Marcus Clarke - New Economic Development Director

San Mateo's new Economic Development Director is a familiar face. Welcome back from Motown Marcus Clarke!


Attached below is a press release from the City of San Mateo:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susan M. Loftus, City Manager, City of San Mateo – (650) 522-7000 – sloftus@cityofsanmateo.org



Marcus Clarke Returns to City of San Mateo

As City’s New Economic Development Manager
 San Mateo, CA, May, 2013… The City of San Mateo is pleased to announce that Marcus Lee Clarke, San Mateo’s former Business Liaison and Economic Development Specialist, will return as San Mateo’s new Economic Development Manager.

Clarke is a visionary economic development leader bringing a spirit of collaboration and focus on results to San Mateo’s economic development program. Clarke previously served in the City’s Economic Development Department from 2007 to 2011. During his tenure, Clarke created strong relationships throughout the community while leading the City’s business attraction, retention and expansion efforts and working closely with the Downtown San Mateo Association, Chamber of Commerce and other business groups.
Some of his previous successes in San Mateo include assisting hundreds of new and existing businesses, building an energetic buzz about doing business in San Mateo, preserving the 25th Avenue Farmer’s Market and initiating the need for faster internet service throughout the downtown.

Clarke left San Mateo in 2011 to further expand his economic development skill base as an esteemed Detroit Revitalization Fellow, serving as a Business Development Manager for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. During his time in Detroit he created a city-wide business-to-business program, entitled "D2D." It has the potential to create 7,700 jobs and generate $2.5B in local business revenue over the next ten years. The program launched in March 2013 and has already generated national attention.

Clarke holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning with a concentration in Community and Economic Development from University of California, Berkeley. He is a Bay Area native and has worked with community and economic development non-profits in Oakland, San Francisco and the Central Valley. He is a published author, researcher and former Hillsdale High School Track Coach.
"I am honored to serve the City of San Mateo in the capacity of Economic Development Manager and for the opportunity to work with City Council, City staff and the local business
community," says Clarke, "I intend to continue a strong legacy of the City’s economic development efforts in order for San Mateo to reach its full potential."

"We are excited to welcome Marcus Clarke back to San Mateo," says Susan Loftus, San Mateo City Manager, "Marcus has a proven track record of collaboration and working well with the Chamber, Downtown San Mateo Association and business community. Marcus’ upbeat, "can do" attitude is contagious. Along with his great people skills, his time in Detroit has further honed his economic development and management abilities. Marcus has the right combination of collaboration, innovation and leadership to take our Economic Development efforts to the next level."  

New Bike Racks In Downtown San Mateo

This week as part if the City's Bicycle Master Plan, the City started installation of these cool new bike racks.

If you haven't ever left your car at home and ridden a bike to downtown, what are you waiting for?!?

Happy Nowruz -- Persian New Year Celebration in San Mateo

Happy Nowruz! Celebrating the Persian New Year at the San Mateo Main Library. Thank you Iranian-American Advisory Committee for hosting this wonderful event!

This morning I gave the opening remarks at the California Public Library Advocates workshop.

Libraries are vital to healthy communities, and San Mateo is fortunate to have a top-notched library, library staff, and library board.

If you have not been down to our Main Library on 3rd Ave lately, come on down!

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a happy Year of the Snake!

Free Valentines Card Delivery in San Mateo!

This weekend you can head over to Flywheel Press at 307 7th Ave in San Mateo to create a custom Valentine's Day card for friends, family, and other loved ones. Flywheel will then deliver your card anywhere in San Mateo for FREE on Feb 14.

Stop by Flywheel Press from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday to make our custom card. There will be live music, games, and other treats! Be sure to bring our friends and family, and come support our local businesses.

Supporting Business Development Downtown

Tonight the City Council took the first step in providing flexibility for business offices to co-exist with retail and restaurant space in Downtown San Mateo.

Under a new ordinance proposed by the City Council on a 5-0 vote, office spaces will now be able to take up ground floor space in downtown, provides at lease 75% of the front 60 feet of the space is used for retail or restaurant space.

While the final ordinance will be reviewed and voted on in 30 days, if passed the new law will give greater flexibility to fill long vacant space in our downtown, help to speed recovery of our local economy.

