The Burlingame Voice

Lights, glorious lights!

The San Mateo Times has a list of worthy homes for those who like to case the neighborhoods for shiny and bright holiday lights. There are two on the list from Burlingame:

301 Channing Road
1730 Quesada

I love seeing the Greyhound Depot all light up, courtesy of Sam's Sandwiches and next year, I promise the Burlingame Train Station will be lit up like a Christmas tree! Love the story of Eucalyptus Avenue, San Carlos where all the residents really go over the top in a community light up!

- Written by Fiona

A Showboating Princess

In John Horgan's column:

THE PRINCESS A floating restaurant that is berthed at the entrance to Anza Lagoon on the Burlingame bayfront is still not ready. Bob Sherman, the owner of what was once the Pattaya Princess, said he is hoping that he will be able to sell the renovated vessel to investors who want to bring back the nautical eatery. At one time, the establishment was known as The Showboat. But, over time, business waned, financial problems ensued and the craft began to deteriorate. Sherman, however, has been busy sprucing it up so that it can attract a buyer. He said he is hoping that will occur early next year.

- Written by Fiona

$250,000 Specific Area Plan

From the Examiner:

Burlingame The shape of the anticipated redevelopment of Burlingame's Safeway might finally become clearer thanks to a study the City Council could launch on Monday. After years of controversy and delays regarding the Safeway project, the council will vote at its last meeting of the year to award a contract for a $59,000 downtown economic study to consulting firm Economic Research Associates. The study, which will cover the area between Howard and Chapin avenues and between El Camino Real and California Drive, was put out for bid earlier this year by the City Council and is expected to be completed by June.

Previous proposals to enlarge and update the Safeway at Howard Avenue and El Camino Real were struck down by the City Council and criticized for being both too large and aesthetically inappropriate for Burlingame's downtown, City Manager James Nantell said Thursday. Since then, some residents have suggested a mixed-used development would work on the site. Nantell said the study will offer guidance as to what's economically feasible for the site benefiting not just the city and its planners, but the public, too. They don't necessarily agree on the size or how it should be laid out on the property, but they definitely want a Safeway store,? Nantell said. The study will be used to formulate a $250,000 specific-area plan for the downtown that is likely still years away from completion, Nantell said. Though the Safeway site is currently zoned for mixed retail and residential use, some ordinances like the one requiring residential units be 15 feet from the roadway might need changing.

Councilmember Terry Nagel said she's eager to get the study moving and hopes that out of this process would come a whole bunch of ideas for what we do with our downtown.? Once the contractor has reported back to the city and before the institution of the specific-area plan the council will open up the downtown visioning process? to public input, she said. I hope that lots and lots of people get involved,? Nagel said. The more input you have at the front end, the less complaining you have at the back end.? After the specific-area plans for Burlingame's downtown, the north of Broadway area and the El Camino Real corridor are completed, two-thirds of the city's general plan will have been revamped for this first time since 1969, Nantell said.

Its about time!

- Written by Fiona

Sobriety Checkpoint

From the Daily Journal:

Sobriety checkpoint planned in Burlingame -- The Burlingame Police Department will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 16 in the south/central area of the city.
The checkpoint will be funded by a state grant. It is the last of four checkpoints paid for by the state Office of Traffic Safety

- Written by Fiona

One of the Best

Message to Il Piccolo customers and those who have not yet discovered this gem. This is the best place to enjoy an old fashioned radio drama, an 80th birthday party, those candidate's coffees and everything else in between. Wonder if Dave has any mulled wine yet?!

There will be LIVE MUSIC this Sunday December 18th. Start time 1PM until 5PM. Music performed by: BlackEarth and the LaughingChilde. The music is a soft guitar sound with a drum and Cello. Come join us, sit by the fire, have a glass of wine, beer or a hot coffee drink. We would "love" to see you there.

Also keep in mind Il Piccolo is currently booking Private Party's. Holiday Party's, Baby Showers, Birthdays, Anniversary's, Engagements Party's, just about any type of party. Call Tammy for a booking, as we are booking up fast. Il Piccolo is the BEST place in town. 348-4147 Thank you all again.

- Written by Fiona

Shop, shop, shop Burlingame

We love to promote Burlingame especially during this shopping season!

