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- 🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookie Festival, Los Altos Library Renovations, and Rent Control in Redwood City
🍪 Chocolate Chip Cookie Festival, Los Altos Library Renovations, and Rent Control in Redwood City
Chocolate Chip Cookie Festival, Los Altos Library Renovations, and Rent Control in Redwood City, plus tons of fun events throughout the week
Greg Kemper
August 20, 2026
In partnership with
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week's Palo Alto Scoop! This week, we have details on Menlo Park’s new AI chat bot, the Los Altos Library renovations, and rent control in Redwood City. We also have a fun lineup of events this week, including wine fair, Festival of the Arts, car show, Shakespeare in the Park, a chocolate chip cookie festival, and more!
Let's get to it!
In this week’s edition:
Local Updates: Menlo Park city services chat bot, Los Altos library renovations, and a public safety dashboard
Business Updates: Trader Joes in Palo Alto closed
Events: Wine Fair, Festival of the Arts, car show, Shakespeare in the Park, and a chocolate chip cookie festival
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Redwood City launches a new public safety data dashboard
The city rolled out an overhauled dashboard in June that lets residents dig into police and fire department data from 2023 through today, broken down by neighborhood and incident type. So far in 2026 there have been more than 36,700 police incidents and about 720 arrests, with traffic and parking issues the most common category. Redwood City Police Chief Kristina Bell says the goal is more transparency, and the data will be refreshed quarterly, so curious residents can look up what's happening in their own neighborhood. Read more here.
Redwood City Council formally opposes the November rent control ballot measure
Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos and other officials signed the official "argument in opposition" to a rent control and tenant protection measure that qualified for the ballot after more than 7,000 resident signatures. The measure would add rent stabilization, just-cause eviction rules, and higher relocation payouts (up to four times fair market rent, or $12,000) beyond the city's existing Tenant Protection Ordinance. Opponents point to a city analysis estimating it could cost up to $11 million a year and require 18 new staff; supporters, including labor unions and tenant advocates, say it would keep rent hikes predictable and prevent displacement. Redwood City voters will decide the fate of the measure — the only local item on November's ballot — so expect to hear a lot more about it in the coming months. Read more here.
Los Altos Main Library to close for up to 18 months for renovation
The Los Altos Library Commission met August 6 to map out how the city will keep services running during a roughly $9 million interior overhaul of the Main Library, located in downtown Los Altos and unchanged since 1990. Staff are recommending a hybrid plan that leans on existing city infrastructure: expanding hours at the Woodland Branch in South Los Altos, shifting youth and senior programming to the nearby Los Altos Community Center, and adding a 24/7 automated holds locker. North Los Altos residents who rely on the Main Library will feel the biggest impact, and the city plans to launch a major public outreach campaign starting in late fall 2026 to help residents find their new go-to spots. The renovation and closure aren't expected to begin until 2027, with a phased communication and transition plan running into 2028. Read more here.
Menlo Park rolls out an AI chatbot named "Laurel" for city services
Menlo Park launched the chatbot, powered by a company called Citibot, on its website in early August to help residents get around-the-clock answers about city services, events and resources — it even supports more than 70 languages. The city is paying roughly $18,500 a year for the tool, following positive experiences from neighboring cities like Palo Alto and Burlingame. Early testing found mixed results, though: Laurel gave some correct answers but also made mistakes, including wrong info about city office hours, an incorrect claim that November election voting was already open, and even a fabricated name and wrong contact info for a city councilmember. Residents using Laurel should double check anything important with the city directly for now. Read more here.
Fire shuts down Palo Alto Trader Joe's
The Trader Joe's at Town and Country Village in Palo Alto is closed after a fire broke out overnight in the frozen food section. A police officer reported the blaze around 2:53 a.m. on August 19, and firefighters were on scene within five minutes with three engines and two trucks. Fire officials say the fire was contained and extinguished quickly, though the cause is still under investigation. County health inspectors were on site as employees cleared out spoiled food, so shoppers should expect the store to be closed for a while as cleanup continues. Read more here.
New Korean restaurant, Gangsan, is replacing Dasbierhauz in Redwood City
After two years on Middlefield Road, German beer garden Dasbierhauz closed for good on June 30, with its owner citing a business partnership that didn't work out (the original Dasbierhauz location in Mountain View remains open). Taking its place at 830 Middlefield Road is Gangsan Korean Cuisine, a debut concept serving contemporary Korean comfort food like galbijjim (braised short ribs), seolleongtang (ox bone soup), kalguksu noodles and sizzling bibimbap. It's part of a broader food-scene shift in downtown Redwood City, which has been adding more Korean and Mediterranean spots to its restaurant lineup. Read more here.
