated ASA Restaurant

“The kitchen manages to infuse a bit of fun into its repertoire of serious food. There’s something for everyone on this wide-reaching carte especially if you love fish which is sustainable harvested.”

—Reviewer dining notes

Cecile and I had intended to have dinner with our good friends Nelson and Susie Bye this passed weekend at another restaurant that was all booked. So we settled on ASA which turned out to be an exceptional first time experience for all of us.

Cecile and Susie had a Lemon Drop cocktail while Nelson had an Almanac Love Hazy IPA and I had a Third Window, Merci Perre Wit Ale. We all ordered an entree-sized Exotic Rigatoni Pasta Dish with mushrooms for an appetizer for the table to share. Susie had a Chilled “Cocktail” Cup of Fresh line caught halibut, lime bath, tomato, avocado, cilantro with tortilla chips. She also had roasted Spanish-Style Yukon potatoes, paprika bill, with lemon aioli dip. Cecile and Nelson had a Sustainable Sourced Halibut with Fennell seed dusted, summer squash, Yukon gold potato puree, and I had a tenderized and marinated Spanish-style herb chimichurri marinated Argentinian Steak with sautéed spinach and mash potatoes. I also shared a Rainbow Orange Beet Salad with apple, orange segments, black pepper and caraway seed dressing with Cecile.

For dessert we were blown away by the Banana Bread Pudding with rum, vanilla, cinnamon, brandy caramel glaze and whipped cream; a Strawberry Rhubarb Galette and Vanilla a La Mode, and a Carrot Cake with golden raisins, walnuts, whiskey cream cheese frosting, carrot caramel sauce and shortbread crumble. ASA earned a “Bib Gourmand” write up in the prestigious Michelin Guide 2021, which in our opinion was a hundred per cent well deserved. I can wait to go back to try some of their other entrees.

ASA which is named after the son of Silicon Valley Restauranteur, Andrew Welsh features a chic dining room with sleek furnishings with a painted portrait of his son on the wall. The horseshoe-shaped bar out front is an ideal perch for a sip and or a solo meal. Outdoor dining is available which is what we requested. Asa is located off the beaten path from restaurant row in downtown Los Gatos. It is tucked in next to the Best Western and across the street from the Los Gatos Inn. But that hasn’t kept diners from discovering their location formerly occupied by 57 Grill on Saratoga-Los Gatos Road. The place was bustling.

Participating in a First Nations Drum Music & Dance Ceremony on Little Current (Manitoulin Island), Ontario

“For native people, the drum represents the Universal Heartbeat of Mother Earth, the Universal Goddess and Mother to us All.”—Native American Wisdom

The port of Little Current is quite literally the gateway to the world’s largest freshwater island of Manitoulin, in Ontario, considered sacred by the native Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe) people. The only land access to the island is the iconic swing bridge. It is also recognized as one of the best freshwater boating regions of the world. A stroll along the boardwalk reveals boats from all over the Great Lakes Basin, the eastern coast of Canada, as well as the United States.

Cecile and I and our friends Susan and Nelson visited the Church of Immaculate Conception along with other travelers from our Great Lakes Cruise. I was struck by its distinctive tepee-like architecture to discover where rituals converge. We learned how the Jesuit and Ojibwa community came together to create a unique place of worship. Here, we enjoyed an informative presentation on the religious beliefs of the Ojibwa.

From there our bus driver took us to the Qjibwa Cultural Foundation where we received a traditional welcome ceremony before embarking on an interpretive tour of the center and participating in an authentic smudging ceremony. This involved the burning of the Four Sacred Medicines; tobacco cedar, sage, and sweet grass, which is common in many First Nation ceremonies. Smudging allows people to stop, slow down, become mindful and centered in the event, task of purpose at hand. Think of it as a cleansing or purification process.

Finally, we got a glimpse into a tradition of the First Nations people as we were invited to participate in an Aboriginal Drum and intertribal dance. They are considered an important part of a powwow. As visitor guests, we were offered to dance in the arena. Susan accepted the invitatio. I didn’t realize until it was announced after the completion of the ceremony that I was being congratulated for my courage of being the only male from the audience to participate in the dance. I have actually participated in indigenous tribal dances, smudging rituals, and sweat lodges on a number of occasions.

