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TA Away Game Travel Guide to San Jose

08/01/2011 2:45 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)

—by Andrew Brawley

Author's note: I know we still have a mid-week match against the LA Galaxy this week prior to the away match in San Jose this weekend, but try to look past for our purposes here. Thanks.

Do you know the way to San Jose? It’s basically down I-5 a ways, then take a right at I-505, and…well, you can figure that part out.

San Jose is definitely the neglected middle child of the Bay Area. However, I have a hard time even labeling it the “Peter Brady” of that section of California. I’d say it’s closer to a “Cousin Oliver,” as that’s about equal to the level of respect it gets compared to its much hotter family members Oakland and San Francisco. And here’s the really sad part: the Earthquakes don’t even play in San Jose. They play in Santa Clara, a suburb-of-a-suburb-of-a-suburb. It’s all a confusing mess that I just don’t have the energy to find more analogies for.

My helper this week is my mom’s cousin Julene. She’s lived in Los Gatos (another suburb-of-a-suburb-of-a-suburb that’s connected to San Jose) as far back as I can remember. She gave me a very large dictionary as an 8th grade graduation gift, and used to drive an 80’s era Porsche. I basically used those things as a weird, distant form of motivation to do work my tail off in school, thinking that’s what it would take to acquire my own Porsche. As it turns out, I’m too tall for a Porsche anyway, and inflation has me forever waiting patiently for a large SUV with Knight Rider technology.

Julene’s recommendations are below. Please drive (and/or fly) safely.

In downtown San Jose, the Gordon Biersch Microbrewery (33 E San Fernando St.) has nice pub food and great beer. Has both inside and outside seating...fun place.

Expanding a bit to the Los Gatos / Campbell area, the Sonoma Chicken Coop (200 E Campbell Ave. in Campbell) is a large restaurant with good value and a good selection – excellent breakfast/brunch, too.

Also in Campbell, Hawgs Seafood (1700 W. Campbell Ave.) is a small restaurant, and you can eat at the counter. Very fresh seafood, plus excellent paella and Caesar salad. Great all-around neighborhood place.

Over the hill in Santa Cruz, Stagnaro Bros. Restaurant is out at the end of the Santa Cruz Pier. It’s an old diner type restaurant, but don't be fooled by the casual nature of the place. It's been around for 70 years. The clam chowder is excellent, and all the seafood is very fresh. Yummy!

Also in Santa Cruz is the Crow's Nest (2218 East Cliff Drive). Great place for fried calamari, crab Louis and margaritas. Overlooking the ocean and adjacent to the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.


Comments

  • 07/09/2016 2:01 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Lucas Grzybowski says:
    Monday, August 1, 2011 at 11:44 am

    My plan for San Jose Away is to stay Away from San Jose as much as possible. Apart from the game itself, and possibly a pregame gathering near the stadium if such a thing materializes, we’ll be in sexy San Francisco the whole weekend.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:01 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Ted Miller says:
    Monday, August 1, 2011 at 11:49 am

    You might as well be in Gary, Ind and Detroit and or even in Cleveland since San Jose is the worst spot in the world. Sao Paulo and Rio are cool places to be! Go Brazil!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:02 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    mel says:
    Monday, August 1, 2011 at 5:36 pm

    Guys,
    1906Ultra member here, I respect the hell out of your crew, and although you are correct about SF, San Jose has tons of sh*t to do and its way better than OAK. Downtown SJ is 5 minutes away from the stadium which is in Santa Clara, on the SCU campus. sh*t loads of bars and places to chill pre-game.. it’s actually a decent place to hang out. if you like nightlife, Santana Row is cool, and anywhere on Santa Clara ave in downtown…. I only help because I know how much you all hate Seattle, and by that mere fact I love you all. F*ck ECS. hit me up if you all need some recommendations, I’ll be going up for the 9/21 match in your city as well.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:02 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Dan says:
    Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 12:54 am

    Thanks, Mel. Hopefully we can make you like us even more by beating LA tomorrow, since I know how much you all hate them.
    Looking forward to Saturday; the Quakes are definitely a better team than they’ve shown in the last couple of games, which could probably be said of us as well.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:02 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Jason says:
    Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 8:24 am

