As they do every October, the best and brightest stars of Los Gatos are shining radiantly. However, unlike the celestial bodies dotting the cold autumn night skies, these stars get their shine from the glowing recommendations of the voters who decreed them the Best of Los Gatos for 2002. After pawing through hundreds of ballots that arrived by way of U.S. Mail, email and even hand-delivery, we've tallied the collective votes and are ready—and also quite proud—to announce the results. The winners should be proud, too. After all, not every civil servant, volunteer, teacher, restaurateur, clergyperson, veterinarian, handyman, beautician or store clerk has what it takes to rise above all the others.

Since it's considered impolite for folks to toot their own horn, the Los Gatos Weekly-Times is ready, willing and able to toot it for them. In our role as counters of the votes, and reporters of the results, we make no endorsement; we just report what readers have said.

Project Director: Shari Kaplan

Project Designer: Tiffani McGivern

Online Production: Stephanie R. Woehrmann

Writers: Kate Carter, Mary Ann Cook, Suzanne Cristallo,
Alice Huang, Shari Kaplan, Mandy Major, Sandy Sims,
Gloria Wang, Grant Wernick

Photographers: George Sakkestad, Stephen Dorian Miner,
Paul Myers, Marc Kocina, Tsutomu Fujita

Online Copy Editing: Elaine Bartlett

Photograph by Paul Myers Darya Pilram, drum major for Westmont High School, leads the band in practice before the start of the Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade.

Parking

Any Los Gatan will say that finding a parking space in the downtown area is almost impossible much of the time, even in the midst of the current economic downturn. And with this year's N. Santa Cruz Avenue streetscape project and Town Plaza Park renovation, several spaces were temporarily removed, which made a world of difference.

But that brings some good news: our downtown is still viable and healthy, despite some drop in retail sales. For the holidays, the town is planning a special parking plan to accommodate the rush of shoppers in November and December.

Plus, the new downtown parking management plan includes a zoned approach to parking, which will be implemented before the end of the year. The six zones have varying parking limitations and cars must be moved to a different zone after time is up.


Best Community Event (tie)

Tree-lighting ceremony

Children's Christmas Holiday Parade

While the perennially popular Los Gatos Children's Christmas & Holiday Parade is also a perennial Best of Los Gatos winner, this year voters seemed ambivalent. Rather than give all their kudos to the parade, which takes place the first Saturday of December, an equal number mentioned the tree lighting that precedes the parade by one day.

The tree-lighting ceremony begins on early Friday evening in the Town Plaza on the eve of the parade. The Los Gatos High School Wildcat Marching Band plays, carolers sing, dignitaries speak and everyone seems to be drinking hot cocoa, cider, coffee or tea. At the appointed time, the mayor flips a switch that illuminates colorful lights on Los Gatos' own "living Christmas tree," a deodar cedar planted by the Los Gatos History Club in 1923. Soon after, Santa Claus and company arrive via a local fire truck, to the delight of throngs of children.

The next day is the parade itself, co-sponsored by the Los Gatos Lions Club and Los Gatos­Saratoga Department of Community Education & Recreation. The shindig begins at 11 a.m. at the intersection of N. Santa Cruz and Almendra avenues. After hanging a left at W. Main Street, the eclectic entourage proceeds until reaching Los Gatos High School, when the fun is over for another year. But what an exciting event while it lasts: scores of marching bands from throughout the South Bay; groups walking exotic and domestic animals; decorated cars carrying local dignitaries; vintage fire trucks; Girl and Boy Scout troops; equestrians; and fanciful floats crafted by folks of all ages representing businesses, schools, clubs and many other organizations. Last to roll down the parade route is, of course, Santa himself!

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Los Gatos' vice mayor, Sandy Decker, is well-known for listening to her constituents and for her interest in community events. She is expected to become the town's mayor in November.

Sandy Decker

When she was elected to the Los Gatos Town Council in 2000, Sandy Decker swore to serve only one term on the council. And what a term it's been--halfway through, and Los Gatans are already calling her the best.

Decker has a reputation as a council member who's there for the people. She's available, always willing to lend an ear and frequently shows up for neighborhood meetings to which she's been invited. Decker has also worked to keep her promise to preserve the Los Gatos of the 1970s, which is when she first moved to town. She was the sole dissenting vote against the Sobrato research-and-development and housing campus in February, saying she wanted more time to refine the project.

A former teacher, Decker and her husband, Gil, live in a restored historic home on Glenridge Avenue. Decker's term as vice-mayor ends Nov. 18, and it is expected she will be appointed as the town's next mayor.


Best youth sports coach, civic-minded citizen

Mike Wasserman

Mike Wasserman coached Bernadette Frager's son in youth basketball for just one season several years ago, but Frager still raves about Wasserman, calling him the best youth sports coach she's ever known.

"He's in it for the kids, and he makes them all feel really good," Frager says. She recalls Wasserman calling her home after practice a handful of times during the season to talk to the young basketball player and compliment him on the things he did well.

"Compared to a lot of the parent and coach behavior out there, he's a shining star," Frager says.

In the last eight years, Wasserman has assisted the youth in Little League, National Junior Basketball and Fisher Middle School basketball. Wasserman also initiated the Little League's Zero Tolerance for Violence pledge, which parents and coaches sign.

Robert Devincenzi, who coached Little League with Wasserman for three years, says Wasserman is fair to the players and listens to them. "I truly believe Mike has the interests of the kids at heart," Devincenzi says.

Wasserman isn't just interested in youth sports, either. He's so passionate about the community that he threw his hat in the ring and is a candidate for Los Gatos Town Council.


Best Best community-involved business

C.B. Hannegan's

Need food for an event that will benefit Los Gatos youth? Looking for funds for a community group? Want a sponsor for a local nonprofit medical organization? Irish pub and restaurant C.B. Hannegan's is the place to turn.

C.B. Hannegan's traditionally coordinates the meals for a Thanksgiving dinner at the Los Gatos Senior Center and the refreshments for the Haunted Forest at Oak Meadow Park; donates money to local schools and helps out at the annual Los Gatos Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony. "There must be 20 to 30 things a year that we do," says co-owner John Hannegan. Hannegan's partner, Chris Benson, is the face behind the barbecue at many of the events.

"The idea of being a local pub--you're trying to be part of the community," Hannegan says. And being part of the community, for C.B. Hannegan's, includes giving back to the town for the last 22 years.

C.B. Hannegan's, 208 Bachman Ave., 408.395.1233.

Photograph by George Sakkestad Antiquarium co-owner and longtime volunteer Shirley Henderson was fêted for her 70th birthday, when community members pitched in to purchase a bench in her honor. Readers says she's the town's best volunteer.

Shirley Henderson

Antiquarium co-owner and longtime volunteer Shirley Henderson was fêted for her 70th birthday, when community members pitched in to purchase a bench in her honor. Readers says she's the town's best volunteer.

For the third year in a row, Shirley Henderson has been named Best Volunteer by Los Gatans. And if Henderson continues doing what she does best--investing her energy into the town she loves--she'll likely keep that title for years to come.

Since moving to town 36 years ago, Henderson has built up an impressive résumé that includes leading Girl Scout troops, joining the town's General Plan Task Force, sitting on the town's Redevelopment Advisory Committee, helping found the Newsrack Committee and running the Adopt-a-Bench program. These days, Henderson is most known for her work as chairwoman of the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee, but is still involved with various other local organizations.

Henderson has become such a pillar of the community that, for her 70th birthday this spring, friends and colleagues pitched in to install a bench in front of Icing on the Cake bearing a plaque with Henderson's name.


Best place of worship

St. Mary's Catholic Church

For more than 120 years, St. Mary's has been a Los Gatos institution; first, as a mission on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, and now as a community church and school on Bean Avenue.

St. Mary's actively seeks to serve its community by helping the needy with monthly food drives and visits to local homeless shelters and by bringing Los Gatans together at its annual Country Fair.

What St. Mary's does best, however, is bring people together in worship. The church holds several Masses each week: four on Sundays alone, with a weekend attendance of approximately 1,800. The Rev. Justin Zawadzki is known for giving messages that are relevant to today's society, such as the clergy's need to be honorable, following the news of a scandal in Los Gatos' Sacred Heart Jesuit Center.

St. Mary's also participated in bringing people of different faiths together and hosting an interfaith prayer service on Sept. 11, 2002, with nine other local religious groups.

St. Mary's Catholic Church, 219 Bean Ave., 408.354.3726.


Best neighborhood block party (tie)

St. Mary's Catholic Church Tait Avenue Halloween Party

Longridge Road Fourth of July Party

Two Los Gatos neighborhoods celebrate two different holidays in high style, with parties that have slowly gained steam to become a point of pride for residents.

Live Oak Manor marks Independence Day with a neighborhood potluck. Now in its fourth year, about 200 Los Gatans come out to Longridge Road the Saturday after the Fourth of July for a day of barbecuing, kids' games and live music. "It's old people, young people, everybody," says resident Virginia Doss. Doss says four families are in charge of organizing the event, but all participants chip in to pay for the tables, canopies and jump house for children.

Donna Carson, who lives in the area, says the party is a great way for the residents to get to know each other. According to Carson, invitations are sent out in April so the households will mark the date on their calendars.

Halloween is a big deal for Tait Avenue—so big that many of the neighbors pull out all the stops to decorate their homes for the estimated 2,000 children from all over who come trick-or-treating. Each year, the street does Halloween bigger and better. Oct. 31, 2001, included the movie Fantasia projected onto a sidewalk in someone's front yard, a fog machine, "ghosts" popping down from trees and sound effects at more than one home.


Best high school club

Key Club

This spring, more than 100 Los Gatos High School students showed up to donate blood. The Red Cross, which was co-sponsoring the event, was unprepared for the volume of volunteers. And what was the reaction of the school's Key Club, also sponsoring the drive? Elation. Says senior Matt Ebrahimoon, president of the club: "People don't get out of classes to get a needle stuck in them."

As the student leg of the Kiwanis Club, the Key Club emphasizes both community service and leadership. Club members help out at the Los Gatos Fiesta de Artes and AIDS walks, tutor peers, wash cars and feed the hungry, but also attend annual leadership camps.

Kiwanis member John Rountree, who serves as an advisor to the club, says he loves how the students "enthusiastically embrace the concept of community service." Ebrahimoon adds, "This is something you have to do; you have to give back to the community."


Best fundraiser

Los Gatos Community Foundation Garden Party

The Los Gatos Community Foundation brought a taste of 19th century France to town this year with its lavish and elegant event called "Moulin Rouge," its 10th garden party.

The garden party is the foundation's annual big fundraiser, with tickets going for $125 each and many guests dressing up to fit the theme—in this case, the women wearing corsets and extravagant hats and the men in tuxedos. This year's party included dinner, a silent auction, a fashion show and music. Many town movers and shakers attend the annual event.

According to foundation vice president Paul Dubois, the event raised $15,000—slightly more than it did last year. The funds go to the organization's own projects that benefit the town and to other nonprofit groups. The foundation also regularly hands out grants at the garden party.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Chef Adan Sanchez puts the finishing touches on a meal at Tapestry, a restaurant voters consider as the best place to drop $200 on dinner.

Among the myriad types of foods, drinks and snacks Los Gatans enjoy, one thing remains constant, and that is the quest for the best. Not just any establishment will do when it comes time for important moments like sealing deals, celebrating with the sports team or making eyes at the eligible singles passing by.

The economy may be in a recession, but everyone has to eat. When Los Gatans do, they know what they like and where they like it. And so, from health food to junk food to seafood, we are proud to present an array of eateries voted number one in their leagues.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner The comprehensive menu, inexpensive-yet delicious-Mexican meals and fast service earned Andale four different honors in this year's Best of Los Gatos.

Andale Taqueria

The next time you have a long day and don't feel like cooking, are alone and short on funds and feel like some wholesome Mexican food as a pick-me-up, try Andale Taqueria. The busy Mexican restaurant at two handy locations across the street from each other on N. Santa Cruz Avenue is the answer, or so say voters who claim it's the best of those categories.

Solo diners like it because a line of stools facing a mirrored wall allows them to grab a seat at the long counter while still seeing what and who is happening behind them. The price is right, too. Dinner of a burrito and salad, and maybe a glass of wine, can be had for under $15. On nice evenings, the outdoor patio at the No. 21 location is great for sharing a table with other solos—that is, if the occasional empty seat is not claimed by hovering space-spotters whose duty it is to spot and grab while their accomplices order dinner.

The restaurant is appreciated for not using lard in its cooking. Mesquite wood flames reach up to a rotisserie skewered with plump chickens rotating slowly to absorb the woodsy flavor and drip away the fat. Several cooks working side by side fold, plump, stuff, ladle, chop and sprinkle the various ingredients in salads, enchiladas, tacos, taquitos, rellenos, chimichangas and burritos while eager customers watch.

