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All Spice Heats Up in San Mateo

October 28th, 2012

Congratulations to our neighbors at All Spice in San Mateo, recently mentioned by Michelin director Michael Ellis in a Michelin Guide interview about “restaurants who make the cut in 2013”! We love your style and most importantly your food!

image credit: http://www.allspicerestaurant.com/

In March, 2011 SF Chronicle’s Michael Bauer writes, “Good cooking is inspiring. I admire a chef who brings his heritage into the kitchen and cooks with passion; it’s a statement about where he’s been and what he is today. I feel that connection with Mourad Lahlou, who is using his Moroccan roots at Aziza; and Gerald Hirigoyen, who offers Basque interpretations at Piperade.

When it comes to Indian cuisine, Sachin Chopra is also following his own path. This chef has worked at high-end restaurants on the Peninsula and in the South Bay, including Amber India, Mantra and Sakoon. Now, he’s ventured out, with his wife, Shoshana Wolff, to open All Spice in a Victorian house in San Mateo. It’s a familiar spot to anyone who knows the area because it was the former home of the Dining Room and, more recently, Dollie Marie’s.”  Read the full article

And it appears our local fine dining scene continues to thrive with Michael Ellis continuing the conversation into 2013- “We were very happy to find All Spice – we’re trying to look outside, a bit off the beaten path, trying to find people that are doing some unique, special things, that might not necessarily be on anyone’s radar.”

Short rib vindaloo at All Spice in San Mateo, Calif., on Friday, March 4, 2011. Photo Credit: Thomas Levinson, The Chronicle / SF

Additionally, Zagat scores were just release on All Spice with a score of: food 25, decor 23, service 25.

Looking for a romantic date spot close to home?
Try All Spice San Mateo, located in a lavishly decorated 1906 Victorian to heat up your evening!

1602 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo CA | Map
phone: (650) 627-4303 Dinner: Tuesday – Friday, 5:30 – 9:30, Saturday, 5:00 – 9:30

Find Your Home Here
The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

Meet, Mingle, and Make Connections with the Foster City Chamber of Commerce on Oct 30

October 26th, 2012

The Plaza, managed by Sares-Regis Group, is a proud member of Foster City Chamber of Commerce! Are you a member yet? If so, mark Oct 30th on your calendars to get connected to other local Foster City and SF Bay Peninsula professionals!

image credit: www.fostercitychamber.com/

In coordination with other local Chambers, The Foster City Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Peninsula-wide networking event – Networking Now, a Peninsula Wide B2B Networking Event – Oct 30 5:30-7:30pm. Please RSVP to the Chamber office and ask about participating in Network Bingo 650-573-7600 – for $20 your business name will be listed on a square of the Bingo card.

Date: October 30th
Time: 5:50-7:30pm
Place: Lagoon Room, William Walker Recreation Center, 650 Shell Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404

ABOUT THE PLAZA

The Plaza in Foster City consists of 307 luxury rental units in a variety of floor plans.
1 Bedroom: 143
2 Bedroom: 138
3 Bedroom: 19
Ground Floor Commercial (Studio): 7

Visit our website and get on the interest list under ‘Contact Us’!

The Plaza is a four and five story structure surrounding a five story parking garage where residents will park on the same level as their apartment. There is a limited retail component at grade and adjacent to the Leasing Center. The project will include a new park/plaza. The interior private courtyards have been designed with amenities including pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, zen/water garden, and fireplace/meeting space. Other amenities will include a club room, fitness center, yoga room, business center, and theater.

The project is the first phase of an overall master plan redevelopment of 20 acres in Foster City called the Pilgrim Triton Master Plan, whose vision is to enhance Foster City by creating additional opportunities, to work, live, shop, gather and enjoy another first class master planned neighborhood in Foster City.

