{"id":20178053,"date":"2024-11-13T12:19:18","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T20:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.metrosiliconvalley.com\/?p=20178053"},"modified":"2024-11-14T16:12:23","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T00:12:23","slug":"best-of-silicon-valley-editorial-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metrosiliconvalley.com\/best-of-silicon-valley-editorial-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"Best of Silicon Valley\u2014Editorial Picks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More Best of Silicon Valley Winners: Arts & Entertainment<\/a> | Family & Pets<\/a> | Health & Fitness<\/a> | Services<\/a> | Shopping<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best of Silicon Valley is all about what the readers of Metro Silicon Valley select as the best of the best people, places and things. But the editorial staff also likes to throw in a few favorites every year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Place to Spark Interest in STEM Learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Exploration Portal<\/strong> | Children\u2019s Discovery Museum of San Jose | 180 Woz Way, San Jose | https:\/\/www.cdm.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dedicated to making it fun to learn since its doors opened in 1990, the Children\u2019s Discovery Museum of San Jose added to its educational resources this year with the Exploration Portal, which opened in June. This 4,000-square-foot outdoor playground invites young visitors to gain an understanding of patterns and symmetry in nature from various activities, such as climbing on a honeycomb-shaped play structure, playing music on \u201cRocks that Sing\u201d and opening and closing giant flowers to learn out solar power works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Exploration Portal also offers practical lessons in environmental science, demonstrating natural ways to remove pollution from rainwater using filters, replenish depleted groundwater, promote drought-tolerant plants for landscaping and use renewable wood resources. Entry to the Exploration Portal is included in the price of admission to the museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Way to Salute Movie History<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Support Your Indie Movie Theater | cineluxtheatres.com<\/a> | pruneyardcinemas.com<\/a> | 3belowtheaters.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t it always seem to go, you don\u2019t know what you got \u2019til it\u2019s gone.\u201d Joni Mitchell\u2019s words of wisdom may apply to paving paradise, but they\u2019re equally apropos for many forms of human culture that can wither away from neglect. One such thing: independent movie theaters. In the wake of the loss of ShowPlace ICON movie theaters in July of this year, it\u2019s time to take stock and cherish the indie theaters that continue to cater to cinephiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting out in 1966 with a single location in the city of Campbell, Cinelux has grown into a small chain with locations in Los Gatos, Campbell, San Jose, Morgan Hill and Gilroy, as well as three theaters in Santa Cruz County. Cinelux\u2019s cushy seating is its primary draw, but there are also the enticements of food and drink, including local wines, craft beers and cocktails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbell is also graced with Pruneyard Cinemas, a locally owned establishment dedicated to elevating the dinner-and-a-movie experience with innovative food and hand-crafted cocktails from the Cedar Room. In addition to current releases, classic movies are also shown in the Pruneyard\u2019s Culinary Cinema series, and there are also live comedy shows (the next one scheduled for Nov. 15\u201316).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In downtown San Jose, 3Below Theaters & Cafe continues to mix live entertainment and cinematic offerings. Through Nov. 24, its live production of the comedic musical Emojiland continues, and there are movie times scheduled in December. But without support, we can lose these resources. Binge-watching The Diplomat<\/em> may seem like enough most nights, but it can\u2019t compare to the communal experience of watching a movie with a live audience. Realize what we\u2019ve got before it\u2019s gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Best Reason to Look Down, and Look Ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"People<\/a>
FOLLOW THE RAINBOW-COLORED ROAD In May, Local Color gathered together more than 100 volunteers to create a colorful mural on one block of San Pedro Street. Photo by Gary Singh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Local Color<\/strong> | localcolorsj.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In May, several hundred volunteers joined together to paint the town\u2014or at least a block of it. Titled \u201cThreads Woven\u201d and designed by muralist Jim Fonseca, aka Jimmy Paints, the mural adorns the ground along San Pedro between Santa Clara and St. John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project was organized by Local Color, but that\u2019s not the only bright spot this nonprofit group has brought to downtown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year Local Color also began mounting art shows at noble workshop & gallery, a space located inside Arya San Jose, at 500 S. Almaden Blvd. Its third exhibit at the space kicks off with a reception from 5 to 9pm on Nov. 15. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis show is called Posted and it\u2019s a celebration of posters\u2014about the accessibility and impact of posters, their many uses,\u201d says Brandon Roos, Local Color\u2019s communications director. \u201cWe have a bunch of people from different disciplines that are bringing their own take on what the poster means to them and how they want to showcase their art in that medium.