ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION
Best Bowling Alley Bowlmor
Since 2007, Bowlmor Cupertino has been the ideal recreation destination, not only for bowling enthusiasts and league players but for families, children, office parties and more. Beyond the 32 lanes of bowling under black lights and the private eight-lane bowling suite with custom billiards tables, Bowlmor features full-scale indoor bocce courts, an interactive arcade, table tennis and hockey. The menu includes terrific food for pizza parties; Italian feasts; barbecue; burgers; main courses; sampler plates and a full bar. Call one of Bowlmor’s party planners to develop the perfect package for any event. Come party and play! 10123 N. Wolfe Road,
No. 20, Cupertino
Phone: 408-252-2695 bowlmor.com/location/ bowlmor-cupertino
Open Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. – midnight; Friday 2 p.m. – 1 a.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. – midnight
Best Dive Bar Black Watch
Those who prefer a rough-around-the-edges bar experience will love Black Watch, a legendary spot for great beer, cocktail specials, a game of darts and good camaraderie. Known for friendly service and serving everyone from millennials to Boomers in the same night, Black Watch is a Los Gatos favorite. It’s even a destination for people familiar with the area and just passing through town. Make no mistake; it’s a hole-in-the wall for all the right reasons. But Black Watch is also home to some surprises, like original cocktails you can’t find elsewhere, good rock ‘n’ roll music and a staff that makes you feel at home. 141 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos 408-354-2200
Best Fitness Club Best Yoga Studio Flex Fusion Studios
Nothing matches the quality and care of a boutique fitness center and, at Flex Fitness Studios in Campbell’s Merrill Gardens, that’s exactly what members get. With the looks and feel of a pricey spa, the community of a boutique and the variety of a gym, Flex Fusion is a comprehensive South Bay studio. Besides five varieties of barre classes, various circuit and “boot camp” style classes, four yoga classes (with one that incorporates TRX), Flex Fusion hosts free events and provides rewards just for working out! It’s ideal for those seeking variety in full-body fitness classes taught by warm, caring, intuitive instructors. 2125 S. Winchester Blvd., Campbell 408-915-3626 flexfusionstudios.com
Best Happy Hour Best Specialty Cocktail Mortar & Pestle
Talk about innovative! This year’s winner for Best Happy Hour and Best Specialty Cocktail is Mortar & Pestle. The chic Happy Hour spot is the offspring of the Curry Up Now Indian street-food trucks and takes Happy Hour to new heights. Clever bites pulled from the Curry Up Now menu (including some Indian-Chinese fusion dishes) complement a creative cocktail menu
featuring the likes of the Mortar and Pestle itself, fashioned with Mortar & Pestle agave spirit, rose agave and a blend of fruits spices and Marvel bitters, or the Bangalore Old Fashioned, made with Garam Masala and Indian rum. Happy Hour is seven days a week at two locations.
In San Jose, from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. at 3250 Zanker Road, 408-770-3541 In San Mateo, from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at 130 Main St., 650-830-5310 http://www.curryupnow.com/ bar-locations
Best Karaoke Bar 7 Bamboo
Located in the heart of Japantown, 7 Bamboo is the best karaoke bar in Silicon Valley, filled with “fun people, good vibes, great bartenders” and “nice ambience after the remodel.” Some people even describe 7 Bamboo as a home away from home: They love the KJs, bartenders, staff and “great karaoke 7 nights a week.” Good camaraderie means beginners feel at-home and in their own skin when trying karaoke. 7 Bamboo hosts occasional contests, giving crooners a chance to show their stuff. That said, even those who can’t carry a tune get a good round of applause. Ask about special pricing for parties of 25 or more. 162 Jackson St., San Jose 408-279-9937 7bamboolounge.com
Open 7 days a week: 5 a.m. – 2 p.m. (over-21 hours apply certain days/ times).
Best Live Theater Naatak
Recognized in Silicon Valley for several years running for Best Live Theater, Naatak features professional actors and Silicon Valley tech professionals onstage performing Indian live drama and, now, Improv. In its 23 years, Naatak has presented 63 productions or original adaptations and more than 1,000 performers. Many Naatak productions are performed in Hindi (with English supertitles). Given the American roots of improv comedy, Improv shows at Naatak are decidedly “Hinglish” — a comic blend of Hindi and English, with the subject matter of each play inspired by the audience and acted out spontaneously by performers. 2110-D Walsh Ave., Santa Clara 408-499-5692 naatak.com
Best Mini Golf Course Golfland
Offering much more than the fun of state-of-the-art miniature golf, all three Silicon Valley Golfland
locations are, in reality, amusement parks built around world-famous miniature golf courses. The Emerald Glen/San Jose location, for instance, includes two entertaining courses plus a massive video game arcade, a snack bar and three seasonal waterslides. The Sunnyvale location has two lively miniature golf courses plus the arcade and snack bar, while the Milpitas location features three themed courses, arcades, snack bar, laser tag, a laser maze and a bumper car course. The Golfland experience makes a terrific office party, reunion or birthday party for “kids” of all ages. Tip from those in-the-know: Purchase tickets online to save money! Milpitas Golfland: 1199 Jacklin Road, 408-263-6855
Emerald Hill Golfland: 976 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, 408-225-1533 Golfland USA Sunnyvale: 855 E. El Camino Real, 408-245-8434 golfland.com
Best Outdoor Event/Festival Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival
It’s a year in the making every time and it’s worthy of marking your calendar several months in advance. For a full weekend every April, the city of Cupertino celebrates its sister city of Toyokawa, Japan, by offering what has grown into one of the South Bay’s most treasured festivals. From cultural exhibits featuring dance, music, displays, workshops and hands-on activities to amphitheater presentations of Taiko drum groups, Japanese dancers, live Koto (Japanese harp) performances and various martial arts, celebrations of the rich traditions of Japanese and Japanese-American history inspire people of all ages. Memorial Park, 10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino
Visit cupertinocherryblossomfestival. org for 2019 dates.
Best Place to Take Your Kids to Play Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
What started as a modest, 7-acre recreation space in the early 1960s quickly became the area’s most
treasured family fun destination. Following a 2008 renovation that incorporated innovative Green Building and design, Happy Hollow spans 16 acres and features a zoo, an amusement park, classes and camps, conservation programs, hands-on activities, and a beloved puppet theater. Located at San Jose’s 172-acre Kelley Park and supported by the Happy Hollow Foundation, Happy Hollow is a division of the city of San Jose Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services Department. New in 2018 are “story stations” near benches throughout the park where families can rest and read books donated by the San Jose Public Library. 1300 Senter Road, San Jose 408-794-7596 www.hhpz.org
Open year-round and 7 days a week April through October.
Best Sports Bar Rookies Sports Lodge
For lunch, Happy Hour, game time or family dinners, Rookies Sports Lodge delivers spirit, service and a good time. The Willow Glen spot — where it all began — has 22+ HDTV screens including a 90-inch and three 80-inch screens, plus a tailgate room for private groups up to 45 people. The newest Rookies is located on the iconic, downtown corner of South First and San Fernando Streets, where it is gaining popularity for its patio for up to 60 people and The Luxury Box — a private suite for up to 16. They can handle full-facility parties of up to 200! Menus feature sandwiches, pizzas, salads, tasty appetizers, a full bar, great beer and copious cheering. Downtown at 99 S. First St., San Jose, 408-292-4300 Willow Glen, 1535 Meridian Ave., San Jose, 408-445-2121 rookieslodge.com