Pow Wow in Little Current

Lunch at the Iconic Buck's Restaurant in Woodside: A Great Place to Eat & Enjoy a Museum of Eccentric Collectibles on Display

The interior of Buck’s Restaurant in Woodside, features a boat load of memorabilia—or as my Jewish wife Cecile would call them— a bunch of tchotchkes. They include a model of the Statue of Liberty wearing a sombrero and sunglasses, a flying horse, Flying nuns, a Red Western hat with painted skeletons dancing and playing a guitar, a model seaplane suspended from the corner of the ceiling, an ornate tiffany lamp, a blue hammerhead shark over the back of a booth, an astronaut on the top of the ceiling and much, much, more.

We elected to eat outdoors. Though it was sunny, there are a generous supply of decorative umbrellas. Cecile ordered the Avocado Toast with mascarpone, rosemary, chili flakes with a side of delicious Maple Black Pepper Bacon. I had the Heirloom Tomato B.L.T in focaccia, garlic aioli, mixed baby lettuce, smoked bacon, avocado with fries.

Colorful Background History of Buck’s and it’s Connection to the Silicon Valley Crowd:

Buck’s, founded by Jamis MacNiven left a career in construction open the restaurant in 1991. At the start of the dot-com boom in 1995, Bucks’s became a hotspot for Silicon Valley’s most powerful. The restaurant is strategically situated near Stand Hill Road, home to the majority of The Valley’s venture capitalists and Stanford University. Companies like Netscape, Hotmail, PayPal and Tesla Motors held early meetings at Buck’s. In fact, “Breakfast at Buck’s" is the title of the introduction, “The Start up Game," Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs, by venture capitalist Bill Draper. In 2003, Forbes magazine named Buck’s one of the top business restaurants.

According to Wikipedia Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple is one of the few Silicon Valley icons who never set foot in Buck’s. Apparently he had a falling out with MacNiven in the 1980s after Job’s hired him to remodel his home. Nevertheless, Buck’s has a rare photo of Jobs wearing a set of Groucho plastic gag eye-glasses with the big nose, brushy eye brows and mustache on display.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, the restaurant shut-down and James MacNiven, decided to retire. However, in August 2020 Buck’’s was re-opened by his son Tyler MacNiven who now operates it. The place is hopping, is open 7 days a week, provides good service and you don’t have to be a tech titan to enjoy the food.

A Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour of Mackinac Island Including the Fort & the World Famous Grand Hotel

“With awe-inspiring sunrises and unforgettable sunsets, Mackinac Island centers the spirit and soothes the soul.” —The Daily Voyage

Following a cruise stop at the port of Lake Huron last month, Cecile and I and our friends Susan and Nelson Bye enjoyed a charming tour through Mackinac Island State Park via horse-drawn carriage. Our entertaining guide told us his horses Jumbo, Rupert and Clovis were raised by the Amish. Most of the land was designated a national park in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Although Oldsmobile was making automobiles in nearby Lansing, Mackinac banned cars which is a distinctive characteristic to this day. It is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and had become an ideal vacation spot for centuries. Mackinac became famous for it fudge-making that dates back to the 1920s. Downtown shops innovated the brilliant techniques of demonstrating fudge making in front of its customers. By using large ceiling fans you could smell the sweet scent that wafted out onto the street. We brought some home for ourselves and family. We watched soldiers fire a cannon at the historic Fort Mackinac and enjoyed the stunning views of the Straits of Mackinac from the world’s largest porch at the legendary Grand Hotel that opened in 1887. Over forty years ago the cult classic “Somewhere in Time,” a romantic fantasy starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was filmed at the world famous Grand Hotel. The hotel has hosted a number of notable guests including five United States presidents, two Russian presidents, Thomas Edison, and Mark Twain.

Enjoying the Riot of Colorful Flowers at Stanford Shopping Center & Why They Make us Feel Good

“People are starved for beauty, and flowers are nature’s biggest show-offs. They are mood elevators and stress relievers.”

—Lewis Miller, world renowned florist

After purchasing a quart of fresh squeezed orange juice and organic fruit at the Saratoga Farmers Market, Cecile and I went to the Stanford Shopping Center to exchange an item at Bloomingdales, and had lunch at Chipotles Mexican Grill. While Cecile did some browsing and tried on some outfits in other stores I did a self-guided garden tour on the fly at my own pace that included a vast array of dahlias, hydrangeas, delphiniums, shining rose, begonias, camellias, to mention a few.

