September 16, 2023

Quote of the week

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;
Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:
   So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
   So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

--William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18

Park spotlight: Sharon Park

Sharon Park is located in the rolling hills of Menlo Park’s Sharon Heights neighborhood, and features a picturesque lake, landscaped slopes and a natural wooded area. This beautiful park is a great place to take a stroll, have a picnic or take in the sun in a natural outdoor environment. With 9+ acres of open space, the park also has walking trails, a gazebo, open grassy areas and a playground. Park visitors should follow all rules and safety procedures posted on signage.

Menlo Park Community Campus naming process restarts Sept. 18

Sept. 18, the Parks and Recreation Commission and Library Commission will hold a special joint public meeting to restart the multi-step process set by City Council to identify potential names for a new multi-service public facility now under construction at 100 Terminal Avenue. The Sept.18 meeting will begin a new four-week public comment period for Menlo Park residents to offer their feedback and suggestions. No decisions about specific names will be made at the Sept. 18 meeting.

Share your input with the community at the Parks and Recreation Commission and Library Commission meeting Monday, Sept. 18, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. Access the meeting online via Zoom or join the meeting in person at Belle Haven Branch Library, 413 Ivy Drive.

Music with Raquel and her SF Latin Duo

Live musical performance with Raquel, an award-winning singer, composer, performer, percussionist and bandleader.  She sings jazz, bossa nova, samba, blues and Latin music. Raquel has performed on cruise ships, jazz clubs and at some of the finest private event venues of Northern California. For this concert, Raquel will perform with Andrew “Carnegie” Hall, one of the finest and most versatile pianists in the Bay Area. Join us Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. at Belle Haven Branch Library, 413 Ivy Dr.

Teen Papel Picado and a Movie

Teens, celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by creating Papel Picado! We’ll also be showing the animated movie The Book of Life, directed by Mexican artist, Jorge R. Gutierrez. This is an event for students in grades six-12. Join us Sunday, Sept. 17, 1:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St.

Mystery Readers: A Garden of Mysteries

A garden can be a beautiful place of respite or a place to bury sinister deeds. This month we invite you to read a garden mystery or two, then attend our virtual book club to share your thoughts. Join us Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. via Zoom.

Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi: An Eclipse Double-Header

Learn about the upcoming solar eclipses of 2023 and 2024 with Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi. Explore how eclipses come to be (and why they are total only on Earth), what scientists learn during eclipses, when and where the eclipses will be best visible and how to observe the eclipses and the Sun safely. Join us Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St.

Community events for all – calendar listings

The City of Menlo Park hosts cultural, literary and educational events that reflect our diverse community and are accessible to all. View a complete calendar of upcoming city events.