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Half-ton Pumpkins…everywhere!

concepthotels — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:03:17 +0000

As the warm days and sturdy green leaves of the beautiful California Indian Summer quickly fade to soft browns, oranges, and yellows and the weather gets a little nippier, it can sometimes be challenging to come up with reasonable excuses to brave the chilly new afternoons outside. Thankfully, agriculture pros from all over the country are flocking to Half Moon Bay next weekend to go head-to-head in a competition to see who has grown the largest pumpkin of the year, in the state…and of all time!

Titanic, mind-boggling, Volkswagen-sized weigh-off champion pumpkins on display, the mesmerizing and remarkably talented “Picasso of pumpkin carvers” will be on hand, sculpting and shaping a monster 1,200+ pound pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece for this years Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival. Also being features are harvest-inspired crafts by America’s top artists, the richest/creamiest/tastiest pumpkin pie on the planet, three stages of blockbuster entertainment, everyone’s favorite home-spun parade, enchanting events and contests for the whole family, the never-ending search for the Great Pumpkin, and a bumper crop of 3,000+ tons of the beloved orange orb waiting to be picked from one of the many rustic pumpkin patches around town are among the featured, not-to-be forgotten attractions. It’s the real thing … the authentic “autumn classic”.

Public transit is available from both San Francisco and Menlo Park- the nearby alcove where Hotel Menlo has created a haven for you to bring with you the comforts of home, without hurting your wallet! Good customer service is our number one priority, and we would love nothing more than to make our home yours for this amazing, once-a-year festival.

This blog post was brought to you by Hotel Menlo. Hotel Menlo is a Menlo Park based hotel that invites you to experience our distinctive blend of award-winning personalized service, upscale boutique hotel amenities and stellar Bay Area location. To book your room today, visit us at http://www.menloparkinn.com/.

Is there anything better for traveling than free carnivals?

concepthotels — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:30:07 +0000

Let’s be real- in these sometimes challenging economic times, there is nothing that sounds better than the small things in life that are absolutely free. Day-to-day life is often full of free newspapers, stickers, and maybe even t-shirts…but a whole carnival? Believe it or not, the Cupertino Carnival is happening this weekend from September 30-October 2, and is three days of cotton candy, exhilarating rides, and nostalgic reminders of the young days- all for free!

The annually-occuring Cupertino Carnival is a three-day festival featuring live music, entertainment, real amusement rides, jump houses/inflatables, games for kids of all ages, arts and crafts, and a wide variety of food and more! The festival takes place at the grounds of St. Joseph of Cupertino School, which is just a hop, skip, and jump away from the luxurious Menlo Park Inn! The carnival is easily accessible both by car and public transportation, as well.

Offering comfortable and affordable accommodations so close to the carnival couldn’t make attending it any more simple, and this is what Menlo Park Inn is best at! Book today, and enjoy the free carnival this weekend!

Crowning the Crabby Chef at the Seafood Festival

concepthotels — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:16:06 +0000

Do you like watching The Iron Chef on television? If so, you will love the competition at the Crabby Chefs Seafood Festival! At this festival, skilled chefs will show off their culinary skills in an ‘Iron Chef’ style event, with the winner being named the top Crabby Chef. The public can watch the exciting competition live—and for free! This culinary face-off begins at 2pm on September 25^th.

With all of that seafood being cooked, you are sure to get hungry. Stop by any of the outdoor food booths to grab some cooked crab, clam chowder, crab cakes, and other seafood treats. Beer, wine and soft drinks will also be available. Have a seat and enjoy the musical entertainment as you munch your tasty meal. Because the festival is open from 11am to 4pm, you have plenty of time to try all of the tasty selections offered at the various booths.

This is the 11^th year of the festival, which is hosted by Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto. A portion of the proceeds from the food and beverage sales will be donated to the Berkeley Cal Recreational Sports Development Fund’s Camp Scholarship Program. This program helps to provide camp scholarships to families facing economic hardships. Since launching in 2002, the program has provided over 300 weeks of camp scholarships to kids in the East Bay area.

