Freddie Freelance in San Jose October 22-25

OK, it looks like I'm going to a big computer conference in San Jose, flying in late on the 21st & flying out late on the 25th. I probably won't have a car and I'll need some help finding bus, BART & train schedules to get around. I'll have Sunday off & I'd like to check out the SF TV's then, and I'm open for suggestions for Saturday & Monday night. Jab, what does a handsome fella from San Diego do in the Bay Area?

BART in Fremont is the closest to San Jose, there must be some bus from SJ to BART. Anyone know? The commuter(Choo-choo)train from San Jose to SF probably doesn't run late at night, but that would be a more direct route. See if you can find info on that, too.

well....martini monkey is in the san jose airport--downstairs. since you will be there late both nights, it will be open, provided that it is still there.

as for san jose public transportation, it totally sucks. bart is not close to get to. and like smiley said, if you take the trains you will get stuck in sf since they dont run late. maybe rent a car?

Does the light rail get close to BART these days?

After looking at the mass transportation alternatives I've decided to convince my new boss that it's SOP to rent someone a car while they're out of town, we'll see how that goes. :wink:

Tikicleen, I'm already planning on hitting Martini Monkey first thing Friday. I'll see how early they're open, I might need a Mai-Tai eye-opener.

I'm gonna try to hit either the Tonga Room or the Emeryville TV's on Saturday, the SF TV's on Sunday, and whichever place I don't get to on Saturday I'll try to get to on Monday. I'm planning on hitting Hukilau in San Jose on Friday Night to get a Mix Plate & watch the band Island Touch.

On 2005-09-20 11:42, tikicleen wrote:
well....martini monkey is in the san jose airport--downstairs. since you will be there late both nights, it will be open, provided that it is still there.

The Martini Monkey is still open for business at the San Jose Airport!! The Martini Monkey is open 7 days per week, 365 days per year, from 10am until 10pm, later if there is a delayed flight or a special event.

[ Edited by: martinimonkey 2006-07-11 03:11 ]

[ Edited by: martinimonkey 2006-07-11 03:13 ]

The 180 express bus takes you from Downtown San Jose to the Bart Station in Fremont, but it’s not the way YOU want to go…no-sir, You want to take the Cal Train from San Jose to SF because they let you have a beer or two on the ride. It dead-ends a few blocks from where the Giant’s Play. If you want to drink on the Bus or BART, do it from a PineSol bottle and you will be left alone.

San Jose isn’t void of Tiki but here they level anything that isn’t making enough tax money. Here are some spots around San Jose.

Coconut Willies at 1099 W San Carlos St, SJ its quite a dive the bar, but is that so wrong? It’s had a fire not too long ago but I think I’ve seen people scurrying around inside there since.

E and O trading Co 96 South First Street “Strickly Uppa Crust” but excellent tropical food and drinks. It’s kind chic just now so bring a few dollars. They make Corn Fritters that are fantastic with a Thai Dip sauce.

The Rosecrution Musaum 1342 Naglee Ave, San Jose: This place is spectacular, it’s a shame the folks who run it have embraced spirituality rather than the roar of blenders…Fantastic Gardens with Cement Hippos, Fountains Obilisks, Monkeypuzzle trees and lots of paparus. There have been a couple of occasions when I’ve wrapped myself up in toilet paper and frightend children during the Mummy exhibits. I’m told they no longer have Toilet paper that comes in rolls…I digress.

Smokin’ Tiki on the Corner of San Pedro and Post should be open by your visit. It promises to be a fantastic watering hole judging by the stuff the owners have collected as decore and the money they’ve spent it will be worth a visit.

Hukialau 230 Jackson St. (which you've mentioned) Is probly the most main streem Tiki Food and Drink place in SJ. It’s got a great feel to the place and has fantastic breakfasts with authentic island food.

The Wave Room in the Los Gatos Lodge has terrific food and is in a beautiful surrounding, lots of old Australian tree ferns) but it looks like they decorated it with 100.00 worth of Corona gear. Worst of all it’s filled with fuqwit 50 somthings who consider it their turf. It’s disappointing as it could be fantastic…but it’s just a shame as it is now.

Santo Market/Deli 245 Taylor Street This place is like a visit to 1974 Hawaii. A strange mixture of Japanese, Mexican and Hawaiian stuff. The sandwiches are a good value and there is almost always something worth buyings because it's kooky. The owners are really nice folks.

The Bamboo lounge and Island Grille 1355 N 4th st in the Clarion is rather corporate, but has a nice garden, good food, a fountain, and is close to the Airport and other steril hotels.

