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Is Being a Few Blocks from Los Gatos Schools at the Top of Your Homebuying
2008-06-11 08:15:00 Recently I listed a great home that's in an ideal Los Gatos location - close to award-winning, highly acclaimed Los Gatos Schools: Van Meter Elementary School, Blossom Hill School, and Fisher Middle School. It's also a quick jaunt to the wonderful shops, banks, grocery stores and restaurants at the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Boulevard. With approximately 1800 square feet of comfortable ranch-style living on an 8700 square foot cul-de--sac lot, it's a great amount of space inside & out. The updated house features hardwood floors throughout (except in the bathrooms), a flexible floorplan that includes a good-sized step-down living room, large dining room, and extra room to boot, which can be used as a den, library, music room, play room or sitting area. There are huge windows overlooking the park-like setting. It's a wonderful retreat. This weekend we'll have our first open house events and I invite you to stop by! Details: 120 Magneson Terrace (off...
¿Quién Gana? ¿Los Osos Amorosos o Los Gatos Samurai?
2008-06-10 15:30:00 Bienvenidos, estimados fans, a una jornada más de violencia frikil gratuita. Hoy para deleite de todos vosotros os traigo un entreñable baño de sangre entre Los Osos Amorosos y Los Gatos Samurai. ¡¡Ains!!, si es que son tan monos que dan ganas de estrujarlos.Osos AmorososConocidos mundialmente y en gran parte del extranjero como The Care Bears; aparecieron a principios de la década de los 80 para conquistar el mundo a base de ternura, esponjosas nubes, barrigas brillantes y vastos ejércitos destructores. Tan grande es el número de estos osos que se dividen en 3 generaciones y a los que hay que añadir sus primos que podían ser elefantes, mapaches y hasta leones; por nombrar algunos.Cada uno de estos suaves seres tenía un nombre, el cual, por supuesto no pienso poner aquí ya que son muchos, me canso de escribir y la mazmorra no se limpia sola.Gatos SamuraiComo todo superhéroe que se precie, estos gatos tienen una vida secreta; y es que durante el día poseen una respetable pizzería, pe...
By: Quien Gana
The Real Estate Market Seems to be Improving in Los Gatos
2008-06-09 07:45:00 One of the benchmarks realty professionals use in determining the answer to the ever-present question of "how's the market?" is the absorption rate, or months (or days or weeks) of inventory. The question is this: if no new inventory were to come on the market, how long would it take for the current number of listings to be absorbed by buyers? A look at the single family home situation in the town of Los Gatos reveals an improvement over recent months. Is it possible that we're near the bottom of the market? Maybe. This graph presents broad strokes in a market comprised of many micro-markets. What is happening in Blossom Manor may not be the same thing happening in the Edelen District or what's going up in the Aztec or Maya areas, in the Sierra Azule section of town or Belwood or Bicknell Road areas. The home offered at $950,000 in the Union School District is not really "the same market" as one worth $2 million with Los Gatos schools - th...
Golf Cart Stolen from Los Gatos United Soccer League at Fisher Middle Schoo
2008-06-03 16:31:00 The good folks at the Los Gatos United Soccer League are asking for the help of the townsfolk to help them find their older golf cart, which is used by president of the league, Ed San Juan, for picking up trash cans after soccer games at Fisher. Families and friends of the many players who've enjoyed the field at Fisher (including my family) have appreciated having the cans brought out to the field and the 1991 Yamaha was a good way to transport them on and off the field for the game times. Last seen Thursday evening, the golf cart was discovered missing on Saturday morning in an area littered with about 20 used, empty beer cans. Police were called to the scene and state that bolt cutters were used to get the golf cart loose. Description of cart: "It's a weathered white 1991 Yamaha gas golf cart (nothing fancy), it has a top with a front windshield, and a black flat-bed used for picking up garbage." To contact the LGUSL about the cart, you may email them via the contacts page of...
Are Home Prices Going Up or Down in Los Gatos?
2008-05-29 17:51:00 What is happening with the residential real estate market in Los Gatos? Are prices flat, rising or declining? Just as there is no one "Silicon Valley Real Estate Market", there's no single "Los Gatos real estate market" either. It varies from one area to the next, one school district to the next, one price point to the next. It can be neighborhood by neighborhood or even street by street. This week I received a request for an online market valuation of a home purchased in 2006. It appears to have declined in value about 10% since that time (price point is the $2 mil to $2.5 mil range - but it is in an area where not every home on the street is worth that much). Other homes, in other areas, though seem to be rising in vallue, if slightly. The sweet spot of the market seems to be lower priced homes with Los Gatos Schools - that is, homes between $1 million and $2 million. (I heard recently of a townhome in Cupertino or Saratoga, listed under $1 mil...
