Something People On the East Coast Don't Realize

You know the song, ubiquitous in the late 60s, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" I was just in the shower, where it occurred to me -- with the penetrating insight that only comes to people in the shower -- that the song makes sense to everybody in the country, except people familiar with California.

The narrator is from San Jose and lives in Los Angeles. And he keeps asking directions to get back to San Jose. Directions? You go North! What person from San Jose would need directions to get there from Los Angeles?

Is the song really made for non-Californian sensibilities? The lyricist, Hal David, is from New York, after all. Or was the song a subtle but blistering (and rather unfair) commentary on the brain-atrophying effects of long term Los Angeles exposure? If the latter, then the song is actually . . . FUNNY. It's about a person who went to Los Angeles and lost his (or her -- it's usually her, as in Dionne Warwick) mind, and now can only babble incoherently to a stranger while asking for unnecessary directions.

I like that.

Posted By: Mick LaSalle (Email) April 21 2009 at 04:08 PM
Listed Under: American Life

All the world's a-twitter

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We will be rehauling our AMTC twitter page, and will be updating live from AMTC '09 in San Jose. Check back here for more details.

Sharks start over after record-setting season

By GREG BEACHAM

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — And just like that, the greatest regular season in San Jose Sharks history is an unspoken memory.

When the Sharks showed up at work Monday for their first postseason practice, nobody talked about the Presidents' Trophy they earned over the weekend by finishing with the NHL's best regular-season record. Nobody soaked in the glory of their unmatched 32-5-4 record in the Shark Tank, or the yawning 26-point margin by which they won the Pacific Division title over Anaheim.

The Sharks are thinking about the Ducks, all right — but only as their opponents in a first-round playoff series that could be the NHL's best opening matchup. The series pits two sometimes-bitter rivals against each other in the postseason for the first time.

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Green Flies High at California Airport

Sharks Lose To Kings But Claim Presidents' Trophy

Los Angeles, CA -- (Sports Network) - Peter Harrold's third period goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Los Angeles Kings ended their season with a 4-3 victory over the Presidents' Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks.

Rosicrucian Museum

Visit the Rosicrucian Museum to the see the largest public collection of Egyptian artifacts west of the Mississippi. The only museum in the United States of authentic Egyptian design houses a fascinating collection of 3,000-plus artifacts, objects and ritual items. Marvel at the perservation of mummies thousands of years old, and descend into a full-scale underground rock tomb replica, complete with intricate hieroglyphics painted on the walls. The planetarium offers 35-minute shows on the ancient Roman Mithraic mystery religion. Also take time to enjoy the Peace Garden with its temple, pond, viewing dais and medicinal plants.
Mon-Fri, 9 am-5pm; Sat-Sun, 11 am-6 pm; Thurs, 'til 8 pm. (San Jose: Naglee & Park Avens., San Jose; 408/947-3636)

Monopoly

San Jose's sprawling Guadalupe River Park is home to the world's only outdoor Monopoly board, an exact granite replica that measures 930 square feet.
http://www.sjbeautiful.org/monopoly_in_the_park.html

Billy Berk's Restaurant

Santana Row

Imagine yourself strolling along a wide boulevard shaded by an unusual mixture of tall palm trees and stately oaks. A flower-filled park runs down the boulevard's center, where shoppers rest on shaded benches listening to a classical guitaristwhile watching a game of chess played with two-foot-tall pieces on an oversize board. The street-level storefronts carry luxury names like Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo. AVove them, overlooking the scene, townhomes done in Mediterranean pastels feature turrets, columns, arches and wrought-iron balconies.

Are you in southern Italy or France? Actually, you're at Santana Row, just a few miles downtown from San Jose.

Often described as an urban village, Santana Row offers a lively collage of chic boutiques and luxury stores, along with a medley of eateries, bustling nightspots, a day spa and fitness club, a cinema and even an elegant four-star hotel.

Notable for its wealth of big-name brands, the list of cosmopolitan shops includes Burberry, Tourneau, Furla, Brooks Brothers, Diesel, and Anthropologie, along with other chains like Tommy Bahma, Chico's and Urban Outfitters. Locally owned boutiques also provide a nice homegrown touch to the mix.

Local Attractions in San Jose

Here are some local attractions.

Mountain Winery www.mountainwinery.com
Santana Row www.santanarow.com
Lick Observatory http://mthamilton.ucolick.org
Hiller Aviation Museum www.hiller.org
Tech Museum www.thetech.org
San Jose Museum of Art www.sjmusart.org
J. Lohr Vineyards Tasting Room www.jlohr.com
Wine Tours www.lighthouse-tours.com/localwinetours.html