Living Well in San Mateo » San Mateo Events

Burlingame Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade

Rebecca Williamson — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:06:49 +0000

Burlingame’s Christmas Tree Lighting 2009

Last Friday, I headed out to check out Burlingame’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade. The tree lighting festivities started at around 5:30pm out in front of Burlingame’s City Hall where there were several performers, including a choir, the San Mateo Elks Club Band and dancers, who performed for the hour before the tree lighting. It was a bit chilly, but there was a decent crowd in front of City Hall to check out the tree lighting. At nearly 6:30pm, the countdown began and the tree was lit.

Burlingame Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Video

Burlingame’s Carnival and Parade

Burlingame also had a small carnival with rides and food for the kids on Primrose Road near Burlingame Ave.

At 6:30pm there was a well attended parade down Burlingame Ave with Burlingame High School Cheerleaders and Burlingame’s police and fire department.

Photo Tour of the Burlingame Christmas Tree Lighting, Carnival and Parade

Check out my photo tour of the festivities.

Parking

Parking was quite a problem for those who drove to the event, especially for those who arrived close to the event time. My suggestion for next year would be to either get there early and eat at one of Burlingame Ave’s restaurants, or try the parking lot for the Caltrain Station. This year they shut down several streets, including Burlingame Ave, at 4:30pm so if you need to leave early, I would suggest parking in the surrounding neighborhoods and walking to the event.

What Else Can You Expect When you Live in San Mateo County?

Check out our San Mateo Events posts and Living in San Mateo posts to learn more about what it’s like to live in San Mateo County, CA.

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Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

Where to Watch Fireworks in San Mateo County?

Rebecca Williamson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:31:56 +0000

Foster City Fireworks

Every year since I can remember, Foster City has been the main city in San Mateo County to host a fireworks show. This year, the fireworks will start at 9:30pm and can be viewed from Leo Ryan Park and from strategic locations in the hills of Belmont, San Carlos and Redwood City.

Looking for something to do during the day?

Foster City has an entire day of festivities planned. Starting at 8am at the Island United Church, there will be a Pancake Breakfast, followed by a Family Parade at 11:05am at the Shell Blvd. Entrance of the Rec. Center.

The Arts and Crafts Vendors will set up in Leo Ryan Park and be open from 10am – 5pm. There will be two bands mid-day, followed by the very popular Stars and Stripes Dog Show at the Leo Ryan Park Amphitheater at 2pm. For $5 you can enter your pup (between 10:30am and 1pm) into one of five categories:

Best Trick
Dog-Owner Look a-Like
Fastest Eater
Most Beautiful/Most Handsome
Most Patriotic

Rumors are the prizes are pretty good!

Free parking will be available at Parkside Tower’s Parking Garage off Shell Blvd, however, SamTrans will not be providing free transportation to the fireworks viewing area this year so bring your bus fare or wear your walking shoes.

Redwood City Fireworks

Redwood City also hosts its own fireworks show and festival on July 4th. The festival kicks off with a parade at 10am from the corner of Brewster and Winslow. This year’s theme is All Things Musical. After the parade, you can head over to the festival at Winslow and Marshall between 9am and 5pm. Don’t forget to check out the battle of the bands at 1:30pm.

The fireworks show will begin at 9:30pm at the Port of Redwood City, which has very limited parking. Once the viewing area and parking fills up, Redwood City police will be closing Seaport Blvd to all vehicle traffic at the intersection of Seaport Blvd and Bloomquist, so make sure you get there early.

Not really thrilled with the traffic afterwards?

You may want to head up to the hilly neighborhoods in Belmont, San Carlos and Redwood City and stake out a spot with a view. Traffic to and from these neighborhoods will be minimal after the show is over and you should be able to see Foster City and Redwood City’s show from one spot.

Willing to Travel a Bit Further?

San Francisco

San Francisco’s Pier 39 is one of the more crowded spots to watch the fireworks in the Bay Area. Parking can be a bit of an issue and there will be a lot of people. There are several other spots in San Francisco to watch. Check out this blog post from Bay Area on the Cheap for more spots.

Mountain View’s Shoreline Amphitheater

Radio Disney is presenting the 4th of July Fireworks Show at Shoreline Amphitheater. The featured acts are the San Francisco Symphony and George Takei. The theme is A look towards the future. The show starts at 8pm and $15 and $29.50 tickets can be purchased from LiveNation.com.

Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the 4th!

