Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why Pico’s beloved Menlo Park barbecue pop-up suddenly shut down
Make time for San Mateo Cars & Coffee at AutoVino on the Menlo Park Patch calendar
Good day Menlo Park! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Why Pico’s beloved Menlo Park barbecue pop-up suddenly shut down
Also on today's calendar: San Mateo Cars & Coffee at AutoVino and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Menlo Park-Athertonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Menlo Park-Athertonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 63 and low of 38 degrees.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 63, low: 41.
- Tuesday: Sunshine and a few clouds, with a high of 64 and low of 42 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Chef Rogelio Garcia Announces Surprise Departure From the Restaurant He Led to Michelin-Star Status (eater.com) — Menlo Park barbecue fans just lost a local favorite: Pico’s BBQ, a Texas-style pop-up that served brisket and ribs in town before moving to Redwood City, has closed after its final January service. The owner cites burnout and small-business challenges, while the broader piece also notes a Michelin-starred chef’s departure in Napa and a format change at Oakland’s Lulu. 
📸 Around Menlo Park
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Menlo Park
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- San Mateo Cars & Coffee at AutoVino
380 Industrial Rd, San Carlos
10:00 am - John Rybak + Friends @ Freewheel Brewing
Freewheel Brewing Company, 3736 Florence St, Redwood City
6:00 pm
Sunday January 11
Friday January 16
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Baby Bounce Storytime With Stay and Play!
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
12:00 pm - Little Hands Art Adventures: Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
4:00 pm - Signs and Rhymes Storytime With Stay and Play!
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
10:30 am - Family Storytime
Children's Library , 1276 Harriet Street , Palo Alto
11:00 am - LEGO Tuesdays!
Downtown Branch Library , 270 Forest Avenue , Palo Alto
4:00 pm - Little Ones Storytime
Children's Library , 1276 Harriet Street , Palo Alto
10:30 am - Family Craft: Magical Horses
Children's Library , 1276 Harriet Street , Palo Alto
3:30 pm - Step Into Wellness: Atherton Library's Walking Club
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
9:45 am - Native Plant Seed and Cutting Exchange
Peninsula Conservation Center , 3921 E Bayshore Rd , Palo Alto
1:00 pm
Monday January 12
Tuesday January 13
Wednesday January 14
Friday January 16
Saturday January 24
📣 Menlo Park Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Tai Chi with Nelson Ng
Palo Alto City Library , 1213 Newell Road , Palo Alto
10:00 am - Open Sewing
Foster City Library 1000 East Hillsdale Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404
10:00 am - Neurosphere: Neuroscience and More! Grades 3-8
Mitchell Park Library , 3700 Middlefield Road , Palo Alto
11:00 am - Maker Exploration
Foster City Library 1000 East Hillsdale Boulevard, Foster City, CA 94404
12:00 pm
Sunday January 11
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Menlo Park PatchAM possible:
- Cool Aid Air Conditioning and Refrigeration — (800) 266-5243
Voted Best HVAC & Refrigeration Company in the Bay Area - Atherton Inn Bed & Breakfast — (650) 474-2777
Luxury five room boutique hotel w/FULL breakfast - Amara — (650) 486-1703
A California cuisine restaurant with mediterranean leaning. - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - The Harker School — (408) 345-9200
Magic Happens at Harker - Samaritan House — (650) 347-3648
Fighting Poverty. Lifting Lives
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Owls in the Rain ☔️🌧️
These are some shots I took of these super cute burrowing owls on one of my tours this past weekend. The forecast showed no rain but of course it… (Nextdoor The Oaks) - Post-holiday floors got you down?
Let us sweep, vacuum, and mop your way into a sparkling 2026. #LuxMethodElevatedCleaningSolutions#CleanFloorsHappyHome (Nextdoor Sharon Heights)
- Essilor of America, Inc. posted a job opening for LensCrafters - Team Lead in Menlo Park. Apply here.
- Hersha Hospitality Management, LP posted a job opening for Restaurant Server in Menlo Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Menlo Park here.
🗞 Nearby News
East Palo Alto
- From Murder Capital to Silicon Valley Crossroads: Mayor Webster Lincoln and the remaking of East Palo Alto (sfbayview.com)
Atherton
- Grateful Dead's Bob Weir Is Dead at 78 (newser.com)
- Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir dies at 78 (adn.com)
Stanford
Ok Menlo Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I see food and I eat it.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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