A Local's Guide to the Bay Area's Best End of Summer Events, Part 1

 It’s August. I don’t know how it happened, but Labor Day is coming up fast (one month!), which means this summer’s on its final stretch. If you’re anything like me, life doesn’t change much with the seasons--summer just means work with more sun shining through the windows.

But there are still a few weeks left, and tons of great events and concerts scheduled all over the Bay Area. You haven't missed the whole party!  Don’t you owe it to yourself to get out of the office and to connect with the community? Or, if you're less socially-minded, to eat some killer food? 

Here are a handful of August highlights. My apologies if these are skewed toward foodie culture--I’ll include some links at the end of the post for those of you aren’t quite as obsessed with food.

EAT Restaurant at 111 Minna Gallery: Tonight, August 4th, from 5:00-10:00.

One of my favorite things about Palo Alto is that it’s just a quick drive to San Francisco. I might try and make it up there for this one. Eat Restaurant is the city’s only pop-up restaurant (run by chef Tommy Halverson)--it switches venues all the time. Tonight Eat’s at the gorgeous Minna Gallery, and the mouth-watering menu features local, sustainable produce and cocktails developed by San Francisco’s finest mixologists.

Here’s the menu:

$5 SAILOR JERRY RUM COCKTAILS ALL NIGHT!

Creekstone Sliders (2 for $10 from 5pm-6pm): with havarti or blue - $6 each

Nachos: House fried tortilla chips, Carnitas, queso fresco, cilantro-cabbage slaw, black beans, avocado, lime, salsa - $8

"Franks And Beans": Housemade Baked Beans, Whiskey-Fennel Sausage, Bacon, Sweet Roll, Braised Greens - $9

"BBQ" Chicken and Corn: Braised then Seared and Basted Chicken Quarter, Cilantro Wrapped Corn on the Cob, Grilled, then Roasted Potatoes - $10

Red Trout: Dwelley Farms Romano Beans, Blue Lake and Yellow Wax Beans, Ancho Cress, Red Onion - $10

Melon: Compressed Water and Sharlyn Melon, Feta, Basil, Balsamic Redux, Cold Pressed Olive Oil - $9

Panzanella: Heirloom Tomatoes, Levain, Tomato-Sherry Vinaigrette, Wild Arugula, Reggiano - $9

S'mores: Housemade Chocolate Brownie, Graham Cracker Crust, Marshmallow Brulee, Chocolate Sauce - $6

The 16th Annual San Francisco Aloha Festival: August 7th-8th, 10am-5pm

This two day festival celebrates the talents and culture of San Francisco's community of Pacific Islanders. It's a free event, featuring arts and crafts, Polynesian dancing, island cuisine, workshops and educational exhibits, games for kids, and something called an 'Ohana Korner (I'm definitely going to find out what this is). There's no alcohol permitted on premises. This seems like the kind of event that's great for the whole family. 

Off the Grid: Fort Mason Center: August 6th, 5Pm-9Pm

Promo materials are billing this re-occuring event (every Friday throughout August) as a food adventure. Which sounds about right, considering this description: "Off The Grid brings a diverse group of mobile food vendors, with music, to the Marina neighborhood. Enjoy such delights as the Chairman Bao Bun Truck, Kung Fu Tacos, El Porteno Empanadas, Curry Up Now, and Chaac Mool." 

Also, it's in a parking lot. For some reason street food just tastes better when you're standing on concrete. 

FREE Friday Night Concerts at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk: Every Friday thru September 3rd,  6:30PM

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is one of my favorite places in the Bay Area. It’s the quintessential summer scene--sandy beach, an ocean dotted with surfers, the smell of hot dogs, and that brightly lit Ferris Wheel turning in the background. The bands play right on the beach, and every concert is free. This Friday catch A Flock of Seagulls, followed in the coming weeks by Spin Doctors, Papa Doo Run Run, and Starship.

Taiwanese Dish Crawl: August 10th, 6pm (Cupertino) 

Okay, so I know I've given you three and half food events so far, but here's another local food showdown that sounds particularly noteworthy. For $30, you can join a group of adventurous eaters on a dish crawl through Cupertino. It’s your chance to try Taiwanese food, if you’re unfamiliar with the cuisine. The dish crawl official website offers a hunger-pang inducing description: Taiwanese cuisine has an extremely unique flavour. Dishes range from sticky oyster pancakes with egg and sweet chili sauce to meatballs encased in a mochi-like shell. Sometimes it's the simplicity of a well executed pork chop over rice and served with pickled veggies. If your tastebuds are up for it, you must come explore. ;) $30 for 4+ courses at a few local hidden faves.