The Crabby Chefs Seafood Festival is located in Berkeley, California, which is an hour drive away from Menlo Park. That is a bit of a long drive—but where else are you going to get to watch an ‘Iron Chef’ style competition and contribute to charity while enjoying fabulous seafood? Besides, you can enjoy the scenery as you drive—and you can relax in your comfortable, luxurious guestroom at Menlo Park Inn when you return.

Family Day of Fun at the Autumn Filoli Festival

concepthotels — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:38:15 +0000

For families with children and adults of all ages, the Family Day of Fun is coming to the Filoli Center in Woodland CA October 1 from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, with the Autumn at Filoli Festival. An annual festival geared towards outdoor activities, the Filoli Festival features activities for adults and kids alike.

For the Kids is a pumpkin patch, from where the kids can run and pick their very own Halloween pumpkins, or simply pick them just for fun. They are naturally ripened at the Family Fun Land, so even the adults can pick some and make some great pumpkin pie from them. Also available are face painters and they are ready and waiting to paint your kids’ faces into anything they want or aspire to be. They can also help the Family Fun Land volunteers make cider using their very own cider press, and they can even make their very own scarecrow! When its all over, there will be yummy treats to take home with them to remember the fun they had.

For the adults, the Happy Birds will be performing their Parrot Show in which Nick Barone is showing off two puppet shows especially for the Festival and themed for Autumn. Then, the Ravioli Clown is offering a magic show that is perfect for adults and kids alike, and Snazzy the Clown will be everywhere to blow up balloons to top the day off. Top off the fun with a lunch menu barbeque, and you have an entire day of food and fun that no family will want to miss. You could even make a weekend of it because the Hotel Menlo is close by, and staying the night will give you and your family a chance to get to know the area.

KaHulaHou is Coming to San Mateo County October 1!

concepthotels — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:39:30 +0000

The KaHulaHou hula competition is an awesome display of the beauty of hula dancing and the talent behind it., feast your eyes on some of the best and brightest hula dancers in the area will compete while the audience is the judge!

In this distinctive and different competition, the audience of judges will focus on showmanship presented by the dancers. As for those who wish to compete, the only rules are that the competitors, “Keep it Hawaiian,” and that all dances are to be massively entertaining to the audience – no boring Hulas allowed.

Nevertheless, this year, the competition’s organizers have decided to add a new twist. Wahine, the Hawaiian word for women, will be the center of all the attention, as they will need to be at center of the stage this year. Additionally, four distinct teams of talented dancers will wow audience judges with their tournament style challenges between teams and individual hula dancers. ,

Hosted by the San Mateo County Event Center October 1 from 5 – 10 PM, tickets to see and judge the hula competitors cost from $25 to $75. The tickets can be purchased ahead of time from the KaHulaHou.com website, and it is an especially good idea to do so this year because also new this year is assigned seating. If you have a group of 10 or more people, discount rates are available as well. Because the event is running so late, it might be a good idea to stay overnight, especially if you have children with you, or have a group of people. A great nearby hotel is the Hotel Menlo.

This blog post was brought to you by Hotel Menlo. Hotel Menlo is a Menlo Park based hotel that invites you to experience our distinctive blend of award-winning personalized service, upscale boutique hotel amenities and stellar Bay Area location. To book your room today, visit us at http://www.menloparkinn.com/

Gem and Jewelry Show for her and the Cow Palace for Him

concepthotels — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:05:34 +0000

For those lucky enough to be traveling to San Mateo County and lucky enough to be staying at the Hotel Menlo, located in Menlo Park CA, not only are there some fascinating historical landmarks to visit in the area, but there are also a few events that you’re going to want to plan to see.

First, the original, classic International Gem and Jewelry Show that is running from Friday, September 9, 2011 to Sunday, September 11, 2011 the admission price is only 6 dollars. But bring your camera and your credit cards and prepare to say ”wow!” and ”Oh My God!” a lot. To balance the month out check out the tour at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in Menlo Park. This is the home of advanced science in America and they offer guided tours twice a month, but book early and don’t worry, it’s free!

Next up, a visit to the Cow Palace, is certainly in order, and might want to take time for this event because it will make the man of the house alive with excitement, especially if you are traveling with the sports lover in your life. Completed in 1941, Cow Palace was the original home of the San Francisco Warriors. Now it is a major venue for Rodeos, agricultural shows, and the Crossroads of the West Gun Show.

Scheduled for September 17 and 18 from 9 am to 5 pm, tickets are only $10 and children under the age of 12 get in free. This show is located just 3 miles from Hotel Menlo, making it possible to stay and make this a weekend of fun for everyone. Hotel Menlo is a premier accommodation in the San Mateo county area and receives thousands of guests every year for wine tours and local business attractions.

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Get Ready for A Night of Great Comedy Entertainment!

concepthotels — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:50:54 +0000

Get ready citizens of San Mateo County and surrounding areas including Menlo Park, CA, because some of the best comedians are coming to your area on September 1, 2011! That’s right, hosted at Club Fox by Dan St. Paul, a club located in Redwood City, some seriously entertaining comedians will be making you laugh the night away. Only $10 per ticket, this is one of the most affordable ways to see some very exciting and exemplary entertainers all in one place. The club’s doors open at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm, and you should be sure to get your tickets early, as they will sell out fast.

Comedy Monday Hosted by Dan St. Paul will feature himself and other extraordinary entertainers. However, the host of the show also claims credit to infamous appearances, all of which help him lead the way I comedy. Some of his more memorable moments include appearing on comedy channel Comedy Central in addition to appearing on music channel VH1 and entertainment channel A&E, all cable subscriptions channels.

As the host of the show, he gets to have fun while presenting the night’s entertainment. Fortunately, for you, the show goers, the entertainment just happens to be some of the best funnymen in the industry.

Aside from the host, the headliner of the September 1 show is Jeff Applebaim, who happens to be performing with some great newcomers to the business including Kellen Erskine, Sammy Obeid, and Brendan Lynch. The show will last into the wee hours of the night, while you order food and drinks.

If you wish to attend, make sure you are over the age of 21, and contact the Fox Theatre for more information. If you are attending, you might want to consider staying at Hotel Menlo, as it is nearby and offers fantastic service in addition to information about the show. Don’t miss your chance for an evening full of comedy, get your tickets today!

This blog post was brought to you by Menlo Park Inn. Menlo Park Inn is a Menlo Park based hotel that invites you to experience our distinctive blend of award-winning personalized service, upscale boutique hotel amenities and stellar Bay Area location. To book your room today, visit us at http://www.menloparkinn.com/.

Fashion and Luau fun coming to Menlo Park!

concepthotels — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:54:13 +0000

Summertime is in full swing, school is out and you have more time to take the kids on fun family outings, this is traditionally a time to have fun. This year, if you happen to be in the Menlo Park or anywhere in the San Mateo County, areas, then you have many event choices available to you. All within minutes of some of the best hotels of California, like Menlo Park Inn, making it easy to turn these one and two day events into a fun family vacation.

On August 28, the GGAA Fashion Market of California will be present in San Mateo Expo Center. The three-day show will begin on that Sunday, and last until Tuesday night. This is a perfect reason to stay at Menlo Park Inn, as it is only minutes from this event. If you cannot make this show, it will be back at the Expo center again beginning on October 28. To purchase anything as a buyer, or to attend as an exhibitor, you must pre-register, which you can do by contacting FashionMarketNorCcal.com. However, anyone can attend to view the newest clothing styles, although children under the age of 12 are not allowed except for infants in front packs or strollers.

