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- 🎃 Pumpkin Festival is Here!
🎃 Pumpkin Festival is Here!
Plus HEAD WEST Marketplace returns & More on the $1 Million San Mateo History Museum Donation!
Greg Kemper
October 15, 2026
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! Find out more about the $1 million donation to the History Museum and learn more details about the under 12 e-bike ban. We also have a ton of fun going on this week: HEAD WEST Marketplace returns and we’re ready for fall with all the events you need!
Let’s dive in!
In this week’s edition:
City Updates: $1 million for History Museum terrace, details on new e-bike ban for under 12s
Business Updates: Housing approved for former GoPro campus, famous SF bakery coming to San Mateo
Events: HEAD WEST Marketplace returns and it’s fall y’all!
Your Saturday Plans: HEAD WEST Marketplace returns to downtown San Mateo!
South B Street in San Mateo
HEAD WEST Marketplace is back this weekend in Downtown San Mateo, once again transforming South B Street into a lively open-air marketplace filled with Local Makers, Crafters, Artists, Designers and Vintage Merchants. With the street closed to cars, it creates a fun, family-friendly atmosphere to shop small, support local creatives and enjoy live music!
HEAD WEST Marketplace takes place on the 3rd Saturday of each month through December, making it a great weekend outing downtown while supporting local merchants and vendors! Learn more here!
ACLU Honors San Mateo County Housing Group
Some well-earned recognition is headed to the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County! The ACLU of Northern California gave the group and its executive director, Evelyn "Evvy" Stivers, its Defend Democracy Award at a Sept. 15 event at Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto. The award honors the council's work on a Menlo Park housing and parking ballot measure, plus its wider affordable housing advocacy across the county. The ACLU also contributed $1,000 to support the group's efforts. For locals, it's a nod to the behind-the-scenes work the council does with local governments and residents on housing policy throughout the county. Read more here.
Zuckerberg and Chan Give $1M to Finish History Museum Terrace
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan donated $1 million to the San Mateo County Historical Association to help complete a rooftop terrace at the San Mateo County History Museum. The 2,897-square-foot terrace is the final phase of the museum's multiyear expansion, extending from the third-floor event space of the new Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery. Officials say it will become an indoor-outdoor venue for community gatherings, business events, celebrations and private functions. The Carriage House is scheduled to open Nov. 7, alongside a new exhibit at the historic Lathrop House and the HERO Natural History Gallery. Mark your calendars- the museum's big expansion debut is just a few weeks away, with a new event space on the way. Read more here.
New State Laws Let San Mateo County Cities Ban E-Bikes for Kids Under 12
Gov. Newsom signed three e-bike bills last week, and one is especially relevant here. Assembly Bill 2595 sets up a pilot program from 2027 through 2031 that lets local governments in San Mateo County prohibit children under 12 from riding Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes. It's optional for each city, and police could issue a $25 fine to underage riders starting 60 days after a local ban takes effect. Foster City Councilmember Stacy Jimenez says she plans to use the new authority, while Board of Supervisors President Noelia Corzo said she wouldn't support applying it to unincorporated areas, citing enforcement concerns. Statewide, starting Jan. 1, 2027, vehicles exceeding e-bike speed and power limits can no longer be sold as e-bikes, and a separate law sets a 10 mph e-bike speed limit on sidewalks. Read more here.
Former GoPro Campus in San Mateo Set to Become 222 Homes
The hillside campus that has housed GoPro's headquarters is on its way to becoming a neighborhood. The San Mateo Planning Commission approved plans for 222 for-sale homes at 3000 Clearview Way, on a hillside overlooking Highway 92 between College of San Mateo and The Heights by PulteGroup. The mix includes 149 townhome-style units in 22 structures and 73 detached single-family houses, with 33 deed-restricted for moderate-income households. Plans also call for a dog park, playgrounds and walking paths, with homes in Spanish, modern French and modern farmhouse styles. The site is about two miles from the Hillsdale Caltrain Station and Hillsdale Shopping Center. For locals, this adds much-needed ownership opportunities in a city with big state housing targets. Read more here.
