December 17, 2007
-
1620 Minnesota Ave. Willow Glen. Simply the best.1 This is the week you need to go out and Christmas shop. For once, I have done most of my holiday shopping already, so I have had time to compile a list of some local Sannozay Holiday Bests that might be of use to some of you. Happy Shopping!
2 Here ya go:
Best Meal When You Haven't Eaten and You Feel Like Decking Someone:
Target Hot Dog and a Soda for $2.00
Fast, cheap, and just enough food to take the edge off the edgy.
Best Place to Shop For a Whole Bunch of Stuff for Cheap Even Though It's Anti-Union:
Wal-Mart in Fremont
Not as crowded, and easier parking/access than McCarthy Ranch.
Best Place to Shop to Avoid Crowds:
Pruneyard.
Has Barnes and Noble,Trader Joe's, Marshall's, Rock Bottom, and near Rasputin's, Guitar Showcase, Ross's, Outback, and lots of small businesses. Play some Christmas background music and just reel in the fun.
Best Mall:
Eastridge.
Surprised? Don't be. Easy Parking, Perimeter includes JC Penney, Sears, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Barnes and Noble, Circuit City, Macy's, Sports Chalet, Musician's Wherehouse, two Starbuck's within twenty feet of one another, Macaroni Grill right there. Oakridge has more fun things and places but horrendous parking. Mac Ranch is too spread out and idiotic, Valley Fair is simply ridiculous. Others just don't rate. Eastridge man. It's home...
Best Place to Do One-Stop Shopping:
Barnes and Noble. Books, games, Starbuck's (if lines are long you can get your books in the Starbuck's), DVD's, music, fun books, free gift-wrapping for various organizations, but leave a generous donation.
Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners:
Christmas-in-the Park
Downtown Ice
Rent a room for a party at the Fairmont and go walk this fun and fanciful place.
Check your cynicism at the door. Visit the Museum of Art, rent skates and ice skate at Downtown Ice located in the Circle of Palms, see a show downtown, walk South of First, eat at Joe's.
Runner up: Vasona Park's $13 drive-thru Fantasy of Lights is in its second year and features Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad. Not technically Sannozay, but certainly worthy of mention.
Best Place to Ogle at Christmas Lights:
Willow Glen Area
Horse-and-Buggy rides are being offered this year. Be sure not to miss the home at 1620 Minnesota (pictured at top of page), which owner Tony Ornellas brags has over 85,000 lights. He also tells every reporter he sees NOT to tell PG & E. No worries Tony. Your secret is secure with us. If you don't want to shell out the money for a
horse-and- buggy, pop on 96.5 and drive around with small kids; they'll love it.Best Place to Land at the End of a LONG Day Shopping:
Original Joe's.
Park Across From the California Theatre because the 2nd Street Garage now charges. Step across the street and get inside and out of the crisp air to enjoy the fire and garlic smells the second you walk in. If over 21, order a Manhattan. It'll spin your hat around. House red is wine of choice, since it's from Gugliermo's in Morgan Hill. Sometimes good, sometimes not, but hey, that's Joe's! Open each night 'til 1:30 a.m.
And is a more generous portion of cheescake in the Western Hemisphere? An order of coffee coupled with an heroic tip is the order of the day. All hail Christmas; all hail Joe's.
Best Place to Buy Vast Quantities of Things:
Costco on Hostetter Road
It's brand new, so it isn't nearly as crowded as your mainstream Costco's elsewhere. I still have a personal vendetta against Costco ever since they accused me of stealing soda after I spent almost fifty bucks on pizza a couple of years ago. New place, new chances. So far, so good. Easy access, easy parking, good prices.
Most Underrated Place to Chill at Christmas:
The San Jose Flea Market
Best Place to View Lights Omnisciently:
Mt. Hamilton
If you don't get San Jose after this, mister, then this just ain't
your gig. If you MISS this, then we miss you too! ; )3 That's about it.
5 Peace.
~H~
http://www.xanga.com/bharrington
Recent Comments