Los Gatos Free Summer Music Concerts
2008-05-29 06:36:00 The town of Los Gatos enjoys a large number of wonderful free music concerts across several different venues each summer. These are fun events held around town - a great chance to unwind with family and friends and a picnic on the lawn. Mark your calendars! (This info will be updated as announcements are made.) Jazz On The Plazz - Wednesday evening series, 6:30-8:30pm in Los Gatos Town Plaza Park beginning June 25th (10 concerts) Vasona Vibrations - Saturdays, 5-7pm at Vasona Lake County Park (also free, but fee to park) beginning June 7th through the end of July (8 concerts) Music in the Park - Sundays on the Civic Center Lawn from 5-7pm - dates/schedule to be announced (10 concerts) Last summer, Los Gatans also were treated to a free concert series on the deck next to Border's Books in Old Town, Los Gatos, too. No word so far on whether that wonderful opportunity will return. For even more music and entertainment opportu...
Don't Miss Naturino Los Gatos' Custom Appreciation Sale
2008-05-18 15:10:00 Naturino Los Gatos is having a customer's appreciation sale through Monday May 19th where you can receive exclusive discounts on Spring Shoes, Sandals and Clothing. As a bonus - enjoy Free Standard Shipping on all orders including sale items that total over $300 (Domestic) and $500 (International) after discounts. There is also free US Shipping on all regular priced shoes. Save 10% on your first item, 15% off second item and 20% on additional items of equal or lower priced items purchased at the same time. Savings apply to regular priced, in-stock items and will not show during checkout. Simply mention "Customer Appreciation" in your online order notes or bring this email to the store for your Exclusive Savings.
Los Gatos Will Be Los Perros for a Day
2008-05-13 07:10:00 It had to happen. The Town of Los Gatos, meaning The Cats, has long been a haven for dogs. Stroll down Main Street, University Avenue or North Santa Cruz Avenue and you'll see water bowls left out for pooches. Or you'll discover places to tether canines near the shops. Dog lovers almost seem to have a magnetic attraction to this corner of Silicon Valley. The irony is not lost on the locals. So it's no secret: The Cats is really a town for dogs. At Halloween, we always have a dogs in costume parade. There's even talk of creating a dog park in Los Gatos. It should come as no surprise, then, that the town's mayor, Barbara Spector, has declared May 17th the Dia De Los Perros. The only question I have is this: will it be an annual event? Let's see how the first one goes. Maybe it's true, after all, that the town of Los Gatos is "going to the dogs".
The Real Estate Market Trends in Los Gatos
2008-05-09 15:43:00 Los Gatos Home Sales Trends How's the real estate market in the Town of Los Gatos? The Los Gatos housing market varies from one price point and neighborhood to the next, from one type of housing to the next, and even between the town's two zip codes, 95030 and 95032. Here we'll take a view of the overall movement in the market; please understand that it may or may not apply to your Los Gatos home so please call or email me for specific information relating to your property. Overall, Los Gatos continues to be a buyer's market, though not as deep as in other places in Santa Clara County. Inventory is rising in both single family homes and in condos/townhomes, which is a typical trend for this time of year. The market has improved somewhat over a month ago in terms of median and average sales price (the graphs below use a 12 month moving average, but the actual numbers do show an uptick). To view the report for Los Gatos using the actual numb...
Mother's Day in Los Gatos
2008-05-08 06:37:00 Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 11th. What can you do to celebrate in Los Gatos? A lot of folks are led to believe that Mother's Day needs to be a day of buying expensive gifts. But that may not be at all what the mother of the family really wants. So the starting point, I think, is to simply ask what she would like to do to celebrate the day. Brunch is a somewhat traditional Mother's Day event. A wonderfully elegant buffet on any Sunday can be found at the Toll House Hotel in downtown Los Gatos. There's also a special brunch at Testarossa Vineyards in Los Gatos for Mother's Day too. Many young mothers are simply tired and could use a day of rest and relaxation. Maybe a massage? There are several places in Los Gatos which offer massages, including the Spa Los Gatos and the Preston-Wynne Spa at the Hotel Los Gatos. Other moms may want to spend their time with their families and do a little shopping on Mother's Day. It's ...
Los Gatos Bank REO Condo $289,900!!!
