Palo Alto Weekly November 27, 2020 by Palo Alto Weekly

Palo Alto

Vol. XLII, Number 8

November 27, 2020

Council spars over lame-duck appointments Page 5

w w w. P a l o A l t o O n l i n e.c o m

Desperate times, creative measures How businesSes are pivoting to survive pandemic 2020

Page 14 Read up-to-the-minute news on PaloAltoOnline.com

Donate to the HOLIDAY FUND pages 5, 12

Q Crime Car thefts, home break-ins spike amid pandemic Q Community NonproďŹ t helps youth ďŹ nd direction Q Neighborhoods Residents mourn beloved donkey Jenny

Page 5 Page 5 Page 7

To our Stanford Medicine Community For months, we have faced the challenges of living through this pandemic together. And while we have more reasons to hope with each passing day that we will eventually defeat this virus, it is clear the crisis is far from over. The number of COVID cases in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as much of California, has soared over the past few weeks. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans to avoid large gatherings in an effort to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19. Hospitals across the nation are filling their beds more quickly, and our frontline healthcare workers are facing exhaustion. This is a dangerous situation to be in, and we need everyone’s help to fix it. Even with so much uncertainty, the science is clear. We know what works to stop the spread of COVID-19: • Wear a mask. Masks can save lives, including your own. • Wash your hands. Thorough handwashing stops the virus from spreading. • Keep your distance. Avoid gatherings and stay 6 feet apart from those you don’t live with. We know you have heard all of these recommendations before, but they are more important than ever. Stanford Medicine is here for you, as always, and committed to being a part of the solution. We know you are counting on us, and we have mobilized everyone—our care teams, researchers, students, and staff—to rise to this challenge. But we need you to know that we are counting on you, too. It is your help that will make the difference and determine whether or not we can slow the spread of the virus in the weeks and months ahead. It is your care and thoughtfulness that will save lives and shape the future. We are here for you and with your help, we will get through this together. Lloyd Minor, MD Dean, Stanford School of Medicine

Page 2 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

David Entwistle President and CEO Stanford Health Care

Paul King President and CEO Stanford Children’s Health

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 3

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Upfront

Local news, information and analysis

Policy, politics clash over lame duck appointments Despite new rules calling for spring appointments, City Council prepares for contentious votes on planning commissioners before year’s end by Gennady Sheyner

hen the Palo Alto City Council agreed last month to change its rules for appointing members to local boards and commissions, one of its stated goals was to make the process clearer, more consistent and less contentious.

But as the council looks to formally adopt the rules next week, it’s more than likely the council majority will also make sure one of those rules won’t apply to them. The issue has already deepened a rift between the council’s majority and minority members. On

Monday, the council is expected to vote to adopt a new commission handbook that specifies that commission appointments should be made in the spring, but the council majority is also preparing to move ahead with what promises to be a heated round of appointments on Dec. 14, with the two outgoing council members looking to cement their influence in the composition of key boards that will be advising the incoming council. The vote on Monday,

specifically, will be on approval of the selection of candidates whom the council will interview for open seats on the Historic Resources Board and the Planning and Transportation Commission, which the council plans to fill at its final meeting of the year. While appointments to the Historic Resources Board are expected to be a humdrum affair that retains the status quo (all three applicants are incumbents), the council’s decision on the Planning

and Transportation Commission will almost certainly be a hyperpartisan tussle that will send the seven-member commission in a more pro-growth direction. The highly political nature of appointments to the influential planning commission was on full display on Nov. 2, when the council voted to make its appointments in December rather than to follow the protocols in the (continued on page 30)

CRIME

Burglaries, car thefts see spike Amid pandemic, domestic violence calls drop by Sue Dremann

Magali Gauthier

Second-year Foothill College student Carmen Thomas works at Cooley Landing Education Center in East Palo Alto on Nov. 23.

HOLIDAY FUND

With Live In Peace, at-risk students given something they didn’t think they had: choice Nonprofit’s Gap-Year Project helps students set and achieve their next life goals

wo years ago, Carmen Thomas had a choice: Did she want to stay on board with Facebook, where she’d been interning to take a full-time job offer as a recruiting coordinator, or did she want to go to college? Thomas was then only a recent high school graduate,

by Lloyd Lee barely 19, who’d already interned at one of the most valuable companies in the world through Year Up, a nonprofit accelerated job training program. It’s a conundrum not many recent high school graduates face — certainly not one Thomas imagined she’d have when she was in 10th grade,

missing classes and watching her grades in free fall. That is, until she joined East Palo Alto’s youth nonprofit Live In Peace and later participated in one of their newer programs called the Gap-Year Project. “I didn’t really care about school like that,” Thomas said. “Then I started coming to Live

In Peace and they helped me graduate.” The Gap-Year Project is not necessarily a job or college pipeline. On Live In Peace’s website, it’s intentionally first described in vague terms: “a two-year program for students to move forward together.” That’s because “forward” can mean a lot of things for the

alo Alto crime trends before and during the COVID-19 crisis show a significant increase in bicycle and car thefts, but far fewer car accidents and calls about domestic violence, according to data that police shared with the community last week. One crime, however, saw a massive rise in Palo Alto: the theft of catalytic converters, which rose by 1,750%. The data was discussed by police detectives and officers during a Nov. 17 community meeting held over Zoom. Department crime analysts reviewed data from March 17 through Oct. 31 in both 2019 and 2020. Officers received 28,195 calls for service during that time period this year, down from 32,803 in 2019 during the same span. Overall, there were 62% fewer car accidents, 60% fewer arrests and a 80% decrease in citations issued during the pandemic months than the same sevenmonth stretch in 2019, according to the agency’s data. The coronavirus also added a new category of police calls for service: health order violations. Officers responded to 957 incidents from March 17 through Oct. 31 this year, police said.

Catalytic converters become hot targets Catalytic converter thefts, which are rising throughout the region and take just minutes to

(continued on page 10) (continued on page 8)

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 5

Upfront 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson (223-6505) EDITORIAL Editor Jocelyn Dong (223-6514) Associate Editor Linda Taaffe (223-6511) Sports Editor Rick Eymer (223-6516) Arts & Entertainment Editor Karla Kane (223-6517) Home & Real Estate Editor Heather Zimmerman (223-6515) Express & Digital Editor Jamey Padojino (223-6524) Staff Writers Sue Dremann (223-6518), Elena Kadvany (223-6519), Gennady Sheyner (223-6513) Chief Visual Journalist Magali Gauthier (223-6530) Visual Journalist Intern Olivia Treynor Editorial Assistant/Intern Coordinator Lloyd Lee (223-6526) Contributors Chrissi Angeles, Mike Berry, Carol Blitzer, Peter Canavese, Edward Gerard Fike, Yoshi Kato, Chris Kenrick, Jack McKinnon, Sheryl Nonnenberg, John Orr, Monica Schreiber, Jay Thorwaldson ADVERTISING Vice President Sales & Marketing Tom Zahiralis (223-6570) Multimedia Advertising Sales Elaine Clark (223-6572), Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571) Real Estate Advertising Sales Neal Fine (223-6583), Rosemary Lewkowitz (223-6585) Legal Advertising Alicia Santillan (223-6578) ADVERTISING SERVICES Advertising Services Manager Kevin Legarda (223-6597) Sales & Production Coordinator Diane Martin (223-6584) DESIGN Design & Production Manager Kristin Brown (223-6562) Senior Designers Linda Atilano, Paul Llewellyn Designers Kevin Legnon, Amy Levine, Douglas Young BUSINESS

Candlelight Service of Remembrance We invite you to join us in this meaningful evening of remembrance, sharing on the themes of Love, Hope, Memory, Courage, and Community with live music and a special candle lighting ceremony to honor loved ones who have died. This is an online non-denominational service open to the community.

Assistant Business Manager Gwen Fischer (223-6575) Business Associates Nico Navarrete (223-6582), Suzanne Ogawa (223-6543) ADMINISTRATION Courier Ruben Espinoza EMBARCADERO MEDIA President William S. Johnson (223-6505) Vice President Michael I. Naar (223-6540) Vice President & CFO Peter Beller (223-6545) Vice President Sales & Marketing Tom Zahiralis (223-6570) Director, Information Technology & Webmaster Frank A. Bravo (223-6551) Director of Marketing and Audience Development Emily Freeman (223-6560) Major Accounts Sales Manager Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571)

“Hope links the past through memory, carries with it the grace of love and is evidence of the very real courage of moving forward.”

Thursday December 3, 2020 7 pm

Circulation Assistant Alicia Santillan Computer System Associates Chris Planessi, Mike Schmidt The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County. The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered to homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and to portions of Los Altos Hills. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Palo Alto Weekly, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306. ©2020 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. The Palo Alto Weekly is available on the Internet via Palo Alto Online at: www.PaloAltoOnline.com Our email addresses are: editor@paweekly.com, letters@paweekly.com, digitalads@paweekly.com, ads@paweekly.com Missed delivery or start/stop your paper? Email circulation@paweekly.com. You may also subscribe online at PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $120/yr.

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News Digest Undersheriff indicted in bribery scheme Four people, including top brass in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, have been indicted in bribery schemes for donations to Sheriff Laurie Smith’s reelection campaign in exchange for highly coveted gun permits. A grand jury issued two indictments on Thursday, Nov. 19, against Undersheriff Rick Sung, 48, and Capt. James Jensen, 43, who are accused of requesting bribes for concealed firearms licenses, also known as CCW licenses. Insurance broker Harpreet Chadha, 49, and Apple’s Chief Security Officer Thomas Moyer, 50, are accused of offering bribes to receive the permits, District Attorney Jeff Rosen said during a press conference on Monday morning. The two-year investigation by the district attorney’s office found that Sung, who was allegedly aided by Jensen in one instance, held up the distribution of CCW licenses and refused to release them until the applicants gave something of value. Investigators determined some of the money was sent to Sheriff Smith’s reelection campaign, Rosen said. Sung has been indicted on three counts of asking or receiving a bribe by an executive officer, a felony, for incidents dating between Oct. 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018. Jensen, who was previously indicted, is also now charged with asking for or receiving a bribe by an executive officer for the scheme involving Moyer. Moyer and Chadha each face a single count of bribing an executive officer. So far, 13 people have been indicted in the bribery schemes. Q — Sue Dremann

Nonprofit withholds harassment report For more than a decade, Palo Alto has enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with the nonprofit Downtown Streets Team. Now, the partnership is facing a stress test. The nonprofit has been met with a series of allegations, some dating back to 2014, of sexual harassment and a hard-drinking party atmosphere fostered by its senior executives, including CEO Eileen Richardson. Numerous employees have said they were pressured to engage in the alcohol-driven culture to qualify for raises and promotions. Facing complaints from five former employees, the Downtown Streets Team board of directors hired the Law Offices of Amy Oppenheimer in August 2018 to investigate the allegations. The City Council was aware of these allegations in June when it voted to allot $336,400 to the Downtown Streets Team through the federal Community Development Block Grant Program with no strings attached. The council instead directed staff to engage with the nonprofit about obtaining the report before the next grant is distributed. On Nov. 30, council members are scheduled to approve a threeyear, $323,244 contract with Downtown Streets Team for maintaining downtown garages, sidewalks and alleyways and for providing case management services to homeless individuals. Since that time, city staff has reached out to Downtown Streets Team on numerous occasions to obtain the report. The nonprofit has refused to provide it. The contract is on the council’s “consent calendar,” which means it will get approved with no discussion unless three council members decide to pull the item off the calendar for discussion. Q —Gennady Sheyner

Townhouse project eyed for Fry’s site For years, Palo Alto has treated the area around 340 Portage Ave. as a prime opportunity zone, a place that is ripe for new housing, park space and community amenities. The Sobrato Organization, which owns the property, appears to have other plans. Last week, it submitted to the city a preliminary application for a housing development that it plans to build at 200 Portage Ave., a site that is currently occupied by a portion of the former Fry’s Electronic’s building. The townhouse plan calls for 15 buildings with 85 units along a portion of the lot adjacent to Park Boulevard, according to the application. Seventy of these would be three-bedroom units, while the remaining 15 would have two bedrooms, according to the application. Thirteen units would be designated for residents in the “moderate” income category, which is defined as 120% of the county’s area median income. Sobrato’s proposal for 200 Portage Ave. is the first development in Palo Alto that is relying on SB 330, also known as the “Housing Crisis Act,” to ensure approval. The act, which was amended in 2019, creates time limits for city reviews of housing applications and prohibits cities from applying new development standards after a preliminary application is submitted. Q —Gennady Sheyner LET’S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at PaloAltoOnline.com/square

