Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the 12th Annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade this Sunday downtown San Jose.

The festival includes arts and crafts, live music, cultural performances, games for the kids, and authentic Asian cuisine.

The parade includes decorated floats, dragon and lion dancers, multiple musical bands, etc.

Be aware that there will be traffic problems due to the large number of people attending and the street closures due to the parade; get there early!

Ride VTA Light Rail or VTA Bus Lines 22, 23, 63, 64, 66, 68, 72, 73, 81, 82, 180, Hwy. 17 Express and MST 55 to the celebration.  VTA Website.

12th Annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade
Sunday, February 8
Festival: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm – Parkside Hall, 180 Park Ave
Parade: 11:00 am – Market Street between St. John & Santa Clara Streets

Admission free

My parents, my son and myself were at Moffett Field earlier today to accompany my parents while they shopped at the Navy Exchange. Something occurred to me as we walked out of the Navy Exchange…

Moffett Field has changed a lot over the years. When I was a kid, we used to go to the base to shop at the Navy Exchange and get groceries at the commissary. Later in life, I worked at NASA Ames Research Center, as did my mom.

The last remnants of the old Navy base are coming to end. While the Exchange and the commissary are still there, the Exchange will be shutting down in February, and the commissary will be open indefinitely.

Most of the base that I remember has changed… it’s more like a semi ghost-town.

Not too long ago I shared a little story about Grandpa. On June 2, 2007, the person responsible for bringing grandpa into our lives died at the age of 82. His name is Osias Baltazar Coching. He leaves behind his wife, 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren, and an enormous extended family scattered around the world. Always a sage of advice and gracious generosity, he also leaves behind several lifetimes of advice and excellent karma with everyone that knew him.

He was put to rest June 8 in Los Gatos Memorial Park, just a few feet away from Grandpa.

We will all miss him dearly.

Our first MetroBlogging Holiday together-How sweet it is.

KUBO-pick up some Belgian chocolates, a lovely orchid and a candle.
1377 Lincoln Ave., Willow Glen

Schurra’s Candy Factory-Candy & Confectionery
840 The Alameda, San José

Shuei-Do Manju Shop
217 Jackson Street, San José
Manju are a Japanese delicacy. They come in all forms and colors, shapes and sizes. Some are baked, some put on sticks, some are made with sweet rice (mochi) and some made with rice powder. They are often filled with a sweet bean paste called “an”. Shuei-do was honored to have their manju served to the Emperor of Japan on their last visit to the United States.

Chocolate Affaire
603 E Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas

Kendon Candies- the oldest Lollipop Factory in the United States
460 Perrymont Ave, San José