Last night I got to sample bites and drinks from Peninsula businesses like Jettywave Distillery, Wildflour and Birdie’s at Stanford Golf as part of the Bash at the Basement, a Yelp event at Sports Basement in Redwood City benefiting our company, Embarcadero Media Foundation. Other local businesses were there with samples of their products and goodies for attendees, and The Six Fifty was on hand with our prize wheel and some swag. The event was a nice reminder of the diversity of our community and the backstories of the Peninsula’s businesses.
We’ve got profiles of three San Mateo County businesses as part of today’s newsletter. Cool Your Jets is a Pacifica design studio that makes vibrant home furnishings like eye-catching lighting options and bookends in the shape of hands, which Cool Your Jets founder Danyel LaTour calls book hugs. Mason and Mason Handmade was started by South San Francisco resident and Stanford Graduate School of Business associate director of strategy and curricular support Jennifer Mason, who makes colorful bars of soap along with candles, lip balm, body lotion and scrubs. And San Mateo-based Zero Acre Farms makes cooking oil out of fermented sugar cane for home chefs and restaurants.
Shopping locally,
Julia Brown
Six Fifty Editor
editor@thesixfifty.com
Inside a San Mateo County business turning bars of soap into works of art
When she’s not at her day job as associate director of strategy and curricular support for Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, Jennifer Mason runs her own business creating candles and skin care products from her South San Francisco home.
Hands-on artwork: Pacifica’s Cool Your Jets studio offers vibrant designs for homes and other spaces
Pacifica’s Cool Your Jets design studio creates playful bookends, eye-catching lighting options and more. The brand is the brainchild of Danyel LaTour, who’s long been very interested in the elements of home design and decor.
San Mateo’s Zero Acre Farms offers restaurants and home chefs an all-purpose cooking oil made from fermented sugar cane
Zero Acre Farms, headquartered in San Mateo, is on a mission to “give the world an oil change.” The company aims to help restaurants and home cooks replace conventional cooking oils with what CEO and co-founder Jeff Nobbs says is a more healthful and environmentally sustainable choice: oil made from fermented sugar cane.
Congrats to Stephanie L., who was the first reader to correctly identify where last week’s photo was taken (it’s Rinconada Library in Palo Alto!).
The first person to reply to this email with the correct place where the below photo was taken will win a prize from The Six Fifty and a shoutout in our next newsletter!
In case you missed it, check out our guide to Easter festivities here.
Writing Fragments Home: April 17-May 4 Catch the world premiere of “Writing Fragments Home,” a new play about a Filipino artist who must reckon with his family, heritage and past to overcome writer’s block, written by local theater regular Jeffrey Lo.
Legally Blonde: April 17-19 “Legally Blonde” novelist Amanda Brown was inspired by her time at Stanford Law School. Brown and musical writer Heather Hach will be at Stanford to catch the university’s production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” and will do a Q&A after the final performance.
Magical Bridge Anniversary Celebration: April 19 Magical Bridge Playground marks the 10-year anniversary since the opening of its Palo Alto site with music from Andy Z, Toni’s Magical Piano and World Harmony Chorus, plus magic with Robert Strong and a teen lantern night event celebrating neurodiversity.
10th Annual 420 Mini-Reggae Festival: April 19 Old Princeton Landing hosts its annual reggae celebration, featuring Coasttribe, Tight Squeeze, Riseup and OG The DJ.
Love Our Earth Festival: April 26 This annual event brings together environmental experts, community members and local organizations for a festival all about celebrating sustainability and environmental responsibility, featuring plant-based food, hands-on activities, live entertainment and more.
Independent Bookstore Day: April 26 Support your favorite local, independent bookstores at this annual celebration. Participating stores include Linden Tree Books in Los Altos, Leigh’s Favorite Books in Sunnyvale, Books Inc. in Campbell, Mountain View and Palo Alto, Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, Fireside Books and More in Redwood City, Peninsula Book Collaborative in Daly City, Compass Books at SFO and Gigglemugs in Burlingame.
Plant Exchange: April 26 Got too many plants? Want to adopt some new ones? Mountain View Library hosts a spring plant exchange for folks to pick up new plants and/or donate some extras from their homes and gardens.
The Flying Karamazov Brothers: April 26 Catch the long-running juggling and comedy act, which has been featured everywhere from Broadway to “Seinfeld” and “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” at its performance in Palo Alto.
Pacific Coast Dream Machines: April 27 Half Moon Bay’s Festival of Magnificent Machines features car shows, air shows, motorcycle shows, tractor shows, music, food and more.
Plan Ahead
Halfway to Halloween Party: May 2 Out of the Barrel taproom in San Carlos will host a costume contest for attendees and their canine companions, candy, beer slushies and games.
Naturalist Walk at Ravenswood Preserve: May 3 Learn about native plants, habitat restoration and sea level rise and look for wildlife on a guided 2.2-mile walk along a mostly paved trail.
May Day Music & Art Festival at Pie Ranch: May 3-4 Celebrate the start of May at this annual Coastside festival featuring two stages of live music from local artists, food and drink vendors, art and (optional) camping.
Plant Sale & Craft Fair: May 4 The San Mateo Garden Center hosts a day of family activities, plants and crafts for sale, live music, raffles and more.
Living Electric Fair: May 4 Downtown Los Altos hosts a day dedicated to sharing the benefits of going electric and choosing sustainable options, featuring educational booths, hands-on activities, live musical entertainment and story time.
Coastal Wildflower Day: May 4 Live music, crafts, kids’ activities, nature walks, a food truck and a raffle are all part of the celebrations at this festival celebrating the diverse ecosystems and community volunteer efforts of the Coastside.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2025: May 17 This annual free event features screening of environmental films, plus food, community booths, live music and live raptors. The films are also available virtually.
Kitten Nursery Shower: May 18 Interact with kittens, watch volunteers syringe-feed the itty-bittiest of kitties, learn about volunteering and more at the Peninsula Humane Society’s special event. A wish list of suggested “shower” gifts to donate is available.
Half Moon Bay artist Hannah Anderson takes inspiration from the Coastside’s landscape in colorful stained-glass pieces
A former outdoor educator and emerging artist grant recipient, Anderson is an advocate for art in schools and the flourishing Coastside creative community.
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Prosecutors allege Mountain View massage parlors were part of regional brothel networkMarch 31, 2026 3:10 pm
