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Michelin Munchies, Parking Lot Showdown, & Local Summer Concert Series
Local concert and movies series in the park plus local development and restaurant updates!
Greg Kemper
July 10, 2025
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to the Palo Alto Scoop! I’m excited to send you our weekly newsletter that’s meant to connect you with local happenings and businesses, including events, restaurants, and local news.
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Please reach out to me with any feedback by replying to this email, I want to make sure this is as helpful and informative as possible. I appreciate your support and hope you enjoy the Palo Alto Scoop!
In this week’s edition:
🚧 Parking lot conversion to affordable housing units up for hearing
🍕 Pizza Guys debuts on El Camino with heart-shaped pies
🌲 Filoli’s giant TROLLS are now on exhibit
⭐ Michelin roll call: local restaurants featured
🚗 Parking Lot Conversion Legal Duel
Palo Alto has moved to toss a lawsuit that claims downtown Lot T—funded decades ago by a parking-assessment district—can’t be flipped into a seven-story, ~80-unit affordable-housing project.
City lawyers counter that the land is public, a new garage will replace lost stalls, and the conversion is vital to meeting its 6,086-home state mandate. A case-management hearing is set for July 8, keeping the project, and the broader fight over who controls downtown parking lots, very much in play. Read more here.
🅿️ Los Altos Hires ACE Parking
Starting July 1, Los Altos will hand day-to-day ticketing to San Diego-based ACE Parking under a three-year, $652K contract (max $700K). City leaders say dedicated patrol cars and license-plate-scanner tech will bring two-hour turnover back to a construction-busy downtown while letting police focus on higher-priority calls. Drivers will see a short warning phase before full fines kick in. Read more here.
🏗️ Revised 21 Story Senior Living Tower Proposal
R&M Properties just revised its downtown Redwood City development plan for a modern senior living community, now with 222 units in a single 21-story tower at 910 Marshall St., scaled back from last year’s 30-story, 313-unit twin-tower pitch. It includes independent, assisted-living and memory-care homes, 1,200 sq ft of retail and 95 parking spots all filed under the state’s density-bonus law.
The developer says the adjustments address feedback received from community meetings while still tackling a senior-housing crunch as the county’s 75-plus population is set to double; environmental review and public hearings are next. Read more here.
🍕 Pizza Guys Slices into Palo Alto
3864 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Photo Courtesy: Pizza Guys Palo Alto
Sacramento-born chain Pizza Guys opened its first Palo Alto outpost recently, taking over the former Pizz’A Chicago spot at 3864 El Camino Real and dishing up fully customizable pies (six crust styles, heart-shaped options) plus patio seating for 10–15.
New franchise owner Duc Hoang, a onetime Pizza Guys flyer-hanger turned biomedical-engineer, teamed with two of his uncles to bring the brand’s 90-plus-store footprint to the Peninsula, while Pizz’A Chicago continues slinging deep dish from its original Santa Clara shop. Learn more about Pizza Guys here.
Filoli TROLLS: Save the Humans
86 Cañada Rd, Woodside, CA 94062
Filoli Historic House and Garden in Woodside now hosts “TROLLS: Save the Humans,” an enchanting outdoor exhibition that opened on June 7, 2025. Six colossal, folklore-inspired troll sculptures—hand-crafted from reclaimed wood by Danish artist Thomas Dambo—stand along a mile-long trail through Filoli’s Natural Lands.
Each troll embodies its own personality and message, encouraging visitors to reconnect with nature and embrace environmental stewardship. As you stroll the path, these whimsical figures invite guests of every age to ponder the harmony between people and the natural world.
Tickets sell out quickly, so reserve yours in advance ($29–$39 for general admission) and secure your visit through this link.