Andale Taqueria, 6 and 21 N. Santa Cruz Ave. 408.395.0810.


Best place to take a sports team

Double D's Sports Grille

The friendly din is constant: roaring sports stadium crowds on the 22 TV sets, excited chatter at the tables, clacking pool balls and pulsing video games. It can be heard any day of the week at Double D's at the corner of Highway 9 and N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

It's the best place in town to take the bowling, soccer, football, baseball, basketball, tennis, swimming or chess teams, or any other sports-minded group for a meal-out treat. The younger teams will be rewarded with a special kids' menu and decor enhanced by a collection of sports memorabilia hanging from the walls and the ceilings. But mostly they'll like the ambience of acceptance and shared love of sports that can be enjoyed over hearty food. In between courses, there are two pool tables, video games and crayons to keep the excitement focused.

For adult teams, there is a full-service bar and a menu of salads, pizzas, steaks and pastas designed to keep the newly initiated coming back, especially for the special sporting events always tuned in on the TVs and the companionship of like-minded team supporters.

Double D's Sports Grille, 354 N. Santa Cruz Ave. 408.395.6882.


Best restaurant for making deals, ambience, place to celebrate, and salad

California Café

If folks don't know what "eclectic" means, they might look it up in the dictionary. If they were in Los Gatos, however, they'd need only visit California Café, which is the cream of the crop in four categories!

Why is the Café tops for making deals? Perhaps it's the ambiance, which was also rated number one. The Café is classy but not pretentious, well-appointed but not ostentatious. The warm earth tones of the decor put folks in a warm, friendly mood to match—important for high-powered business lunches. The spaciousness of the seating is also a plus, as every table or booth has its own "personal space." And then there's the elegant food and stylish drinks, over which deals are easily sealed with a handshake and a smile.

Speaking of food, there's no such thing as "just a salad" at the Café. On the contrary, these piled-high displays are enough to satisfy vegetarians and omnivores alike. Two examples are Caesar salad with hearts of romaine, reggiano parmesan, focaccia croutons and white anchovies; and young field greens with golden apples, toasted pistachios, dried cranberries and orange vinaigrette, with optional gorgonzola or goat cheese.

Whether its patrons are toasting a birthday, an upcoming wedding or a company Christmas party, the Café is a great place to celebrate. Aside from its many attributes, it also sports a fully stocked bar, a long wine list, a cozy lounge area, main courses to make a European bistro envious, a dessert tray to die for and live jazz music Friday and Saturday nights. Why celebrate anywhere else?

California Café, 50 University Ave. (in Old Town), 408.354.8118.


Best wine selection

Café Marcella

It's run by a pair of French natives who understand the importance of warm surroundings, creative food and excellent wines. Café Marcella is unpretentiously located on quiet Village Lane—a lively bistro with hardwood floors, intimately arranged tables and chairs and a small bar where the bartender can suggest appropriate wine pairings for the specials of the evening. Known for its "fusion cuisine," which combines perhaps Asian dipping sauces or spices with a southern French or Mediterranean dish, the restaurant is known for including an element of surprise in its menu.

Next door, in a small retail area called Marcella's Market, a particular wine enjoyed before or with dinner can be purchased after normal business hours by asking for an appointment. Wines from around the world and gourmet items like jars of anchovies, olive oils, mustards and sardines can also be purchased there.

Café Marcella, 368 Village Lane. 408.354.8006.


Best place to see and be seen, martini, seafood, place for singles to mingle

Steamer's Grillhouse

While singles sipping martinis scout the entering throngs and the entering throngs flick their eyes over the room, a well-seasoned ritual is taking place at Steamer's Grillhouse. It's called looking while looking good in a place that has come to be known among the singles and business sets as the place to see and be seen.

Whether it is a good martini, a good contact or an excellent dish of crispy Caribbean prawns, Steamer's has been voted the best place for all of them. Mingling midst the minions is easy along the big, koa wood-paneled bar which serves as a backdrop for comfortably upholstered booths, low-profile enough so they are unobtrusive in the line of sight.

A collection of piercingly cold martinis, the most famous of all cocktail concoctions, ranges from the warming and elevating Blenton to a soothing White Rose, suitable for sipping near a glowing fireplace, and Steamer's bartenders proffer them expertly. They are an excellent warmup for a moist Chilean sea bass or a shaded glance.

Steamer's Grillhouse, 31 University Ave. 408.395.2722.


Best pizza

Pizza My Heart

Warm air flows into this cozy restaurant as the room is filled with people waiting to order. Pizza My Heart is known for its thin, hand-tossed New York-style pizzas as well as its Sicilian thick-style pizzas. With slices ranging from $2.25 to $3, customers can choose from a variety of different flavors.

Most teenagers play it safe by ordering slices of Maui Wowie (Canadian bacon & pineapple), cheese or pepperoni pizzas. Other individuals may venture into exotic territory with pizzas such as the Pesto (fresh basil, garlic, parmesan and walnuts) and the Prima (Roma tomatoes, olives, olive oil, parmesan and feta cheese.) Whole pizzas can also be made, ranging in sizes of 12, 14 or 18 inches, including Sicilian Style. Whether dropping in for a quick bite or taking advantage of the free delivery, Los Gatans will always enjoy biting into the zesty, cheesy pizzas of Pizza My Heart.

Pizza My Heart, 9 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, 408.395.8834.


Best hamburger, fast food

Happy Hound

Sometimes it's hard to find new things to say about establishments that win year after year. However, that's not a problem with Happy Hound—Los Gatos' most popular fast food and hamburger joint—thanks to "lgcutie," an outspoken user of the Silicon Valley edition of Citysearch.com.

Regarding Happy Hound, the anonymous Los Gatan sums it up well: "OK, so I'm really not a beef eater myself; not to say I never eat it, but for a while I was skeptical of fast food meat. But then I was introduced to Happy Hound and all I have to say about that is YUM! The burger is juicy and thick, with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and a special sauce (believe me it's great) on a sesame bun. Now it is the only place I will go outside of home to get a burger."

It's hard to top that glowing appraisal, but mention should be made that the one-third-pound burgers have even more fixings available, including chili, sauerkraut, mushrooms, bacon and several types of cheese. Those same tasty tidbits can also be placed on the restaurant's juicy, nine-inch long hot dogs. Top these meaty meals off with a heap of hot fries and an old-fashioned milkshake, malt or float, and even the hungriest of hounds will come away happy!

Happy Hound, 15899 Los Gatos Blvd. 408.358.2444.


Best milkshake

The Diner of Los Gatos

Do you ever find yourself reminiscing about days past when young women wore poodle skirts and young men drove their Ford convertibles to the local diner? Those memories are ready to be rediscovered at The Diner of Los Gatos, where folks can drink an excellent milkshake while listening to music from old-fashioned jukeboxes.

For more than 20 years, The Diner of Los Gatos has been proudly serving Los Gatans looking for a friendly atmosphere and delicious drinks. It's almost a golden rule that nobody can leave The Diner without trying one of their famous milkshakes, served "The Old Fashioned Way" in a stainless metal container. The chocolate-flavored milkshake seems to be the classic favorite, while other flavors like vanilla, strawberry, butterscotch, banana and pineapple are equally satisfying. These satiating drinks cost $3.95, and with an extra dollar, fresh bananas can be added to enhance any milkshake experience. Los Gatans can always be sure to count on these milkshakes to make any day more enjoyable.

The Diner of Los Gatos, 235 Los Gatos­Saratoga Road, 408.354.4886.


Best smoothies

Tom & Dave's Juice It!

Forget Gatorade—after a hot day's run or just a stroll in the neighborhood, Los Gatans like to quench their thirst with fresh, cold, blended smoothies. Juice It! offers a whopping 35 different smoothies on the menu while also serving fresh carrot, orange and wheatgrass juices. Smoothie varieties include the Razzle Dazzle (raspberry juice, strawberries and banana), Mango Mania (passionfruit-mango, strawberries and banana) and Krazy Kimba (strawberries, blueberries and banana). The most popular smoothie is No. 20, Strawberry Fields, with strawberries, nonfat yogurt, bananas and apple juice. For the health-conscious, one of Juice It's 10 nutritional supplements or "catalysts" can be added to any drink.

There are three Juice It! businesses, the first of which opened in San Francisco, and later in Los Gatos and Oakland. With one so close by, Los Gatans can savor the nutritious and delicious taste of the smoothies any time.

Tom & Dave's Juice It, 81 W Main Street, 408.395.2333.


Best sandwich

Togo's

With two dozen sandwiches on the menu, Togo's has something for every taste bud—from mild to wild. Examples of the former include ham and cheese, turkey and cranberry, albacore tuna salad and egg salad. Examples of the latter include the Italian with salami, capicolla, mortadella, cotto and provolone; the pastrami Reuben with heated pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing; and the Sicilian chicken with roasted chicken, zesty tomato cream sauce and melted provolone.

In between these extremes are sandwiches like the chunky chicken salad made with almonds, celery, pickles, onions and spices; and the trendy California-style roasted chicken breast with lettuce, tomatoes and a creamy spread made from kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes.

Holding all this good stuff together is bread in the form of tender whole wheat, white or onion rolls. Whether eaten in the restaurant or taken "to go," Togo's sandwiches are always made fast and fresh.

Togo's, 794 Blossom Hill Road (in King's Court Shopping Center), 408.358.3463.


Best place to drop $200 on dinner

Tapestry

At the trendy Tapestry—subtitled A California Bistro—customers are exposed to exquisite California cuisine as well as dishes from different cultures.

With a seating capacity of 50 in the dining room and 50 on the patio, customers are sure to enjoy a memorable night. Popular dishes include the lemon-dill linguini with shiitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and grilled corn ($18) and the pan-roasted salmon with mushrooms and onions ($22). One bite of the delectable Tapestry Chocolate Cake with caramel mascarpone cream ($7.25) will remind diners all over again why they love chocolate so much.

The newly remodeled patio, with an added canopy, lights and an herb garden, expands Tapestry's excellent atmosphere. Happy hour, otherwise known as "Why Not Wine on Wednesday?" runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. (you guessed it!) every Wednesday evening. Tapestry is a perfect place to relax and try a classy glass of wine, like Chateau D'Armajan Sauternes ($7.50). At Tapestry, you may leave with a noticeably thinner wallet, but you'll definitely leave with a very satisfied feeling.

Tapestry, 11 College Ave., 408.395.2808.


Best bagels

Noah's New York Bagels

One of 87 Noah's Bagels retail stores in America, Noah's Bagels in Los Gatos is known for its warm, toasty New York-style bagels. Since 1989, with the opening of the first Noah's Bagels in Berkeley, customers have been drawn to the sweet aroma of the bakery. In addition to its aromatic bagels, some Yiddish language can be found on signs around the dining room: "Be a Mensch. Schlepp some bagels." With 18 different flavors of bagels to choose from, patrons can pick everything from plain and sesame seed to asiago cheese and cracked peppercorn potato. A single bagel costs 69 cents, while a power bagel costs 99 cents.

To complement their bagels, customers can either order a shmear to go, costing $2.79 to $3.79, or simply a bagel with shmear spread on it. Shmear flavors are abundant as well and range from plain old cream cheese to triple pepper lox hummus. With its wide variety of selections and breathtaking aroma, any bagel-craving passerby will soon find himself or herself inside, chewing on a soft, toasty bagel. Oy Vay!

Noah's New York Bagels, 15996 Los Gatos Blvd., 408.358.5895.


Best asian food (tie)

Jasmine

Green Papaya

When searching for an Asian restaurant at which to dine, Los Gatans will be hard-pressed to choose between two excellent restaurants: the Chinese cuisine of Jasmine or the Vietnamese cuisine of Green Papaya.

Located in the Lyndon Plaza, Jasmine offers exquisite Szechwan-Mandarin dishes. Along with the appetizers and soups such as egg rolls and hot and sour soup, Jasmine offers the traditional noodles and rice, poultry, seafood, vegetables, beef and pork dishes. Favorites include the Honey Walnut Shrimp ($9.95) and the Tangerine Chicken ($8.95.) The former dish consists of large prawns mixed with walnuts and white sauce, while the latter consists of chicken dipped in spicy tangerine sauce. Prices are reasonable, with the most expensive dish costing just $9.95.

Open for more than 2 ¹/2 years now, The Green Papaya is going strong. Customers love and most frequently order the Crispy Imperial Rolls ($6.95), Crispy Vegetarian Rolls ($6.95), Fresh Spring Rolls ($6.95) and Vegetarian Spring Rolls ($6.95) as appetizers. The salads are also a favorite, the most renowned of them being the Green Papaya Salad ($8.75), consisting of thin green papaya, mango, carrots, tomatoes and vinaigrette.

