Armand Gutierrez, President

Ten years ago NSC celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a ski week at Vail, staying at the Vail International Condominiums. Later that year, in June to be exact, NSC had a grand 50th Anniversary dinner at the Holiday Inn in San Jose. This year NSC made a return trip to Vail, again, staying at the Vail International Condominiums, and this month we will be having our 60th Anniversary dinner at the China Stix restaurant in Santa Clara. These events are not by coincidence, but by design. Does the word tradition come to mind? A tradition is a belief or behavior that is passed down from one generation to the next, and can be for a special occasion, cultural aspect, or an event with great significance. Past NSC traditions could include the yearly ski races and the Nikkei Matsuri fundraiser. Unfortunately, traditions, like the wind, come and go. Tevye (from Fiddler on the Roof) struggled to maintain his religious and cultural traditions when outside influences encroached upon his family’s lives. Over the years NSC had similar outside influences that affected the yearly ski races and the Nikkei Matsuri event. Perhaps it’s time to start a new tradition, a tribute to NSCs ability to succeed as a club for all these years, and the years to come. Looking forward to seeing you, off and on the slopes, in 2028.

Upcoming Events
60th NSC Anniversary Dinner in September – September 8th
The Anniversary Dinner is completely booked with 70 people looking forward to meeting old friends, reminiscing about the good old days in NSC, and, of course, dining on fine cuisine.

Big Sky Ski Week 2019
The Big Sky trip is moving along well and on track. Thanks to those that sent in the second payment and the final payment is due in October. If you had one of those escapable moments and forgot about the second payment then you can redeem yourself by sending it now. An even better idea would be to send in your total payment and be worry-free.

Here are a few ideas for September “things to do” in the Bay Area.

Sausalito Arts Festival Labor Day Weekend: Enjoy one of the most prestigious art festivals in the country with over 250 artists in 14 different mediums at the Marinship Park waterfront in Sausalito, September 1-3. Fine art, music, food and wine come together for the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer. Admission: $25/day, $20 seniors 62 and over, children under 12 free.

Come out to paddle or cheer at the 23rd annual Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival September 15-16, 2018 at Lake Merritt, Oakland. It’s the largest competitive dragon boat festival in the United States. For more information: sfdragonboat.com

If you’d like to purchase tickets for San Jose Taiko’s 45th Anniversary Concert, you can do so here:
https://sjtaiko.squarespace.com/45thconcert

Hoyt Nelson

We live in a wonderland of ethnic restaurants in the Bay Area. Indian and Pakistani places have lately become much more popular– partly because so many folks from these places have come here to work in Silicon Valley and because this cuisine is so delicious. I remember in the late 60s when we had to drive to San Francisco to Taj of India and later to Pasand in Emeryville for these cuisines. At that time, there was a place called the Khyber Pass in Berkeley which claimed to be the only Afghani restaurant in the Western World. Now, the San Jose, Berkeley and Fremont areas are packed with such great places.

Unless you habitually seek out new places however, you may not know about Flavors of India, an Indian place in Santa Clara on Saratoga Ave. It’s just 100 feet in back of Applebees (which is 100 feet just S. of Hwy. 280). The listed address is actually the cross street, Moorpark. You might remember Tony Roma’s BBQ, which was one of its previous incarnations. The old cowboy decorations are still there. Many Indian folks have found it, with good reason, and I suggest you do too for its high quality food. It has most of the typical favorite Northern specialties like tandori and curries, but we go there for the dosas (a southern specialty which is not yet as popular in this area). If you find any, they will probably be just the Masala dosa, and I suggest you start with this popular version. It is an enormous thin, crispy semolina pancake rolled up into a 2 inch diameter tube which will probably overhang your plate on 2 sides. Inside, is a large dollop of spiced potato, but the pancake is the thing. Caution: You may have to ask for the separate dosa menu which lists about 8 different types. Like many local Indian places, there is only a buffet at lunch, but a thali (house combination of either veggie or with meat) will do for the most part.

Just W of India on the map is Pakistan and lately, our hands down favorite is Zareen’s Pakistani in a strip mall at 1477 Plymouth in Mtn. View – several hundred feet from a nearby large movie complex just E of 101. It is pretty small and gets very crowded during peak times, so plan timing accordingly. There are a few political messages scrawled on the walls and the seating is informal at picnic tables, so you might have to ask a 2-some to share a table. Otherwise, just take it home since it already comes in a takeout clamshell. The chai (spiced milk tea) is very good and is self-serve, but a sign says to limit yourself to 3 small paper cups per person. It’s not fancy and there may be as good or better Pakistani places in the Fremont area, but for my money, this is the very best Pakistani food within easy reach of San Jose.

Continuing N on Saratoga Ave. just N of Hwy. 280 is Harry’s Hofbrau at 390 Saratoga, one of our standby places for fast, large servings and which stays open till 11 PM. It’s not out of the way, but the same building houses a Persian grocery store (at the right end). Enter this store and go through an unmarked entrance in the back into a large, dark, cave-like Persian restaurant called Stone Stew. The atmosphere is quite nice actually. There is a well-equipped commercial kitchen to your right, but strangely, cooking is done in a lunch coach permanently parked just outside. The kabobs, breads and salads are pretty good, but the signature Stone Stew is just chunks of spiced meat and potato with some onion in a small stone mortar. You use a decorated stone pestle to mash the bits together with a few veggies into an un-appetizing mush. It’s an interesting presentation, but don’t bother.

Finally, if you have an itch for Thai on a Sunday, go to a Thai temple at 1911 Russell St. Berkeley from 10 till 1 PM. It’s called Wat Mongkolratanaram (wat means temple) at 1911 Russell St.. In the back is an open area filled with about a dozen long (communal) picnic tables. There are separate lines to enclosed tents for each of veggie, non-veggie and deserts etc. with 4 or 5 selections in each category. You pay for each with wood chits. There is a non-church cashier where you purchase these chits, and this allows all the other church members to serve you without touching money (which this sect is not allowed to do). It’s excellent and cheap, so the place is usually mobbed. It’s well worth the wait.

Snowbomb Festivals are held around California in November and are a great way to get psyched for the upcoming ski season. At the festival you will find free lift tickets, ski and board sales, climbing walls, entertainment, vendors, beer and wine. Admission tickets are available online.

The Bay Area Council (BAC) of ski clubs will have a booth at the shows and we will be looking for help at the booth. This is a great opportunity to promote Nisei ski club and meet members of other clubs. Please contact Armand if you are interested in volunteering for a few hours at this fun event.

Here are the dates:

Santa Clara County Fairgrounds:
Nov 10 2018 12pm – 8 pm
Nov 11, 2018 | 10am – 6pm
San Francisco Pier 35:
Nov 3 – Nov 4, 2018 | 10am – 6pm
Sacramento Cal Expo Center:
Nov 17 – Nov 18, 2018 | 10am – 6pm

Nov 5 — Winterfest — The BAC Winterfest will be held at the Englander Pub on Monday November 5th. This is a great opportunity for club reps and travel directors to speak with ski resort reps. There will be great raffle and silent auction items.