admin @ Mon, 2006-09-04 11:00
In her review Sunday of ``Madison & Fifth'' on University Avenue, Mercury News restaurant critic pointed out the eatery's very appropriate New York City atmosphere.
That was the same vibe I got from another new spot in Palo Alto: the Counter, a gourmet-burger joint that opened its California Avenue doors to long lines a couple of weeks ago.
Along with the diner decor and the J-shaped counter, the line of small tables in the dining room is very Manhattan, with diners elbow to elbow and lunchtime conversations easily overheard.
The crowds at the Counter aren't a huge surprise -- everyone wants to try something new, and the Counter's build-your-own burger was named by GQ magazine as one of 20 to eat before you die (though I hope not just before).
The surprising part is that the site of the Counter's first restaurant is Santa Monica, an area better known for its laid-back ways than its hustle. Could a legion of pretzel and hot dog carts on University Avenue be on its way?
: Walking through Los Gatos late Saturday night it was a delight to see adults -- and some kids -- streaming through the aisles of Powell's Sweet Shoppe, a Windsor-based ``sweetery'' that opened several weeks ago on North Santa Cruz Avenue.
The collection of chocolates, candies, games and novelties is dazzling, as is the display of Candy Land game boards -- stretching back to 1949 -- behind the ice cream counter. And you can plop down in theater chairs in the back of the shop to watch the original ``Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,'' which plays on a wide-screen TV below an autographed photo of right next to a box of Wonka bars.
: The Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee (BAYMEC), which throws its support behind politicians who support the gay and lesbian community, will bid farewell to two local legislators with special honors at its fundraiser Saturday at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel.
State Sen. , the Fremont Democrat who lost her bid for lieutenant governor, will receive the group's ``Legislative Service Award'' for her support of the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, especially during the debate over same-sex marriage last year. And termed-out Santa Clara County Supervisor , who strongly supported a group of Los Altos students in their quest for a Gay Pride Day declaration, will receive the ``Friend of BAYMEC Award'' for his years of service.
Other awards at the 22nd annual dinner are going to Song That Radio, a radio program for the San Jose's Vietnamese lesbian and gay community broadcast Sunday nights on KSJX (1500), and former BAYMEC board members , and .
: Theme park watchers on the Internet have been buzzing for the past few weeks that Six Flags Marine World, which was transplanted from Redwood City to Vallejo in 1985, will be changing its name next year to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The rumored new name would be more in line with offerings at the park, which started adding rides in 1998 in addition to its wildlife attractions and sea-life shows.
This wouldn't be the first name change for the park, which started as Marine World in 1968, and was known as Marine World Africa USA from the 1970s until its became a Six Flags park in the mid-1990s.
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