I’m looking to show a young lady a good time in San Jose/Milpitas. Does anyone have any recommendations for fun (public) things to do? (I don’t need any advice on how to have fun in private, if things go well…)
Good restaurants would be helpful, but I’m more interested in entertainment. For example, are there any good places to go dancing? Swing dancing, salsa dancing or regular club dancing would all be great. Places to listen to good live music? Other entertaining activites, day or night?
I’ll be there this weekend, so if anyone knows of anything particularly fun happening Friday night, you’d be my hero.
Man, I hope things do go well, and you end up in private, 'cause things is sad if you’re looking for public fun in Milpitas. Down Town San Jose (around 1st Street) has a fun Sports Bar with music and all kinds of activity (dancing), it’s a big loud place. (San Jose Dopers will know the name), and there are also plenty of restaturants. But oldscratch is right, S.F. is the hapnin place, if you can stand the drive.
OK. I know nothing about San Jose, so I had hopes that maybe there was cool stuff there too, what with all the rich technies roaming the streets.
I’ll modify the OP:
Does anyone know of anything cool to do in the vicinity of San Jose?
If not, what are some cool places in San Francisco, or East Bay? Actual names would be very helpful, actual addresses would make you a god/goddess (you can choose which).
Activities of interest:
swing dancing
salsa dancing
club (e.g. techno) dancing
hiking/walking somewhere pretty
nice bars, possibly with live music?
um… That’s about all I can think of. Part of the reason for the post was to tap into the infinite creativity and sexiness of the SDMB community. </brown nose> Feel free to make suggestions.
Food is less important, but if I’m always looking for good ethiopian, indian, and italian restaurants, in that order.
For excellent Ethiopian food go to The Red Sea restaurant on North First street (at Mission) near SJ city hall. Say hi to Frewany for me, her Uncle runs the joint. For some techno-hip hop clubbing head on down to Second and Santa Clara to Toons and get in some dancing.
For an outstanding hike head out to Alum Rock Park. There are rock formations out in the open that you would normally only find in caves. A vigorous hike to the top of the hill there will give you a grand view of nearly the entire valley. The park is at the east end of Alum Rock Avenue in the hills.
Another great place to tour that is less strenuous are the Hakone Gardens on Big Basin Way above Saratoga. It is a lovely Japanese tea garden. It is a very beautiful and secluded spot to share a person’s company in.
There are more restaurants than you can shake a stick at in Saratoga, all of them are rather pricey though. My personal favorite is Le Mouton Noir a tres romantic French restaurant (plan on $30 to $50 per person). Hit Blue Rock Shoot for some live music in the evening. I’ve played there a few times myself.
For live music and drinks head over to JJ’s Blues Bar on Stevens Creek Blvd. I’ve played there too.
Back downtown, try Original Joe’s for great Italian food. Their New York steak is one of the best in the valley.
Let me know if you need some more pointers. It is my pleasure. There is one small price however. You must indulge the vicarious predilictions of us Dopers and let us know how the date went and where you went.
I’ll add that the club Agenda (408) 287-4087 on First Street is popular with salsa music people. The area around Agenda is laden with music and dance clubs of all descriptions. Also, there is a pleasant and trendy little music bar, Fuel, on Almaden Avenue (not Almaden Boulevard), just north of Post Street. This Friday at Fuel, they will be playing “Hi-Fi and Hiballs” (campy cocktail music). The restaurant two or three doors to the left of Fuel (Chacho’s) serves some of the best-rated Tex-Mex/Mexican food in San Jose, and it’s easy on the wallet. Biggest tequila selection I’ve ever seen.
Fantastic Thai food to be had at Krung Thai on Winchester just north of Valley Fair Mall, too. The best I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten a lot of Thai food.
