Willow Glen Resident
Cover Story
Photograph by Karen Taylor
Residents are eager to name what, for them, makes Willow Glen a great place to live.
Best of Willow Glen
The votes are in
By Jennifer Roberts
Willow Glen residents might argue over the merits of sidewalk basketball hoops and ailing trees, but they'll always agree on one thing: Willow Glen is a great place to live. There's the charm of streets lined with '20s bungalows and sycamores; the vibrancy of Lincoln Avenue--one of the few old-fashioned main drags in our strip-mall-heavy valley; and the palpable sense of community, felt everywhere from crowded events such as Dancin' on the Avenue to front-yard chats between longtime neighbors.
That sense of community led to the robust response to this year's Best of Willow Glen survey; it seems residents are eager to name what, for them, makes Willow Glen a great place to live.
A special thanks to one of those voters, Liz Newman, who won our $100 cash drawing this year. Congratulations, Liz!
Willow Glen's restaurants have become as diverse as its residents. Aside from neighborhood institutions such as Best Sandwich winner La Villa--first patronized by the community's many Italian families--Willow Glen is now home to tony Vin Santo (Best Italian Food, Best Place for a First Date), restaurants friendly to kids and parents alike, and coffeehouses for both those fluent in coffee-speak and old-timers whose only order is, "coffee, black."
Voters confirmed this growing diversity with the great variety of their votes, though there were a few grand slam winners: Pizza My Heart, Taiwan Restaurant, Elva's Coffee Stop and Aqui Cal-Mex Grill.
There was also our favorite entry for "Best First Date," as the Best Place for a First Date category was worded on our online ballot: the mellifluous, Italian first name of someone who shall remain anonymous, since he's probably pretty busy already.
BEST
Pizza
PIZZA MY HEART
For the fourth year in a row, Willow Glen residents have deemed Pizza My Heart, founded in Capitola in 1981, the best pizza in Willow Glen.
Described as "New York style" pizza by general manager Dynasti Loya, the restaurant prides itself on its thin, hand-tossed crust and laid-back décor that features stunning black and white photos of Santa Cruz's '60s surf scene.
Patron favorites include the Prima (olives, roma tomatoes, parmesan and feta cheeses) and the Big Sur (portobello mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni, roasted garlic and green onions). The Big Sur, created by Pizza My Heart executive chef Leah Scurto, recently won first place in the West Coast Pizza Competition held in Los Angeles, and third place in the U.S. Pizza Championship in Orlando, Florida.
Asked about so many wins, Loya says her restaurant is "very competitive in creating some good, tasteful pizzas."
Pizza My Heart, 1390 Lincoln Ave., 408.279.4441. www.pizzamy heart.com.
BEST Sandwich
BERTUCELLI'S
LA VILLA
Bertucelli's La Villa hasn't become a Willow Glen landmark because of its old-world charm or the entertaining trash talk among its employees. The deli makes great sandwiches--most famously the "Chris combo," named after manager Chris Bertucelli, who drolly describes its ingredients as "love, tenderness, meat and cheese."
Besides the hundreds of sandwiches it sells per day--20 combos to choose from--La Villa's raviolis are in high demand, as are other classic Italian dishes lovingly created by Chris' mama, Patty Bertucelli, who handles a majority of the cooking and has operated the 60-year-old deli with her family for the past two decades.
"We don't skimp on our customers, and you can tell," Chris Bertucelli says.
Indeed, not only does he fill their sandwiches with "love," he makes sure he knows 90 percent of his customers by name.
Bertucelli's La Villa, 1319 Lincoln Ave., 408.295.7851. www. wglavilla.com.
BEST Breakfast
BILL'S CAFE
"Anything your heart desires, we have it," says Bill's Café co-owner Peter Zafiris, explaining his restaurant's third consecutive win for Best Breakfast.
He's not kidding. The classic coffee shop offers an extensive menu chockablock with breakfast favorites--eggs any style, omelets, eggs Benedict, waffles and pancakes--and more.