2008-05-05 01:19:00 yes - this one needs work - unless you like green, 1970s, textured carpeting and brown as brown can be kitchens with yellow appliances. Then again, look at the price for a 2 bedroom with a bonus room condo in a nice location off of Hwy 85 and Winchester. The bank owns this one and will move it - try finding a 2 bedroom even in Campbell or West San Jose at that price. A little love and this condo will be stunning.
How is the Los Gatos Real Estate Market Now?
2008-05-02 19:53:00 It remains a buyer's market in Los Gatos, but not as deep a buyer's market as in many other parts of Silicon Valley. Below please find links to reports on the local Los Gatos housing market, broken down by zip code and housing type, current as of April 28, 2008. One of the most helpful aspects of the Altos reports is that it breaks the activity down by market quartiles, so that the activity in entry level homes, for instance, is differentiated from the luxury home market. Have a look: Los Gatos Single Family Homes in 95030 Los Gatos Single Family Homes in 95032 Los Gatos Condos and Townhomes in 95030 Los Gatos Condos and Townhomes in 95032 These are care of Altos Research, which uses list prices (rather than sales prices). In a week or so we'll have the data on solds in Los Gatos from April, care of another subscription I have, the Real Estate Report. Please check back soon to get that information.
Northern California Corvette Association at Belwood of Los Gatos
2008-04-22 17:14:00 Los Gatos, the land of pricey real estate, is also the home to pricey and classic automobiles. There are several high-end dealerships in downtown, as locals know.. Recently, though, it was owners who met in Los Gatos, not dealers. The Northern California Corvette Association gathered at the cabana of Belwood of Los Gatos last weekend, and what a pretty site it was! This event was "Legends bag stuffing" hosted by Greg and Leta Reynolds, and it will be on the group's website soon. Neal Golding, the group's historian (and the photographer of these beautiful pics), tells me that the club is always looking for new members, and invites those interested to please visit their website.
Si los gatos jugaran al ajedrez...
2008-04-16 02:00:00 Si los gatos jugaran al ajedrez... harían jugadas ilegales :D. Cuenta la leyenda que un día pusieron a un...
Some Los Gatos Mountain Kids Being Bussed to Campbell Middle School
2008-04-15 07:20:00 There are so many "boundary issues" around Los Gatos that it's mind boggling. For newcomers to the area, it's already diffucult to understand how the school district lines do not follow the town boundaries. Then there's the whole issue of "mailing address" vs being "in the town". The 95033 zip code means "Los Gatos Mountains" and also means "not part of the actual Town of Los Gatos". No voting rights. No police (sheriff instead). And so on. The Los Gatos mountain schools are highly regarded. Normally, the elementary schools feed, eventually, to Los Gatos High School. The schools are a leading guage of property values, so the question of which schools is a BIG deal physically, emotionally, and economically. The schools are a leading factor in Silicon Valley real estate values. Just now I got a Google alert that some kids in the Lakeside Elemenary area of the Los Gatos Mountains are actually being bussed to Rolling HIlls Middle School in Campbell. Rolling HIlls is a good school ...
Lovely Lavender Draped Home in Los Gatos
2008-04-14 16:52:00 Yesterday I saw this beautiful lavender vine adorning an old home near St. Mary's Church in downtown Los Gatos (Almond Grove District area). The photo was taken with my Treo, so the quality is not great, but you get the feeling: perfect blue skies, vibrant colors, classic old Craftsman style home. A perfect spring day in Los Gatos.
When is the Best Time to Buy or Sell a Home in Los Gatos?
2008-04-06 06:06:00 Is there a "best time" to buy or sell a home in Los Gatos, Saratoga, or San Jose? That's a question I get a lot. The answer is not so clear as many people would like. Often we have some seasonally predictable patterns. Let's look at them. Winter: inventory tends to be very low in winter (from late November until somewhere between New Year's, the Superbowl, and Valentine's Day). Each year it's slightly different, but in that "dead of winter" (as much as we have it here in The Valley of Heart's Delight) is usually the time with the lowest number of sales, the best prices for buyers, the most "absorption" for sellers, the best interest rates, but the LEAST inventory to choose from. So you may get a good price as a buyer, but may not have much to choose from. Sellers may have the best odds of selling a home during this time because there are so few homes to choose from, and some buyers are anxious to close during the calendar year for tax...