Upfront COMMUNITY

Barron Park donkey Jenny dies after falling ill Partner to Perry, community pet was first female to live in the park in decades

enny, one of Palo Alto’s beloved donkeys who called the Barron Park neighborhood home, has died. She was euthanized on Nov. 18 after a two-week decline, according to her handlers. The standard-sized donkey likely had a tumor and had abdominal internal bleeding, lead donkey handler Jenny Kiratli said. She was in her late 20s or perhaps even 30 years old. Jenny was the female companion of longtime celebrity donkey Perry (also known as Pericles), a miniature donkey who was the model for the donkey in the movie “Shrek.” She died almost four years to the day that she was brought from a donkey rescue organization to join Perry after his longtime buddy, Miner FortyNiner, died. “It’s been a really rough few months,” Kiratli said, noting that Jenny had hardly been eating. Jenny was the first female, known as a “jenny,” to live in the paddock adjacent to Bol Park in decades, which is located on private property leased from James Witt by the nonprofit community group the Donkey Project. She was a descendant of donkeys that roamed wild on Bureau of Land Management property after gold miners had abandoned them post-Gold Rush and was most likely found in the Mojave Desert, Kiratli said. She was adopted by an older couple and then lived in southern California after her previous owners grew too old to care for her. The Farm Sanctuary in Santa Clarita helped the couple find her a new home in Palo Alto and transported Jenny. Jenny was tentative when she first came to the pasture on Nov. 15, 2016. Two days after her arrival, the soft, gray-brown donkey with the classic brown “cross” of the Jerusalem breed across her back stood still in the middle of a fenced-in area, seemingly trying to get her bearings. She had experienced a long period of isolation prior to her rescue. The handlers initially separated her from Perry in an enclosed chain-link paddock so that she and Perry could sniff each other

in safety and become familiar with each other. She soon warmed up and they bonded quickly, donkey handler Denise Sanders recalled. Jenny, who had unusually long ears and long, luxurious eyelashes, also soon warmed up to her many visitors, as did they to her, Sanders said. Kiratli said the first time she saw Jenny go to the gate to greet visitors was when an elderly couple and their young grandchildren passed by. “She perked up and went straight over there. We had a feeling she thought they were her people,” she said of her southern California former owners. “She was a sweet girl. She just had such deep eyes. After I’d feed her or I’d walk her, I would put my arms under her head and she would put her head down and put her weight on my arms. She would look at me with those soulful eyes. It was very calming, like all was right with the world,” Kiratli said. Kiratli said she did not think Jenny was in pain during her last days. And, Kiratli added, “She was not alone, ever.” Perry also had a chance to nuzzle and sniff her through the night after she was euthanized. Equines are said to need to see their companion dead in order to grieve, Kiratli said. Handlers stayed with Jenny throughout the evening, and Kiratli’s husband stayed the night to keep Perry company. Her body was removed in the morning and was to be cremated, she said. Sanders said that donkeys are herd animals, so Perry has had a steady stream of visitors to provide him with companionship. “Someone’s always with him now. He’s been braying for her. We’re going to try to find another rescue donkey to keep Perry company.” Mike Hedblom, whose home is located behind the pasture, said he heard Perry braying loudly for about a minute on the morning after Jenny died. “He doesn’t usually do that. He used to do that sometimes with Niner when they got separated and it’s like ‘Where are you?’” he said.

CityView A round-up

of Palo Alto government action this week

City Council

The council did not meet this week.

Parks and Recreation Commission (Nov. 24) Recreation: The commission received and discussed annual reports on the city’s aquatics program and Baylands Golf Links. Action: None

199

File photo/Veronica Weber

by Sue Dremann

Jenny was the most vocal of the three donkeys, he said. Working from a home office, he and his wife could always hear Jenny braying. “We’re going to miss her — especially hearing her. We could be on a conference call or in a Zoom meeting and it would be like, ‘What’s that?’ and you’d have to explain,” he said. Jenny incurred significant veterinary expenses over the past few months. Anyone who wants to make a donation in her honor can visit barronparkdonkeys.org. Q Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@ paweekly.com.

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Jenny steals a bite of a fresh flower bouquet at Bol Park in May 2019.

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Upfront

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ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA Case No.: 20CV372765 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: Aren Leon Zhang filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Aren Leon Zhang to Aaron Steve Zhang. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: January 5, 2021, 8:45 a.m., Room: Probate of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 191 N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. A copy of this ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: PALO ALTO WEEKLY. Date: November 10, 2020 Julie A. Emede JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT (PAW Nov. 27; Dec. 4, 11, 18, 2020) NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: RUNHSIANG YANG Case No.: 20PR188955 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of RUNHSIANG YANG. A Petition for Probate has been filed by: JUNEKANG YANG in the Superior Court of California, County of SANTA CLARA. The Petition for Probate requests that: JUNEKANG YANG be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held on January 6, 2021 at 9:01 a.m. in Dept.: 13 of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, located at 191 N. First St., San Jose, CA, 95113. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Shirley Tam 111 North Market Street, Ste. 300 San Jose, CA 95113 (408) 977-7766 (PAW Nov. 27; Dec. 4, 11, 2020)

Call Alicia Santillan at 650-223-6578 or email asantillan@paweekly.com for assistance with your legal advertising needs. Page 8 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

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March 17 - Oct. 31, 2019

Crimes (continued from page 5)

997 All Other Legals

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perform, have skyrocketed from eight in 2019 to 148 in 2020 during the COVID-19 period, a 1,750% increase. “Many of these thefts occur in older Toyota Prius cars due to a rise in precious metals found in the converters in hybrids,” Burglary Detective Joshua Waldorph said at the meeting. “They are targeted because they have two power sources — an electric motor and a gas engine — so their converters are used less frequently to process pollutants.” The parts are easily removed with a car jack and electric power-cutting tools, don’t have traceable serial numbers and are often sold to scrap metal dealers, he added. Theft from cars, a crime of opportunity in which people steal from an unlocked vehicle, has gone up from 92 to 136 incidents, a nearly 48% increase. However, the city had just 137 auto burglaries —in which thieves break into vehicles — between March and October this year, according to department data. That stands in stark contrast to 2019, which saw the greatest spike in a decade of auto burglaries: 934 incidents for the entire year and 557 incidents for the March 17 through Oct. 31 period. This year, police also saw big jumps in the crimes of bicycle thefts and stolen vehicles, police said. Thieves have taken 88 vehicles during the past seven months compared to 47 in 2019, an 87% increase. Bicycle thefts, a perennial problem in Palo Alto, jumped from 165 last year during the March-October period to 271 in 2020, a 64% increase. The city’s number of bicycle thefts is high, in general, because there are so many bikes throughout the city, Waldorph said. When it came to nonviolent crime, there were 42 residential burglaries in 2019 during the

th ef

March 17 - Oct. 31, 2020

March-October period, which rose to 74 in 2020, a 76% increase. Commercial burglaries are also more frequent, with 64 in 2019 compared to 72 in 2020. Waldorph said that many of the residential burglaries have occurred in garages, with the thieves never attempting to enter the main residence. Burglars have recently been stealing items such as bicycles from garages, he said, as seen in one overnight burglary last month and another last week that resulted in one arrest. Also among nonviolent incidents, mental health-related calls also grew from 133 last year during the March-October period to 146 in 2020, or nearly 10%.

Violent crime: A mixed bag Some violent crimes have trended up in Palo Alto during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to police. Child abuse is up from 31 cases in 2019 to 38 incidents in 2020, or 22.5%. Family violence, which excludes conflicts between married couples, is up by 140%, from five incidents in 2019 to 12 in 2020, according to police data. Dependent-adult and elder abuse cases have risen by 11.5% from 26 incidents in 2019 to 29 in 2020. Arson rose from eight incidents in 2019 to 11 in 2020, or 37.5%. Other violent offenses dropped in certain categories. Domestic violence calls are down from 65 last year to 52 in 2020, a 20% decrease credited to officers following up with victims after an incident to make sure that they are safe and have access to resources, Assistant Police Chief Andrew Binder said. Aggravated assaults are down, while robberies, simple assaults, sex offenses and rapes decreased or remained the same, according to the data. Police can’t determine if the changes in the numbers between last and this year are the direct result of the COVID-19

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Palo Alto year-by-year crime trends (nonviolent crimes)

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pandemic, Binder said. Many crimes, particularly theft-related, are cyclical and occur across the entire region. Waldorph said the steep decline in auto burglaries is likely due to more people staying at home and reporting suspicious activity. Police have also made an effort to increase their presence in neighborhoods, near businesses and at places of worship, where conflicts due to COVID-19 orders and opportunities to commit crimes could be high, Binder said. While financial crimes have dipped from 152 in 2019 to 147 in 2020, Palo Alto has seen a growth in mail theft, in which thieves intercept checks from mailboxes and “wash” the check by removing the victim’s name before they use it to gain access to a bank account, financial crimes Detective Michael Kan said. “They are also grabbing mail in bulk from mail trucks when the driver is distracted,” he said, adding thieves can cart away a tray of mail. Recently, the most common scam involves phone calls from people who claim a grandchild is in trouble, who threaten an arrest warrant or who contend that the Internal Revenue Service or another agency is filing a lawsuit against the person, he said. The victims are coerced into purchasing gift cards or wiring money to resolve the situation. In some scams, the caller asks for help in fixing a computer remotely or claims the victim’s device is linked to a criminal enterprise such as a child pornography ring. These criminals convince people to give up their passwords or bank information and their identification, he said. For more information on how to protect yourself against various crimes, watch the virtual town hall by going to YouTube. com and searching for “Palo Alto Police Department.” Q Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@ paweekly.com.

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STUNNING CUSTOM MASTERPIECE 705 CHARLESTON COURT, PALO ALTO This extraordinary masterpiece developed by BWB Properties and designed by the Shift Group encompasses the quintessential indoor/outdoor lifestyle with a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Located on a cul-de-sac in Palo Alto this residence offers over 3,000 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms situated over two levels.This newly re-built home has been expertly designed with all of the modern conveniences and custom designer details throughout.The ¾SSV TPER MW MHIEP JSV JEQMP] PMZMRK [MXL E WTEGMSYW STIR OMXGLIR JEQMP] VSSQ SR XLI KVSYRH ¾SSV [MXL WPMHMRK HSSVW XLEX STIR XS XLI TEXMS ERH TVMZEXI VIEV ]EVH 8LI LSQI JIEXYVIW ER STIR ¾S[ FIX[IIR VSSQW PEVKI [MRHS[W [MXL EFYRHERX REXYVEP PMKLX *VIRGL SEO [MHI TPERO ¾SSVW ERH VIGIWWIH PMKLXMRK XLVSYKLSYX 8LI ]EVH JIEXYVIW IPIKERX PERHWGETMRK E ¾EKWXSRI TEXMS ERH KVEWW] EVIE ;EPOMRK HMWXERGI XS 'LEVPIWXSR 7LSTTMRK 'IRXIV 1MXGLIPP 4EVO ERH I\GIPPIRX RIEVF] WGLSSPW

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE HOME INCLUDE:

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4 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 Bathrooms

•

Living area: 3,130 sq ft per architects plans

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OFFERED AT $4,498,000 | WWW.705CHARLESTON.COM

(650) 400-2718 lhunt@serenogroup.com DRE# 01009791

(650) 269-7266 laurel@serenogroup.com DRE# 01747147

www.LeannahandLaurel.com www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 9

Upfront

Holiday Fund (continued from page 5)

