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Los Gatos Beer and Wine Walk

Los Gatos Beer and Wine Walk

Los Gatos Beer and Wine Walk - graphic with beverages plus Leo in the middle - Los Gatos catThis weekend will be the first Los Gatos Beer and Wine Walk, and it promised to be a popular event! We’ve had Spring Wine Walk and Fall Wine Walk, but this is the first such event in town that includes beer.

Particulars of the Los Gatos Beer and Wine Walk 2022:

  • Date is Saturday October 15, 1 – 4 pm
  • Location is downtown Los Gatos
  • Tickets are $50 each if paid in advance, or $55 the day of the event if not sold out
  • The event will be on, “rain or shine”
  • Must be 21 to participate

For all of the details, please see the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce’s website

 

 

Related:

Los Gatos Wildcat Theatre – presentations in October 2022
Visit the Los Gatos farmer’s market!
List of Los Gatos neighborhoods – list with links to articles on each
OktoberFest LG

Where to buy the Los Gatos cat statues?

Where to buy the Los Gatos cat statues?

Where can you purchase the ubiquitous Los Gatos cat statues for your own home or yard?

At times, these can be hard to find, but recently we spotted them in two places and wanted to share that info with our readers.

 

Los Gatos Cat Statues from Summerwinds Nursery and Pottery Planet

You’ll notice that they are not exactly alike, but similar. Oddly enough, both are on the same street, though in adjoining towns.

Where to shop for the Los Gatos cat statues:

The image on the left is from the SummerWinds Nursery in Campbell.

The photo on the right was taken at Pottery Planet.

I phoned the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce to see if they are still selling them, as they once did, but was told no. However, the nice woman I spoke with let me know that they can also be found at Natural Creations.

Happy shopping!

SummerWinds Nursery,  2460 S Winchester Blvd, Campbell, CA 95008. https://www.summerwindsnursery.com/

Pottery Planet, 15796 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95030. https://www.potteryplanetlosgatos.com/

Natural Creations, 108 N Santa Cruz Ave A, Los Gatos, CA 95030 (flower shop, no website)

 

The Cornucopia Fruit Stand

Edit (10/15/2021): Sadly, Cornucopia looks like it is permanently closed. What may have been Los Gatos’ last permanent farm stand closed it’s doors this winter after tree sales and the property sold in February. On Facebook the family has bid farewell with a “Thank You” with many more from patrons and business associates in reply. The large property so close to El Camino and Netflix will likely be intended for development. We will miss you, Cornucopia Fruit Stand!

Original Article (10/27/2019):

Perched at a slight angle on Winchester Boulevard, the Cornucopia Fruit Stand is a celebrated remnant of the town’s agricultural heritage that you can still enjoy. Established in 1976, Cornucopia continues selling seasonal produce almost year-round. Spring and summer mean fresh fruit and veggies, and for the holidays it’s a great spot for top-grade Christmas trees.

 

This weekend my family and I stopped by the Cornucopia Fruit Stand in Los Gatos to stock up on some Halloween pumpkins. If you’re still looking for a squash for your porch, Cornucopia has a plethora – from Sugar Pie Pumpkins for carving to the fancy Cinderella pumpkins! And what would a pumpkin patch be without some festivity? Los Gatos’ Original Great Pumpkin Patch (as they proudly call it) is decorated with painted pumpkins (also for sale), instagrammable photo spots, friendly scare crows, and classic Halloween stand-in cutouts for the kids.

 

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Ming Quong: a Los Gatos Monument

Ming Quong Arch appx c.1940

Children playing beneath the arch at the entrance to the Loma Alta Home around 1940.

At the end of Loma Alta Ave in the foothills sits the Los Gatos campus of Uplift Family Services, formerly Eastfield Ming Quong (EMQ) Family First. Tucked away among quiet residential streets, this unassuming establishment often goes unnoticed by locals, but it has deep roots in this Town and across the Bay Area, and especially within the Chinese community.

Origins: “Radiant Light”

Discriminatory laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943) took their toll on US Chinatowns. Organized crime took hold in US Chinatowns and with it, human trafficking. Tong kidnaped Chinese women, smuggling them through the Golden Gate and into prostitution and slavery. In the late 19th century, Presbyterian missionaries in San Francisco began an effort to help the victims, women and children, escape to safety.

This undertaking expanded, providing safe houses and orphanages: Chung Mei (“China America”) Home for boys and Ming Quong (“radiant light”) Homes for girls.

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RIP Miguel Torres, Thrasher Termite – GoFundMe for his kids

On July 20, 2021, my termite inspector, Miguel Torres, Thrasher Termite & Pest Control, died without warming. He was a single dad and leaves behind a devastated family and minor kids who could use support. Today I am writing to request your help with the GoFundMe (and if you are one who prays, please also send some prayers for this family).

UPDATE: The goal has been met, thank you to all who helped!

RIP Miguel Torres, Thrasher Termite & Pest Control

Never before have I blogged to ask my wonderful  readers to contribute to a charity or fund, but this one is personal.

Thrasher Termite & Pest Control has been my go-to, most trusted termite and pest control company for my entire career (1993 to today). Janet and Duff Thrasher started the company, but 21 years ago, Duff suffered a fatal heart attack while at the beach with Janet and their 3 kids. Miguel stepped up to help Janet and to grow the company. Miguel’s passing is a lot like lightening hitting the same spot twice.

But I digress.

Miguel was a trusted professional, careful with his work (neither overstating nor understating issues), as good with my clients as with the details of his profession. He was reliable, friendly, kind. I could not have asked for better either from him or from Thrasher.

Miguel has 3 children, two of whom are dependent.

Janet Thrasher, his employer, started a GoFundMe account to help keep the 2 dependent sons in their rental home for the next year while things get sorted out. There are enough sea changes without also being forced to move.

Every donation, great or small, matters a tremendous amount.

If you would consider donating and spreading the word, I would be immensely grateful.

Go Fund Me page to help shelter Miguel’s kids

Black Cat Hats

One of my favorite shops in downtown Los Gatos is Black Cat Hats, which features all kinds of accessories in addition to hats for men and women. The folks there are friendly and knowledgeable and take a personal interest in helping customers to find just the right item they want or need.

 

2021-07-28 Black Cat Hats in Los Gatos

 

Over the last week, we’ve been there twice – first for a hat for me, and then a couple for my better half. Both times we got what we needed quickly.

 

2021-07-28 Hats for Men at Black Cat Hats

 

We were impressed by the nice selection among the men’s hats. Truthfully, I hadn’t paid much attention to them previously, but there was a good variety of styles, colors, and sizes.

 

Hats on display at Black Cat Hats

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