What know ye of Mountain View, California?

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Accentmister just got a new job and he's leaving tomorrow for Mountain View for SIX WEEKS training and I'll be joining him for the first week of October. And he doesn't drive, but I do, so we'll be doing a bit of driving around while I'm there, but otherwise he's on his own and will be relying on bike and bus.

What things can he do? How's the public transport?

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Saturday, 17 September 2005 08:40 (twenty years ago)

Mountain View is in the midst of San Mateo county tech 'burb hell.. it could be worse, and you could be going to San Jose/Silicon Valley.. but unfortunately it's not that much worse there. :(

SF is 45 minutes driving north, at least. There is a Caltrain that between San Jose and SF, but I've never taken it.

Palo Alto is one city over or so. The downtown area is pretty, but snooty...(Stanford is there.) Downtown Sunnyvale is pretty as well.

Overall, other than occasional pretty south bay area waterfront areas and toll bridges, things be borin'.

I probably offended a phalanx of San Jose lurkers just now.

― donut Get Behind Me Carbon Dioxide (donut), Saturday, 17 September 2005 08:52 (twenty years ago)

I have had all the Mountain Views.

― M. V. (M.V.), Saturday, 17 September 2005 10:46 (twenty years ago)

If I recall right, on Sundays the Caltrain between SJ and SF is a Cal-bus. Maybe on Saturdays too?

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 17 September 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

Is Caltrain still closed on the weekends? Goddamn. I used to ride the Caltrain every day from Santa Clara to Palo Alto to go to my first job. It eventually shut down for weekend repairs the month before I moved to LA THREE YEARS AGO. Its still not finished. Apparently theyre going to put a super fast train so people in the south bay can get the fuck out of there as soon as possible.

The only thing redeeming about Mountain View is that its kinda close to Sunnyvale, which has some type of nightlife going on, but I couldnt tell you if its fun or not.

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Saturday, 17 September 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

Caltrain reopened on the weekend a year or two ago, I think. It's definitely open now.

― whenuweremine (whenuweremine), Saturday, 17 September 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Ah, I was there in Nov. '03. Old, stale info.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 17 September 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

There is a preponderance of good mexican food in Mountain View, for some reason. As someone implied, the best thing about the place is its proximity to San Francisco and Santa Cruz.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Saturday, 17 September 2005 15:19 (twenty years ago)

I think I rode by bike to the Tower Records there to get The Boy with the Arab Strap.

― youn, Saturday, 17 September 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

I grew up and still live in MV. It is blah.

The good: Shoreline Amphitheater if you're into bands who play big venues.

The bad: It's a boring suburb.

And it's not part of San Mateo County, it's Santa Clara, which makes it officially part of Silicon Valley.

Public transportation: there's a MV Caltrain stop, which now runs on the weekends.

As for nightlife, wtf do I know about nightlife? Bunch of annoying 'cool' Asian kids in their riced out cars.

There used to be Kepler's, a used/indie bookstore, down El Camino in Menlo Park, but that just closed a couple weeks ago.

Sunnyvale has CD Warehouse, which, despite not being half as good as Amoeba's/Rasputin's, is infinitely better than Tower here.

Yeah, just go to SF.

The libraries are decent, though. Close proximity to four different branches, plus not too far from the SJ library which is a PUBLIC University library.

― Leeeeeeeee (Leee), Saturday, 17 September 2005 16:39 (twenty years ago)

Also, I've heard there's a Mtn View in LA where Dr Dre lives.

― Leeeeeeeee (Leee), Saturday, 17 September 2005 16:40 (twenty years ago)

Decent libraries is actually good for me, Leeeeeeeeeee, because in the week that I'll be there, Accentmister will be working and I will be hanging about all day. A good library would be excellent.

Are there cinemas?

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Saturday, 17 September 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

No, all movies were outlawed in Northern California on pain of death. Instead, only street theater is allowed.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 17 September 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

Ned is half-right, only. Century Theaters, those magnificent underground rebels, operate a cineplex under the guise of an arcade and vendor of overpriced fast food! They have these rooms where you can watch movies, but I must warn you, they turn off all the lights to avoid suspicion!

For artier or indier flix, you'll have to go to Palo Alto or San Jose (yes).

The different libraries around here sort of fall into different niches; is there anything in particular that you want out of them, or are booky books your cuppa?