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Joel Norman Rossen June 22, 1927 – November 19, 2020 Joel Norman (“Norm”) Rossen, 93, of Palo Alto, CA, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on November 19, 2020 at his residence, after a long illness. Norm was born in Detroit, MI, on June 22, 1927, the son of Louis and Bessie Rossen. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Weeks Rossen, his sons, Jonathan and David (Joyce), his daughter, Rebecca (Chris), and five grandchildren: Shaina, Audrey, Aaron and Ethan Davis, and Sarah Rossen. He was predeceased by his first wife, Barbara C. Rossen, in 2000. Norm received Chem. E. degrees from M.I.T. (B.S., 1947, M.S., 1948), and met his future wife, Barbara (“Bunny”) Cohan in Boston; they married and moved to Virginia, where he worked at the Atlantic Research Corp. The couple and their three young children moved to Los Altos Hills in 1962. Norm spent a successful 25-year career with United Technologies’ Chemical Systems Division, overseeing numerous contracts for the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, and receiving NASA’s Public Service Group Achievement Award. Retiring just before his 60th birthday, Norm and Bunny pursued their love of travel and enjoyed participating and meeting new friends in Elderhostel programs. They also shared many wonderful trips to Morrison’s Lodge on the Rogue River, and enjoyed spoiling their grandchildren. Music was a huge part of Norm’s life; baroque and swing/ jazz were his favorites. He played the saxophone and clarinet, and later became a proficient blockflute (recorder) player, participating in several local chamber groups. Norm and Nancy were fortunate to have found each other, as they shared this love of music as well as theatre, attending several seasons of the San Francisco Symphony, Music @ Menlo, and TheaterWorks. Norm also enjoyed being a community volunteer. He was an enthusiastic computer tutor for many Russian immigrants in the mid-1980’s, and a driver for the Avenidas organization. He had so many wonderful traits that will be remembered fondly by his family - puns and wordplay, whistling tunes and tapping, a crushingly strong handshake, creating Rube Goldberg-esque designs, and reading road signs and license plates while driving. Vitality, charm, and a warm, welcoming smile are his legacy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of J. Norman Rossen to any of the following organizations: Oshman Family JCC, Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco, Alzheimer’s Association, Music @ Menlo. A typo towards the bottom of the 4th paragraph, where it mentions the A typo PAID

OBITUARY

Page 10 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

people who join the program, whether it’s outlining a career plan, applying for college, getting a driver’s license, or opening their first bank account. Most of the students turning to the Gap-Year Project are those like Thomas, who at one point were atrisk of not getting a high school diploma and, having stuck it out, need to decide what to do next. “Oftentimes, they’ve put all of their effort into just graduating high school,” Laura Gross, development manager at Live In Peace, said. “So when they graduate, they’re not sure what their next steps are, whether that’s college, community college, trade school, etc.” Melvishia Gaines, program coordinator and co-founder of the Gap-Year Project, who’s mentored Thomas for several years, described it as a way to remind struggling or underserved students that they too have the luxury of choice. “Carmen’s aspirations now are very different,” Gaines said. “She can imagine what she can be instead of just thinking, ‘Oh, I need a job here NOW to take care of something.’ She can figure out what it is she’s passionate about.” The Gap-Year Project is the brainchild of Gaines and Heather Starnes-Logwood, Live In Peace’s executive director. Starnes-Logwood always envisioned a program to help students create and stick to a path in community college. Gaines wanted something more broadly focused on life skills. “I’m thinking about, how do they survive, period,” she said. Growing up in East Palo Alto and working in various

educational settings in her city, Gaines is familiar with how quickly some people quit school due to the lack of basic resources. “I know so many students who drop out just because they don’t have internet (access),” she said. Thus, the holistic approach of the Gap-Year Project was born. While they formulate their future plans during the two-year program, participating students are offered financial and career mentors, free tutoring services, a quiet space with internet connection, and even help applying for health insurance or a driver’s license test. (Last Friday, Gaines chaperoned a couple students to the DMV.) Some like Thomas can also choose to participate in the Year Up program, during which time the Gap-Year Project provides weekly stipends. This year, Palo Alto Weekly’s annual Holiday Fund granted $5,000 to Live In Peace to help support students in the program. Others can even get below-market rate housing under the condition they keep up their grades or remain on track with their goals. Because of Live in Peace’s housing program, through which the nonprofit subsidizes a tenant’s rent, Thomas was able to move out of her mom’s often chaotic house of seven children into a one-bedroom apartment for herself, paying just $1,200 for rent. In addition to receiving those resources, the 20 to 25 students in each cohort of the program quickly start to look at Live In Peace as a second or only family to which they can turn. “We’re able to become the family and help provide as we partner with the student’s parents or as we become the parents to help them begin to ‘adult,’” Gaines said. If the country weren’t still grappling with a pandemic, Gap-Year

Barbara Jean Roberts August 24, 1924 – November 13, 2020 Barbara Jean Kirn Roberts passed in her sleep on 11/13/20 at 96. Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, after college graduation she made her way west to marry Dr. Lester A. Roberts and lived in Palo Alto the rest of her life. She was a dedicated wife and loving mother to six. Barbara was full of cheerful, passionate energy and tirelessly contributed to her community. For more details of her life, please visit Palo Alto Online. She is survived by her brother, Harald Kirn of Richmond, VA, her children, Susan Roberts-Manganelli (Sauro), Annie Roberts, Stephen Roberts (Cindy), Paul Roberts (Josie), Cynthia McCabe (Dan) and Jan Silk (Kevin), 12 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her grandson, GianMaria Manganelli. You may honor her with contributions to afs.org, justreadcenters.org and the Ida Hagen Kirn Memorial Endowed Scholarship at St. Olaf College. PAID

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Project students would meet every week, in-person, in larger group sessions to hang out and give life updates. “When we have meetings, we just talk about what’s going on: How are you feeling? How’s family life? What’s stressing you out?” Gaines said. For Thomas, it wasn’t long before she started to address Gaines as “auntie” and Eugene Jackson, a community liaison for Live In Peace, as “pops.” These days, larger meetings are held less frequently and over Zoom. But students still have access to one of five in-person facilities, like the Cooley Landing Education Center, called “pods.” Students are assigned to one pod in order to avoid mixing of too many households and have access to internet hotspots and a quiet space to work. Gaines feels fortunate to see that her budget for the project hasn’t shrunk so far during the pandemic. But the project could always use more funding to expand its resources, Gaines said. With more funding, she would love to see Live In Peace expand its student housing programs and get a bigger budget to invest in guest speakers, who provide lessons on things like financial literacy. “It’s hard to be the life coach and the person who’s doing the checks and balances for your budget,” she said. Nowadays, Thomas visits Cooley Landing to get outside her apartment, see Gaines and do her work. Last Friday afternoon, she was getting a head start on her Federal Student Aid application, an annual ritual that risingcollege and college students go through with resigned sighs. At Facebook, Gaines could have landed a position that offered higher pay than any of her previous jobs at Taco Bell and other stores in the Ravenswood Shopping Center, where she started working at when she was 16. (“I’ve worked in every single one of those stores there, let me tell you,” she said, laughing.) But at her age, now 21, Thomas decided there was still a lot more she wanted to learn and enrolled at Foothill College last year. She’s currently studying kinesiology and on track to transfer next year to San Jose State University. After that, she’s not entirely sure what she’ll do. Maybe she’ll become a personal trainer or a physical therapist. That’s still a choice she will get to make. Q The Holiday Fund campaign to raise $400,000 for local nonprofit agencies serving families, kids and individuals in need is now in full swing. Please see page 12 of this edition for information, or to donate online to the campaign, go to siliconvalleycf.org/Pawholiday-fund. More information about Live In Peace is available at liveinpeace.org. Editorial Assistant Lloyd Lee can be emailed at llee@ paweekly.com.

19 Dover Court, San Carlos Sold for $2,910,000 Represented Buyers in Multiple Offers

Helping buyers and sellers navigate their real estate needs during these challenging times.

C A R O LY N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S R E C E N T T R A N S A C T I O N S

Home has Never Been so Important

1111 Woodland Avenue, Menlo Park Sold for $2,445,000 Represented Buyers

Carolyn Aarts Keddington RealtorÂŽ 650.946.8122 carolyn.keddington@compass.com DRE 01490400

2140 Santa Cruz Avenue #E305, Menlo Park Rented for $3,500/month Represented Tenants

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is FRPSLOHG IURP VRXUFHV GHHPHG UHOLDEOH EXW KDV QRW EHHQ YHULÄ?HG &KDQJHV LQ SULFH FRQGLWLRQ VDOH RU ZLWKGUDZDO PD\ EH PDGH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH 1R VWDWHPHQW LV PDGH DV WR DFFXUDF\ RI DQ\ GHVFULSWLRQ $OO PHDVXUHPHQWV DQG square footage are approximate.

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Support our Kids with a gift to the Holiday Fund Last Year’s Grant Recipients 49ers Academy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20,000 Able Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Acknowledge Alliance (Cleo Eulau) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Ada’s Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Adolescent Counseling Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,500 All Students Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15,000 Art in Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Art of Yoga. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Bayshore Christian Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Big Brothers Big Sisters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Buena Vista Homework Club (Caritas). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 CASA of San Mateo County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 CASSY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 DreamCatchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20,000 East Palo Alto Academy Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,500 East Palo Alto Kids Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 East Palo Alto Library (formerly Quest) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 East Palo Alto Tennis & Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 Ecumenical Hunger Progam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 Environmental Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Family Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Fit Kids Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Foundation for a College Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,500 Friends of Junior Musuem & Zoo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Health Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Heart and Home Collaborative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15,000 Hidden Villa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Jasper Ridge Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Kara. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,500 Live in Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Marine Science Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Music in the Schools Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Musikiwest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 New Voices for Youth (Social Good Fund) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,000 Nuestra Casa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,500 Palo Alto Art Center Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Palo Alto Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Palo Alto Music Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Peninsula Bridge Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Peninsula College Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Peninsula Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Ravenswood Education Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,500 Rich May Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Rise Together Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 Robotics for All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,600 Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Silicon Valley Urban Debate League . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 St. Francis of Assisi Youth Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 TheatreWorks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Vista Center for Blind & Visually Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 WeHOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15,000 YMCA - EPA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 YMCA - PA Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Youth Community Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$20,000 Youth Speaks Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000

Child Care Facility Improvement Grants Gatepath (Abilities United) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 All Five. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 Grace Lutheran Preschool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 The Learning Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 Palo Alto Community Child Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000 Palo Alto Friends Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$6,000 Parents Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,000 High school scholarships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,000

ach year the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund raises money to support programs serving families and children in the Palo Alto area. Since the Weekly and the Silicon Valley

Community Foundation cover all the administrative costs, every dollar raised goes directly to support community programs through grants to non-profit organizations. And with the generous support of matching grants from local foundations, including the Packard, Hewlett, Peery and Arrillaga foundations, your tax-deductible gift will be doubled in size. A donation of $100 turns into $200 with the

Give to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund and your donation is doubled. You give to non-profit groups that work right here in our community. It’s a great way to ensure that your charitable donations are working at home.

foundation matching gifts. Whether as an individual, a business or in honor of someone else, help us reach our goal of $400,000 by making a generous contribution to the Holiday Fund. With your generosity, we can give a major boost to the

CLICK AND GIVE

Donate online at ssiliconvalleycf.org/ p paw-holiday-fund

programs in our community helping kids and families.

Please consider donating online, which enables your gift to be processed immediately. The secure website is: silconvalleycf.org/paw-holiday-fund Enclosed is a check for $_______________ Name__________________________________________________________ Business Name __________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________

All donors and their gift amounts will be published in the Palo Alto Weekly unless the boxes below are checked.

Email __________________________________________________________

T I wish to contribute anonymously.

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T Please withhold the amount of my contribution.

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Please make checks payable to: Silicon Valley Community Foundation

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Send coupon and check to:

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T In honor of:

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_______________________________________________________________ (Name of person)

Non-profits: Grant application & guidelines at PaloAltoOnline.com/holiday_fund Application deadline: January 11, 2021

Page 12 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

01 – Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund c/o Silicon Valley Community Foundation P.O. Box 45389 San Francisco, CA 94145 The Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund is a donor advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. A contribution to this fund allows your donation to be tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

KEEP YOUR HOUSE TOASTY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE HOME EFFICIENCY GENIE The Home Efficiency Genie is an award-winning energy and water efficiency program for Palo Alto residents. Let our trusted advisors help you identify ways to increase efficiency, cut costs and improve the comfort of your home.

$49 VIRTUAL ASSESSMENT INCLUDES: • Professional technician will guide you through your home using a virtual visit phone platform • Pointed discussion and exploration will help to uncover areas of energy efficiency improvements • Comfort concerns, windows, lighting, appliances, and many other items will be checked • If applicable, an assessment of the electric panel and desired electriﬁcation upgrades will be completed to determine the best path forward • Comprehensive report outlining and highlighting efficiency and comfort concerns will be given once the assessment has been completed

FOLLOWING THE ASSESSMENT: • Delivered to your home – efficiency products for additional savings with LED bulbs, an advanced power strip, water-saving devices and more • Get comprehensive guidance with contractor outreach, estimate reviews, education on ways to save energy and improve comfort in your home • Discuss your home with the Genie

CONTACT THE GENIE TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call (650) 713-3411 Email advisor@efficiencygenie.com Visit efficiencygenie.com for details

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 13

Desperate times, creative measures Using ingenuity, businesses pivot during the pandemic by Elena Kadvany, Lloyd Lee, Kali Shiloh and Linda Taaffe

2020

fter the coronavirus hit the Bay Area, the halt of the local economy was swift and unprecedented. Over the past eight months, Midpeninsula businesses have had no idea how long or how extreme the impacts of COVID-19 might be. They’ve faced an unpredictable cycle of forced closures and partial reopenings that, at times, have pivoted back and forth and back again within days amid changing health mandates, which have indefinitely extended shelter-in-place orders from weeks into months.

