Desire is a public art installation located in the Willow Glen District of San Jose. It is one of 3…read morepieces purchased as part of a downtown beautification effort. Desire, created in 2014, is the work of San Jose artist Jeff Owen. From the artist "My sculptures combine the past and the present. I have a deep affinity toward the materials I work with, a wonderful sense of emotion, feelings, and dreams for what the material was once used for and now what it will become in my hands. These feelings direct me on my path. My processes emerge with patterns. Taking one piece of steel; adding to it, deleting from it, constantly discovering the metal's unique appeal. When a sculpture encompasses all of my creative energy, it is finished. My technique is brute force, decide-at-the-moment. The interesting shapes of metal; the patterns, textures, and grains; all entice me. I am fascinated with form. My aspiration is to create sculpture that is completely unique; that no one has done before. I resist conformity and mass production. My art is as individual as I am." The sculpture is both complex and simple with the rust of the corten setting off the red orb in the center. Desire is best part of a larger trip and there are plenty of shops and restaruants in easy proximity to it.

The Rosicrucian Museum has the finest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the country. The docents…read moreare knowledgeable and helpful. The stone tomb is atmospheric. I felt like I was in ancient Egypt. A person can learn a lot about Egyptian history by going there. The garden grounds are lovely. I enjoy walking through them. Be sure to bring a camera. There is ample parking so there is no need to worry about parking on the street. Visitors from outside the area will delight in the experience.

This is one of the places you have to see if you live in San Jose. It's not one of the bigger…read moremuseums in town, but it is interesting. I found out that this is the world headquarters for this religion. Make sure you get the free tickets to the stone tomb. It's a recreation of a governors tomb. There's plenty of free parking in the back. Also it's only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Nice metro library in a busy and popular part of west San Jose near the Rose Garden. It's not very…read morebig, but it's quite nicely designed. There's only no parking lot, so you have to park in the garage under the library on the ground floor and there's only 33 spots according to SJPL's website. That's quite limited. Thankfully, the day we came we found a spot pretty easily. The entrance is pretty impressive from the garage to the library. There's a huge glass rose sculpture that's suspended in midair, sure made me feel a little uneasy, haha, what if it comes crashing down. All kidding aside, the library is on the second floor only, it's got a kids area, a teen room, a tech room, a meeting/study room, and then a couple of bigger open areas for quite study, reading, and computer use. There's also a book sales by their Friends of the Library that's pretty decent, although some of the books were really old. All in all, this is a pretty good library. We came on a weekend afternoon so it was actually relatively calm and quiet. I see some reviews that say it gets rowdy here, but I didn't see that on my visit. A good library and architecturally unique that I might visit again.

I love the San Jose Public Library! This is a smaller branch library connected to the larger…read moresystem, so you can have any materials held and transferred for pick-up here (the holds pick-up section is by the entryway upstairs.) There is a good selection of books and DVDs, with special kids and teens sections, though, because it's not the main library you may not find an exact title here unless you place a hold. I enjoy browsing and seeing what seems interesting. Some other benefits of an SJPL library card is access to County and State Parks passes, free tickets to local museums (called Discover and Go), access to Libby (audiobooks, e-books) and Hoopla (movies, TV), and the ability to request books not in their collection from across California using the Link+ program. You can apply for a library card here, for full access bring an ID and proof of residency. They have fun card choices, too! I've used this particular library when I needed to work outside of the house. There is a rentable study room and a computer lab room, plus some seating in the adult section and by the computers in the center of the library. It's not the most conducive to quiet work at tables, but it does the job in a pinch. Some might find the crowd after the nearby school is out too loud for their ideal library experience. A pair of headphones is recommended for quiet study. There is also a Friends of the Library book sale at all times in a small room in the adult section. You can pick up books and DVDs for all ages for 50 cents to a few dollars, so I always check it out. Worth mentioning is the parking garage on the bottom level of the library. I've always been able to find a spot, but it's not huge. There's a doorway from the garage to an elevator and stairs, the library is on the top floor and the special events room is on the bottom floor.

Great community center! Started to bring the kids here so we have a quiet place to finish homework…read moreand study. They love how they can reserve a private room and use the many computers to research their projects. The librarians are always so kind and helpful they appear to really enjoy helping the community. Yay library adults!

It's been a while since I've been to a library, but I've started getting back into it to make more…read moreuse of it. I didn't stay here for long because I was primarily here to pick up a hole that I had ordered and it was very easy to find parking since the parking lot is huge, but I forget that this library also has a gym along with a community center room. The library was peaceful and quiet, and it was actually a fair amount of tables to sit and get work done/read.

A mural artist recommended this art supply store for an art project I'm working at home. It is…read moresmall store that shares its space with a glass art store. Good ideaThe young man behind the to share the cost of rent. Please note that the variety of supplies is limited to paints, mostly spray paints for art projects. The plus is the nice and knowledgeable young man who works there. I told him my general idea for my art project and he gave me some good ideas on how to implement it.

We followed the directions to the Bascom Ave address. We drove by four times and didn't see it. I…read morethink they are gone. If the place is hidden, someone please post how to find it.