Resident asked if we could have a poll. The web guru says we have the capability - as previous polls on best kept secrets, etc - to vote on certain stated four/five choices but here goes on a more open poll -

(1) Top 5 stores for gifts under $25
(2) Top 5 stores for gifts over $25
(3) Best clothing store (women's)
(4) Best clothing store (men's)
(5) Best shoe store
(6) Best toy store
(7) Best hardware store (extinct category?)
(8) Best stationary/office supply/card store
(9) Best auto dealer
(10) Best auto service
(11) Best jewelry (costume)
(12) Best jewelry (posh!)
(13) Best pet supply
(14) Best pet groomer
(15) Best salon (hair)
(16) Best salon (nails)
(17) Best day spa
(18) Best gym
(19) Best eclectic
(20) Best barber
(21) Best service (overall)
(22) Best gift certificate ideas
(23) If you have been naughty or nice, which store would you like to buy yourself a gift!

If you have any favorites, let us know below!

- Written by Fiona

Housing vs. Business

Part of an article in the Examiner:

SAN MATEO As more developers move to replace empty offices and shops with housing, the city of San Mateo is considering whether limits on such conversions are needed. The hot development item right now is residential,? Muehlbauer said. The question is, what impacts come up?? One potential issue is the need for a balance? of housing and businesses, according to Stephen Scott, a senior planner. Cities typically lose money by providing services to residences, despite the property tax they generate, and gain money from sales tax-generating businesses.

For example, one project in northern San Mateo proposes replacing an out-of-commission auto showroom with 150 condominiums and 16,000 square feet of office space. The plan would generate as much as $100,000 in tax money more than the currently vacant building, but far less than the $600,000 a new auto dealership would bring in.

- Written by Fiona

Disguised as a Manhole Cover

Some light potty humor for a Wednesday and something to think about when Burlingame Avenue is renovated!

England's first rising urinal is to make its ascent on the streets of Reading. The Urilift is a tardis-like unit containing three urinals. Cleverly hidden during the day under the pavement, disguised as a manhole cover it can be raised using a hydraulic system operated by remote control. Widely used in Holland, the invention is designed to be used at night to stop men using public places as toilets. The device was created by Dutch inventor Marco Schimmel. It is visible, easily accessible and hygienic, and is located among the pubs and clubs. Councillor June Orton said there was a serious reason for installing the device. "Reading's thriving night-time economy brings many benefits but the result of some men's unhygienic behaviour is not one of them. "Hopefully this facility will encourage them to walk an extra couple of yards to relieve themselves."

In case you think this is a joke, see the photos at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1950516.stm

- Written by Fiona

Wine Lounge

The Daily Journal's Government Watch - City government

The Burlingame Planning Commission moved forward with the design review of a wine lounge planned for 270 Lorton Ave. on Monday. The item will appear on the consent calendar at an upcoming meeting. The plan is for a casual but upscale full-service restaurant called Nectar Wine Lounge.

270 Lorton has been vacant for months after California Candy moved out.

- Written by Fiona

A Sad Story From NOLA

Here are a few excerpts from a sad story out of New Orleans as described in the Wall Street Journal. It makes me wonder how long the journey is from a place where old homes are demolished and sent to the dump to one where knowing pirates roam the streets looking for urban treasure.

Architectural Theft Adds Insult to Injury in Old New Orleans

Looters in the Know Scavenge Valuable Detail Work; Eager Buyers at the Ready

Professional photographer Keith Calhoun is resigned to the hurricane that destroyed his studio. And he has even reconciled himself to the pilfering of negatives he had stored there. But what has him spitting nails is the recent looting of the fat cypress beams that had kept his Victorian-era building standing.

The beams--or joists--long pieces of dense, 19th century timber that support roofs and floors and are virtually impossible to purchase new, fetch about $10 a running foot at a salvage yard. Mr. Calhoun reckons he lost a truckload of antique wood.

Mr. Calhoun suspects that common thieves working his neighborhood wouldn't be going after antique building materials such as joists, mantels, and Victorian shutters unless they were directed by someone in the know. The value, he says, is only clear to renovators and aficionados of historic design.

Collins Phillips, a retired fireman who lives in a tattered Victorian house a few blocks from Mr. Calhoun, says he returned from exile in Atlanta recently to discover that someone had tried unsuccessfully to wrench a stained-glass transom out of its casement over his front door.

"Next it'll be all my cypress baseboards," Mr. Phillips says with a sigh.

- Written by Joe Baylock