Back in December 2009, we posted a short entry summarizing the I Love Mountain View Site.  At that point the website was still relatively new but we saw great potential for the site becoming one of the better local resources for all who live, work  and play in Mountain View.

Well, almost a year later, the website has exceeded our expectations. The site is actually a blog site sponsored by the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce. Well vetted, with an attention for local vendors and activities, it is an excellent resource and one that should not be missed.

“I Love Mountain View” blog covers a variety of topics regarding life in our exciting community. It’s rare to find a site that addresses multiple age groups and a variety of topics.

They have categorized and tagged the posts so searching their site is very easy.  A RSS feed and an easy-to-read community calendar round out the site.  The site is sure to have  something for every member of the family:

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
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Back in July of 2009, the City Council of Mountain View chose Savvy Cellar Wines, Inc. to lease the replica 1888 Train Depot in downtown Mountain View. Savvy Cellar plans to operate a wine bar out of the building similar to a business it runs in Redwood City.

According to a July 9th  article in the Mountain View Voice, Savvy Cellar plans to serve wine and “light foods” and to sell wine by the bottle. The company may also use the space to teach its highly regarded classes on wine.*

We are pleased to announce that they have started the interior remodel to transform the once-vacant train station into a wonderful wine experience for residents of Mountain View to enjoy.  A Flickr Slideshow of the Savvy Cellar interior build-out can be viewed by clicking on the image above or following this link.

For more information regarding this exciting project, become a fan of Savvy Cellar Wines on Facebook and follow along.  We’ve also made Savvy Cellar a Favorite local business on the Gables End Facebook page. The Gables End Facebook Fan page Favorites is like a concierge of local Mountain View services all in one spot!

* Quote from July 9, 2009 Mountain View Voice article

With your neighborhood Traders Joe’s just minutes away from Gables End, getting ready for this year’s Thanksgiving celebration has never been easier.

Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Day 2009 Fearless Flyer is packed with a variety of products, recipes and humor.  The Fearless Flyer is a combination of newsletter, catalog and comic book all rolled into one.  It is stuffed full of interesting information about Trader Joe  products.  Take a bit of time this holiday season and give it a read.

And for those of you with special dietary needs, Trader Joe’s has created a variety of downloadable lists (gluten-free, fat free and vegetarian to name a few) to make your shopping experience easier than ever.  They also have a nice collections of HIIP (Highly Innovative Ingredient Pairing ) recipes online . 

Best part – TJ’s  incredible product guarantee:

*Our Product Guarantee: We tried it! We liked it! If you don’t, bring it back for a full refund, no questions asked.

So if you are feeling overwhelmed this Thanksgiving season, give your local Trader Joe’s a try.  They strive to deliver great food at a great price and they succeed.  Best part…Trader Joes  (590 Showers Drive) is just 2.27 miles from Gables End!  How is that for convenient?

When I’m not running or going to the concerts at Shoreline I’m usually attempting to cook. And I do mean attempting to cook. My cooking skills weren’t really facilitated by the ease of restaurants in the city and the fact that sometimes it was cheaper to eat out than to cook. So, since my move I’ve been trying out new recipes from the web, cookbooks and health food stores to improve my domesticity. This doesn’t always go well. Half the time I don’t know what the ingredient I’m using or looking for really is and sometimes I can’t even pronounce it; for example, the quince. I don’t really know what it is beyond a funny apple-looking fruit. But I decided in my boldness to bake it for a dessert. This time success, but not always.

The great thing about moving out her to Gables End is that no matter how many ingredients I need or how many times I need to go back to get them I can always make a quick trip to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. And they are pretty much right across the street from each other so if one doesn’t have what I’m looking for, chances are I can get it across the way. And the people at both stores are really helpful and don’t laugh (at least not in my face) when I ask all sorts of questions about ingredients and look for helpful suggestions. This honestly makes my move easier and more enjoyable. No more snobby clerks from the city passing judgment on some sad little meal I’ll probably burn. Now, I’m off to the kitchen because the pumpkin is my next challenge.