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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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.jpg "BART Stop Spotlight: Civic Center")
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!
.jpg "BART Stop Spotlight: Embarcedero")
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.
.jpg "BART Stop Spotlight: Powell St.")
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.
.jpg "Big Spender: A Guide for Breaking the Bank in the Bay Area")
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...
.jpg "Brats: A Guide to Entertaining Young Folk in the Bay Area")
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.
.jpg "Buzzed: The Bay Area's Best Bars and Clubs")
Buzzed: The Bay Area's Best Bars and Clubs
You may pretend to be here to find out a good place to do brunch or find a nice museum, but deep down inside you want a local's guide to some of the best drink spots in the Bay Area. Well, you're in luck. Share your favorite spots here!
.jpg "Chill Out: Beating the Heat in the Bay Area")
Chill Out: Beating the Heat in the Bay Area
Mark Twain once said "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." While it never gets as hot as Arizona or Florida or the Surface of the Sun around here, it can get uncomfortable and sticky. Just because we rarely get to triple digit temperatures doesn't mean we don't deserve a way to cool off when it does get super hot. Check out some great ways to cool down in the Bay Area
.jpg "Dopey and Bashful: A Date Guide to the Bay Area")
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.
.jpg "Early Eats: The Best Breakfasts in Silicon Valley")
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.
.jpg "Game On: The Best Arcades in the Bay Area")
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.
.jpg "Getting Fresh: The Best Famer's Markets in the Bay Area")
Getting Fresh: The Best Famer's Markets in the Bay Area
Everyone wants great, fresh, cheap produce. But where do you get it? Excellent question, Mr. Rhetorical Question Man! Clearly, the answer can be found at your local Farmer's Market. But when you're living in the Bay Area, Farmer's Markets are a dime a dozen. Which ones are the best? Share your favorite places and talk a little bit about why you love them so much
.jpg "Good Grilling: The Best Burgers in the Bay Area")
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.
.jpg "Good Night, and Pot Luck: A Guide to Letting Your Guests Feed Themselves")
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...
.jpg "Hair of the Dog: A Guide to Fighting a Wicked Hangover")
Hair of the Dog: A Guide to Fighting a Wicked Hangover
We've all had a wee bit too much to drink. Well, maybe not all of us. Some of you may not drink, some of you may be too young to drink. Heck, some of you may just only have exactly enough to drink so that you never get hungover. This is not a guide for you. This is a guide for those of you who have woken in the wee hours to discover a nest of tiny slam dancers have taken residence in your head and have replaced your inner ear with a water bed. Maybe you're reading this through squinted, b...
.jpg "Heat Wave: Beating the Nighttime Heat in the Bay Area")
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.
.jpg "How to Make an Awesome Pot of Tea")
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.
.jpg "How to Make (and Get Others to Eat) a Dogurito")
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.
.jpg "Hungry and Grumpy in Silicon Valley")
Hungry and Grumpy in Silicon Valley
You there! Step away from the Cheesecake Factory! There are a ton of delicious places to eat around here that you can't find any place else. For instance...
.jpg "Internet Saved the Video Star: The Best Music Videos That You Can Watch on YouTube")
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.
.jpg "Live by the Die, Die by the Die: Surviving a Tough D&D Fight")
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 ...
.jpg "Livin' at the Car wash: How to Wash Your Own Car")
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.
.jpg "Looking Your Best in the Valley")
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.
.jpg "Meatstravaganza: Carnivore Heaven in the Bay Area")
Meatstravaganza: Carnivore Heaven in the Bay Area
Bay Area cuisine is known for its balance. We're close enough to major agricultural areas to get lots of fresh veggies and a variety of proteins. We get fresh fish from San Francisco. Half Moon Bay, and Monteray, delicious artichokes from Castroville, garlic from Gilroy. But what if you don't want balanced. What if you just want a lot of meat? Well, you're in luck. There are some remarkable places to satisfy the mighty hunter within.
.jpg "Razor Burn: Your Guide to a Perfect Shave")
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.
.jpg "Shadow of a Bird: A Guide to Hitchcock's Bay Area")
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.
.jpg "The 12 Best Videos You May Not Have Seen Yet")
The 12 Best Videos You May Not Have Seen Yet
There are a lot of neat videos on the internet, but the lightning quick nature of the web means that by the time you've seen the amusing video in question, so has everyone else you know. You'll get all excited and ask your friend if they've seen the video about the girl talking about "the Iraq" and they'll just roll their eyes at you. Where can you find something that maybe your friends haven't seen? This guide, of course! Check it out!
.jpg "The Bay Area Guide to Surviving a Zombie Attack")
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...
.jpg "The Beautiful Day Guide to the Bay Area")
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.
.jpg "The Cats: A Spotlight on Los Gatos")
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.
.jpg "The OTHER Bay Area Train: CalTrain and You!")
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...
.jpg "Whinery: A Guide to Wine Tasting in the South Bay")
Whinery: A Guide to Wine Tasting in the South Bay
The San Francisco Bay Area is known for a lot of things: Mild weather, technological innovation, an over abundance of Priuses (Priui?). It is not, however, known as a great wine tasting destination. For too long, Sonoma and Napa have monopolized the cultural landscape as the Northern California spot for wine, going as far as to call itself "Wine Country." No longer shall the North Bay hold this coveted title all to itself. The South Bay offers a wealth of wineries and tasting rooms, without ...
.jpg "ZZ Top's Guide on How to Be a Sharp Dressed Man")
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.
.jpg "Come Here Often?: Laughable Pick Up Lines")
Come Here Often?: Laughable Pick Up Lines
Hey, dating is difficult, I get it. And I certainly don't envy men when they're made to feel that they *must* make the first contact. But sometimes I wonder if they even think before they step up to the plate. Add your favorites below!
.gif "Grammar: It's Awesome")
.jpg "Take A Band, Leave A Band")
Take A Band, Leave A Band
Some of the most exciting stuff happening in music isn't going to be showing up on the Wal-Mart sales rack any time soon. Instead of scouring the pages of Myspace for hours, do the rest of the internet a favor and drop the name of some of your must-listens right now, along with some spots the rest of us can find their music.
.jpg "Culture at the Table")
Culture at the Table
A strong belief of Mine, I am very excited about the Slow Food Movement taking root in the city. I did a Non-profit proposal based on this program, but I really don't have the time to see it through. Time, I am sad to discover, is a limited resource I never have enough of... to spend time online, researching and blogging versus being out on the town, or doing homework at school... At least after cooking a great meal i can sit down and enjoy some precious quality time.
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Shout Outs
Shout out to Mitch.Kocen-
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Awesome Guides Mitch!!! Thanks for the comments! Of course, you’re right about the Palace… but haven’t gotten much of a Richmond Guide together yet… so much to do, so little time!!! So what do you write?
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Hi Mitch, hi!!!
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I almost wrapped a hot dog in a tortilla on Monday. I decided against it, but I thought of you.
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Hey Mitch, thanks for the shout out. I love your description of the pic- I’m going to have to say you’re right. You have about a million guides that look interesting so I’m going to have to go read them now. thanks again!
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Nah! You’re not truly a CF then. No worries. And hey, if you come to NY we can totally go to 123. I think it is a veritable wonka factory…for men and lesbians alike!
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Hair of the Dog: A Guide to...
We've all had a wee bit too much to drink. Well, maybe not all of u...
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BART Stop Spotlight: Civic ...
The Bay Area Rapid Transit system can take you to a lot of great pl...
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What Is a Guide Tripper
They are paid mercenaries.