As many local businesses rise above the chaos and uncertainty to redefine their operations during this time when it appears that business-as-usual will not be usual anytime soon, their creativity, perseverance and commitment to serving the community has pushed the concept of “small business” beyond the established boundaries. From Menlo Park’s Flea Street Cafe, which used community donations to launch a meal program that spared kitchen layoffs while feeding thousands of meals to front-line workers at local hospitals each

week, to Mountain View’s Ava’s Market, which turned to robots to make contactless home deliveries, to Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center, which utilized real estate software to keep its collection accessible to the public, local businesses are blazing new trails and turning to unconventional ways to serve the community. To salute their efforts, we are sharing the stories of how some businesses have responded to the coronavirus and taking a look at how our 2019 Best Of winners are doing a year later.

‘Our program, Going forward, will be much more hybrid’ Real estate software transforms museum collection into a virtual gallery

the university,” Dackerman said. To do that, the museum invested in new pieces of technology — one of which is called Matterport, a 3D imaging platform that has been perfected for real estate professionals to show off commercial or residential properties online. (Clients of the Sunnyvalebased company include Coldwell Banker and Cushman & Wakefield.) With Matterport, Cantor Arts Center is able to extract 3D renderings of the museum’s space, along with its extensive collection of mid-20th century paintings of Auguste Rodin’s bronze sculptures, and upload it to the museum website. This allows viewers to virtually walk through some of the art center’s 130,000-square-foot campus and, with the click of a button, zoom in on each piece of art. The technology is not without its limitations, however. Dackerman and many other art lovers agree that current digital technology cannot fully replicate the experience of seeing all the true colors and textures of a piece of artwork in person. “There is nothing better than a personal encounter with art; there’s just so much more immediacy and intimacy that way,” Dackerman said.

But the tradeoffs still come with benefits. With a large part of the museum now online, Cantor Arts Center is no longer limited to local visitors or researchers but is accessible to anyone around the world. “It’s a really interesting proposition around museums because it means that you can have the experience of going to the museum from your home, which makes us more accessible to a much broader demographic,” Dackerman said. And virtual tours don’t have to bear the burden of replacing the in-person experience. Instead, the museum director sees this digital initiative as an opportunity to encourage people to later seek out art in real life. “Even after the closure is over, even after we’re all moving through the world again, I think that we will have learned some really interesting lessons and that our program, going forward, will be much more hybrid,” Dackerman said. “It will be a combination of in-person and digital platforms because it really expands our base.” The art center continues to expand its virtual resources. Along with a large library of artist talks, learning guides and tours virtually led by docents, the museum

Courtesy Angela Drury

here’s an art to exhibiting paintings, sculptures and a 235-ton piece of steel all under one roof — methods that curators have studied and developed over many centuries, said Susan Dackerman, outgoing director of the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University. “We have hundreds of years of experience of installing artworks in art museums,” Dackerman said. “Personally, I haven’t had hundreds of years of experience, but there are traditions and conventions and you learn from those lessons.” But how do you take an entire museum — originally intended to be experienced in person — and put it online during a global health crisis? For the Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University’s home to more than 38,000 works of art, the real estate industry already had part of the answer. One of the problems the campus museum needed to solve was how to work around restrictions of large gatherings and maintain itself as a resource not just for the local aesthetes but also for the academics who look at the art center as an educational tool. “We wanted to ensure that we had the means to support the research and teaching mission of

A visitor admires a painting at the Cantor Arts Center before the museum closed its doors to the public earlier this year. To keep its collections accessible to the public, the museum has launched a 3D gallery online so viewers can virtually walk through the art center. will push out new exhibitions online. Next year, for example, Cantor Arts Center plans to debut a new exhibition called “When Home Won’t Let You Stay,” in which contemporary artists confront the issues of migration and global movement — a particularly relevant topic when thinking about the spread of a virus, Dackerman said.

“In the last seven months or so, we’ve had to figure out a set of protocols for virtual tours,” Dackerman said. “I would say we’re still very much in the process of experimenting and learning from them.” See Best Of listings on page 25 to find out how last year’s Arts & Entertainment winners have responded to the pandemic. —L.L.

‘Our business pattern has shifted’ Renovated hotel looks to target locals with its daytime amenities

Suarez, director of sales and marketing of Nobu Hotel Palo Alto, said. “But at our hotel, we went above and beyond in a lot of ways. There’s no more shared air between rooms. ... That’s something unique to this hotel.” Nobu also invested in new technology to encourage contactless amenities. Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant, is installed in each room, pre-programmed with voice commands that gives guests the ability to control the lighting and window shades

Page 14 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

without having to physically touch a switch or a cord. There’s also the new Ryokan guest rooms on the seventh and eighth floors — Nobu’s minimalist and modern approach to the traditional Japanese inn featuring in-room televisions that can be controlled through guests’ own phones. Cleaning methods also have been revamped. After every guest, electrostatic and ultraviolet-light treatments are used to fully sanitize the room, Suarez said. And

File photo/Veronica Weber

t a time when most business and leisure travel have been put on hold, forcing many in the hard-hit hotel industry to shut down or scale back operations, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto has moved forward with a multimilliondollar renovation that includes independent HVAC units in each room, a host of contactless amenities and other built-in safety measures intended to attract guests back. “Everyone is looking at what everyone else is doing,” Chris

Nobu Hotel, which just completed a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes a variety of new contactless features, is also offering day passes to those who don't necessarily need a place to spend the night but might enjoy some of the hotel's amenities, such as its business center and lunch from its restaurant, shown above.

Best Of Palo Alto 2020 air filters in each guest room are changed every day. After guests check out, their room is kept empty for 48 hours, and housekeeping must wait 24 hours before entering and cleaning the room. With fewer business travelers, the luxury hotel has shifted its focus on the “drive market,” or

business guests and travelers within driving distance of the hotel at 180 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, who don’t necessarily need a place to spend the night but might enjoy some of the hotel’s amenities. Nobu recently launched several promotional packages like “Work With Us. Stay With Us”

that provides guests a “luxury day pass” where they can stay at the hotel, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and enjoy a lunch from Nobu restaurant as well as several office amenities. There’s also the “Cycling Nobu Style” package, created in partnership with Palo Alto Bicycles, to target local cycling enthusiasts.

The offer includes breakfast inside their room or at Nobu restaurant, cycling equipment, such as a GPS bike computer, a cycling jersey and bike routes for cyclists of all levels and preferences. “It’s (about) creating attractive options for those leisure travelers to come during the week,” Suarez

said. “We’re really seeing a sort of flattening of our pattern during the week and our weekends got busier compared to the mid-week.” See Best Of listings on page 17 to find out how last year’s Services winners have responded to the pandemic. —L.L.

‘Our team is stronger than ever’ Iconic bookstore weathers pandemic without a single layoff

it did previously. What’s more, the bookseller has weathered the pandemic without laying off a single employee. At a staff meeting in March, while facing dismal prospects and weeks of quarantine, employees voted unanimously to reduce their hours across the board to avoid layoffs, Madan explained. “We set a simple goal at the beginning of the pandemic that we were going to keep our team together despite the shutdown and try to emerge stronger from this experience,” he said. “This has proven to be a winning strategy. Our team is stronger than ever. We are collaborating wonderfully and able to innovate on many fronts.” While customers can once again browse the store’s aisles to peruse thousands of titles in the revamped store, which has added MERV-13 medical-grade filters to its air-conditioning units to keep staff and guests safe, the bookseller is working on another shopping alternative: an open-air bookstore.

Magali Gauthier

hen the pandemic forced Kepler’s Books & Magazines to close its doors to the public in March, the independent bookseller did what it’s done many times over the past six decades: It adapted. The Menlo Park store, facing a 40% drop in sales just two months into San Mateo County’s shelterin-place order, turned its focus to online sales and forged new relationships with its distributor and vendors to get books into customers’ hands. Sales through Kepler’s website quickly ballooned to more than 25 times of what the store sold online before the pandemic. “The amount of growth has been astounding. It has blown our minds,” CEO Praveen Madan said in May. Since then, the store has been able to reopen to the public, and in-store shopping has reclaimed a majority of sales — about 60%. The bookseller, however, is still experiencing 10 to 12 times the number of online orders than

Carolee Hazard, a bookseller at Kepler’s Books, prepares orders inside the Menlo Park store on June 2. The independent bookstore, which offers online and in-store service, plans to launch an open-air bookstore, which will be the first of its kind in the area. “Kepler’s en plein-air,” as Madan calls it, would once again transform the store to meet the needs of an ever-changing community of

booklovers by bringing books outdoors, where the risk of spreading the virus would dramatically decrease. See Best Of listings on page 21

to find out how last year’s Retail winners have responded to the pandemic. —K.S.

Minimizing customer interaction: ‘180 degrees from our natural inclination’ With caviar still on the menu, Michelin-starred restaurant turns to takeout

60 dishes to just 15, which are now offered in a $75 per person pre-fixe model to reduce the time waiters spend at tables. Customers can only take their masks off when seated, and employees keep them on at all times. Only one employee is allowed at a table at a time unless it’s to drop off dishes and leave. The overarching goal, said Tim Stannard, founder of Bacchus Management Group, which operates The Village Pub, is to minimize the amount of interaction between employees and diners — a counterintuitive “180 degrees from our natural inclination, which is to spend as much time as we can (with customers).” Reconfiguring The Village Pub’s elegant dining room to allow for at least 6 feet of distance between tables meant operating at 50% capacity. The restaurant quickly secured the necessary permits to build an outdoor patio — which cost $50,000 — that makes up for the lost tables. On a recent Monday evening, every table on the patio was full while

Magali Gauthier

hen Village Pub servers, line cooks and dishwashers clock in to work these days, they immediately have their temperature taken. They sign a form that states in English and Spanish: “I certify that I am in good health and have had my temperature checked and recorded accurately at the beginning of my workday.” They deposit the pen they used into a sleek silver container labeled “used pens,” put on a mask and start their shift. The Village Pub, located at 2967 Woodside Road in Woodside, reopened for both indoor and outdoor dining in June. While many of the signature touches of the 19-year-old Michelin-starred restaurant returned — the staff still uses handheld irons to steam wrinkles out of white tablecloths before setting the tables, caviar is still on the menu and service is paramount — much has changed in the age of COVID-19. Diners can order on their smartphones from a digital QR code or physical menu, and the latter is sanitized after every use. The menu was scaled down from

A masked server clears plates from a table on the patio at The Village Pub in Woodside on July 6. To make up for lost tables indoors during social-distancing regulations, the restaurant added the outdoor patio. a scarce number of parties sat inside. Stannard said the split between outdoor and indoor seating requests is about 70/30. Plenty of people still want the traditional dine-in experience, he said. When Bacchus was discussing whether to resume indoor dining, they talked to staff, investors and customers. There was a “pressure — not a pressure,” he corrected himself, “but interest” from the community

in reopening the dining room. It’s sold out nearly every night since reopening, Stannard said in July. The pandemic forced a major shift for The Village Pub, an upscale restaurant that places high value on the experience of dining in, into takeout. Pre-coronavirus, to-go orders generated less than 2% of sales for the restaurant, Stannard said. Now, delivery accounts for about 30% of sales

— a number that’s held since the restaurant reopened for indoor and outdoor dining. See Best Of listings on page 22 to find out how last year’s Restaurant winners have responded to the pandemic. Note: Local health restrictions have changed since this story was written. —E.K. (continued on page 16)

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 15

Best Of Palo Alto 2020 (continued from page 15)