Los Gatos Real Estate Market Update
2008-04-02 01:41:00 Please have a look at my latest market update for the town of Los Gatos, broken down by zip, for this week. (Data from Altos Research, a subscription service I have. Disclaimer: they use list prices for their reports.) The following links are to pdf files for these reports. 95030 single family homes 95032 single family homes 95030 condos and townhomes (not enough sales in this category to generate a report, 5 min.) 95032 condos and townhomes
Los Gatos History:<BR>In The Beginning, There Were The Ohlone
2008-03-31 02:26:00 The Ohlone: First Inhabitants of Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area What was life like for the people who lived in the Los Gatos area before the colonists arrived? For thousands of years before Europeans set foot in the beautiful Santa Clara Valley, the native people - who called themselves "Ohlone", meaning "the people" made this sub-tropical climate their home. (There were appx. 5000 of them living here when the area was colonized.) The Ohlone ranged from about Carmel to the south and up the Peninsula and across the East Bay, at the least. They were a mobile people who were hunters and gatherers. They made great use of tule reeds for clothing, housing, and bowls. The acorn (several types from several varieties of oak trees) was their staple food, made into bread, soup, and a type of hot cereal after it was leached with water. In a bad year for acorns, they could use the California Buckeye instead. Adorned with shell & rock jewelry ...
April is Green! It's "Keep Los Gatos Beautiful" Month
2008-03-30 05:56:00 Did you know that April is the month for "Keep Los Gatos Beautiful"? There's a lot of emphasis on the town being "green" too. Events include: Children's Earth Day Celebration April 3 Composting info at Los Gatos Farmer's Market April 6 Info on recycling at Farmer's Market April 13 Refresh a Planter Box Day April 19 Los Gatos Parks Commission Volunteers - new park trail maps at Farmer's Market April 20 55+ Plant Swap April 23 Tree City USA and Arbor Day Celebration April 25 Los Gatos Trail Cleanup April 26 For detailed information on these events and MORE, click here.
What does it cost to buy a lot or land in Los Gatos?
2008-03-27 12:34:00 Have you ever wondered what it might cost to buy a parcel of land, maybe a view lot, and build your own home? Any idea what it costs to purchase raw land in the Town of Los Gatos? Are you curious? Right now, there are 25 parcels for sale in Los Gatos. I've assembled the list for you to view on another site of mine. If you're curious, have a look. You may not be surprised at the most expensive prices, but you may be surprised at the least expensive ones!
Are there many short sale listings<br>in the Los Gatos, Monte Sereno,
2008-03-26 23:21:00 In some parts of Santa Clara County, a high percentage of homes on the market in the lower price ranges especially are offered as "short sale" listings. For example, recently I've been assisting buyers of single family homes in the $500,000 price range in parts of San Jose (such as Evergreen, Blossom Valley, Santa Teresa and South San Jose). The vast majority of those listings, perhaps 95% or more, are "short sales". But that's not happening in Los Gatos, Monte Sereno or Saratoga. Short sales pull values down, so if you live in this lovely foothill area, be glad that the real estate market here is healthier! Here are the numbers of local short sale listings as of today, March 26, 2008: Los Gatos - 5 total, 2 single family houses and 3 condos or townhomes which are listed as being short sales as of today (95032 and 95030 areas) Monte Sereno - 1 single family house listed as a short sale. Saratoga - 0 single family houses, 0 condos o...
Mini Market Update:<BR>The Los Gatos Real Estate Market
2008-03-26 00:58:00 We won't have the March stats (or first quarter statistics) for the Los Gatos residential real estate market for another week or two, but I wanted to provide a snapshot of the realty market to keep you updated. As of this morning, there were 149 single family homes available (as "status 1") for sale in the Town of Los Gatos (zip codes 95030 and 95032). There were also 28 pending sales of single family homes (so an 18.7% ratio). As before, approximately one home in five is selling right now. Breaking it down by price point (but all areas), in the under two million dollar range, there were 86 homes available and 20 pending sale - so a 23% ratio. Homes are selling better in the more moderate price ranges. Looking lower at the up to and under $1.3 million, there were 41 for sale and 8 pending (19.5%). Looking at just the $1 to $2 million range, there are 25 for sale and 5 pending (20%) in the Campbell Union High School District, and 41 for sale and 13 pending in the Los Gatos-Sarato...
Want to Buy a Home in Los Gatos?<BR>Some Tips to Get Your Home Purcha
2008-03-22 04:16:00 We read about the real estate market being a buyers market, and some folks think that means that houses, condos and townhomes will always sell for much less than the asking price. That just isn't the case. There's a whole lot of "it depends" going on. Take each property on its own merits, do some homework and strategize how to get the best deal when buying a home. Some sellers, for example, deliberately underprice their homes to attract multiple offers. This, of course, pushes the price up and the sellers are often very pleased with the results. (It is usually far more effective than "testing the market" with a high price.) So if it's underpriced, don't assume it'll sell for less. How should you evaluate Los Gatos real estate when you're thinking of writing an offer? I go through this with my clients all the time, so let me give you a few tips here. First, make sure you understand the current market conditions for the area and ...