Tamarine in Palo Alto
Tamarine is a Palo Alto restaurant specializing in modern Vietnamese cuisine with globally influenced touches. The menu includes Vietnamese staples and contemporary preparations such as Shaking Beef, Lemongrass Sea Bass, Tiger Prawns with Garlic Noodles, Clay Pot Cod and Beef Pho. The Shaking Beef features cubed filet mignon cooked with soy, garlic and onions, while the Lemongrass Sea Bass is served with a chilled mango-cilantro glass noodle salad. Other offerings include banh mi roti, vegan avocado rolls and a variety of seafood, noodle and rice dishes. Tamarine also offers lunch, dinner and a daily bar happy hour, with private dining and catering available.
Corner Table in Redwood City
Corner Table is an all-day café and restaurant in Woodside Plaza that combines American comfort food with Korean influences. The menu includes dishes such as bulgogi bibimbap, Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki, kimchi fried rice and Korean-inspired burgers alongside more traditional American brunch items and sandwiches. Croffles — including versions paired with chicken or sweet toppings — are another notable part of the menu, while drinks include coffee, specialty lattes, boba and options such as ube and Thai milk tea. The restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Its menu reflects a mix of familiar American café fare and Korean flavors rather than focusing exclusively on one style of cuisine.
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🎬 Movie on the Square: Independent films & F1 | Redwood City | Courthouse Square | 8/20 | more
Bring the whole family for a free double-feature movie night under the stars at Courthouse Square.
🎸 Rock the Dock: SONA | Redwood City | 459 Seaport Court | 8/22 | more
Kick off the weekend with SONA bringing classic rock hits to the waterfront in this free outdoor concert series.
🎭 Shakespeare Staged Reading | Woodside | Filoli | 8/22 | more
Silicon Valley Shakespeare brings "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to life in an unforgettable staged reading beneath Filoli's towering redwoods.
🎨 Festival of the Arts | Palo Alto | University Avenue | 8/22 -23 | more
Stroll nine blocks of downtown University Avenue for this 43-year tradition featuring 250 fine artists and crafters, live music, and Italian street painters.
⚾ Adult Softball Game: Los Altos v. Los Altos Hills | Los Altos | Rosita Park | 8/22 | more
Cheer on your hometown squad as Los Altos and Los Altos Hills face off for bragging rights and the coveted Gleaming Glove Trophy.
🍪 Bay Area Chocolate Chip Cookie Festival | Palo Alto | Museum of American Heritage | 8/22 | more
Celebrate America's favorite dessert with free cookies and milk, face painting, live garden music, and LEGO building at this free family bash.
🎭 Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra | Redwood City | Red Morton Park | 8/22-23 & 8/29-30 | more
Catch San Francisco Shakespeare Festival's free outdoor production exploring duty, desire, and power in the Roman Empire.
🌸 NT Clay Flowers Pop Up | Redwood City | Little Green a Plant Bar | 8/22 | more
Browse handmade clay flower creations at this charming pop-up nestled inside a local plant shop.
📚 Evelyn Skye: Ideal Life | Redwood City | Fireside Books | 8/22 | more
Meet New York Times bestselling author Evelyn Skye as she discusses her new novel about second chances, love, and the pursuit of a "perfect" life.
🚗 10th Annual Car Show for Veterans | Redwood City | Veterans Memorial Building/Senior Center Lot | 8/22 | more
Admire classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles while enjoying live music, BBQ, and a bounce house at this fundraiser honoring local veterans.
🛍️ HEAD WEST Marketplace: State Street | Los Altos | State St. at 3rd St. | 8/23 | more
Shop a curated lineup of local makers, jewelry designers, and artisans at this vibrant open-air marketplace in downtown Los Altos.
😂 Secret Sauce Comedy | Redwood City | The Sandwich Spot | 8/25 | more
Grab a drink and settle in for a night of stand-up from some of the Bay Area's top comedians.
🎬 Movie on the Square: Smurfs & The Pursuit of Happyness | Redwood City | Courthouse Square | 8/27 | more
Bring the whole family for a free double-feature movie night under the stars at Courthouse Square.
🎨 Free Make and Take Projects | Redwood City | Eureka Gallery & Studio @ Center for Creativity | 8/27 | more
Drop in for a free, no-pressure creative session with a quick 30–45 minute art project and all supplies included.
🍷 Wine Fair | Redwood City | Feast and Floral | 8/27 | more
Sip your way through 20 different wines, meet the winemakers, and enjoy snacks with 20% off participating bottles.
🎨 Paint and Sip | Redwood City | Grand Bay Hotel | 9/4 | more
Unleash your inner artist at this guided evening painting session, complete with drinks and a laid-back, social vibe.