Silicon Valley BBQ Championship, Santa Clara

6/28/15 - Silicon Valley BBQ Championship, 909 Kiely Blvd., Santa Clara

We arrived at 3:30 on Saturday for a festival that was supposed to end at 8 pm. We purchased tokens ($3 each or 7 for $20). We bought 8 tokens - for every 7 you receive a golden ticket to give to the BBQ team you like most.

We stood in a long line for ribs after buying the tokens and noticed that the first place we picked was sold out of ribs. Hours before the festival was to end? We sadly realized that EVERY single place was out of ribs. We showed up mid-day and everyone had sold out already. We each had two chicken samples and two pulled pork samples (one slider, one taco). Food was good, but we were really disappointed that we couldn't try a rib sample from anyone. It was the reason we drove an hour to attend the event.

Most disappointing was that Juicy O's pro BBQ team (and their pulled pork taco) was our favorite, but we couldn't give them our ticket to vote for them for the People's Choice Winner. Meat was tender, juicy, warm, not at all greasy, and the taco with it had yummy BBQ sauce and delicious coleslaw. But the ticket buckets had already been taken to be counted and they didn't know how to get our vote to the counters.

The festival did have a good live band and lots of vendors selling clothing, snacks, jewelry, etc. The same kind of things you see at most festivals or fairs. We almost bought this crunchy corn snack... it came in a great, really spicy habanero flavor - but their credit card scanner wasn't working because they didn't have cell phone reception. I did buy two cute tee shirts for $20 with cats on them from another vendor.

Other BBQ that wasn't competing was being sold, and also the usual food vendors with fried artichokes and similar items - Armadillo Willy's was there (they have a restaurant across the street from Central Park where the festival was held), but they were a cash only booth too so we couldn't even buy ribs (which they still had). We'd spent all our money on the tickets. Adult beverages were available as well. $10 for a commemorative glass with $7 refills of beer. (Wine for sale too.) There were so many teams competing that it was really surprising everyone was out of ribs so early. Perhaps it's grown significantly in popularity, since it sounds like they ran out of ribs last year too and I'm sure they planned ahead to not let that happen again - just not well enough.

Summer Festival - Diablo Japanese American Club, Concord

Summer Festival - Held at the Japanese American Religious & Cultural Center on Treat Blvd, Concord - Hosted by the Diablo Japanese American Club
8/8/15
2015 is the second year I've attended the Japanese Cultural Center's Summer Festival. It is going on this weekend (August 8th and 9th) and has a variety of activities and Japanese foods - great fun for your whole family!


Adults can shop at a couple small booths for trinkets and small goodies. Children's games with prizes are in the lawn area at the back of the Center.







Food booths include fire-roasted chicken with rice and cucumber salad and edamame ($8), udon soup ($5), teas and ice cream and sodas ($1-2 ea) and beer, BBQ beef (this was the best) 3 skewers for $6, fried tempura, and gyoza ($5). The lines moved quickly and food is served fast. Tons of tables and chairs are under a shade structure so you can eat and enjoy the cool breeze!














The bonsai displays outside are beautiful and the plants are between 15 and 150 years old this year!

Inside the Center are beautiful plant/floral displays and calligraphy lessons. There is also a band and dancers that perform. Tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow at 6:30 pm will be a group dance. It's only a couple simple moves and is the traditional Japanese dance to call the spirits of the dead.

The event is small but it's very fun. A shuttle from Ygnacio Valley High School will pick you up if you don't want to try to find parking on Treat. It's free to get in too!

Victorian Square, Reno, NV

9/8/15 - Victorian Square, Reno, NV

This Square in Reno has several restaurants and bars, plus a water fountain (that kids can play in) and a movie theater.

We visit once a year on our way home from BurningMan for the Rib Cook-Off. (http://www.yelp.com/biz/best-in-the-west-nugget-rib-cook-off-sparks?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)) Over 500,000 people attend the end-of-summer event but we always seem to find parking in the nearby neighborhoods without having to pay one of the local businesses (and even residences) that are trying to make a few extra dollars.

We also make sure to visit Paddy's Irish Pub for a cold drink. Service is friendly, drinks are strong, and you can take them to go if you don't want to finish them inside. They have live music and a window for ordering drinks for the festival-goers on the street.
(http://www.yelp.com/biz/paddy-and-irenes-irish-pub-sparks-2?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct))

Labor Day in Reno can be very hot, but I wouldn't recommend playing in the water zone too long - it always smells like they use more chlorine than water.