Juniper Café Coming to San Mateo
Juniper is a San Francisco bakery and café, opened in 2023 by Saint Frank Coffee's founders, known for flaky pastries and great coffee. It swept the 2024 Best Croissant San Francisco competition, and it now plans a second shop at 1 North B Street in downtown San Mateo. The bigger single-floor kitchen will give the bakery room to make baguettes and sourdough, which its cramped SF space can't handle. Breads baked in San Mateo will also be sold at the San Francisco location. Downtown San Mateo residents and Caltrain commuters can look forward to a new spot for croissants and fresh bread in early 2027. Read more here.
Takahashi Market Celebrates 120 Years in San Mateo
Takahashi Market is a longtime Downtown San Mateo market known for its freshly prepared food, with a kitchen that turns out the dishes customers have counted on for generations. The family and staff recently celebrated 120 years in business with a block party in the store's front parking lot. The festivities included San Mateo Buddhist Temple Taiko, live Hawaiian music, hula dancing, raffle prizes, and pop-up vendor booths. If you missed the party, it's a great excuse to stop by and congratulate a local institution on a major milestone. Read more here.
Slice House by Tony Gemignani in Belmont
Slice House is a pizzeria at 1000 El Camino Real in Belmont from chef Tony Gemignani, with pizza sold by the slice or as a whole pie. The menu is organized around four crust styles: New York, Detroit, Sicilian, and Grandma. Specialty pies include the Hot Honey, topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, and house-made local hot honey, and the Wiseguy, which features sweet and spicy Italian sausage, ricotta, and Tony's hot pepper oil. The Tony Jack skips tomato sauce in favor of ranch dressing, applewood-smoked bacon, Peppadew peppers, and honey. The Italian-focused lineup also includes Tony's signature meatballs in marinara, garlic bread, wings, and house-made ricotta-and-mascarpone cannoli.
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We do our best to verify dates/locations of events, but please independently verify before attending as details are subject to change
🧹 Grown-up Event: De-Clutter and Organize with Author Carrie Powell! | San Carlos | The Reading Bug | 10/15 | more
Make space for what's next with decluttering coach Carrie Powell, who shares tips from her new book, The Midlife Edit.
🎉 30th Anniversary Celebration and Mixer | Burlingame | Marlinda's Mod Skincare | 10/15 | more
Toast 30 years and three generations of skincare at a ribbon cutting and mixer with refreshments and good vibes.
🛍️ HEAD WEST Marketplace | San Mateo | South B Street | 10/17 | more
Shop local makers, crafters, artists, designers, and vintage sellers while live music sets the mood.
☕ Mom Needs a Minute | Burlingame | Growing Ivy | 10/17 | more
Storytime and activities for kids with coffee & shopping for moms!
🎒 Daycare & Preschool Fair 2026 | Foster City | Foster City Elementary | 10/17 | more
Meet 40+ local preschools and daycares in one free afternoon (2 to 4 PM) at the San Mateo Parents Club's annual fair.
🎃 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival | Half Moon Bay | Main Street | 10/17-18 | more
Visit the Pumpkin Capital of the world for a weekend of food, shopping, and pumpkin events.
🚶 Historical Walking Tour of Belmont | Belmont | Twin Pines Senior Center | 10/18 | more
Stroll through Belmont's past on a guided walking tour of the city's local history.
🎭 Storytime and Theater Fun | San Carlos | The Reading Bug | 10/18 | more
Bring the family to a not-so-scary mystery party with the cast of Murder in the Knife Room, complete with interactive storytelling and a hands-on craft.
💘 Modern Speed Dating and Match Making | San Mateo | Fogbird | 10/18 | more
Skip the swiping and meet compatible singles ages 24 to 39 at this matchmaking mixer.
🥞 Breakfast Networking | Burlingame | Embassy Suites by Hilton | 10/21 | more
Start your morning by connecting with local professionals at the Burlingame/SFO Chamber's networking breakfast.
🍞 Sourdough 101 | Belmont | The Local Spot | 10/22 | more
Learn the basics of sourdough baking at The Local Spot.