Los Gatos community gathers around German pole vaulter to help him excel
2008-03-20 03:49:00 By Marianne Lucchesi HamiltonFor Bay Area News GroupIn the past couple of years, Nico Weiler has done a lot of flying. He's hopped several planes between his homeland of Germany and California, and has visited New York, Idaho and various other states. But mostly he's flown on his own power - as a world-champion pole-vaulter and member of the Los Gatos High School track and field team.Weiler is a senior, and in his second year as a student at LGHS. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother Sasha, who also came from Germany to spend a year as a member of the Wildcats' pole-vaulting squad. How the Weiler brothers ended up in Los Gatos is a story in itself.In 2003, LGHS track coach Brandon Vance was attending the National Pole-Vault Summit (Vance is also a former Wildcat, in 1994 posting the team's prior best mark of 16 feet, 4 inches, then vaulting 17 feet as a Fresno State student). At the summit, Vance heard his name being called over the public address system. "I went to...
Permit for Los Gatos Skatepark Revoked: Now What?
2008-03-19 15:12:00 Proponents for the Skatepark in Los Gatos laid out a plan to build, fund and maintain one on Miles Avenue in downtown Los Gatos, but when it went before the voting public in Measure D, was not passed. In fact, Measure D, "the skatepark initiative", was defeated by a 2 to 1 margin. But does that mean that Los Gatans don't want a skatepark at all? Or did they just not want the particulars in Measure D? This is an important question because there's money being held by the town for the skatepark. If the town considers the skatepark a closed issue, I believe it could use those monies for other things, but I hope not. There's a lot of residual upset swirling around the skatepark vote, and I would maintain that although Measure D was defeated, the Los Gatos voters remain open to making a skatepark part of the town's services.
Crime in Los Gatos:<BR>Murder on Overlook Drive Stuns and Saddens The
2008-03-15 18:47:00 The Los Gatos Observer was the first to break the news that yesterday, just before noon, a man was killed at a townhome complex (Rancho de Los Gatos) on Overlook Drive, which is walking distance to downtown Los Gatos. Within a few hours, other news sources picked up on the story and we learned that the victim was a former bar tender and bar owner, the much beloved Mark Achilli. Apparently a man dressed all in black had been hanging around this normally sleepy neighborhood for a few hours. He shot Mr. Achilli at close range with a number of bullets. Experts believe this is not a random shooting. Right now, there are more questions than answers. Police are seeking any information. Please call (408) 354-8600 if you can help with this case. The suspect is still at large. Mark Achilli is a former owner of Mountain Charley's Saloon and 180 Degree Restaurant and Lounge, and prior to that was a bartender at Carrie Nation's - all three in Los Gatos. ...
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Los Gatos
2008-03-14 23:30:00 St. Patrick's Day is being celebrated in Los Gatos over a period of days, so everyone will have an ample opportunity to wear the green and enjoy the fun! Below please find a list of fun places to visit to partake: Sunday, March 16th: C.B. Hannegan's, located at 208 Bachman Avenue in downtown Los Gatos (close to N. Santa Cruz Avenue and the Bank of America). Hannegan's always overflows with patrons for this feast, so they are celebrating a day early to be able to use the B of A parking lot. Visit their website for information on their St. Patrick's Day celebration The Los Gatos Brewing Company, found at 130-G N. Santa Cruz Avenue (near Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Los Gatos) is offering a special menu both 3/16 and 3/17. You can always count on them to celebrate all the holidays! Monday, March 17th: The Boulevard Tavern, located at 15043 Los Gatos Boulevard (near Lark Avenue, between Lark and Highway 85), honors the patron saint of Ir...
Los Gatos Home Sales Trends
2008-03-14 23:12:00 Los Gatos Home Sales Trends The following chart shows median and average price trends plus sales in the Los Gatos real estate market of single family homes (this is for the zip codes 95030 and 95032, not the mountain areas of 95033). The chart uses a 12-month moving average to eliminate any seasonal variation. Note that overall, prices of sold homes continue to rise, even as the number of sales has been declining. The next chart is the same as above but uses a 3-month moving average. This smoothes out month-to-month variations yet shows seasonal variations. What is unusual here is that the number of sales is not rebounding as much as is seasonally normal. This chart shows the current inventory of homes for sale compared to the number that have sold. The larger the gap between inventory and sales, the harder it is to sell, of course. So it is a little amazing that prices are rising at all. The next series of charts shows the same...
