Category: Burlingame’s Best

  • Maloufs expand to EssEff

    It was fun seeing the half page spread in the SF Examiner about local luxury clothier Malouf's adding a San Francisco location on Sacramento Street focussed on womenswear.  The journalist asked a nice set of personal questions that are enlightening even to locals who know Sam and Gloria.  Just one example:  at seven years old, Gloria wanted to be a doctor and Sam wasn't thinking about any profession, but knew he loved clothes even before he knew is dad owned a clothing store.

    From Texas to B'game to EssEff.  Congrats.  It takes some grit and confidence to expand brick and mortar retail these days and we wish them the best.  You can download this photo and zoom in for more insights.

    Maloufs SF

  • On the Avenue 2025: Another fun event

    Our annual summer event which a regular reader and I both still call the Art & Wine Festival but is officially Burlingame on the Avenue was another great success.  The crowds both days were just right–enough to have energy and not too many to feel cramped.  As usual my focus was on the bands.  Mike Annuzzi Band was good and Santana tribute band Caravan was outstanding.  Emcee extraordinaire who handled the duties at the Main Stage, Jeff Tateosian, thought it was the best band we've ever brought in for the festival–and he would know.  Terrie Odabi got everyone dancing to a soul-blues mix and the local parents' band, Edgehill California, made the best of a shorter set than their usual.

    The lobster roll truck appeared to do the most business although I never did find the paella booth that is usually my fav.  The Old Post Office space that will eventually be an upscale restaurant is just sitting empty, but people made ample use of the steps and the nice new lawn to watch the bands.  Here's Jeff T. introducing Caravan.

    Bgame on the Ave 2025

  • “A Walk With Wine” draws a huge crowd

    With lovely B'game weather on a Friday afternoon, wine lovers and those who just like a good party were out in force for "A Walk With Wine".  The DBID is to be congratulated on a huge success.  30 merchants poured wine and chatted up the attendees all of whom were in fine spirits.  I went into several establishments that I pass all the time but had never visited.  That's the point.  Penflora Designs, Margaret O'Leary and Del'Oliva all made positive first impressions.  There were bands at Coconut Bay for the check-in and under the pergola across from the Apple store.  That band, called Edgehill, was composed of all local parents who live on or around Edgehill Dr. and apparently have kids at BIS.  They were good and I would have loved to hear more, but the clink of wine bottles called further up the Avenew.  Seeing lots of locals gave me a "It's still a small town" boost.  Here's Edgehill.  If anyone knows more about them, please add a comment.

    Edgehill band

  • B’game: At least we have nice weather

    I get a fair amount of "What's up with California?" messages from my East Coast friends.  Much of what they are asking about I am unable to explain without a grimace.  But the standard closing text is "At least we have nice weather".  There is another episode of me with "Mark at the Mic" Lucchesi coming soon.  We recorded it last week and as Mark and I were commiserating about some of the same things my Eastern friends poke at, you will get a chance to hear me say "at least we have nice weather".

    And we do.  I would go so far as to say that being someone who likes things a little on the cool side, we have spectacular weather.  We are on track for the coldest first half of summer either since 1965 or in the last thirty years, depending on who one listens to.  I love it.  Remember.  Weather is not climate so draw no conclusions of any kind about that.  I love daylight savings time and the Golden Hour before sunset.  Here was the sight last night around 7:30 during a spectacular B'game evening.

    Clouds in July

  • The Voice Blog at 22: The more things change…..

    July 26th is the Burlingame Voice blog's birthday and today it is 22.  The hardcopy editions back in the day started several years before–we're not quite sure how much earlier since we didn't put a date on each edition, but the on-line presence has a clear birth date.  Reflecting on the categories and their content, I'm struck by how much changes and yet how many people's points of view and concerns stay the same.  164 posts about high-cost rail?  Still a boondoggle that needs to die.  Overdevelopment in the neighborhoods?  The shift from worrying about McMansions to worrying about huge multi-unit complexes on R-1 lots is a difference without a distinction, just the magnitude.  Keeping our infrastructure, streets and public safety best in class?  The same as it was 22 years ago.  Maintaining our treescape and streetscapes?  Check and continue to question the cheesy little plastic street bollards and visual pollution proliferating around town like rodents. 

    With another year in the books, the 23rd year will bring more change, but the same perspective–that of regular residents who care about our little city and don't want its quality of life to degrade.  The pressures are enormous especially from Sacramento and Redwood City (i.e. the state and county).  If you don't stay informed and stay willing to speak up, you get what you get and have little reason to complain.  If you are vigilant at least you will have the "I told you so" relief.

    I happened to see this gorgeous Burlingame bungalow that is all spiffed up for sale this week and it reminded me of all the early fights that go on to this day.  It reminded me of why we started 22 years ago and why we persevere.  Some lucky new owner will join the community and share our concerns.  Blog on!

    Classic bungalow

  • B’game Night: When trivia takes center stage

    It was a standing room only crowd at the historic Burlingame Women's Club Wednesday night as newly minted 2024 Citizen of the Year Russ Cohen and past Citizen of the Year Mark "Mark at the Mic" Lucchesi led the crowd through more than an hour of entertainment and education.  The first ever Burlingame Trivia Night hosted by the Historical Society and some local partners saw attendees vacillate between nailing trivia answers and flailing away until Russ gave mercy answers.