The Papa's Benedict, made with baked potato, bacon, cheddar and eggs--fresh fruit on the side--appeals to brunchers, Zafiris says. Those with a sweet tooth come for the breakfast bread pudding, which features fried bananas and tequila sauce.
Along those lines, the cafe also offers brunch-time beverages such as mimosas, chavelas and Bloody Marys.
Based on its success over the course of its three decades in Willow Glen, Bill's will soon open a second location in the Rose Garden area.
Bill's Café, 1115 Willow St., 408.294.1125. www.billscafe.com.
BEST
Asian Food
TAIWAN RESTAURANT
Taiwan Restaurant is no stranger to the Best of Willow Glen list or to the community, for that matter--it has offered its unique Chinese cuisine and exotic décor to residents for 25 years.
Patrons choose from more than 20 vegetarian dishes, traditional Chinese courses, seasonal specials and restaurant specialties, such as garlic eggplant over noodles, lemon grass prawns and Taiwan crispy chicken. Rich flavors and quality ingredients abound in Taiwan's dishes, says general manager Sophia Niu. "They try and reach all palates," she says.
The biggest sellers include pineapple fried rice, honey walnut prawns, Kung Pao chicken and five-spice popcorn chicken.
Niu credits the restaurant's success to the consistency of its family recipes as well as the homemade sauces, which only she, her father and brother know how to concoct.
But there's also the family-friendly atmosphere, and Niu's own hospitality. She says she knows many of her customers on a first-name basis, and that the restaurant is like a second home to some of her patrons.
Taiwan Restaurant, 1306 Lincoln Ave., 408.289.8800.
BEST Coffeehouse/Community- involved Business
ELVA'S COFFEE STOP
There are numerous options in Willow Glen when it's time for a cup of java. But a vast majority of our voters preferred Elva's Coffee Stop--both as their favorite coffeehouse and the best community-involved business.
Opened by former Starbucks employee Elva Acevedo, the coffeehouse serves black coffee as well as espresso drinks made from Kona, Jamaican blue, French Sumatra and other gourmet beans.
Mochas are a year-round customer favorite, Acevedo says, because of the kind of chocolate she uses.
Her customers have ample time to give her feedback, she says, largely because she chose not to offer Wi-Fi, hoping to encourage conversation between customers and create a homey feel.
The strategy's worked.
"Everybody knows everybody," Acevedo says.
Some customers feel so comfortable, in fact, that during the busiest hours they help workers walk drinks to the tables.
Elva's Coffee Stop, 2206 Lincoln Ave., 408.269.2245.
BEST Mexican Food
TAQUERIA TLAQUEPAQUE NO. 1
Taqueria Tlaquepaque (tlah-kay-PAW-kay) might feel like Mexico inside, but it's been part of Willow Glen's eclectic dining scene for 17 years.
Its popularity likely comes from its reasonable prices, the freshness of its offerings--chips and salsa are made on site--and the talent of its cooks. Patrons find everything from typical Mexican dishes, including enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas and tacos, to seafood plates featuring octopus.
To wash all that down, patrons favor chavelas, made here with beer, salt and lemon juice, or traditional, over-ice margaritas.
Taqueria Tlaquepaque, 2222 Lincoln Ave., 408.978.3665.
BEST
Bar/Quick Lunch/ Restaurant for Kids
AQUI CAL-MEX GRILL
Aqui Cal-Mex Grill once again filled three spots on the "Best of" list, wooing residents with its reasonably priced, visually popping and health-conscious fare that fuses Southwestern, Asian, Californian and Latin American flavors.
Service is quick--perfect for families with wiggly children and patrons craving a fast but healthy lunch. Families will also appreciate the separate room where children can get rowdy without turning heads. But even in the main room, the walls are decorated with enough eye-catching art to distract even the fussiest eaters.
Other dining areas include an outside heated patio and the Saddle Bar, which attracts a colorful mix of Willow Glen locals and those willing to commute for the famously delicious margaritas. Margarita choices include four "top shelf" options and creative concoctions such as the "Aqui Swirl," the "Carlitos Margarita" (see Best Bartender winner, next page), the "Oliver Rocks" and the "Orange Agave Margarita."