Find Your Home Here
The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

San Mateo Halloween Fun Fest On Saturday, Oct 27th

October 18th, 2012

Head to downtown San Mateo for a ghoulish good time. Enjoy entertainment, crafts, the pumpkin patch, bounce houses, and Trick or Treating for the kids… it’s all part of the fun.  The local businesses are taking part to help you kick off a safe and Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat along 3rd Avenue and show off those creative costumes between 1-2pm on Saturday, October 27th.

This FREE, family-friendly event will be located at the US Bank.  The parking lot in the back is where the event will be located, so you will be limited to finding street parking or using the parking lot structure on the corner of ND Ave and El Camino Real.  The bank is located on the corner of 3rd Ave and San Mateo Dr.

The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

Patch’s Best Halloween Costume in America Contest

October 16th, 2012

We all love to express our creativity this time of year and there is no better way to do this than with an amazing/unique Halloween costume. That is why we are excited about the Patch’s Best Halloween Costume in America Contest.  This national contest has some stiff competition so prepare, create and share for a chance to win a Grand Prize of $5,000.

Some information regarding the contest:

Last year, the headless boy from Wyckoff, NJ, won. This year, it could be you. Enter our contest for a chance to win the $5,000 grand prize!

Adults and children are eligible to enter. Parents can post costume photos of themselves and their families from this Halloween or from years past.

Here’s how to enter:

Simply click the green “Upload Your Photos and Videos” button (found on this page) and upload your image (but first make sure you’re a registered Patch user).

Then add a caption with the name of the person in the photo and a description of the costume. To add a caption, click “Edit Photo” after uploading the image and fill in the caption line. Then click “Finished Editing.”

The contest runs from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1. National judges will choose 21 finalists from each Patch state and select one grand prize winner based on who has the most creative and innovative costume (we’ve combined North Carolina & South Carolina for this contest, as well as Washington D.C. and Virginia). Each state finalist will receive $250 and one grand prize winner will receive $5,000.

For official contest rules, please click here.

Good Luck if you decide to enter.

Find Your Home Here
The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

Foster City – Home to Many Companies, Big and Small.

October 15th, 2012

Did you know? Just 3 years ago Forbes listed our hometown of Foster City as one of America’s Top 25 Towns To Live Well.  Ranking our beloved city at #10 and citing cultural amenities, pro-business environments, highly educated workforces and enviable salaries, Forbes wrote: “ Home to many top companies, big and small, including Visa International, Sony Computer Entertainment America and Sling Media, Foster City ranks first on our list for its share of highly skilled workers, particularly with a background in tech, and in the top five for its per capita number of patents“…

The Metro Center retail/office complex in Foster City. Photographed by Coolcaesar

Nearby employment opportunities abound, and with that comes a healthy city and a sense of stability. Though we enjoy a prime Peninsula location, Foster City is often also considered to be part of Silicon Valley for its local industry and its proximity to Silicon Valley cities.

Money Magazine has also recognized Foster City multiple times as one of the Best Places to Live.

According to Wikipedia, In 2009 Visa remained one of Foster City’s largest employers, owning three buildings at the intersection of Metro Center Boulevard and Vintage Park Drive and housing approximately 2,400 employees…

A quick commute? Now that’s convenient!  In addition to easy access to Silicon Valley employers, both Foster City and San Mateo can boast some high profile employers and workforce opportunities, all just within minutes from The Plaza – Foster City. The following companies are also listed as having HQs in Foster City:

• Acxiom Digital
• Adchemy
• Applied Underwriters
• Arena Solutions
• Bones Doggy Daycare
• Broadview International, a part of Jefferies & Company
• DataStax
• Electronics for Imaging
• Equinix
• FirstRain
• Genius.com
• Gilead Sciences
• Golden State Home Loans
• Guidewire
• Imperva, Inc.
• Kewill Systems
• Legacy Partners
• Life Technologies
• Live365.com
• MarketLive, Inc.
• Motiv Power Systems
• Navigenics
• Perfect World
• Philips
• The Lagonian
• QuinStreet Inc.
• Rearden Commerce
• Scale Venture Partners
• SciClone Pharmaceuticals
• Sling Media
• Sony Computer Entertainment America
• StreetLine
• Truviso
• Voex