‘My first reaction was: No way. How are we going to do that?’ Faced with the daunting task of leading virtual ballet-style workouts, studio incorporates furniture and everyday kitchen items into routines platforms: Zoom, Facebook Live and even Instagram Live. Santora said they didn’t have much success at first: Instructors tried performing the movements with the students following along, but it’s extremely exhausting for barre instructors to perform movements and provide directions at the same time. The option of providing handson feedback was also gone. And with all the movements, some requiring the body to go very low, the instructors often found themselves out of the camera’s frame. “We thought, ‘This is very clunky,’” Santora said. “And it takes away from the experience.” That’s when they created the studio’s Spotlight Model, which uses a model to perform the exercises while teachers give instruction. “It’s not a perfect solution,” Santora said. The models still have to adjust their laptop camera as they perform exercises like pushups or planks; there’s the inevitable connection issues over Zoom. And while there’s still no fixed handrail used in the virtual

classes, the studio has adjusted its routines so members can use flat surfaces such as a table or the back of a couch for some routines, Santora said. Other props, like dumbbells, are also part of the class. But if you don’t have weights, she said, you can use wine bottles, cans of tomatoes or water bottles as a substitute. “Beyond exercise, beyond toned muscles, we really are just a strong-knit community of people,” Santora said. “And people miss that. They miss being with each other.” Live Zoom classes provide members the opportunity to log in 15 minutes before the class to reconnect with friends they haven’t seen in person. Despite the early obstacles, Santora said she doesn’t see this new virtual option going away anytime soon. Instead, she expects that The Bar Method will invest more into their production and create their own platform to host classes in the near future. “I really think that fitness has changed,” she said. “It’s changed the landscape and we can’t go on

Courtesy Laura Santora

After the coronavirus forced a statewide shutdown in March, Laura Santora couldn’t imagine pivoting barre classes to the virtual world — at least not the ones at her Palo Alto studio at Town & Country Village in Palo Alto, which are physically demanding and often require hands-on help from instructors. Barre is a strenuous type of exercise that weaves in ballet choreography. The movements can be physically demanding, so instructors often move around the studio to help adjust their clients’ forms, verbally or handson. And like ballet, the training employs the use of a handrail, she explained. “My first reaction was, ‘No way. How are we going to do that?’” Santora said. But like many businesses, The Bar Method had to act fast. Within a week of closing the studio’s physical locations in Palo Alto and San Mateo, Santora and co-owner Noreen Dante began experimenting with how to move their classes online with the studio’s 18 instructors trying out various types of live video

In the early weeks of the shelter-in-place orders, The Bar Method shifted its rigorous studio workouts, shown above, from in-person to online classes that could be streamed from home. thinking that we can only be in the studio. I think people will always want to have this choice." See Best Of listings on page 17

to find out how last year’s Services winners have responded to the pandemic. Q —L. L.

2019

Dave’s Auto Repair is now

Advanced Motor Works Dave’s has now passed the torch to me. —KT, Manager

830 E. Charleston Road (at Fabian Way) Palo Alto 650. 328.6537 www.davesauto830.com Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE!

Page 16 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

Best Of Palo Alto 2020

Best Of winners: How are they doing a year later? A

Magali Gauthier

lot has changed over the past year since readers voted for their favorite local places to eat, shop, workout or spend time with family and friends for the Weekly’s annual Best Of edition celebrating small businesses. The Weekly recently surveyed our local 2019 Best Of winners to see how they are doing a year later. (Note: With ever-shifting public health guidelines, some services listed below may be modified. Check with the business before you go.)

Services Adobe Animal Hospital Adobe Animal Hospital provides pets of all varieties a wide range of quality services. The facility, which has a 24-hour intensive care unit, is equipped with an in-house diagnostic laboratory and endoscope and ultrasound machines, among other essential tools to help your furry friends stay healthy and happy. During the pandemic, the hospital is offering curbside concierge service and has launched a “tele-vet” program enabling clients to visit with a veterinarian for minor health issues via video conferencing from the comfort of their own home. The hospital also offers virtual demos with technicians for preventative care that can be done at home such as nail trimming and ear cleaning.

Tenisha Benavidez, Adobe Animal Hospital lead assistant for the outpatient department, and April Smeraldo, a registered veterinary technician at the animal hospital, wheel a dog into the Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos. concierge service.

4111 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; 650-493-2738; ahopavet.com

2019: Best Veterinarian

Dave’s Auto Repair (Advanced Motor Works) Founded in 2008, Dave’s Auto Repair provides everything from basic maintenance and smog checks to complicated repairs. The shop offers EcoPower engine oil and recycles all used fluid, parts and new-parts packaging.

830 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto, 650-328-6537; davesauto830.com

4470 El Camino Real, Los Altos, 650-948-9661; adobe-animal.com

2019: Best Auto Care

2018 Hall of Fame: Best Veterinarian

This dental practice offers private consultation rooms, blankets, your favorite music, as well as expert advice on how to solve your dental problems and what preventative or corrective procedures they can perform to ensure a healthy smile. Even dental-phobes say they enjoy going here and actually look forward to their next visit. The office is open for regular services with safety measures in place.

AJ’s Green Cleaners Established in 1962 by the AJ Bena family, AJ’s Green Cleaners provides eco-friendly cleaning for everything from shirts and shoes to draperies, bedding and carpets. Since the pandemic, the company has also added customized mask making to its services. The California Avenue location is offering curbside service by appointment only.

Dr. Christine Hansen

416 Waverley St. Suite A, Palo Alto, 650-326-3290; christinehansendds.com

395 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-323-9068; ajscleaners.com

2019 Hall of Fame: Best Dentist

2019: Best Dry Cleaner

Four Seasons Hotel

Animal Hospital of Palo Alto From routine checkups, preventative care and surgical procedures to dentistry, grooming and boarding, Animal Hospital of Palo Alto provides a full range of services to keep pets healthy and happy year round. The hospital has remained open throughout the shelter-in-place orders while taking extra safety precautions such as offering curbside

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto provides a five-star escape for those who want to feel pampered. The hotel reopened on Oct. 5 with new health protocols and enhanced business and fitness programs to keep guests safe during the pandemic. New amenities include an enhanced outdoor fitness cabana; a private fitness suite with hardwood floors, state-of-the-art equipment and on-demand personal training classes accessible

by reservation only; and workfrom-home suite upgrades with access to the business concierge and a complimentary office shuttle and house car.

Announcing new ways to enjoy CALAVE…

ChowNow - to go orders, curbside pick-up and delivery RETAIL STORE - Online Visit our website to take advantage of the latest ways to experience your favorite dish and special bottle of wine. Purchase cool swag from our carefully curated apparel and merchandise.

2050 University Ave., East Palo Alto, 650-566-1200; fourseasons.com/siliconvalley

2019: Best Hotel

Great American Framing Company From canvas to paper, needlepoint to three-dimensional art, the master craftsmen at Great American Framing Company construct the best-quality frames to display customers’ artwork, posters and other prized documents. The shop re-opened on June 1 after COVID-19 health mandates forced it to shutter for more than two months. “The community support has been a blessing,” co-owner James Brady said.

3866 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-327-4521; greatamericanframing.com

2019: Best Framing

Guy Plumbing & Heating

2019

We would like to THANK our community and loyal customers for their support!

www.calave.com 299 South California Ave., Palo Alto | 650-521-0443

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

BEST OF

TRY OUR

NEW CURRIES

Guy Plumbing & Heating is a fourth-generation family-owned business that provides a wide range of services and operates a full-service showroom specializing in the sales and installation of Toto washlet bidet seats, as well as parts for Hansgrohe, Kohler and Grohe. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the company has been taking measures to confirm the health status of customers and its staff before scheduling each appointment. Plumbers are wearing protective masks, gloves and shoe covers as well as maintaining social distance while on the job.

1265 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 650-323-8415; guyplumbing.com

2019: Best Plumbers (continued on page 20)

855 EL CAMINO REAL | 650.391.9305 | ORDER ONLINE AT: ASIANBOX.COM www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 17

For more than 70 years, Peninsula Volunteers, Inc., duly recognized nonprofit, 501 (c) (3), has demonstrated a profound legacy of caring for seniors, a commitment of providing high quality and nurturing programs so seniors are engaged, cared for and respected as vital community members. PVI’s four core programs, Meals on Wheels, Rosener House Adult Day Care for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and the venerated Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center,and Transportation services address the most pressing issues of aging adults by offering critical services to sustain their daily physical, nutritional, emotional and mental health while achieving dignity and independence in their lives.

Page 18 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

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æȌɐ ǿƊɯ ƊȺǲ ٗɩǘƊɈ ƧƊȁ X ƮȌ ɈȌ ǘƵǶȯ‫ ٘د‬æȌɐ ƧƊȁ ǘƊɨƵ Ɗȁ ǞǿǿƵƮǞƊɈƵ Ȍȁ ɈǘƵ ǏƊǿǞǶǞƵȺ ɈǘƊɈ ȁƵƵƮ ɐȺ ǿȌȺɈ‫ث‬

æȌɐȲ ǐǞǏɈ ɈȌƮƊɯ ȌǏ Ɗȁɯ ȺǞɹ æȌɐȲ ǐǞǏɈ ɈȌƮƊɯ ȌǏ Ɗȁɯ ȺǞɹƵ ɩǞǶǶ ǘƵǶȯ ɐȺ ȺɐȺɈƊǞȁ ȌɐȲ ɨǞɈƊǶ ȯȲȌǐȲƊǿȺ‫ؤخ‬

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 19

Best Of Palo Alto 2020 (continued from page 17)

Hair International The crew at Hair International is a diverse team of stylists experienced in working with all hair types. The salon matches each client with the most appropriate stylist who will provide the best style for a particular hair type. The salon reopened on Aug. 31 with a host of safety measures in place, including the addition of five HEPA air-filtration units that operate 24 hours to help remove toxins from the air.

2019

Patio Dining Open

Grilled Chicken Sizzler

232 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, 650-324-2007; hairintl.com

2019: Best Men’s Haircut 2019: Best Hair Salon

Illuminate Plastic Surgery Contemporary Indian Pakistani

Gift Cards Available! One of the Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area NEW Redwood City 2039 Broadway St. (650) 257-7185

Palo Alto 365 S. California Ave. (650) 600-8438

Mountain View 1477 Plymouth St., #C (650) 641-0335

Order online at www.zareensrestaurant.com

Illuminate Plastic Surgery uses the latest treatments to help clients improve their appearances, whether they are looking to obtain a more youthful look, soften features or correct injuries. The clinic is fully reopen and is offering virtual surgical consultations as well as COVID-19 screenings.

101 Addison Ave., Palo Alto, 650-433-8621; illuminateplasticsurgery.com

2019: Best Plastic Surgeons

La Jolie Nail Spa

The Freshest Fish, The Finest Seafood, The Fish Market

Thanks for Naming Us Last Year

Best Seafood 10 Times. Celebrating Our 40th Year in Santa Clara.

La Jolie Nail Spa offers a wide range of mani/pedi options, from the quick “express mani” (clean, shape, buff and polish) to the ultra-luxurious “peppermint pedi” (including a mint oil bath, shea butter massage and paraffin dip). The salon is open seven days a week and offers outdoor service.

364 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-322-8882; yelp.com/biz/ la-jolie-nail-spa-palo-alto

2019: Best Manicure/Pedicure

650/493-8862 Palo Alto, CA

The Fish Market 408/246-3474 Santa Clara, CA

650/349-3474 San Mateo, CA

TheFishMarket.com Palo Alto • Santa Clara • Del Mar • San Mateo • San Diego Page 20 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

2019: Best Massage

Midtown Shoe Repair Midtown Shoe Repair has been a Palo Alto fixture for 40 years. Since 1979, Robert Babekian has meticulously restored shoes, suitcases, purses, zippers — and practically anything made out of leather — in his quaint Midtown workshop.

2796 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, 650-329-8171; midtownshoerepair.com

2019: Best Shoe Repair

Palo Alto Chiropractic Offices Since 1978, Palo Alto Chiropractic Offices has worked with more than 35,000 individuals to help them achieve their health goals, including everything from wellness-oriented health care to relief from pain.

1691 El Camino Real #100, Palo Alto, 650-328-2100; paloaltochiropractic.com

2019: Best Chiropractors

Palo Alto Dental Group Located in the same building where its practice began in 1934, Palo Alto Dental Group has developed lifelong relationships with multiple generations of patients and their families. The practice has been open for regular business since June 1.

511 Byron St., Palo Alto, 650-323-1381; paloaltodentalgroup.com

2019: Best Dentists

Palo Alto Family YMCA, Ross Road

From retainers to full orthodontia, Larry Morrill, DDS and Associates is dedicated to providing children and adults with personalized, quality orthodontic care in a fun and relaxed environment. The practice has treated generations of patients for the past 49 years.

