The Culture Lover's Guide to Silicon Valley

There's plenty to keep you entertained in between meetings in Silicon Valley, especially if you're a culture lover. By Joy Yoon.

Art Fix

Pace Palo Alto is as blue-chip as art galleries get, showcasing a roster of globally known contemporary artists in a thoughtfully designed 297-square-metre space. If you’re pressed for time, the gallery is open until 7pm from Tuesday to Saturday.

Market Buzz

If you’re in Silicon Valley on the first Saturday of the month, go to the De Anza College Flea Market in Cupertino for an intriguing selection of antiques and second-hand items, as well as food. It’s the best market of its kind in the valley and the funds raised support student programs at the college.

Starry Night

During the day, West Wind Capitol Public Market sells a large selection of fresh produce and second-hand goods. But at night, it’s one of California’s last remaining drive-in movie theatres. The atmosphere is lively, the films are current and it’s the only way to see stars both on and beyond the big screen at the same time.

Musical Interlude

Whether you’re a fan of the classics or music that’s contemporary and cutting-edge, catch a show at Stanford University’s Bing Concert Hall. Upcoming highlights include Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (9 May) and pianist-composer Chano Domínguez (2 June), who’s known for pushing the boundaries of flamenco and jazz.

Fruitful Shopping

If you’re a devotee of Apple’s products, there’s no better way to feed your “iNeeds” than by making the pilgrimage to the source at the One Infinite Loop shop in Apple’s former headquarters in Cupertino. The company’s original store is the place to go for merchandise such as T-shirts and caps found nowhere else in the “Appleverse”.

Downtime

Take some time out to de-stress and refresh at Immersion Spa + Sauna, a combination of traditional Korean treatments and modern Western amenities for men and women. Try the full-body scrub or wrap followed by a moisturising massage to combat jet lag.