While not essential, flowers are powerful and beautiful. They make a person happy. Scientists say they stimulate the brain’s key happy chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. During the coronavirus pandemic, Lewis Miller quoted above the title of my post was praised for adorning trash receptacles with colorful flowers throughout New York City. He was quoted in Vogue in Elise Taylor’s article “It’s Scientifically Proven That Flowers Make You Feel Better," (May 18, 2020) as saying, “every New Yorker deserves to be bowled over by nature’s raw and unbridled beauty.” Pinterest found searches for “flower boxes” were up 408 percent year over year which proves Miller’s point.

Delphiniums are a symbol of lightness, fun, levity and joy. Blue Hydrangeas in particular represent gratitude, grace, and beauty. Red Dahlia like the ones above Cecile’s head in the photo I took of her in her flower print top in front of the white planter is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family and can be orange, yellow and the more common red. Begonias stand for caution and consideration, as well as good communication between different parties. They are often given as a gift when paying back a favor, or to end a feud or argument, especially men who find themselves in the doghouse:-)

Even after his death of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, his family found comfort in adorning the autocratic dictator’s body for public display with Kimjongilia, a beautiful red hybrid flower named after him that was registered as the scientific name: Begonia XZ tuberhybrida ‘Kimjongilhwa.'

Henri Matisse once said, “there are always flowers for those who want to see them.” They won’t cure all your ills, but taking some time to see them, will make you smile and feel good, something we could all use from time to time.

Solo Bike Ride to the Colorful Willow Glen Neighborhood of San Jose

“As a kid, I had a dream. I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike…”

—John Lennon

“I don’t ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days.”

—Author Unknown

I couldn’t have picked a better day for a 20-mile solo bike ride. The temperature was in the low 70s, breezy, and sunny. Though there is nothing like the shared experience of riding the trails or roads with friends, any bicyclist will tell you that sometimes it's such a joy to pedal the roads all by yourself and at your own pace. Moreover, it affords riders a little ‘me time’ to clear your mind chatter that we all crave from time to time. You can stop as many times as you want without feeling you’re holding anybody up.

Willow Glen is known as “San Jose’s Local Treasure.” With historic homes and charming tree-lined streets, and a colorful downtown area, it is a perfect destination for a bike ride. The Los Gatos Creek Trail which is about a mile and a half away from my home gets me there with very little time spent riding through street traffic. Willow Glen is one of the most charming, safest and most diverse neighborhoods in the San Jose area. The streets are lined with beautiful trees, the parks are safe for all ages and the downtown is filled with diverse restaurants including Japanese, Italian, Greek, Asian and American cuisine. Willow Glen was originally an independent town until it was annexed by San Jose in 1936.The downtown area is located on Lincoln Avenue. Formerly known as “Willow Glen Road” the name change occurred in 1865 after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

My favorite thing to see there is a mural created by artist Lila Gemellos located in the heart of downtown. It is often referred to a trip down memory lane as it tells many old stories about Willlow Glen including historic signs and depictions of long-gone businesses like the Willow Glen Basket Factory. There are also smaller flourishes of iris and lily flowers as well as peaches and grapes that harken back to the days of the agricultural roots of what was called the "Valley of the Heart’s Delight." The mural is an eye-catching visual that makes you want to drop everything you're doing to take a postcard-perfect snapshot. The mural gives off good vibes, and makes all passersby want to linger and enjoy its “Where’s Waldo” quality. There are other colorful murals on the walls of buildings facing small parking lots and alleyways including Mike's Bikes. Before heading back home I made a pit stop at Jamba Juice and ordered a large Greens and Ginger. I made other stops inncluding the Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park, the Los Gatos County Park to check out some beautiful Harley Davidsons at a benefit for kids and, Effie's parking lot to take a photo of a restored red vintage car.

4th of July Family Barbecue & Highland Park Tragedy Strikes Too Close to Home

Our daughter Michelle, husband Kyle and our granddaughters Lyla and Emmy joined us for a swim and barbecue. Cecile prepared an avocado dip and a Muhammara appetizer dish. The latter is made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, molasses and other ingredients that give it a smoky, sweet, tangy, nutty, and spicy flavor all at the same time. We were learned about this Middle Eastern dip last month at Aba Restaurant in the Fulton Market area of Chicago—A Lettuce Entertain You restaurant where our nephew Jacob Schwimmer works as its' District Manager. She also made corn on the cob and a pasta salad with black olives, and sun-dried tomatoes with a splash of virgin olive oil. Kyle and Michelle brought hot dogs, hamburgers, and apple chicken sausage for grilling. For dessert, Cecile made everybody’s favorite: a No-Bake Chocolate Oreo Mud Pie with fresh whipped cream topping.

