To look at San Jose through Gary's eyes is an education. He is to San Jose what Herb Caen was to San Francisco--part of the city, part of its vibe. For years he has walked the streets, enjoyed its hot spots and its dives. He is part of the professional sports scene, part of the music scene, part of the bar scene. He loves and understands the history of San Jose better than anyone I have ever met. In these days of cities changing and losing their identities, I am happy that Gary kept the records.
JOHNNY MOORE, former General Manager, San Jose Earthquakes
Gary Singh belongs to a different age, when journalists had lifelong love-hate affairs with their beloved cities. For San Jose he is like heavenly sandpaper, railing against homogenization, celebrating what is uniquely good, and gently challenging his city to become a place that is creative and humane. I'm glad his columns are collected here so that San Jose can remember the past and, perhaps, build a better future.
TIM RITCHIE, President and CEO, The Tech Museum of Innovation (2011-2020)
Gary's column is the written soundtrack of my life in San Jose. I arrived as a Banda Club kid, a theater kid, a downtown kid, a Could Have Left Town kid, but our Valley of Heart's Delight transformed and kept me. Gary's the one who wrote about all of us growing up. He's the only one who wrote about the Pink Elephant Center-before any need for a "Diversity Column."
TAMARA ALVARADO, Executive Director, Shortino Foundation
Gary Singh knows San Jose. I have been reading him in Metro for many years, sometimes agreeing, occasionally not, yet always entertained-even sometimes amazed. The successes, the mistakes, the dreams that sometimes happened and often failed, are the essence of this book. Each agony here often leads to some ecstasy. It is all on full display here as you go down the illuminated streets and duck into the dark alleys that compose this most amazing city.
TOM McENERY, Mayor of San Jose, 1983-1991
