🌲 Smokey at the Guild, LEGO at MOAH, & a new dinner spot

Good afternoon, Palo Alto (and our nearby neighbors)! We are officially one week away from Christmas Day, and I cannot wait. I’ll personally be heading home to Ireland this week to spend time with family, and hope that you all have something fun planned as well with loved ones.

On this day in 1892: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker premiered in St. Petersburg – fitting for peak holiday show season.

In today’s edition of Palo Alto Insider:

Let’s dive in!

– Matt Cunningham

At this week’s board reorganization, trustees voted attorney and longtime trustee Shounak Dharap as President and Rowena Chiu as Vice President. The new leadership steps in as PAUSD navigates enrollment shifts, budget planning, and student wellness initiatives going into 2026. Expect committee assignments and goal-setting updates in early January.

👉 Read More

A downtown refresh is on the table for Lytton Plaza, aiming to make the space more usable and welcoming. Early concepts focus on better seating, shade/trees, lighting, and sightlines to support everyday hangouts and small events. The plan is in the proposal stage and would still need community feedback, approvals, and funding before any shovels hit the ground.

👉 Read More

Refined French & Mediterranean-leaning dishes and great service make Sekoya a go-to for a grown-up night out. Hits locals rave about: juicy chicken thigh skewers, tender grilled octopus over crispy potatoes, and tempura mushrooms. The Parker House rolls are dangerously good, and the seasonal salads aren’t an afterthought. Book ahead for weekends; the bar is a solid last-minute play.

📍  417 California Ave
🕰️  Mon–Thu: 5pm-9:30pm | Fri–Sat: 4pm-10:30pm

View their full menu here.

Weighing in at 74lb and 10 months old, Oreo is a sweet pup with expressive eyes and a calm, friendly vibe. Oreo is ready to head home for the holidays and beyond. If you’ve been thinking about adopting, go meet Oreo and see if you’re a match.

Learn more about Oreo and how to adopt him or another pet in need here.

BayLUG LEGO® Holiday Show: The Great American Road Trip | Sat & Sun
Massive fan-built LEGO layouts—great for kids (and grown-up brick fans).
📍 Museum of American Heritage (MOAH), Palo Alto
🕰️ 11am–3pm
👉 Details

Smokey Robinson: Up Close — Hits & More | Thu, Dec 18
A true legend right here on our doorstep. Enough said.
📍 Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
🕰️ Starts at 8pm
👉 Get Tickets

Super Diamond — Neil Diamond Tribute | Fri, Dec 19
“Sweet Caroline” sing-along highly probable.
📍 Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
🕰️ Starts at 8pm
👉 Get Tickets

Jason Crosby performs A Charlie Brown Christmas | Sat, Dec 20
Nostalgia + virtuoso keys = holiday cozy.
📍 Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
🕰️ Starts at 1:30pm
👉 Get Tickets

Deck the Halls | Sat, Dec 20
A festive performance of holiday favorites from a community choir – easy way to get in the Christmas spirit.
📍 First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto
🕰️ 7:30pm–9:30pm
👉 Details

OIGC 17th Annual South Bay Holiday Gospel Concert | Sun, Dec 21
Soaring vocals and full-body joy with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir.
📍 Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
🕰️ 6:30pm–9pm
👉 Details

Terrapin All-Stars perform The Closing of Winterland | Sun, Dec 21
A Deadhead holiday tradition—Peninsula edition.
📍 Guild Theatre, Menlo Park
🕰️ Starts at 7pm
👉 Get Tickets

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley: Georgiana & Kitty | Thu-Sun (run continues)
A playful Austen-adjacent musical that is smart, witty, and seasonal-adjacent.
📍 Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
🕰️ Check listing for day-specific show times
👉 Get Tickets

Snow Queen | Fri & Sat
A sparkling family-friendly winter tale on stage.
📍 Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
🕰️ Check listing for day-specific show times
👉 Get Tickets

1️⃣ Which iconic Peninsula walk is larger in acreage?
A) The Stanford Dish
B) Baylands Nature Preserve

2️⃣ Which of these opened first?
A) Stanford Shopping Center
B) Shoreline Amphitheatre
C) The Stanford Theatre
D) Rodin Sculpture Garden

3️⃣ Which Peanuts character plays the jazz piano in A Charlie Brown Christmas?

Wait until the end of the newsletter to see how many you got right!

Thursday: ☁️ | High 58°F / Low 44°F

Friday: 🌧️ | High 61°F / Low 51°F

Saturday: 🌧️ | High 59°F / Low 55°F

Sunday: 🌧️ | High 60°F / Low 56°F

1️⃣

2️⃣

3️⃣

How many did you get correct this week?

Hope you enjoyed this edition of the Insider!

Til next time friends,