Thanks to the staff, businesses, and community who helped make this new law a reality!

Wine Walk

Congratulations to the Downtown San Mateo Association for a successful Wine Walk event!

Th bands were awesome, the crowds lively, and the wine superb, all on a beautiful, sunny San Mateo Saturday.

Supporting the Arts in the City of San Mateo

Last Thursday I was pleased to attend and support a new non-profit group dedicated to supporting the arts in San Mateo,

"Common Brights", a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized by the Seevers' brothers, aims to create and sustain the arts in San Mateo for the overall well-being of our community.

Thursday's event at the San Mateo Main Library featured various works of art for sale. Future events will feature live music as well as showcasing local artists' work.

If you are interested in learning more about this wonderful group's efforts to bring art to San Mateo, check out their website here.

Here is an article from Thursdays's "Daily Journal" about "Common Brights".

See you at the next event!




With "Common Brights" founder James Seevers!

City of San Mateo: Food Trucks + Famers' Market = Urban Market!

Starting this Monday, June 25, we invite you to drop by the Downtown Caltrain Station parking lot every Monday night between 4:00pm - 8:00pm to grab a bite to eat at one of the many food trucks and browse the fresh produce provided by the variety of farmers' market booths! Food Trucks on Monday include: - The Chairman - Hapa SF - The Dosa Republic - Hiyaaa Roll - Mamas Empanadas - Pollo Fritto Sponsored by Urban Table and DSMA PLEASE NOTE: Food trucks and farmers' market booths subject to change without notice.

San Mateo Memorial Day Parade

In 1968, Sgt. Joe Artavia of the 101st Airborne Division, 'A' Company, was serving a tour of duty in Vietnam. 

Sgt. Artavia wrote a letter to his sister Linda in San Mateo, asking her to see if she could have the residents of San Mateo send letters and care packages to the members of his company. 

Sgt. Artavia wrote, "Some of these guys get no mail at all, and a letter from home would boost morale to the clouds." 

Linda did more then just send some letters. 

Thanks to her efforts, the City of San Mateo officially adopted 'A' Company of the 101st Airborne  Division, and from 1968 to 1972 sent a steady stream of letters, packages, and well wishes. 

Sadly, Sgt. Artavia died in action a week after receiving word that the City of San Mateo had officially adopted his unit. 

In 1972, the City of San Mateo was the only city in America to host a welcome home parade for soldiers returning from the Vietnam War, by hosting a parade for their adopted unit. 

In the 1990's, during Operation Desert Storm, and again after 9/11 and during the War on Terror, the City of San Mateo renewed it's relationship with the 101st Airborne Division by sending letters and care packages to their adopted sons and daughters in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The official policy of the City of San Mateo has always been to put aside the politics of conflict in support of the men and women protect our freedoms.

Today, 40 years later, the City of San Mateo hosted a Memorial Day Parade to honor our veterans, and celebrate San Mateo's adopted sons and daughters, 'A' Company of the 101st Airborne Division. 

'A' Company will be deploying to Afghanistan in November, and San Mateo will be there to support them.

The day was filled with a festive parade through Downtown San Mateo attended by thousands of community members.  The parade then led to a festival and picnic in San Mateo's Central Park. 

Young soldiers, veterans, and residents of all ages mingled in a fun and festive atmosphere.

On this Memorial Day weekend, the City of San Mateo remembers, thanks, and honors all the men and women, past and present, who have served our country in the Armed Forces.   Thank you!

Below are some photos from the day's parade and picnic:

 101st Airborne Division leading off the San Mateo Memorial Day Parade

Equestrian Unit

 Girls Scouts marching in the San Mateo Memorial Day Parade

 Crowds line the sidewalks of downtown San Mateo for the Memorial Day Parade

A restored Huey Helicopter similar to the type flown in the Vietnam War

 Members of the 101st mingle with San Mateo residents in Central Park

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Working to Oversee Sound Budget Practices

A good Councilmember should strive to oversee routine financial matters to ensure the integrity of all financial records subject to City Council review, and not just when things look suspicious. 

To that end, yesterday I asked to review the private auditor report for the Downtown San Mateo Association (DSMA) in advance of approval of the annual assessment for the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA).

