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- 📰 The Latest Around San Mateo: Funding, Roadwork & Events
📰 The Latest Around San Mateo: Funding, Roadwork & Events
Plus fun cook offs and family events over the next week!
Greg Kemper
September 10, 2026
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week’s San Mateo Scoop! We’re jumping into the ongoing funding fight San Mateo is taking on, plus Skyline Construction, a new jewelry store, and tons of weekend fun, including the San Mateo Firefighters Chili Cookoff!
Let’s dive in!
In this week’s edition:
City Updates: Funding fight and Skyline construction
Business Updates: New jewelry and accessory store launches
Events: Firefighter Chili Cook off, September Nights on B Street, Burlingame’s Family Campout, and Rock the Block!
Skyline Boulevard Construction
Commuters along Skyline Boulevard should expect slowdowns for the next several weeks. Caltrans has begun a pavement-preservation project on State Route 35 (Skyline Boulevard) between the San Mateo County line and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco, grinding off old asphalt and laying a new rubberized surface while also replacing traffic-detector loops. Work is scheduled to run from the week of September 7 through mid-October, with one lane kept open in each direction — southbound crews working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, and northbound work generally running 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Drivers should plan for delays and consider alternate routes during work hours, especially since the schedule can shift with weather. Read more here.
San Mateo County Agrees to Negotiate Funding Fix Ahead of Layoffs
San Mateo County's long-running fight with the state over a broken funding formula is coming to a head, with local leaders warning that roughly 1,000 county and city jobs are at risk without a permanent fix. The dispute centers on Vehicle License Fee (VLF) replacement funding the state promised more than two decades ago; county officials say the payment mechanism has already shorted San Mateo County and its 20 cities about $157 million over the past two fiscal years, with losses projected to top $1 billion over the next decade if nothing changes. A new state budget trailer bill, AB 184, commits the Legislature to working with San Mateo, Mono and Alpine counties on a lasting solution starting in the 2027-28 fiscal year, but County Executive Officer Mike Callagy and other officials say a stated intention isn't the same as a fix. For residents, the stakes are tangible: potential cuts could touch emergency response times, homeless shelter capacity, veterans' services and mental health care across the county. Read more here.
Stella & Dot Opens in Burlingame
The Burlingame Chamber of Commerce welcomed direct-sales jewelry and accessories brand Stella & Dot to town with a festive grand-opening celebration, ribbon-cutting scissors included. Founded in San Francisco in 2003 by Jessica Herrin, Stella & Dot built its name on "trunk shows" — in-person shopping parties where independent stylists showcase jewelry, handbags and accessories — before growing into a broader e-commerce and social-selling brand sold across the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Germany. The new Burlingame location gives area shoppers a chance to browse the brand's pieces in person and meet the local stylists behind them. Stop by to check out the space and see what all the ribbon-cutting excitement was about.
Las Palomas Taquería in San Mateo
Las Palomas Taquería is a Mexican restaurant in downtown San Mateo offering tacos, burritos, breakfast dishes, seafood, and traditional Mexican specialties. The menu includes options such as chilaquiles rojos, huevos con chorizo, enchiladas, tamales, chile relleno, pozole, and weekend specialties like birria de chivo and menudo. Its tacos come with fillings ranging from traditional meats to fish, shrimp, and vegetarian options, while burritos include regular, super, fish, shrimp, and veggie varieties. Seafood dishes include camarones a la diabla, aguachile, shrimp fajitas, and fried or grilled fish. The restaurant also serves Mexican staples such as sopes, flautas, tostadas, tortas, and fresh aguas frescas, giving the menu a broad selection of familiar Mexican dishes.
Click here to feature your business in front of over 10,000 local residents!
