Silicon Valley 111: Atherton and Belmont

Can I see all 111 places?

After months of sheltering in place due to Covid-19, I was able to step inside a bookstore last weekend.  Yes, they only let eight people in the store at a time, and yes, I was wearing a mask.  But it restored for a minute the delight that is bookstore browsing.  I was in Books Inc. on Castro Street in Mountain View when I spied 111 Places in Silicon Valley That You Must Not Miss.  I had to have it.  And now I have decided to try and see all 111 places (just don't tell Steven).  

Atherton's major park, Holbrook-Palmer.
The water tower was built in 1883. 

The book lists adventures alphabetically by town, so we started with Atherton, just north of Palo Alto. Atherton is the second most affluent zip code in America. Six square miles of oak-lined streets inhabited by the likes of  Sheryl Sandberg, Eric Schmidt and Meg Whitman. The houses are not incredibly extravagant but the setting is idyllic (and oh, houses here start at $2.7 million). We went to the central park, donated by Ms. Olive Holbrook-Palmer in 1958.  This is a classy and historic park, with Mr. Holbrook's carriage house (built 1897) just behind an 1883 water tower.  Not to mention an art studio, preschool, tennis courts, trails, playgrounds, and fountains.  Well done, Atherton.  

Water Dog Lake, Belmont. Note dog in water. 

Now on to Belmont.  Belmont is just a little further north of Atherton, but not so affluent.  Nonetheless, it is the headquarters of Oracle and Safeway.  (How 'bout that for a combination?)  It also has a "mid-century modern" feel to it.  Lots of that '50s architecture and signage that I find Mayberry nostalgic. Our goal was to visit Water Dog Lake, which is an open space with a reservoir in the center.  Water Dog Lake was indeed filled with dogs when we visited, but 111 Places  informs me "water dog" is actually a type of salamander. I saw none of these critters.    

Park rules require a mask.  It's around my neck.  

Now, we had planned on having lunch at another Belmont landmark, The Van's Restaurant. But sadly, it closed three weeks ago after 47 years of business. The owners decided to retire early due to the pandemic. The Van's occupies a 1915 building on top of a hill and served stuff like Southern fried sirloin steak draped in gravy.  But now we'll never taste that it.  Instead we had to settle for Classic 101 Burgers & Shakes, established 1956.  (Yummy curly fries!) 

Not quite The Van's but really good! 

The Van's Restaurant, a Belmont institution for 47 years, closed May 2020.