Since 1986, the DSMA has been the administrator for the DBIA, which assesses a yearly fee to businesses in the Downtown San Mateo area.  The fees are used to funds event, marketing efforts, and physical improvements meant to enhance and promote our Downtown district.  Annual assessment fees can range from $65 to $1300 depending on the size of the business. 

While the DSMA has an independent Board of Directors that administers the DBIA, state law provides the City Council with oversight authority for the assessment fees.

In reviewing the request for assessments to be renewed for the coming fiscal year, I noticed that a review of the independent audit for the DSMA (which is required at least once every two years) has not been completed in over three years.

Therefore, I have asked City staff to obtain the most recent independent audit of how the DSMA is using the assessment fees from local businesses.  A thorough review of that audit will be conducted by me and other members of the Council before a final decision is made on approving the annual assessment for the DBIA this year.

As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."  Reviewing financial audits for a group that has performed well over the years may not be the most exciting thing to do, but as your Councilmember it is something I am committed to doing to maintain the public trust. 

To view the staff report on the DBIA assessment due to be discussed tonight, click HERE. 

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Self-Help for the Elderly: 20 Years of Service to Seniors in San Mateo

Last weekend I was honored to be the host for the 20th anniversary luncheon celebrating Self-Help for the Elderly's presence in San Mateo's Central Park providing hot meals, health care, and social activities for seniors in San Mateo County.

Self-Help for the Elderly is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 in San Francisco to provide core social services to seniors.  In 1992, Rossalyn Koo and other community leaders worked with then Councilmembers Jerry Hill and Claire Mack to bring Self-Help's mission to San Mateo Central Park. 

The Central Park recreation center, which in 1992 was slated for closure due to budget issues and declining use, is today a vibrant hub of activity seven days a week for over 1,000 senior per year.  Hot meals every day and free health care screenings tell only part of the story.  At any given time, you might find yoga classes, singing lessons. or ballroom dancing taking place with senior as "young" as 65, to as old as 98! 

This past Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the center's opening, Self-Help honored all the Mayors of San Mateo from 1992 to the present.  As Deputy Mayor, it was my honor to host this very special event.  Besides acting as emcee of the event, I was glad to help serve over 200 meals to those seniors in attendance!

Congratulations to Self-Help for the Elderly on 20 years in San Mateo, and I look forward to another 20 years!

Here are some photos from the event:

Serving meals to the senior at the 20th anniversary luncheon.

Hosting the 20th Anniversary Event at Self-Help for the Elderly

Honoring San Mateo Mayors (L-R):  John Lee, Jack Matthews, Brandt Grotte,
Jan Epstein, Claire Mack, and Carole Groom!

One of the many great performances from the 20th Anniversay Luncheon for Self-Help for the Elderly:  The Chinese Youth Symphony.

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Lion Dance Festival - Downtown San Mateo

This weekend, in conjuction with the Downtown San Mateo Association and Self-Help for the Elderly, I was honored to host the third annual Lion Dance Festival in Downtown San Mateo.
 
The festival featured performances and exhibitions from Downtown San Mateo merchants including the Shaolin Cultural Center, Talbot’s Toys, Kaiser Permanente, Fletch’s Hot Dogs, and Kaffeehaus Café. 

Over 300 people attended the free event, with kids taking home goodies from the various booths.  While gray skies threatened all day, the rain never came, and festival-go'ers enjoyed a festive, fun atmosphere!

Hosted by principal sponsors East West Bank, U.S. Bank, and the Peninsula Regent, and organized by the Downtown San Mateo Association, the event also raised $2,000 for Self-Help for the Elderly, a non-profit organization that provides hot meals and health and wellness activities to over 1,000 Bay Area senior, including a large number at their facility in San Mateo Central Park. 

Here are some photos from the event.  See you next year!

Lion dancers perform for the crowd.

Students from Shaolin Cultural Center (217 S. Claremont St., San Mateo)

show off their skills to the audience!

Lion Dance drummer get the crowd pumped up!

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Business Spotlight: The Three Lotus Dragon Acupuncture Wellness Center

Last week I had the pleasure of attending one of the monthly mixers sponsored by the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce.  I was able to meet business owners and residents, and talk about what the City can do to help their small businesses thrive in San Mateo.

