Archive for the ‘Things We Love’ Category

Image: BRUTE LABS

For those of you who have been following along since March, when we first made run! at Red Rock a “favorite” on the Gables End Facebook page – closing ceremonies will commence on May 8th from 7 -9 pm by celebrating the end of the run! at Red Rock campaign with music, food, and of course prizes (link to the event) ! Together, the run! at Red Rock community has completed 7,761.5 miles.

What was run! at Red Rock, exactly?

BRUTE LABS paired up with Red Rock coffee to get people moving… and now they are expanding run! programs to 15 Bay Area Schools to help promote physical fitness and health awareness! Kudos to  BRUTE LABS (an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization run by young professionals. We aim to change the world by using design and technology to address global challenges). The Gables End team in Mountain View applauds your efforts!

In their words -
“Mission: run! at Red Rock is a 3-month collaboration between Red Rock Coffee and BRUTE LABS to promote health, fitness and community building in the Mountain View, California area. We hope that we can inspire and empower each person who participates to build healthy habits, achieve their fitness goals, meet others along the way, and above all, have fun doing it!

So whether its running, cycling, swimming, rock climbing, going out for a walk, or something else, we want to celebrate and encourage everyone to get outside or to the gym to get their hearts beating and blood flowing.”

It's Spring Festival at Sakoon

It’s Springtime and that means we begin to emerge from our nests and look forward to mingling, meeting and mixing it up. Gables End offers homeowners the chance to live near work at companies like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, PAMF, Blogger, UStream, Actel, Siemens, Symantec, Intuit and Nokia. And while heading home for a quick cup of soup may seem dreamy in the wintertime, meeting up for lunch downtown or mingling with co-workers after hours is what makes our work-week go by faster during Spring and Summer.  Downtown Mountain View has an amazing selection of great restaurants and offers the kind of ethnic selection that is usually only found in large cities.  What’s new nearby Gables End?

Sakoon on Castro Street Begins Spring Bread Festival Lunch and Happy Hour!
April 4th thru June 20th Enjoy Regional Breads of India and Daily Specials.
Happy Hour 5 to 7 pm, daily!

We stumbled on this special “Spring Festival” deal posted on Yelp for Sakoon:

Glass of complimentary wine with dinner! (5-7 pm daily)
Your choice of complimentary dessert with dinner! (5-10 pm Sun-Th)

On Saturday, April 3, 2010, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,  Bike Party will ride LONGER and FARTHER than ever before, visiting places where Bike Party tires have yet to tread.

This special event will take you along the city limits of the great City of San Jose with 30, 60, and 100 mile versions of the ride.

The 30 and 60 mile rides are designed like Bike Party routes: relatively flat rides that explore unique areas of town while staying visible to the community at large. Both routes are fun and have easy access to service around the city. These two groups will stay together the way a test ride or pre-ride does, keeping the party and community vibe alive.

The 100 mile ride offers experienced riders the chance to complete a century ride in some truly wonderful areas of San Jose. It also gives anyone who has wanted to ride 100 miles but has never been able to – either because of lack of time, registration fees, a good route, etc. – the opportunity to push themselves to the limit and complete a ride around the city limits. This version of the ride will take bicyclists into some beautiful areas of the East Foothills, Coyote Valley, and Almaden. Riders may decide to stick together on this route or go it alone or in smaller groups.

All three versions share the first 20 or so miles and begin riding at the same time, giving us a large group to ride with. Rest points/regroups will be located in city parks with restrooms and drinking water.

For route changes/updates or for more information visit their site.

event text courtesy of YELP

Need some “me time”?

The stress of everyday life can take it’s toll on your physical and mental health.  That is why it is so important to schedule some time to rest and rejuvenate yourself.  What better way than a relaxing spa treatment.  We are lucky at Gables End to have an incredible spa experience right here in our very own Mountain View community – Embody Wellness Spa.

