Ah, the elusive good life. It was there to sample at South Bay’s Art of Home Show September 9 through 11 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. An all-day lineup of fast-talking, wise-cracking yet knowledgeable presenters appeared on stage, shooting rapid-fire advice-bytes and jokes. “This is a million dollar meal for free,” says chef Sir … Read more
Visiting the Netherlands—or anywhere in Europe—is hardly a frugal adventure for Americans. The exchange rate averaged $1.44 per Euro in August. However, I was invited to join three friends for a three-week house and car exchange with a family from Breda, a Dutch town midway between Amsterdam and Brussels, Belgium, where we also toured. Thanks … Read more
Forget the boxing gloves and workout shoes. The Grand View League is fighting cancer with a glass of champagne in one hand and a fistful of raffle tickets in the other hand at a light buffet breakfast and fashion presentation hosted by Nordstrom Valley Fair. About 100 Grand View League members and friends had to … Read more
With Santa Clara community supporter and restaurateur Frank Chang, it’s impossible to separate the man from the cuisine. Chinese cuisine to be exact. Chang is the founder of the popular China Stix Restaurant, 2110 El Camino Real, which he has owned since 1988. “I came here for the American dream,” says Chang, who was born … Read more
Even the Bard of Avon would have been enchanted meandering amongst the redwoods and sculptures of the Triton Museum of Art gardens last Saturday. But instead of Oberon and Titania, Shakespeare’s fairy king and queen, the Bard would have come upon women in sundresses and men in shorts or jeans browsing fine art for sale … Read more
The ballroom was abuzz with energy, optimism and possibility at the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce’s Pyramid Awards Dinner June 16 at the convention center. Outstanding Chamber members were honored, the 2011/2012 Board of Directors and officers were installed, and the accomplishments of the last year were celebrated, including thanking outgoing Board members for their … Read more
Santa Clara writer Mitchell L. Peterson has a robust frame and a wild, below-the-shoulder mane of silver hair. On first meeting, one is struck by how much he looks like the fierce but smiling lion on the cover of his recently released novel When the Lion Smiles, a thriller set during a damp, bone-chilling winter … Read more
Starting his ride on Pruneridge Avenue, John Hull cycles around town about ten miles on Sunday mornings when the traffic is light. “You can go farther than walking,” says Hull’s wife, Elfriede, whose own bicycle has been in the garage with flat tires for a couple years. Santa Clara bicyclists and motorists should be alert … Read more
Mary Poppins isn’t the only person ever to feel that way. The Girl Scouts of Santa Clara Troop 60129 feel happy, excited, awesome, appreciated, helpful, effective, graceful, and—hold onto your hat Mary Poppins—supercalifragilisticexpialidocious about stocking the shelves of JW House with donated household and food items they collected. And they want you to know that … Read more
If you like to play with fire, the city of Santa Clara has the perfect volunteer job for you. However, there’s a caveat. You must be able to position and climb a three-story ladder wearing 75 pounds of gear, chop holes in a slippery rooftop with a flathead axe in a cloud of smoke, and … Read more