    It's one thing to know there are seven creeks in B'game.  It's quite another to know all seven names.  Same goes for the decorative sculpture above the door of the Old Post office that lives on in the new building–it's called "The Letters".  Nobody got that one!  Russ has a true skill with the microphone, a la Phil Donahue, that kept everyone engaged and entertained.  It's just one example of the many contributions to community spirit he has made and continues to make.  The Citizen of the Year nomination noted his work leading the Historical Society Museum refresh, donating poster designs (like the Pet Parade), serving as a city council member and, of course, co-founding the Voice as noted here.

    In his acceptance speech last week, Russ quoted Mark Twain's obituary description of Anson Burlingame (they were friends) as one of his aspirations.  Twain wrote “In every labor of this man’s life there was present a good and noble motive.”  Mr. Cohen is well on his way to achieving that life goal.

    The Dairy Boy was a featured question at Trivia Night.  The treasure chest of questions is deep enough for a repeat performance in the future.

    Trivia night 2025

     

  • Memorial Day 2025: Parading through H’borough

    Just like two years ago as noted here, the light drizzle cleared, and the sun popped out right at 10am as the parade started.  The BHS band lead the way, but let's give equal time to the San Mateo Bearcat band and especially the kid who lugged the baritone sax the distance.  It's not like carrying the Sousaphone on one's shoulder.

    SMHS Band

    It was nice to see the World Champion Iron Panthers robotics team and the robot in the parade.  You can read up on the win on the "B" here.  They came away with gold in a field of 601 teams from all over the world.

    BHS robot

    The procession was light on politicians compared to some years and unfortunately very light on veterans' groups.  But police and fire were well represented.  The BPD California Special Mustang cruiser was out as well as a very cool BPD horseless carriage that I haven't seen in a long time.

    Vintage BPD car

    The County sheriff soap opera took another turn during the parade.  When the sheriff's department vehicle rolled by the sheriff was nowhere to be seen.  I might be mistaken, but I thought I spied her driving an all-black, unmarked SUV as the very last vehicle in the procession.  There without really being there? 

  • Peanuts and Vince Guaraldi in B’game

    The B'game Historical Society had standing room only on Wednesday at the Lane room for a presentation about the history of the Mendelson/Melendez production company and the Charlie Brown TV specials.  Voice readers know the company is born and bred Burlingame and may recall when Lee Mendelson himself did a presentation back in 2013 here.

    This time around Lee's sons, Sean and Jason, focused in on the music that accompanied the various TV specials.  The driving force behind the music was local composer and jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi who passed away in 1976.  After the sons did some archival digging in various places, the original tapes of the Peanuts music were located, remastered and repressed (on bio-vinyl no less!).  It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! is the current release.  Originally recorded in the famous Wally Heider Studios in EssEff, it was the twelfth Peanuts score by Guaraldi.  I won't attempt to tell the whole story that can be found in the liner notes, but Linus continues the proselytizing that began with A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965.

    The story Sean told about how the Christmas special came about was pure local gold.  The TV sponsors (mainly Coca-Cola) had turned down another of Lee Mendelson's shows but offered him a chance to fill a Christmas slot if he could give them a script in a couple of days.  He rushed back to his partner Bill Melendez and to Charles Schultz who pulled the script together over a weekend.  Guaraldi put the music together and Lee added the lyrics on the back of a napkin.  The Coke execs were unimpressed, but Lee told them to let their families decide if they liked it and the classic was born.  That's the short version.  To get the long version, you hadda be there.

    Peanuts presentation

  • Podcast: Mark Lucchesi and I talk B’game (#103)

    I'm honored that B'game podcaster Mark "Mark at the Mic" Lucchesi asked me back for another episode of Burlingame – It's a Small Town.  Over the course of about an hour we covered numerous topics that will be familiar to regular Voice readers and some new stuff too.  If you want to invest the time, around cocktail hour is recommended, then settle in with your favorite beverage and listen to the "Voice of the Voice".  The link to Episode #103 is here.

    Thanks again, Mark.  He has me queued up for another one in a few months since there is always something to talk about in our Small TownTM.

    Here is the two of us after recording the third podcast at the library

    Mark and Joe

  • Fall Fest: Trains, Ponies and the Cybertruck

    I strolled through the Howard Ave. Fall Festival yesterday.  I hadn't been in years, but when I saw the horse trailer parked near Isobune I decided to check it out.  The hurricane out in the Pacific made for a humid, partly cloudy stroll, but that didn't seem to diminish the crowd.  It felt as busy as Art on the Ave.  The little train was giving kids rides reminiscent of Rudy Horak's Holiday tree-lighting train.  It's nice to see that tradition continue.  The demonstration Cybertruck was also there like at Art on the Ave, and as if it isn't scary enough already, add skeletons.  But the biggest draw by far was the pony rides.  No need to go all the way over to Lemos Farm when the ponies come to B'game.  The line had to have at least 50 kids waiting patiently.  Kudos to the DBID for keeping tradition alive downtown.

    Ponies!
    Ponies!

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