Espetus Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse is a Brazilian churrascaria centered around the traditional Southern Brazilian style of churrasco, with gaucho chefs serving fire-roasted meats tableside. The current menu features a rotating selection of roughly 12–14 cuts, including picanha (sirloin), garlic-basted sirloin, alcatra, filet mignon, fraldinha (flap steak), beef ribs, pork ribs, Brazilian sausage, chicken, lamb, and grilled shrimp. The churrasco experience also includes a salad bar and Brazilian-inspired hot dishes, with options such as feijoada, fried polenta, crispy yucca, pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), and sweet breaded bananas. Grilled pineapple is served as part of the tableside experience, providing a sweet element alongside the savory meats. Espetus describes its approach as a modern presentation of a Brazilian barbecue tradition associated with the gauchos of southern Brazil.
We do our best to verify dates/locations of events, but please independently verify before attending as details are subject to change
🎉 Movie Night: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Foster City | Leo J Ryan Park | 9/10 | more
Grab your blanket & settle in to watch a movie- concessions & lawn games available
✨ September Nights on B Street | San Mateo | B Street | 9/10 | more
Downtown San Mateo's pedestrian mall transforms into an outdoor party with live music, dancing, kids' activities, and pop-up dining for the whole family.
🎉 Rock the Block | San Mateo | Hillsdale Mall – North Block Plaza | 9/11 | more
Hillsdale Shopping Center's North Block Plaza comes alive with live music and community fun for an evening out at the mall.
🐉 How to Train Your Dragon | San Mateo | Shoreview Park | 9/11 | more
Bring a blanket for a free outdoor screening of the live-action adventure following Viking teen Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless.
⛺ Family Campout | Burlingame | Washington Park | 9/11 | more
Pitch a tent for a classic night of camp fun: a grilled burger and hot dog dinner, games, an outdoor movie, and a pancake breakfast the next morning.
✂️ General Craft Supplies Swap | Burlingame | Library | 9/12 | more
Bring craft supplies you no longer need and find something new to love at the library's free monthly swap series.
🎨 Art in the Meadows: A Caltrain x Clayroom Market | San Mateo | Clayroom San Mateo | 9/12 | more
Shop handmade ceramics and art from local makers at this Caltrain Transit Month market, set right next to the Hillsdale station.
⚽ Meet Vero Perez: World Cup Player | San Mateo | Main Library Book Bubble | 9/12 | more
Meet San Mateo native and two-time World Cup player Veronica Perez as she shares her new children's book, "Little Vero, Big Dreams," about chasing your goals.
🌸 Dahlia Day: Penflora x Samaritan House | Burlingame | Penflora | 9/12 | more
Pick up a bunch of fresh dahlias, with proceeds benefiting Samaritan House of San Mateo County.
✈️ Hops & Props | San Carlos | Hiller Aviation Museum | 9/12 | more
Sip microbrews and live music under the wings of vintage aircraft at the museum's beloved late-summer beer fest.
\🌶️ SMC Firefighters Annual Chili Cook-Off | San Mateo | Central Park | 9/12 | more
Taste chili from local firefighters and restaurants, plus live music and craft beer, all for a good cause.
🐾 Paw Patrol Bake Sale | Burlingame | Burlingame Farmer's Market | 9/13 | more
Stop by this pup-themed community bake sale at the farmer's market for a sweet treat for a good cause.
🧘 Kids and Family Yoga with Miss Sarah | San Carlos | The Reading Bug | 9/13 | more
Stretch and giggle together at this playful, family-friendly yoga session at the beloved neighborhood bookstore.
☕ Cars and Coffee | San Mateo | Caffeinated Cowboy | 9/13 | more
Grab a cowboy-themed coffee and check out a lineup of cars at this casual weekend meetup.
🥐 Brunch & Burn | San Mateo | Hillsdale Shopping Center | 9/13 | more
Break a sweat with a CorePower sculpt class, then refuel with brunch at Pinstripes.
💪 Hiptwist Fitness Opening | San Mateo | Hiptwist | 9/17 | more
Celebrate the grand opening of this new boutique reformer and mat Pilates studio, featuring red light therapy and personalized instruction.