Don’t forget to RSVP!

San Jose Super Toy, Comic, and Collectible Show: August 14^th, 11-4, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds

Get in touch with your nerdy side (or make your kids happy) at the annual toy/comic book/vintage collectible bonanza. No seriously, it’s a bonanza--with over 250 tables offering toys and collectibles that range from Transformers and Star Wars figurines to vintage lunch boxes, this event promises to be a wonderland of nostalgia. Tickets are cheap too--five bucks for adults, and kids get in half price.

AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival: August 13-15^th, 5:30-11:45

The San Jose Jazz festival is one of the most exciting and well-attended jazz festivals in the country. Last year over 100,000 people swarmed the Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose to listen to a truly international line-up of musicians. Whether you’re into funk, blues, fusion, Latin, R&B, folk--there’s a band on the schedule for you (Tower of Power is playing the first night!). Check out the official website for online discounts and more information, including past attendee memories of the festival, and the details on joining a Salsa Flash Mob… Tickets go fast!

Shakespeare Santa Cruz: shows run through August 29^th, weekend matinees at 2pm, weeknight shows at 7:30 & 8:00

A couple of years ago I saw the Shakespeare Santa Cruz production of Beckett’s End Game on the mainstage, and couldn’t have been more impressed with the quality of the performances, the gorgeous and bleak set design, and the directorial interpretation of such a difficult play. There’s world-class theater happening right in our neighborhood, and you really shouldn’t miss it--there’s something spectacular about seeing a show outdoors in the Festival Glen, as the sky darkens and the redwoods seem to creep closer to listen. Starting at $15 a pop, tickets are cheap. August offerings include The Lion in Winter (a contemporary family drama), Love’s Labor’s Lost, and the heart-searing Othello.

OTHER EVENT RESOURCES

SFGATE

YELP

PALO ALTO ONLINE

BAY AREA EVENTS

*photos courtesy of Planetware and SFGate Blog 

Palo Alto Chili Cook-Off: A Bay Area Tradition

Every Fourth of July Palo Alto celebrates our nation’s independence with a chili cook off in Mitchell Park. It’s an all day affair, and a smoking hot one too (whomp whomp) thanks to the chilies, the sunshine, and the inevitable crowds eager to sample first-rate chili recipes whipped up by 20 teams.

The teams compete in three categories: open, vegetarian, and corporate. Competition is stiff, and the winners receive cash rewards ($400 for 1^st place,  $200 for 2^nd, a plaque for 3^rd) and more importantly, hefty bragging rights.

Last year the Palo Alto firefighters took home the People’s Choice Award and also won first place in the corporate division, beating out area favorites like Whole Foods and The Rose & Crown Pub.

The turnout is always good (attendance is estimated at between 5,000 and 7,000 people), and the spirit is festive to say the least. In fact, in preparation for this year’s cook off, the city’s Recreation Department is instigating a new “code of conduct” with the hopes of tamping down undue rowdiness and excessive drinking.

According to the local rumor mill, last year some teams bribed judges with alcoholic beverages, and team Top Gun Chili was banned from participating in future cook-offs, thanks to their "highly intoxicated behavior" and "use of inappropriate language and gestures." The drama might be a little embarrassing, but the city's response is a testament to Palo Alto's values and strict focus on maintaining a family friendly atmosphere at community events. 

So while the 29^th Annual Summer Festival and Chili Cook-off will be a bit tamer than in years past, it’s still a Palo Alto Independence Day tradition, and a lot of fun.

Head out to Mitchell Park today--not only will you get a chance to try some unforgettable chili, you’ll also get to spend some valuable time with the community leaders, families, and organizations that make Palo Alto such a distinctly warm and lively (or should I say spicy?) place. 

The festival starts at noon, with line-dancing orchestrated by Hedy McAdams, live music played by the band Blues, children's activities, and of course chili tastings. Admission is free, and a tasting kit can be bought for $5. Check out the full schedule on the city's website. 

*thanks to the city of Palo Alto website for the photos! 

Palo Alto Farmers' Market

 

Few places in the world make me as happy as the Palo Alto Farmers' Market. Every Saturday morning (8AM to 12PM) from mid-May to mid-December local farms and artisanal food vendors line up along California Avenue, selling the freshest produce imaginable and other hard-to-find foodstuffs.

