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…
After decades of serving the poor, longtime St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room manager preps for retirement
When he was a young employee, Maximiliano Torres didn’t like to take breaks. Then he got some advice from the former postal manager for San Francisco International Airport.
Candidates in uncontested races set to serve on school boards in Woodside, Portola Valley, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto
For four local school districts, there’s no need to wait until Election Day to learn who will be serving on their school boards. Woodside, Portola Valley, Ravenswood and Las Lomitas school districts all have uncontested races and will welcome new…
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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
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.”
Fall arts preview: A week-by-week guide
What’s coming up in music, theater, art shows and author events this season on the Peninsula
What’s up this week: Author Casey Gerald, a chic French ballet, family-friendly concert and more
This week, author Casey Gerald and “The Great Refusal” at Kepler’s; a rootin’ tootin’ family concert in Redwood City, art on skateboard decks and more.
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
$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…
New wave of buyers heads to Peninsula — some paying $10M just for ‘dirt’
AI wealth and return-to-office mandates are reshaping the Midpeninsula housing market, bringing new buyers into a market where prices are rising and inventory remains tight. Some buyers are spending $10 million or more for land alone, while others are finding…
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