1000 Welch Road, #201, Palo Alto, 650-322-2817; morrillorthodontics.com

3412 Ross Road, Palo Alto, 650-856-9622; ymcasv.org/paloalto

2019: Best Orthodontists

2019: Best Gym 2019: Best Personal Trainers 2019: Best Fitness Classes

Massage Therapy Center

The Fish Market Top Of The Market

368 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-328-9400; massagetherapypaloalto.com

The YMCA, which has been operating in the area for 126 years, offers swimming, youth sports, group exercise, recreational sports and personal training to help clients attain a variety of fitness goals at its Ross Road site. During the pandemic, the center is offering on-demand and livestream exercise classes, as well as other social programs.

Larry Morrill, DDS and Associates

The Fish Market

of high-quality, medical-grade HEPA air purifiers in all rooms.

As one of the largest and oldest massage bodywork facilities in California, Massage Therapy Center provides clients a variety of massage therapies, including Swedish, clinical deep tissue and sports trigger point therapy. The center reopened with new safety protocols, including the use

Palo Alto Plumbing Heating and Air/ Dahl Plumbing Palo Alto Plumbing will be there when you need them, come rain, shine, sleet, hail — or a pandemic. From emergencies to routine repairs, the

company specializes in serving all types of customers’ needs in plumbing, heating and airconditioning and is available 24 hours a day

716 San Antonio Road, Unit F, Palo Alto, 650-856-3400; paloaltoplumbing.net

2019 Hall of Fame: Best Plumber

SkinSpirit SkinSpirit is the ultimate destination for all things skin and body. Co-founded in 2003 by a board-certified plastic surgeon, the clinic provides all the luxuries of a spa experience, including facials, injectables and lasers. The clinic has resumed its medical aesthetic treatments for skin health, facial rejuvenation and body contouring with safety protocols in place.

701 Emerson St., Palo Alto, 650-324-9600; skinspirit.com

2019: Best Skin Care

Turbo 26 Studio Turbo 26 Studio reopened for in-person classes held outdoors on the rooftop of the garage adjacent to the studio on Nov. 1. The studio also offers livestream and on-demand classes. New videos are added every week, so clients can practice when they want, any format, any time.

240 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, 650-325-2626; turbo26studio.com

2019: Best Yoga

Watercourse Way Inspired by the natural hot springs of Tassajara, Watercourse Way now offers concierge massages that can be booked in clients’ backyards. The spa is open for outdoor gazebo massages, facials and spa treatments as well as indoor massages and limited hot tub service. All rooms are equipped with Dyson air purifiers and UV lights. Hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the building. Masks are required for clients and therapists, and all staff undergo temperature checks before each shift.

165 Channing Ave., Palo Alto, 650-462-2000; watercourseway.com

2019: Best Day Spa

Yoga Source YogaSource Palo Alto offers more than 40 virtual classes a week, including Vinyasa, Power, Hot 26, Yin, Restorative, Yoga Sculpt, HIIT Pilates, Core+Strength and Barre. In addition to its ongoing livestream class schedule, the studio also is hosting special outdoor classes.

158 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, 650-328-YOGA; yogasource.com

2017 Hall of Fame: Best Yoga Studio

Best Of Palo Alto 2020

Retail Books Inc.

Town & Country Village, #74, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-321-0600; booksinc.net

2018 Hall of Fame: Best Bookstore

Cheeky Monkey Toys Cheeky Monkey Toys is a family-owned shop that specializes in finding “just the right toy” for each customer. Since opening its doors in Menlo Park in 1999, the shop has provided interactive toys designed to stimulate children’s minds to generations of local families. When all nonessential businesses were ordered to close in March, Cheeky Monkey Toys quickly pivoted to a direct delivery-only service, dropping off toys within a 10-mile radius of the store. Cheeky Monkey has reopened for in-store shopping

the spread of COVID-19, Leaf & Petal is now offering virtual shopping and one-on-one personal appointments.

640 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park, 650-328-7975; cheekymonkeytoys.com

439 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-329-8070; lpetal.com

2019: Best Toy Store

2019: Best Women’s Apparel

Essentique Mandana Navi got her start in the beauty business in her own kitchen, testing out recipes for skin products and sharing her results with friends before opening Essentique on California Avenue in 2016. After closing in March due to health mandates, the shop is scheduled to reopen on Nov. 30. Navi’s line of hair, skin and body care products also are available at Essentique’s online store.

2417 Park Blvd., Palo Alto, 650-800-7375; essentique.com

2019: Best Beauty Supply

Footwear Etc. Footwear Etc. has been helping customers find comfortable yet stylish shoes since 1986. The shop features Vionic, a podiatristcreated brand for men and women that includes built-in arch supports in all of its shoes. The shop is open for in-store service.

463 University Ave., Palo Alto, 650-328-1122; footwearetc.com

2019: Best Shoe Store

Lux Eyewear Magali Gauthier

Books Inc. offers an array of joys for local bookworms: old classics, new hardcovers, newspapers, magazines and gift ideas galore. Founded in 1851, Books Inc. has weathered wars, depressions, earthquakes and more than one pandemic. The bookseller is offering curbside pickup, online ordering and virtual author events.

and also offers curbside pickup and delivery.

Anna Chow, co-owner of Cheeky Monkey Toys, checks orders assembled for pick up in the empty downtown Menlo Park store in April.

Hassett ACE Hardware From hardware, tools, key cutting and knife sharpening to phone repair, garden supplies and barbecues, Hassett ACE Hardware in Palo Alto has it all. Family-owned since 1957, Hassett is a Palo Alto institution known for its focus on customer service.

875 Alma St., Palo Alto, 650-327-7222; hassetthardware.com

also the site of hundreds of free and ticketed events hosted by the nonprofit Kepler’s Literary Foundation. The bookseller launched curbside pickup in the plaza in May as well as a host of virtual author and books events. Kepler’s is now open for in-store shopping.

1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 650-324-4321; keplers.com

2019: Best Book Store

2019: Best Hardware Store

Leaf & Petal Kepler’s Books Kepler’s Books has been a mainstay of the Peninsula’s literary scene for more than six decades. Besides offering books, it’s

With high-quality brand-name clothing, artisan jewelry and modern shoes, Leaf & Petal has been helping customers find outfits and accessories that express their style since 1976. To prevent

Lux Eyewear is a one-stop shop for all things vision-related — from eye checkups to lens replacement. Opticians are available on site to assist customers, and Lux’s in-house optical lab can process prescriptions in as little as two hours. During the pandemic, Lux Eyewear is offering services on a limited basis. It is also offering online and tele-styling options for its eyewear and private appointments for vulnerable patients.

1805 El Camino Real #100, Palo Alto, 650-324-3937; luxpaloalto.com

2019: Best Eyewear

Mike’s Bikes Founded in 1964, independent bike chain Mike’s Bikes has a singular purpose — to get as many people on bikes as possible. The shop features a big selection of brands and types, plus a skilled staff to offer tune-ups. As an essential business, Mikes Bikes has remained open serving customers (continued on page 22)

Shady Lane Ready for the Holidays? Earrings by Holly Yashi

Shop safely at Shady Lane:

Necklace by Firefly

Shop Online ~ Curbside Pickup ~ Shop by Appointment We’re Open! Visit our website for our extended Holiday hours

Jewelry Box by Michael Fisher

Amethyst Geode Specimen Heart

Voted Best ~ Gifts • Jewelry • Boutique Celebrating Local Artisans for over 40 years Formerly in Palo Alto, now in Menlo Park off Sand Hill Road Necklace by Judi Eichler

Sharon Heights Shopping Center • Next to Starbucks 650-321-1099 • Facebook/ShadyLaneGallery • shadylanegallery.com

Gift Cards Available

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 21

Best Of Palo Alto 2020 (continued from page 21)

trowels and gloves), bare-root fruit trees, native grasses, veggie plants and flower hats. The center is open and is now offering home delivery and curbside pickup.

during COVID-19 health restrictions. Bikes in all categories remain in extremely short supply nationwide. According to the shop’s website: New bikes are arriving every day, but in the current situation, the shop might not have the bike available that customers want to see.

725 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, 650-493-5136; summerwindsnursery.com

2019: Best Nursery/Garden Supplies

4233 W. Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, 650-858-7700; mikesbikes.com Magali Gauthier

2019: Best Bike Shop

Mills Florist Since opening in 1903, Mills Florist has provided fresh flower arrangements for special events spanning the past 100 years. The longtime florist also offers balloon bouquets, fine crystal, stuffed animals, dried swags and wreaths, and chocolates and other sweets. According to its website: The shop is open for phone and online delivery orders only and will not be delivering to medical facilities at this time.

235 University Ave., Palo Alto, 650-326-3443; millsflorist.com

2019: Best Flower Shop

Pet Food Express Pet Food Express features everything almost every pet needs: a line of high-quality food, toys, grooming tools, bedding, a selfservice bath facility and veterinary

Food & Drink Armadillo Willy’s

services. The California-based chain also facilitates adoption and rescue events. The store is now offering same-day delivery service.

limited hours for in-store shopping three days a week and offers online shopping and curbside pickup. The store also offers gift wrapping.

Nearly all of the Texas-inspired grub at Armadillo Willy’s is cooked over an oak-wood fire. This locally owned BBQ joint offers traditional items like ribs and brisket, as well as more adventurous options, like jalapeno-cheese sausage. The restaurant is open for takeout and delivery.

3910 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, 650-856-6666; petfoodexpress.com

325 Sharon Park Drive, Menlo Park, 650-321-1099; shadylanegallery.com

1031 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, 650-941-2922; armadillowillys.com

2019: Best Pet Store

2019: Best Boutique 2019: Best Gift Shop 2019: Best Jewelry Store

2019: Best BBQ

Bhuvan Sahney, vice president of Gleim the Jeweler, poses for a portrait surrounded by empty jewelry cases in the store in Stanford Shopping Center on April 13. Gleim has won Best Jewelry Store many times over the years.

Shady Lane From hand-carved Zuni necklaces and luminescent art glass to troll beads, Shady Lane has been offering one-of-a-kind pieces ever since artist Alice Deutscher opened the boutique more than four decades ago. The boutique is open for

SummerWinds SummerWinds has everything you’ll need to make your garden pop, including compost, potting mix, outdoor decor and tools (like

Asian Box Inspired by Vietnamese street food, Asian Box offers diners a 100% gluten-free menu with comforting staples like pho and curry chicken, as well as more eclectic options such as caramel catfish. During the pandemic, Asian Box

is offering a lunch and dinner program enabling customers to donate meals to local healthcare professionals on the front line. The restaurant will match every box donated.

855 El Camino Real #21, Palo Alto, 650-800-7043; 142 Castro St., Mountain View, 650-584-3947; asianbox.com

2019: Best Takeout

Douce France Douce France features a stunning array of desserts — from bite-sized strawberry tarts to delicate eclairs — all made from fresh ingredients and based on recipes that originated in the Alsace region of France over half a century ago. Menu items can be ordered online.

Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #104, Palo Alto, 650-322-3601; cafedoucefrance.com

2019: Best Bakery/Desserts

Calave The pandemic may have put an end to the traditional happy hour, but Calave is still the go-to place for locals looking for a predinner snack or a light meal with their cocktails. The wine bar serves wine by the glass or the flight, house-made sangria, beer by the glass, signature cocktails

Protecting our Hair International community – you, your families and ourselves. We want you to know that during the period when businesses were shut down, we worked many hours with Health and Safety consultants, aerosol consultants, created an in-house Safety Team and took vigorous action to shield us from and reduce the covid virus spread. We’ve: • Installed six HEPA air purifiers that filter virus particles from the air; • Modified the air conditioning system to bring in a constant flow of fresh air; • Reduced the number of employees and clients in the salon at any one time by 75%; • Have staff members using N95 or KN95 respirators and provide high-quality surgical mask for clients who need them; • And are sanitizing and disinfecting all tools and work stations between clients. We feel these are important risk reduction techniques, especially considering we are now entering into the more dangerous winter months. We truly hope you do too. Keeping you, your families, ourselves and our community safe is our first concern, and we are committed to it. With respect, affection and hope, Pam and the Hair International Styling Team

Hair International 232 Stanford Shopping Center | Palo Alto, CA 94304

To come see us: call, text or email 650.324.2007 | hairintlpaloalto@gmail.com | www.hairintl.com Page 22 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

Best Of Palo Alto 2020 and select bar bites on its outdoor patio on California Avenue with new health standards in place.

