Mountain View planning commission backs 8-story apartment building
Plans for an eight-story apartment building are taking shape in the East Whisman area of Mountain View, a part of the city that is better known for office buildings and surface parking lots than high-density housing.
More Local news
Vargas Elementary in Mountain View sees mid-year principal change
Acantha Aragon Contreras has resigned from her role as Vargas Elementary School’s principal, effective Jan. 20, with Director of Student Services Swati Dagar slated to fill in on an interim basis.
Santa Clara County buys site of future health clinic
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted last week to purchase a property in San Jose where the county’s new 10-story Valley Health Center campus is set to open this year.
Santa Clara County prioritizes children amid budget issues
Santa Clara County is working to provide safety net programs to children and their families despite budget issues stemming from federal funding cuts.
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Food
From mix-and-match sushi roll slices to takeaway omakase boxes, these new Peninsula businesses are redefining what a Japanese restaurant looks like
Kazu Sushi & Sando in San Mateo specializes in milk bread sandos and affordable omakase, all to go. Buri Buri Burlingame — originally a food truck specializing in eponymous donburi rice bowls — is adapting its approach with its first brick-and-mortar location, specializing in single servings of sushi rolls and bento boxes.
Ownership change brings new flavors to this 70-year-old Palo Alto ice cream institution
A 70-year-old Palo Alto ice cream institution is getting some fresh flavors. Rick’s Ice Cream, a beloved community ice cream shop along Middlefield Road, recently transferred ownership to the duo behind Pints of Joy.
New late-night Yemeni coffee shop takes root in Silicon Valley
The matcha craze may have met its caffeinated match with the increased presence of Yemeni coffee in Silicon Valley.
Arts & Culture
Ring in the Year of the Horse 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.
Longstanding band builds a musical fellowship in Menlo Park
Traditional jazz band Cafe Borrone All-Stars celebrates its 35th anniversary on Jan. 23.
Review: Theology meets thriller in Palo Alto Players’ ‘The Da Vinci Code’
“The Da Vinci Code” as a play? Those who know Dan Brown’s novel recall a detective thriller that features an extremely complex debate. In the end, it’s much like Orville and Wilbur’s flight. It’s hell getting that thing up in…
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
Margaret Abe-Koga reflects on first year as Santa Clara County supervisor
It has been an eventful first year on the job for Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga. Since joining the board last January, Abe-Koga has had to tackle a massive budget deficit, exacerbated by $1 billion in lost revenue that…
Mountain View Whisman releases school budget cut proposals
The highly anticipated list of budget cuts that Mountain View Whisman administrators plan to recommend to the school board is now public, with proposed reductions ranging from ending the district’s subsidized preschool program to halving the number of evening custodians.
Real Estate
Atherton spec home fetches $45.5M
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.
Bay Area housing outlook: Sales, prices seen rising in 2026
Powered by one of the strongest regional economies in the country, the Bay Area housing market is poised for a sales rebound in 2026 as interest rates decline, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors.
Why the Peninsula’s winter sunshine isn’t always good for your trees
When people think about winter tree damage, they often picture heavy winds or rain. On the Peninsula, the wnter sun can also pose a threat — usually a more subtle one. Bright winter sunshine followed by cold nights can stress…
The Six Fifty
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…
Read all about it: Silicon Valley is home to a plethora of book clubs for all kinds of readers
For bibliophiles interested in sharing their enthusiasm for reading with others, book clubs can be a great way of creating community and diving deep into the written word in a friendly, yet organized, way.
From the coast’s tide pools to the Peninsula’s marshlands, king tides reveal how wildlife adapt to extreme conditions
King tides exhibit what sea level rise and the threats it poses may look like in the future. But, along with the low tides, they also expose how coastal and estuarine species adapt to extreme changes in their environment.
