The   best   acoustic   music   room   in  the   South   Bay! Some would say this is the only regular acoustic room in the South Bay,  and while not exactly correct, many of the other rooms seem to take music as secondary to some other activity...  this room focuses on the music first...  a small café during the day (7am to 3pm, Mon to Fri),  they are closed on weekends except for shows...  it re-opens during the evening to become a music room that serves food,  but only before the show starts,  they don't serve food or noisy espresso during the show. The most remarkable thing about this place is the  trompe l'oeil  mural along the south wall,  it is an amazing work of art,  you should spend some time really studying it,  I am continually amazed by the artwork...  most people don't even know this mural exists,  it's just painted of the wall of a small café that almost everyone passing by ignores,  consider yourself informed about a secret work of art. Art  Imitating  Life  Imitating  Art  Imitating  Life  -  by  John  Pugh    At a café in San Jose, California,  that features a Pugh mural,  a customer complained he had received the "silent treatment" when he tried to introduce himself to a pretty woman reading a book...   the woman was a painted illusion in John Pugh's mural.    Located on South Bascom Avenue, very near Interstates 880 and 280,  easyily accessible via public transit (which I've used exclusively for years)...  just a few blocks from Stevens Creek Boulevard (easy 15-20 minute walk) and across the street from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The place is small,  perhaps 80 people,  maybe less,  so sold out shows are common...  there are also at least three different producers of shows,  and advanced ticket procedures may be different for each producer,  but generally advanced tickets (or reservations) are given up if you arrive less than 15 minutes before showtime,  and your reservation is given to anyone still waiting...  also,  with at least one producers,  those with advanced tickets are seated first,  to give them preferred seats... that said, just about any seat at this venue is good,  but obviously some are better than others.    Some  of  the  artists  I  have  seen  at  the  Espresso  Garden  are...  the Be Good Tanyas, Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines,  Pamela Means,  Chris Webster,  Vienna Teng,  Emm Gryner,  Louise Taylor,  Laura Love,  Megan Slankard,  Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart, Kris Delmhorst,  Peter Mulvey,  Erin McKeown,  Oh Susanna,  Cosy Sheridan,  Laurie Geltman,  Noe Venable,  Allette Brooks,  Sam Shaber,  Lisa Dewey,  Caroline Aiken, Rebecca Riots,  and  Judy Henske (Queen of the Beatnicks).    All shows open at 7pm for buying food,  music starts at 8pm,  usually a short break after the first set, then a second set for about an hour...  earliest the music is over is about 10-10:15pm,  barely time for the last main bus of the night (see transit below),  but most shows last until 10:30 or later. Carole  McComb  Band   -   photograph  by  TrueWind  Music The stage is small and takes up a small corner of the venue,  perhaps 12" above the main floor,  it also has a piano on it...  I've seen mostly solo or duo acts,  although I've seen groups of four musicians several times,  even groups with a stand-up bass...  I'd guess groups of six is probably the limit. Megan  Slankard   -   photograph  by  TrueWind  Music The venue is easily missed if you are not looking for it,  a small stripmall with some other shops next to it,  set back from the road to give a parking lot,  there is more parking in the back...  some shows enter at the front door,  some enter the back door,  be sure which one will be used in case there is a large line,  you don't want to miss your spot in line...  and yes,  I've had a line of over 60 people in front of me (and more behind me) before the place opened,  we were all there early,  at 6pm,  for Judy Henske...  also been to a show that  turned away  over 120 people,  that was Vienna Teng.

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