Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Hey all, I'll be living here with my boyfriend for three months while he does his internship and I was wondering, what can I do?
By this, I mean please could someone kindly answer one or more of the following questions:

-> Good Veggie places to eat?
-> Places to go?
-> Things to do during the day?
(I'll be on an extended tourist visa so I can't take up paid employment. I'll need something to fill my time with or else I will go mental- None of my friends can afford to visit so I'll be fighting homesickness and boredom...
-> Voluntary opportunities?
I've found a few in San Jose and one or two dotted about, but was wondering if maybe there was something awesome that my blind googling has missed out - I'd like to make good use of my time while I'm out there
-> Advice?

Many thanks in advance xx :D

Oh man. So, you'll be right in the middle of Silicon Valley. All of that area is attached, and there are busses that can take you all over. In Mountain View there are tons of restaurants on Casto Street, although not many of them have explicit vegan options-- it's still a good street to walk up and down. (If you're vegetarian it's more flexible and we never have problems eating there when we're in town.) There are a couple of good bookstores and things like that. That's good for an afternoon or two at least.

There are museums and stuff all over the San Jose area, too, from the Winchester House to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum (which is pretty weird but cool).

If you can get to San Jose, go to the Falafel Drive-In: http://www.falafelsdrivein.com/

It is the best falafel I have ever had ever.

It's a big interesting area, full of neat stuff. I don't think you'll be bored... 8)

I was planning to see San Jose yes, I love museums and such so that's all good too - Thank you so much :D

We have a little San Jose-based PPK group that meets up about once a month - we usually try out a restaurant or go for picnics or something fun like that. You're more than welcome of course!

Mountain View is a really cute place, I really like it. Garden Fresh is an all-veggie place, I haven't tried it but I hear good things. zPizza downtown on Castro has a Daiya vegan cheese and it's scrumptious. Oh and Sundays there is a super awesome farmer's market at the Caltrain station (by the way, the Caltrain is awesome for going up to San Francisco or down to San Jose).

If you head up to Palo Alto there is a lot of good vegan eats there. In San Jose we have a few as well.

I think there's an Udipi Palace in Sunnyvale

Yeah, there's so much great vegan friendly South Indian in Sunnyvale. Try Madras!

Great suggestions guys, keep 'em coming! :D

You're also just a CalTrain ride away from San Francisco...

I'm baaack!
Forgot to mention - anybody know of any good companies/agents to rent from or websites that are good for looking at rents?

are you looking for a place that's month to month? A lot of rental companies like yearly leases around here. Most WILL rent to you for a shorter time period, but they typically charge a higher rent for this.

Will your bf be relying on public transit to get to his internship? If so, where abouts is his internship?

Month to month I wouldn't mind, and I had noticed the higher rent issue.
He was planning on cycling into work, but as long as something's well linked he's not averse to public transport - he's working at Google

I'd probably want to live within walking distance of downtown, it's super cute and lot's to do!

There's a great biking/running path in Mountain View called the Stevens Creek Trail, it goes up toward Google.

Most places for rent around here are on Craigslist, so that would be my first stop to look for listings.

I volunteer at Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley(in San Jose), it's a wildlife hospital and rehab for injured animals.
Lots of vegan Vietnamese restaurants in SJ--a newish one is downtown across from City Hall, the old venerable one on the same street is International Vegetarian House. Good KArma Cafe is the hip place on S 1st with an awesome selection of beers from around the world, along with their vegan food.

Yes, be prepared for exhorbitant rents. I have friends who live 2 blocks from Castro in this one bedroom apt that is falling apart yet they have to pay through the nose because of the prime location.