Before our family arrived later in the afternoon, news of another national tragedy made headlines.

What began as a charming, peaceful and joyful Fourth of July flag-waving parade in Highland Park, Illinois, turned into another scramble to survive at a crazed active rooftop shooter event. Known to be a safe, affluent lakefront suburb of Chicago, seven people were killed and about 30 people were wounded by Robert “Bobby” Crimo lll who is currently in police custody. Highland Park is near the neighboring town of Wilmette, where Cecile's brother Mark lives. We were in the vicinity last month after our cruise of the Great Lakes visiting Mark and other family members.

We would later find out other related family members living in the area, as well as friends and acquaintances who were visiting from California attended the actual parade. Thank God, none of them were victims of this horrific attack. Oddly enough, the shooters father, Bob Crimo operated a Pantry & Deli in Highland Park that used to be a Covenience Store formally owned by Cecile’s late parents more than 30 years ago.

Later that evening when we went to bed, the fireworks in the distance sounded eerily like the shots being fired at the Highland Park Parade. Cecile and her sister Sherry used to teach in the inner city schools of Chicago where they had weapon checks of students. Now the shooters are coming to a city near you/us. America has a gun to its head. When will this insanity end?

Dinner with Friends at Anchors Fish & Chips & Seafood Grill in Historic Saratoga's Restaurant Row

Humble Beginnings: One of the earliest known fish and chips shops was opened by Ashkenazi Jewish proprietor Joseph Malin in the nineteen century. He combined fried potatoes with fried fish, and serving it warm rather than cold as the Sephardic Jews from Spain and Portugal had done in Holland and London before him. From there it spread throughout England, and the rest of the world including the United States.

Cecile and I met good friends Bill and Sarah at their home just a hop, skip and a jump from our townhome for drinks and avocado and chips before having dinner at the relatively new Anchors Fish and Chips and Seafood Grill on Saratoga’s restaurant row. The village and its’ vendors had decorated their stores and restaurants in advance of the 4th of July holiday.

A while back I had fish and chips at a stall at the Anchors San Pedro Square’s Public Market in San Jose where Bill and I stopped for lunch during a bike ride. Anchors is owned by South Bay veterans Nestor and Carlos Zubizarreta and Chef Mario Ariza. A surprise to all of us this is that this is not your typical fish and chips operation. Anchors also offers a diverse menu that features grilled halibut, salmon and sword fish, lobster rolls, seafood salads, oysters, teriyaki salmon bowls, linguine with clams or sea scallops, seafood pasta dishes, grilled fish tacos and more. Had we known, we would have definitely reserved sooner. We were able to score a private corner table outdoors that Cecile requested when she made the reservations. Sarah had a skewer of shrimp and sea scallops with fries and asparagus; Bill had a skewer of shrimp, rice and potatoes; Cecile had grilled sea scallops with vegetables and cherry tomatoes and I had wild mahi-mahi with roasted vegetables and baby carrots. We can’t wait to come back to try other dishes and drinks from their full service bar.

A Happy Accident: Our Granddaughter Lyla Gets Her Wish

"A child is going to remember who was there, not what you spent on them. Kids outgrow toys and outfits, but they never outgrow time and love."

Our son-in-law Kyle dropped off our sweet 14-month old granddaughter Emmy to babysit yesterday. Emmy’s 3 1/2 year old big sister Lyla whom Kyle was taking to preschool wanted to get out of the car to say hello to Nonnie and Papa. Once here she didn’t want to leave. Kyle gave her a few more minutes and off she went—reluctantly I may add. By the time Lyla was ready to be dropped off, one of the school’s staff members said there was a power outage and classes were cancelled. Lyla is too young to realize it yet, but she was the recipient of a happy accident, or one can say, she got her wish. It reminds me when I was a young boy and really didn’t want to go to school the next day when a snow storm hit and school was cancelled.