If a fashion show is not your style, then you might want to consider attending a luau. Being held on August 18 at 430 PM, this luau is sponsored by the Peninsula Volunteers Inc., and they have decided to bring Polynesian culture to the Menlo Park area. Held twice a year, this year’s Luau promises fun cultural dances, cultural music and more, all of which the Pacific Islanders will perform. Larry Wong, the Little House Executive Chef, will provide the cultural cuisine. Running well into the night, this Luau is open to everyone of all ages, but requires tickets, which can be purchased for $20 by contacting PeninsulaVolunteers.org.

This blog post was brought to you by Menlo Park Inn. Menlo Park Inn is a Menlo Park based hotel that invites you to experience our distinctive blend of award-winning personalized service, upscale boutique hotel amenities and stellar Bay Area location. To book your room today, visit us at http://www.menloparkinn.com/

Extreme Autofest at San Mateo County Event Center

concepthotels — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:46:10 +0000

This isn’t your father’s auto show! The Automotive Lifestyle Festival’s Extreme Autofest on Saturday, August 13, is a competition for tricked-out vehicles. Held in an after dark atmosphere from 4 pm to 11 pm, this event awards thousands of dollars in cash and prizes to various makes and models of cars, trucks, and SUV’s. But this isn’t the only competition at the Autofest.
The Extreme Sound Challenge is not for anyone with sensitive ears. Some of the hottest sound systems contend for top honors and prizes during this competition. This means subwoofers and speakers and tons of watts pumping out music.
Want more music? Check out live concert performances from American Idol Finalist Jasmine Trias and Lil’ Jordan. Or, head over to the regional DJ competition where Mixmaster DJ’s will battle it out for cash, prizes—and, of course, bragging rights.
If dancing is your thing, you are in luck. The Extreme Autofest is hosting B-Boy/B-Girl competitions. And, come see who is the best at poplocking. You can even see The FunnyBones, a famous group of street-style dancers who have been seen on various television shows.
Want to try to win a prize yourself? You can enter the Cosplay Contest! Special prizes and awards will be given out to those who are wearing the best and most creative character costumes. Choose your favorite manga, anime, video game, fantasy movie, or graphic novel character and create a cosplay costume. You might just win a fantastic prize!
Need a place to stay after your evening at the Extreme Autofest? Menlo Park Inn is a great choice, as it is located about 10 miles from the San Mateo County Event Center. Plus, the comfortable contemporary furnishings and impressive amenities will help you to relax and unwind after the stimulating and fascinating time at the Autofest. You definitely need a calm, peaceful, and pleasant environment after such an exciting evening!
This blog post was brought to you by Menlo Park Inn. Menlo Park Inn is a Menlo Park based hotel that invites you to experience our distinctive blend of award-winning personalized service, upscale boutique hotel amenities and stellar Bay Area location. To book your room today, visit us at http://www.menloparkinn.com/.

Taking a Look Back: Local Fourth of July Celebration

concepthotels — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:15:01 +0000

While the Fourth of July may have already passed, roughly 5,000 people attended Palo Alto’s 30th annual Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off during our most recent July 4th celebration. For many Peninsula families, this chili cook-off has become an annual tradition celebrated with friends and families. And like in most competitions, we had a winner. “Cool Beans,” headed by two chefs from Williams-Sonoma in the Stanford Shopping center, won the best overall chili award for their spicy and smokey flavors. Palo Alto firefighters also partook in this event by cooking 60 gallons of their crowd favorite chili, which is seasoned with special ingredients such as Philz Coffee and Coca-Cola. According to one firefighter, the recipe for this concoction has been passed down from previous generations with each generation inserting its own flavor and twists to it. Judged by the intensity of these cook-offs, these participants clearly take their chili very seriously.

While you may not choose to participate in the cook-off, there is certainly plenty of succulent variations of chili for you to taste! If you happen to be staying at Menlo Inn or around the area come next Independence Day, head on over to Mitchell Park and prepare yourself for a char-rific summer day.

This blog post was brought to you by Hotel Menlo. Hotel Menlo is a Menlo Park based hotel that invites you to experience our distinctive blend of award-winning personalized service, upscale boutique hotel amenities and stellar Bay Area location. To book your room today, visit us at http://www.menloparkinn.com/