Los Altos Real Estate Blog

Want another good reason to hang out in downtown Los Altos on a Friday night?  A group called Los Altos Forward, sponsored by the Los Altos Community Foundation has arranged a fun evening of desserts, valentines, and strolling music next Friday night to kick off the sweetheart season and Valentine's Day.  Over 25 merchants are hosting a variety of desserts plus the chance to enter a drawing for dinner at some of the fine restaurants downtown.  Kids can create valentine's as well.

This is the first of 6 events that will happen every 2 months.  These will be an opportunity to spend time downtown, enjoy all the great shops (many new ones) and restaurants available downtown.  Obviously, it's open to residents of other nearby towns and everyone is welcome.  The theme will change with each new event so keep an eye out for the next theme.

I think this is absolutely brilliant and just adds even more fun stuff to the downtown Los Altos experience.  This pretty much ensures that there is something going on downtown all year long, which is generally true but now more so.  The first even was back in December 2011 so I hope you'll support this program and make it a rousing success.  Stop by their website for details on the last event and sponsors.

Los Altos First Friday:  February 3rd, 2012 6-8PM, downtown.

For the summer, there are many events and activities to do, right here in Los Altos.  There's no need to travel or head elsewhere when we have plenty of things to do here.  I've compiled a list of events, activities, and other things that will keep you busy this summer.  You'll also find that many downtown businesses have weekly events that are also fun to do.  For example, First and Main Sports Lounge has a weekly wine tasting event.  Take a look at your favorite downtown restaurant to see what they're offering.  Here's my list of things to do this summer in Los Altos:

In June

June 18 - RANCHO SHOPPING CENTER - Rancho Farmer's Market is a new farmer's market coming to Los Altos that will offer a different variety of things than the current downtown farmer's market as well as the advantage of being run all year round.  This is the opening day but you can check it out each Saturday from 9-1.

June 25, 30 - HILLVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER SOCCER FIELD - Free Tunes Under The Trees is a concert held over the summer with a wide range of musical styles and bands.  Bring your picnic gear and make an evening of it.  The music runs 6:30-8:30 but come early to get the good spots!

In July

July 9-10 - DOWNTOWN - The Los Altos Art and Wine Festival is a massive event held every year to tens of thousands of people from all over the Bay Area.  Considered one of the best art and wine festivals around, the even takes over the entire downtown area including all of Main and State Streets as well as the parking areas between Main and State.  There is a constant stream of live music, entertainers, rides and games for the kids, wine and beer booths and, of course, art!  It's easy to spend a full day there and make an outing out of it for the whole family.  I recommend going on Saturday so you can watch the concert on Saturday night.

July 7, 14, 21, 28 - HILLVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER SOCCER FIELD - Free Tunes Under The Trees is a concert held over the summer with a wide range of musical styles and bands.  Bring your picnic gear and make an evening of it.  The music runs 6:30-8:30 but come early to get the good spots!

In August

August 1 - LOS ALTOS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB - 2011 Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournment is held at one of the best private courses in the state.  This even has been held for 22 years and offers lunch, drinks, prizes and a party at the end.

August 5, 12, 19, 26 - DOWNTOWN - Friday Movie Nights is put on by the Los Altos Village Association and let's families hang out downtown on Main Street to watch an open air theater.  The movies are all top choice and there's all kinds of fun stuff to do before including bouncy houses, popcorn and candy vendors, face painting, and balloons.  It's a great way to spend the night.

August 4,11 - HILLVIEW COMMUNITY CENTER SOCCER FIELD - Free Tunes Under The Trees is a concert held over the summer with a wide range of musical styles and bands.  Bring your picnic gear and make an evening of it.  The music runs 6:30-8:30 but come early to get the good spots!

The REALTOR® Service Volunteer Program was started by the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® to assist senior citizens throughout the local communities take care of their homes.  Participants include real estate agents, brokers, managers, lenders, and others who want to take an active role in helping our community.