This time of year is particularly wonderful, because it's the peak of cherry season (I LOVE CHERRIES) which means for a couple of months I have access to unbelievable cherries, cherries so good they ruin me for the rest of the year--seriously, it's hard to eat frozen cherries or even the good canned kind from American Spoon Foods (more on their fruit later) after tasting farmers' market cherries at the height of their natural glory.

As frustrating as it is to know that cherry season will eventually come to an end (as all good things do!), and I'll be deprived until next May, I'm grateful the farmers' market is around to remind me of a more natural way of eating and thinking about food. When you shop at the farmers' market you're fostering a

connection to the earth, to the seasons, and to the community itself.

Because on a Saturday morning during farmers' market season in Palo Alto, you're bound to bump into at least a couple people you know--I can't count how many times I've reached over for some arugula or stood by that AMAZING Afghani place tasting potato bread topped with lentils and eggplant and noticed that the person to my right was my neighbor, or an old client, or one of my son's high school teachers.

So when I mean community, I mean the farmers and vendors, the people who call Palo Alto home, and the land itself, the land that offers up so much beautiful produce.

Really, if you haven't been, you need to check out the farmers' market. There's usually live music, and there's always something you haven't seen before, like lamb's quarters (a wild variety of spinach I'd never heard of until a couple weeks ago).

Once you start eating sustainable, local produce, you'll never want to go back--not only will your meals taste better, but you'll be doing something good for the environment and the local economy. Supporting the Palo Alto's farmers' market means supporting the essence of our vibrant community.

Palo Alto, CA: Wonderful Townhome for Sale

Wonderful Townhome For Sale

Open Sat/Sun 1:30-4:30

733 Loma Verde Ave. #C Palo Alto

Offered for $725,000

CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL TOUR!

Affordable 3 Bedroom Townhome in Midtown Palo Alto

This is a great opportunity to own a 3 bedroom/2.5 bath townhome in Midtown at an affordable price, and it looks pretty too! The location is ideal, with shops, schools, library, parks, and commute routes right outside the doorstep. Come by and see how much fun it is to live in this friendly community.

This lovely home features:

3 bedrooms including a master suite

Master bedroom with walk in closet

One bedroom with built in shelving

Third bedroom also with ample closet space

2 ½ baths including a master bathroom, hall bath upstairs, and ½ bath downstairs

Remodeled kitchen with gorgeous sea foam green corian counters, stainless steel appliances, and abundant counter space

Gorgeous maple pergo floors through out the house

Step down living room with cozy fireplace and sliding doors to the back patio

Separate dining room

Washer and dryer on second floor where the bedrooms are

Large lovely patio with flower beds, decking, and tall privacy walls

Two underground parking spaces in a secured parking lot with elevator

Additional storage room

Complex with pool

HOA fees of $525 a month which cover roof, painting, landscaping, garbage, sewer

Assessment for repairs to the garage and walkways to be paid by seller

Excellent Palo Alto Schools including Palo Verde, JLS, and Palo Alto High (buyer to verify availability of individual schools)

1,426 square feet of living space (per county records)

1,742 square foot lot per county records

Palo Alto Citywide Yard Sale: Tomorrow!!

Help the environment, your wallet, and the community by participating in Palo Alto's citywide yard sale tomorrow. It's from 8:00AM to 1:00PM, and you can plan your route by visiting the adorable maps here--sale addresses are marked with stars, and little ice cream cones, coffee cups, and froyo swirls represent places to refuel. 

There's even a nifty activity for the kids--Captain Greenbeard's Treasure Hunt Adventure--which uses those fun maps as guides for a treasure hunt doubling as a lesson in waste prevention (and a way to keep the kids out of your hair while you're shopping). Make sure you download the tip sheet. It includes coupons for free froyo, coffee, and ice cream. 

This year a record 307 residents are taking place in the event. According to an article in Palo Alto Online, sale items include an antique bed, a zither, persian rugs, and cigarette-lighter collection. 

The sale is part of the city's Zero Waste Program. Here's how they describe themselves (from the website): 

Inspired by the environment’s natural cycles, the mission of the City of Palo Alto Zero Waste Program is to work in partnership with our community to conserve resources and minimize material consumption to reduce our waste to zero (or darn close) by 2021.

Gotta love this town.

Red Mango: Another Reason to Love Palo Alto

My favorite latest addition to University Avenue's line-up of great restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques, is perfect any time of day or night. I consider it meal replacement, necessary dessert, fuel, and pure tastebud joy. If you haven't made a pit stop at Palo Alto's Red Mango, you should. The line stretches out the door nightly for a reason--the frozen yogurt and fresh fruit toppings dished out at Red Mango are a thousand times more delicious than rival Pinkberry's similar froyo (that's frozen yogurt for all you non-yogurt addicts), and to top things off, Red Mango's totally guiltless.

