The late August drumbeat of “Summer’s almost over!” is unavoidable nowadays, but the warm night air and a bustling events calendar suggest otherwise. In the Bay Area, second summer is nearly upon us, that time of year when the coast is (often) clear and the rainy season still seems a long ways off.
One of my favorite ways to spend a late summer day is by attending a festival and taking in all the sights and sounds from the food, music and artisan vendors. Karla Kane spoke to organizers behind three upcoming cultural festivals to preview their culinary offerings; the first is the Bay Area Lebanese Festival in downtown Redwood City this weekend.
And speaking of downtown Redwood City, our latest neighborhood guide features the city’s busiest corridor with its historic sites, diverse bites and array of entertainment and shopping opportunities. Read Stephanie Lam’s roundup for a curated visit to the heart of San Mateo County.
Makin’ my way downtown,
Julia Brown
Six Fifty Editor
editor@thesixfifty.com
Downtown discoveries: Where to eat, shop and explore in Redwood City’s busiest corridor
Located right off of El Camino Real, the downtown area of Redwood City is a hot spot for quaint eateries, stores and historical landmarks.
Here’s what’s cooking at 3 upcoming cultural festivals on the Peninsula
The Peninsula loves a good celebration, and in the coming weeks, the area is host to several cultural festivals including the Bay Area Lebanese Festival Aug. 23, the Belmont Greek Festival Aug. 30-31 and Festa Italiana Sept. 14 – and that’s not even including local Oktoberfest events!
Finding the right path: Meet the master builder who designs backyard labyrinths on the Peninsula
Lars Howlett is a master labyrinth builder and designer who has created more than 80 labyrinths of all sizes and styles in public spaces and private backyards along the Peninsula. For those looking to add one to their landscape, here’s what you need to know.
Congrats to Greg G., who was the first reader to correctly identify where last week’s photo was taken (it’s the Youth Mural Alley Project in Redwood City!).
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!
Find more summer events in our August guide to things to do around Silicon Valley.
Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy: Aug. 22-23 Hear four chilling tales by Poe while sipping craft cocktails inspired by his work at this touring “speakeasy” pop-up that’s making a stop in San Mateo.
Mini Cat Town Grand Opening: Aug. 23 Find adorable, adoptable kittens at the grand opening of the new location of Mini Cat Town on California Avenue in Palo Alto.
Bay Area Lebanese Festival: Aug. 23 The annual celebration of Lebanese culture returns to downtown Redwood City with food, entertainment, vendors and more.
Dog Days of Summer Maker Market: Aug. 23 Find treasures from local artisans and small businesses, refreshments and live music at Little Green’s August maker market.
Winnie M. Li: Aug. 23 Author and activist Winnie M. Li comes to Books Inc. Palo Alto to celebrate her new novel “What We Left Unsaid.”
Shakespeare in the Park: Weekends through Aug. 24 San Francisco Shakespeare Festival brings its free Shakespeare in the Park production of the romantic comedy “Two Gentlemen of Verona” to Redwood City for three August weekends of open-air theater.
Kings Mountain Art Fair: Aug. 30-Sept. 1 The Labor Day weekend favorite features arts, crafts, activities and treats under the redwoods, with all proceeds going to the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade and elementary school.
OceanCiders Anniversary: Aug. 30 The outdoor cider bar by the sea celebrates its second anniversary with all-day music, cider and bites from Alebrijes Oaxacan Kitchen.
Belmont Greek Festival: Aug. 30-31 Enjoy Greek food and beverages, live music, dancing and craft boutiques at the 53rd annual festival over Labor Day weekend.
Springline Pickleball Club: Through Aug. 31 Springline in Menlo Park is hosting a pop-up pickleball club for the month of August that’s open to the public.
Foster City Boat Tour: Aug. 31 The Foster City Historical Society presents a tour exploring Foster City history via boat on one of the city’s iconic lagoons.
Plan Ahead:
Everclear: Sept. 5 Alt-rock band Everclear makes a tour stop at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park.
Pub in the Park: Sept. 6 This year’s final Pub in the Park event features music by bluegrass band Savannah Blu along with lawn games, local brews and food trucks.
America’s Presidents: All Too Human: Sept. 6 Author Gerald Henig offers little-known and interesting stories about U.S. presidents.
Vultures: Nature’s Unsung Heroes: Sept. 6 Celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day at La Honda Creek Preserve with a leisurely walk and naturalist program about the important role vultures play in the ecosystem.
Wendelin Van Draanen: Sept. 12 Author Wendelin Van Draanen comes to Fireside Books to discuss and sign her new YA thriller.
Science Friday Live: Sept. 18 KQED’s “Science Friday” radio show comes to Redwood City for a live event featuring science demonstrations, audience Q&A and interactive moments.
Kepler’s 70th Birthday Block Party: Sept. 20 Celebrate 70 years of the beloved local bookshop and literary hot spot with live music, food vendors, activities for kids, a raffle and, of course, cake.
Around The World Night: Sept. 26 Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company wraps up its Summer Nights series with an evening of international street food, global music and a marketplace of artisan goods.
The best hidden museums of the 650
From trains and planes to artwork and artifacts, explore the Peninsula’s past and present
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