Forbes Mill Steakhouse:<BR>Great Dining in Downtown Los Gatos
2008-03-13 05:18:00 Saturday night, Jim and I enjoyed a "date night" out in Los Gatos. He'd been given a very nice gift certificate to Forbes Mill Steakhouse for a talk he gave on semiconductors some months ago, and finally we were able to enjoy it. This had been on my list of "want to try" restaurants so I was very excited about it. The building itself is nothing like its prior incarnations as a short lived pizza parlor or the longstanding, much beloved (and still missed) Good Earth Restaurant. Elegant, tasteful and not imposing, the Forbes Mill ambiance is relaxed and upscale but without being the slightest bit pretentious. From the moment we arrived until the time we left, the service was exceptional. Our waitress was friendly and helpful, she stopped by often enough without hovering. The bus boy, too, checked in on us just often enough. Water was refilled frequently, which we appreciated. How about the menu? How was the food? With no apologies, this is...
Visit the Los Gatos Farmer's Market!
2008-03-10 03:45:00 Every Sunday, Los Gatans gather downtown at the Town Plaza Park area for the farmer's market. Stop by!<BR> (Photos for this show taken with Palm Treo 700, btw. Also, when this slideshow ends, a link will appear to offer you others to view as well. Enjoy!)
Gelato in Los Gatos: Visit Dolce Spazio for the Best!
2008-03-07 23:43:00 Voted Best Ice Cream over and over and in multiple competitions, Dolce Spazio (which means Sweet Space) has also been voted Best Dessert Place in Santa Clara County as Metro Readers' Choice and The Wave Magazine. A Los Gatos dining mainstay since 1980, it makes an ideal place for dessert after a fine meal elsewhere or as a snack to enjoy while browsing the stores and people-watching in downtown Los Gatos. What makes Dolce Spazio so special? Naturalmente, it's first & foremost the gelato. It's authentic tasting, which means delicious. Gelato has less air and more fat that American style ice cream, and it is softer (not frozen hard) and very rich. Of course, Dolce Spazio also offers sorbetto, an espresso bar, milkshakes and other goodies here too. Additionally, Dolce features pastries and other goodies - so stop by in the morning for a bite to eat, a latte and your favorite paper or book. It's a great way to start the morning. Somethin...
Overheard: Compliments on a Los Gatos Nightspot
2008-03-06 07:00:00 Over the last week, I had a relative spending a number of days at the new Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara (out now, all's fine). One afternoon I was walking into the telemetry ward there and approached two twenty-something paramedics wheeling a woman out on a gurney. As I passed them in the hall, one recounted to the other about a fantastic time he'd had at Mountain Charlie's in Los Gatos. His colleague grinned. "Mountain Charlie's - that place is great!" was the immediate and very enthusiastic response. Having gone there quite a bit when I was a twenty-something, I smiled to remember a lot of happy times. It's nice to just overhear people share an enthusiastic endorsement of a Los Gatos nightspot, isn't it?
Uno de los gatos más lindos, Gato de la Arena
2008-03-03 10:23:00 El gato de las arenas, Felis margarita, es uno de las razas de gatos más lindas del mundo. Actualmente está...
When Will Comcast Upgrade in Los Gatos?
2008-03-01 02:28:00 It's hard to get any information on the long-promised Comcast "rebuild" in Los Gatos. The upgrade, bringing some new lines and increased bandwidth, is supposed to happen in the first two quarters of 2008. Today I phoned the utility to see if I could get an update or any specific target dates. No luck. The gentleman I spoke with mentioned that it was supposed to be done about the same time as in Sunnyvale - but Sunnyvale's done. Once Comcast completes this upgrade, more channels and packages will be available, so many viewers are anxious to see this finished. I'm hoping it's in place before the next football season begins! If any of the "Live in Los Gatos" readers know more about the schedule for the Comcast work here in town, please comment below!
Why Live in Los Gatos in Particular?
2008-02-24 23:49:00 When this blog first began, I did a post as to why folks chose to live in Los Gatos (as opposed to Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Almaden Valley, or anywhere else). I've updated it and now pose the question to you: why live in Los Gatos? I would love to get the feedback of town residents! Please visit the post, Why Live in Los Gatos? and share your insights!
Los Gatos Resident Running for Governor?
