Del Marietta-Southwest - San Jose, CA

Originally a town of its own, Willow Glen joined the city of San Jose in 1936. The neighborhood prides itself on its old-town feel, with walkable streets and a quaint, friendly atmosphere. In the northeastern sector of Willow Glen, a lovely pocket of homes and shops constitutes Del Marietta-Southwest.

Residents of Del Marietta-Southwest have easy access to San Jose’s cultural activities. For live theater, travel less than three miles to the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre, or Broadway San Jose. Support the area’s youth by attending a performance at the Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose.

San Jose houses many museums, including the Tech Museum of Innovation, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, and Children’s Discovery Museum. Try the Az Gallery in Willow Glen, just outside of Del Marietta-Southwest, for a gorgeous and eclectic selection of artwork.

Del Marietta-Southwest features a diverse selection of casual restaurants.

If in the mood for Mexican, try Tequila's Taqueria. Drop into this fun, affordable eatery for a drink and nachos, or dig into a simple bean and cheese burrito and experience the intensity of flavor that comes with authentic Mexican cooking. Locals rave about Tequila's amazing micheladas supreme. A meal in itself, this beer-based cocktail comes rimmed with succulent grilled shrimp.

For a healthy, energizing post-workout meal, visit Green Bites Cafe. Focused on clean-eating, Green Bites serves vegan dishes and other items made with healthy meats such as grilled chicken. For a tasty punch of nutrition, try the real-deal vegetable drink made with apple, carrot, celery, cucumber, broccoli and spinach.

Fortify yourself for the rest of the workday at Saaghi 's amazing lunch buffet. This Persian restaurant serves perfectly-seasoned kabobs by the skewer or as a platter with basmati rice and fire-roasted tomato. Try the Persian specialty koobideh, a seasoned ground-meat kabob, followed by baghlava for dessert.

Whatever your pleasure, find your perfect evening adventure in and around Del Marietta-Southwest. Stop at Bar KC, a friendly local watering hole on Leigh Avenue, for an after-work beer, or try Rookies Sports Lodge on Meridien to watch the Sharks game over a plate of nachos.

Show off your killer vocal talents by trying karaoke at the Goosetown Lounge, or catch a local band at the Willow Den. Head downtown and dance the night away at one of San Jose's hot spots such as Tanq. For live music, listen to a local band at the Willow Den, or head to the City National Civic to see a big-name concert.

The Willow Glen neighborhood is extremely walkable. Stroll through the area and enjoy the unique blend of architectural styles under the shade of the neighborhood’s mature trees.

For commuting purposes, however, most residents choose to drive. Del Marietta-Southwest straddles the Southwest Expressway, which takes you directly to Route 17 to the south and Route 280 to the north.

Park for free along most area streets and parking lots. You can sometimes hail a taxi in Del Marietta-Southwest, but ordering one in advance or hiring a car service, such as Uber, is a worthwhile idea.

Public transportation is also a very viable option from Del Marietta-Southwest. The Bascom light-rail station between Winchester and the Convention Center and on the way to Mountain View is located on the western edge of the neighborhood. Several bus routes also service the area.

Bicycling presents another good commuting option in Del Marietta-Southwest. Bike along the Los Gatos Creek Trail, or follow the dedicated bike lanes on South Bascom Avenue and the Southwest Expressway.

One of the best features of the Willow Glen neighborhood is the lovely tree-lined streets and cozy park areas. For a game of tennis, basketball, lawn bowling or just to chill out with a picnic, go to the Willow Street Frank Bramhall Park. Perfect for parents of young children, Hummingbird Park has an enclosed tot lot and plenty of playground equipment. Cross to the north of Route 280 to visit Del Monte Park for its cool playground area and ping-pong table. Del Monte Park also has a turf-covered section for dogs separated into areas for small dogs and big dogs. All parks are free and welcome leashed pets.

Every summer, Willow Glen puts on a street party called Dancin' On The Avenue (DOTA) with fun music, food and activities stretching along Lincoln Avenue. The neighborhood also hosts events such as the Taste of Willow Glen and ArtSpots, a sidewalk art event. Downtown San Jose celebrates several seasonal festivals and even has a roaming outdoor movie program during the summer.

The cost of living in Del Marietta-Southwest is lower than the average cost elsewhere in California. Gas prices in the area hover around 9 percent higher than the national average cost. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,800 per month.

If you choose to take the light rail or a bus downtown, it costs $2 for a one-way ticket. Enjoy a beer in the Del Marietta-Southwest area for between $3.50 and $6.

There is no lack of shopping in and around the Del Marietta-Southwest neighborhood. Several full-scale shopping malls, such as Westfield Valley Fair and Westfield Oakridge, sit just a few miles away. For discount shopping, locals head to the San Jose Market Center for stores including Target, Marshalls, and Petsmart.

The Del Marietta-Southwest neighborhood and surrounding areas are filled with funky boutiques and independent stores. Whatnots and Dodads, an adorable little shop on Lincoln Avenue, sells exactly what its name implies. You can spend hours in the store perusing its cool selection of vintage and antique items, from clothes and home furnishings to books, jewelry and postcards.

Del Marietta-Southwest houses one the state’s few remaining authentic record stores. A throwback to earlier decades, Streetlight Records carries new and used CDs, vinyl, DVDs, posters, books and much more. Sell them a few pieces from your collection, and use that cash to buy that one elusive gem that you won’t find anywhere else.

If you need to spice up your wardrobe, head to Underground Fashion Boutique on Lincoln Avenue. Known for its incredible customer service and affordable prices, Underground carries garments from ultra-chic, cutting-edge designers.

Residents of Del Marietta-Southwest have several options for groceries. They can patronize the neighborhood Safeway or one of the neighborhood’s numerous family-owned markets, such as Zanottos, or Arteaga’s Food Center, for Mexican-cuisine ingredients. For healthy, organic options, head to the San Jose Market Center for Trader Joe’s. For the freshest produce and unique local wares, visit the Willow Glen Farmer's Market on Saturdays seasonally or the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Farmer's Market on Wednesdays.