Jasmine Chinese Cuisine, 20 S. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.2373.

The Green Papaya, 137 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.9115.


Best italian food

Valeriano's

Valeriano's is the place to be to taste fine Northern Italian cuisine and experience excellent service. Spacious ceilings encompass the former bank-turned-Italian ristorante and provide customers with a relaxing, vibrant atmosphere.

The menu is pricey, but diners will see the reason for it in the quality of the food—this is no "Mario's Italian Joint." Valeriano's offers the traditional starters, soups and salads, pasta and risotto and main courses. Main courses come beautifully prepared and seasoned; favorites include the eggplant napoleon with tomatoes, vegetables and mozzarella ($14), grilled veal chop with mountain gorgonzola and peppercorn sauce ($32) and seared salmon encrusted in cashews with lemon butter. A new item is the steak Florentine, a 24-ounce porterhouse steak with sea salt and extra virgin olive oil ($32). The main courses are so delicious and authentic, anything finer would require a plane ticket to Venice, Italy.

In addition to attracting business people, Valeriano's is a great place to bring a close one, or even the family. By the time you've finished a meal there, you'll be cleaning your mouth with your bib and exclaiming "Mama Mia!"

Valeriano's, 60 W. Main St., 408.354.8108.


Best coffeehouse

Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company

A great coffeehouse ain't just a place to grab a good cup of coffee. It's much more than that: it's a central meeting place—a place well-known throughout town where customers can visit in groups, settle down to read a book or type away on a laptop computer.

And as all Los Gatans—and many out-of-towners—know, that's the description of the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company. Founded in 1982 by resident Teri Hope, the Company serves up smoothies, pastries, mochas, chai teas, and, of course, the standard cup of coffee. The store offers brews from all over the world, but also serves special varieties such as "Teri's Los Gatos Blend."

Patrons often choose to sit on a bench outside or on the ledge by the front door. Passersby regularly see groups of bicyclists, police officers or students taking breaks in one of the store's three rooms.

Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 W. Main St., 408.354.3263.


Best bar

Black Watch

Patrons have been raising pints and downing drinks at the Black Watch for 44 years.

A haven for weekday breaks and weekend fun, the Black Watch is a place for the locals. Set to dim lights, with black booths lining the wall and a miniature game room in back, the Black Watch calls in all kinds of cats depending on the time and day of the week.

A mid-day haunt for the older crowds gives way to weekend romps for the younger 20s crowd. But no matter the makeup of patrons that come here, the feel is always the same—welcoming, relaxed, and a sure bet for a finely mixed drink.

Although the bar does not offer food, customers are welcome to bring in their own sustenance. There is only one rule—make sure to leave room for their signature Kamikazes, which come in a surprising and tasty selection of fruity flavors.

Black Watch, 141 ¹/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.2200.


Best breakfast

Los Gatos Cafe

For its first 15 years, this popular breakfast venue was owned by Dino and Mary Masouris and was known as The Broken Egg. In the late 1980s, the couple sold the establishment to Robert Morcate of San Jose and his childhood friend Dean Reno, who have been running it as the Los Gatos Cafe ever since.

Breakfast is served all day at this small, friendly diner. Diners hankering for a hearty day-starter have plenty to choose from, including Papas Santa Cruz (herb potatoes topped with chicken breast slices, two cheeses, guacamole, sour cream and tomatoes) or Eggs Alexandria (poached eggs on English muffins with Canadian bacon, artichoke hearts and asparagus tips with Hollandaise sauce).

Another popular option is the Two-Egg Breakfast, which includes two eggs in any style, herb potatoes, choice of eight different breakfast meats, and choice of toast, raspberry coffee cake or muffin. Down-home grits can be substituted for potatoes.

Patrons with lighter or sweeter appetites can enjoy breakfasts like apricot, blueberry or banana French toast; Copenhagen pancakes (crepes filled with raspberry cream cheese and topped with fruit); a traditional flapjack stack or even a simple fruit smoothie with a toasted bagel.

Los Gatos Cafe, 340 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.4647.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Sushi masters Paul Ko and Sam Suh show off one of their masterpieces, a sushi boat, at Kamakura, the Japanese restaurant voters proclaim the best sushi-eaters delight.

Kamakura

Japan may be 5,000 miles away, but just by walking into Kamakura's Sushi and Sake House, it suddenly appears to be so much nearer. With authentic Japanese decorations on the walls and waiters in Japanese attire, Kamakura gives its customers a sense of the culture as well as some very appetizing food.

Favorites include the Kamakura Roll (shrimp tempura and cucumber wrapped with avocado and tobiko), Spicy Tuna Hand Roll and California Roll. For those who want to try deep-fried sushi, I Love You and Firecracker are among the most popular choices. Kamakura specials also include the Yumi Yumi Roll, which consists of shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, cream cheese and tobiko and is incidentally quite "yummy." Kamakura is perfect for lunchers, who can order the lunch box special for $9.95.

Want to host a party with great Japanese decor? Come to Kamakura, where private rooms are available for birthday parties, weddings and other events. Otherwise, keep the party at home by utilizing the restaurant's catering services for special group events.

Kamakura, 135 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.6650.


Best croissants

La Maison du Croissant

With one bite, Los Gatans are sure to fall in love with the delicate yet crisp taste of the croissant. Customers come to relax, sit and read the newspaper while they eat their favorite pastries. The croissants, ranging from $2.25 to $3.15, come in many flavors: plain, almond, chocolate, cinnamon, cinnamon-raisin, fruit, cheese, cream cheese, ham and cheese and turkey and cheese.

In addition to croissants, the bakery also sells other pastries, cold drinks, espressos, sandwiches, soups, salads and gelato. The gelato, which comes from Berkeley, is creamy and delicious, with flavors like coffee Dutch almond, French vanilla bean and burgundy cherry.

With so many treats, it is no wonder La Maison Du Croissant is a favorite among Los Gatans.

La Maison Du Croissant, 303 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.4441.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Brewmaster Sherman Thacher shows off his creations at the Los Gatos Brewing Company, which features six original house brews and dozens more on tap.

Los Gatos Brewing Company

For those who have outgrown cheap beer and understand the beauty of a full-bodied home brew, slide into one of Los Gatos Brewing Company's glossy wooden booths and be prepared to be wowed.

Andy Pavicich, along with his father and brother, has been brewing and blossoming the Brewing Company into a fine establishment these past 10 years of business. Making its home in what has been a car dealership, yacht company and photo studio, the Brewing Company defies stereotypes with its artful stained glass and impressive woodwork.

The beer here is the result of an 11-step brew process overseen by local beer pro Sherman Thacher. LGBC offers standards and specials including Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Hefe Weizen, India Pale Ale, Sherman Stout, Cask Conditioned Ale and Summertime Ale.

The tap revolves regularly, so call ahead if you feel like it, but it sure is more fun to play a tasting round of "What's on Tap Today?"

Los Gatos Brewing Company, 130-G N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.9929.


Best soup

Whole Foods

Steamers

As the weather starts to get colder, rich and creamy soups will serve as perfect appetizers as well as main courses. And where else can one find the best soups but Whole Foods and Steamers, which are both the top choices for Los Gatans!

Shoppers who order soup at Whole Foods can find four different types on any given day. On one recent afternoon, the menu featured tomato vegetable, Thai chicken noodle, black bean and creamy mushroom. According to the folks at Whole Foods, the tomato vegetable soup is one of the most popular. Another popular choice is the black bean, made with beans, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice and pepper. Soups come in three sizes—small, medium and large—and range from $2.99 to $5.49.

Steamer's serves two soups daily. The New England Clam Chowder is a regular on the menu, whereas the second soup changes daily. One can taste a hint of New England in every spoonful of the chowder. Of the flavors that change with the seasons, selections include tortilla soup, Manhattan clam chowder and black bean. Soups can be ordered in a cup ($3.95) or in a bowl ($6.50).

Whole Foods, 15980 Los Gatos Blvd., 408.358.4434.

Steamers, 31 University Ave., 408.395.2722.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Bakers Square in Los Gatos offers more than just great pies. The eatery is also a hot spot for late-night munchies.

Bakers Square

A fixture at the corner of Highway 9 and University Avenue since 1986, Bakers Square just picked up its first award as the best spot for satisfying munchies after-hours. Was it nominated by bar-hoppers, partying night-owls, insomniacs or craving-influenced pregnant women? We'll never know, but what matters is its closing time: 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. That's later than most eateries in Los Gatos, and it's certainly among the least expensive.

Many folks come to "The Square" late for dessert—a cup of coffee and a slice of freshly baked pie. There's certainly enough from which to choose, including (but not limited to) apple, cherry, peach, strawberry rhubarb, blueberry, French apple cream cheese, pumpkin, lemon meringue, key lime, banana cream, chocolate peanut butter cup and caramel pecan silk supreme.

Dessert isn't the only course available on late nights. In fact, the entire menu is there for the asking, right up until closing time. That includes soups, salads, regular sandwiches, pita and focaccia sandwiches, hamburgers, pasta, steak, chicken and fish. Breakfast is served all day and night as well.

Bakers Square, 165 Los Gatos­Saratoga Road (Highway 9), 408.354.4733.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Los Gatans' favorite letter carrier, Johnny Wang, pretends to 'go postal' while picking up his mail deliveries at the Los Gatos post office.

To all these people who work hard for their money, we offer thanks, appreciation and recognition. The money, however, will have to come from elsewhere!


Best accountant

Bauerle, Lee & Associates

Bauerle, Lee and Associates is so good at what it does that it doesn't even need to advertise. In fact, says co-founder Anne Lee, the small accounting firm doesn't even take on new clients unless they have been referred by an existing client. The company handles the accounts of a variety of small businesses and doctors in the Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga area, Lee says, as well as local families needing income tax, estates and trusts services.

"We don't really need any publicity,"
she says.

Lee says the firm, which she and Randy Bauerle opened up in Los Gatos in 1994, is appealing to its clients because of the approachability and responsiveness of its small staff, as well as its excellent service and attention to detail.

Bauerle, Lee & Associates, 20 S. Santa Cruz Ave. in Lyndon Plaza, Suite 210, 408.399.4680.


Best financial whiz

Tom Shafer Jr.

Tom Shafer Jr. comes by his financial wizardry naturally, although he's not exactly sure why an income tax and real estate expert like himself would be called a financial whiz. He, like his parents before him, has been providing the services of Shafer's Income Tax and Real Estate for generations of Los Gatans--the business celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Shafer took over the business started by his parents when his father, Tom Shafer Sr., died in 1986. His mother, Eleanor, still helps out during the busy tax season. Shafer helps people file their taxes, handle tax problems and even deal with IRS audits, as well as brokers real estate deals and serves as a notary public.

A Los Gatan himself, Shafer has lived here since he was 4; he graduated from San José State University in 1981. He carries on the family legacy by providing quality advice and service to families and small businesses in a friendly and personalized way.

Shafer's Income Tax and Real Estate, 612 University Ave., 408.354.3320.

Photograph by George Sakkestad Dr. Darrell Bruga says he likes to get patients actively involved in their treatment process and encourages them to exercise. Perhaps that's why he was named Los Gatos' best chiropractor.

Darrell Bruga

Darrell Bruga says what sets him apart from other chiropractors is his approach to the job. What's important to him is that his clients get the care they need even if that means they exercise on their own at home and receive treatment from other specialists if he can't help them out.

Bruga's been treating patients out of his Los Gatos office for almost three years. While some patients do come on their own to get adjusted, many others are referred to Bruga by their doctors, mostly in the Community Hospital of Los Gatos area, for rehabilitation from on-the-job and automobile accident-related injuries, he says.

But chiropractic doesn't just begin and end at his office, he says.

"Most patients with chronic back pain do better if they get involved in their own treatment," Bruga says, describing how he encourages patients to do back exercises on a regular basis.

He also takes a multidisciplinary approach to his job and works with the area's top spine specialists to provide patients with the appropriate treatment.

Darrell Bruga, 700 W. Parr Ave., Suite G, 408.376.0373.


Best waiter

Dave Parker, Steamer's Grillhouse

Steamer's may have moved and undergone something of a physical transformation, but some things haven't changed, and waiter Dave Parker is one of them.

Parker has worked at Steamer's for 16 years, so he's come to know quite a few Los Gatans and other regulars. In fact, he may be the reason some of them are regulars.

"I've worked in town a long time," he says. "Sometimes [patrons] come in to see me."

Parker is a personable guy who uses his sense of humor and respect for his guests to help them enjoy good food and have a good time. After 25 years waiting, Parker knows what it takes to do his job well: get the order right, try not to spill anything and "make sure that they know I'm there to help them out," he says.