🎉 Michelin Guide Honors Local Restaurants
Our local dining scene keeps racking up accolades, with three Peninsula powerhouses holding on to (or earning back) their coveted single 🌟. And a brand-new bar program shaking things up in Menlo Park. Here’s why each spot is worth a celebratory reservation:
French Laundry alums Chef Anthony Secviar and Master Sommelier Dennis Kelly deliver “upscale-casual” fine dining that never feels stuffy. The current seven-course tasting might glide from sablefish to a nine-layer morel lasagna, paired with a cellar that flexes Kelly’s wine-world credentials. Intimate, polished, yet relaxed—it’s the kind of room where birthday toasts and mid-week splurges feel equally natural. See the menu here. |  250 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306 |
Step inside and you’re transported to old-Hollywood glamour: dark emerald walls, white-linen tables, and a martini cart gliding by in hushed tones. The kitchen leans on Selby’s own private farm to elevate steak-house classics. Think dry-aged Prime rib-eyes, soufflés, and a luxe table side Caesar, earning Selby’s its first Michelin star just months after opening and keeping it ever since. See the menu here. |  3001 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA |
A Peninsula institution for more than two decades, the Pub fuses rustic charm (wood-beamed ceilings, leather banquettes) with Chef Mark Sullivan’s French-Californian craft. Seasonal menus spotlight produce from nearby farms—try the Liberty duck with stone-fruit agrodolce or a market-driven tasting of garden vegetables—and the service team keeps things effortlessly refined. See the menu here. |  2967 Woodside Rd, Woodside, CA |
Want to see all restaurants in the area that were recognized on the Michelin Guide? Visit the latest Michelin Guide here.
🎬 Movies on the Square | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 7/10 | More
Free Thursday triple-screening: kids’ movie at 6 PM, indie shorts 8 PM & main feature 8:30 PM under the stars.
🎶 Summer Concert Series – Sinister Dexter | Grant Park Soccer Field | Los Altos | 7/10 | More
Pack a picnic blanket and groove to Sinister Dexter, a local funk and soul band.
🎸 Epic Nelson (Ricky Nelson tribute) | Club Fox | Redwood City | 7/10 | More
Classic-rock hits and rockabilly charm light up this intimate venue; ages 21+.
🚶♂️ Bair Island Sunset Walk | Bair Island | Redwood City | 7/10 | More
Leisurely 0.8-mile marsh stroll begins at 7 PM—soak in golden-hour views and wildlife.
🎶 Village Vibes Summer Concert | Town & Country Village | Palo Alto | 7/10 | More
Series opener 5-7 PM with singer Hanna Barakat—grab patio bites, then groove on the plaza.
🎵 Music on the Square – Native Elements | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 7/11 | More
Bay-Area reggae favorites bring feel-good rhythms 6-8 PM; beer & wine for sale on site.
😂 Comedy at Zareen’s | Zareen’s | Redwood City | 7/11 | More
Local stand-ups serve fresh laughs (8:30-11 PM) alongside Zareen’s crave-worthy Pakistani eats.
🎤 Magical Summer Concert - Musical Memories Foundation | Magical Bridge Playground | Palo Alto | 7/11 | More
Musical Memories Foundation hosts an inclusive Dance/R&B set, 6-7:30 PM—all ages and abilities welcome.
🏺 Stories Objects Tell – History Talk | Museum of American Heritage | Palo Alto | 7/11 | More
Curator Bobby Gamba reveals hidden tales behind Filoli & MOAH artifacts, 7-8 PM; free admission.
Photo Credit: City of Palo alto
🎻 Twilight Concert – Mads Tolling | Rinconada Park | Palo Alto | 7/12 | More
Two-time Grammy-winning violinist headlines a free 6:30 PM outdoor show—bring a blanket, grab bites from food trucks & savor summer vibes.
🛶 Public Canoes in the Sloughs | Marine Science Institute | Redwood City | 7/12 | More
Paddle the sloughs 9 AM-2 PM and spot wildlife on this family-friendly on-the-water adventure.
🏺 ACGA Clay & Glass Festival | Palo Alto Art Center | Palo Alto | 7/12–7/13 | More
120+ artists, live demos, food trucks & free admission 10 AM-5 PM both days.
🎨 Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival | Downtown Los Altos | Los Altos | 7/12–7/13 | More
300 art booths, Kidzone rides & local food and wine served. Opening-night concert!
🍺 Pub in the Park | Red Morton Park | Redwood City | 7/12 | More
Hang in a giant inflatable pub, sample craft brews & play lawn games 11 AM-4 PM.
🌄 Filoli Summer Nights | Filoli | Woodside | 7/16 | More
Wednesday twilight in the gardens—live acoustic sets, food trucks & sunset hikes 6-8 PM.
🎤 Live Music First Thursdays | The Village at San Antonio Center | Mountain View | 8/7 | More
Bring lawn chairs for free 6-8 PM park concert—rotating artists & retail specials every first Thursday.
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