🛝 Central Park Playground Reopens, Ice Skating in Central Park Opening Soon

Good morning neighbors!

Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! Central Park’s playground is reopening, San Mateo on Ice is coming soon, plus the San Mateo County History Museum received $25.5 Million for upgrades. We’re getting new Thai and Yemeni restaurants, and we have Diwali celebrations and Merry & Bright Preview Night!

Let’s dive in!

Burlingame’s Broadway Rail Crossing Lands $90 Million Federal Boost

The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded about $90.4 million toward the Broadway grade separation in Burlingame, which will lift Caltrain’s tracks above the street where Broadway crosses the rail line. The crossing handles more than 30,000 vehicles a day and is ranked California’s top grade-separation priority by the Public Utilities Commission. The project is estimated to cost ~$662 million if construction, and local agencies have already lined up about $380 million. Early work is expected as soon as May 2027, with completion targeted for 2032. Drivers near Broadway should expect years of construction, but the payoff is a much safer crossing and less congestion. Read more here.

San Mateo County History Museum Unveils $25.5 Million Expansion

The San Mateo County History Museum, at 2200 Broadway in downtown Redwood City, opened three new experiences with a free “History in Motion” celebration featuring live music and family activities. The biggest addition is the 15,000-square-foot Taube Family Carriage House and Automobile Gallery. It shows Brewster carriages publicly for the first time in over 40 years, plus Ford vehicles ranging from a 1926 Model T to a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera. The new HERO Natural History Gallery features a reconstructed 14-million-year-old marine mammal found during construction at Stanford’s Linear Accelerator Center. The third experience, Lora Mundi, centers on the restored 1863 Lathrop-Connor-Mansfield House, a rare Steamboat Gothic home. Together, they make a great weekend outing for local families, and you can find hours at historysmc.org. Read more here.

San Mateo’s Central Park Playground Reopens After a Full Reimagining

San Mateo’s Central Park playground, at 50 E. 5th Ave., has reopened after a roughly 16-month renovation, which the city says finished on schedule and on budget. The new “Adventure Village” design is a forest-inspired play space with custom play structures, a covered picnic shelter, new walkways, lighting and seating. A new restroom building has eight all-gender stalls. Families who’ve been waiting since construction began in June 2025 can finally let the kids loose. Read more here.

🎭 Young Performers Bring Disney’s Frozen to San Mateo | San Mateo | Bayside Performing Arts Center | 11/13–22 | more
Over 70 young Peninsula performers bring the magic of Arendelle to the stage in this family-friendly Bay Area Educational Theater Company production, running through Nov. 22.

🍂 Thanks for Giving | Burlingame | Hillsborough Racquet Club | 11/13 | more
Kick off the holiday season with a day of shopping and festive cheer, as each vendor donates 20% of sales to Peninsula Family Service.

✨ Merry & Bright Preview Night | Woodside | Filoli | 11/13 | more
Get a first look at Holidays at Filoli with twinkling lights, live music, roaming carolers and a keepsake mug of hot drink on this one-night-only, limited-capacity evening.

🍸 Martinis at the Mansion with Dueling Pianos | Burlingame | Kohl Mansion | 11/13 | more
Sip martinis and enjoy a lively dueling-pianos show at the historic Kohl Mansion, a fundraiser benefiting Mercy High School Burlingame.

🧱 LEGO Reindeer Make & Take | San Mateo | LEGO Store, Hillsdale | 11/13 | more
Free kids’ build your own reindeer event at the Hillsdale LEGO Store, 5–7 p.m. (ages 6+).

🎲 KublaCon Fall Game Convention | Burlingame | Hyatt Regency SFO | 11/13–16 | more
A four-day tabletop gaming convention at the Burlingame Hyatt Regency, with board games, RPGs, tournaments, painting events, an auction, a merch hall, and a Young Players and Teen room.

🎤 Stand Up @ The Garden | Belmont | Marvin Gardens | 11/14 | more
Catch a late-night lineup of local comics at this stand-up show with a full bar and a social crowd.

🪔 Diwali Downtown | San Carlos | 700 Block Laurel Street | 11/14 | more
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with dance performances, free henna, kids’ activities, storytime and food from local chefs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

🎄 Fall(mas) Festival | San Carlos | Hiller Aviation Museum | 11/15 | more
Made Out of Dough’s 6th annual fall-and-holiday market brings 50+ local makers, food trucks, and live music to Hiller Aviation Museum. Find handmade gifts, baked goods, and seasonal shopping.

🚗 ImportExpo | San Mateo | Event Center | 11/15 | more
Check out a lineup of custom import cars at this show running from noon to 5 p.m., with kids under 12 free when accompanied by an adult.

📖 Newborn Storytime | San Carlos | The Reading Bug | 11/17 | more
Make baby’s first outing a cozy, free storytime led by the bookstore’s owner, just for parents, grandparents and babies up to 12 months.

⛸️ San Mateo on Ice Opening Day | San Mateo | Central Park | 11/19 | more
Outdoor ice skating returns to Central Park (50 E. 5th Ave.) for the season, running daily Nov. 19 through Jan. 10. Opening day features a free Community Skate Day sponsored by Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew.