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- 🎃 Pumpkin Festival, New Local Marketplaces, and Mega Mart Opening
🎃 Pumpkin Festival, New Local Marketplaces, and Mega Mart Opening
Glass Pumpkin Festival, Local markets and ghost kitchens, new updates to budgeting oversight for the sheriff's office, and fall activities in San Mateo!
Greg Kemper
September 25, 2025
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! Your latest local update is here, packed with news, events, and fresh spots to explore around the local community!
Whether you’re here for the latest events, new restaurants, or community updates, I’m excited to keep you connected and in the know. Let’s dive in! 👇
In this week’s edition:
👮🏼 San Mateo County Sheriff to Get Financial Oversight: Why it’s happening, who’s in charge now, and what that means for taxpayers.
🥐 New Multi-Vendor market in Belmont: Tasty bites, artisan products, & more!
🍻 Weekend playbook: Oktoberfest, Glass Pumpkin Festival, fall events, and more!
Harvest & Holiday: Last Days to book your Pumpkin Displays for the Fall!
Luxury holiday porch decor, styled and installed by a local Peninsula mom.
Turn your house into the envy of the block with heirloom pumpkins and specialty gourds for the fall. Delivered and professionally styled at your door, completely hassle-free.
🎃 Custom packages: Curated pumpkin packages of 30 to 100+ pumpkins!
🎃 White-glove service: Setup & design now, pickup later
🎃 Local & convenient: Serving Daly City → San Jose, delivered by our local team!
Limited delivery days remain—reserve your package with Harvest & Holiday today!
Click here to feature your business in front of over 10,000 local residents!
👮🏼 San Mateo County leaders approve Sheriff’s Office financial oversight
San Mateo County supervisors voted to boost financial accountability in the Sheriff’s Office by giving the County Executive’s Office more direct oversight. The move comes after reserves fell below required levels, prompting tighter controls on spending and contract approvals.
Leaders say the change is about ensuring taxpayer dollars are handled responsibly, especially after questionable past requests raised eyebrows. Sheriff Christina Corpus pushed back, arguing it limits her office’s independence. Still, officials frame the step as a safeguard to protect public funds and restore confidence in the budget process. Read more here.
🏨 County Planners seeks feedback for Coastside resort proposal
County planners are inviting the public to provide feedback and ideas for a major resort proposal along the coast, with a pre-application workshop set for Sept. 30. The idea is still in the early stages of development, so community input will help shape what actually gets proposed.
Possible issues on the table: environmental impact, traffic, infrastructure, and how it fits with the character of the coast. The workshop gives locals a chance to weigh in before plans firm up. If you care about coastal access or impacts on the coastside vibe, this is one to watch. Read more here.
🛒 Big Debut for Bay Area’s Newest Mega Mart!
The newest Mega Mart in East Palo Alto is officially opened on September 24 🎉 The 50,000-square-foot Korean grocery store at 1775 E Bayshore Rd will boast groceries, fresh produce, a Korean beauty section, and a casual eatery called Pogu Picnic.
It’s Mega Mart’s third Bay Area location (following Sunnyvale and Fremont), and the largest yet. Daily hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and expansion plans are in motion for Dublin, too. Read more here.
The Local Spot: Bringing Together Vendors in Belmont
Photo from The Local Spot
Tucked in at 196 Old County Road, Belmont’s new Local Spot opened last month, bringing together 20+ local vendors under one roof. Born out of the bakery Made Out of Dough, the space was transformed into a shared vendor marketplace alongside their bakery. You’ll see a mix of fresh pastries (of course, from Made Out of Dough), jewelry, artisan crafts, sauces, floral arrangements, wooden goods, ceramics, and more. Read more here.
Local Kitchens Brings 5 Chefs Under 1 Roof
Location: 225 Lorton Ave, #3, Burlingame, Photos from Local Kitchens
Local Kitchens is set to open a new location in Burlingame this week. They blend multiple restaurant brands into one shared cooking space, providing services like a Locals Only club, order tracking, and grab-and-go pickup. Originally, Local Kitchen started during the pandemic as a ghost kitchen concept but has since evolved into physical venues with dine-in service and multiple locations across California.
This allows customers to mix and match from different restaurants on orders, making it easy to agree on what to eat. Currently, Burlingame offers burgers, Vietnamese, Mediterranean, Mexican, and fried chicken, with another chef coming soon. Read more here.
Izzy’s Steakhouse Set to Close
Photo from Izzy’s
Izzy’s on the Peninsula is set to close the San Carlos location on October 4th after 20 years of business. The owner, Samantha Bechtel, will continue to operate the flagship location in San Francisco, which recently completed a mla. Learn more here.
ASPCA Available Pet of the Week!
 | Meet Elle! She’s a 7yo Chihuahua mix. She’s a sweet and timid senior girl. She doesn’t mind other mellow dogs and prefers hanging out. If you’re interested in learning more about her, click here! |
🎬 Movies in the Park – San Mateo | Beresford Park | San Mateo | 09/26 | More
Bring a blanket and enjoy a free family movie under the stars.
🎶 Burlingame Live | Downtown Burlingame | Burlingame | 09/25–09/28 | More
Downtown comes alive all weekend with live music, food, and family fun.
🚲 Bike Rodeo | Beresford Park | San Mateo | 09/26 | More
Kids can learn bike safety skills through fun courses, games, and activities.
🎸 Rock the Block | Hillsdale Shopping Center | San Mateo | 09/26 | More
Enjoy live music, food, and entertainment at Hillsdale’s outdoor concert series.
🎃 Great Glass Pumpkin Patch | Palo Alto Art Center | Palo Alto | 09/27-09/28 |
Marvel at hundreds of hand-blown glass pumpkins displayed and available for purchase.
🏃 Belmont Water Dog Run | Twin Pines Park | Belmont | 09/27 | More
Lace up for this annual race supporting Belmont schools and parks.
🔬 Family Science Day | College of San Mateo | San Mateo | 9/27 | More
Hands-on science workshops, planetarium shows & firefighter demos; evening keynote “From the Moon to Mars” plus rooftop stargazing.
🐾 Burlingame Pet Parade | Broadway | Burlingame | 9/27 | More
Line up by 9:30 AM, then enjoy a leisurely 30-minute stroll up and back on Broadway with final judging and awards at Broadway Grill.
🎉 Bucc to the Future 80s & 90s Party | Out of the Barrel | San Carlos | 09/27 | More
Get nostalgic with an evening of retro music, costumes, and community fun.
🎭 Arts & Culture Festival | Downtown San Mateo | San Mateo | 09/28 | More
Celebrate local creativity with performances, art exhibits, and cultural showcases.
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