Pacific Blue Traders 150 s Montgomery St. is a fantastic rescource for collecting tropical pieces for house or yard. They have a tiny Javanese hut on stilts for sale, a 6000 pound Buda, several King Louie looking Orangutans made of terra cotta, Stone Carved Tikis…it’s worth a visit. (Not a bar, it’s a strange old warehouse jammed with stuff. Either Grant or Doug would let you hang out and Drink if you share)

Kuboda Restaurant is sort of Tropical Japanese. 593 N 5th Street San Jose. They have Sushi, Fountains, lots of glass in an airy atmosphere with some kooky fusion foods snd lots of garlic. Not really Tiki but tropo.

7 Bamboo 162 Jackson St: Another sort of tropical themed Dive Bar. It’s fun as long as it’s not filled with San Jose State Rugby players…Strong drinks!

Ori Deli: 5479 Snell Ave, San Jose is in the suburbs, but this place is pretty kooky. It’s in a strip mall, ao it looks like a Nail Salon or some such crap, but inside they have some strange hard to find stuff from both Indonesia (Like hot sauce made from bananas) and Holland (Like Dropjes) The people who run it are really friendly too.

Sun Jose Hawaii
410 W Capitol Expressway
Is a specialty store with a good selection of books music and shirts. They once had much more but they are still worth a visit. Each time I go there I’m more and more disappointed with how much less eclectic the stuff they have for sale is, but that’s pretty much how most shops are. It’s still worth a visit. (like a Mom and Pop hilo hatties only with books and music) To their credit I’ve scores some strange old 1920s Steel Guitar recordings there.

There's always the Palo Alto Trader Vic's, of course, should you find yourself on this end of the South Bay. Don't know yet if we'll be in town while you're here, but naturally if we are, we'd love to meet up somewhere for a drink!

Definitely try to get a car. Public transportation here ("here" being the south bay area), on a scale of do-ability ranging from Angelina Jolie to Bea Arthur, hovers right around Kathie Lee Gifford. Do-able, but you don't neccessarily want to if you can avoid it.

Hopefully you'll be able to catch Jay at Martini Monkey- he's an excellent mixologist.

And Kathie Lee is hella do-able.

Milfalicious!

I've talked my bosses into the rent-a-car, no running for the last train at 9 PM! :)

Jay, I might stop in Friday October 21st just before Noon. If not, then Tuesday a little before 7 PM.

Gigantalope, I have to visit the Rosecrucians to buy something for my wife, and I'll try to visit some of the other suggested locations to at least take a picture. I'll PM you when it gets closer to travel time.

Humuford LeHumu, I'd love to see you two at anytime, any place, for damn near anything that doesn't include Kathy Lee Gifford singing. OK, I'll even put up with Kathy Lee Gifford.

Due to having to buy a last minute plane ticket to Canton/Akron for my Grandmother's funeral (don't worry, Tikifish, I don't blame you), I'm not going to have as much money as I thought on this trip, but I still want to visit many of these places so I'm going to be limiting myself to one drink or one appetizer at each place & I'm fishing for recomendations: Martini Monkey on Friday early, Hukilau San Jose later that evening; Emeryville TV's on Saturday night; Tonga Room & SF TV's on Sunday night; Checking on Coconut Willie's & Smokin’ Tiki on Momday. What one thing (besides pictures) should I get when I visit?

Freddie,

A bit off topic, but what computer conference are you attending in San Jose? I'm going to be in the area (Santa Clara) next week from 18-21st for computer training at Global Knowledge and all the hotels are booked up, so I'm wondering what's going on in the area.

[ Edited by: paranoid123 2005-10-11 16:02 ]

That list is great I have lived in San Jo for 20 years and did not know of several of them. I had heard they where opening Smokin tiki in down town but did not know anything about it. I would skip Coconut Willies though. It is right around the corner from my studio and there has been a chain link fence around it and the staffing office next door for a long time. I think the fire gutted the place. I had never been in there before the fire but I always heard it was a sketchy place to start with. I remember hearing several stories about bad stuff going down there including a baby in the dumpster.

Ewik
http://www.ewik.com

[ Edited by: ewik 2005-10-12 08:54 ]

Freddie- see ya Sunday at Vic's SF. Make sure you introduce yourself!

On 2005-10-11 16:01, paranoid123 wrote:
Freddie,

A bit off topic, but what computer conference are you attending in San Jose? I'm going to be in the area (Santa Clara) next week from 18-21st for computer training at Global Knowledge and all the hotels are booked up, so I'm wondering what's going on in the area.

ITUG, the International Tandem Users Group, for Hewlett-Packard Non-Stop Servers.

On 2005-10-12 13:48, martiki wrote:
Freddie- see ya Sunday at Vic's SF. Make sure you introduce yourself!

I'll try to come on Monday, but I'll probably still be there on Sunday.