Oren’s Hummus Famous for its fresh, directfrom-Israel hummus, flavorful meat skewers and stuffed-to-thegills pita sandwiches, the menu at Oren’s Hummus is full of Israeli staples that also are served at a new “express” version of the restaurant, which focuses on quick, grab-and-go service. Patio dining, takeout and delivery are available.

299 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-521-0443; calave.com

2019: Best Happy Hour

Chef Chu’s

1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, 650-948-2696; chefchu.com

Magali Gauthier

Since opening in 1970, Chef Chu’s specialty dishes, including its homemade potstickers and Beijing duck cooked in a castiron Chinese oven, have attracted a who’s who list of diners from near and far, including Serena Williams, Steve Young, Justin Bieber and JFK Jr.

Joanie’s Cafe customers eat at tables spaced out on California Avenue.

261 University Ave., Palo Alto, 650-752-6492; orenshummus.com Oren’s Hummus Express, 855 El Camino Real, #162, Palo Alto; 650-563-6736; orenshummusexpress.com

2019: Best Mediterranean

Fleming’s Prime Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels Restaurant Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels offers 2019: Best Chinese Restaurant Steakhouse & Wine Bar a wide selection of pastries and 2019: Best Meal Under $20 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse Coupa Café Coupa Café serves certified organic and fair-trade coffee as well as a variety of menu items including pastries, paninis, salads and Venezuelan specialties like white cornmeal griddle cakes called “arepas,” taqueros and empanadas. The cafe now offers curbside pickup, contactless outdoor dining and delivers a wide range of products from its online grocery store.

538 Ramona St., Palo Alto, 650-322-6872; coupacafe.com

2019: Best Coffeehouse

Darbar According to Palo Alto Weekly readers, nowhere does Indian quite like Darbar, the unassuming fixture on Lytton Avenue in downtown Palo Alto that’s been serving up biryani, curries, tandoori, samosas and wickedly good naan for years. There’s even more on the menu for dinner.

29 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto, 650-321-6688

2019 Hall of Fame: Best Indian Restaurant

Evvia Estiatorio Evvia Estiatorio is famous for whipping up an unforgettable Greek feast. The Michelin Guide has dubbed the restaurant’s modern Greek menu the “best Hellenic fare in the entire Bay Area.” Its specialties include everything from lamb chops served straight from the mesquite grill to grilled octopus with lemon juice and olive oil to sea bass, served whole. The restaurant is serving lunch and dinner in its outdoor garden dining terrace seven days a week. Takeout also is available.

420 Emerson St., Palo Alto, 650-326-0983; evvia.net

2019 Hall of Fame: Best Restaurant to Splurge 2019 Hall of Fame: Best Mediterranean Restaurant

& Wine Bar serves prime beef, chops, seafood and chicken, as well as 100 wines by the glass in a contemporary dining room at Stanford Shopping Center. Takeout, delivery and indoor/outdoor dining are available.

180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-329-8457; flemingssteakhouse.com

2019: Best Steakhouse

Fuki Sushi With chefs trained in Japan, Fuki Sushi executes delicately crafted sushi rolls with wellcooked rice and fresh seafood. Until its sushi bar and private tatami rooms are reopened, the restaurant is offering takeout and delivery.

4119 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-494-9383; fukisushi.com

2019: Best Sushi/Japanese Restaurant

Hobee’s Founded by Paul Taber in 1974 and now operated by a new generation of owners, Hobee’s remains an iconic Silicon Valley chain known for its funky vibe and ample breakfasts — including its legendary blueberry coffee cake with crumbly streusel topping — and assortment of healthy menu items. The restaurant is open for curbside pickup and delivery (and its blueberry coffee cake can be shipped nationwide).

4224 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-856-6124; hobees.com

2019: Best Breakfast

House of Bagels Tucked away in Edgewood Plaza, House of Bagels is a New York-inspired establishment that features all the bagel basics — the savory spreads, the soft lox, the mouth-watering deli sandwiches — along with cookies, pastries and other baked goods. Bagels are freshly baked daily and can be ordered online.

2190 W. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, 650-322-5189; houseofbagels.com

2019: Best Bagels

challah. The stars of the show here, however, are the bagels, which are made fresh every day. Locals know that it’s important to come in early so that popular flavors are still available. Even during the early months of the pandemic, customers could be seen waiting (a safe distance apart) outside for their morning bagel after the shop pivoted to curbside service.

477 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-329-0700; 2220-B University Ave., East Palo Alto, 650-322-5700; izzysbrooklynbagels.com

2018 Hall of Fame: Best Bagels

Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill

2019: Best Dining with Kids 2019: Best Milkshake

Palo Alto Sol

2019: Best Sunday Brunch 2017 Hall of Fame: Best Breakfast

2019: Best Mexican Restaurant

Pizzeria Delfina

2019: Best Ambiance 2019: Best Bar/Lounge 2019: Best Latin American Restaurant 2019: Best Solo Dining

For more than 40 years, Rick’s Rather Rich Ice Cream has been churning out small-batch ice cream handmade daily at the back of the shop. The menu boasts more than 48 flavors, including creations such as rose, sweet coconut and white chocolate ginger. Customers can order ahead to pick up ice cream scoops, milkshakes, sundaes and other items to go. The shop is also accepting online donations to “help us stay afloat,” according to its website.

Saint Michael’s Alley

408 S California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-328-8840; solrestaurantsca.com

463 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-326-7762; labodeguita.com

Rick’s Rather Rich Ice Cream

566 Emerson St., Palo Alto, 650-323-3131; paloaltocreamery.com

405 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-326-6505; joaniescafepaloalto.com

The Cuban-influenced menu at La Bodeguita del Medio offers robust meat dishes, fresh seafood, flavorful vegetarian entrees and specialty cocktails inspired by the legendary La Bodeguita in Havana. The restaurant is open Tuesday-Saturday for takeout and outdoor dining on California Avenue.

2019: Best Restaurant to Splurge

3946 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, 650-493-6553; ricksicecream.com

Breakfast is so good at Joanie’s Cafe that the California Avenue restaurant offers it at lunch as well. Favorite brunch items include pancakes, waffles, French toast and omelets, crepes, scrambles or just plain eggs — all served with hash browns, home fries or fruit. Outdoor dining available on California Avenue.

La Bodeguita del Medio

250 California Ave., Palo Alto, reservations@protegepaloalto. com; protegepaloalto.com

Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill is an old-school diner that has been serving shakes since 1923. Everything here is made from scratch, including the 20-plus milkshake flavors on the menu.

Owned and operated by Hector and Helena Sol, Palo Alto Sol serves up sopas, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and other regional dishes from Puebla, Mexico, that are based on family recipes. In recent years, the restaurant has been moving toward sustainability by supporting local farmers and ranchers. The restaurant is now open for outdoor dining and takeout.

Joanie’s Cafe

in Yountville, opened in Palo Alto in 2018, the restaurant won a Michelin star. Protégé is open Thursday through Sunday. Takeout and patio dining are available.

Pizzeria Delfina offers its Neapolitan-style pizza in a spacious patio, where trellises, wisteria, Japanese maples and a wall of ivy cool the summer nights and heat lamps await for chillier weather. Patio dining and takeout are available.

651 Emerson St., Palo Alto, 650-353-2208; pizzeriadelfina.com

2019: Best Outdoor Dining

Protégé Protégé is an approachable yet impressive neighborhood restaurant that features New American cuisine. Just nine months after co-owners Dennis Kelly (master sommelier) and Anthony Secviar (chef), alums from the three-Michelin-star The French Laundry

2019: Best Ice Cream/Gelato Originally founded as a coffeehouse with a bohemian vibe when it opened in 1959, Saint Michael’s Alley has since developed into a refined restaurant with upscale ambiance and a menu rooted in local, fresh ingredients that includes entrees such as roasted sea bass, red curry roasted duck breast and panroasted halibut. The restaurant is open for takeout and patio dining.

140 Homer Ave., Palo Alto, 650326-2530; stmikes.com

2019: Best California Cuisine 2019: Best Romantic Dining

Salt & Straw Salt & Straw was born in Oregon but has made a name for itself on the West Coast with creative flavors made in small batches using local, organic ingredients. Each outpost is a reflection of the place it's located, so the Palo Alto shop, which opened in November 2018, serves flavors unique to the Bay Area, such as freckled mint chip made with chocolate from San Francisco’s TCHO and another flavor made with Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam cheese, Acme Bread and sour cherry jam. The shop offers onsite pickup, delivery and orders through its online shop.

250 University Ave. #110, Palo Alto, 650-656-9224; saltandstraw.com

2019: Best New Food/Drink Establishment

Sancho’s Taqueria The variety of burrito options served at Sancho’s Taqueria is well worth savoring. The sky’s the limit when it comes to portions and ingredients. Choose (continued on page 24)

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 23

Best Of Palo Alto 2020 Thank you for your support!

(continued from page 23)

– LIVE MUSIC –

TUESDAYS AT TERUN THURSDAYS AT ITALICO We are open everyday for outdoor dining! See our websites for updated hours

from 12 different kinds of burritos with eight different meat options, as well as vegetarian fare.

education in Greek cuisine. Patio dining and takeout are available. The restaurant also offers a family meal menu.

491 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto, 650-322 8226; sanchostaqueria.com

250 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-494-4181; tavernarestaurant.net

2019: Best Burrito

2019: Best New Restaurant

Sprout Cafe

Teaspoon Palo Alto

With a menu that includes made-to-order custom salads, Japanese somen noodles, grilled chicken breast, sandwiches and soups, Sprout Cafe proves that healthy fast food does exist. During the pandemic, the restaurant is offering pickup and delivery.

168 University Ave., Palo Alto, 650-323-7688; cafesprout.com

2019: Best Salad

Sundance the Steakhouse 2019

448 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto 650-600-8310 www.terunpizza.com 341 California Ave, Palo Alto 650-473-9616 www.italicorestaurant.com

Opened in 1974, this steaklover’s restaurant serves specially aged prime-graded steak, to-diefor slow-roasted prime rib and the freshest catches from the sea, like New England sea scallops, Scottish salmon, Australian lobster and Chilean sea bass. Open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout.

1921 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-312-6798; sundancethesteakhouse.com

2019 Hall of Fame: Best Steakhouse

Tai Pan Tai Pan features an extensive menu that includes more than 80 different kinds of Hong Kongstyle dim sum, classic dumplings and specialty rice-noodle rolls. Indoor and outdoor dining is available daily and the dinner menu is available for takeout during the restaurant’s open hours.

560 Waverley St., Palo Alto, 650-329-9168; taipanpaloalto.com

2019: Dim Sum

The Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse is open for Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Delivery and Online Butcher Shop ... perfect for ambitious home cooks! Enjoy the absolute best heated and covered patio in all of Palo Alto! Thank you for your support! Takeout & Delivery | Everyday 12 - 8PM Lunch: Sat-Sun 11:30AM - 2:00PM Dinner: Sun-Thurs 4:30 - 8:30PM | Fri-Sat 4:30 - 9:00PM

Tamarine Restaurant From ginger-beef pho and wokflashed rice noodles to steamed wild snapper in banana leaves, Tamarine Restaurant serves thoughtfully crafted Vietnamese cuisine that makes every dish a work of art in this fine dining establishment. Takeout and indoor and outdoor dining are available.

546 University Ave., Palo Alto, 650-325-8500; tamarinerestaurant.com

2019: Best Fusion Restaurant

Taverna 4269 El Camino Real, Palo Alto | 650.213-1111

www.theseausa.com Page 24 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

With casual fine dining in a Greek-style tavern, Taverna restaurant exudes Hellenic hospitality. The menu, split into bites, small plates and entrees, is an

Teaspoon Palo Alto offers a variety of specialty drink flavors — from toasted marshmallow to a virgin mojito — made with all-natural golden cane sugar. The shop also offers shaved snow desserts that come in flavors like banana. Items are available for instore pickup.

2675 Middlefield Road, Suite C, Palo Alto, 650-272-6734; teaspoonlife.com

cioppino and clam chowder — as well as dishes for the edgier palate. The restaurant and retail market reopened Sept. 3. Takeout and curbside service also are available.

3150 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 650-493-9188; thefishmarket.com

2019: Best Seafood Restaurant

The Market at Edgewood The Market at Edgewood is a family-owned neighborhood market that offers a large variety of hand-selected produce from local farms and producers, as well as baked goods, a diverse meat section and a dedicated cheese specialist. The market is offering curbside pickup and delivery.

