Best Welcome Committee
IRC Refugee
The backlash to Trump’s travel ban was swift, as an outpouring of support went out to those victimized by the draconian edict. Google promised to match up to $4 million in funds for various organizations, including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which has helped refugess resettle for more than eight decades. The IRC’s San Jose hub helps about 200 refugees settle in Santa Clara County each year, according to Karen Ferguson, head of the nonprofit’s four NorCal offices. Donations help with living costs and tuition, so refugees can train themselves for a career instead of low-wage work. IRC also partners with employers to hire refugees, many of whom have degrees and were forced to leave good jobs in their native countries. “It’s about being open to those who no longer feel safe in their own country and who desperately want a chance to start over,” Ferguson says. “When I work with refugees, it makes me feel patriotic.”
Best Bicycle Shop
Good Karma Bikes
460 Lincoln Ave #15, San Jose
Hyland Family Bicycles
1515 Meridian Ave, San Jose
Mike’s Bikes
Multiple Locations
Best Antique Shop
Not Too Shabby
481 S Bascom Ave, San Jose
Antiques Colony
1881 W San Carlos St, San Jose
Curious Things
2033 Broadway St, Redwood City, CA 94063
Best Motorcycle Shop
San Jose Harley-Davidson
1551 Parkmoor Ave, San Jose
San Jose BMW
1990 W San Carlos St, San Jose
House of Thunder
16175 Condit Rd, Morgan Hill
Best Car Wash/Detailing
Pacific Hand Car Wash
1667 S Bascom Ave, Campbell
Classic Car Wash
16500 Lark Ave, Los Gatos
AJ Auto Detailing
702 Coleman Ave, San Jose
Best Clothing Boutique
Kitsch Couture
10 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
Black and Brown
751 W San Carlos St, San Jose
Bella James
1151 Lincoln Ave, San Jose
Best Thrift Shop
Crossroads Trading Company
1959 W San Carlos St, San Jose
Goodwill
Multiple Locations
Savers
Multiple locations
Best Vintage Clothing Shop
Moon Zooom
1630 W San Carlos St, San Jose
Black and Brown
751 W San Carlos St, San Jose
Crossroad Trading
Multiple locations
Best Outdoor Gear
Best threads to Honor Indigenous People
Urban Native Era
Our special issue dedicated to the contributions of Silicon Valley immigrants would be remiss in omitting a company that celebrates the nation’s indigenous people. Standing up for people who first settled the land we now call home, San Jose State grad Joey Montoya created a business that celebrates and advocates for Native American tribes and culture. A descendant of the Lipan Apache of Texas, Montoya’s clothing, music and media brand, Urban Native Era, has raised awareness through positive messaging. The customized apparel is designed to raise awareness about Native American community issues while breaking down stereotypes that brands like Urban Outfitters appropriate. Montoya has worked alongside celebrities such as Shailene Woodley, Rosario Dawson and Mark Ruffalo, all of whom wear Urban Native Era apparel and support Montoya’s movement.
Best Lingerie Store
Curvy Girl
2990 Meridian Ave, San Jose
Cupid’s Corner
408 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose
Pleasures From the Heart
1565 Winchester Blvd, Campbell
Best Jewelry Store
Joe Escobar
450 E Hamilton Ave, Campbell
Shane Co
21255 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino
Davidson & Licht
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara
Best Bridal Shop
Trudys Brides
1875 S Bascom Ave, Campbell
Haute Bride
40 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
Elegant Lace
1061 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose
Best Place to Hold a Wedding Reception
Adobe Lodge
5500 El Camino Real #108, Santa Clara
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
23600 McKean Rd, San Jose
Corinthian Event Center
196 N 3rd St, San Jose
Best Pet Store
Andy’s Pet Shop
51 Notre Dame Ave, San Jose
Pet Food Express
Multiple locations
An-Jan
Multiple locations
Best Pet Trainer
California K9 Solutions
2123 S 10th St, San Jose
Primal Canine Dog Training
538 Earle Ave, San Jose
A Dog’s Life
885 Commercial St, Palo Alto
Best Record Store
Rasputin Music
1820 S Bascom Ave, Campbell
Streetlight Records
980 S Bascom Ave, San Jose
Time Tunnel
1583 Meridian Ave, San Jose
Best Art Supply Store
University Art
456 Meridian Ave, San Jose
2550 El Camino Real, Redwood City
The Arsenal
1202 The Alameda, San Jose
Accent Arts
421 Jacaranda Ln, Palo Alto
Best Toy Store
Best Place to Plot the Resistance
San Jose Peace and Justice Center
Founded in 1957 by people concerned about the nuclear arms race, the San Jose Peace and Justice Center has become a hub for progressive organizing. It also hosts almost daily events, including workshops, film showings, book discussions, sign making and support groups.