Aqui Cal-Mex Grill, 1145 Lincoln Ave., 408.995.0381. www. aquicalmex.com.
BEST Dessert
FLOWER FLOUR
Thanks to its charming European decor and lovingly crafted sweets, Flower Flour bakery has taken the cake this year for best dessert.
The cozy retreat boasts elegant desserts such as Cinderella's Pumpkin--white cake, pumpkin mousse, whipped cream and marzipan--that treat the eyes as well as the palate.
According to co-owner Mimi Brown, customer favorites include Pear Caramela, a cake made with caramel mousse and poached pears, and Ravishing Raspberry, a raspberry and chocolate mousse cake.
Brown says her 5-year-old patisserie uses organic products and "high end" ingredients. The pastries' European origins, Brown says, sets them apart.
True to its name, Flower Flour also sells carefully chosen, big-impact flowers--since bouquets often grace tables laden with pastries, Brown reasoned when she opened the shop with her husband, Ed, in 2003. Patrons can also pick up gift items and stay for lunch, choosing from a small but popular menu honed by Flower Flour's many repeat customers. "Once they come in here, they are always in here," Brown says of her patrons.
Flower Flour, 896 Willow St., 408.279.0843. www.flower-flour.com.
BEST Italian Food/Place for a First Date
VIN SANTO RISTORANTE
Although Vin Santo Ristorante changed ownership this year, its romantic setting--sleek Italian décor, patio seating, mood lighting and generously sized wine glasses--remains the same.
New owner and chef Umberto Pala describes the restaurant's ambience as "very romantic and beautiful."
Pala modified Vin Santo's food and wine selection, however.
The new menu includes a dozen regular pastas, including the pasta tasting dish with its three ravioli and gnocchi. The tuna tower--tuna three ways--impresses fish lovers, Pala says, and those who prefer beef will appreciate how his recipes always start with hormone-free and organic Niman Ranch beef.
Pala says his wine menu is a work-in-progress, but that California wines are well represented.
Vin Santo Ristorante, 1346 Lincoln Ave., 408. 920.2508. www.vin-santo.com.
Judging from the many personal favorites that showed up in three "Goods & Services" categories this year, Willow Glenites really love to shop, get their nails done and work out. But given the Glen's much talked about "small town" customer service--proprietors often know their customers by name--many other kinds of businesses had their fans, too.
BEST
Shop
FLEURISH
Feminine home decor, linens, bathroom accessories and gifts cram the shelves of Fleurish on Lincoln Avenue.
But store owner Natalie Thompson credits the seasonal decorations, personal touches and a friendly vibe for her customers' many return trips.
Thompson recently moved her 5-year-old store to a larger location down the street. With nearly double the space of the old store, Thompson says, she hopes to include even more unique items for her customers. Right now, Fleurish is stocking a variety of Halloween decorations just in time for the holiday.
Fleurish, 1331 Lincoln Ave., 408.294.5557.
BEST
Dry Cleaners
ELITE
Quality work, reasonable prices and quick service are the secrets of Elite Cleaners' success, say its longtime owners, Joan and Christopher Yi.
Along with basic dry cleaning, Elite offers laundering, alterations and mini-blind, rug and leather goods cleaning.
The convenient parking directly in front of the store helps busy customers get in and out quickly.
At $6.25 to dry clean or $1.80 to launder a shirt, and $5.50 to dry clean or launder a pair of pants, Elite keeps its prices fair and its customers coming back for more.
Elite Cleaners, 1102 Willow St., 408.292.4929.
BEST Contractor
MARK TORCHIO
Willow Glen resident Mark Torchio has lived and worked in the area for 15 years and prides himself on "taking care" of his neighbors.
The general contractor, owner of M.S. Torchio Co., says most of his business comes from referrals from past customers, many of whom live in Willow Glen.
Torchio, who has been a contractor for 25 years, usually undertakes complete residential remodels, custom kitchens and bathrooms.
Attention to detail and quality workmanship set him apart, Torchio says.