― Leeeeeeeee (Leee), Saturday, 17 September 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

Best taquerias in Mouton Veux:

La Casteña, old middlefield and rengstorff (in the back of a corner store)

Burrito Real, rengstorff a little further south.

Castro St has some good thai and indian, too.

― mikef (mfleming), Saturday, 17 September 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

Not a very long drive to Streetlight Records in Campbell, which is a pretty good store. It's no Amoeba or Aquarius, and is poorly organized, but I've found some good stuff there.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Saturday, 17 September 2005 19:38 (twenty years ago)

if you're into outdoors at all, some of the best hiking in the bay area is on the peninsula, not too far from there.

― viborgu, Saturday, 17 September 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

I believe Mtn View's civic leaders were pioneers when it comes to establishing ordinances prohibiting plastic chairs from the downtown.

― mortar, Saturday, 17 September 2005 21:39 (twenty years ago)

I second La Casteña; that place is excellent.

― whenuweremine (whenuweremine), Saturday, 17 September 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

Thanks all. These are most helpful comments. Except yours, Ned, which has made me imagine Mountain View as the kind of place where every street corner features some git of a student who's trying to get through college by painting him or herself silver and standing really still. I hate street theatre.

The most annoying thing about my trip is that I arrive in MV on Saturday and leave again the following Saturday, which means I don't get a full weekend at either end, so no road trip or anything. But a bit of walking would be nice. Apparently there's a bird sanctuary or something and there might be burrowing owls there. Who needs the bright lights?

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Sunday, 18 September 2005 06:04 (twenty years ago)

hey man, spend *ALL* your time in Redwood City.

take it from me, i LOVE redwood city. stop by all the landmarks like grocery outlet, "movie groove", the sequoia hotel, pizza and pipes (it has a really big dusty organ inside), the "climate best by government test" signs, and the world famous El Grullense (with 3 locations within 5 minute walking distance of each other to serve you better!)

― corey c (shock of daylight), Monday, 19 September 2005 01:14 (twenty years ago)

pizza and pipes (it has a really big dusty organ inside)

hey, they stole that gimmick from organ stop pizza in mesa, arizona!

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 September 2005 01:26 (twenty years ago)

Except yours, Ned, which has made me imagine Mountain View as the kind of place where every street corner features some git of a student who's trying to get through college by painting him or herself silver and standing really still. I hate street theatre.

I apologize for the demon visions. But it's nice to see that you, too, are sane.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 September 2005 01:31 (twenty years ago)

there was also portland's organ grinder pizza (opened in the early '70s):

http://laurabush.info/website/lookie/pics/40.jpg

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 September 2005 01:39 (twenty years ago)

considerably newer than that: roxy's pipe organ pizzeria in las vegas' fiesta hotel.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 September 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

ye olde pizza joint in hayward, california beats all of them: they lay claim to having the first pipe organ pizzeria (their organ was installed in 1962).

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 September 2005 01:59 (twenty years ago)

another early '70s one was organ power pizza, near san diego:

http://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/maple-valley/gould_opp.jpg

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 September 2005 02:04 (twenty years ago)

uncle milt's pizza parlor in vancouver, washington had an organ as well:

http://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/vancouver/milts_interior-1980s.jpg

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 September 2005 02:08 (twenty years ago)

further research shows that the organ/pizza fad made it to texas, illinois, and wisconsin, but i don't remember it ever making it out to the east coast! maybe some gen-x type with a good memory can disprove this.

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 19 September 2005 02:13 (twenty years ago)

so you guys make Sunnyvale seem like the place to be. i have a job interview with a fairly large company this friday, but am worried about the commute from SF every day. i guess knowing that i can go out to "happening nightlife" afterwards makes up for it.

― Jaxon (jaxon), Monday, 19 September 2005 03:41 (twenty years ago)

when they closed the caltrain on the weekends it was to make it way faster, so I assume the commute to the city is better than it used to be. unfortunately if you find the sunnyvale nightlife lacking and want to go out in SF by train, you have to go home early because the last train leaves SF at midnight.

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Monday, 19 September 2005 05:53 (twenty years ago)

if its hiking you're after, here's your main source:

http://www.bahiker.com

― viborgu, Monday, 19 September 2005 07:38 (twenty years ago)

I never heard of this pizza and pipe organ phenomenon before. Is there some sort of coffee table book I can buy with pictures in it, I wonder?