Named Best Day Spa in Silicon Valley by the San Jose Mercury News in their 2008 Reader’s Choice Rankings, Embody Wellness Spa is best known for its high quality massages and facials. Their massage services also include deep tissue, hot stone, and advanced modalities such as fertility/pregnancy massage, and Orthobionomy™.

The Spa’s holistic approach also includes waxing; teeth whitening; yoga and wellness seminars on topic ranging from stress reduction, nutrition, fitness and creating a wellness
environment in your home.

So check them out at their website, their blog , Facebook or follow them on Twitter!

We love our local businesses in Mountain View! Gables End also hosted Embody a favorite on the Gables End Facebook Page + listed the spa on its Twitter local list for your convenience.

With all the buzz around the release of Apple’s new iPad, you may be giving some thought to buying a new electronic device. Or maybe this is the year that you upgrade your mobile phone to a smartphone. Let’s face it, there are plenty of new electronics out there to make even a self-acknowledged geek get a crush.

Electronics are part of our daily lives.  We couldn’t live without them.  But have you given much thought as to how to properly dispose of your old electronics after you have purchased new?

Computers, televisions, mobile phones, game players — we upgrade and toss out the old ones fast. But these gadgets can’t go into the garbage because they’re filled with toxic materials. Many manufacturers and retailers are starting to take their electronics back, so you don’t have to deal with it.

So if you are looking for hints and tips regarding recycling electronics, look no further than Earth911.com. And they don’t just do electronics; they have categories ranging from Hazardous to Households and from Metal to Garden. We found it to be an excellent recycling reference.  It’s nice to find a spot that tells you how to dispose of that  1/16 gallon of paint that is left over from painting your den. They even have their own free iPhone app. Of course they do, right?

Other sites to reference:

The City of Mountain View  E-Waste

Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Program

Gables End is selling…..fast!  Gables End has only one home remaining in its current phase.  Our next phase homes, including the popular E2 – 4 bedroom plan, already have a number of reservations.

Since there are so many new homeowners at Gables End, moving is on everyone’s mind. If you have an upcoming move and are looking for an alternative to traditional methods, we’d like to introduce you to a local company that delivers sustainable moving supplies to you – ZippGo. ZippGo is convenient, cost-effective and sustainable, plus Ash (ZippGo’s owner), is an all around nice guy.  Not only does ZippGo use 100% recycled plastic re-usable boxes, their delivery trucks are also fueled by local biofuel stations. And ZippGo is affordable! Move green, save green…

ZippGo’s three bedroom package includes a 2 week rental, free delivery and pickup, 50 reusable moving boxes, and a dolly to help move the boxes. This package is only $199 and the rental can be increased from 2 weeks to 3 or 4 for a small increase in total price. A complete list of ZippGo’s package pricing can be found here. You can also find ZippGo on Twitter and Facebook.

Gables End is pet friendly! With Sierra Vista Park just steps from your front door and easy access to many city park’s, along with Shoreline Regional Park, it’s easy to see why so many pet-owners can make Fido’s dreams come true by owning a home at Gables End in Mountain View.  Since many of our homeowners are active professionals and work often takes them away from home, we thought we’d share a local business that we stumbled across: Doggieville.

Looking for someone to take care of your best friend while you’re away on your next business trip?  Somewhere where your four-legged friend can spend time with other doggie pals in a pet-friendly environment?

Look no further than Doggieville! They offer a wide variety of services for all your pet’s needs, whether it is daycare, sleepover, grooming or training. They provide a full range of services.

A complete list of services and rates can be found on the Doggieville website.  They offer evaluations, which helps to determine if their facility is a good fit for you and your dog, and how to provide the best care for your dog.  Evaluations are held Tues-Thurs, between 9a-12p, and between 2-4p. An appointment to schedule a Saturday evaluation is also available, if necessary.

We’ve never personally used Doggieville, but you can easily see that they are a Mountain View favorite. Check out their reviews on YELP.  Doggieville – giving you the peace of mind that your best friend is well taken care of until you see them again.