Among the services we provided today, our members helped:

• Wash windows (inside and out)
• Pull weeds
• Change furnace filters
• Install smoke detector batteries
• Clean gutters
• Trim hedges and trees
• Flip or rotate mattresses
• and other services as needed and deemed safe for our members.

I've participated in this program for several years and this year was one of the best.  Today I was a team captain, leading 3 other agents in helping out two senior households.  We did most of the things on the list above and I helped one senior with a little extra technology issue, getting his DVD player to work again.  Each household was extremely pleased to have us participate.

This program has been running for many years and is starting to get the attention of associations in southern California.  It would be great if this program became a standard for the entire country.  It's a great way to show the members of our local communities that we really do make a contribution and a difference.

The Fine Art in the Park art show is coming to Los Altos this weekend, May 14-15 from 10:00-5:30.  The event is held in Lincoln Park which is located across from downtown Los Altos along Foothill Expressway.  The event has a wide range of art that is, in my opinion, very different from the usual stuff you see at art shows.  Some of the displays are large enough to dominate an entire room and others are as simply as a small picture.  The variety is very interesting and it's nice to be able to walk around in a nice park instead othe trudging around hard streets where the typical art and wine festivals are held.  This event is truly special and nearly unique because of the venue.

Thre is plenty to do for both adults and kids.  For adults, you have nice wines and food, in addition to the exceptional artwork.  I've taken my family here in the past and the kids can get facepainting, play games, get balloon animals, and eat fun foods as well.  There is plent of room to roam around and it rarely feels crowded. It's the right balance of people, visuals, and activities.  If you want to get your kids exposed to art, this is a great place to do it.  I met one artist who was kind enough to talk to my son about how be did his work.  He even showed him some samples of work that was "in progress".  Try to get that at the museum!

As for the variety of artwork, I find this show to be among the best.  It has a wide range of sizes and artists do pictures ranging from photos, watercolors, and oils to some interesting mosaics with a variety of materials.  There is woodwork of various sizes, metalwork, stone, and others that make the whole show visually appealing.  It's well worth spending a couple of hours to visit and buy something.  This event is hosted by the Rotary who does charitable work in the area.

Happy Easter Los Altos!

This is a great time in Los Altos as the spring weather brings out all the sidewalk dining tables, the Los Altos village Association does their annual Easter Egg Hunt, and the upcoming season of outdoor activities.  In some ways, Easter is the official beginning of the downtown Los Altos outdoor fun season.

I'm not aware of any special Easter menus at the many downtown restaurants but you can always stop by Rick's Cafe for a nice breakfast and Aldo's is a fine pick for lunch.  It all depends on the weather this weekend but I'd definitely make time to enjoy a good meal at one of the sidewalk tables.  Particularly on Main Street you have Aldo's, Main Street Cafe, Posh Bagel, Le Boulanger, and others with outdoor seating.  One of the great things about Los Altos at this time of year is the myriad casual dining choices that make eating on a day like Easter a relaxed and refreshing experience.

As Easter passes, you can look forward to the ongoing downtown Farmer's Market on Thursday nights, concerts at the corner of Main and State Streets, and other activities.  I recommend visiting the Los Altos Village Association website for updates on all the activities planned for the rest of spring.

There's news today that Los Altos will now have two farmer's markets; the existing on in downtown Los Altos on Thursday nights and a new one on Saturday mornings at Rancho Shopping Center.  There are some concerns that the two markets will divide which people go where and when, but I think the appeal is different for each one.

I've been to the farmers market in downtown Los Altos many times.  It's an eclectic mix of vendors with a wide range of produce and crafts at one end of the street.  The event is hosted on State Street so it doesn't interfere with regular evening restaurant traffic.  The Thursday downtown farmers market has little to fear from the new market at Rancho Shopping Center.  One main benefit of the downtown farmer's market is that you can buy your produce and then walk to dinner.  In the summer months, this makes it a destination outing because the kids can get face painting, you can shop, and the whole family can eat in town at any of the many fine restaurants.