What is especially exciting is when I get to meet new owners just starting out.  Last week I met Jame'e Brazie'r, owner of The Three Lotus Dragon Acupuncture Wellness Center at 328 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite C, in Downtown San Mateo. 

In honor of the Lunar New Year starting next week, Jame'e is offering s a special discount to new customer aged 55 and over.  To take advantage of his special, click here to view the coupon. 

If you are a new business owner in San Mateo, or know of a new business who would like to contact me about an issue, feel free to have them email me any time!


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Amending our Parking Meters to Allow "Holiday" Parking

Part of my job as a City Councilmember is to listen to residents and help them fix issues that don't make sense. 

Over the holiday season, a number of residents emailed me to complain that on Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2, the City of San Mateo was enforcing metered parking in Downtown San Mateo despite the fact that both days were recognized state and federal holidays.  The dates were even listed on the San Mateo  City website as "City Holidays".

After a bit of research, I discover that this was not the fault of City staff, but was due to an oversight in our San Mateo Municipal Code.

San Mateo Municipal Code section 11.44.015 defines which holidays during the year are "parking meter holidays."  And when the law was enacted in the 1990's, it defined "parking meter holidays" as "December 25, Christmas Day" and "January 1, New Year's Day".

However, there is nothing in the code that allows City staff to recognize the state or federal holidays of December 26 or January 2 when the holidays fall on a Sunday, which is what happened this year. 

That is why earlier this week I was pleased to introduce a proposed amendment to San Mateo Municipal Code section 11.44.015.  The amendment will allow the City Manager or the City Council to declare a "parking meter holiday" on a state or federally recognized holiday, when any of the holidays listed falls on a Sunday.

I have asked that this item be heard at the next regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

I believe this simple yet important amendment will allow residents to enjoy our City with free parking during the holidays, as well as provide our city employees more time to spend with their families during the holiday season.

You can view a full copy of my proposed amendment by clicking HERE.


Thank you to the residents who brought this issue to my attention.  As you Councilman, I remain committed to listening to all my neighbors and being responsive to your concerns. 


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Working to Keep Businesses in Downtown San Mateo

At the City Council meeting on January 3, I voted to grant a special use permit to SnapLogic, a software startup company in downtown San Mateo, which would have allowed them to expand their business with 25 new employees.  

The special use permit was necessary because of an ordinance enacted in 2001 that requires the Council to approve a special use permit for any business that is not primarily "retail" in nature. 

My effort to allow SnapLogic to expand in Downtown was denied by a 2-3 vote of the City Council. 

In making my pitch to grant SnapLogic a special use permit in Downtown San Mateo, I relied on the following reasons:

1)  First and foremost, SnapLogic has been a good corporate citizen in our City, and I wanted to encourage them to stay in San Mateo as their business grew. 

2)  The storefront that they proposed to move into has been vacant for over three years.  With the downturn in our economy, three years is too long, and I preferred to have an established business take up the existing vacancy rather than have the spot continue to sit empty. 

3)  The filling of vacant space and expansion of SnapLogic creates more tax revenue for the City of San Mateo which can be used to fund things like parks, libraries, and safety services for the citizens of San Mateo.  The additional employees to SnapLogic create new patrons who will eat, drink, and shop in our Downtown, adding additional revenue and vibrancy to our Downtown.   

4)  Neighborhood residents near downtown voiced concerns over employees from SnapLogic parking in their neighborhoods.  As a condition of the special use permit, the landlords leasing to SnapLogic agreed to require employees to verify that they were parking only in designated parking spots in Downtown. The granting of a special use permit thus helped alleviate an important issue for our San Mateo neighborhoods. 

5)  The current zoning ordinance passed in 2001 allowed us to make the necessary findings to grant SnapLogic a special use permit.  

When I ran for City Council in 2009, I campaigned on a platform of smart growth in our Downtown, with the need to grow businesses in order to help keep City revenue up.  Increased revenue allows the City to continue to offer the high level of services our residents expect and deserve.  I believe that the growth of dynamic young businesses such as SnapLogic add to the vitality of our community and are ultimately beneficial for all our neighborhoods and residents.  