Steamer's Grillhouse, 50 University Ave., 408.395.2722.

Photograph by Mark Kocina Pam Manes always serves food with a smile at Gilley's. Manes lives in town and waited tables in several places before coming to Gilley's, which she says has a real 'family' feel. She shares the best waitress prize with Shannon Howard of the Iron Skillet.

Shannon Howard, Iron Skillet

Pam Manes, Gilley's Coffee Shoppe

It seems the best waitresses in Los Gatos are found at breakfast and lunch.

Both Shannon Howard of the Iron Skillet and Pam Manes of Gilley's Coffee Shoppe help people kick-start their days and get their lunchtime boosts at the town's coffee shops, and they know what they're talking about when it comes to good food and good service.

Howard has been working at the Iron Skillet for 11 years, she says, and as much as her friendly personality and rapport with the customers keeps them coming back, it was the restaurant and its cast of characters that got her to come back after taking a year to try her hand at something else.

"I missed everybody," she says. "You get to know your regular customers and you grow to know their whole families. It's hard to go away."

She even tried to leave again this past year when her family moved out near Manteca, but she returned to her post at the Iron Skillet and is there for breakfasts and lunches on Wednesday and Friday through Sunday.

Manes, too, is an institution at Gilley's, having been there for eight years herself. She brings with her 33 years of waiting experience and says the key to the job is liking people. It doesn't hurt to serve good food, as well, she says.

"You care about [customers]; that's what we do here," she says. "We know their names and follow the moms and their children. People like to talk to you; sometimes you're a bit of a psychologist. You also have to learn the art of talking and working at the same time. It's very fulfilling." Manes works every day except Wednesday and Thursday.

Iron Skillet, 15662 Los Gatos Blvd., 408.356.0600.

Gilley's Coffee Shoppe, 47 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.9710.


Best salesperson

Vicki Nelson

Vicki Nelson loves her job at Time Out. She says she loves the people she works with and enjoys serving her customers. No wonder Los Gatans voted her best salesperson this year. It's great just being around someone like that.

Before Nelson retired from a job with Pacific Bell, she shopped regularly at Time Out when it was located near the Los Gatos Brewery. She was in the store so often, in fact, that she got to know owner Ginger Reynolds-Rowe well.

When Time Out moved to its new location on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, Nelson followed as a customer. Almost two years ago, she switched to the other side of the counter and joined the staff. This must be a match made in heaven because Time Out was also a winner in another category this year.

Time Out, 108 N Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.8653.


Best letter carrier

John Wang

John Wang has been a postal carrier for 18 years, 13 of which have been serving the Glenridge area: he's not just part of the community—he's part of the Glenridge family. Friendly and seemingly untiring, Wang says customer satisfaction is the most important part of the job for him.

This people person goes far, far beyond the usual demands of his appointed rounds. According to a co-worker, Wang is the one who gives extra of himself if something is missing or mislaid. It's not a job for him, it's more like a mission.

"I'll never give up this route," Wang vows. "I gave it up for a brief time once and couldn't wait to get back."


Best real estate agent

Lucy Wedemeyer

Lucy Wedemeyer doesn't just sell houses; she enhances them. A recent case in point is a house that had been sitting on the market quite a while, until she went to work with plans and schemes. She revitalized the garden and created a window box inside.

Not only did the house sell soon after the Wedemeyer-inspired rehab, but the next-door neighbors asked her if their yards could be part of the aesthetic turnaround, too.

Why not, she responded in her spirited way, and set to work with her minions doing just that. Now the entire environs are a model for what can be accomplished with creative ideas, an enthusiastic and organized coordinator and a willing crew to complete the concept.

A perpetually upbeat personality, Wedemeyer isn't wanting in the silliness department either. Colleagues can be greeted with a rubber nose and glasses, reindeer antlers, an arrow through the head—no telling. And, has anyone ever seen her not smiling?

The Wedemeyer name is famous throughout the world, as her football coach husband Charlie is the longest-lived survivor of Lou Gehrig's disease—more than 20 years.

Lucy Wedemeyer, Coldwell Banker, 449 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.355.1500.


Best personal trainer

Eric Funderburk

Eric Funderburk is a Pilates instructor at Courtside Club, works for several chiropractors and has his own private practice. Pilates, while around for decades, is the latest wave in physical fitness, concentrating on total body conditioning, not just an isolated part of the body.

Its premise is four-fold: to increase strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, all in one exercise regime. It promises greater range of motion and mobility along with increased strength. Sports medicine and rehab professionals are increasingly embracing its use.

Funderburk suggests meeting with a trainer weekly, a workout with equipment three times a week and exercises at home (which he prescribes) on the other days. His knowledge of anatomy and how the body moves are further attributes.

Under Funderburk's tutelage such prosaic actions as getting in or out of a car can be done more efficiently—a form of postural re-education, making sure everything is in correct alignment.

Eric Funderburk, Courtside Tennis Club, 14675 Winchester Blvd., 408.395.7111, ext. 241.

Photograph by Paul Myers Captain Duino Giordano was voted best cop, an irony not lost on Giordano who admits he was well known to the town's finest when he was a mischievous teen.

Duino Giordano

As a teenager growing up in Los Gatos, Duino Giordano was notorious for some of his mischievous exploits. The local police department "knew me pretty well when I was young," Giordano says. "They had my dad's direct number."

Now, Giordano is still infamous within the Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Department and the community—as a 32-year veteran of the department and as a captain. The department fields phone call after phone call from people who say, "I'm a friend of Duino's." Playing off those callers, all the employees once wore T-shirts with Giordano's image and reading "I'm a friend of Duino's, too."

He has been a full-time officer since 1970, doing everything from juvenile patrol to SWAT team and now administrative work. "I've never doubted that I made the right decision for a job," he says. "It's a pleasure to be able to work for the community that I was born and raised in."

Giordano was eligible for retirement more than a year ago, but says he has not yet planned a date to retire. "It doesn't seem like it's been that long," he says.


Best firefighter (tie)

Bruce Ingle

Vince Perrone

Bruce Ingle both lives and works in Los Gatos so he's very much a known quantity around town. His dedication to the town shines through in everything he does: he says working in Los Gatos is the best place anyone could be. In addition to his service to the larger community, his family is not neglected, either.

Ingle volunteers at both his offsprings' schools, participating in special events, classroom action and tours of the fire station for students. His outgoing personality and strong work ethic make him well-loved with his fire mates and the town at large.

Vince Perrone is full of high spirits with a sense of humor that keeps everyone's spirits up, says his captain. He's very witty with a great personality. Another quality that makes Perrone outstanding in his field is his competitive spirit, which drives him to be an even better firefighter.

Trained in the last class that Chief Doug Sporleder taught, Perrone is a good example of that training: he gets it right the first time. In firefighting there is no second chance. He's a dedicated sportsman, has coached his sons' teams, has been on the winning firefighters' softball team for 20 years and took home a bronze medal from the Police and Firefighters Olympics.


Best grade-school teacher

Julie Thomas Ludeman

Formerly known as Julie Thomas before her marriage, Ludeman is no stranger to the Best of Los Gatos. A returning favorite, Ludeman is a tenured teacher at Daves Avenue Elementary School, where she herself attended as a youth.

Without missing a beat, Ludeman brings color, theater and lots of music to the stage of her second grade classroom. "It's like 'Sesame Street Live' in there," says principal Susan von Felten. A highly organized teacher, her energetic teaching style is not only fun, but also effective and on-task.

Ludeman, who has also taught first grade, is not afraid to do what it takes to help her students learn academically as well as emotionally. "She is really outgoing and spunky," von Felten says. "She is just one of those people who really wows them."


Best middle school teacher (tie)

Julie Thomas Ludeman

Clyde Laird

Rick Potter

As a life science teacher for seventh-graders at Fisher Middle School, Laird is a Discovery Channel show come alive.

His classroom is lined with cages containing all the essentials—snakes, bugs, frogs—and just enough in number to make the term "hands-on" sound quite passé in comparison to the vast array of species available for interaction.

For 30-plus years, Laird has been teaching Fisher students the slippery and slimy, the biological and boned side to what makes nature so intriguing. "He really engages the kids," says Principal Ken Lawrence-Emanuel. "He's just a real sport, and very experimental."

Laird not only has a mind for the mammalian species in his classroom, but the bipedal as well. According to Lawrence-Emanuel, Laird has "a memory like a steel trap," allowing him to remember every student—and their subsequent children—who have passed through his doors.

Students can expect one thing in Rick Potter's U.S. history class, and that is to learn. "He is a very polished teacher," Lawrence-Emanuel says. "Every kid learns in his class. He has the drill down."

An anchor in the history hub for more than 30 years, Potter has his history down pat and his students' learning styles mapped out to a tee. He is known as a very professional teacher, engaging with the material and students in attempts to make history leap off the pages, allowing it to be more than a run-of-the-mill requirement.

"He really is part of our backbone around here," Lawrence-Emanuel says.


Best high school teacher (tie)

Gail Sickler

In spite of her being gone on a two-year leave, parents and students of Los Gatos High School did not forget Gail Sickler. A math teacher for nearly 25 years, Sickler is back and still beloved by students of her Algebra 1 classes. Over the years, she has taught a range of algebra 1, 2 and geometry, successfully reaching students and dedicating her time to convey tough material.

The key to her success? It might just lie in natural talents.

"Some people are natural teachers; I firmly believe in that," says Principal Trudy McCulloch. "And it has always been that way for her. She just has a presence in the classroom."

Sickler has seen two of her daughters through LGHS, and currently has a son attending. This might be why Sickler is said to be so compassionate and authentic in treating her students with respect.


Best member of the clergy

The Rev. Justin Zawadski

He's beyond compare, well-educated, has a wonderful sense of humor and has a way of relating his Bible teachings to today's world, says Teresa Young, sacristan at St. Mary's Church about her priest, Father Justin. Very caring, ready to help and uplifting are other qualities his parishioners cite to characterize their priest, who has been at St. Mary's for 10 years.

He always has time for everyone, an unusual quality in a clergyman, attests church secretary Carolee Gannon, who worked for him in Willow Glen, even before his St. Mary's days. Father Justin is amazingly easy-going and doesn't get rattled, no matter how tense the situation, which makes him easy to work for, she adds.

Armed with an engineering degree, as well as his religious degrees, Father Justin worked at a parish in Minnesota before coming to California in 1987. And he continues to re-unite with Minnesota friends and colleagues every summer.

The Rev. Justin Zawadzki, St. Mary's Church, 219 Bean Ave., 408.354.3726.


Best bartender

Robert Killion

Regulars at the Black Watch commend bartender Robert Killion for his adroitness and his sympathetic ear. Killion has been manager of the Black Watch for some 25 years. He's great with all the regulars, fair, friendly, takes good care of people and makes them feel welcome.

So says colleague Gregory Milstein, who says the three other bartenders are "all of us in his tracks. He's set the pace." The Black Watch wouldn't have the spirit it has exuded throughout the years without Killion in command. He's diplomatic when that asset is called for.

They bar really has a good relationship with its customers, thanks in large measure to Mr. K. In addition, he's a decorator of note, going all out particularly at Halloween and Christmas—perhaps even better than a professional decorator, what with handmade wreaths, streamers, signs, color and pizzazz.

Robert Killion, Black Watch, 141 ¹/2 Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.2200.


Best developer (tie)

Dave Flick

Bill Hirschman

Dave Flick has a special affinity for building structures that are in harmony with the historic feel of Los Gatos, even though he may be creating an entirely new building. Flick and Los Gatos are a good fit because of the town's and the developer's emphasis on good materials and fine architectural details.

Both entities maintain a vigilant eye on keeping the new project in tune with the past and the historic details it may be working with. Case in point is the Soda Works Plaza on E. Main Street, a Flick project. The brick wall on the side street is a 1911 registered landmark and so the new building needed to retain its historic feel— and did. Another example is the Flick-built building that houses Icing on the Cake. He enjoys the challenge of incorporating Americans With Disabilities Act requirements such as wheelchair ramps into the scheme so they don't look like they are required ramps.

Flick builds high-end houses in Los Gatos and Saratoga, usually with classical elements—Bella Vista and Almond Grove have concentrations of his work. His business has been in town for 22 years, and he now has customers coming to him for their second or third homes.

Bill Hirschman, owner of Lexor Builders Inc., built the acclaimed Boyer Lane development off University Avenue, southwest of Highway 9, and nearly all of the homes have been sold. His company is also responsible for the new office building on Los Gatos Boulevard between Lark Avenue and Highway 85.

The Hirschman enterprise has been the builder for other developments along Los Gatos Boulevard in the North 40 part of town as well. Quality construction and conscientious service are bywords for this business.