Mark Torchio, M.S. Torchio Co., 408.998.5800.
BEST Manicure/
Pedicure
ELEGANCE NAIL
Elegance Nail has been open only 10 months, but the salon has already built a reputation in Willow Glen, probably because its affordable manicures and pedicures feel like a luxury without the splurge.
Elegance charges $12 for a basic manicure, but for $20, customers can receive the deluxe treatment complete with scented hand soak, hand massage and a cuticle-softening hot oil wrap.
Pedicures are performed in comfy stations where the certified staff will soak, buff and massage away a day spent in high heels.
Elegance Nail, 1165 Lincoln Ave., 408.885.1305.
BEST Spa/Salon
SACHS DAY SPA
For Willow Glen residents, relaxation is only a step away--into Sachs Day Spa.
Its massages, facials, wraps, scrubs, microdermabrasion and glycolic treatments are all designed to leave customers feeling rejuvenated.
Customers can also combine these treatments to customize their spa day, and staffers send patrons home with information on how to care for their skin after treatment to ensure the best results.
Sachs also offers unique massage techniques such as Lomi Lomi and heated stone massage.
Sachs Day Spa, 1375 Lincoln Ave., 408.298.1375. www.sachs dayspa.com.
BEST
Place to Get Fit
SAN JOSE SWIM & RACQUET CLUB
The oldest privately owned fitness center in San Jose, San Jose Swim & Racquet Club has been operating since 1956.
Some members grew up coming to the club with their parents, and now bring their own children to play in the pool and grab a game of tennis.
Amenities include a heated Olympic-size pool, a children's wading pool and play area, day care, basketball and volleyball courts, two weight rooms, seven tennis courts, an aerobics room, a steam room and a sauna.
Customers can learn to handle a racket from tennis pro Ken DeHart, whose motivational style keeps his students coming back for more.
The club also offers yoga and aerobics classes along with a variety of other group exercise programs.
San Jose Swim & Racquet Club, 1170 Pedro St., 408.297.0067.
BEST Boutique/
Clothing Store
DETAILS
With casual, fun clothes for men and women, Details Clothing has a reputation for outfitting Willow Glen's fashionistas to the nines.
Details offers unique pieces and gifts for shoppers tired of the same old things they find at the mall.
Women can shop for entire outfits, head to toe, from footwear to silk tops to trendy bags and jewelry.
Men will find a selection of clothing with an island flavor; brands include Tommy Bahama and Kahala.
Details' vacation vibe extends to quirky home decor items such as hula-girl lamps and candles that smell like the tropics.
Details, 1322 Lincoln Ave., 408. 286.5555.
Stroll down Lincoln Avenue any time of the day and you'll see children: atop Dad's shoulders as the family dog runs alongside; pushed in a running stroller by a buff mom; or sandwiched between Grandma and Grandpa and probably serving as their excuse for a sweet treat at one of the avenue's many options.
In other words, Willow Glen is child-friendly--and the many nominees in every "Kids' Stuff" category this year confirmed that.
BEST
Daycare/Preschool
WILLOW GLEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN
Nestled in a charming natural setting, Willow Glen United Methodist Church Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten is home to many local children, if only for a few hours a day.
Director Lorene Sheridan attributes the school's success to the warm, loving atmosphere she and her staff try to foster and to the supportive congregation.
The preschool focuses on preparing youngsters for kindergarten and seeks to bolster their communication and social skills as well as self-confidence and spirituality--all through a Christian-based program.
As a nonprofit, the school charges some of the lowest rates in the area: $220-$550 a month for full-time enrollment plus a one-time registration fee of $50. The program's student to teacher ratio is a desirable 8 to 1.
"Children just blossom here," Sheridan says. "And when they leave, they're ready for the journey."
Willow Glen United Methodist Church Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten, 1420 Newport Ave., 408.294.6072. www.wgumc.org.
BEST Playground
RIVER GLEN PARK
At River Glen Park, neighborhood children can monkey around to their heart's content while their parents get a rest from the usual worry.
