Despite what you may think, auto shows aren’t just for the Valvoline-smudged, stick-shift worshipping crowd who get aroused by torque and carburetors. I’ve been to a few of them, and I’m always highly entertained. This is coming from a girl who requires a Rosetta Stone every time a light goes off on her dashboard.

The reason why I’m a fan of auto shows is because they are a can’t-look-away collision of technology and design—pretty much the definition of Silicon Valley in general. It’s always exciting to see “The Next Big Thing” before it becomes available to the public, and there is something for everyone: zero-emission models for the folks ecstatic about San Jose’s plastic bag ban, classic Corvettes and Ferraris for the nostalgic vintage-car enthusiasts, and tricked-out lowriders for the guys and gals who blew all their Christmas money on subwoofers and rims.

My personal favorites are the concept cars you would never see on a Stevens Creek Boulevard lot, with their fish tanks in the trunk and chrome-tastic Jetson-like frames. I also like to take photos of myself in every single BMW on display.

If nothing else, you can oogle the hot car show girls prancing around in their Dallas Cowgirl-skimpy outfits and pretend you’re in a rap music video.

Silicon Valley International Auto Show
January 5 through January 8
More info.