2008-02-23 22:34:00 Today's San Jose Mercury News reports that Los Gatos resident Steve Poizner, currently the Insurance Commissioner for California, is lining up to run for governor in 2010. He has an impressive background, academically and professionally, and made his mark in high tech before moving into politics.
Los Gatos to be Home to New Pediatric Autism Center
2008-02-22 05:58:00 A pediatric center to diagnose and treat autism spectrum disorders will be opening in Los Gatos at the Mission Oaks Campus of Good Samaritan Hospital (located at National Avenue and Los Gatos Almaden Roads). It will be the first facility of its kind in Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area or anywhere in Northern California. This important work is coming into existence thanks to the Silicon Valley Children's Hospital Foundation, the May Institute and Good Samaritan Hospital, and all the generous donors and volunteers who support them. Autism and related disorders seem to be growing at an epidemic rate and families will be thankful to have assistance here in Santa Clara County. It is hoped that the center will open by the end of this calendar year.
Cat's Hill Classic Bicycle Race in Los Gatos May 3rd
2008-02-20 05:04:00 If you took Driver's Ed in Saratoga or Los Gatos, you were probably made to park on the steepest hill around - Nicholson Avenue. Positively frightening! But local bicycle enthusiasts take on Nicholson not with motor vehicles, but on their bikes in a race that has become a Los Gatos classic - the Cat's Hill Classic. A Belwood area neighbor of mine asked me to help get the word out on this fantastic and fun event, so below please find their announcement. Date : Saturday - May 3, 2008 Time : Registration booth opens at 8:30 AM and closes 15 min. prior to each race. Directions : HWY 17/880 south from San Jose. Take the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno (Hwy 9) Exit. Turn left on N. Santa Cruz Avenue. Go three blocks to Nicholson. Turn right to the start/finish. Parking: Racers and visitors, please do not...
Los Gatos Short Sale Pre Foreclosure Condo
2008-02-17 21:07:00 Walking distance to downtown Los Gatos - this wonderfully located large one bedroom 2nd floor condo is an excellent value. Offered at $390,000 on a short sale basis - needing bank approval - is $30,000 less than what it sold for one year ago. 789 square feet makes for a very large one bedroom unit. Association fee is a reasonable $390 per month. Call for a tour.
Dining Out In Los Gatos
2008-02-17 06:27:00 There are lots of great restaurants in Los Gatos, including Pedros (Mexican), I Gatti, Tapestry, Viva, Crimson and Trevese - all in downtown Los Gatos. We happen to live in east Los Gatos and some of the local haunts we enjoy include Los Gatos Pizza and the Tea Garden Chinese Kitchen (really for take-out, at Harwood and Blossom Hill Roads in east Los Gatos). Tonight, Jim wanted to take me out for supper since I'd worked many many hours today (showing a lot of homes). By the time I got home, it was too late to make reservations for a place in downtown Los Gatos, so we decided to visit Gallo's at the Walgreen's Shopping Center at Blossom Hill and Harwood (14180 Blossom Hill Rd), which is close to our Belwood home. We were seated immediately. The booths are comfy and it's a place without airs. Half the patrons seemed to be wearing sweat shirts - so the environment would have to be called casual. Our waiter was fairly attentive, though he never cam...
Understanding the Los Gatos Real Estate Market Trends
2008-02-16 00:07:00 A few days ago, I did a post about the biggest, most common mistakes sellers make that cause their homes to not sell. The # 1 error is overpricing, and often that's connected with hiring an agent who tells you what you want to hear instead of what you need to hear (or sometimes it's the agent not understanding the market and accidentally misguiding the owner). Are prices rising or falling in Los Gatos? Both! It depends on what part of town, what price point, what school district, you are considering. We don't have just "one market". It is imperative to understand the micro-markets to get the pricing right. So let's look at "the market" and "the markets". Let's have a look at the information that homeowners are using to determine how to price their Los Gatos (or Saratoga, or San Jose) home. Below, see a general view of the "Los Gatos Real Estate Market" for single family homes (very broad, including two zip codes and even more school ...
Valentine's Day in Los Gatos
2008-02-14 05:27:00 Today I visited Affordable Treasures in Los Gatos to pick up a few goodies for Valentine's Day. (I have teens. They still like candy!) Not suprisingly, the place was packed! Not heard of it? Affordable Treasures is a "mainstay" in Los Gatos! If you have never been to Affordable Treasures, let me tell you, it is aptly named. It is the ideal place to purchase party favors, seasonal decorations, and inexpensive trinkets. Whether you need a little something for Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Hanukkah,Christmas, New Years (or probably even Groundhog's Day), it's there. If you're filling a pinata for a birthday or goodie bags for kids, it's a great place to see things that are truly affordable and in non-Costco sizes. (And no, this is not a paid endorsement. They have no idea that I'm doing this post.) Affordable Treasures is located at 15795 Los Gatos Boulevard and you can find them on the web at AffordableTr...