We arrived earlier than our reserved spot and they accommodated us as soon as they had a clean room…read moreavailable for us. While we waited for them, we went next door to AxeVenture where my kids tried to hammer a nail straight into a block of wood (sounds easier than it is!) We were given coveralls and protective gear. The room was well stocked with breakable things. We had a fun time and even purchased extra clay pigeons and color blast bottles. The staff generously offered otter pops to my kids which was much appreciated!

Was disappointed with what came in the rage room -- for $45 a person or only came with 10 beer…read morebottles and 10 clay pigeons (per person). The "furniture" was a rubber made table with a hole in it, a piece of cabinet over two barrels and a cone. The dressing up in the coveralls & gloves probably took as long as the time in there ~10 minutes. The way they said the rules was super fast like the way they say the rules of a sweepstake entry on the radio. I legitimately could not understand what they said. But then it said on the wall, they will fine you if you damage the walls? They had us put our used items in a separate barrel to be cleaned, but when taking the mask off our faces, our faces were literally black with dirt. Nearby was a bunch of cans of aerosol Lysol bottles, idk if that's what they clean with?? But I got immediate allergies super congested that only happened once I left that place? One of the others we were with got a rash on her face? Possibly from the cleaning of the face masks?

Had both of my kids participate in season 58, and both my husband and I could not be happier with…read morethe community and experience that our children had. I cannot stop singing praises for CMT.

My family and I frequently visit this theatre for all different plays and school events. We love…read morethe energy of the staff and how the plays are organized. The enthusiasm is just mind blowing. Very clean and well maintained theatre for the young students and parents to enjoy . A big shout out to all the staff and sponsors for this theater in San jose .

I took a blacksmithing class on a Saturday morning. The location for the class is in their hot shop…read morein the back. Entrance is off of Julian vs the Alameda for the rest of the studios. Area was clean and spacious and we had 4-5 hrs of safety talk, demos, and making our own knife from a piece of steel. The instructor was great and if we needed help he'll provide it and overall had a good time. They did provide water but if you want to you can bring your own beverages and a snack since it's from 10am to 2pm. Had a great time and hope to come back for more classes!

Had a lot of fun at a Blacksmithing team event for my work!…read more After the safety introduction and choosing the project, they were very instructive demonstrating exactly how the project would progress over the course. Wyatt and Marcy were super helpful and attentive to each participant making sure we were moving at a good pace The final result was great and will definitely get used in my day to day

America's Best Rose Garden Run by Volunteers!!!…read more This is a beautiful 5.5-acre rose garden officially recognized as "America's Best Rose Garden." It features over 3,500 shrubs and around 200 varieties, with about 75% being hybrid teas. The garden has an interesting history: it was once a prune orchard purchased by the San Jose City Council in 1927, thanks to advocacy from the Santa Clara County Rose Society. Today, it also serves as an official All-America Rose Selections (AARS) display garden, where new award-winning rose varieties are tested before public release. The layout is classic and park-like, with a two-tiered fountain and mature, decades-old trees that add to the atmosphere. Some standout roses that I enjoy, include: * Rosa 'Handel' (climbing rose): Soft pink, slightly ruffled blooms that look great climbing fences or arches. Light fragrance, subtle but nice up close. * 'Camille Pissarro': Super eye-catching striped petals in pink, red, yellow, and cream. Looks like a painting. Mild scent. * "Make Me Blush" (hybrid tea): Clean, soft blush-pink rose with a neat classic shape. Light, gentle fragrance. * "Perfect Moment" (hybrid tea): Very polished, classic rose form with rich color and that "traditional rose" look. Noticeable floral scent. * "Double Delight": Creamy white with red edges that deepen in the sun. Each bloom looks a bit different. Strong, sweet spicy fragrance: one of the most fragrant ones there. A pleasant surprise is that the garden is entirely volunteer-run. Volunteers actively work to preserve heritage roses, even rescuing and propagating rare varieties from old cemeteries, abandoned homesteads, and rural roadsides. Practical info: * Parking: free street parking with no time limit * Hours: daily, 8am to 30 minutes after sunset * Restrooms: available (clean, basic, and well-stocked) * Dogs: not allowed * Yoga: permitted if non-commercial * Alcohol: not permitted * Photography: casual photography and picnics are free, but professional shoots require a $100 permit Overall, it's a peaceful, well-maintained garden with both botanical depth and historical character, especially enjoyable for rose enthusiasts or anyone looking for a quiet walk among carefully preserved varieties.

This historic site has become a special place for my son and I, especially on Mother's Day. We have…read morebeen coming here since he was a baby and that's something to think about! So many memories have been made here throughout the years and I love every visit I made and will continue to make! As much as I love dogs, I am glad this place is now more strict about not allowing them within the gates. You could be fined if caught! In the past, I've seen people walk their dogs around and even seen people not prepared to pick up after their left behinds. It's a beautiful place and we don't need to see or step on any poo-poo. Are cats allowed though? Asking for a friend.