The 12 best views on the SF Peninsula and how to see them

Boronda Lake at Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto is a pristine part of the park for picnicking, boating or taking in the view. (Photo by Veronica Weber) Many people, from tourists to tech workers, decide to visit or live in the Bay Area in large part for its scenic nature. From the Golden Gate Bridge to the redwoods and the coastline, the region is home to sweeping ocean and Bay ...

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Palo Alto’s kiddie zoo just reopened! Here are 8 animals that zookeepers think you shouldn’t miss on your first visit back.

After two years and $33 million, the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is twice the size, with 50 species and a two-story treehouse. (Photo courtesy Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo) When the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo outgrew its clunky 1940s architecture (including concrete bathtub-shaped exhibits), the beloved family staple closed to undergo a two-year makeover. Now it’s back at nearly double the size with a Loose-in-the-Zoo theme that ...

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Welcome to Wunderbar: Peek inside the underground cocktail bar inspired by Grimm’s fairy tales

Wunderbar opens at Wursthall in San Mateo The Wunderbar may have a private entrance and require reservations, but it's not a speakeasy, says general manager Xian Choy. It's a cozier, more relaxed space. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Amberg) At Wunderbar, descend underground to feel like you're entering a different world. Take a seat in a black-lit nook or cozy banquette, and sip on a storied cocktail. The intimate cocktail bar, located in ...

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From Illinois farm town to Bay Area Michelin restaurants: Chez TJ pastry chef Cheyenne Meyer makes edible art

A dessert with an apple basil gin soup that took inspiration from a cocktail and mignardises, all created by pastry chef Cheyenne Meyer at Chez TJ in Mountain View. (Photo courtesy of Juan Placencia of Mugenphotos) "I don't even have a sweet tooth," says pastry chef Cheyenne Meyer. "Actually I prefer savory food to eat. I just love working with desserts."  Meyer may not have a sweet tooth, but she certainly has ...

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Chef Martin Yan talks wok hei and noodles for longevity in a climate crisis

Yan joins Bay Area food movers and shakers for Acterra Holiday reFresh event Acclaimed chef, culinary consultant and TV personality Martin Yan of San Mateo is one of the featured Bay Area food movers and shakers participating in Acterra's Holiday reFresh program, demoing favorite plant-based dishes. (Photo courtesy of Yan Can Cook) I'm waiting on a feature-length biopic movie of legendary chef Martin Yan (filmmaker friends, take note!), but until that gets ...

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“How the Other Half Eats”: Sociologist Priya Fielding-Singh on food and inequality in America

Priya Fielding-Singh is the author of "How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America." The book is based on her research with 75 Bay Area families during her doctoral studies at Stanford University. (Photo courtesy of Vero Kherian) "How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America" is one of the books I've been waiting for.  Sociologist and author Priya Fielding-Singh ...

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