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- 🎾 New Restaurants, Tennis Courts, Pubs, and Your Weekend Line Up!
🎾 New Restaurants, Tennis Courts, Pubs, and Your Weekend Line Up!
Local concerts and movies series in the park plus new restaurants coming soon!
Greg Kemper
July 17, 2025
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week’s Palo Alto Scoop! I appreciated all of the feedback from last week’s newsletter - please keep the feedback coming so we can best tailor the content to your needs!
In this week’s newsletter, the long-awaited Palo Alto history museum tapped its first CEO and the Menlo Park “living room” starts to take shape. Plus, oversized conchas at Con Azúcar, several new restaurants coming, and a full slate of concerts, hikes, and outdoor movies await.
Let’s dive in! 👇
In this week’s edition:
🍽️ Fresh eats inbound: several new and expanding local restaurants coming soon
🏛️ Community spaces coming: Menlo Park’s “living-room” makes progress
🌳 Family-friendly fun: free concerts, outdoor movies, and more
🏛️ Museum Gets Its Leader
Palo Alto’s long-planned history museum has hired local native Marguerite Gong Hancock—formerly the innovation chief at the Computer History Museum—as its first president/CEO, thanks to a $1 M gift that underwrites the post.
The move puts a visionary leader at the helm just as the nonprofit outfits the freshly $14 million-restored Roth Building on Homer Avenue for a spring 2026 public debut celebrating the city’s heritage of big ideas. Read more here.
🛋️ Menlo Park ‘Living Room’ Takes Shape
Menlo Park’s council green-lit design work for turning the car-free 600 block of Santa Cruz Ave. into a 2,500-sq-ft public plaza, envisioning flexible seating, shade sails, string lights and even a small stage, guided by urban designers M-Group.
Public outreach for community input starts in August, aiming to craft a welcoming “community living room” that boosts downtown vibrancy before any construction timeline is set. Read more here.
Menlo Park “Living Room” Concept Design
🎾 Tennis Courts Open in East Palo Alto
In June 2025, Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto unveiled six newly refurbished tennis courts and four portable, tennis-themed classrooms, marking the city’s only on-site tennis facility. The courts now host summer camps, the school's tennis team, and local tournaments, giving students, from kindergarteners learning with half-size rackets to high schoolers practicing full-sized backhands, a vibrant, homegrown sporting venue.
Program leaders and participants emphasize that having a home in East Palo Alto fosters community pride, belonging, and broader ambitions, including public access, health initiatives, and youth leadership development. Click here to read more.
🚧 Upcoming Boulder Removal Work near Sky Londa
On July 22 and 23, Caltrans will be removing two boulders this month that have become safety hazards on State Routes 84 and 35 near Sky Londa. There will be a 15–20-minute traffic hold by CHP while crews drill and blast each boulder, and motorists should expect short delays throughout both days. See below for details about where to expect delays. You can read more here.
• July 22: State Route 84, approximately 1 mile south of SR-35.
• July 23: State Route 35, near Castanea Ridge Road.
☕️ Con Azucar Café expands to downtown Redwood City
871 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City
Con Azúcar Café, famous for its supersized conchas and specialty Mexican coffee drinks, is expanding to downtown Redwood City. The new location will replace the former Cyclismo Café space. This marks a significant step in the brand’s growth, bringing its signature sweet breads and artisanal beverages to a new audience in the heart of the city.
The drinks menu includes standard hot and cold coffee drinks, as well as specialty lattes in flavors such as Duvalin (a hazelnut strawberry candy), horchata, mazapan (a peanut candy) and dulce de leche. They also serve refreshers in flavors such as jamaica-raspberry, tamarindo, cucumber-lime. Read more about it here.
🍻 New Irish Pub Open: The Wild Rover
2620 Broadway, Redwood City
The Wild Rover, which opened on June 2 in downtown Redwood City, offers classics like shepherd’s pie, Guinness beef stew, and Irish soda bread alongside a selection of about 24 mostly local beers and wines. With its blend of familiar favorites and fresh offerings, all in a welcoming, community-minded space, it’s a thoughtful refresh that honors neighborhood tradition while inviting guests to savor something a little different. Learn more here.
🌯 La Cornetta Opens in Palo Alto
La Corneta Taqueria, a family-run burrito joint with 30 years of history, is opening its fifth location on University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto this September. Serving everything from customizable burritos (with options like birria, grilled salmon, and tofu) to tacos, quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas, flautas, and churros, it blends quick counter service with sit‑down margarita bar seating for a friendly, community‑centered dining experience. Read more here. |  La Corneta New Location: 324 University Ave, Palo Alto |
🎶 Summer Crush | Filoli Historic House & Garden | Woodside | 7/17 | More
A vibrant evening of dancing, drinks, and garden ambiance featuring a live DJ and bar.
🎨 Art Making at The Foster Museum | The Foster Museum | Palo Alto | 7/17 | More
Unleash your creativity with free drop-in art activities inspired by the museum’s nature-based exhibitions.
🎸 Summer Concert - The Cheeseballs | Downtown Green | Los Altos | 7/17 | More
Dance to high-energy covers of pop hits with The Cheeseballs at this free outdoor concert.
🎬 Movie on the Square | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 7/17 | More
Enjoy a family-friendly outdoor movie under the stars in the heart of downtown.
Phot Cred: City of Redwood City
🍷 Parent's Night Out | Filoli Historic House & Garden | Woodside | 7/17 | More
Relax with wine, live music, and garden views during this adults-only summer evening escape.
🧓 Club 55 | Los Altos Community Center | Los Altos | 7/18 | More
A fun social gathering for adults 55+ featuring music, mingling, and refreshments.
🍑 Downtown Los Altos Farmer's Market | Main & State Street | Los Altos | 7/17 | More
Browse fresh produce, artisan goods, and local treats at this lively weekly market.
🎵 Music on the Square | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 7/18 | More
Kick off your weekend with a live Eagles Tribute band in a festive, open-air setting.
Photo Credit: Redwood City Events
🌇 Filoli Sunset Hike | Filoli Gardens | Woodside | 7/18 & 7/24 | More
Enjoy a beautiful evening hike through Filoli’s picturesque estate.
🦅 Palo Alto Concert Series - Eagles Tribute | Rinconada Park | Palo Alto | 7/19 | More
Free Twilight Concert Series show. Sing along to iconic Eagles hits on your picnic blankets or lawn chairs.
🌿 Volunteer at Pearson Arastradero Preserve | Pearson-Arastradero Preserve | Palo Alto | 7/19 | More
Help restore natural habitats and enjoy the outdoors while giving back to the community.
🍑 Apricot STEM Fair | Los Altos History Museum | Los Altos | 7/19 | More
Hands-on STEM stations, orchard walks, robotics demos, and apricot tastings fill the museum courtyard 10 AM–4 PM. Free, family-friendly fun celebrating local heritage.
🛍️ CCF Neighborhood Flea Market | Redeemer Lutheran Church | Redwood City | 7/19 | More
Shop for treasures, vintage goods, and community bargains at this local neighborhood flea market.
🧘 Yoga in the Garden | Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden | Palo Alto | 7/19 | More
Flow through a relaxing yoga session surrounded by blooming summer gardens.
🎤 Kids Rock! | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 7/19 | More
Bring the whole family for a lively concert series made just for kids.
🎨 Paint & Sip – Calming Sunset | Barebottle Brewing Co. | Menlo Park | 7/20 | More
Step-by-step acrylic lesson at 5 PM—sip Barebottle craft brews while you paint a serene summer sunset; all materials included, beginners welcome.
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