Running behind? Out of ideas? Peninsula artists and artisans have a lot to offer. By Laura Ness The third week in December can have the holiday clock looming over you like sugar plum fairies with a disapproving gaze. Yes, it is crunch time for gift buying this holiday season, but fear not, we have compiled an eclectic guide to last-minute presents, which will not only meet the difficult standards of your mother-in-law, but support ...
Read MoreSilicon Valley wineries offer up some fantastic finishes to your feast By Carol Maskus Merry and bright: we found six local dessert wines to keep your holidays festive. (Photo by Charles Russo) Chocolate torte, Buche de Noel, rugelach, sweet potato pie: a big part of holiday feasting is the dessert. And while we often go all out for dessert over the holidays, we typically neglect to properly pair our sweets with appropriate drinks. This can leave ...
Read MoreSeasonal celebrations for the centennial of a Peninsula landmark By Laura Ness The meticulously manicured gardens of the Filoli Estate. (Image courtesy of Gretchine Nievarez/Filoli) This year marks the 100th anniversary for the Filoli Estate, the beloved local landmark in Woodside. While many of the official centennial celebrations have already been held and chronicled, the holiday season provides a unique opportunity to pay a visit and toast the existence and persistence of this historic ...
Read MoreThe titans of tech talk around the turkey. Let’s hope they don’t consume all the privacy. Illustration by Kaz Palladino Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon all sit together at Thanksgiving dinner. Per annual tradition, they traveled away from Silicon Valley and rented out a cozy Airbnb near a quaint and air-conditioned server farm. INTERIOR: DINING ROOM (APPLE walks in, carrying a giant turkey) APPLE: Dinner’s ready! AMAZON: That looks amazing! (FACEBOOK snaps a photo and updates its status) FACEBOOK: Mind if I tag you guys? (They ignore ...
Read MoreWe asked local butchers and farmers to weigh in on the best bird for your buck By Elena Kadvany Turkeys on the move in full fanned-out glory. (Photo via Flickr) Matthew Prentice, head butcher at Belcampo Meat Co. in Palo Alto, grew up eating Butterball turkeys for Thanksgiving. The widely available birds are injected with what the company calls a “pre-brine” and are raised on factory farms. This was all he knew, he said, “until I became a ...
Read MoreThe deceased greatly outnumber the living in the Necropolis of Colma By Charles Russo The huge sprawling graveyard of Cypress Lawn Cemetery. (Photo by Charles Russo) The ravens wanted me out of the graveyard. Indignant to my presence, they protested with shrill shouts and sharp squawks, fluttering about in agitation from headstone to tree limb. The cemetery was massive, and I struggled to find my destination. Passing by a pair of weathered old tombs, I tried to assess ...
Read MoreWhat happens when you go to Redwood City’s scariest Halloween houses to give THEM candy? You make some very interesting new friends… Stay off my lawn! Scary skeletors menace one and all on this Redwood City street. (Photo by Justin Smith) Traipsing down the dark cul-de-sac, I hear a frictious screech that resembles a haunted version of my favorite childhood playground structure. Sure enough, drawing near, I see a nightmarish seesaw with demented, bloody riders ...
Read MoreEvery Independence Day brings innumerable prospects for capturing that artsy Insta posts — and many Peninsula netizens haven’t failed to deliver. We scoured Instagram, sifting through countless long-exposure firework shots, pics of flags flapping in the wind, and endearing family iPhone snaps. Redwood City’s parade was a clear favorite destination, as was Palo Alto’s Chili Cook-Off and Shoreline’s annual SF Symphony performance. Here are some of our favorite shots from various festivities. No ...
Read MoreFive reasons to spend Memorial Day weekend at SF Peninsula wineries Photo by Constanza Brunner Halpern Still looking for that perfect way to combine outdoors, food, drink and family for the holiday weekend? Thankfully the Peninsula and the Santa Cruz mountains are stocked with excellent wineries that boast awesome views, top chefs and ambience galore. And they’re all right here. All-you-can-eat-and-drink BBQ at Domenico’s (San Carlos) Celebrate Domenico’s 16th annual Memorial Day with a roast pig and ...
Read MoreKiller deals, one-of-a-kind brews, and garlic cheese fries that’ll make you be like — whoa. Photo by @irenesearlesphotography Start playing some Dropkick Murphy’s and make sure that green shirt is clean, for St. Patrick’s Day is upon us. We scoured the 650 to find you THE places to be on this festive occasion (that just so happens to fall on a Friday!). Get those drinking shoes on and cozy up to the 650’s ultimate St. ...
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