I will continue to advocate for smart growth in our Downtown and throughout San Mateo.  


An article from the San Mateo Daily Journal appears below:

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SnapLogic denied ground-floor for office

January 04, 2012, 12:28 PM Daily Journal staff report

SnapLogic, a startup software company in downtown San Mateo, will not be able to expand its business onto the ground floor of the Collective Antiques building as the council voted against the request Tuesday night. The building’s owner, Steve Musich, fears the council’s move will send SnapLogic looking elsewhere for office space as it grows such as YouTube and AdMob previously did. The council initially voted 4-1 to table the public hearing to a later date as the city’s Planning Division is set to review the city code that requires retail uses downtown. But Musich, when asked by the council, said he would prefer to have a decision sooner than later. The council then voted 3-2 to deny Musich’s special use permit request. The vote prompted Musich to say he would sell the building since one of three storefronts on the Third Avenue building has been vacant for three years. “I’ve given up,” Musich told the Daily Journal Wednesday. “They were trying to find a way to approve it. The code is written so poorly. The way it was written is not very clear.” City code, adopted in 2001, limits downtown storefronts to primarily retail uses or ground-floor dependent offices such as travel, real estate or insurance agents. The council decided after much debate that SnapLogic does not meet the city code requirements because it neither conducts a majority of its business face-to-face on the site nor serve clients on an unannounced or drop-in basis such as retail establishments do. Musich called the city code outdated and Deputy Mayor David Lim and Councilman Jack Matthews agreed that the code needs to be revised. “I hope the decision does not come at a loss of business,” Lim said. “How is it better to have a vacant space than having it filled with a tenant?” Lim made a motion to allow SnapLogic to expand its business from the basement of the Collective Antiques building into the upstairs space and got some support for the motion from Councilwoman Maureen Freschet. Mayor Brandt Grotte, councilmen Robert Ross and Matthews voted against the Musich request, however. “The council really wants to support new businesses in the downtown as well as retain existing ones. We recognize the zoning ordinance needs to be updated to deal with the evolving new economy and retail environment. We just need a little time to do that. I felt we had to have a firm foundation to approve the appeal and it just wasn’t there,” Matthews said. The city’s Chief of Planning Ron Munekawa said reviewing the “Required Retail Frontage Requirements” would take anywhere from six to eight months to complete. The code was adopted to protect retail uses downtown during the “dot-com boom” when demand for office space was high. Much of the council’s discussion on the item Tuesday night centered on the specific language of the code and how it could be interpreted. Lim suggested the code did allow for the council to grant the special use permit but staff and City Attorney Shawn Mason disagreed.

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Comcast Invests in Downtown San Mateo

Earlier this week, Comcast announced a large investment in Downtown San Mateo to build a high-speed communications infrastructure.  Here are two articles about this wonderful investment for our City. 


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Downtown San Mateo to go digital  
December 01, 2011, 03:22 AM
By Bill Silverfarb Daily Journal staff


Downtown San Mateo will become a hotbed for bandwidth junkies next year as Comcast has committed to radically upgrade the broadband network in the city’s underground utility district.


The “Digital Downtown” concept was developed by the Economic Development Growth Enterprise, or the EDGE, an initiative of the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce.


The EDGE approached several broadband providers late last year to bring higher-speed broadband downtown and Comcast was the only provider willing to invest the capital, said EDGE President Corey Geiger.


The point of the project is to give high-tech companies, particularly startups, the tools they need to stay in business. After startups YouTube and AdMob relocated out of downtown San Mateo, chamber officials started scratching their heads, wondering what the chamber could do to keep such companies from leaving the city.


“We’ve been an incubator for high-tech companies, startups especially, and this will help us be competitive with any city in the United States to attract and keep these businesses in downtown,” Mayor Jack Matthews told the Daily Journal yesterday.


Downtown is vibrant, Matthews said, and already attracts startups.


“All this is happening even without the upgrade,” Matthews said.


The EDGE and Comcast have worked with downtown businesses, property owners and city officials to ensure that the project will deliver the maximum benefit to downtown while minimizing any impacts to the underground utility district.