Things are not going well for the Accentmister so far. His apartment is beside a Starbucks and a noisy pizza place, and he's not used to street noise at night.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Monday, 19 September 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

but am worried about the commute from SF every day.
There's no question about it, doing that commute is soul-sucking. But it's hard to avoid...the companies in the south bay are just way more interesting than those in the city. I've done it for four years and it looks like I'm going to take another job that requires the commute again.

― mikef (mfleming), Monday, 19 September 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

La Bamba on Old Middlefield is really the burrito place to go to -- it's really near Burrito Real and a much better deal and burrito in my opinion.

If you're into older films, the Stanford Theatre in Palo Alto is a fun place to go, and also has a live organist playing in between showings.

As far as "happening nightlife" in Sunnyvale, that's where I live, and although I think that it's a little bit of a stretch to call it that, there are some decent bars on Murphy St. downtown I suppose.

The bird sanctuary is very cool and conveniently located. Also, Rancho San Antonio off of 280 and Foothill Expressway is a less than 15-minute drive away and has some nice walks if you can find a parking spot.

― mr. drew (mr. drew), Monday, 19 September 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

La Bamba on Old Middlefield is really the burrito place to go to -- it's really near Burrito Real and a much better deal and burrito in my opinion.

But La Casteña is right next door to La Bamba! La Bamba is good, but really, you should go next door next time if you haven't.

La Casteña is like the only burrito place that has chilli colorado. So good!

― mikef (mfleming), Monday, 19 September 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

Hmm... keep your expectations low or risk being disappointed by Mountain View, which I find to be quaint and suburban.

That said, there is a quirky museum of Computer History, excellent Indian food (much better than SF), a couple cheap ramen houses, and reasonable proximity to the coastal mountains and beaches.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 19 September 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

Ooh, nearby in Menlo Park there's an excellent restaurant called Kaygetsu which is worth the trek.

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 19 September 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

so i got the job. there's a free shuttle that picks up at civic center in SF and takes about an hour and 15 minutes to get to sunnyvale. supposed to be wifi soon. guess they want us to work 24hrs a day. i doubt i'll ever hit the fabulous nightlife. i doubt i'll ever even leave the campus. they have EVERYTHING you could ever want here except a bar.

― jaxon (jaxon), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 00:56 (twenty years ago)

Would this company happen to be G00gl3?

― mikef (mfleming), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 02:23 (twenty years ago)

nope, guess again!

― jaxon (jaxon), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 05:53 (twenty years ago)

google already has a wifi shuttle. always one step ahead of us

― jaxon (jaxon), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 05:53 (twenty years ago)

btw, googleproofing google. hecka funny

― jaxon (jaxon), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

lolz

― j b everlovin' r (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

Must be the best job ever for you to be happy about it since you are catching a bus to it from The Civic Center :)

― svend (svend), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 06:01 (twenty years ago)

all i can say is that i've only done about an hour of work a day for the past week and i get to work from home one or two days a week. i work with a friend and the rest of my team is wicked cool. i am not complaining.

― jaxon (jaxon), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 06:03 (twenty years ago)

t Civic Center to catch the 21 home, I was just messing around.

― svend (svend), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 06:07 (twenty years ago)

errrrr I get off the train at Civic Center to ......

― svend (svend), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

you could come work with me jaxon, where we work you 24 hours a day and leave you locked in a lobby all night on saturday

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 08:23 (twenty years ago)

So is MV South Bay or the Peninsula? I kinda miss the suburban decadence that is the Peninsula.

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:15 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

Burrito Real is (effectively) closing this Wednesday. As I understand it, the owners decided to sell the operation. It is a very sad day for Mountain View.

― mfleming, Monday, 26 February 2007 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know that place, where is it? Castro, by any chance?

In the end I had a lovely time in MV, all those two years ago. It turns out that the bus service is pretty good, so we got the bus places. Did a lot of shopping, and saw the United Methodist church in Palo Alto, which is the greatest building ever. Also got to take Mister Monkey (Accentmister, what the hell?) to In 'n' Out for his first taste of the high life. There was also an excellent sushi place across the street from his hotel.

He's there now. I'll tell him about Burrito Real.

― accentmonkey, Monday, 26 February 2007 23:07 (eighteen years ago)

Burrito Real is on Rengstorff and W. Middlefield.

― mfleming, Monday, 26 February 2007 23:09 (eighteen years ago)

I'd never heard of Mountain View until recently, but now I know the weather there whenever I happen to sign off of my personalized Google page.

― jaymc, Monday, 26 February 2007 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

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