The park, at the corner of Bird and Pine avenues and across the street from Hammer Montessori at Galarza Elementary School, offers safety-conscious monkey bars, slides and swings in combination with soft, engineered wood fiber and resilient surfacing.
The "best" playground is also surrounded by a quiet neighborhood, where minimal traffic makes for great fun for the whole family.
In addition to the playground, children have free rein on large grassy areas, making possible both a game of tag and dandelion necklaces.
Basketball and tennis courts along with two softball fields allow older children to play, too.
River Glen Park is at the corner of Bird and Pine avenues.
BEST
Place to Take Kids
PETROGLYPH/
HICKLEBEE'S
Tables and chairs sprinkle the interior of Willow Glen's Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge and await the next batch of budding ceramicists.
These are often children, who unleash their inner artist as they work on mugs for their parents, vases for the grandparents or on cereal bowls for themselves.
The shelves offer premade stoneware awaiting some color and imagination. Behind the register, finished treasures in every color inspire the artists in the making.
Employee Ali Sturgeon says Petroglyph offers a relaxed time for residents to be as creative as they want to be.
Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge, 1140-5 Lincoln Ave., 408.971.4278. www.petroglyph.com.
At Hicklebee's Books, the walls can talk, the books all whisper and the authors tell no lies.
At least that's what children will believe after a visit to this independent children's bookstore, a repeat Best of Willow Glen winner and integral part of the Willow Glen community for 28 years.
Children and parents alike spend hours exploring every nook and cranny and reading the writing on the walls--left by the many children's book authors who stop in for standing-room-only readings. A cast iron claw-foot bathtub, filled with cushy pillows, waits at the back of the store for the next reader to lazily climb in.
Aside from the literary graffiti, an entire literary museum sprawls from wall to wall, displaying the very acorn that fell on Chicken Little's head, a cupboard with American Indian and cowboy figures from The Indian in the Cupboard, and other treasures that add to the little bookstore's mystique.
Co-owner Valerie Lewis attributes the store's success to the lasting relationships with readers that she, her employees and her sister and co-owner, Monica Holmes, strive to nurture.
Hicklebee's, 1378 Lincoln Ave., 408.292.8880. www.hicklebees.com.
OK, Carlos, what are you putting in the margarita there at Aqui that's charmed so many, and for four years running? Maybe we'll just have to come in and find out--that is if we can elbow out the new fans your win as Best Bartender will surely create.
Not that you're the only beloved member of the Willow Glen community. In the Best Teacher category, for instance, voters put 12 teachers on the ballot, not including "all the kindergarten teachers at Willow Glen Elementary." And though the ever-popular Fred Oliver won Best Community Volunteer once again this year, he had nine competitors for the crown.
Even a dentist--John Pisacane--generated a lot of love. Pre-appointment visits to Carlos for his special anesthesia, perhaps?
BEST
Bartender
CARLOS TOVAR
AQUI CAL-MEX GRILL'S SADDLE BAR
Carlos Tovar mans the Saddle Bar at Aqui with ease and skill, and adds a little creativity to his job. Whether making a customer feel comfortable or making a custom drink, Tovar has a distinct philosophy.
"I try to treat others as I would like to be treated," says the Willow Glen resident. "Customers come in and have a good time."
Tovar has worked at Aqui for eight years, but hasn't always been a bartender. He picked up tricks of the trade while working as a cashier and manager, and now works fulltime as the bar manager.
Tovar faces unique challenges overseeing the bar--specifically, how to keep it calm amid a family-style restaurant.
"It's not like kids are coming and hanging out at the bar," Tovar says. But the bar's atmosphere is definitely mellow. Some 85 percent of its customers are regulars who come in after work for a drink with co-workers or friends.
Tovar also makes a point of knowing people's names. "He has been here forever," says Aqui manager Wendy Olson. "He knows all the customers by name, and they really feel welcome at the bar."
Aqui Cal-Mex Grill, 1145 Lincoln Ave., 408.995.0381.