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Affordable Housing Week Kicks Off With Foreclosure Prevention Workshop

Rebecca Williamson — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:13:50 +0000

San Mateo County Affordable Housing Week Kicks off With Foreclosure Prevention Program May 9th

If you are a homeowner who is facing foreclosure or think you may be facing foreclosure, the Foreclosure Prevention Workshop at Westmoor High School in Daly City this Saturday May 9, 2009 is a must attend event. The program brings experts from the housing and mortgage industry together under one roof to help educate and assist homeowners who are already in default and to prevent more homeowners from getting into a hole they can’t dig themselves out of.

With all of the scams out there about foreclosure prevention and foreclosure assistance, these top notch experts will give you the essential information you need to make an educated decision about where you are currently at and where you can go from here. The program is free to attend and they are encouraging you to bring your loan documents or any other information that would be pertinent to your current financial situation. No RSVP is required, just bring your documents and go between 9:30am and 3:00pm.

Westmoor High School is located at 131 Westmoor Ave in Daly City.

For a list of other events included in San Mateo County’s Affordable Housing Week, please visit The San Mateo County Housing Leadership Council website.

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231 Ellsworth

Rebecca Williamson — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:07:23 +0000

Next time you want to splurge on a restaurant in downtown San Mateo, head over to 231 Ellsworth. Head Chef Isaac Miller combines French, Spanish and Japanese cuisine to create innovative flavor combinations and unique blends that have been well-reviewed by critics and local foodies alike for years. In fact, 231 Ellsworth is one of the few Bay Area restaurants to have earned a 2009 Michelin Guide star.

The menu changes on a regular basis – keeping both diners and chefs on their toes. Still, any time I have been, there has never been a shortage of crave-worthy dishes to choose from. There is always something fabulous to enjoy. Plus, they offer a three course prix-fixe menu, which is a great option if you want to try a few items.

Last time I went, I sampled the flat iron steak and the scallops. Both dishes had unique pairings and quality ingredients, in addition to mouthwatering presentation.

Next time you are in San Mateo, stop by and check it out for yourself.

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New Years 2009 in San Mateo

Rebecca Williamson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:09 +0000

Today I set out to find a place to celebrate New Years 2009 and came across this comprehensive list of events and activities in the Bay Area to celebrate New Years 2009. Some activities and events near San Mateo are:

Hornblower Cruises – A fun San Francisco favorite. We took a cruise a few years ago to celebrate New Year’s and it was a blast. The ship leaves from Pier 3 in San Francisco at 9pm and returns around 1am. On board you will enjoy music, dinner, party favors and fireworks.
231 Ellsworth – Located in downtown San Mateo, 231 Ellsworth is a phenomenal restaurant. You can get an open seating, six-course prix fixe menu for $110 along with complimentary party favors and midnight champagne.
The Cheeseballs – San Mateo County favorite cover band will perform at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City starting at 9pm. Cover is $30.
Hotel Sofitel – variety of entertainment, food and drink and overnight room packages $85-$359.

For the complete list of events in San Francisco, East Bay and the Peninsula, visit Alyssa Phillips’ comprehensive Bay Area New Years 2009 list.

Have another event we didn’t mention? Tell us about it!

Whatever you choose to do this New Year’s have a safe and happy celebration!

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Belmont’s Greek Fest

Raymond Stoklosa — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:24:25 +0000

This weekend the LivingWellinSanMateo team headed down to the Belmont Greek Festival a Labor Day weekend tradition. With dancing, food and music, this is a great event every year that attracts many local San Mateo County residents.

Like many others who attended, we ate way too much of the fantastic food, but it was worth it. Miss the festival or want to make the desserts at home? They have posted the recipes on their website, so you can make these treats year-round!

Where were you and your family this weekend? Let us know!

P.S. While we were out this weekend, we were reminded of the annual Chocolate Festival that will be taking place this year in October… hope to see you there too!

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Millbrae Art and Wine Festival

Cassandra Stoklosa — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:58:51 +0000

Are you looking for something to do this weekend? Head on down to the Millbrae Art and Wine Festival which will be taking place this weekend August 30th and 31st. The fair will be open from 10am to 5pm both days and admission is free. The festival takes place along Broadway covering several blocks between Victoria and Meadow Glen.

With music, food and shopping, there’s plenty to do for adults. They also have the kids covered with a Kids’ Stage and Kids’ Playland so go ahead and bring the entire family.

If you need more information, you can find it here: miramarevents.com… and if you see us out there, stop us and say ‘hi!’