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibit will be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until Nov. 30. Roos says there will be prints for sale by the artists\u2014including some smaller sizes: \u201cWe tried to create as affordable an option as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roos says Local Color wants the gallery to serve not only as exhibit space but also be a place for artists to present workshops. \u201cWe want the space to be available to the artists to make their dreams a reality,\u201d Roos says. \u201cA lot of things hopefully in the works for this small space with big ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best Canine Confab<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bark in the Park<\/strong> | William Street Park, 16th and William streets, downtown San Jose | barksanjose.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This 25-year-old tradition is something to bark about. Reputedly the largest canine congregation in the United States, Bark in the Park draws about a thousand four-legged guests and their human entourages to William Street Park in downtown San Jose. Doggie delights include various contests (costumes, tail-wagging dog\/owner look-alikes), demonstrations of doggo derring-do (Flyball, agility, sheep herding, K-9 skills), a misting tent, and vendors with dog-oriented do-dads, and pup-friendly munchies. And pooch parents will be pleased by low-cost vaccines and microchipping, training tips, a kids\u2019 play area, food trucks, and beer and wine stations. Get there early to benefit from free samples and beat the heat. It\u2019s the spot to snag a pair of dog shades\u2014the epitome of canine cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best Day to Know Your Way Around San Jose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Viva CalleSJ<\/strong> | 2025 Dates TBA | vivacallesj.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cars are king in the Santa Clara Valley, but they\u2019re temporarily dethroned whenever Viva CalleSJ reclaims the streets. This community-centric event\u2014inspired by similar open streets initiatives around the world\u2014closes down major San Jose streets to car traffic so that these thoroughfares can be reclaimed by cyclists, skateboarders, runners, walkers and other human-powered mobile devices for a few precious hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year Viva CalleSJ events took place in April, June and September. Routes are different every year, but one certainty is that each event gives participants a chance to explore at a speed that allows for true appreciation of San Jose\u2019s historic neighborhoods as they walk, bike, skate and cycle past sights they\u2019d miss traveling at 35 miles an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viva CalleSJ is managed by the city\u2019s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services, with support provided by Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and grants from the Knight Foundation. And volunteers are welcome. To volunteer as an individual, or participate with a group in the Adopt-an-Intersection program, email vi*********<\/span>@*******<\/span>ca.gov<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Place to Stop Doomscrolling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Castle Rock State Park<\/strong> | parks.ca.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot of talk in the wellness community about \u201cforest bathing.\u201d First studied in Japan, another heavily urbanized society where outdoor spaces are prized, the practice is known as Shinrin-yoku. The positive physical and mental benefits of forest bathing<\/a> include lowering heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing stress levels, elevating one\u2019s mood and even improving the immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any outdoor excursion free of digital devices can be beneficial, but the deep quiet and cooling air of redwood forests can be healing to overheated brains. Fortunately for denizens of Silicon Valley\u2019s urban jungle, redwood groves can be found just above Los Gatos at Castle Rock State Park. For more information, read about the Sempervirens Fund\u2019s Trails Rx program<\/a> at sempervirens.org\/trails-rx.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best News for Spartans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

San Jose State University\u2019s U.S. Ranking<\/strong> | sjsu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Jose State University students, stand up tall and proud, and pat your pocketbooks with satisfaction. As the school year started in September, the 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings<\/a> was released by the Wall Street Journal<\/em> and College Pulse\u2014and the downtown San Jose campus was rated the fourth-best public university in the nation and the 16th overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As SFGate pointed out in its coverage of the survey, San Jose State jumped 157 steps, going from 173rd last year to the 16th best college this year. And even better news: its graduates\u2019 salaries<\/a> ranked higher than any other California public school, settling into the No. 17 slot ahead of UC Berkeley (take that, Golden Bears). Overall, SJSU ranked No. 4 among all public universities<\/a> in the state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rankings survey the top 500 universities in the country, measuring how well each college does at encouraging students to graduate and achieve financial success, counterbalanced by student feedback on college life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Best of Silicon Valley is all about what our readers love in the valley we call home. But editorial staffers also throw in a few favorites.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14789,"featured_media":20178057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[17996,6503],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n