Oenophiles who consume $230 magnums at Silicon Valley’s top restaurants may be unaware that one “rock star” winemaker currently finds himself in hot water. This past October, in a rare instance of a local politician speaking out publicly against a member of the North Bay’s influential winemaking community, Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo lambasted winemaker Paul Hobbs for uprooting hundreds of trees in Sebastopol and adding one more open wound to a Russian River watershed already impacted by erosion and sediment. According to several Silicon Valley sommeliers, Paul Hobbs wines are among the most popular in the area’s top-tier restaurants.
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Few people have witnessed any form of closed-track racing and pondered the question, “Why would anyone ever do this?” Generally, the sight of race cars zooming around corners produces a sense of excitement—along with a feeling of “I wanna do that!” Racing is infections, and few can withstand its temptation.
Closed-track racing is, however, unattainable for average folks. It is very expensive and requires a tremendous investment of time. This is why most people opt to purchase an aftermarket muffler and some faux-carbon trim for their daily drive instead of investing in a real race car. Luckily, the recent opening of K1 Speed in Santa Clara, at 295 Mead Ave., can provide one’s inner Michael Schumacher a chance to let loose around a winding track.
One of my longtime culinary pursuits is a hunt for the perfect hummus. I’ve pared a long list of contending recipes down to a worthy few and tried countless variations on my two or three favorites. Whether or not I’ve mastered the art of the chickpea dip is an open question. But I have unlocked, I believe, the science.
While the South Bay may not have the same amount of breweries per capita as other regions, there are still many good micro breweries in the area.
The Tabard Theatre Company is ringing in the holiday season with its rendition of It’s a Wonderful Life, a stage version of the Frank Capra film beloved by generations of fans. It’s a charming and touching story, in which a happy ending is anticipated. Performing it as if it were a live radio drama in progress provides a new twist on an old classic, and director Cathy Cassetta chosen a talented cast. The actors cleverly bring to life the characters in the film, with five or six voices coming out of one person.
The science world is buzzing about the new Earth-like planet discovered Monday. The planet, Kepler 22b, is more than twice the size of Earth and circles a star that is supposedly similar in size and warmth to our solar system’s sun. What has NASA nerds so interested in the planet, however, is the 72-degree average temperature.
San Jose’s dining scene is forever evolving. Trends come and go and the economy rises and falls, but through it all these restaurants have endured.
Dating back to ancient times, wreaths are a familiar part of the holiday season. Made of materials such as evergreens and berries, candles and bows, they have come to symbolize eternal life, family and winter.
Contemporary jazz/soul singer JoséJames performs at the Pagoda Lounge on December 7, bringing a style that blends traditional jazz with hip-hop, soul and drum ‘n’ bass.
As the sun sets outside the gothic Tower Hall on San Jose State University’s campus, Mohammad Qayoumi sits at a board table in his office, looking every bit the politician with his crisp shirt and tie, gray hair parted neatly to the right. He doesn’t spend much time talking about himself, even when the questions pertain to the uncomfortable political role Qayoumi is currently being forced to play. The president of SJSU—who was born in Afghanistan and previously presided over Cal-State East Bay—is being pulled in two different directions.