Flick Enterprises, 130 Stacia St., 408.354.3837.

Lexor Builders Inc., 15585 Los Gatos Blvd., 408.358.7652 or 408.402.9877.


Best plumber

Henry Thorne

Henry Thorne's name and Los Gatos plumbing have gone hand-in-wrench for the past 32 years. Even though he's now mostly retired and his second-in-command has been with him for 25 years, it's still the name "Thorne" that sends those in plumbing limbo to the phone to almost automatically dial his number as though by rote.

Dependable, thorough and conscientious, Thorne, and now his successor and company owner Tom Luis, have been lifesavers for countless customers through the years. He's held in the same regard a trusted doctor would be. Indeed, the doctor analogy isn't far off plumb.

If your plumbing doesn't work, your entire world is turned topsy turvey. Thorne and his mantle wearer Luis might as well be wearing red capes in their grateful customers' eyes.

Henry Thorne, Thorne's Plumbing, 408.356.8500.


Best local band

The Fisher Five

Although four of the Fisher Five are no longer Fisher Middle School students, the band marches on.

Marcus Dufort on trombone, Forest Gallien on bass guitar, David Linkskog on drums, Brandon Manning on saxophone and Tim Switzer on piano all met while students in Fisher's jazz band class. The five took a standard and flew with it, forming their own group and making a name for themselves in local youth jazz circles.

Last year the group took first place in the jazz combo division in the San Jose Jazz Society Smith Dobson Youth Jazz Competition. They also played an opening set for the Los Gatos Union School District's kickoff celebration this year.

Manning, who is finishing up his last year at Fisher, and the other members, now at Los Gatos High School, still get together regularly to jump and jive to their hearts' content, with much support from parents, faculty and former and current students.


Best artist

Victor 'Vic' Sakellar

While many artists are known for elaborate studios and gallery exhibitions, Victor "Vic" Sakellar is not. He is, however, known as Los Gatos' best artist. What sets him apart is that up until recent years, he was homeless. Before discovering Los Gatos in the 1970s, Sakellar lead a traveling life. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, with whom he served in the Vietnam War, he also served in the U.S. Merchant Marine. He later moved around the Bay Area, living where he could and working when he could.

After years of "camping out" in Los Gatos and doing odd jobs, Sakellar now lives in his own quarters at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, where he helps maintain the grounds and keep the place secure. He also works industriously on his art, a hobby he took up many years ago, funded by his small earnings and a government pension. His paintings—part of whose sale proceeds he donates to charity—are up at St. Luke's, Gilley's Coffee Shoppe, Bunches, Alex's Sports Stop and Gardino Fresco.

"His art is very unique. He really has his own style. It's very clever how he combines cats with many of the scenes, seeing as he lives in Los Gatos," says Pam Manes, a waitress at Gilley's and friend of Sakellar's. "A lot of his art his based on his own experiences. When you look at it, you can feel what he's been through in his life."

"We call it 'outsider art' because he's had no formal training," adds Los Gatan Shirley Henderson, owner of the Antiquarium. Both Henderson, her daughter Denise Harr and Harr's daughter, Jemima, are collect their friend's art, which they describe as "expressionistic."


Best handyman

Phill Coleman

Phill Coleman is one of a vanishing breed: a handyman. And not just a handyman, but an outstanding worker. He's accessible, dependable and honest, say those lucky enough to have discovered and hired him.

Besides his quality workmanship, Coleman is extremely personable. He's just a great guy and a terrific person, rave the people he has worked for, including the Matliches, who own Steamer's Grillhouse.

Before going into the handyman trade full-time, Coleman was a bartender at Carry Nation's, so it's safe to say one could add sympathetic listener and practiced psychologist to his list of attributes.

Phill Coleman, 408.671.6578.


Best massage therapist

Steve Madan

Steve Madan's massage business is entirely mobile. The portable apparatus he brings to clients' homes unfolds to become a soothing massage table. Out come the oils and other accouterments and the sure fingers of Madan begin to work their magic. Madan has been giving massages since he was 7 years old and giving massages to his family in India.

His training was at Just for Your Health, a massage school in Willow Glen. Along with massage work, Madan was co-owner/manager of T-Bird Pizza's on N. Santa Cruz Avenue for 16 years and reveals that massaging pizza dough was a good finger strengthening regime. Today he works part time for Collector's Corner II, across the street from T-Bird's.

Madan knows that stretch of the Avenue like the back of his hand, having worked at Safeway and a video store along that expanse as well, sometimes holding down three part-time jobs.

But now he's centered once more on massage therapy: he creates such a relaxing venue that customers even fall asleep while he ministers to them. Madan is just a calm person through and through, and he manages to impart this peaceful demeanor to his too-tense clientele. "My passion is making people happy," he says.

Steve Madan, 408.356.8302.


Best hairdresser

Linda Ambler

Linda Ambler has such a good eye for color that she can see color nuances that mere mortals never suspected were there—or should be there. Which is a fine nuance to have if you're in the color trade, which she is. Linda Ambler and her son Dustin Wallace bought Portfolio in January and Ambler brought with her some 25 years of experience with hair and hair coloring. Portfolio's forte is color and color correction.

Ambler has a cosmetics bag full of tricks of the trade, such as the importance of skin tone when deciding on a hair color, where to place highlights and how close to the face those lighter shades should be.

The care of hair includes continual education via classes. Case in point: Portfolio is one of the only places between here and San Francisco where a client can get thermal reconditioning, a hair straightening technique that's considered safe for hair. Ambler and her staff, it's safe to say, are truly on the cutting edge.

Linda Ambler, Portfolio Salon, 130 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.6225.


Best landscape designer (four-way tie)

David Fox

Joni Holland

Malaina Taylor

Pennel's Landscape & Tree Service

David Fox is a landscape architect who has transformed the exteriors of some 500 homes from Almaden to Hillsborough over his 20 years in business. His operation is strictly for estates and private residences, so he works mainly for CEOs and CFOs when creating his high-ticket gardens in the $1.5 million­$2 million price range.

Fox likes to temper these large projects with smaller designs (say $55,000) because it makes it more interesting to have a mix. He's just finished landscaping a Massol street address replete with arbors and fences. Los Gatos landscape contractors he uses include Creative Exteriors and Pat Donofiro. Fox has two bachelor of science degrees from Rutgers: one in landscape architecture and one in horticulture.

Joni Holland works for Green Thumb Nursery and calls herself a teacher and helper, rather than a designer. She's so passionate about her work that she borders on being obnoxious, she claims. Customers obviously feel differently, ranking her among the most popular green-thumbers in town. Holland is very friendly, accessible and more economical than most. Her training was at Foothill College, but gardening was a long-time love of hers long before she went into it as a profession.

Malaina Taylor is part of the town's Beautification Committee and has been since its beginnings. "I love it," she says about this volunteer work, citing particularly the Bloomathon held every fall whereby daffodils and grape hyacinths are planted along N. Santa Cruz Avenue and other locations. This year the committee hopes to add white tulips to every brick planting enclosure along the thoroughfare. The plants are sold at cost to the town by Green Thumb Nursery.

"I'm first a conservationist and environmentalist," she says, having been interested in gardening since childhood. Today she finds herself training gardeners to a large extent. Taylor lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains and both her sister and brother are also landscapers, each with their own businesses.

Pennel's Landscape & Tree Service did not return phone calls by press time.

Joni Holland, Green Thumb Nursery, 15796 Winchester Blvd., 408.395.6050.

Malaina Taylor, Creative Landscapes, 408.348.4803.

David Fox, 479 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.4577.

Pennel's Landscape & Tree Service, 408.356.7996.


Best veterinarian

Kyle Frandle

At Los Gatos Dog & Cat Hospital, they really care about your pet, say grateful pet owners. And that's because the caring spirit of owner Kyle Frandle permeates the place. Frandle is an enthusiastic, energetic practitioner of animal care—a bundle of warm and fuzzy to rival the pets he treats.

Frandle's love and care of animals isn't confined to Los Gatos, however. A year ago he took his operation—himself and several others on his staff—to the Cook Islands for a number of weeks to help out the dog and cat population in that remote site.

Most of these puppies and cats had never seen a professional caretaker before his arrival, and now are living a healthier and happier life, thanks to this caring inoculator.

Kyle Frandle, Los Gatos Dog & Cat Hospital, 17480 Shelbourne Way, 408.354.6474.

Photograph by George Sakkestad Lori Stout and Melissa Tiliman give their clients Mollie and Jack lots of love during the dogs' stay at Woodbrae Kennels—voted Los Gatos' best place to board a pet.

While challenging, none of these situations is a lost cause, thanks to the voters who made it quite clear where to go for Los Gatos' best goods and services. This is a godsend for the many consumers who feel overwhelmed at the sheer numbers of service stations, dry cleaners, hair salons, health clubs and gift shops in these parts. Sure, Los Gatos has the quantity, but what about the quality? That's what we asked voters, and the following lists their answers.


Best yoga studio

Yoga Center of Los Gatos

Mind, body, and spirit all come together at the Yoga Center of Los Gatos. In the 1 ¹/2 years it's been in existence, it hasn't stopped being busy. Even before the establishment opened, its classes were booked. Today, new classes are constantly being added to accommodate the ever-growing clientele.

With yoga mats on the floor and an Asian decor, the studio transports solace-seekers out of Los Gatos and into the relaxing and energizing world of yoga.

The yoga center, started by former Los Gatos Town Council member Jan Hutchins, offers classes for people of all ability levels and ages. It even has classes dedicated to kids and new mothers. For more information on all aspects of The Yoga Center, sit cross-legged, take a deep breath, focus and click on its website at www.yogacenterlosgatos.com.

Yoga Center of Los Gatos, 9 Montebello Way, 408.395.5356.


Best place to board a pet

Woodbrae Kennels

Not only is Woodbrae the best kennel in Los Gatos, according to readers, it's also the oldest. Patty Connell, who makes her home on the same property that houses her furry clients, has owned Woodbrae for the past 20 years and has gotten to know several generations of clients' dogs.

Before she took over, Connell says, Woodbrae was owned for 18 years by a couple who hired her as a groomer and manager some three years before they retired and sold her the business. Before them, it was owned by yet another couple.

"We remodel something every year; we're constantly in the process of replacing things," she says. Customers often remark on the kennel's cleanliness, she says.

Another positive attribute is the "geriatric ward." While some kennels place elderly dogs in the same areas as younger dogs, Woodbrae gives them their own dog runs and makes sure their medical needs are followed to a T. And then there's TLC, which all clients get. That includes heating, air-conditioning, soft blankies, toys, treats and plenty of hugs. "We do a lot of hands-on work; the dogs here get a lot of attention."

From day visitors who come for a grooming to two-month boarders whose humans are vacationing in Europe, Woodbrae cares for them all.

Woodbrae Kennels, 16270 Burton Road, 408.356.2889.


Best place for garden supplies

Green Thumb Nursery

Green Thumb Nursery is like a custom plant super store. Filling its one-acre site are plants, trees, vines and flowers of every conceivable variety, shape, size, smell and—in some cases—taste.

Not only does Green Thumb have actual greenery; it also carries everything necessary to create a beautiful garden or landscape. Filling the mostly outdoor nursery are gardening supplies like weed killer and plant food. There are even fountains, statues, garden ornaments, birdhouses and helpful books on how to do it all.

After setting foot in Green Thumb, customers may find a new meaning to the old saying: "stop and smell the roses."

Green Thumb Nursery, 15796 Winchester Blvd., 408.395.6050.


Best import store

Pier 1 Imports

Everyone needs stuff—like colorful rugs, exotic spices, wooden chairs, stylish lamps, fragrant candles, furry stuffed animals, bubbling birdbaths and classic beds. Pier 1 Imports has it all. When it comes to all things imported, this chain store is nationally known, although what some folks don't know is that it began right here in the Bay Area—in 1962 in San Mateo, to be precise. It didn't open in Los Gatos, however, until just this year.

For those savvy shoppers who can't make it into the clean, well-lit Los Gatos store, or are simply looking for some extra savings, Pier 1 also offers a website at www.pier1.com. Oh, and don't forget their online bridal registration—it's definitely gaining popularity among contemporary brides.

The new store is located in between Jamba Juice and Hollywood Video.

Pier 1 Imports, 636 Blossom Hill Road, 408.358.3977.


Best gourmet food, deli

Oakville Grocery

Fine wines, French cheese, freshly baked breads, a wall of sauces and oils, Italian deli meats and a large variety of gourmet salads—these are just a few of the gourmet foods available at Oakville Grocery.