    Hi Everyone,
    Going to school in Santa Clara I thought I would throw a few additional recommendations out here:
    Food:
    La Victoria Taqueria (131 W Santa Clara St) – In Downtown San Jose, one of the better burritos in San Jose, but the biggest attraction is by far their special “Orange Sauce”.
    Neto’s Market And Grill (1313 Franklin St) – In Santa Clara near the stadium. This place makes their own sausages and when I lived in the area, only grilled up thier sausage sandwhiches for lunch on Tues and Fridays. Now they have a new location and make item’s grilled to-order on a daily basis. Highly recomended.
    Henry’s Fresh Mexican Grill (787 Franklin St) – In Santa Clara near the stadium. Solid Mexican food, and very convenient location near the stadium. Great burritos and quesadillas.
    Bars:
    The Bronco Hut – (3200 The Alameda) – In Santa Clara near the staium. This is where you will be able to find me pregaming for the match starting around 5:30. Great dive bar, won’t be too crowded, and usually have decent drink specials (might be able to get some for TA). Bar is a 2 minute walk to the stadium as well, so you can be in the TA section 5 minutes after your last round.
    Transportation:
    Caltrain – (SFO to SJC) – For those staying in San Francisco I strongly suggest taking the Caltrain from the city to the game. You are allowed to drink on the train, so I highly suggest grabbing yourself a 6 pack, or beverage of choice, for the ride down.
    Train leaves from 4th and King st in SF, on the :15 every hour and takes about 90 minutes to get to the stadium. Get off at the Santa Clara stop, the station is only 200 yards from the stadium (and 400 yards from the hut).
    I’ll likely be grabbing the 4:15 train from San Fran, grabbing a burrito from Henry’s, then heading to the hut for an hour before kick. Hope to see some fellow TA along the way!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:03 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Andrew Brawley says:
    Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 8:27 am

    Jason, these are excellent tips. Thanks for the assist.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:03 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Drew says:
    Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    As a SCU student, please for the love of God don’t go to The Hut. There are plenty of
    pubs in San Jose such as Britannia Arms that are good places to grab a few drinks
    before the match. One of the few positives about The Hut is that it’s a 5 min walk to
    the stadium, so if you don’t want to drive or will be taking the train, it might be your
    best option.
    On a side note, where will the TA be sitting on Saturday? I’m a Portland transplant
    currently living in San Jose (the adopted amputee compared to SF’s golden child and
    Oakland’s redheaded stepchild) and would love to join the TA for a match.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:04 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    The only way to get tickets to our section is through us – but you need to buy them today!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:04 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Al G. says:
    Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    Too late to get in on the ticket buy, what section will the TA folks be in, I’d like to try and get as close as I can
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:05 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Joanne Couchman says:
    Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 12:16 am

    Al, tickets are still on sale until tomorrow evening (Weds 3rd Aug) we managed to get the deadline extended!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:05 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Darren says:
    Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    As a SJ native who saw the light and came to Portland 9 years ago for school (and never left), a few suggestions of my own…
    Gordon Biersch is nice, but if you’re used to the PDX craft brewing scene you won’t be as satisfied as what we have.
    Jason above already suggested La Vic’s. Wonderful place, worth the stop. Buy a bottle of orange sauce and bring it back to PDX…I do every time I visit home.
    A bar in downtown San Jose that I love is Firehouse No.1 (http://www.firehouse1.com/) – 69 N Pedro St.
    Britannia Arms is also a good place to visit for a drink.
    For those looking to stock up on beverages (beer, wine, liquor) to bring back to PDX (or to *ahem* enjoy before the game), I’m a fan of Beverages & More. You can even find a taste of home in some Oregon beers from time to time! Grocery stores carry liquor in CA (which I miss; but I don’t miss the sales tax).
    Cheers! Onward Rose City!
    Link  •  Reply
  • 07/09/2016 2:06 PM | 107ist Admin (Administrator)
    Mark says:
    Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    As a Timbers season ticket holder I drove to SJ and attended the match as part of my summer vacation. However, I did not sit in the TA section. I was impressed by the TA’s proper but enthusiastic behavior and support of their team in a hostile environment. The same could not be said for the Quakes supporters section who think obscene chants are a method to enhance the game atmosphere. The TA truly is the standard by which all supporters groups should be judged and modeled after.
    Link  •  Reply
  • 04/02/2019 4:11 PM | Anonymous
    Curious who will be in San Jose this Saturday for the game?
    Link  •  Reply


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