FALL/WINTERVisitors 2013 Guide to the midpeninsula Discover where to dine, shop, play or relax DestinationPaloAlto.com JOSEPH SHRAGER, MD US News & World Report— Top 1% of Thoracic Surgeons Stanford Hospital & Clinics is proud to be known worldwide for offering advanced treatment solutions to complex medical problems. Every day, our focus is on providing unsurpassed patient care. Get to know all of our top doctors at stanfordhospital.org GREAT SELECTION .... THE BEST PRICES FRAMED! I Was More than framing – we’re also the place for the most unique gifts you’ll find anywhere...so be sure to visit University Art’s The Annex! art supplies photo albums stationery crafts designer gifts photo frames custom framing canvas & brushes kidstuff journals greeting cards decorative papers University Art UArt Palo Alto 267 Hamilton Avenue 650-328-3500 Visit us in San Jose, Sacramento and UArt’s The Annex/Palo Alto UniversityArt.com Welcome Whether you are visiting for business, for pleasure or to attend a conference or other event at Stanford Uni- versity, you will quickly discover the unusual blend of intellect, innovation, culture and natural beauty that makes the Palo Alto area so special. Palo Alto’s home to Nobel Prize winners, Silicon Valley CEOs, venture capital fi rms, Hewlett-Packard and one of the most renowned universities and medical cen- ters in the world. While Palo Alto developed as a sleepy college town, Veronica Weber the emergence of Stanford University in the 1970s as the nation’s leading high-technology research center paved the way for hundreds of start-up businesses with connections to Stanford professors and their in- ventions. Thus Palo Alto became known as the birth- place of Silicon Valley and attracted engineers and others from all over the world to pursue their dreams. The Stanford campus itself is the biggest visitor attrac- tion, and visitors could easily spend a day or longer exploring the beautiful campus. But at a minimum any visit should also include a walk or drive through the tree-lined residential neighbor- hoods (among the costliest in the nation), a walk in the foothills or Baylands and some great shopping and eating in the several business districts. For our list of 10 sites not to miss while you are visiting, look in the “Attractions” section. Enjoy! Inside: Attractions ....................................................... 6 Arts & Entertainment .................................10 Shopping ........................................................ 12 Hotels .........................................................14-15 Stanford .......................................................... 16 Recreation ...................................................... 18 Getting Around ............................................22 Veronica Weber Safety ...............................................................29 Map .............................................................32-33 Dining ..............................................................35 The Palo Alto Visitors Center is co-located with the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce at 400 Mitchell Lane in downtown Palo Alto. The Visitors Center is staff ed Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and may be reached at 650-324-3121. The center has useful brochures and other materials and can assist with an- swering questions and addressing special or unusual needs of visitors. Destination Palo Alto (www.destinationpaloalto.com) off ers much more information about where to go and what to do while visiting Palo Alto. Visitors Guide is a special project of the Palo Alto Week- ly. Copyright ©2013 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. On the cover: Apple’s iconic glass storefront is a highlight Veronica Weber of Palo Alto’s University Avenue. Photo by Veronica Weber. Fall/Winter Visitors Guide 2013 5 visitors from mid-February through October. attractions Allied Arts Guild (2) 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park; 650-322-2405; The Palo Alto and Stanford area offers things to do for www.alliedartsguild.org all ages and interests. Our favorite recommendations Located in nearby Menlo Park, the Allied Arts Guild is for out-of-town visitors are listed below. The numbers an oasis of shops, gardens, artists’ studios and a cafe. A shown in parentheses are the location markers on the favorite spot for visitors, the historic site has carried out map on pages 32 and 33. the founders’ original vision of a European-style crafts guild and created a lovely environment to shop, eat and A trip to the Stanford University campus is the high- relax. The Guild houses numerous studios and shops of light for most visitors, where attractions include various artists, ranging from furniture repair to pottery Hoover Tower, Memorial Church, Cantor Arts Center, making. The Artisan Shop sells handmade art and is op- Rodin Sculpture Garden and a central campus bus- erated solely for the benefit of critically ill children at the tling with activity (see page 16). Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Visitors can also enjoy lunch at the charming cafe with a view of the gardens. Filoli Estate & Gardens (1) 86 Caňada Road, Woodside; 650-364-8300; Sunset Magazine Gardens (3) www.filoli.org 80 Willow Road, Menlo Park; 650-321-3600; Standing for “Fight, Love, Live,” Filoli Gardens is one www.sunset.com of the most magnificent remaining country estates If you are the home-gardening type, you won’t want and gardens of the early 20th century. The 43-room to miss a visit to the famous Sunset Magazine Garden. estate, built for Mr. and Mrs. William Bourne in 1917, Located at Sunset Magazine’s headquarters in nearby allows visitors to enjoy a collection of 17th and 18th Menlo Park, the display garden offers a glimpse of ar- century antiques. The spectacular gardens, made up chitecture and foliage from the major climate zones of terraces, pathways, pools, lawns, foliage, trees and of the West. The garden contains a 1.2-acre lawn, four flowerbeds, are perfectly groomed and ever-chang- designated areas representing the Northwest, North- ing based on the time of year. The gardens are most ern California, Central California, and the Southwest known for their collection of more than 500 varieties Desert and Southern California regions, and a 3,000- of roses. Whether your goal is to enjoy the peaceful at- square-foot test area. The entire display garden is mosphere or learn about the various plant collections, open for free, self-guided tours, weekdays 9 a.m.-4 a stroll through the exquisite gardens will not leave p.m. (except holidays and the week before Celebra- you disappointed. The gardens and estate are open to tion Weekend in early June). GOLF SPA DINING WEDDINGS www.RitzCarlton.com/HMB 6 Fall/Winter Visitors Guide 2013 Exceptional Dining in Menlo Park “ Carpaccio once again has been voted our best Italian restaurant. No wonder. It has many things going for it: consistently good food, handsome decor, and a gracious host, managing partner Ciya Martorana, who knows everyone in town.” 2012 Northern Italian Cuisine Open for lunch Monday - Friday 11:30 - 2 ❖ Lite lunch Monday - Friday 2 - 5 Dinner Monday - Thursday 5 - 9:30 ❖ Friday & Saturday 5 - 10 ❖ Sunday 5 - 9 1120 Crane Street U Menlo Park U 650.322.1211 [email protected] Best New Food & Drink Establishment A classic American grill with a warm and inviting neighborhood feel, serving approachable and healthy comfort food. s Weekend Champagne Brunch 11am – 2pm s Seasonally inspired menus s Inviting outdoor courtyard seating s Private Dining events 650-330-2790100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA menlogrill.com Located at the Stanford Park Hotel s Parking is plentiful, easy and free Fall/Winter Visitors Guide 2013 7 Cantor Arts Center (4) served as a research lab and a development and man- 328 Lomita Drive (at Museum Way); 650-723-4177; ufacturing workshop. However, as the company grew, www.museum.stanford.edu the garage was quickly outgrown, and the company Stanford family members created the museum to dis- moved to a larger headquarters. The property is cur- play their personal collection of objects of art and cul- rently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. tural interest; now, the museum’s collections are devot- Although the garage is not open for public tours, feel ed to a wide range of art, from 19th century American free to observe and photograph the property from drawings to contemporary sculptures. While at the cen- the street and imagine the pioneers of the electronics ter, visitors should be sure to visit Stanford’s outdoor revolution chasing their innovative dream. sculptures: the Rodin Sculpture Garden, which houses the largest collection of Auguste Rodin sculptures out- Gamble Garden (8) side of Paris, the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto; 650-329-1356; as well as numerous other pieces throughout the cam- www.gamblegarden.org pus. Admission to the museum is free, and visitors can Willed to the City of Palo Alto by Elizabeth F. Gamble take advantage of docent tours, lectures, gallery talks, in 1981, the 2.5-acre Gamble Garden Center features a special events, the bookstore and the cafe overlooking 1902 Colonial/Georgian Revival house and formal, work- the sculpture gardens. Open Wednesday through Sun- ing and demonstration gardens. The historic property day, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. is now a nonprofi t community horticultural foundation and places an emphasis on education as well as aes- Hoover Tower (5) thetic beauty. The demonstration gardens include an Stanford University; 650-723-2053; www.stanford.edu/ herb garden and cutting beds. The estate also includes dept/visitorinfo/plan/guides/hoover.html a carriage house, teahouse, tool house, greenhouse and Visible to all the surrounding areas, Hoover Tower is a a gazebo. Conveniently located and open to the public landmark to Stanford students, faculty, alumni and the daily during daylight hours at no charge, a visit to Gam- local communities. The 285-foot tower off ers spectacu- ble Garden Center is always a relaxing experience.