Located in the middle of the Old Town shopping center, Oakville is not only a gourmet grocery store but a great place for lunch or an afternoon snack. With indoor and outdoor seating, a large variety of designer sandwiches, salads and pizzas, it offers something for everyone. For the bigger appetites, try the chicken sandwich on focaccia bread; for the smaller ones, how about the pesto pasta. And everything can be washed down with an amazing selection of domestic and imported wines, beers, ales, sodas, fruit drinks and freshly squeezed juices.

Prepared foods behind the glass are another draw. That includes stuffed acorn squash, crab cakes, ginger chicken, crème brûlée and smoked salmon, some of these at high prices.

Don't forget to walk around the store and taste all the samples—but do it fast. This popular spot is closing Oct. 26, a result, owners say, of a drop in sales that dates back to Sept. 11, 2001.

Oakville Grocery, 50 University Ave., 408.399.9902.


Best bakery

Icing on the Cake

Think rich, creamy frosting on top of spongy sweet cake. Big, chewy chocolate chip cookies the size of one's hand and as thick, too. Dark, chocolately cupcakes filled with decadent white "stuff." Welcome to Icing on the Cake!

This tempting bakery founded by Lynn Magnoli has been a Los Gatos icon for cakes and cookies for years, and rightfully so. Its sweet concoctions are more than desserts—they are a work of culinary baked art. Take, for example, the frosted maple cookies popular this time of year. Each possesses a perfect chewy cookie texture with a sweet buttery maple frosting that together make one's taste buds scream in ecstasy.

Unfortunately, the heavenly creations do come at a price—tons of calories. However, that's a small price to pay for the shear pleasure of consuming a piece of fluffy chocolate banana cake or a scrumptious snicker doodle cookie.

Icing on the Cake, 50 W. Main St., 408.354.2464.


Best facial

The Spa of Los Gatos

It may be the 11 different facial treatments, including the "Gentleman's Relaxing Facial," that Los Gatans voted for. Or it may be the experience of getting a facial in a place that treats its customers like royalty. The Spa of Los Gatos boasts a high-class spa environment that spoils customers as soon as they walk in the door.

Owners Patti and Jim Rice and Larry Schadt have created a spa that does everything but nails. That "everything" includes a doctor's treatment for wrinkles, age spots, tattoos and spider veins and a complimentary makeup job that goes with any service. It includes massage and aromatherapy. There's waxing and peeling, and a new treatment called endermologie, which works on clients' cellulite. There are body baths, wraps and hand and foot treatments. The place even serves wine and fruit on the weekends. If a client lands there at the right time, there might even be a glass of champagne thrown in.

The Spa of Los Gatos, 100 S. Santa Cruz Ave. 408.354.5901.


Best home accessories, home furnishings

Los Gatos Porch

Once again Los Gatans pick the Porch, a 31-year-old town icon, as their favorite place for home accessories and furnishings.

This is a fun place to simply wander around ogling over French hand-painted lamps, Asian screens, clocks and curlicue Italian ceramics that sit or hang tastefully around the store. Beautiful, rich, dark one-of-a-kind furniture pieces create an elegant ambience that some of us would love to move right into. There's even a patio section with topiaries, outside light fixtures and things to hang in the garden.

Built in the late 1800s to house a sheet metal works factory, the building itself is a town icon. The highly lacquered floors in the store today are the originals. The store got its unique name when one of the original owners began his topiary business on the back porch of the Opera House. When the store moved to its current location, the name tagged along.

Los Gatos Porch, 32 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.9595.


Best eclectic shop, store for browsing

Domus

Los Gatans like Sarah Gummersal, who don't often shop in downtown Los Gatos, do shop at Domus. "It's a great place for gifts," she says. True to the word eclectic, the store sells everything from kitchenwares to baby mobiles, clocks, blown glass, candles and garden accessories.

Roaming through the shop is an endless discovery. Even little hands fumble through baskets of tiny toys, books and puzzles.

A Los Gatos icon, Domus has been around town 30-something years. Heading for the store on holidays is something of a tradition. Just now Halloween trinkets and decorations fill the front of the store, but soon the place will be packed with winter holiday decorations, dishes, gifts, cards and wrap. And after Christmas, Los Gatans will trot right back down to the store in search of post-holiday bargains for next year.

Domus, 40 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.6630.

Photograph by George Sakkestad Madeline Pollock and her 16-month-old daughter Laurie enjoy a day of shopping in the produce section at Lunardi's.

Lunardi's

Whole Foods

Although they are just across the street from each other along Blossom Hill Road, both Lunardi's and Whole Foods' produce departments are successfully drawing Los Gatans to their colorful array of pretty, plump fruits and vegetables. Customers' eyes dazzle while their hands fondle purple plums, red ripe tomatoes and fuzzy peaches.

Whole Foods' produce specializes in organic varieties of everything and conventional produce, too. Lunardi's specializes in a wide variety of conventional produce—including some rare finds—plus some organic items.

Both of these successful chain stores have humble beginnings. Alfredo Lunardi, a young Italian immigrant, opened his first store in San Francisco in 1953. Produce buyers from his small chain of Bay Area stores still travel at 1 a.m. to the Golden Gate Produce Market in South San Francisco to hand pick fruits and veggies for their stores.

Whole Foods had its humble beginnings in 1980 as a small store in Austin, Texas. Now it's the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods, with 133 stores across the country. Add to this mix a staff in both stores that treats customers with the warmth and charm of small-town shops, and Los Gatans are hooked.

Lunardi's 720 Blossom Hill Road, 408.358.1731.

Whole Foods, 15980 Los Gatos Blvd., 408.358.4434.


Best jewelry store (tie)

Belgian Diamonds

Bob and Lisa Skubis began dangling karats in Los Gatos when they opened their store in 1989, right after the Loma Prieta earthquake.

Tom Tilney, a master manufacturing jeweler and designer for more than 35 years and a friend of Bob's for more than 20, closed his San Jose shop back in 1989 and came along with the Skubises to Los Gatos. And it's match made in heaven, because the store has developed a loyal following.

This jewelry store carries the full range of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and "any gem a client wants," says Tilney. The store carries high-end designer settings as well. Clients wanting services are not just Los Gatans. Some come from out of the Bay Area and actually stay overnight at a motel while choosing their gems, not just because of the store's high-quality gems, but because of reasonable prices.

"Los Gatans are smart people," Tilney says. "They shop around and know the value of things."

Belgian Diamond, 16 No. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.4500.


Best shoes (tie)

Soles

Shuz

It seems there's room in this town for two popular shoe stores: Soles and Shuz.

Shuz, a comfort shoe store for men, women and even baby's first walkers, has been in town for five years and boasts shoes for walking, working, hiking and traveling. The Los Gatos store is John Riker's newest, with three others in Palo Alto, Davis and Danville. Manager Claudia Cimpoieru, who's been with Shuz all five years, says the store even mails orders to customers all over the country. These out-of-towners find out about the store when they are visiting and then keep on doing business long distance.

Soles' owner Heidi Rehbock first opened her doors on Grays Lane about 10 years ago and moved to her new spot on N. Santa Cruz seven years ago. Her store boasts something for every woman, even orthopedic fashion shoes by Taryn Rose. The store offers up high fashion feminine everyday shoes by DKNY, Hype, BCBG, Steve Madden, and tennis shoes by Puma. Hats, purses, toe rings, key chains and sun glasses are some of the accessories for sale, but it's Italian charm bracelets that are one of the biggest sellers. Not for sale, however, is Bugsy the parakeet who doesn't talk, but sits in his cage and sings.

Soles Shoes, 130-D N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.399.5162.

Shuz, 1 N. Santa Cruz, 408.395.3510.

Photograph by Tsutomu Fujita Rich Lang, owner of Los Gatos Tire & Automotive, joined by manager Donna Johnson, works hard to make sure customers of all budgets and vehicles can find the right tires at the right price.

Los Gatos Tire & Automotive

It's not only Los Gatans who prefer to buy tires at Los Gatos Tire & Automotive. Some customers come from as far as South San Francisco and Palo Alto. And tire specialist Andy Davis says they keep coming back. "We've got customers who've been returning for 25 years," he says.

Davis, who has 20 years of tire experience, has been working for owner Rich Lang for more than 11 years. Davis says he thinks people keep returning for service because everyone who works there is hard-working and friendly. "We've also got a good location," he says.

Lang moved the 50-plus-year-old shop to its University Avenue location about 11 years ago, and his customers came along, too. But then again, Lang is also supposed to be a whiz at tires. It might just be satisfied customers who voted for this shop yet again.

Los Gatos Tire & Automotive, 809 University Ave., 408.354.3540.


Best place that's now gone

Chrislow's

Chrislow's department store may have closed in 1993, but it seems to live on in the hearts of local residents. In fact, many of today's Los Gatans got their first job at Chrislow's because owner Bud Christensen was always hiring Los Gatos High School students, especially during the holidays.

"We hired well over 1,000 kids at one time or another," Christensen says. "We had three generations of families working for us."

"Chrislow's was one of the reasons I shopped in Los Gatos," says Saratoga resident Nona Christensen (not related). "Bud was always at the store, and he knew everyone's name." Bud's wife, Nancy, also worked there during the store's last 20 years.

Some say Chrislow's was the only place in this end of the valley that carried staples like underwear, socks, T-shirts and last-minute gifts. Bud Christensen says business tapered off in the 1980s when small department stores were on their way out. The store finally closed after 42 years on
N. Santa Cruz Avenue when Bud and Nancy Christensen retired.


Best pharmacy

Walgreens

Even though Walgreens is a huge drugstore chain, the Los Gatos store is very much a hometown place. It so happens Donna Tokunaga opened the Walgreens pharmacy on N. Santa Cruz Avenue 18 years ago this month. Returning after time off to raise her twins, she still knows her Los Gatos customers well. As managing pharmacist, Tokunaga says she emphasizes good customer relations and adds that she has a wonderful staff.

She says her staff spends a lot of time getting prior authorizations and straightening insurance problems out for their customers, a major challenge these days.

Tokunaga says Walgreens pharmacies are also accessible all over the country, some of them open 24 hours a day. Because the pharmacies are linked by computers, a pharmacist in another part of the country can immediately access a vacationing customer's file and check for medications.

She also says that one reason her store is so busy is that it's the only pharmacy on this side of Los Gatos Boulevard.

Walgreens, 444 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.4011.


Best card shop

Fiori's

Fiori's gift shop is one of those places where Los Gatans love to run to buy a card and a gift, get the gift wrapped, and be on their way. "We have the biggest selection of cards in town," owner Bob Bagnato says of hand painted cards, funny cards and custom-made invitations.

Bagnato points out that the store isn't just a card shop. A wonderful store to peruse, it also has a wide range of gifts, from small bread and butter gifts to hand-painted furniture from North Carolina.

Fiori's started 22 years ago as a Hallmark shop, when Bob's wife Patti Bagnato, who had been Hallmark's first female sales rep west of the Mississippi, and Bob, who'd managed industrial supplies, decided to open their own business. The two were old-time Los Gatans and knew the town well.

Ten years ago, the Bagnatos doubled their store's size when they took over the shop next door. Cards still fill the old side of the store, while gifts overflow the new side.

Fiori's, 728 Blossom Hill Road, 408.358.2133.


Best pet supplies

Pet People of Los Gatos

Los Gatans love pets, so they want more than just supplies from a pet store. They want answers to their doggie and kittie questions. Pet People owners Steve Askin and Don Fleming and their staff are the ones with answers. They also have a store crammed full of everything a pet owner could want and more, including Halloween costumes for Fido.

Askin, the store's buyer, knows all the products available to solve pet problems, like bark control collars. The store even offers doggie life vests for boat rides, and Doggles (goggles) for a swim.

"We pamper everyone," says Bill Kane, who runs the warehouse in back and takes over the store on Mondays. He says the staff carries bags of food out to the car, and he says that soon as someone comes in the store, "We ask, 'Can I get you something?' " Even tailwaggers coming in with their owners get a treat.

Pet People, 514 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.8888.


Best hair salon

Portfolio Hair Color and Design Studio

The name says it all for this small but striking studio that can do just about anything. From copper highlights to spiky shags to leopard spotted buzz cuts, you name it and they'll cut and color to order, all with a little flair and definitive design in mind.

The seven stylists can do subtle, but the question is, why go subtle when one can have any range of sassy streaks and done-up dos?

The salon's team not only has oomph in their hair products, but in their services as well. Known as outstanding technicians and creative designers, the Portfolio staff has a growing list of accomplishments.

Owner and stylist Linda Ambler not only has her winning salon on the list, but she herself has been deemed best hair stylist by this year's voters. And last year, one of her senior stylists, Dustin Wallace, was invited to KNTV Channel 11 for a little holiday hair how-to. He has also been known to fly cross country for on-site hair handling.