Best Skate Shop
Skateworks
379 State St, Los Altos
Mojo’s Surf & Skate Shop
198 Great Mall Dr Milpitas
NC Boardshop
16203 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos
Best Comics Store
Heroes Comic Books
24 E Campbell Ave, Campbell
Hijinx Comics
2050 Lincoln Ave, San Jose
Illusive Comics & Games
2725 El Camino Real #105, Santa Clara
Best Independent Bookstore
Hicklebee’s
1378 Lincoln Ave, San Jose
Recycle Bookstore
1066 The Alameda, San Jose
Kepler’s
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
Best Independent Hardware Store
Hassett Hardware
2253 Lincoln Ave, San Jose
875 Alma St, Palo Alto
Dale Hardware
3700 Thornton Ave, Fremont
The Olander Company
144 Commercial St, Sunnyvale’
Best Garden Store
Yamagami’s Nursery
1361 S De Anza Blvd, Cupertino
Almaden Valley Nursery
15800 Almaden Expy, San Jose
Green Thumb Nursery
15796 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos
Best Flower Shop
Bunches
14 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
Bloomster’s
Old Almaden Plaza, 5945 Almaden Expy #170, San Jose
Citti’s Florist
Multiple Locations
Best Pilates Studio
Los Gatos Ballet and Pilates
630 University Ave, Los Gatos
The Dailey Method
Multiple locations
Pilates Body Studio
2075 Lincoln Ave, San Jose
Best Yoga Studio
Yoga Source
16185 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos
Bikram Yoga San Jose
Westgate West, 5289 Prospect Rd, San Jose
Breathe Together Yoga
14107-H Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos
Best Martial Arts Studio
Academy of Self-Defense
3475 Woodward Ave, Santa Clara
America’s Best Karate of Almaden
6940 Almaden Expy, San Jose
American Kickboxing Academy
7012 Realm Dr, San Jose
Best Health Club
Best Celebrity Sighting
Barron Park
In a small pasture tucked between a hospital and a suburb lives one of Palo Alto’s biggest celebrities: Pericles the miniature donkey. The mild-mannered denizen of Barron Park famously modeled for the fast-talking donkey in the 2001 movie Shrek. The movie went on to win the first Academy Award for animated feature, grossing $500 million and inspiring three sequels. Perry’s handlers pocketed just $75, but they get far more support from locals, who donate money to care for Perry and his new gal pal, Jenny. The pair are the latest in a long line of four-legged forebears at Barron Park, where generations of donkeys have lived since the 1930s.
Best Massage
Burke Williams Day Spa
355 Santana Row #2010, San Jose
The Spa – Los Gatos
100 S Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
Happy Feet Foot Spa
1045 S De Anza Blvd, San Jose
Best Day Spa
Burke Williams Day Spa
355 Santana Row #2010, San Jose
Los Gatos Spa
100 S Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
Watercourse Way
165 Channing Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Best Dentist
Dr. Cristina Herrera
700 W Parr Ave, Los Gatos
Willow Glen Dentistry
1245 Lincoln Ave #150, San Jose
Smiles Dental Care
100 W El Camino Real #63a, Mountain View, CA 94040
Best Occupational Health Services
Kaiser Permanente Occupational Health
250 Hospital Pkwy, San Jose
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Multiple Locations, Silicon Valley
U.S. Healthworks
893 Monterey Rd #200, San Jose
Best Organization Making a Difference
Planned Parenthood
Multiple Locations
Second Harvest Food Bank
Multiple Locations, Silicon Valley
Bill Wilson Center
3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara
Best Luxury or Boutique Hotel
Hotel Los Gatos
210 E Main St, Los Gatos
De Anza Hotel
233 W Santa Clara St, San Jose
The Fairmont Hotel
170 S Market St, San Jose
Best Plastic Surgeon/Beautification
Jenesis Lipoplasty
1471 Saratoga Ave #200, San Jose
Dr. Laurence Berkowitz
3803 S Bascom Ave #100, Campbell
Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman
3425 S Bascom Ave #100, Campbell
Best Barber/Men’s Salon
Best Literacy Evangelists
Bookmobile
Bookmobiles have been around for as long as people could attach a cart to a horse. But as public libraries adapt to the digital age and an increasingly diverse array of cultures, the vehicles are as much a part of the future as of the richly storied past. The Santa Clara County Library District sent its second bookmobile on its maiden voyage just last week. Amytha Willard, the pink-haired librarian in charge of the fleet, says she never imagined that penchant for books would put her behind the wheel of a big-rig. “Bookmobiles a re the best-kept secret in library school,” she says from the driver’s seat. “For anyone who can’t make it to the library, the bookmobile brings the library to them.” That means driving out to the farthest reaches of the county—from migrant farmworker camps in Gilroy, to off-the-grid forest-dwellers in the Santa Cruz Mountains, to cloistered tech campuses in every city but San Jose, which runs its own library system. “It’s all about reflecting people’s needs and reaching out to diverse populations,” Willard says. “We want to stay in people’s lives.”