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Gabriel & Daniel’s Mexican Grill

Cassandra Stoklosa — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 06:15:03 +0000

I eat out A LOT. There are so many great restaurants to eat at in San Mateo County alone … and then add in San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Jose and you could literally be eating for years here and never get bored. Good thing for a foodie like me!

The only thing that bothers me about eating out is the cost. I generally find myself dropping $20 to $30 on a meal and not really enjoying it. That was until I found Gabriel & Daniel’s Mexican Grill at the Burlingame Golf Course.

“Gabriel’s” as I’ve started to call it (in reference to its spectacular owner and chef) is by far, one of the best deals in the area. For around $15, you can have a huge plate of Alambres (kind of like fajitas with rice) and a margarita… you can’t beat it. The presentation, as you can see from the photos, is stunning and the food tastes even better!

Even when I am not in the mood for a huge plate of Mexican food, I can still come here and get a delicious salad (**note: his chicken is the best so definitely add it on) or even a burger and fries. In fact, they even have a crazy cheap weekday lunch special that let’s you work on your golf game and grab a snack. For $12 you get, a tuna sandwich, turkey sandwich or hot dog, a small fountain drink and a small bucket of range balls. Like I said, can’t be beat…

Oops! I almost forgot to introduce myself, I’m Cassandra – Raymond’s daughter (who happened to hijack his blog today). Know of any other great neighborhood gems we should profile? … Drop me a line or write a comment!

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San Mateo County Fair

Raymond Stoklosa — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:21:24 +0000

Today at 4pm the annual San Mateo County Fair begins and runs through August 17th at the San Mateo County Expo Center.

They are running several promotions throughout the next week:

Monday August 11th is Kids’ Day – All Kids 12 and under receive free admission!
Tuesday August 12th is Seniors’ Day – Free admission to guests 62 & better/ Special entertainment and exhibits throughout the day.
Wednesday August 13th – Free ’til 3:00 pm – Free admission to guests entering before 3:00 pm
Friday August 15th – High Five For Teens – $5.00 admission until 5:00 pm for teens. Teens entering before 5:00 pm will also receive a coupon for $5.00 off a carnival wristband.
Sunday August 17th – Dia de La Feria Preciosa – A celebration of Spanish influence, music, and entertainment throughout the grounds. Special events, exhibitors, and food will be available.
You can also check out the Main Stage Entertainment:

All Shows start at 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted.
- Saturday, August 9 – KC and the Sunshine Band and The Village People
- Sunday, August 10 – Lucha Libre
- Monday, August 11 – Drew Seeley
- Tuesday, August 12 – Tower of Power
- Wednesday, August 13 – Tower of Power
- Thursday, August 14 – Pat Monahan
- Friday, August 15 – “Weird Al” Yankovic
- Saturday, August 16 – Billy Ray Cyrus
- Sunday, August 17 – Dia de La Feria Preciosa (2-7pm)
  All concerts and shows are free with gate admission. For $25.00 you can reserve your Gold Section seats, which includes park admission. Admission Rates are:
  - Adults – $9.00
  - Children (Ages 6-12) – $7.00
  - Seniors (55 & Better) – $7.00
  - Children 5 & under – FREE
  - Carnival Ride Wristband – $30.00
  - Gold Circle (Concert) – $25.00
    Save time at the gate and purchase tickets online
    
    For a map of the Fair Layout, go online
    
    For door to door directions, visit the website
    
    For more information, visit the San Mateo County Fair website
    
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Where to Watch Fireworks in San Mateo County

Raymond Stoklosa — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:55:50 +0000

Two San Mateo County cities have fireworks this Friday, July 4th:

Foster City
Redwood City

Foster City

Foster City’s Fourth of July Celebration is at Leo J. Ryan Park. The festivities begin at 8am and fireworks begin at 9:30pm on Friday, July 4th. Leo J. Ryan Park is located at 650 Shell Blvd. and free parking is located at Parkside Tower Parking Garage at the corner of E. Hillsdale Blvd. and Shell Blvd. For more information, including celebration schedule, visit Foster City’s Fourth of July page.

Redwood City

Redwood City’s Fourth of July Parade, Festival, and Fireworks is the largest Fourth of July Parade in Northern California. The festival begins at 9am and the parade begins at 10am on Friday, July 4th. The Fireworks over the Port of Redwood City begin at 9:30pm. For more information, including the Festival schedule visit Parade.org.

We will be taking Friday off to celebrate the 4th! Enjoy the long weekend!

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