The spotlight has definitely been shining on the manes of Portfolio, and there is no room to wonder why, with a team of such dedicated stylists keen on making Los Gatans shine and sizzle.

Portfolio Hair Color and Design Studio, 130 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Suite E, 408.395.6225.


Best gas station

Chevron on Los Gatos-Saratoga Road (Highway 9)

With the potential for gas prices to soar up and over their already high cost any day now, it's a relief to find a station that serves quality gasoline at lower rates than its surrounding company.

The Chevron on Highway 9 is competition for other stations in town, yet it keeps its gas prices nearly 10 cents lower than its competitors. The goods are also cheaper, as one very nice staff person confessed that employees from another gas station come to Chevron for their cigarettes and soda needs.

Aside from a nice, decently sized selection of ice creams, chips and candy, Chevron also boasts a non-key bathroom that is open to the public. This seems to be popular with traveling motorists and locals alike, as this Chevron makes the number one choice to fill up and head out, all with a little spare change left over.

Chevron, 275 Los Gatos­Saratoga Road, 408.395.1389.


Best art gallery

Tercera

With a cool, crisp minimalist feel, Tercera brings contemporary art to Los Gatos.

A spacious, simply laid out gallery gives room enough to appreciate each piece of art. The walls are white and cautiously filled with original canvas paintings and black-and-white photography. In glass cases sit select jewelry pieces, ready to make a statement on an awaiting wrist or neck.

Modern furniture sits comfortably in corners, allowing art enthusiasts to rethink the entire principle of functional beauty, as do the eccentric, oversized candleholders that double as sleek sculpture.

Showcasing a host of artists from around the country, Tercera has been open since 1978 and is part of a three store trio, with the newer locations in Palo Alto and San Francisco. Together, the galleries exhibit nearly 100 artists on a rotating basis.

Tercera Gallery, 24 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.9484.


Best bike shop

Summit Bicycles

Devoted bike enthusiasts and beginners can both find the answers to their questions at Summit Bicycles.

Racks and rows of bicycles line the floor and continue up to the ceiling, offering a range of mid-priced children's road bikes up to multi-thousand dollar mountain bikes. A hefty number of accessories are also for sale, including biking clothing, seats, helmets, sunglasses and spare parts.

At the back of the store is the workstation, which is the key to Summit's popularity—honest advice and decently priced repair with a personal touch. Customers say the staff is helpful and knowledgeable, providing how-tos when bikers want to go on their own with repairs, and follow-up information when they themselves provide service.

Owner Leslie Austere opened Summit at this location in 1998. Summit opened in another Los Gatos location in the early 1990s, but then moved here.

Summit Bicycles, 111 E. Main Street St., 408.399.9142.

Photograph by Mark Kocina Linh Mai puts her many years of sewing experience to good use at Sumi's Tailoring and Alterations, whether that means hemming a pair of slacks or taking in a bridal gown. No wonder her shop won as best tailor.

Sumi's Tailoring and Alteration

If a simple hand stitch or sewing maneuver won't cut it, head to Sumi's Tailoring and Alteration. Nothing phases the staff of Sumi's, who work on everything from rebeading evening gowns to retooling leather. Nearly any repair or stitching that is required can be done.

Next to Sushi on the Run in the middle of N. Santa Cruz Avenue, this unassuming, quaint shop is fully stocked with works in progress. Several small workstations are lined up together opposite the hanging clothes, providing an air of old world craftsmanship with their bountiful spools of thread and hand-guided methods.

Owner Linh Mai bought the shop in 1998, after being trained in Vietnam and then working for years in the alteration industry for large department store companies. She does a large volume of the work herself, keeping busy by keeping Los Gatans buttoned up, beaded and fully lined.

Sumi's Tailoring and Alteration, 116 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.4906.


Best hotel or inn

Toll House Hotel

When local residents or visiting tourists feel like a little indulgence, they head to the Toll House Hotel.

Nestled at the end of S. Santa Cruz Avenue, the Toll House knows how to give its guests a little more than expected.

If in a suite, it might be the made-to-order breakfast or sunken hot tub. In standard rooms, a mere microwave or high-speed Internet connection are not the only perks. For all rooms, free passes to the Los Gatos Athletic Club facilities are included, as are ample breakfasts, free transportation to San Jose International Airport and the staff promise to take care of any problems that may arise.

Decorated in cream, mauve and subdued sage tones with the occasional mahogany highlight, the Toll House ambience settles itself comfortably in style. In addition to the 115 rooms—including three luxury suites and five junior suites—the hotel offers a cozy lounge, a full-service candlelit restaurant and an airy courtyard for morning breakfast or mini nighttime strolls.

Several banquet rooms are also available for rent, with corporate events during the week and wedding receptions a weekend favorite.

The Toll House Hotel, 140 S. Santa Cruz Ave. 408.395.7070


Best dry cleaners

Ford Cleaners

Los Gatans in the know head to Ford Cleaners when the going gets tough on their clothes.

A N. Santa Cruz Avenue staple since 1917, Ford has changed hands over the years, with current owners Chong and Rosemary Kim offering up original quality at nearly original prices.

The store has certainly faced its challenges, including the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. However, it keeps steaming away, bringing quality treatments to everything from undershirts to wedding gowns.

Not only do Los Gatans near downtown know the secret, but those from miles around flock here to give their goods the once over. Perks come with the cleaning, including name cards for regulars, a friendly smile, and the opportunity for hand-sewn mending if the clothes are in need of some TLC.

Ford Cleaners, 33 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.354.2050.


Best place to work out

Courtside Club

Locals know that when it comes to working out and lounging in style, Courtside is the place to be.

And a simple gym it is not.

With 15 outdoor and four indoor tennis courts, a 25-yard recreation pool and 25-yard lap pool, a private women's gym and a physical therapy center, the Courtside Club is a first-class flight to an elegant sport resort.

A looming modern structure in terra-cotta set against sparkling blue pools and simplistically chic accents, the Courtside Club houses everything the body could need.

In addition to exercise facilities, the club offers saunas, sundecks, nail and massage services, a pro shop, a television lounge and extensive day care. The club's mission is "to enhance the lives of its members by providing a broad range of athletic and personal services in an atmosphere of comfort and congeniality."

Members will raise a water bottle to that any day.

Courtside Club, 14675 Winchester Blvd., 408.395.7111.


Best antique shop

Antiquarium

Nestled at one of the most frequented street corners in downtown, in a tiny unassuming space, is a community treasure. Not only is the Antiquarium a popular antique shop, it's also run by two ladies chock-full of town news, so some Los Gatans stop by just to chat.

Shirley Henderson opened the store 35 years ago, first at another location down the street. Henderson says she got her start in the antique business when she took her daughter scouting for antique bottles. The Antiquarium still specializes in bottles—ranging from $3 to $300—but now Henderson's daughter, Denise Harr, helps run the business.

The store sells small things, such as figurines and crystal plates and dolls, staying away from furniture. Henderson says its most expensive item is a child's marble valued at $550, but most of the Antiquarium's sales are in antique tin cans, bottles and advertisements.

Antiquarium, 98 W. Main St., 408.354.7878.


Best florist

Bunches

Bustling color bursts forth upon those entering an unassuming turquoise metal gate near the southern end of N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

A narrow strip of a store, Bunches is lined with hundreds of single flowers for the picking and bundles of bring-me-home happiness awaiting owners.

Whether it's annuals, perennials or just a nice woven wreath of shiny twigs, Bunches has it to offer. And the best part? Not only are the flowers fresh and in good condition, but the prices are very reasonable—which might explain why Bunches has been voted Best Of since 1992, the same year the store made its debut.

The company, which is owned by Roger Copolillo, expanded to a second location in the Cornerstone Shopping Center on Los Gatos Boulevard several years ago, bringing even more availability to shoppers in need of some floral delight.

Bunches, 14 ¹/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.5451 and 15994 Los Gatos Blvd., 408.358.6575.


Best vanishing resource (tie)

Independent businesses

Parking

Conversations with longtime Los Gatans tend to have recurring themes: "I remember when Mr. So-and-So's grocery store was here and John Doe's dad owned a laundry over there and that one family had a gas station at the corner" and "In those days, parking wasn't so bad."

That brings up two things that are increasingly disappearing from town: parking spaces and mom-and-pop shops. The parking situation is especially difficult downtown during the lunch hour, the after-work period and on weekends. And it's spreading to the Almond Grove and Edelen districts, where residents have to deal with strangers taking up the spaces in front of their homes.

Locals have also noticed many of the homegrown businesses leaving town, only to be replaced with chain stores. The community has stated that it doesn't want to see downtown Los Gatos become a shopping mall—ever. As a result, the town is drafting an amendment that would place stricter regulations on formula retail stores. At press time, the amendment was scheduled to go before the Los Gatos Town Council on Oct. 21.


Best health food store

Whole Foods

Whole Foods is ready to fill shoppers tummies and set their moods right, whether it's organic soy bean curd or freshly made potato salad that they crave. Despite its chain store status, Whole Foods is a community-minded establishment that comfortably makes a home in the Cornerstone Shopping Center.

Carrying an exhaustive supply of fresh produce, organic nibbles and entrees and delicious desserts, Whole Foods is a mecca for those of meaty and veggie persuasions alike. Health food addicts and those who just like fresh produce and meats will feel comfortable in this brightly light store that is extensive, but never overwhelming.

Aside from well-known local and national brands, Whole Foods carries its own products, including tasty pasta sauces and meaty-tasting vegan soy burgers. Many of the products in the store are organic and all are 100 percent animal testing-free.

Whole Foods also carries fresh breads and bagels, juices, a heady wine selection, a fresh salad bar and a deli that serves up delicious cold and hot entrees.

Whole Foods, 15980 Los Gatos Blvd., 408.358.4434.


Best kitchen supplies

Sur La Table

Stocked in a warehouse of shiny metal shelving and polished utilitarian tan cement flooring, Sur La Table offers everything to make a chef's—and would-be chef's—heart melt like butter.

Racks and rows of multi-colored spatulas, cooper cookware, bright dish sets and cake decorating kits line the store and hang from towering shelves. A cornucopia of everything kitchen is at hand—even classes are available in the back for those not so steady or ready to head into cookingdom.

Day classes and series on bread baking, foie gras making and Thai noodles are found on a weekly schedule properly placed at the entry of the immaculate, industrial-sized kitchen.

The Los Gatos store is one of 24 total stores, but by the awe-inspiring selection, approachability and warmth of the staff, one would hardly guess this table seats more than one hometown.

Sur La Table, 23 University Ave., 408.395.6946.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Three-year-old Lea Moustakas enjoys getting a helping push from her father Steven Moustakas at Bachman Park on a warm afternoon. Many other Los Gatans' share her enthusiasm for the park.

Vasona Lake County Park

Many children these days are becoming homebound, due not to physical limitations but rather to motivational ones: it's easier to veg out in front of a game console or surf the waves of the Internet than to get out and about.

Birthday parties are a perfect opportunity to change that, as many savvy parents already know, having voted Vasona Lake County Park as the best place to celebrate their child's natal day. Decidedly low-tech (no electronic games for miles) and definitely low-priced (just a small entry fee per vehicle), Vasona is a popular party place.

Kids can improve their sportsmanship and physical fitness playing fun team sports on the acres of lawns, have water-balloon fights, fly kites and even yell at the top of their lungs, if they wish. There are plenty of picnic tables for playing games or doing art projects, and plenty of barbecues for cooking the party food. There's also a new waterfront-themed playground that attracts kids of all ages.

For parents who don't mind spending a little money, there are kayaks and paddleboats to be rented at the lake. Another inexpensive activity is a ride on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad which, although housed in adjacent Oak Meadow Park, chugs its way through a good portion of Vasona. It's another perennial favorite with the younger set.

Vasona Lake County Park, entrance off Blossom Hill Road, 408.358.3741.


Best neighborhood park

Bachman Park

Bachman Park in the Almond Grove neighborhood is a great park, offering something for everyone.

A wide expanse of sloped grass makes perfect space for games of pick-up, kite-flying (well, there are a few trees), picnicking and running around. A shaded playground area has jungle gyms, swings and slides for toddlers and school-age children and plenty of seating for caretakers. A meandering path along the park's eastern edge leads to a cozier lawn area. And all this just blocks from Los Gatos' downtown makes Bachman Park a popular spot to bring young children on nice weekdays, to enjoy a relaxing al fresco lunch or to gather with friends and family on weekends.

Nestled within one of Los Gatos' most attractive neighborhoods, Bachman Park is a nice perk for anyone living within walking distance, but even those who come to visit the downtown could benefit from a quick stroll over. Just don't forget to take advantage of the pooper-scooper dispenser when accompanied by four-legged friends.