2019: Best Boba Tea

2170 W. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, 650-665-7590; marketatedgewood.com

Terún

2019: Best Produce 2019: Best Grocery Store

With Neapolitan-style pies baked in a wood-fired oven, Terún provides diners a slice of Italy in Palo Alto. The pizzeria offers a virtually endless choice of creative combinations with toppings like burrata, zucchini, grilled eggplant, artichokes and pears. Terún is offering takeout, delivery and restaurant dining on California Avenue through the city’s outdoor dining program.

448 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-600-8310; terunpizza.com

2019: Best Pizza 2019: Best Italian Restaurant

Thaiphoon Whether you feel like having it hot or mild, the menu at Thaiphoon can be altered to the spice level of your choice. From chicken coconut soup to fried tofu or braised lamb, there is something for everyone. The restaurant offers patio dining and takeout.

543 Emerson St., Palo Alto, 650-323-7700; thaiphoononline.net

2019: Best Thai Restaurant

The Counter No two burgers at The Counter are the same. The popular restaurant on California Avenue puts a premium on letting you custombuild your burger down to the last detail. The possibilities are endless. The restaurant is offering outdoor dining, pickup and delivery.

369 California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-321-3900; thecounter.com

2019: Best Burgers

The Fish Market For nearly 43 years, The Fish Market has been an El Camino Real mainstay serving up traditional fare to satisfy the hardiest of sea-faring souls — fish and chips,

The Old Pro Instantly recognizable by its pennant-covered interior walls, the Old Pro is known for its happy hour deals and eclectic menu, which includes wings, crispy Brussels sprouts and garlic Parmesan tater tots. The restaurant is open and menu items are available for takeout and delivery.

541 Ramona St., Palo Alto, 650-326-1446; oldpropa.com

2019: Best Sports Bar

Tin Pot Creamery What started as an ice cream of the month club expanded to several storefronts famous near and far for serving thick-and-creamy organic ice cream. The menu includes classic flavors as well as more innovative ones like salted butterscotch and sweet cream with honey balsamic swirl. Ingredients are locally sourced. Menu items are available onsite and for pickup and delivery.

Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #121, Palo Alto, 650-327-1715; tinpotcreamery.com

2019 Hall of Fame: Best Ice Cream/Gelato

True Food Kitchen The menu at True Food Kitchen draws from an anti-inflammatory diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, whole grains, seafood, healthy fats and other items, which are sourced locally and regularly rotated on the menu with the seasons. The restaurant has made adjustments to its dining room to accommodate for social distancing and other safety measures as it reopens.

180 El Camino Real, #1140, Palo Alto, 650-272-5157; truefoodkitchen.com

2019: Best Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine

Best Of Palo Alto 2020 The bar temporarily closed in August. No reopening date has been announced.

Mitchell Park Library, which closed indoor operations in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, pivoted to online and sidewalk services and provides Wi-Fi access from its parking lot.

Zareen’s is a Michelin Guide restaurant that serves traditional and fusion-style Pakistani and Indian food, including samosas, kebabs and a Punjabi chicken burger with spicy fries made in small batches around the clock. The Palo Alto restaurant is open for outdoor dining and takeout.

365 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, 650-600-8438; zareensrestaurant.com

2019: Best Indian Restaurant

2019: Best Nightlife

Bing Concert Hall

Sammy Dallal

Zareen’s

321 California Ave., Palo Alto; 650-321-2550

Zola Zola is owner Guillaume Bienaime’s modern take on a classic French bistro. The dishes at this small, seasonal French restaurant include roasted button mushrooms with escargot butter, rillettes de saumon and short rib bourguignon. The restaurant is offering Take & Bake items on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekly to-go menu is posted each Wednesday.

565 Bryant St., Palo Alto, 650-521-0651; zolapaloalto.com

2019: Best French Restaurant

Arts & Entertainment Antonio’s Nut House With its cheap drinks, $1 pool games and unpretentious vibe, Antonio’s Nut House has been a fixture along California Avenue ever since the late Tony Montooth first opened its doors nearly 47 years ago. It’s the only watering hole in the neighborhood where a fake caged gorilla stands guard over mounds of roasted peanuts — and where the shells of these free bar snacks can be tossed on the floor with reckless abandon.

Engineered for acoustic perfection, the intimate 842-seat Bing Concert Hall has hosted musicians from all over the world since opening in Stanford University’s Arts District in 2013. The performance space is temporarily closed to audiences during the pandemic crisis. Starting in late September, however, Stanford Live rolled out a digital season that includes short films created at Bing Concert Hall, featuring the St. Lawrence String Quartet, pianist Garrick Ohlsson, musician Vân Ánh (Vanessa) Võ, the Kronos Quartet and more.

327 Lasuen St., Stanford, 650-724-2464; live.stanford.edu

(no password or library account needed) while also checking out great books, music and movies. Even during the pandemic while the library is closed, patrons can still access Wi-Fi from its parking lot. The library also is offering sidewalk services, virtual events and online resources.

City library locations are listed at cityofpaloalto.org/ gov/depts/lib/default.asp

2019: Best Wi-Fi Hot Spot Q Weekly readers chose the businesses above as Best Of winners in 2019 by casting 32,759 votes in 84 categories. Businesses listed in the Hall of Fame were inducted after topping their categories for five years running. All information was obtained from business owners, company websites and past Weekly coverage. Past winners who are no longer in operation were omitted from this list.

2019: Best Place for Live Entertainment

Palo Alto Library Palo Alto Library has long been recognized as one of the only places where you can study, work or simply scroll your social media feeds for free

About the cover: Separated by Plexiglas, Karen Himmaugh rings up a customer’s groceries at Piazza’s Fine Foods in Palo Alto on April 9. Photo by Magali Gauthier.

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 25

Jackson Hole 165 Center Street 307.733.1038

Palo Alto Town & Country Village 650.326.8583 paloalto@scandiahome.com

Beverly Hills 332 N. Beverly Drive 310.860.1486

Store hours vary, please call. Private appointments also available.

‘TIS THE

Scandia Down Season :WLJPHS SPTP[LK [PTL Vќ LYZ HSS TVU[O SVUN

scandiahome.com Page 26 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

Bell’s Books ~ Celebrating 85 Years of Fine Books, Old & New … Thank you, Palo Alto. ~ Come discover treasures in our spacious new layout! Open 11 to 5 every day except Tuesday, and by appointment. 536 Emerson Street, Downtown Palo Alto | www.bellsbooks.com | 650-323-7822

The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce Wants To Thank You We are so grateful, not only for our current members who continue to support us, but also for our newest members joining our growing community of impactful organizations in Palo Alto and the other local businesses who stepped up during these hard times. Your perseverance and creativity keeps this city thriving and the people in it safe and happy. We are in this together!

Create | Connect | Compete 355 Alma Street, Palo Alto | 650.324.3121 www.paloaltochamber.com www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 27

Page 28 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 29

Answers to this week’s puzzles, which can be found on page 35.

Upfront

Lame duck (continued from page 5)

Transformative, progressive education at a crucial time in a girl's life.

Virtual Open House Sunday, Dec. 6 Register at www.girlsms.org

Be brave. Be bold. Be GMS. 3400 W Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303

LA SCALA Italian Restaurant Bar & Cafe

Independent Films. Compelling Conversations. Unexpected Journeys.

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dinelascala.com • dine@dinelascala.com Page 30 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

new handbook. The four council members in the more pro-growth camp — Mayor Adrian Fine, Alison Cormack, Liz Kniss and Greg Tanaka — all moved to make appointments this year, which will give outgoing council members Kniss and Fine a chance to reshape the commission. The three council members who are affiliated with the more slow-growth “residentialist” camp — Vice Mayor Tom DuBois, Eric Filseth and Lydia Kou — strongly opposed the action, with DuBois accusing his four colleagues of “ramming this through.” Kniss, who made the motion to make the appointments in December, argued that doing so would take some of the pressure off the incoming council. By making the appointments this year, the current council can ensure that the 2021 council “at least will not have that particular area — that particular appointment challenge — to meet at the same time.” The three council members who opposed her motion suggested that the timeline is driven by pure politics. “You’re going to have people not appointed by a new council,” DuBois said. “And if you insist on doing this, people are going to remember. It’s going to be a shame. It’s going to be by the slimmest majority possible.” With its 4-3 vote, the council also agreed to extend by two weeks the recruitment period for the two open seats on the planning commission, which are currently filled by Ed Lauing and Doria Summa. At that time, the city had only received two applications, from Summa and from resident Kevin Ma, a software engineer. Since then, the city has received seven more applications. The list of candidates now includes Lauing, who fell just short on Nov. 3 in his bid for a council seat; architect Jessica Resmini; attorney Rebecca Eisenberg; Kelsey Banes, regional executive director of YIMBY Action; Doug Burns, a member of Barron Park Association; Kathy Jordan, a community volunteer who has been critical of the council’s recent budget decisions; and Alon Carmeli, a computer engineer who serves as managing director for multifamily residential properties investment and redevelopment at Greenpoint Real Estate. Given the highly political nature of the planning commission appointments and the commission’s current makeup, the council’s move to pick new members this year is expected to give the newcomers an edge over the incumbents, making it more likely that both Lauing and Summa will lose their seats before the end of the year. Of the seven commissioners, Lauing and Summa are the two that have been most cautious (continued on page 32)

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Upfront

Lame duck (continued from page 30)

about approving new developments and most prone to challenging staff recommendations about new policies or applications. Both voted last week against allowing Castilleja School to increase its enrollment from 426 to 540 students, arguing in favor of a more gradual increase. Both had also opposed in May a new ordinance that relaxes zoning rules for the construction of accessory dwelling units, arguing that the city needs to conduct additional analysis of the ordinance’s potential impacts. Lauing’s recent council campaign was endorsed by Palo Altans for Sensible Zoning, a political action committee that favors more slow-growth policies and that had also endorsed current council members DuBois,

Filseth, Kou as well as Greer Stone, who will join the council in January. As such, Lauing likely would have been a shoo-in for a fresh term had the council followed its newly approved process, which would have given Stone and incoming council member Pat Burt a vote in the new appointment. Summa, who has been the commission’s most frequent dissenter and its staunchest critic of policies that relax zoning rules to promote growth, may also see her term come to an end. Summa cast the sole “no” vote in commission’s decisions to rezone a two-block stretch of San Antonio Road to spur housing production thereand to create “housing incentive program” that grants density bonuses to housing developments in downtown, California Avenue and El Camino Real — a position that puts her at odds with both her commission colleagues and the council.

While the council has a long record of politicizing appointments to the planning commission, both Kniss and Cormack argued earlier this month that filling the seats this year is a practical — rather than political — move. Cormack said the current council should “do the work that is in front of us” rather than defer to next year’s council. She also suggested that, as the newest council member, it would have been more difficult for her to “make really great votes in the first couple of months, since I was

still learning the job and all the people.” Filseth disagreed and called the council’s decision to make appointments before the end of the year “wildly inappropriate” and a “bad idea.” “And if we pass this — and it will be by the barest minimum margin — I hope this is the last council that indulges in this kind of thing,” Filseth said just before the 4-3 vote. Q Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner can be emailed at gsheyner@paweekly.com.

Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week CITY COUNCIL ... The commission plans to hold a study session on community and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, adopt revisions to a new handbook on boards and commissions and consider an appeal of a planning director’s decision to approve a density bonus relating to seismic rehabilitation for a development at 233 University Ave. The virtual meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 362 027 238. COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to discuss and accept an audit of the city’s financial statements, approve the Fiscal Year 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and consider approving a power supply contract with the Western Area Power Administration. The virtual meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 929 2730 7235. UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss water rates at cities supplied by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, consider a recommendation to decline adaptation of targets for energy storage systems and get an update on the utilities financial forecast and rate discussion for fiscal year 2020. The virtual meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 966 9129 7246.

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ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ... The board plans to review a proposal to demolish an 800-square-foot commercial building at 3585 El Camino Real and to replace it with a threestory mixed-use project that includes 2,400 square feet of office space and three residential units; and consider a proposal to demolish a portion an existing building at 3241 Park Blvd. and constructing an addition, resulting in a proposed floor area of 7,861 square feet. The virtual meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 925 4447 0390.

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www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • November 27, 2020 • Page 33

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Page 34 • November 27, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hyphen It Upâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but a bit longer. by Matt Jones

This weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SUDOKU

Answers on page 30.

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www.PaloAltoOnline.com â&#x20AC;˘ Palo Alto Weekly â&#x20AC;˘ November 27, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 35

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