First look at plans for major housing, office project at Menlo Park USGS campus
A major redevelopment of the former U.S. Geological Survey campus in Menlo Park aims to replace office and laboratory buildings with hundreds of homes, new offices, retail and public open space.
More Local news
Liccardo’s bills to speed up housing approvals advance through House
A pair of bills spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo that aim to speed up the approval process for new residential projects advanced through the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week as part of a bipartisan housing package.
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House fire in Emerald Hills leads to road closures
The fire has led to traffic delays or closures between Deer Creek Lane and Crestview Drive on Monday afternoon.
South Bay celebrates Super Bowl without ICE
Santa Clara County residents are breathing a collective sigh of relief as fears of federal immigration enforcement during the Super Bowl never materialized.
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Food
Esteemed Bay Area chef to debut upscale Mexican restaurant, Amado
At Amado, not only does the food tell a story, but the plates do as well. The soon-to-open downtown Burlingame restaurant is a love note to Mexican cuisine, offering hard-to-find ancestral dishes, including seven mole variations from various regions.
Peninsula chefs dish on working Valentine’s Day, the busiest night of the year
For many people, Valentine’s Day is a relaxing evening of being wined and dined and sharing a kiss or two. But for those working in the hospitality industry, it’s the most hectic night of the year.
Team behind Los Altos omakase restaurant to debut matcha cafe in downtown Palo Alto
Mountain View resident Daiji Uehara is no stranger to Japanese fine-dining. He’s the founder of Daiji Yacht Club and the chef-owner of Hiroshi in Los Altos. But later this month, he’s debuting a casual, more affordable concept: a Japanese cafe…
Arts & Culture
Make a Super Bowl weekend game plan with these Peninsula football festivities
Gear up for the big game with The Six Fifty’s guide to watch parties, special events and discounts.
What’s up this weekend: Sheila E., Coast Live Music, gallery’s afternoon of music and dance and more
This weekend, Queen of Percussion Sheila E. drops by an early Super Bowl party hosted by a local NFL luminary; Portola Valley chamber music series starts new season; Palo Alto gallery hosts an afternoon of dance and music, and more.
Arts news: ArtLift grants, TheatreWorks’ new season and more
Palo Alto seeks artists for its ArtLift grants; TheatreWorks announces its 2026-27 season and Redwood City’s Sound Union holds its first gear swap.
Spotlight
Changing diet to generate a healthier microbiome and a healthy individual
Stanford microbiologists Justin and Erica Sonnenburg are working to understand the complex microbial community that resides within the human gut and its potential for helping people live healthier, longer lives.
Ivy League mentorship for college applications and career foundations through meaningful projects
Path Mentors was born out of dissatisfaction with the toxic high-pressure environment that college admissions has created. Founded in 2019 by Columbia graduates, the Path Mentors’ team of nearly 100 mentors from a wide range of professions including technology, finance,…
Community Calendar
Did you miss
Palo Alto tries to rein in Zuckerberg’s Crescent Park expansion
For years, Crescent Park residents have been complaining to the city about incessant construction and zoning violations at a compound constructed by Mark Zuckerberg, who has been buying up homes since 2011. Now, the city is preparing to take action.
Allegations of ‘sexual conduct’ between youth, staff surface at SMC juvenile hall
Reports of “sexual conduct” involving detained youth and a staff member at the San Mateo County juvenile hall surfaced at a recent public commission meeting, as the Probation Department confirmed it has an internal investigation underway. The department’s head said…
Real Estate
Palo Alto tops U.S. cities for highest property tax bills
In Palo Alto, where the median home price now exceeds $3 million, property taxes have become a major cost of homeownership. The city ranks highest in the nation for median property taxes paid, according to a new analysis by Construction…
Atherton home sells for $10.5M, then lists for $48K/month
Each week, Embarcadero Media takes a look at home sales activity along the Midpeninsula in the communities of Atherton, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley and Woodside.
New six-story residential building proposed for downtown Menlo Park
A Menlo Park developer is proposing a 15-unit multifamily residential project on the parking lot of an existing commercial building in downtown Menlo Park.
The Six Fifty
Our guide to Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day happenings around Silicon Valley
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day, there’s no shortage of festivities on the Peninsula throughout the first half of February.
Ring in the Lunar New Year in Silicon Valley with lion dances, festivals and special events
The official start of the Lunar New Year is Feb. 17, but celebrations in Silicon Valley begin in earnest Jan. 24 and stretch through the end of February. Here’s our guide to celebrating on the Peninsula.
From grazing cattle to soaring redwoods and panoramic views of the coast, a new network of trails offers unprecedented access at a Peninsula preserve
Four new multiuse trails have opened in the 6,500-acre La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve located above Woodside and Portola Valley. The 6 miles of additions link up to existing trails and lace through the center of the preserve across…