As a result, hundreds of businesses, from medical offices to high-tech companies, will now have access to Comcast’s business-class offerings, which will be delivered over a state-of-the-art optical fiber backbone.
The expansion aims to allow for download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of up to 10 megabits per second. Bandwidth up to 10 gigabits per second will be available for businesses with the largest data needs.


Attorney Paul Barulich, with an office downtown, said the growth of his practice has been limited, in part, by a lack of good telecommunications infrastructure.


The underground fiber optics network Comcast will install will make it easier for Barulich’s office to serve its clients and grow, he said.


The chamber worked closely with the Downtown San Mateo Association initially to engage property owners on the proposal, Geiger said.


“DSMA is thrilled that high-speed broadband is finally coming,” said President Kris Cesena. “We have played a small role in part by having representation in the EDGE’s meetings regarding this endeavor. It’s becoming apparent that high-tech companies like the idea of locating in San Mateo and especially downtown because of our location on the Peninsula.”


High-speed broadband is a prerequisite to establishing and growing new business downtown, said Linda Asbury, president of the chamber.


Work should start on the project in January, Geiger said, and should be completed by spring. Comcast will essentially equip each property downtown with fiber-optics that can then be accessed by businesses, he said.


It is a forward-looking concept, Geiger said, in which other cities have already taken an interest.


This could become a model for other cities to follow, he said.




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Comcast Investment in Downtown San Mateo Highlights City of San Mateo's Continued Emergence as the Place to Be for Business


SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- San Mateo City Councilmember David Lim responded to the news of Comcast's investment in Downtown San Mateo with praise for Comcast and the San Mateo business community in forging their ground-breaking partnership. 

"The latest news confirms the continued growth of the City of San Mateo as a hub for high tech businesses in the Silicon Valley region," said San Mateo City Councilmember David Lim.  

Lim added, "Comcast's unprecedented investment in communications infrastructure for Downtown San Mateo, along with San Mateo's central proximity to San Francisco, San Jose, and the 92, 101, and 280 corridors make the City of San Mateo uniquely positioned to meet the needs of every business well into the 21st century." 

Comcast's announcement comes on the heels of a report issued by the Silicon Valley-San Jose Business Journal on October 14 that one-third of Silicon Valley's top 51 fastest growing private companies are in San Mateo County.  

Of the 16 San Mateo County companies listed in the report, 50% of them are located in the City of San Mateo, including Marketo Inc., VSS Monitoring, Movoto LLC, Intelepeer Inc., Guidance Software, EPIC Insurance Brokers, ClickMail Marketing Inc., and The Mice Groups Inc.  

Lim praised Comcast and the business community in San Mateo for their partnership.  The business community in San Mateo was led by an economic development and growth initiative of the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce known as "The EDGE".

Lim noted, "The City invested start-up funds of $75,000 to The EDGE in June of this year.  The Comcast investment in infrastructure to the City more than returns our investment to The EDGE, but the potential business tax revenue that will be generated for years to come from this project will help all residents with things such as investment in public safety and street repair.  When businesses thrive in our community, all our neighborhoods benefit.  I am pleased to support innovative organizations like Comcast, The EDGE, and the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce." 


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Fire Station 24

Last Monday I was pleased to give final approval with my fellow Council Members on a much needed remodel for San Mateo Fire Station 24, located on Humboldt and 4th Avenue near Downtown San Mateo.


Final approval for the project comes after months of hard work by City Staff and the Planning Commission.


The approval to rebuild Fire Station 24 into a modern, 21st Century station is part of the continued effort by me and my fellow Councilmembers to provide our fire department with the most modern equipment to keep our communities safe.


I continue to make public safety my top priority, and thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work!


To view the staff report for the approval of Station 24 from last week's meeting, click  here.


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Dishcrawl Back in San Mateo - September 14 - 7 PM

I'm happy to welcome back DISHCRAWL to San Mateo on Wednesday, September 14 at 7 pm.  

If you haven't experienced the fun of walking around downtown sampling 4-5 of the best restaurants San Mateo has to offer with 30-50 of your closest, newest friends, what are you waiting for?  Sign up here. 

