Guidespot.com: Mitch.Kocen

Mitch.Kocen

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Not a Robot

Neighborhood
Los Gatos
Where I'm From
Rohnert Park
Occupation
Writer
Website

About Me

I'm a young writer in South San Jose who's spent a year and a half so far trying to find decent Mexican and Italian food in this area. So far, Baja Fresh is the best I've come up with...for either. I have a band called Mitch and the Mitchettes, but it's a band in the same way that Robin Hood had a band. I guess that's a...gang?

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BART Stop Spotlight: Civic Center

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system can take you to a lot of great places. These guides will spotlight some of the most fantastic places along the track. This guide will focus on the cultural core of San Francisco: The Civic Center stop. This is the BART stop for important people (who are taking public transportation). Arts, government, California Pizza Kitchen! The possibilities are endless!

BART Stop Spotlight: Embarcedero

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system can take you to a lot of great places. These guides will spotlight some of the most fantastic places along the track. This guide will focus on fun things to do at or near the Embarcadero station. Also known as Tourist central, there are a lot of crazy fantastic places to visit.

BART Stop Spotlight: Powell St.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system can take you to a lot of great places. These guides will spotlight some of the most fantastic places along the track. Let's start with Powell St., shall we? Shopping, shows, museums and food, there's a lot going on at this stop. Everything I'll list here is within walking distance of the Powell St. BART Station.

Big Spender: A Guide for Breaking the Bank in the Bay Area

Most of my guides have a very thrifty skew to them. Being a freelance writer my interests tend to fall along inexpensive outdoor activities and things you can get to using public transportation. I'd like to get my aspirational on for a moment and talk about the things you can do in the Bay Area when you have money to burn. Maybe you just won the lottery, or your startup just went public or you're Richard Pryor and you need to inherit some money in a wacky way. If you want to REALLY impress so...

Brats: A Guide to Entertaining Young Folk in the Bay Area

At some point, you will need to show the little ones a good time. Maybe the kids belong to you. Maybe they're just on loan. No matter what the situation is, there are a lot of great, educational, and/or fun things to do in the Bay Area. Chiggity Check It.

Dopey and Bashful: A Date Guide to the Bay Area

So you have a date. Good for you! Not sure where to go? Whether you're looking for a fun casual place to take a new love interest or a fancy restaurant to pop the question, the Bay Area's got you covered.

Early Eats: The Best Breakfasts in Silicon Valley

Many places serve breakfast. Few places serve good breakfast. Since moving to San Jose I've discovered dozens of places that make a fantastic breakfast. No matter what you're in mood for, you'll find something yummy.

Game On: The Best Arcades in the Bay Area

It doesn't matter how old you are, sometimes you just have to get out and hit the arcade. Lucky for you, the Bay Area has you covered. From the darkened blip filled dens of your youth to a high tech casino-like arcade environment, you'll find what you're looking for.

Good Grilling: The Best Burgers in the Bay Area

Grilled or fried, plain or covered with chili, bacon or...no bacon, I suppose. It's easy to find a burger in the bay area. A good burger? Well, that's a bit more difficult. Don't worry, I'll point you in the right direction.

Good Night, and Pot Luck: A Guide to Letting Your Guests Feed Themselves

Throwing parties can be a lot of fun, but it can also be quite expensive. You need to buy all kinds of food and drink to keep people from stealing from you. It becomes even more financially draining when you have flaky friends who might not even show up. The solution is simple: Host a potluck. You provide the main course and then let everyone else bring the supplementals. Not only does this save you a ton of cash, but it makes the party self-sustaining: The more people there are, the more foo...

Heat Wave: Beating the Nighttime Heat in the Bay Area

One of the best parts of living in the Bay Area is the relative mildness of the weather. It rarely gets VERY hot or VERY cold, doesn't get humid, and almost never snows. This lack of extremes makes it hard to be prepared for when the temperature does spike, especially when you're trying to sleep. Most Bay Area homes lack central air conditioning, and it's not like you can run to Raging Waters at 1 AM. Rest easy, I've got some tips to help you cool down.

How to Make an Awesome Pot of Tea

Yeah, I know. We're rolling into Spring here. It's getting warm and it's not exactly tea season. It's still cold in the morning and the evenings, and that means it's still perfect tea season. Pull up a chair and let me show you how to do it right.

How to Make (and Get Others to Eat) a Dogurito

Ah, the Dogurito. A delicious treat that few know of and even fewer will eat once they know about it. Combining all the best parts of a hot dog and a burrito, the biggest challenge is getting other people to share it with you. This two section guide will show you how to make both the basic and the advanced Dogurito, and then tell you how to trick...err...convince others to eat it as well.

