Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with PaloAlto

Apple third-party repair shops in the Bay Area?

NucleophilicAttack — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:17:40 -0800

What's the Bay Area equivalent of TekServe? More specifically, looking for competent and honest Apple upgrade and repair shops that will work on machines that are out of Applecare, and which will do aftermarket upgrades (e.g. new hard drives, etc.)

Bonus: close to Palo Alto.

Palo Alto neighborhoods

bluejayk — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:46:31 -0800

Where should I live near Palo Alto? For two months? I've got a new assignment for work that will put me in Palo Alto for two months. I'm very excited, I love the Bay area but haven't had a chance to live there since the early 2000's. I used to live in San Francisco but I've only been to Palo Alto once, so I don't really know the area at all.

My company is going to put me up in housing of some sort, and I need to find something on my own or risk getting a semi-random extended stay hotel which I would not like. I'll be using craiglist to find a place unless someone can suggest something more useful to the area.

What neighborhoods should I be looking at? I need a 1-bedroom apartment, or possibly a studio, or possibly even a really nice shared house. I'll have my own car so as long as it's within 20 minutes driving range of Stanford, I'll be okay. My budget is somewhere around $1800/month max. I'd like to be nearby places I could bike or hike, but I imagine those places will have few apartments to rent. The dates will be approximately August 1st to September 31st, so I'm not sure there will be many student apartments available.

Also, any suggestions for gyms, libraries, great places to hike or swim would be much appreciated. Thank you!

San Francisco with kids

oclipa — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:19:50 -0800

So, it looks like we will be going to be spending two weeks in August in the San Francisco area, specifically one week in Palo Alto and then one week in San Francisco. "We" encompasses myself, my wife, our 6 year old daughter and my mother-in-law, all visiting from the UK. None of us have been to California before. What should we do? Our choice of destinations will be largely driven by our 6 year old, although she is usually happy to visit the odd art gallery (for example), as long as it can be sold in a kid-friendly way. Amusement parks, museums, historic locations, scenery are all good, as long as they are not too dark and gloomy (I suspect she would not be a big fan of Alcatraz, for example).

Since this will be my daughter's first trip to the US, anything that can provide a concentrated dose of Americana would also be welcome.

I assume that renting a car is an necessity, however we would probably not be too keen to drive for more than a couple of hours to reach somewhere (unless it is going to blow our minds!). How much does this limit us?

Our location in Palo Alto is probably going to be chosen for us, however where should we look for a hotel when we move to San Francisco?

Reading back over the above, I realise this is all a bit general and non-specific, but really this just shows how little I know about the area. Please help me get informed so we can plan a great trip!

[on preview] I've just seen these threads, which appear to cover a lot of the same ground. To differentiate my question a little, should we aim to concentrate on San Francisco, or is it worth heading further afield (within our 2 hour limit)? Also, what sort of weather/temperature/humidity should we be prepared for?

Good Stanford-area therapists?

finnb — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:11:44 -0800

Your recommendations for an inexpensive counselor/therapist in the Palo Alto-Menlo Park area? I live near Stanford (I'm not a student there, though, so I can't take advantage of their services). I have a history of depression, and it's started getting bad again. I'd like to find a therapist or counselor to help me get through this period and over these problems, without paying too much (grad student on extended research trip with a part-time job). Anyone you would recommend?

Feel free to email me privately (f at mavo dot nu). Thanks for your time.

Beer in Palo Alto

slogger — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:52:19 -0800

I'll be spending 5 days in Palo Alto next week, and I'm looking for good beer. Specifically, I want to find a carry-out shop where I can pick up a few bottles of Russian River and other good local brews. I'll be staying on El Camino Real and will have very limited access to a car. Bonus points for any good brew pubs in the area too. Thanks!

wither the cheap eats?

jeffamaphone — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:35:45 -0800

Please recommend good Happy Hour locations in and around Palo Alto, CA. I recently moved. Happy Hour dining was a staple of my Seattle diet. I'm looking for good deals on food and a cheap glass of drinkable red wine. But I'll take any and all suggestions. Thanks.

Is Palo Alto really this boring?

crinklebat — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:25:29 -0800

What the heck do Stanford students do for fun? Other than homework. I'm a recent graduate from UCSD (lovingly nicknamed UC Socially Dead; this is a glimpse into how low my standards are) and I now live a couple of blocks from Stanford. I'm busy busy since I work full time and am also a grad student, but every once in a while I have a free night...and have no idea what to do.

I pick up the Daily and all the events are public lectures and other academically edifying things, or some vast multitude of sports. What is there to do for someone who wants to unwind with some live music, or watch avant-garde films, or something else that many college students like? If UCSD generally had at least one vaguely listenable band there a week, I can't believe Stanford doesn't. But where are they listed? Do students actually get in their cars/trains and go to the city to get their private-schooly grooves on??

NB: I have heard about Old Pro, Blue Chalk Cafe, and F&A's (I have never been to any of them when there was a band playing; I have judged the DJing unremarkable, but feel free to correct me). I also go to the Stanford Theatre and the Aquarius all the time. But I mean, this is like the nightlife of the San Fernando Valley. There's got to be something to do that I haven't heard about.

I figure there must be enough Stanford students/grads/area-youth-at-heart that I can get a little better grip on the resources available to a young woman looking for a decent night out. Other things in the area that you love are welcome too - good restaurants, chill parks, etc. I'm a few blocks off University and walk everywhere.

Relocation from Israel to Palo Alto

MLIS — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:45:38 -0800

Seeking advice for someone relocating for his job from Israel to Palo Alto, CA. Posting on behalf of a friend-of-a-friend who is relocating from Israel to the Palo Alto, CA area.

The relocation is at his company’s request. He is a computer programmer, 30, married with an infant. His wife will not be working.

He is looking for an Orthodox Jewish community to live in which would be walking distance from his job. Does anyone know of such communities in the Palo Alto area?

In his words, “I expect life in Palo Alto will be very different from life in Israel, where we live on a small Moshav [a type of cooperative agricultural community] so I would especially appreciate any advice as to what type of benefits & salary demand I should make.”

“Also any advice or tips, to make the transition easier, and not fall into the usual pitfalls (obviously I don't know what those are...) would be more than welcomed.”

I have read this and this.

Bay Area Early Morning Commute

mto — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 21:55:14 -0800

Coming from Palo Alto, I need to get to San Francisco by 9am on July 4th. What's the cheapest / fastest way to do this? I probably won't have access to a car. Caltrain operates on Sunday hours on Holidays, so they can't get me to San Francisco until 9:36am. In particular I need to get to Noe Valley, if it helps.

Can I take a taxi? If so, how much will it be? Should I rent a car for the day? What other options do I have? Also, I don't live in California so don't assume I'm too familiar with services, towns, etc.

If by some miracle I do get access to a car then how long should I expect my commute to take?

Livin' in Palo Alto

kenko — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 08:39:23 -0800

Where should I live in Palo Alto or environs? I'll be going to grad school at stanford starting in the fall and want to live off-campus but am not that familiar with the options, especially in areas not actually in Palo Alto. I'll have a car.