So grab your friend, spouse, or significant other, or just sign up by yourself.  It's sure to be a great gastronomical event on September 14 at DISHCRAWL. 

Here is my previous post about Dishcrawl: 

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Dishcrawl San Mateo - A Culinary Adventure in Our Own Backyard

Last night my wife Terri and I hired a babysitter and went out for a night in Downtown San Mateo for one of the hottest new trends to hit the Bay Area -- DISHCRAWL!

Our cool Dishcrawl badge of honor!

The idea behind Dishcrawl is to "blend good food with good company" according to owner and founder Tracy Lee. The concept is simple:  For $25 per person (drinks not included), you get to walk around a City and sample the best food from 3-4 different restaurants.  On the way, you meet, mingle (and drink!) with 50-60 new friends! 

Adding to the fun of the event, the names of the restaurants are kept a surprise -- only the meeting location for the first location is revealed via email 24 hours before the event. 

Terri and I joined a group of 50 other Dishcrawlers in front of our first stop:  RAVE BURGER at 144 East 3rd Avenue in Downtown San Mateo.  We signed in with the friendly Dishcrawl staff, got a cool Dishcrawl button to wear for the evening, and then . . . eating ensued!

Terri in front of Rave Burger with our new Dishcrawler friends!

At Rave Burger, we started off with sweet potato fries and homemade curly fries, then had a mini-cheeseburger made with all natural Niman Ranch beef.  Despite warnings from seasoned Dishcrawlers to "pace yourselves", I threw caution to the wind by eating two helpings of sweet potato fries.

Our 2nd stop was to newly-opened FLETCH'S at 385 2nd Avenue, across from the movie theater.  Fletch's serves authentic Chicago Style hot dogs -- hot dog with sweet green relish, onions, mustard, tomato, dill pickle, and pepper on a poppy seed bun.  Fletch's is so authentic, the buns are delivered daily from Chicago!

Meeting the owner of newly-opened Fletch's Hot Dogs

I was so busy admiring the Chicago-themed decoration of Fletch's I barely had time to eat my hot dog before it was time to move onto our 3rd stop which was . . .

KINGFISH at 201 South B Street.  An upscale American restaurant specializing in seafood and steaks, we were whisked to a private room upstairs where many of us bought the famous Hurricane drinks (fruit juice and rum) Kingfish is known for.  While we sipped our drinks, we were treated to warm homemade truffled potato chips sprinkled with creamy blue cheese and chives, followed by baked garlic parmesan bread.  To top it off, Kingfish served us delicious filet mignon crispy potstickers topped with red pepper vinaigrette and pesto aioli.

At this point, I was seriously stuffed, and so it was fortunate that our 4th and (supposedly) final stop was a little further back up 3rd Avenue.  We all needed the walk to make some room for our last stop!  By that time all 50 of us had mingled and talked for over an hour, so we were a merry band of Dishcrawlers as we headed to

ASTARIA at 50 East 3rd Avenue, located on the ground floor of the historic Ben Franklin Hotel.  Specializing in California fare, the owner of Astaria, Alicia Petrakis greeted us and escorted us inside.

At Astaria, we ordered a tasty pineapple mojito while dining on delicious Asian style pulled pork tostadas and sauteed portobello manchego and gorgonzola quesadillas.  It was truly a great way to end a wonderful evening of Dishcrawling.

Or so we thought.  We were then told that as a surprise, a final stop was being added to our night.  We therefore tramped back into the night, and ended up at . . .

BEARD PAPA'S at 365 2nd Avenue.  Known for their fresh and natural cream puffs, we all loaded up on chocolate and vanilla cream puffs.

And with that, our Dishcrawl adventure was over.  We traded phone numbers and emails with some of our new-found friends, and made plans to meet up at the next edition of Dishcrawl in San Mateo.

That's the beauty of Dishcrawl.  Each Dishcrawl is a unique experience with all new restaurants, and all new adventures, so our next outing will feature all new places to eat. 

As a San Mateo City Councilmember, I was excited to see such an exciting, vibrant, and tasty experience come to Downtown San Mateo, and I look forward to welcoming back Dishcrawl later this summer.  I hope everyone in our neighborhood will come out for to make new friends, try new foods, and have a wonderful time!!

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