Menlo Park downtown lot measure race gathers almost $478,000 before ballots go out
Nearly half a million dollars has been raised in November’s ballot measure over whether Menlo Park should have housing on its downtown city-owned parking lots.
More Local news
From Oahu to Mountain View: Ry’s Poke Shack opens at Ava’s Downtown Market
An Oahu-based poke business is making waves in downtown Mountain View. Just a few weeks old and still in its soft-opening phase, Ry’s Poke Shack is already drawing long lines for its Tsunami Nachos, Poke By Da Bowl and Poke…
PG&E conducts controlled gas release near Sand Hill Road
A loud hissing noise could be heard throughout the Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park this morning, Sept. 15, and the cause wasn’t readily apparent to some shoppers.
San Mateo County acquires apartment building for educator housing
The purchase of the 74-unit Azara community at 1650 S. Delaware St. in San Mateo marks the first educator workforce housing project for the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE).
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Food
Revolving sushi, Michelin-recommended noodles and more: Here’s what’s coming to Westfield Valley Fair
From long lines at Ramen Nagi and Din Tai Fung to massive food halls such as Eataly and Asia Live, Westfield Valley Fair has cemented itself as more than a shopping center: It’s a foodie destination. The Santa Clara mall is bringing back Foodie Week this year from Sept. 19-27, with select restaurants and eateries…
Here’s when these 10 highly anticipated cafes and bakeries plan to open along the Peninsula
If you’re craving a sweet treat or an afternoon pick-me-up, there’s an abundance of new cafes and bakeries coming soon to the Peninsula. Cult-favorite bakeries such as Pineapple King and Arsicault are expanding south to the Peninsula, and matcha spots…
10 ways to celebrate Oktoberfest along the Peninsula
Get your stein-holding arm and beer bellies ready, because it’s almost Oktoberfest season along the Peninsula. From San Mateo to Los Gatos, a variety of Oktoberfest events are scheduled throughout September and October.
Arts & Culture
Peninsula-raised writer releases debut novel, ‘Firewalkers’
Author Tyler Hanley takes readers on a quest with four siblings in a post-apocalyptic world as they try to evade a nefarious scientist with mysterious ties to their father. “Firewalkers” was published in August.
What’s up this week: Brandi Carlile, brave bunnies, Beethoven sonatas, a legendary guitarist and more
This week, multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile is at Frost, an innovative jazz trio takes inspiration from modern art, courageous cottontails are the focus of an author event for families and more.
Review: Palo Alto Players stage hilarious musical ‘Guide’ to cutting the family line
A newly minted heir seeks shortcuts to snagging his new relatives’ fortune in “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.”
Spotlight
Experience Public Art on Stanford Campus
Stanford’s public art program includes more than 80 works spanning the 19th-21st centuries and reflecting the history, spirit, and dynamism of life on campus.
This California Delta community is drawing Bay Area homebuyers to the water
Bay Area residents understand the value of open space. That’s why it’s no surprise a private waterfront enclave on the California Delta is drawing homebuyers who are ready for a different kind of life.
Community Calendar
Did you miss
Humans in the age of AI
Artificial intelligence is alternately billed as the most consequential technology in history or a speculative bubble that will pop and lead to economic chaos. For this project, a collaboration with photojournalist Mark Tuschman, we spoke to local residents and professionals…
Friends, family remember Jakub Solovsky, cyclist killed in Woodside head-on collision
Larry Abrahams remembers the rainy day that was the last time he rode with East Palo Alto resident Jakub Solovsky, a member of Western Wheelers who died July 11 in a head-on collision on Skyline Boulevard.
Real Estate
Why fall is a good time to plant a tree in your Peninsula yard
Fall is one of the best times of the year on the Midpeninsula to add a tree, shrub or other permanent planting. Cooler temperatures and moister soil ease transplant stress and give roots time to develop before the region’s long, dry…
$1M over-asking still isn’t bringing more homes to market on the Midpeninsula
Home prices climbed 8% in Palo Alto, 9% in Menlo Park and 17% in Atherton during the first eight months of 2026, even as the number of homes for sale remained largely unchanged. In Atherton, nearly 1 in 5 homes…
How to prepare for California’s new fire-smart landscaping guidelines
For residents living in areas of high wildfire risk on the Peninsula, landscaping is no longer just about creating a lush, private yard. California is moving to require wildfire-safe landscaping for thousands of homeowners, turning long-standing recommendations for defensible space…
The Six Fifty
A bug educator’s life: Meet the ‘Beetlelady’ bringing interactive insect (and other ‘bug’) classes to all corners of Silicon Valley
San Mateo resident Stephanie Dole shares her expertise with kids and adults alike, with the goal of helping folks better appreciate the creepy crawlies around us.
20 late summer and fall festivals in Silicon Valley
Some of Silicon Valley’s biggest cultural festivals are held in September and October. Here’s what’s on the calendar.
A new beach park has debuted on the San Mateo County coast. Here’s what to know before you go
Known for its dramatic sandstone cliffs and panoramic ocean views, Don Horsley County Park at Tunitas Creek Beach is a new recreation destination south of Half Moon Bay.
Blogs
State News from CalMatters
