Good morning neighbors!

Welcome to this week’s Palo Alto Scoop! This week we’re celebrating a hometown girls’ soccer squad that clinched a national title and spotlighting some of the 2025’s Best of Palo Alto Awards. From best bagels to best bike shop, we highlight a few local winners to check out!

We also have a packed weekend calendar with outdoor movies, live concerts, art fairs, and other family fun. Let’s dive in! 👇

⚽️ Local Soccer Team Wins National Championship

Congratulations to the 2009 Mountain View‑Los Altos (MVLA) Girl’s soccer team, who won the ENCL National Championship in Virginia last week. The team stunned top-tier rivals with narrow wins over Utah Royals and Penn Fusion, before beating Kansas City Athletics 3‑1 in the final.

The emotional win capped off years of hard work, and for Coach Esteban Sosa, it was a deeply satisfying redemption after losing a previous final with a previous squad. Their ritual of wearing hair buns for luck added a fun superstitious twist to a story defined by grit, belief, and cohesion. Read more here

🏫 Stanford Announces Layoffs Amid Budget Concerns

Stanford announced a $140 million general‑fund cut for the 2025–26 academic year, driven by slashed federal research funding and a bumped-up endowment tax. As a result, they will lay off 363 staff across roles from research to admin and student services.

The university emphasized preserving core priorities like undergraduate aid and PhD funding, while continuing a staff hiring freeze and planning slower faculty recruitment. This move reflects increasing financial pressure on higher‑ed institutions amid evolving federal policy. Read more here

🎬 Movie on the Square: Beetlejuice | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 8/7 | More
Enjoy an outdoor screening of Beetlejuice in the heart of downtown.

📖 Japanese Folktales with Megumi | Menlo Park Library | Menlo Park | 8/7 | More
Storytelling event with traditional Japanese tales for families and kids.

🎶 Music on the Square | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 8/8 | More
Free live music in downtown with food, drinks, and dancing.

🎥 Summer Movie Night: Pirates of the Caribbean | Springline Plaza | Menlo Park | 8/8 | More
Outdoor movie screening under the stars with family and friends.

🎶 Stanford Summer Chorus | Stanford University | Stanford | 8/8 | More
Enjoy a performance by Stanford’s community chorus in a summer showcase.

🦸‍♂️ Family Fun Day: Superheroes | Los Altos Community Center | Los Altos | 8/9 | More
Dress up and enjoy themed games, crafts, and activities for families.

🖼️ Fine Art in the Park | Lincoln Park | Los Altos | 8/9-10 | More
Outdoor art fair featuring local artists, food, and live music.

🎸 Kids Rock! | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 8/9 | More
Live music specifically for kids – high energy and fun!

🏊 Open Swim at Palo Alto Elks | Elks Lodge | Palo Alto | 8/9 | More
Free swim day for families considering Elks membership.

🎭 Shakespeare in the Park: The Two Gentlemen of Verona | Red Morton Park | Redwood City | 8/9-10 | More
Free outdoor theater performance of a classic Shakespeare play. Running now through Aug 24.

🫖 The Chai Lab Pop-Up | Books Inc | Palo Alto | 8/9 | More
Indulge in aromatic chai at this pop-up experience at Books Inc.

🚲 Bicycle Repair Event | Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange | Palo Alto | 8/9 | More
Free bike tune-ups and repair help – perfect for riders of all ages.

🌸 Second Saturdays at Gamble Garden | Gamble Garden | Palo Alto | 8/9 | More
Family-friendly event with crafts, garden tours, and plant education.

🚘 Cars and Coffee Peninsula | Breakers Cafe | Palo Alto | 8/10 | More
Admire vintage and exotic cars over coffee with fellow enthusiasts.

🌽 East Palo Alto Community Farmers' Market | Bloomhouse | East Palo Alto | 8/13 | More
Fresh produce, prepared foods, and local vendors in a vibrant community market.