When good things fall into place, Cecile and refer to them as a “happy accident." This is based on the fact that we ourselves have been fortunate recipients of these type of events such as the time we reserved connecting rooms at the Hotel Lutetia in the heart of Saint Germain in Paris and were upgraded to a penthouse sweet overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

Lyla said she was hungry so Cecile made croissants for all of us for breakfast, and prepared some fresh cut fruit to go with it. Lyla also wanted "something special" to drink which is usually code for fresh orange juice which we ran out of. She settled for a little glass of plain sparkling Pellegrino.

We decided to take the girls for a stroll around the lake where we live to explore nature, something the girls love doing. We saw a number of lizards, turtles—big and small—lounging on the rocks, one that had a black American Coot (mud hen with web feet) standing next to it. There was also a raft of ducks paddling toward us in unison across the lake. Finally, the girls saw white tailed rabbits darting in and out of the bushes or what Lyla described as “scampering,” which caught us off guard. I don’t think I ever used the word scampering until I was in my teens:-) Later, I pointed out a metal utility rowboat that was tethered to shore we had both sat in when she was younger. She said, “I want to go in!” She did with my supervision and she was all smiles. On the home stretch of our walk, Lyla said her legs were tired. So I carried her until Cecile recommended placing her in the stroller while I carried Emmy back home. I changed Emmy’s diaper and got her ready for her nap. She was in a giggling mood and relaxed in my arms as I rocked her to sleep.

Ducks across the lake

Exploring the Deep Rooted Culture of the Mennonite Community in the Canadian Countryside & Dinner at Volos

“My mother’s people are Old Order Mennonite-horse and buggy Mennonite, very close cousins to the Amish…”—Beverly Marie Lewis, New York Times Best Selling Author

Our guide Leon took us on a 100-mile journey to explore the splendor of Canadian countryside, one hour west of Toronto to visiit the colorful St. Jacobs Farmers Market and to learn about the culture, customs, and lifestyle of the Mennonite community. Walking down the main part of town, there were Mennonite men riding their horse drawn carriages. The women were walking into stores wearing their small circular-ish lace head covering. It is a Biblical command for women to cover their heads while praying. Since they must always be ready to pray, they were their coverings all the time. They also wear bonnets like the Amish. Black bonnets mean they are single and white bonnets mean they are married.

As St. Jacobs attracted more tourists there was a need to communicate with the curious visitors like ourselves about the Mennonites deep rooted culture.The Mennonites are named after Men Simons, a Dutch Priest who joined the movement inn 1536. Today, they are a worldwide community of 2.1 million in 86 countries that encompasses a broad variety of religious practice that include the Older Order, Conservative and more assimilated communities. This is in contrast to the Amish community led by Amman that began in 1693, who are very close cousins to the Mennonites and by all accounts somewhat stricter than the Amish. Today the Amish are located primarily in the United States and Canada.

After a late afternoon respite we had dinner at Volos Estiatorio, a Greek restaurant in the Financial District near our hotel.

Brunch at the Gold Miner Cafe: A Little Touch of Folsom & Johnny Cash Looking Over our Shoulder

Cecile and I had breakfast at Folsom’s legendary Gold Miner Cafe. Owner, Kay Gardner and her daughter, Tiffeny Ayala run the eatery. Gardner bought the restaurant in 1984. It was named Laurie’s Kitchen back then and she turned it into the Gold Miner. In 2006 she sold it and bought another restaurant in Rocklin. When it came back on the market for sale, Gardner embraced the opportunity to own it again in what the late Yogi Berra would call de déjà vu all over again. It was a gutsy move on her part, especially during the pandemic in November 2020. But, she brought it back to life with word of mouth and social media. Though the place was packed, we received our generous portions of food very promptly as Johnny Cash’s likeness was looking over our shoulders.

Speaking of Johnny Cash, in January 13, 1968, he made history by recording a live album inside of California’s Folsom State Prison. Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison is the first live album by an American singer-songwriter. It was released on Columbia Records on May 6, 1968, became a hit in the United States, reaching number one of the country charts and the top 15 of the national album chart. The song that started the prison obsession for Cash was his own “Folsom Prison Blues.” It was written in 1953 while serving in Germany with the US Air Force, and was inspired by the 1951 film, Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison. After the release of his hit record in 1955, he began getting letters from inmates around the country asking him to play.

Postscript: Folsom Lake reveals Gold Rush era relics artifacts that are typically sumbmerged are now visible due to California’s ongoing drought and water crisis. Panning for Gold is legal.