Good morning, Palo Alto (and our nearby neighbors)!
On this day in 1901: The first Nobel Prizes were awarded, and in 1964 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself received the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s a good day to do good things!
In today’s edition of Palo Alto Insider:
Airport upgrades move ahead after pushback ✈️
A former Stanford QB returns to lead the Cardinal 🏈
A breadmaking class, theater, and holiday concerts around town 🎶
Let’s dive in!
– Matt Cunningham
📰 LOCAL NEWS
Palo Alto Airport upgrades advance after resident pushback 🛫
City-backed upgrades at PAO are moving forward following rounds of public concern about noise and flight patterns. The plan aims to modernize facilities and flight procedures while addressing community input gathered this fall. We’ll keep tracking what changes neighbors can expect as implementation phases begin.
Former Stanford QB Tavita Pritchard named Head Coach 🏈
Stanford hired alum and former QB Tavita Pritchard as head football coach, replacing interim Frank Reich. Pritchard returns after a stint coaching NFL QBs in Washington and a decade-plus on Stanford’s staff. The move marks a new era under GM Andrew Luck.
🍴 RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
Zaytinya 🫒
Chef José Andrés recently brought his acclaimed Eastern Mediterranean spot to our backyard: mezze-style small plates inspired by Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines—think silky hummus, perfectly grilled lamb, and bright, citrusy salads. A polished room, shareable plates, and a lively bar make it a great pre-show or date-night pick.
📍 Stanford Shopping Center
View their full menu here.
🐾 PET OF THE WEEK
in support of Pets In Need
Pet of the Week: Costello 🐶
Costello is a gentle, soulful, 11 week old pup looking for a calm home. The staff say that he’s sweet, observant, and opening up more each day as he settles into shelter life. If you’ve been thinking about adopting, go meet this handsome guy and I think you’ll head home with a new member of the family in your arms.
Learn more about Costello and how to adopt him or another pet in need here.
📆 EVENTS
👥 Community Events:
Devil’s Canyon Holiday Breadmaking Class | Fri, Dec 12
Knead, bake, and take home festive loaves at the brewery’s hands-on workshop.
📍 Devil’s Canyon Brewing Co., San Carlos
🕰️ 6:30pm–8pm
👉 Learn More
Free Holiday Happenings (Family Day) | Sat, Dec 13
Free crafts, live music, and museum fun under the dome—easy, kid-friendly holiday stop.
📍 San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City
🕰️ 10:00am–4:00pm
👉 Details
🎵 Live Music:
Gunn Symphony Orch & Jazz Side-by-Side Concert | Wed, Dec 10
Students team up for a big end-of-year concert night.
📍 Gunn High School, Palo Alto
🕰️ 7:30pm
👉 Details
Pink Martini All-Stars: A Season of Stars | Wed, Dec 10
Holiday cheer with the Pink Martini universe—classy, cozy, and seasonal.
📍 Bing Concert Hall, Stanford
🕰️ 7:30pm
👉 Get Tickets
CSMA Merit Scholars Winter Concert | Fri, Dec 12
Top young musicians from Community School of Music & Arts perform standouts from the semester.
📍 CSMA, Mountain View
🕰️ 7:30pm
👉 Details
Larry Fuller Trio — Jazz Piano | Sat, Dec 13
Acclaimed jazz pianist brings a swinging trio set for the holidays.
📍 Meyhouse Jazz, Palo Alto
🕰️ 6:30pm
👉 Details
Stravinsky: Pulcinella | Sat, Dec 13
Neoclassical sparkle in a compact, colorful program.
📍 See event page for venue
🕰️ 7:30pm–9:30pm
👉 Details
Rahim Shahryari — Live in Santa Clara | Sat, Dec 13
Persian pop star in concert.
📍 Santa Clara
🕰️ 7:30pm
👉 Tickets
Strangelove (Depeche Mode Tribute) | Sat, Dec 13
All the synthy drama, live.
📍 Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
🕰️ 8pm
👉 Tickets
The Blind Boys of Alabama | Sun, Dec 14
Legendary gospel group—warm harmonies for the season.
📍 Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
🕰️ 8pm
👉 Tickets
🎭 Live Shows:
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley — Georgiana & Kitty | Wed–Sun
A witty Austen-inspired musical from Lauren Gunderson & Kait Kerrigan.
📍 Lucie Stern Theater, Palo Alto
🕰️ Show times vary by day
👉 Details
Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet | Thu–Sun
A Bay Area holiday tradition—classical to cool jazz, all tinsel and twirl.
📍 Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
🕰️ Show times vary by day
👉 Details
Main Stage: Madeline’s Christmas | Thu–Sun
The classic Parisian tale in musical form—great for littles.
📍 Palo Alto Children’s Theatre
🕰️ Show times vary by day
👉 Details
🧠 TRIVIA TIME
1️⃣ Which opened first at Stanford?
A) Bing Concert Hall
B) Frost Amphitheater (renovated)
2️⃣ Which museum hosts one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures outside Paris?
A) SFMOMA
B) Cantor Arts Center
C) de Young Museum
D) Asian Art Museum
3️⃣ What’s the three-letter code for Palo Alto Airport?
Wait until the end of the newsletter to see how many you got right!
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🌦️ WEATHER REPORT
Wednesday: ☀️ | High 65°F / Low 40°F
Thursday: ☀️ | High 66°F / Low 47°F
Friday: ☀️ | High 64°F / Low 46°F
Saturday: ☀️ | High 62°F / Low 45°F
Sunday: ☁️ | High 57°F / Low 46°F
📝 TRIVIA ANSWERS
1️⃣ Bing opened in 2013; Frost’s major renovation reopened in 2019
2️⃣ Cantor Arts Center
3️⃣ PAO
How many did you get correct this week?
Hope you enjoyed this edition of the Insider!
Til next time friends,
