Gilroy is definitely visitor friendly, and Fodor’s or Lonely
Planet should devote an entire volume to our small but charming
burg. Why not?
As someone who is consistently extolling the virtues of downtown Gilroy, I thought I’d put together an itinerary for experiencing all things local and good. Here’s my “travelogue” with the week starting on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY: Visited the temporary library location on Monterey for the recently-resuscitated story hour. The back room where they hold it is a little small, but that just makes for an intimate environment for the kids. The theme was “owls” and we learned a lot about those big-eyed birds from the very kind librarian.
Later in the day, visited Googoli, a much-vaunted but highly-secretive hair salon for children. I’d heard tell of Googoli for a long time, but like the Fountain of Youth, I feared ’twas legend only. After all, I consider that I drive much of Gilroy’s commercial districts and had never seen it.
Tucked into a nondescript mall on Church near Welburn, the salon is a godsend. The waiting room alone is worth a visit, with a train-track table and dollhouse. Our little grooming-resistant child was then ushered into the salon, where a choice of kid-sized jeep or sports car awaited service as the haircutting chair. Both were rejected, but the winning triad of having one’s own personal DVD screen showing Thomas the Tank Engine, a coveted lollipop, and sitting on mom’s lap meant this kid, who fights shampoos and even combing, wound up with a pretty swell haircut. Bravo!
THURSDAY: Night-time meeting at Black Bear Diner. Since it was past dinner, I simply ordered decaf coffee, but I know from past experience that the Bear has great burgers. It’s a great environment for those of us who, unlike Stephen Colbert, enjoy the Ursus Americanus: the kitschy photos and memorabilia that decorate the walls almost make you want to order a trout, scales and head attached.
FRIDAY: Finally made our way to Lizarran, the newish tapas place in Old City Hall. It was buzzing on a Friday night, and owner Gary Walton told us people have been coming from as far away as San Jose and Monterey. The key? Serving specialty cuisine. He said another Mexican or Italian place wouldn’t be as much of a draw as the small plates he offers. We had a little of everything: pintxos hot and cold, salad, appetizers and one large plate item on the permanent menu. My favorite was the salad with goat cheese and white asparagus tips. Best of all, you get to go to the bathroom in an actual jail cell (if you’re female; not sure what the men’s room offers) replete with massive, sinister iron door.
Then, off to the Gilroy Platinum Theatres for a late show. It was a very rare date night for my husband and me, and accordingly we watched the movie “Date Night.” Having lived in Oakland where movies as often as not sell out, or you can’t find a good seat, we love it that you can almost always buy a ticket right before the show and sit in a reasonable part of the auditorium with two seats together. The staff is always nice, and in past summers I’ve appreciated their late-morning children’s showings, which I hope they’ll repeat this year.
SATURDAY: Visited the Rotary Flower Fest. Based on the name, I expected a festival (music, booths, celebration), but was nonetheless bowled over the beauty of the large space filled with hundreds, maybe thousands, of flowers. And knowing the sales were going to a good cause made it even better. Yes, I bought the darn bag of potting soil I don’t need! Like that chick in Oklahoma, I have a hard time saying no.
Two Gilroy High School students, Colleen Tanaka and Myra Ammari, helped me carry the tray of flowers as I was pushing a stroller and managing a toddler at the same time. They were really sweet and were volunteering as members of the group Interact, which Ammari says is the high school version of Rotary.
Syngenta nee Goldsmith (what a sad name change. One sounds like the old-world place that could engineer flowers from seeds once planted by medieval peasants, while the other sounds like an atom-splitting facility) is a great place for color lovers, and it’s on my to-do list for a visit when family arrives from the east coast. Rumor has it our very own Gilroy seed purveyor provides the geraniums for the grounds of Buckingham Palace, having very precisely matched the red to the Beefeaters who guard it.
SUNDAY: Like God, I rested. And on Monday and Tuesday too.
CONCLUSION: Gilroy is definitely visitor friendly, and Fodor’s or Lonely Planet should devote an entire volume to our small but charming burg. Why not?
Erika Mailman is a historical novelist and teaches writing online through mediabistro.com. www.erikamailman.com.
