Best In Silicon Valley

2023 Best Museum The Tech Interactive At the center of the most technologically innovative region in the country, visitors and locals enjoy immersive experiences from The Tech Interactive which is recognized as the Best Museum in Silicon Valley. Each year, The Tech Interactive debuts new hands-on exhibits, activities, workshops, films and more. In 2022 and 2023, The Tech has taken things even farther above and beyond. In April 2022, one of The Tech's most popular tools received a "glow-up" by way of the web-based Ask a Geneticist program. In partnership with Stanford Medicine, The Ask a Geneticist program was relaunched to simplify the demystification of the study of genetics. Visitors to the site can ask questions, research peculiar aspects of genetics and learn fascinating facts about DNA that link facts with fantasy and fiction. Since its founding in 1998, The Tech has attracted interest for its commitment to continually innovate, just as the rest of Silicon Valley does. With every visit, individuals and groups will notice new exhibitions, attractions and hands-on opportunities to understand the world as it is now and how it will be and in the future. Education is paramount at The Tech. Ongoing and ever-changing immersive experiences, field trips for families and schools and an in-house professional development program are helping people of all ages level up their tech knowledge. Among the programs are next-gen programs aimed at preparing children to learn the skills to be tomorrow's problem solvers with guidance from local, national and global educators. The Tech is even available for special events. From large corporate events or proms to small parties and seminars, a number of spectacular spaces at the museum create unforgettable experiences. The Tech Interactive 201 S. Market St., San Jose (408) 294-8324 thetech.org Best Outdoor Event/Festival/Venue Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival The only two-day-long festival held in the City Cupertino, the annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival was first held in 1983. This year, the festival will be held on April 29-30, 2023. www.CupertinoCBF.org This festival is organized by the Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities non-profit organization to honor Cupertino's sister city – Toyokawa, Japan by sharing Japanese traditional and modern culture with the community. Performers, exhibitors, vendors, and clubs come from all over the Bay area and as far away as Los Angeles gather together for a culturally rich and varied event. The festival is held throughout Cupertino's Memorial Park, in the Quinlan Center and in the Senior Center. The festival features: - Arts and crafts sales throughout the park - Japanese arts and cultural displays - Delicious Japanese food - Japanese beer and sake - Children's activities and hands-on projects - Live entertainment on two performance stages and - Interesting Japanese cultural demonstrations There is something for everyone, of all ages, to enjoy. Admission is free, entertainment is free, and there is also free parking in Lots A&B of De Anza College. In addition to offering an impressively wide variety of Japanese arts, food and culture, the festival enjoys the participation of many other organizations that contribute to the community at large. The festival offers an opportunity for general Arts and crafts, Civic, Non-profit, and Commercial businesses to host booths throughout Memorial park. www.festivalproductions2.com Cupertino and Toyokawa became sister cities in 1978. Cupertino-Toyokawa Sister Cities conducts an annual student exchange between 7th and 8th grade students attending the Cupertino Union School District and students in its sister city of Toyokawa, Japan. A student art exchange is held each year, with Cupertino student art displayed at Toyokawa's Art Museum and Toyokawa student art displayed at the Cherry Blossom Festival before being sent for display at CUSD middle schools and district office. Every five years, there is an adult cultural exchange. An annual bell-ringing for peace event began in 2019 in observance of the anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Toyokawa during WWII as a renewal of the sister city relationship and shared wish for everlasting peace between the U.S. and Japan. www.CupertinoToyokawa.org A feature not to miss at the 2023 is the display of a "Year of the Rabbit" sculpture that will be sent to Toyokawa as a 40th anniversary gift to the City of Toyokawa later this year. Please follow us on Social media - See you at the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival on April 29-30, 2023 Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival April 29-30, 2023, 10am-5:30 pm Cupertino's Memorial Park, Quinlan & Senior Center cupertinocherryblossomfestival.org S14 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 111 Advertising Section SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2023

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