Find Your Home Here
The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

Top Twelve Feng Shui Tips for the Bedroom

October 12th, 2012

Welcome to The Plaza, Foster City! Since new residents will be moving in soon, we thought we’d share Top Twelve Bedroom Feng Shui Tips found various places from around the Web. These tips offer good advice for those that follow feng shui or those simply seeking a solid design guide while planning a move.

Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. Feng means wind and shui means water. In Chinese culture wind and water are associated with good health, thus good feng shui came to mean good fortune.

Top Twelve Bedroom Feng Shui Tips found on the Web

• Choose Wisely: Your bed is the most important feng shui piece of furniture in your entire life. It has the most intimate and intricate connection to your personal energy. Select neutral or skin tones for your bedding and accent with your decor. Soothing colors are recommended. Make sure you love it!
• Solid Sleep: Select a solid headboard made of wood or a solid padded style.
• Lose the Distractions: A television in the bedroom makes romance and restful sleep decline. Introduce a range of lighting from (safely lit and contained) candles to bedside lamps with soft light options.
• The Right Height: A mattress should ideally be at least 18 inches above the floor.
• Don’t lose your Chi: Chi tends to travel between the door and any windows, so avoid positioning your bed in line with this ‘draught’ of chi.
• Keep things fresh: Be sure to open the windows often or use a good quality air-purifier to keep the air fresh and full of oxygen.

• Position for your needs: Sleeping with your head: South-deepens sleep; North-strengthens physical health;  East-helps you wake up early; West-slows life down which is good for stress or anxiety.
• Take them off: Never ever wear outdoor shoes into your bedroom.
• Lose the mirror and add art: Mirrors brighten a space and make it more “awake”. If you have mirrored closet doors, hang a curtain in front to cover them in the evening to avoid reflection and added light.Select bedroom art with images that you want to see happening in your life.
• De-Clutter: When your bedroom is cluttered and untidy, the energy in there will be low and slow. Clutter is a sure sign that chi is stuck, so roll up your sleeves and clean the place up if you want to jump-start your love life.
• Work Free Zone: Keep your office and exercise out of the bedroom, it brings the energy of hard work and exertion into your romance space.
• Get Organized: Donate items that cause clutter. Congested or chaotic homes don’t lend themselves to creative pursuits because there’s no room to be creative; avoid space being taken up by old stuff.

The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

2012 Peninsula Oktoberfest – Attendance Required, Lederhosen & Dirndl Optional

October 11th, 2012

credit : facebook.com/penoktoberfest

On Saturday, October 13, the third annual Peninsula Oktoberfest is taking place! Just a short trip north of The Plaza, in neighboring Redwood City’s Courtyard Square, the streets come alive with a one-day community celebration of beer, food and music.

Join beer lovers from around the SF Bay Area. Centrally located in City of Redwood City, and adjacent to public transportation, Courthouse Square is easily accessible to everyone from San Francisco, San Jose, the East Bay area and everywhere in between. The entire Bay Area converges on this much-anticipated seasonal celebration!

The Fusion of Germany & The Bay Area. Peninsula Oktoberfest mixes the traditional with local by bringing you both authentic German beer and brews made locally around the Bay Area.

There will be food, music, wares and beer.  Here are the breweries participating in the 2012 Peninsula Oktoberfest:

Ale Industries
Devil’s Canyon Brewery
Gordon Biersch
Lucky Hand Beers
Palo Alto Brewing
Sierra Nevada
Spaten
Tied House Brewery
Triple Voodoo Brewing
Uncommon Brewers

Peninsula Oktoberfest 2011 credit : facebook.com/penoktoberfest

You can learn more about this festival from their website and Facebook Page.