For those of you looking for a spot to walk and play with your buddy, here’s a list of local parks nearby our community at Gables End in Mountain View.  Rules for Dogs in City Parks

• Shoreline Park (dog-run area)
  Northeast corner of Shoreline Blvd. and North Road (east of Shoreline Park entry gate)
  For more information visit the Mountain View Dog Park Place or call the Shoreline Park office at 650/903-6392.
  
• Sylvan Park
• Charleston Park
• Rengstorff Park
• Eagle Park
• Whisman Sports

A Summary of all Mountain View Local Parks

Nothing beats the experience of a Farmers’ Market….the sights, the smells and colors are all a welcome escape from our daily, hectic lives.  Our Gables End community is very fortunate to have one of the best farmers’ markets right here in downtown Mountain View.

The Certified Farmers’ Market in Mountain View is big and has an excellent selection of flowers, cheese, fruit, veggies, fresh meat, fresh bread and pastries, ethnic food and even entertainment for the little ones! The best part: you can enjoy it year-round!

Check out all of the positive reviews from locals and visitors who have had great things to say about the farmers’ market on YELP

Next Sunday, after your morning cup-o-joe, venture out and have a look! The Mountain View Farmers’ Market is less than 3 miles from your front door at Gables End. Just one more reason that living at Gables End is one of the best decisions you can make regarding housing options on the Peninsula.

Mountain View Farmers Market – California Farmers’ Markets Association
Day: Open all Sundays
Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Features: Approx. 70 growers and food purveyors at peak season.
Location: Downtown Mountain View Caltrain Station Parking Lot – 600 West Evelyn
View Larger Map

We’ve been going stir crazy with long computer hours and this rainy winter.  Are you looking for some indoor activity this wet winter season too? Look no further than Strike Cupertino.

Strike boasts 40,000 sq. ft. of entertainment and dining pleasure. You will find something for everyone:

• 32 lanes of high-energy bowling in a unique architecturally stunning setting
• State of the art A/V and a huge video wall spanning the lanes
• Enjoy cocktails and gourmet cuisine right at your lane or at our opulent bar
• Full Arcade
• Billiards

Strike is the ideal spot for private events, or just a great night out nearby. Strike has already made its mark on the east coast and has recently made its way to the west coast not too far from our community at Gables End!

Get your retro look going and have some fun! Bowling is hip again at Strike.  You can also follow them on Twitter or fan them on Facebook for events and specials.

If you like beer, you won’t want to miss San Francisco Beer Week 2010.  This year’s beer week runs February 5th thru 14th at various San Francisco, East Bay, South Bay and North Bay locations.

The San Francisco Brewers Guild is putting on an event that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.  They already have 92 published events with more coming.  The event was summed up in one clever sentence – “San Francisco Beer Week Is Like Godzilla, Only Bigger (And Not Angry)”.

We’ve listed a couple of “not to be missed” beer loving events in the South Bay:

Brew On Premise (BOP) Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company
What if you could make your own beer on a professional brewing system, under the guidance of award-winning brewers? During the approximately 5-hour process you will make enough beer for a 13.2 gallon keg or about 5 cases of 22oz bottled beers.

1111 Industrial Road Belmont, CA
February 6 (11:00am – 5:00pm)
Admission: $See Website
Attire: Casual

Beer & Cheese Tasting featuring Firehouse Brewery and the Milk Pail
Firehouse Brewery & Grill
Join Firehouse brewmaster Steve Donohue and the Milk Pail’s Steve Rasmussen as they pair Firehouse beers, and some of Steve Donohue’s favorite Belgian ales, with local and imported artisanal cheeses.

111 South Murphy Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086
February 10 (7:00pm – 10:00pm)
Admission: $TBD
Attire: Casual

You can find the entire South Bay SF Beer Week Schedule – Here

All information can be found on their site. You can also check out all the updates on twitter and facebook.  SF Beer Week even has their very own iphone app. I know…of course they do, right?

So Gables End readers…What’s your brew of choice? Any favorite pubs to grab a pint? Share with us!