Los gatos de Google
2008-02-12 06:21:00 Este anuncio de Google AdSense fue visto en un blog de mascotas. La publicidad lleva a una web de "contactos" con chicas asiáticas. No se trata de una página porno o de scort, ni ninguna cosa ilegal, y también hay chicos en la oferta de clasificados, pero... me quedé pensando... ¿porqué AdSense relacionó que en un blog con fotos y videos de gatos, encajaba de maravillas un anuncio de chicas buscando amor, romance y más...? Otro post para el Noticiero AdSense interpretativo
Los gatos de Google
2008-02-12 00:00:00 Este anuncio de Google AdSense fue visto en un blog de mascotas. La publicidad lleva a una web de "contactos" con chicas asiáticas. No se trata de una página porno o de scort, ni ninguna cosa ilegal, y también hay chicos en la oferta de clasificados, pero... me quedé pensando... ¿porqué AdSense relacionó que en un blog con fotos y videos de gatos, encajaba de maravillas un anuncio de chicas buscando amor, romance y más...? Otro post para el Noticiero AdSense (...) - Blog / noticiero AdSense
More Thefts From Autos in Los Gatos
2008-02-08 06:04:00 On February 4th, the Los Gatos Observer reported that there have been a rash of thefts from cars in Los Gatos, and it seems a concentration of them were in the Almond Grove area. Last night, February 6th, the pillaging continued in the parking lot at St. Mary's Church, at Bean and Tait Avenues (also in the Almond Grove District). Three cars were broken into while owners were at an Ash Wednesday evening Mass. Purses left on the seats of cars were taken in all three cases. Los Gatos usually has very little crime, but right now something's out of whack. Please do not leave purses, laptops, GPS, cell phones, iPods or other goodies in your cars, especially where visible. And if you have any information on these auto break ins, please contact the Los Gatos Police at 408 354-8600.
Where to Vote in Los Gatos Today?
2008-02-05 16:07:00 Please vote today - it is both the Presidential Primary and also the chance to resolve the extremely controversial Los Gatos skatepark issue by voting on that initiative - Measure D. The voter guides we received didn't have the voting location printed, but you can find out where to vote by visiting the Smart Voter site, using this link for Santa Clara County: http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/sc-l/ Remember to bring your photo ID. See you at the polls! (PS: Jim and I just returned from voting and as of about 9:15 or 9:30 am, the weather was ideal and the lines were very short at our polling place in east Los Gatos.)
Superbowl Sunday in Los Gatos!
2008-02-03 02:42:00 Tomorrow's Superbowl Sunday - Superbowl XLII, New England Patriots vs New York Giants. The big game starts at 3pm Los Gatos time. Where will you go to watch it? Need a suggestion? Two good possibilities in downtown Los Gatos are the town's sports bar, Double Ds, and also the Los Gatos Brewing Company (which just might be less crowded). Double Ds has tons of television screens facing every which way. The Los Gatos Brewing Company offers one 62" and four 42" televisions, all high-definition. I patronize both establishments and really like both of them a great deal - each gets a "two thumbs up" for food, service, and ambiance in my book. Either way, you can't really lose, but there are more tvs at Double Ds and more parking at the Brewing Company. My suggestion, no matter which you choose: get there (either place) before kickoff if you want to have a table. At Casa de Pope-Handy in the Belwood area of town, we have a few friends joi...
Aloha, Los Gatos!
2008-02-01 07:28:00 Travel is the undisputed passion in my household. It trumps almost everything else: remodeling, artwork, new furniture, you name it. (OK, not education. We pay a lot of tuition here and have never regretted it.) When I learned that Sellabration, the annual educational conference of the Certified Residentail Specialists (CRS, of which I am a member), was being held in Hawaii rather than the usual Vegas in January of 2008, I knew I had to go. Late last night I returned from 5 days on O'Ahu - first with my family and then later with my Realtor colleagues as I took classes in real estate - working with buyers and sellers in this challenging market. It was a great trip, from start to finish. (Even if I did bring the rain with me!) We had a few sunny patches that were ideal for visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, the beaches, the pineapple plantation, snorkeling, or just being out in the cherished sun. At other times, the rain came down in buckets, to our surprise. "It's unseaso... |
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