Prost!

The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

Happy Hour Comes to Viognier Lounge

October 8th, 2012

credit: facebook.com/pages/Viognier-Restaurant

After a hard day’s work, a good Happy Hour is a great way to unwind from your busy day while enjoying the company of friends and associates. While we all have our personal favorites, it’s nice to find a new local option with regards to a pleasant and sophisticated Happy Hour venue.

We were very excited to discover that Viognier Restaurant in San Mateo recently launched a new Happy Hour in their inviting and sophisticated Viognier Lounge.

In Their Words. Happy Hour offerings include $7 handcrafted specialty cocktail, such as On the Banks of the Douro a refreshing mixture of Warre’s White Porto, lemon juice and soda or the Peach Julep made with Wild Turkey bourbon, white peach, mint, and simple syrup. Happy hour will be offered Monday through Friday.  During Happy Hour the Viognier Lounge Menu will be available, featuring dishes like House Made Kobe Pastrami on Rye with sauerkraut, comte, and truffle fries, or Roasted Summer Squash Flatbread with duck confit, broccolini, crescenza cheese, and caramelized onion.

Viognier is located in downtown San Mateo and named for the grape variety originating from the Northern Rhône region of France. Chef Dishman blends classic French technique with California’s bounty of seasonal ingredients and supports local farmers and sustainable products whenever possible. The menu is complemented by a selection of 1100 wines emphasizing California and Europe.

When:
Monday – Friday 5pm – 7pm

What:
Specialty Cocktails for $7 (available in the Viognier Lounge only)

Where:
Viognier | 222 East Fourth Ave San Mateo, CA 94401 | 650.685.3704

Enjoy!

The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

Weekly Pet Adoption Fair at Pet Club

October 5th, 2012

Looking for a little 4-legged, furry friend to add to your family? The Plaza is pet-friendly, so having a new companion is closer than you might think.  Shelter Dogs Needing Homes  has a  weekly adoption fair at Pet Club located at 1850 South Norfolk Street  in San Mateo on every Saturday of this month from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.  There are a variety of adorable dogs  to see; be sure to learn more at their website.

Meet Millie –  a Four year old tan and white Pomeranian mix with a precious face. She wants to enjoy life and share good times with you. She is only 8 pounds but doesn’t do well with large dogs. Her best home might be as an only dog in a quiet household.  Millie might be your perfect match, since The Plaza allows 1 pet, with weight restriction at 35 lbs.
Millie has a special adoption fee of $100.

The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’

Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival – An Autumn Classic

October 3rd, 2012

The weather is changing and fall in the air.  Everyone loves this time of year as the temperatures cool a bit and the trees change color, ushering in the beginning of another holiday season.  For those of us fortunate enough to live on the Peninsula, there is no better way to great the changing season than a short trip out to the coast to enjoy an autumn classic, The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival!

Credit:Rebecca Coffman/Patch.com

The 42nd annual HMB Art & Pumpkin Festival takes place October 13-14 and offers an amazing assortment of food, fun and festivities for all. Local artists, parades and contests all make for a wonderful time on the coast; All-Time 49er Great Steve Young will serve as Parade Grand Marshal. Admission is free!

For a complete list of events, visit their website or have a look at their promotion video below.

Free Tickets. A few of the events require tickets and our local Patch having a drawing for those of you attending this year’s festival . Sign up for your local Patch newsletter and you’ll be entered into a drawing for two tickets to the Haunted Barn or two tickets for the Giant Pumpkin Photo. You can register for the drawing here.

What a great way to spend a weekend outdoors!

The Plaza Foster City is Now Leasing! Find your new, luxury apartment home in Foster City.
For updates on our new community coming Winter 2012, and more news about Foster City and surrounding areas, follow us on Twitter (@ThePlazaFC) and “like” us on Facebook at /ThePlazaFC. Be sure to register with The Plaza for a ‘First Look’.