BEST
Teacher
LORI ROMANO
WILLOW GLEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Lori Romano tries to make every lesson fun and engaging for the sixth-graders she teaches at Willow Glen Middle School, her alma mater. "She's a very creative teacher," says Kathy Hoffman who, like Romano, teaches language arts and social studies. "She does a lot of neat things with the kids."
Drawing from her 11 years of teaching at the school, the Willow Glen resident has an adept style that includes assigning many personally designed projects.
Hoffman says that students long remember Romano's projects because she spruces up state-mandated lessons with art and poetry. Although the content of lessons is predetermined, the teachers must come up with their own lesson plans.
For a lesson on ancient Egypt, for instance, Romano asked the students to research an Egyptian pharaoh and write an acrostic poem using a pharaoh's name.
"She incorporates art so it's not just reading and learning facts," Hoffman says.
Willow Glen Middle School, 2105 Cottle Ave., 408.535.6277.
BEST Community Volunteer
FRED OLIVER
As the Willow Glen Founders Day parade bustled down Lincoln Avenue on Sept. 29, community volunteer Fred Oliver felt a twinge of pride.
The Willow Glen resident said he enjoyed seeing the parade come together so well.
"In previous years, we weren't able to pull it off," Oliver explains. "But this year we partnered with the Italian Heritage Foundation, which brought additional resources."
Such adept problem-solving, as well as his tireless involvement in the community celebration Dancin' on the Avenue, are a big part of why Oliver earned his title of best community volunteer.
Under his watch, this year's Dancin' on the Avenue brought in a cool $20,000 more than 2006's event. And because he had three years of volunteering for the Willow Glen Business Association under his belt, the Prudential California real estate agent took on additional responsibilities.
But he insists Dancin's profitability came from teamwork. "We were able to reach a new plateau of success," Oliver says. "It's a team effort."
Oliver says his experience in the business world--especially his management positions at IBM--equips him with the skills to bring people together.
And he's on a roll. He'll soon organize several holiday events (a Santa Claus house, shopping events and more), all designed to bring even more shoppers to downtown Willow Glen.
Fred Oliver, Prudential California Realty, 1213 Lincoln Ave., 408.795.1480.
BEST Waiter/
Waitress
CINDE DAVIS
SIENA, A MEDITERRANEAN BISTRO
When Siena, A Mediterranean Bistro changed ownership this year, the new owner understood that longtime waitress Cinde Davis "came with the business."
"She loves what she does, and that positive attitude shows," says David Wiesner, who bought the upscale restaurant in August and refers to Davis as his "right-hand man."
"In the people business that we're in, that makes all the difference," he says.
But it's not only her positive attitude that has left a lasting impression on customers and led to her sixth win as Best Waiter/Waitress.
Whether she is recommending an entrée or a bottle of wine, diners agree that Davis brings customer service to a higher level.
A veteran of the restaurant business, Davis has been on staff at Siena since 1994, time enough to develop her loyal following. Customers ask for her by name, Wiesner says.
Siena, A Mediterranean Bistro, 1359 Lincoln Ave., 408.271.0837.
BEST Member of the Clergy
MONSIGNOR
JAMES WALSH
Monsignor James Walsh may have a lofty title as far as clergy members go, but his congregation at St. Christopher Church finds him down to earth.
"He's very approachable," says Lesley Paul, liturgy coordinator, who has worked at the parish for 14 years. "People love him dearly because he is so real. Before he's a priest, he's a person."
The priest's hands-on, friendly approach makes for homilies people can relate to, Paul says. "He's very good at bringing the word of God alive for his congregation." Paul adds that Walsh, who also oversees the school, especially enjoys getting children involved in the church.
To that end, his favorite activities include conducting First Communion for young children in May and celebrating Thanksgiving Mass every year.
St. Christopher Church, 2278 Booksin Ave., 408.269.2226. www.saintchris.com.
BEST Doctor
DR. RANI BOMMAKANTI,
DR. WILLIAM HSU & DR. PATRICK LUM
It's a three-way tie this year, among doctors practicing three distinct styles of medicine.
