The Six Fifty will be taking the next couple of weeks off, returning Jan. 8. Happy holidays!
This is our final newsletter of 2025, so we’re doing our best to make it feel like the email embodiment of a sparkler lighting up the cold New Year’s Eve night. That’s the goal every Thursday, really — to be a bright spot in your inbox and to shed light on the creatures, places and subcultures that make up Silicon Valley.
Some Thursdays are better than others, but my spirits are brightened when I’m reminded that what we’re doing here does make a difference. Just this afternoon I received a thank you email from a nonprofit whose event we’d recently featured in the tip sheet, saying it was well-attended and “quite a few folks” who went said they’d learned about it from The Six Fifty.
It’s heartening to know that people are out there building community and learning something new because of this newsletter, and I can’t thank you all enough for subscribing and reading our work.
And to all a good night,
Julia Brown
Six Fifty Editor
editor@thesixfifty.com
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.
Our picks to ring in 2026: New Year’s Eve parties, performances and deluxe dinners around Silicon Valley
Don’t wait until the eleventh hour: Get your plans in order with our guide to New Year’s Eve happenings.
‘Everything you need and nothing you don’t’: Here’s why many new Peninsula restaurants are going minimalist
A string of new eateries have opened on the Peninsula boasting minimalist-inspired design in addition to compelling cuisine.
Congrats to Drew F., who was the first reader to correctly identify where last week’s photo was taken (it’s the South San Francisco Public Library!). Trivia will return Jan. 8.
Devil’s Canyon Holiday Market: Dec. 19 Find wares by 20 local artisans for sale alongside Devil Canyon’s weekly Beer Friday event, featuring food trucks, live music and craft beer.
Harpers Hall Ensemble: Dec. 19 Hear an ensemble of Celtic harps playing Christmas music, with proceeds supporting Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair: Through Dec. 21 The Cow Palace transforms into a Victorian England winter wonderland of entertainment, shops, foods and, of course, Dickensian characters.
It’s A Wonderful Life: Dec. 24 The Stanford Theatre’s holiday screenings of the classic film are a Peninsula tradition.
Cinderella: Through Dec. 28 Hillbarn Theatre presents Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical take on the classic fairy tale about the power of kindness, courage, dreams and a fairy godmother.
Beach Break Film Festival: Dec. 28-30 Half Moon Bay hosts the fourth annual Beach Break Film Festival, including a slate of advocacy-focused documentaries.
Noon Year’s Storytime: Dec. 31 Kids can celebrate the New Year with a storytime party featuring songs, crafts and Paddington Bear.
NYE with Eric Schwartz: Dec. 31 Roosters Comedy Club hosts two New Year’s Eve comedy shows with Eric Schwartz and a complimentary champagne toast.
Plan Ahead:
BayLUG LEGO Holiday Show: Through Jan. 10 Palo Alto’s annual LEGO show this year has the theme of “Great American Road Trip.”
Guided Walk at Gray Whale Cove: Jan. 10 Docents lead a two-hour walk along Gray Whale Cove Trail, including evidence of the remnants of the Ocean Shore Railroad and WWII-era bunkers, plus views of the ocean, coastal plants and birds.
A Twelfth Night Feast: Jan. 10 Renaissance reenactment group The Guilde of Sainte Marie presents an evening of feasting, dancing, music and intrigue set in Tudor times.
Sgt. Pepper’s Laser Light Show: Jan. 10 Catch beloved songs by the Beatles set to a laser light show at the planetarium, featuring the iconic concept album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.”
San Mateo on Ice: Through Jan. 11 Central Park transforms into an ice skating rink for the holiday season, with sessions available during the day and under the stars.
Club Fox Blues Jam’s 20th Anniversary Concert: Jan. 16 The Club Fox Blues Jam is celebrating two decades of jamming with a special concert featuring The Daniel Castro Band, The Chris Cain Band, The Greaseland All-Stars and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra, concluding with a big jam session, naturally.
Fun with Fungus: Jan. 17 and Feb. 7 Hidden Villa leads introductory workshops on local fungus. Taking both sessions is recommended but not required; classes can be taken independently.
Peninsula Symphony with Joyce Yang: Jan. 17-18 The Peninsula Symphony is joined by Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang at a concert including Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 plus three orchestral interpretations of “Romeo and Juliet.”
Brian Barth: Jan. 19 Kepler’s Books hosts investigative journalist Brian Barth to discuss his book “Front Street: Resistance and Rebirth in the Tent Cities of Techlandia,” an immersive look into Silicon Valley’s homeless encampments.
Patches and Pockets: Jan. 22 At this workshop, upcycle scrap fabric and learn to make a cozy quilt block to use as a patch or clothing decoration.
Pokey LaFarge: Jan. 31 Country, jazz and blues musician Pokey LaFarge is embarking on a solo tour and making a stop in Menlo Park, with Julian Davis opening the show.
A white Christmas in the Bay Area? These snowy historical pics prove it to be possible
From Stanford to San Bruno, snowy scenes from the Peninsula’s past
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*
Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*
You can update your preferences and manage your groups, or if you really never want to hear from us again, including other emails from us you may have signed up for, you can totally unsubscribe from this list.
View this email in your browser