Internet Saved the Video Star: The Best Music Videos That You Can Watch on YouTube

I love music videos. Once upon a time, you could watch them on TV. No longer, sadly, but you can still find oodles of fantastic videos on this here interweb. Chiggity check them out.

Live by the Die, Die by the Die: Surviving a Tough D&D Fight

Sure, the average roleplayer will tell you that Dungeons and Dragons isn't about "winning" and "losing." That the game is about developing a character and advancing a story, and working as a team. But sometimes the game is just about killing that Red Dragon and making sure it stays dead. If you've been playing your Half-Elf Ranger/Scout/Rogue for too dang long to let it be Lizard-Kibble, this is the guide for you. FYI: I'm using 3.5E Rules here. All you nerds out there know what I'm talking ...

Livin' at the Car wash: How to Wash Your Own Car

It's getting warmer out, and your car IS getting dirtier. Birds droppings, dirt, bugs, pedestrians; a thick layer of grime is forming on that shiny finish of yours. What are your options? You can take it to a professional place, spend at least $12 for them to wash it down for you. You can let a robot do it for free at the car wash...or you can do it yourself for a lot cheaper, and get the added benefit of cooling down on a hot day.

Looking Your Best in the Valley

A lot of people say "Mitch, you're a good looking guy. Where do you go to look so dig dang good all the time?" Well, wonder no more.

Razor Burn: Your Guide to a Perfect Shave

I hate shaving. Hate it. But my girlfriend hates my face scratching her, so ultimately shaving wins out. I've honed down a pretty good routine and an absurd regime of product that makes the process as painless as running multiple blades across your face could be.

Shadow of a Bird: A Guide to Hitchcock's Bay Area

Many of Alfred Hitchcock's films are as much love letters to the Bay Area as they are Mash notes to murder. From Santa Rosa's Railroad Square to Bolder Creek's Big Basin Redwoods State Park, you'll find some fantastic things to do while you soak up the views that inspired the master of suspense. Oh, and if you haven't seen some of these movies, stop reading now. Spoiler warning and all that.

The Bay Area Guide to Surviving a Zombie Attack

There are some stock characters who should be familiar to any fan of Zombie films. The plucky every-man who barely survives a series of near misses through dumb luck, a terrified damsel in distress, a brash military man who dies because he's sure brute force will win the day. But where is the smart guy or gal who is prepared for the rise of the living dead and has a well thought out escape and survival plan? Oh, that's right. They're not in the movie. By the time the movie starts, they're a...

The Beautiful Day Guide to the Bay Area

Wow. It's a gorgeous day today, and by all accounts it'll just keep getting...uhhh...gorge... Why are you spending your day inside? Why am I? No matter where you live in the Bay Area or what your activity level is, there's something pretty for you to walk to.

The Cats: A Spotlight on Los Gatos

Nestled at the extreme southern edge of the bay area, Los Gatos is a great place to spend some time. Shopping, eating, riding paddle boats, there's never a dull moment in Los Gatos.

The OTHER Bay Area Train: CalTrain and You!

Now that gas has crested $4 a gallon, public transportation has become a lot more inviting. Sure, you know BART. We ALL know BART. It connects a narrow strip of San Francisco with select locales along very specific sectors of the Bay Area. But what if you don't live along the 880? What if you want to take public transportation to somewhere in The City that isn't one of four San Francisco stops? Take the bus? Drive? Those are options for suckers. CalTrain is the answer. Linking San Jose and Sa...

The Ultimate Long Distance Extra Cheap Mother's Day Guide

Maybe Mother's Day is coming up soon. Maybe you don't have much money. Maybe your mom lives in another state. Don't worry, there are lots of things you can do to make this a special day for Yo Mamma even if you can't actually be there or spend any money on her.

ZZ Top's Guide on How to Be a Sharp Dressed Man

Allegedly, every girl is crazy for a sharp dressed man. The enbearded troubadours give a pretty clear step by step break down on what you need to hone your wardrobe to a keen edge. But where in the Bay Area can you find all of these things? I've got you covered.

Shout Outs

Shout out to Mitch.Kocen

Susie

Cupcakes are the best…Boston is lacking a bit though we have a couple good places.

I hear San Fran has some good ones…Kara’s and That Takes the Cake??
@ubreeWYATTsmith

Really?? I am?! Wow, me gusta, Mitch. Me gusta ;)
Bob Muntz

Hi, did you comment on my guide ?
John Quixote

I see you’re a Robin Hood fan yourself. Great guides!
michaelgavin

Great guides mitch! Please keep them coming—many thumbs up bro!
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