San Jose Medical Group member Dr. Rani Bommakanti specializes in internal medicine and works out of the Willow Glen Urgent Care and General Medicine office. She received her medical degree at Gandhi Medical College in India, and chose Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago for her internship and residency.
These days she treats everything from common colds to sinus problems.
Dr. Rani Bommakanti, San Jose Medical Group, 625 Lincoln Ave., 408.278.3210.
Dr. William Hsu, a licensed acupuncturist who holds a doctorate in Oriental medicine, practices acupuncture and herbal medicine in his office on Lincoln Avenue. He says that acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of ailments, from relieving stress and pain to treating insomnia.
Bobbi Mazzone, who grew up in Willow Glen, says Hsu has worked wonders on her problem knee. "He's just great," she says. "He makes you want to go back, not just for his medicine, but for his peaceful office. Sometimes you just need to relax for the pain to go away."
Dr. William Hsu, 1058 Lincoln Ave, 408.275.6622.
"I actually listen to my patients," says chiropractor Dr. Patrick Lum. He practices a sports-related style of chiropractic care, with an emphasis on rehabilitative therapy. "A lot of chiropractors just adjust a patient," he says. "I'll do more."
For Jen Bell, an advertising account executive, that "more" is his helpful advice, gently delivered. "He just has a great way with his patients--he's a good person--and he really knows his stuff," Bell says. "When I first went to a chiropractor I was scared to death of all the clicks and clacks, but he kept me calm. He's a great doctor in my book."
Lum Chiropractic, 1314 Lincoln Ave., 2F, 408.975.9753.
BEST Dentist
DR. JOHN PISACANE
Whether it's giving tips on flossing techniques or fitting a crown on a tooth, Dr. John Pisacane has been doling out dental care in Willow Glen for 19 years.
Some of Pisacane's patients have been coming to him for that long. They appreciate his close attention to detail, focus on preventive care, and sparkling clean offices, says Vee Ludwig, his long-time receptionist.
But Pisacane won Best Dentist, she surmises, "because he's fantastic."
For one, she says, he gets to know his patients so that he can give them personal, long-term care.
"He really likes to do preventive care," Ludwig says, which can be tricky, since patients come from all over and Pisacane often has to pick up where other dentists left off.
"He always makes sure the patient understands all the steps and all the options," Ludwig says.
Dr. John Pisacane, 1245 Lincoln Ave., 408.445.7500.
When Glenites' friends and relatives visit from other parts of the country, they'll surely have San Francisco, wine country and the Tech Museum at the top of their must-see lists. But their hosts know that quieter draws await right here in Willow Glen--among them multiple "Best of" winner Lincoln Avenue, with its refreshing variety of non-mall, independently owned stores, and the Glen's many stately Victorians and classic Mediterranean bungalows, built back when Silicon Valley was poetically known as the "valley of heart's delight."
If visitors are lucky enough to arrive during June or December, they might catch other events popular with this year's voters: Dancin' on the Avenue, a boisterous street party with four bands, and "Christmas Tree Lane," the unique phenomenon of street after street uniformly dotted with identically decorated front-yard trees.
BEST
Place to Use Your Laptop
STARBUCKS
Willow Glen's Starbucks has residents covered--by book-
ending Lincoln Avenue's central commercial district.
Though the two stores--one on the corner of Lincoln and Minnesota avenues and the other at the Garden Theater--offer different atmospheres, both provide Starbucks' famously warm service, ultra-customized java fix, pastries and lunch items.
With a T-Mobile hotspot, comfy chairs and quiet nooks at both stores, residents can depend on getting their work done...or not: Large windows facing downtown Willow Glen provide ample opportunity for refocusing or people-watching.
And if the eclectic music and low hum of conversation prove distracting, residents can always move their mobile workstations to outside tables.
Another kind of perk: Patrons interested in wireless Internet can sign up for a T-Mobile account through the provider's website. Prices vary depending on the length of service.
Starbucks, 1396 and 1167 Lincoln Ave.
Best Place to Walk the Dog/Place to Remember Old Willow Glen/Place to Impress Visitors
LINCOLN AVENUE
Residents have voted, so it's official: Lincoln Avenue is where it's at.