Palo Alto doesn't have a Pinkberry of course, but most people are aware of last year's debacle. There was a big fuss when the news came out that Pinkberry (nicknamed Crackberry by fanatics in LA) wasn't half as healthy as advertisements claimed--apparently, the frozen yogurt is weirdly addictive because it kind of IS a drug--they pour gallons of sugar into the stuff, and a ton of unnatural chemicals to make it all so much worse. Not to knock Pinkberry too hard--it still tastes pretty darn good, no matter what's in it. And fresh fruit is always fresh fruit. But you can rest assured that Red Mango isn't hiding any dirty secrets in their yogurt tanks-- 

Here's the official statement, taken straight from the website:

Red Mango frozen yogurt is authentic yogurt, frozen to perfection. Made only with 100% all-natural ingredients, Red Mango is irresistibly delicious and undeniably nutritious. Pure, creamy, and refreshingly tangy, Red Mango frozen yogurt has all of yogurt's natural goodness, such as calcium, protein, and live and active cultures that are good for your body. Red Mango frozen yogurt is also fat-free, gluten-free, and certified Kosher.

I have a gluten allergy, so it's a real blessing that a Red Mango popped up in the area--it's hard to miss gluten heavy desserts when the substitute is so delicious. The Palo Alto Red Mango is a small space, with bright lights and a clean, trendy vibe (and is allegedly owned, at least in part by Yul Kwon, the Bay Area winner of Survivor Cook Islands). There are a lot of neon colored chairs facing the windows (and they are almost always taken) and a few tables along the walls. Red Mango frozen yogurt comes in two flavors: original and green tea. I hear they are testing out a new pomegranate flavor as well, although I haven't tasted that one yet. You can choose from tons of toppings--fresh fruit like peaches, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, mango (of course!), banana, blackberries, and so on, as well as loads of cereals and more traditional ice cream toppings like chocolate chips. An original flavored small size with no toppings is 4oz, 90 calories, and only $2.95.

Here's a link to Red Mango-Palo Alto's fan page on facebook. The page includes event updates, store hours, and promotion details. 

You really can't get much better than that.

Happy eating! 

It's a Wonderful Life in Palo Alto, California

Every year on Christmas Eve, Stanford Theatre on University Ave. in Palo Alto shows Frank Capra's classic film It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. For the last 21 years, this special showing has been a Christmas tradition, and every year it sells out. It is THE place to be on Christmas Eve in this wonderful little city.

The theater is gorgeous, built in the 40's and renovated in the mid 80's by Dave Packard, or Little Dave as he is known around here. His father, Big Dave, was one of the founders of Hewlett Packard, who famously started Silicon Valley in a garage on Addison St. Before the show begins, a huge Wurlitzer organ rises from under the stage and plays Christmas music. Then Dave comes onstage to talk about the theatre and the film. Last night he talked about how the film was originally released in May or June (I can't remember!), instead of Christmas. Little Dave passionately believes movies need to be seen in a theatre, with other people, and on the right day. He is certainly correct about It's a Wonderful Life. I think it is this belief that keeps Dave from showing any movie made after 1960 at Stanford Theater.

The magnificent red velvet curtain goes up and the movie begins. The audience is as much a part of the evening as the characters onscreen. Old friends see each other yearly here--I saw Caroline Spangler, who I hadn't seen since last Christmas Eve. Our kids grew up together, but now that they're adults we don't see each other much. Caroline's children Nick and Starr just won the TV show The Amazing Race and I hadn't congratulated her yet--but I figured I'd see her at the movie, so I didn't feel too guilty. My kids saw friends from elementary and high school and got caught up in person, instead of just on Facebook. My sister just moved here from Bethesda and was introduced for the first time to a piece of Palo Alto social and cultural life. She was impressed!

During the movie the audience claps, boos at the bad guys, and is totally transported to Bedford Falls. My favorite part is when the names of two of the characters, best friends Bert and Ernie, are finally said together. The newbies in the audience get a huge laugh out of this, when they realize for the first time where Jim Henson came up with his Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street. 

So if you are anywhere near Palo Alto next Christmas Eve, be sure to catch this heartwarming film in the ideal setting. Tickets usually sell out three or four days ahead of time, and can't be bought online. However, the line forms to get a seat a few hours before the show, and there are always people there giving away extra tickets. They rarely sell the extras, and no one scalps. It really is a wonderful life in Palo Alto.