Bachman Park, corner of Bachman Avenue and Belmont Street, open 7 a.m. to a half-hour after sunset. Dogs must be on leashes.


Best daycare/preschool

Little Oak Preschool

The Green Fish and Brown Bears agree—Little Oak Preschool is the place to be.

The popular Los Gatos preschool has been around for seven years, says founder and owner Kim Burt, and it seeks to meet the needs of all of its 60 families. Children ages 2 years and 3 months through 5 years can come to the converted house on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays, and stay from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; they also have the option of staying until 3:30 p.m. or even 6 p.m. The school has 31 children a day in four different classes, each with two instructors and between eight and 10 children.

Burt says the school has a waiting list and encourages parents to sign up at least a year before they want their child to attend Little Oak. Some women, she says, sign up while they are still pregnant. The school also gives priority to siblings.

What keeps parents signing up, she says, is the low staff turnover, its small setting and its emphasis on developmental learning. "It's about having fun," she says.

Little Oak Preschool, 16837 Placer Oaks Road, 408.356.7554.


Best kids clothing

GapKids/BabyGap

It's never too early to be introduced to the comfort and style of brightly colored denim and knits, and the Gap has plenty of both for newborns, toddlers and school-aged children too little for its adult line.

Some of its babyGap and GapKids styles are miniature reproductions of its adult clothing, but many are made just for children. Babies can get everything they need, from undershirts and pajamas to parkas and fleecy mittens. They can even dress just like mom and dad, with preppy corduroys and woolen V-neck sweaters.

Older children's clothes and accessories have fun designs and features without being too adult and sophisticated. Clothes do cost less than their larger counterparts, but they're not cheap, especially if growing bodies are outfitted head to toe in Gap. But one's not likely to have too much difficulty finding something almost every child will agree to wear at Gap.

GapKids/babyGap, 120 N. Santa Cruz Ave., 408.395.4431.

Photograph by Paul Myers Derek Elliott examines a toy boat at The Wooden Horse. The toy store is celebrating 30 years in business.

The Wooden Horse

Stepping inside The Wooden Horse, one immediately realizes that this is no ordinary toy store. A helpful, hard-working staff, beautiful displays and obvious care for the clean floor and furniture suggest that the point of this place is not the merchandise but those who will eventually play with it.

One would be hard-pressed to find Barbie or the Xbox in The Wooden Horse; the store concentrates on toys that challenge children's minds and imaginations, but not everything has that "educational toy" stigma. Legos and building blocks, arts and crafts, science projects, outdoor toys, books, bath toys, dress-up materials, dolls and doll house furniture, stuffed animals, trains and even some collector's toys—The Wooden Horse should bring out the child in even the most hardened adult. Toys aren't "cheap" either; they're sturdy enough for active play without causing one to fear broken parts and small pieces. And free gift wrap is always a plus for busy customers, especially during the holiday rush.

The Wooden Horse, 796 Blossom Hill Road in the King's Court shopping center, 408.356.8821.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner Dennise and Peter Carter's backyard full of flowers, trees, fountains, topiaries, garden art and even outdoor chandeliers earned this little corner of Los Gatos the title of best garden.

Los Gatos United Methodist Church

If recent community meetings are any portent, there are months or even years of red tape and NIMBY sentiments to overcome before a town-approved skatepark comes into existence. In the meantime, where can Los Gatos pre-teen and teenage guys and gals go to practice and show off their boardslides, tailslides, nosegrinds, kickflips, ollies, nollies and fakies?

Instead of being chased by store owners and police officers from shopping centers and parking lots, many boarders are now cruising over to the Los Gatos United Methodist Church, which earlier this year opened its downstairs gym to skateboarders and in-line skaters in the 6th through 12th grades.

There's no charge to use this indoor "skatepark," overseen by church youth outreach coordinator Kendall Knight, but all skaters must have a valid student body card and provide a medical release and permission form signed by their parents. For skatepark days and hours, check with the church.

Los Gatos United Methodist Church, 111 Church St., 408.354.4730.


Best garden

45 Broadway

For 128 years, the two-story historical landmark Victorian has stood at 45 Broadway, a lovely residential street at the southern end of town. Owners are Peter and Dennise Carter, who have shared its beautiful gardens with the community in the form of political fundraisers, local garden tour fundraisers, weddings and other events.

"This yard is very unpretentious; it has a very lived-in look," Peter says. The "yard" to which he refers is actually a collective of smaller areas, each with its own feel. On one side of the property, for example, is a deck area filled with topiaries which Peter shears himself; other topiaries, including those shaped like animals, appear elsewhere in the garden as well.

On the other side of the property is a pebbled driveway flanked by large rose bushes. The couple have also planted various types of roses along the sidewalk in front of their house and along the path to their front door. The roses are Dennise's specialty, her husband says.

Elsewhere is a romantic alcove with a bubbling fountain surrounded by a swathe of brightly colored impatiens and entered via a path of steppingstones. Toward the back of the garden are two rows of exotic cymbidian orchids, which burst into bloom every spring and summer. And then there are the birdhouses, which are everywhere!


Best street for victorian homes, street with community spirit

Tait Avenue

It might only be half a mile long, but as far as residential streets go, tree-lined Tait Avenue is definitely a winner. Ask the people who call it home and they'll sing its praises for many reasons. This year, two of its attributes were named best of the best.

First is its abundance of Victorians. To the average eye, it's not always clear which are originals and which are restorations; while only architecture buffs can explain with certainty the subtle differences between the Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Folk styles of Victorians. However, everyone can agree that Tait would make Queen Victoria herself proud.

No matter what style home residents have, they're also known for being neighborly and ready for a good time. Halloween is a veritable block party, when nearly the entire street is transformed by colored lights, special effects, spooky decorations, music, fun and food. Christmas is also merry and bright on Tait, when wreaths, ribbons, trees, snowmen, reindeer and Santas come out of the attic and into the front yard. And let's not forget the Fourth of July, when Tait patriots deck their homes and porches in everything red, white and blue they can find.


Best secret parking place downtown

Under Old Town

Not much has changed since last year, when most voters chided "I can't tell you!" or "It's a secret!" in response to this daring question. However, there's one place they didn't mind revealing, perhaps because it's not really secretive at all—just a bit hard to see.

The winner is the underground parking garage beneath the "new" portion of Old Town along University Avenue. This is what used to be known as Town Lot 2, but is now home to an eclectic array of upscale businesses like Sur La Table, Steamers, Banana Republic and Azadeh women's boutique.

However, since parking is such a bear in cat town, these merchants could not come in until a lot was built below them. And so a well-lit stash of more than 200 parking spaces sits below Old Town, just waiting to be used by those shoppers who still don't know it's there.


Best place to hide from the boss (tie)

Borders Books

Happy Dragon Thrift Shop

They couldn't be more different, but Borders Books and Happy Dragon have tied as Los Gatans' favorite places to hide from the boss. Borders is a large anchor store in the Old Town Shopping Center and a bookworm's delight with hardcovers, paperbacks, audio books, magazines, CDs and cassettes.

As if this weren't enough excuse to play while the boss is away, Borders also has a gaggle of gifts to browse and a tastefully appointed cafe that carries not only staples like coffee, tea, juice and cookies, but also quiches, lasagna and pastries both savory and sweet. Changing displays of artwork grace the walls as well.

What Borders is to books, Happy Dragon is to thrift shops. The unassuming building—roomier than some one-story homes—is chock full of gently used men's, women's and children's clothing, toys, games, electronics, glassware, china, jewelry, holiday cards, baskets, art prints, linens, kitchen gadgets, records, cassettes, CDs and tons of books.

Happy Dragon was founded in 1958 and is run by volunteers from the EMQ guild. All proceeds go to EMQ Children & Family Services, a South Bay­based nonprofit that each year helps more than 5,600 emotionally disturbed children and their families recover their emotional, social and familial well-being through a wide spectrum of services and programs.

Borders Books, 50 University Ave. (in Old Town), 408.395.6622.

Happy Dragon Thrift Shop, 245 W. Main St., 408.354.4072.


Best place to think, place to kiss

Vasona Lake County Park

Readers already honored Vasona in Kid Stuff as the best place to take the younger set for a party, and now it gets more accolades here. How's that for a popular park?

It's no surprise Vasona is a favorite place to think, seeing as it possesses 151 acres where visitors can lose themselves mentally as well as physically. Stretching out on a grassy meadow is a nice way to work on a tan while working out a problem, and taking a hike through the trails is perfect for burning off both calories and stress. Sometimes just watching the antics of the resident squirrels, ducks and geese is a great way to clear the mind.

While it's not exactly a "lovers' lane," Vasona is apparently the spot more than a handful of Los Gatans enjoy for holding hands and stealing kisses. Perhaps that same acreage has something to do with it—the park is so large that it's unlikely any smooching couples will be seen by others. Even a simple picnic is somehow more romantic at Vasona. And, of course, there's Lake Vasona itself, over which many couples can be seen floating along in sailboats and paddleboats.

Vasona Lake County Park, entrance off Blossom Hill Road, 408.358.3741.


Best place to take tourists

Downtown

How vague can it get—"downtown" is the best place for out-of-towners? In Los Gatos, the answer is yes.

The business district is as eclectic as a giant salad bar. Franchises intermingle with independent shops to provide something for every budget and style. That goes for the amazing array of eating establishments as well as the clothing boutiques, antique shops, classy art galleries, jewelers, bars, coffeehouses, florists and gift shops. The people behind the counters are among the friendliest anywhere, and many even bring their dogs and cats to work with them!

And then there's people-watching, a timeless pastime tourists can enjoy any time of day at no cost. From new moms jogging behind baby strollers to glitsy folks cruising in luxury convertibles, Los Gatos is a great place to simply sit and stare.


Best shopping center

King's Court

Not only did King's Court earn an honor on its own, but it is a winner made up of other winners! The perennially popular shopper's delight at the corner of Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Boulevard is also home to four additional Best of Los Gatos honorees: Togo's (best sandwich), Lunardi's (tied for best produce), Fiori's (best card shop) and Wooden Horse (best place to buy toys).

"But wait! There's more!" to quote from a much-imitated proclamation used by infomercial announcers. King's Court's other anchor store, along with Lunardi's, is Longs, one of the largest drugstores around.

The Wild Bird Center is a pretty popular draw as well. And then there are all the smaller, but equally important, businesses that fill every storefront in the center. They include two banks, a dry cleaners, a beauty salon, a photo developer, several ethnic restaurants, a coffeehouse and even—set apart from the rest—a gas station.

King's Court shopping center, corner of Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road.

Photograph by Stephen Dorian Miner A browser takes a seat and enjoys a good read at Borders Books, which voters named the best place to kill an hour and the best place to hide from the boss.

Borders Books

As if going there to hide from their boss weren't enough, voters also named Borders the best place to kill an hour. It's an accurate estimation, too, seeing as Borders truly carries something for everyone. While parents browse among the home improvement or historical romance sections, kids can scamper to the expansive children's section and do their own browsing.

And that's just the beginning. With books, magazines, CDs and cassettes in every possible genre and price range, shoppers could theoretically spend hours in Borders. Further complicating matters is the fact that the store also carries a plethora of tempting gift items, from stylish picture frames to adorable bookmarks to miniature grow-it-yourself Zen gardens to enchanting journals.

If all this browsing makes shoppers hungry, Borders has the solution for that as well, with the hot and cold drinks, dessert items and lunch munches in its bright and airy cafe. Who could ask for anything more?

Borders Books, 50 University Ave. (in Old Town), 408.395.6622.


Best place to ride a bike, place to walk a dog

Los Gatos Creek Trail

Bicycling or dog-walking—which is the better form of exercise? Perhaps it depends on the strength of the pooch! Whatever the case, the Los Gatos Creek Trail is the best place in town to do both activities.

For 14 miles (the latter few in Campbell and San Jose), the multi-use trail winds its way along Los Gatos Creek, through wooded groves and past playgrounds, parks and businesses. The scenery changes by season and the weather changes daily, which makes this "workout" a lot more interesting than riding or walking on exercise machines at the gym! It's also free, which is a pleasant change from gym contracts and fees. Quite possibly, one of the nicest things about riding a bike or walking a dog along the Creek Trail is simply the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals doing the same thing!


Next year... Best suggestion for next year's ballot

Best Dessert

The vox populi has spoken and the Los Gatos Weekly-Times has listened! While we received dozens of different nominations for this category—including some that were eccentric, to say the least—the winner was best dessert. And so, when voters fill out the ballot next year, we promise they'll have a chance to nominate the eateries serving up their favorite ice cream sundaes, pies, cakes, tortes, tiramisus, crème brûlées or any other confections they fancy.