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- 🎡 The County Fair is Here!
🎡 The County Fair is Here!
Plus, new housing developments, outdoor movies, and other live music!
Greg Kemper
June 04, 2026
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! We’ve got info on the San Mateo County Fair, some featured results from the Best of San Mateo, plus updates on the Foster City budget, a new community center nearing completion, and new housing in Burlingame.
Let’s get to it!
In this week’s edition:
City Updates: Community center nearing completion, new peninsula HS principal, and a Foster City budget surplus
Business Updates: New housing developments, AI and Art, and the Best of San Mateo
Events: The County Fair, outdoor movies, meet the pets, and other live music!
Foster City Budget Forecast Shows Surplus
Foster City officials are expressing cautious optimism after new budget projections showed an operating surplus for the coming fiscal year. Rather than expanding spending, city leaders plan to direct much of the additional revenue toward long-term infrastructure needs, including street maintenance and facility improvements. Officials noted that economic uncertainty remains, but the current outlook provides some flexibility as the city addresses aging infrastructure. . Read more here.
Barnaby Payne Named Principal of Peninsula High School
The San Mateo Union High School District has selected Barnaby Payne as the next principal of Peninsula High School. Payne brings years of educational leadership experience and will oversee the district's continuation high school, which serves students pursuing alternative pathways to graduation. District leaders cited his commitment to student success, relationship-building and supportive learning environments as key reasons for the appointment. Families and students can expect a continued focus on individualized support and helping students reach graduation and career goals. Read more here.
Foster City Community Center Nears Completion
Construction of Foster City's long-awaited new Community Center is entering its final stages, with the facility remaining on track to open this summer. Located at 650 Shell Boulevard, the center will provide expanded recreation programs, meeting spaces, community events and arts activities under one roof. Crews are currently completing final interior and exterior details as the city prepares for opening day. Once operational, the new facility is expected to become a major hub for community gatherings and recreational programming, providing residents with modern amenities and additional opportunities to connect. Read more here.
Best of San Mateo Results are in!
The Best of San Mateo celebrates people’s favorite business across San Mateo County and celebrates the excellence of over 800 businesses. In it’s inaugural year, over 22,000 votes were cast for favorite businesses in each category. Here are a select few who won this year:
Best Dentists: Fiori Dental | San Mateo
Best Fitness Classes: Basecamp Fitness | San Mateo
Best Spas: Cosh Head Spa | Burlingame
Best Public Playgrounds: Coyote Point Park | San Mateo
Best Coffeehouses: Kaizen & Coffee | San Mateo
Most Pet Friendly Restaurant: Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar | San Mateo
Best Outdoor Dining Spots: Fieldwork’s San Mateo Beer Garden | San Mateo
Check back next week for more featured business and congrats to all the winners!
Peninsula Arts Group Launches AI Task Force
San Carlos-based arts collective Art Bias has created a task force to help artists and arts organizations navigate the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative work. The group includes artists, technology professionals and representatives from the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture who are exploring questions around disclosure, ethics, copyright and best practices. Organizers hope to develop guidelines that could eventually serve as a model for other arts organizations throughout the region. Community members are also being invited to participate through a public survey. For local artists and arts supporters, the effort reflects a growing conversation about how emerging technology will shape the future of creative expression. Read more here.
Seven-Story Housing Development Proposed in Burlingame
A major housing project is moving forward at 2 Park Road in Burlingame, near the Bayswater neighborhood west of 101. The proposal calls for a seven-story apartment building containing 144 residential units on a roughly one-acre site created by merging parcels at 2, 12 and 16 Park Road. Plans also include 140 parking spaces and utilize state density bonus provisions. If approved, the development would add a significant number of new homes in an area targeted for higher-density growth and could help Burlingame meet regional housing goals while bringing more residents to the Bayswater district. Read more here.
Click here to feature your business in front of over 10,000 local residents!
Blue Moon Bar in San Mateo
Blue Moon Bar is a newer addition to downtown San Mateo’s social scene, operating as a bar and nightlife spot with extended hours into the evening. While details on a full food menu are limited, the venue is known locally as a lively space for drinks and social events, with live karaoke nights and downtown happenings contributing to its atmosphere. It has emerged as a familiar gathering place following the closure of previous establishments at the site.
Shaxian Snacks in San Mateo
Taste of Sha Xian specializes in Shaxian-style Chinese snacks, drawing inspiration from the street food tradition of Shaxian County in Fujian Province. The menu offers a variety of dumplings, wonton soups, steamed pork buns, and noodles often dressed with savory sauces, along with other small plates like green onion pancakes and fried items. Signature items may include pork and chives dumplings and peanut-sauced noodles, reflecting the casual and affordable approach of this regional cuisine. These snacks are typically served in smaller portions, making it easy to try several different dishes in one visit.
🍷 Filoli Reserve Wine Tasting | Woodside | Filoli | 6/5 | more
Enjoy an elegant afternoon in Filoli's Garden House with an exclusive wine tasting experience surrounded by the estate's stunning gardens.
🎡 San Mateo County Fair | San Mateo | Event Center | 6/5 -14 | more
The San Mateo County Fair returns with carnival rides, live entertainment, fair food, exhibits, and family-friendly fun for all ages.
🎤 Karaoke | San Mateo | Blue Moon Bar | 6/5 | more
Take the stage or cheer on local talent during a lively karaoke night featuring great music, drinks, and a fun neighborhood atmosphere.
🎷 Live Jazz | San Mateo | Espetus Churrascaria | 6/5 | more
Enjoy an evening of live jazz paired with Brazilian-inspired dining in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Every Friday and Saturday from 6-9pm and Sunday 5-8pm.
💃 Salsa/Bachata Mini Social Dance Party with DJ Tristan | San Mateo | Motion Arts Center | 6/5 | more
Hit the dance floor for an upbeat evening of salsa and bachata music, social dancing, and community fun with DJ Tristan.
🎤 Bayside Music Festival @ County Fair: Gym Class Heroes and Others | San Mateo | San Mateo Event Center | 6/5-6/14 | more
Catch Gym Class Heroes and others live as part of the Bayside Music Festival at the County Fair for an evening packed with hits and high-energy performances.
🐶 Become a Pet Assisted Therapy Team | San Mateo | 12 Airport Blvd | 6/6 | more
Learn how you and your pet can become a certified therapy team and make a positive impact in schools, hospitals, libraries, and other community spaces.
🎶 Rock the Dock | Redwood City | 459 Seaport Court | 6/6 | more
Enjoy live music, waterfront views, food, and drinks at this popular outdoor concert series on the Redwood City waterfront.
🎨 Paint, Plant and Play Playdate | San Mateo | Beresford Park | 6/6 | more
Kids and caregivers can enjoy a creative morning of painting, planting, and outdoor play in a fun community setting.
🐹 Meet the Pets | San Mateo | Hillsdale Library | 6/6 | more
Meet guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and other small animals while learning about their care from local youth volunteers and rescue groups.
🪴 Community Plant Swap | San Mateo | Luludi Living Art | 6/7 | more
Bring up to five plants to trade with fellow gardeners and discover new greenery to take home while connecting with other plant enthusiasts.
🎬 Free Outdoor Movie Night | Foster City | Leo J. Ryan Park | 6/11 | more
Bring blankets and lawn chairs to the Leo J. Ryan Park amphitheater for a free outdoor screening of Zootopia 2 under the stars.
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