The historic street, the core of Willow Glen, is chockfull of memories, impressive shops and restaurants--not to mention doggy bowls.
As any Willow Glen resident will attest, this is dog country. From the deluxe puppy boutique Gussied Up to the myriad water bowls lining the street, Lincoln Avenue is as dog friendly as it comes.
But there's plenty for dog walkers, too: reminiscing about days gone by, for instance, since Lincoln Avenue is one of the oldest streets in San Jose, built in the late 1800s and originally called El Abra. A cable car carried people up and down Lincoln Avenue in the early 1900s, prompting the surrounding development of homes and businesses.
Willow Glen residents, as enamored of the thoroughfare then as they are now, saved Lincoln Avenue in the 1920s from a proposed railroad that would have cut through it.
BEST
Park
WILLOW STREET FRANK BRAMHALL PARK
In the frenetic pace of everyday life in San Jose, Willow Glen's Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park offers 18 acres to relax, get lost in a book or enjoy a quiet spot among the mature redwoods.
The large brass figures--a family standing beside the letters WG--invite residents of all ages to explore this quiet neighborhood haven.
Indeed, families can enjoy a weekend barbecue, children can run, jump and scream on the wide swaths of grass and playgrounds, and teens can practice their Shakespeare or air guitar in the small grass amphitheater tucked away in the northwest corner of the park.
Bramhall offers several sporting options as well: there are six tennis and two basketball courts, lawn bowling is played five days a week on well-trimmed grass (tournaments require formal attire) and the Willow Glen Little League plays its games on the park's baseball fields.
Willow Street Bramhall Park is bordered by Willow Street to the north, Camino Ramon to the east, Britton Avenue to the southeast and Weaver Drive to the southwest.
BEST Architectural Beauty
BUFFINGTON HOUSE
Part of the Willow Glen landscape for more than a century, the Buffington House is a reminder of the beauty and craftsmanship of a bygone era.
The Queen Anne Victorian was designed by architect Frank D. Wolfe in 1905 and purchased by Santa Clara County deputy sheriff Howard M. Buffington and his wife, Lulu, in 1923.
Buffington served as the first fire chief of Willow Glen, and was the sheriff during the infamous 1933 lynching of the alleged Hart kidnappers in St. James Park.
The two-toned white and hunter green home boasts wood siding, graceful archways and a period wrought iron fence that protects a Victorian garden.
In 1937, the house was converted into two apartments and was eventually zoned as commercial property.
The Historic Landmarks Commission designated Buffington House a Historic Landmark in 1986.
The Buffington House, 1226 Lincoln Ave.
BEST Community Event
DANCIN' ON THE AVENUE
Willow Glen residents celebrated Dancin' on the Avenue's 12th anniversary this year on June 16. As usual, Willow Glen packed Lincoln Avenue for a day of food, fun, soul-stirring music and nonstop dancing.
Four live bands provided the music, and residents too shy to dance watched nine performances showcasing dances from around the world. Glenites also enjoyed a plethora of food and beverage booths, as well as children's games and activities.
Local businesses reported booming sales during the event--an estimated 35,000 people attended--and the dancing didn't stop until the party was finally packed up for the night.
BEST Hangout
for Seniors
THE WILLOWS SENIOR CENTER
The Willows Senior Center has been through quite an ordeal this year--a fire destroyed its kitchens and dining area in February. Still, the Willows continued to give uninterrupted service to local seniors, including meal and nutrition services.
Aside from such dedication to its patrons, The Willows offers an endless list of activities, classes and services for seniors.
Willows clients can play a game of bingo or bridge, watch a movie or make jewelry. The center also offers financial and legal advocacy and advice.
Patrons with a flair for the dramatic can join the theater group, and those with a literary bent may enjoy the monthly book club.
Exercise and walking clubs, plus nutritional services, keep seniors fit, and transportation services are available to take them places to which they otherwise don't have access.
The Willows Senior Center, 2175 Lincoln Ave., 408.448.6400. www. home.earthlink.net/~gaxmda/wil lows.html.
