As Labor Day weekend comes to a close, we bid farewell to another summer gone by. Schools are in session, fewer people go out of town on the weekends, and we all get back to our normal routines. Though this summer was full of time at the beach in Santa Cruz or weekend trips to Lake Tahoe, there is something comforting about getting back into the swing of things. So I thought we could all make suggestions on things to look forward to this fall as our summer ends.
Whether it’s Sharks season starting up in a few weeks, Oktoberfest celebrations around town, or new plays and theatre seasons, there really are some worthwhile things to do around town. I know that I see the city through the eyes of a single gal. Maybe you all can tell me a thing or two that I don’t know. Is there a hole-in-the-wall restaurant I am missing? Is there a festival that I need to venture to? Is there a band playing that I have to see?
I must be in a good mood today because I don’t feel like bashing what is wrong with San Jose. Let’s talk about what is right for a change. I am sure next week I will be back to my old tricks and ways. In the meantime, let me know what you think.
Now that summer has come to an end
Into depression we must not descend
Council meetings we now must attend
Mayor Chuck Reed has set the trend
His sunshine policies we must defend
Through ethical behavior we must not bend
This above all we must comprehend
Taxpayer’s money we must tend
Frugality and thrift we must blend
A new way of business is how we’ll transcend
We cannot leave the less fortunate to fend
But through thoughtful planning we’ll spend
Problems exist and we will contend
Bankers know you cannot over extend
With Cortese, Oliverio, Liccardo we’ll ascend
Campos, Chirco, Williams our friend
Chu, Pyle, Constant, Nguyen set the trend
This in my heart I believe and penned
George Berlin, the end
One thing I really appreciate about SJ is the lack of racial segregation. I can roll into Grand Century Mall or the Flea Market as the archetypal white hetero male and I won’t turn many heads. Doing the same in parts of Oakland or San Francisco will warrant many strange looks. I know those on the other side of the valley hesitate to travel to East San Jose, but it’s hardly something to fear like oil and water. This place is fairly mixed as it is.
1) Palm Haven Restoration Fundraiser—Prohibition Party! Saturday, September 8, popular Palm Haven homes tour returns and ends with a “Prohibition Party” featuring Stumpy Jones – the jazz/swing/jump band
http://www.palmhaven.info/
2) Willow Glen Founder’s Day Parade and
80th Anniversary Celebration – Saturday, September 29th, 9:30am – 11am Willow Glen historical photos exhibit in the Garden Theatre building and neighborhood historic walking tours.
Map http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Lincoln+Ave.+and+Willow+St.,+San+Jose,+CA
http://www.downtownwillowglen.org/eventinfo.php?eventid=3564
3) The 27th annual Italian American Heritage Foundation’s Italian Family Festa! Saturday, September 29 to Sunday, September 30, 2007
The popular Italian Family Festa is the oldest and largest event of its kind on the West Coast.
http://www.iahfsj.org/
http://downtownwillowglen.org/eventinfo.php?eventid=3559
4) Other Willow Glen neighborhood events – Wine Tastings, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, & Mary) who will perform a mini concert followed by a book signing, Willow Glen Children’s Theatre and more.
http://www.downtownwillowglen.org/events.php
Fall is my favorite time of year! It is such a wonderful, loving time for family, and friends to join up, make cookies, have hot chocolate, and to reflect on the year that has passed.
Vice Mayor Cortese has a big community event Oct. 6th. You can get more info on his City website, or email him @ [email protected].
Council Member Oliverio and Dr. Reed of Bascom Animal Hospital, are co-sponsoring a low cost shot, chipping, and nail clipping clinic for pets, and an indoor pet adoption and informational fair, Saturday, Oct. 20th, at the Willows Senior Center on Lincoln Ave. from 1-4 p.m.
Animal rescuers are coming from all over in an effort to try to place pets from animal shelters and from the community, before the holidays. There will be low cost spay/neuter coupons available too. Coloring and candy for children! Welcoming ceremonies will be at 1:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
I gotta agree with Nam Turk #2 re the relative acceptance of everyone in most parts of SJ. Not sure I agree with segregation issue, tho. I constantly ask my black friends where do all the other black people in SJ live? Rarely seen in WG, RG, Almaden.
Where I see most problems is when out of towners come here for entertainment. Lots of troublemakers…but even they are racially diverse.
I continue to be amazed at the ghost town quality of downtown weekday evenings and weekend days. There’s lots of fun things to see and do here (though residents often praise something when visiting another city that they didn’t know they had in their own).
Guess it’ll remain a ghost town until the residential density goes WAY up.
Nam Turk commented today about the relative peace that exists between and within various continental-origin, national-origin, and ethnic groups in San Jose.
I would like to second his comments. When I moved to where I live now, it was in Blanca’s city council district [D5] and then, after the 1990 US Census, my neighborhood was shifted to Margie’s city council district [D4].
In any case, my neighbors and I share many common interests even though this particular part of San Jose is probably the most diverse neighborhood in terms of continental-origin, national-origin, and ethnic groups.
And we have our own political correctness—we ask each other what name, label, or classification they choose to be identified with. That kind of courtesy goes a long way to make for a cordial, friendly neighborhood.
Remember the fundamental basis for PC by any group is: Who Names Whom What?
If you don’t uinderstand that, you need to pay attention and respect others’ rights to be named by their choice. And then San Jose can chug along as a multicultural, multi-continental-origin, and multi-ethnic entity able to address problems like the vast disparity in salaries and wealth, and the wide differences in education required for various groups of students.