At Home In San Jose

The Grand Tour

Last weekend I toured 4 fabulous downtown living spaces:  City Heights, The 88, Axis, and Three Sixty Residences.  Each was unique, with its own "look and feel"...but whether it was "hip" or "upscale", there is no denying that San Jose has finally grown up...literally !!  The day was beautiful, everyone was out walking or sitting in sidewalk cafes, the water in the fountains sparkled, a young guitarist serenaded us from a bench in Paseo de San Antonio.  The faces I saw coming in and out of the high rise condos were full of interest, excitement, and pride in our city, and I had a glimpse of the future of San Jose...where all ages live and work in the downtown, enjoying a walk to work instead of the torture of sitting on the freeways, where art and culture thrive because we are all there to support it, where San Jose is really a green city because our public transportation has developed into a network of BART, light rail, bus, CalTrain, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian thoroughfares. 

Get downtown, people!!!!!

Groceries To Go

Folks living downtown, and folks thinking about moving downtown, should be salivating at the prospect of having a Safeway, a Whole Foods, a Zanotto's, and a Trader Joe's all within striking distance.  Restaurants are one thing, but the ability to stock your own refrigerator and kitchen cabinets with delectable treats is a MUST, in my mind!!  And just think...if they deliver, you never have to leave your beautiful high rise aerie at all!

The Passing of a Giant

It's not often that one individual is able to do so much for his city.  The memorial service for Henry Schiro at St. Joseph's Cathedral a few days ago was a towering testament to his presence in almost every facet of music in San Jose.  I met Henry in 1978 when I first arrived in San Jose from the East Coast, and because he arranged for me to interview at The Garden City, I was fortunate to work there for a long time, and heard many of the finest jazz groups around.  I even did my own show there, entitled "Wine, Woman and Song". 

I always seemed to run into Henry and Shirlee at various events around San Jose, many in which I was performing.  He seemed ubiquitous at San Jose Civic LIght Opera (now American Music Theater), San Jose Jazz Society events, the St. Claire Hotel musical soirees, Children's Musical Theater performances, and many more.  Michael Mulcahy, Henry and Shirlee's son, and I performed together many years ago at SJCLO, and Henry was right there to cheer us on.

A true gentleman, and a true arts supporter - one of a kind.  San Jose will miss him, but now it's up to all of us to take up the mantle and get out there to see performances, attend events, and continue Henry's legacy of creating a better city for all of us.

Don't miss the upcoming next offering of the Commonwealth Club's Great Cities Speaker Series at the San Jose Rep, Monday evening Sept. 15th.  The topic:  The Distinctive City.