The Rancho Shopping Center farmer's market will be a completely different experience, based on the description.  It'll be like the Mountain View or Campbell farmer's markets where you go for the produce, get breakfast, and then wrap it up.  It's not really a "hang around and visit" sort of experience.  It can still be good but it's not the same.  It'll be interesting to see how the new market works out.

Overall, this is a win for Los Altos because the town has so much to offer and this just boosts it up a bit.  I suggest going to both venues so you get an idea of what merchandise they offer and figure out if it may be good to go to both.  Los Altos is a great place to live and this is just another reminder of all we have.

If you like Irish cuisine and a good pint of Guinness, then there is no better place to be than Los Altos on Saint Patrick's Day.  There are several places to go with great bars that are good fun for individuals, groups of friends, and families alike. Los Altos is definitely ready to party on Saint Patrick's Day.

The first place I recommend is First and Main Sports Lounge.  They've got special deals on drinks, lively atmosphere, sports on over a dozen flatscreen TVs and plenty of beer.  It's a great place to hang out and their menu is first-class.

The next place to consider is The Los Altos Grill, located along San Antonio Road and 3rd Street.  Besides having a great bar, they have ample seating, a wonderful atmosphere and the best grilled chicken in town.  With a touch of upscale casual chic, this bar and grill is a great place to see and be seen.

Another option is Maltby's, located behind the corner of 4th Street and State Street.  In addition to having a great selection of European beers, they also have traditional Irish fare on the menu and plenty of space for family and friends.  This is a lively place to meet and very popular with locals.  If you haven't been here, you're missing out on a Los Altos institution.

The Los Altos 5K Fun Run has been taking place on New Year's Day for many years.  It's the finale in a string of holiday events in downtown Los Altos.  After the carriage rides, Festival of Lights parade, holiday shopping, and more this event is a welcome break.  It's also a great way to kick off the new year with some exercise to work off all the food and drink from the last few weeks.

Registration isn't required and it's completely free.  You can stop by the Los Altos Recreation Department website for more details.  Basically, you just show up on Saturday morning at 9AM and you'll get to run with thousands of other people.  Anyone can run, walk, or stroll the course (they usually do with kids in strollers, pets, etc) and you can stay in town for brunch afterwards.  The race starts at State and Main Streets where the clock tower is in front of Citibank.

You'll also find updates on the Los Altos Online website with an article there along with comments.

The "Breakfast with Santa" is a long-time tradition in Los Altos put on by the Los Altos Village Association.  Families and children are invited to gather at a local restaurant for a nice breakfast before being joined by Santa who stops by to sit with kids, take gift requests, stand for photos, and more.

This local tradition is what makes Los Altos such a nice place to live, offering a bit of fun along with strong community involvement.  This year, the event takes place at Maltby's Restaurant.  This place has been catering to families for a long time and is a great selection to host this year's Breakfast with Santa.

Participation costs $20 per person and seating is limited.  It usually sells out fast so I highly recommend getting to one of the many stores selling tickets as soon as possible.  This is another event coordinated by the Los Altos Village Association who helps downtown Los Altos merchants connect with residents and hosts several events downtown throughout the year.

For more information click here for the Los Altos Village Association.

A little break from the usual blog posts about Los Altos real estate this time.  Here's a note about the upcoming Holiday Stroll held in downtown Los Altos on November 12th.  The stroll is on from 5-9PM and offers shoppers a chance to do their holiday shopping while enjoying live entertainment, snacks or drinks at the various stores, and live entertainment.

When I served on the board of the Los Altos Village Association, this was considered a great event for residents or anyone who likes Los Altos because it showcases the charm of the Los Altos village.  You'll see all the trees on Main Street lit up with white Christmas lights, restaurants open with lots of friendly people, and a vibrant atmosphere of holiday cheer.

For more information, take a look at the website for the Los Altos Village Association.