Ballots due Tuesday in Santa Clara County mosquito control funding vote
Santa Clara County property owners have until May 19 to return ballots on a proposed $15.75 annual increase to the mosquito and vector control assessment.
More Local news
Mountain View tries ‘pipeline pigging’ to restore clean water near Cuesta Park
With nearly two dozen homes in Mountain View’s Cuesta Park neighborhood still without safe drinking water after a city contractor inadvertently contaminated a water main last month, the city is now performing “mechanical pipeline cleaning” to remove any harmful bacteria.
Newsom’s last budget: Cut California spending now, save for the AI bubble to burst
California tax revenue is soaring thanks to tech stocks. But Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing more cuts, warning that the boom won’t last and Trump cuts will hit the state hard.
Waymo issued voluntary software recall after self-driving car drove into flood water
The autonomous ride company Waymo voluntarily recalled its entire fleet’s software last month after one of the vehicles drove into a flooded lane in San Antonio, Texas.
Food
Matcha madness: Bonbon Matcha is the latest matcha cafe to open in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley’s matcha obsession is showing no signs of slowing down.
This Southeast Asian ingredient is leading the next flavor trend in Silicon Valley
A fragrant green leaf is taking over coffee, cocktail and dessert menus along the Peninsula. Pandan – a sweet, grassy and floral ingredient often called the “vanilla of Southeast Asia” – is the latest flavor to go mainstream in Silicon…
Laughing Monk Brewing joins Los Altos’ State Street Market, plans for The Pruneyard
For Sam Ghadiri, Laughing Monk’s pilsner was a staple in his fridge well before he acquired the San Francisco-based brewery. Now, he’s expanding Laughing Monk’s Silicon Valley footprint with a recent Los Altos addition and a Campbell location underway.
Arts & Culture
Permission to dance: BTS brings a joyful ARMY to Stanford
The K-pop superstars will play three local dates on their first international tour since going on hiatus. The band is touring in support of their 10th studio album, “Arirang.”
From ‘Dark Matter’ to ‘Rainbow Cardigan,’ Bay Area band’s sixth album strikes a buoyant balance
Indie-pop foursome The Corner Laughers recently released ‘Concerns of Wasp and Willow,’ their first album since 2020. A duo from the band will perform songs from the album May 15 in Redwood City.
Over a decade of Palo Alto chamber music school
Unique year-round program based in Palo Alto welcomes students of all ages.
Spotlight
Changing diet to generate a healthier microbiome and a healthy individual
Stanford microbiologists Justin and Erica Sonnenburg are working to understand the complex microbial community that resides within the human gut and its potential for helping people live healthier, longer lives.
Ivy League mentorship for college applications and career foundations through meaningful projects
Path Mentors was born out of dissatisfaction with the toxic high-pressure environment that college admissions has created. Founded in 2019 by Columbia graduates, the Path Mentors’ team of nearly 100 mentors from a wide range of professions including technology, finance,…
Community Calendar
Did you miss
YouTuber provoked, pepper-sprayed shopper at Mountain View Costco, police say
Mountain View police arrested a Southern California YouTuber for blasting pepper spray at a man outside Mountain View’s Costco, an alleged assault that police say was motivated by the YouTuber’s financial interest and desire for views.
Prosecutors allege Mountain View massage parlors were part of regional brothel network
From the outside, Relax Day Spa and Camino Massage Therapy presented themselves as massage parlors, but authorities allege the two Mountain View businesses were actually brothels. A criminal case is underway against the family accused of running the operation.
Real Estate
Atherton sale ranks 9th most expensive in nation, behind Zuckerberg’s Florida purchase
Each week, Embarcadero Media takes a look at home sales activity along the Midpeninsula in the communities of Atherton, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley and Woodside.
It’s allergy season on the Peninsula. Here’s how to reduce pollen in your yard.
In spring, trees leaf out and bloom, bringing fresh greenery across the landscape. For many residents, it also signals the start of allergy season across the Bay Area.
Inside cutting-edge Peninsula homes rarely open to the public
From sprawling walls of glass to airy open layouts, the 2026 Silicon Valley Modern Home Tour offers a rare chance to get an insider’s look at some of the best examples of modern architecture on the Peninsula from Atherton to…
The Six Fifty
A ‘special hidden gem’: The newest landmark in San Mateo County is a 116-step mosaic staircase
Seen throughout San Francisco but less common in Silicon Valley, the new ‘Sea to Stars’ tiled stairway in Brisbane pays homage to the city’s history and California ecology.
Walk and talk: 10 guided tours around the Peninsula
We’ve rounded up 10 spots on the Peninsula where you can take guided walks or tours, covering topics from cuisine and arts to history, agriculture and nature.
From upgrades at landmark parks to events in nature, here’s what’s happening outside in Silicon Valley this spring
Get the inside scoop on the outdoors with The Six Fifty’s latest roundup of parks and recreation happenings.