Best Gentlemen’s Club
Pink Poodle
328 S Bascom Ave, San Jose
Brass Rail
160 Persian Dr, Sunnyvale
Cheetah’s
907 E Arques Ave, Sunnyvale
Best Tattoo Parlor
Marks of Art
3014 Union Ave, San Jose
Death Before Dishonor
306 S Third St, San Jose
El Toro Body Shop
17400 Monterey Rd #2D, Morgan Hill
Best Piercing Place
Pierced Out
3014 Union Ave, San Jose
Body Exotic
957 W San Carlos St, San Jose
Paisley Haus Pro Body Piercing
950 S Winchester, San Jose
Best Hookah Bar
The Swinging Hookah
386 S First St, San Jose
Smoke This Hookah Lounge
2271 The Alameda, Santa Clara
Tangerine Hookah Bar
30 Fountain Alley #150, San Jose
Best Smoke Shop
San Jose Vape
112 Paseo de San Antonio San Jose
Fatty Zone
1398 W El Camino Real, Mountain View
Cool Vape
1699 N Capitol Ave #50, San Jose
Best Place to Get a Medical Cannabis Recommendation
MMJ Doctor
36 S First St, San Jose
San Jose 420 Evaluations
115 N Fourth St #106, San Jose
Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center
100 N Winchester Blvd #230, Santa Clara
Best Alternative Medicine Collective
Airfield Supply Co.
1190 Coleman Ave, San Jose
Caliva
1695 S 7th St, San Jose
Elemental Wellness
985 Timothy Dr, San Jose
Best Golf Course
Best Office Admin by Day, Romance Novel Stud by Night
Jason Aaron Baca
He started modeling for romance novels on a whim, but Jason Aaron Baca has now beaten Fabio at his own game. The Los Gatos resident, who dabbled in acting and fitness modeling, came across a book cover in Barnes & Noble featuring a studly hero in medieval garb when inspiration struck. He pulled out a pen and paper, wrote down the names of some authors and began reaching out. It took a decade, but as of August last year the 43-year-old Baca has modeled for more romance covers than the long-locked godfather of the genre. “It’s been an amazing journey,” says Baca, who has kept his job as an admin at the county Housing Authority. “I’m shy by nature, and this has given me a way to express myself in a way that I couldn’t with acting.” Baca keeps a strict diet and exercise routine, and his side hustle as romance novel eye candy has forced him to kick it up a notch. “After I beat Fabio’s record, people were asking me how long I planned to keep doing this,” Baca says. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll keep going until they name a sandwich after me.”
PENINSULA
Best Wine Shop
Vin, Vino, Wine
437 California Ave, Palo Alto
Country Corner
3207 Alameda de las Pulgas
Artisan Wine Depot
2482 W El Camino Real, Mountain View
Best Hair Salon
Di Pietro Todd
2307 Birch St, Palo Alto
Allure
888 Villa St, Mountain View
Edge
250 University Ave, Palo Alto
WEST VALLEY
Best Wine Shop
Enoteca La Storia
416 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
Rootstock
217 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
Tessora’s Barra di Vino Rootstock
234 E Campbell Ave, Campbell
Best Hair Salon
Rage
565 E Campbell Ave, Campbell
Faux
78 E Campbell Ave, Campbell
Salon Mona Lisa
151 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos
CENTRAL VALLEY
Best Wine Shop
Coach House Liquors
1655 S De Anza Blvd, Cupertino
Bobby’s Liquor
2327 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
The Wine Club
1200 Coleman Ave, Santa Clara
Best Hair Salon
Sanctuary Salon
790 Lincoln St, Santa Clara
Salon Blu
489 S Market St, San Jose
Wilson’s
198 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale
SAN JOSE & SOUTH VALLEY
Best Wine Shop
Wine Affairs
1435 The Alameda, San Jose
The Wine Club
1200 Coleman Ave, Santa Clara
Maplewood Market & Liquors
2620 Union Ave, San Jose
Best Hair Salon
Limón Salon
3410 Stevens Creek Blvd #101, San Jose
Bigsby House
1070 Park Ave, San Jose
Bedlam Beauty & Barber
200 S 1st St, San Jose
FREMONT & MILPITAS
Best Wine Shop
The Bottle Shop
40919 Fremont Blvd #4, Fremont
WineGlobe
1639 S Main St, Milpitas
Milpitas Liquors
190 S Main St, Milpitas
Best Hair Salon
Ma Belle Hair
6449 Thornton Ave, Newark
Excellent Hair Salon
3864 Mowry Ave, Fremont
M Salon
39185 Farwell Dr, Fremont
