San Mateo County Event Center — Local services in San Mateo

I went to San Mateo Fair yesterday for senior day with free admission. That was fine, but parking is $20 if paying cash, and $15.00 for credit card. So I used a debit card. The turnout of people was more than usual. Lots of disabled people from nursing homes and also lots of children! Think they got in free? What really surprised me is how things have moved around, and the horticulture exhibits were so minimal, I was very unimpressed. Normally it takes up half of a hall, but it was in one tiny segment of a bldg. Not at all resembling bygone years. Totally disappointing! The hall for children had a Toy exhibit that took up most of one building. Looked fine and offered lots for kids. I checked out the photography exhibits, and culinary ones also. That was quite interesting. But when it comes to food and drinks, BEWARE! First thing outside the entrance they will not allow ANY water in Any type of bottle, you must dump it. I had to buy a bottle of Aqua Fina, for $4.00. Then later in afternoon I was near the community stage and wanted more water so went into the bldg adjacent where they always had beer, wine, water, and food. The door was open, but nothing was inside anymore! I had to go back to the food court and pay another $4.00 to a vendor. My friend and I were shocked at the high prices of food. We ended up choosing the Greek Gyro sandwich, and she added a salad, (very tiny) mine was $17.00, hers $20.00. All the food vendors were very similar in price. Even the barbecue offering a cheeseburger, 1/3lb., was $16.00. I decided after seeing it, that it looked worth about $3.00. Late afternoon we opted to go to the ice crem vendor which offers everything in ice cream, and had a waffle cone sundae that only cost $11.00. Terrific, as usual! I think that was Mrs. J's, Ice Cream in the food court. I had looked for the vendor selling deep fried zucchini and onion rings, and stuffed baked potatoes, but again, the vendor wasn't there, like last year. Disappointing. For senior day I had expected some big band swing, but there was only Hawaiian dancers, (all seniors). In one building there is a butterfly room, and due to my phobia I could not make myself go into it, but my friend did. Before you enter, you are given a cotton swab, to hold at arms length and the butterflies will land on it, as they did for my friend. Mostly monarch. You are told not to touch any of them even if they land on you, which they will. She enjoyed it. I enjoyed seeing the butterfly stilt walker, I encountered and took photo with. We went in all areas of the fair, but somehow it just seemed different than previous years, and didn't inspire me that much. When you can't afford to eat, it's maybe a sign not to go anymore? We did enjoy looking at the hundreds of beautiful handmade quilts, some exquisite. My friend also enjoyed so much of the crochet work, not your ordinary crocheting either. We went through the farm building and petted many friendly goats. Seeing lots of other smaller animals in small cages, isn't exactly a good feeling, but we did see a rabbit that looked like a Yorkshire terrier, as the breed is called a Lion Head. Tiny ears, and long mane over it's head. Very unusual. All the rabbits are good to see. If you're taking kids to the fair, be ready to spend a days salary on feeding them. The 4H girls weren't there, selling their cakes like they always did. Only costing $3-$4.00 slice. Food cannot be brought into the fair, they want you to buy it instead. We didn't spend time or money buying from market vendors, whose prices also went up. Three bags of 6.oz candy for $20.00. If you have to take food and put it in an ice chest in your car, you can go out if you get your hand stamped and can re-enter. This year's theme is aimed for children more than usual. Lots of unusual things, and old toys exhibited, from back in the 1950's,60's,70's, and we saw PAC Man machines, a real trip down memory lane, also for those of us that can remember...

Parking Supervisor Nash and his unacceptable behavior this morning at SMCC. I have been attending Young Women Volleyball Club games both with both the WCVA and NCVA at the SMCC for the last 4 years. Each year I come here, I have seen and encountered your attendant Nash. My first encounter with him was the first time I came in 2019, he became extremely aggressive toward myself while with my young daughter about my positioning of my car. While I remained calm, he finger pointed and yelled, threatening to tow my car and made it a point to target my car the entire weekend. I called about his behavior after this incident and reported that this man disregards human kindness with his disrespect and engages in dangerous behaviors toward women. Coming to SMCC after that, my daughter has shared that she is filled with anxiety because "the mean man with the neon hat is there". Up until today I have tried to stay away from engaging or being near this man. This morning, I arrived just after 7am to find the line for the parking wrapped around. Historically there is a drop off line for the girls to go in at. Parents like to grab coffee or food outside the center and kill time so the drop off line in extremely convenient. So when I saw the 1st lane open - WITH NO CONES- NO MARKING- NO EXIST ONLY SIGN, I assumed this was the drop off line. When I turned into the parking lot- there were still NO SIGNS to show the driver this was a designated lane of any kind. I did not try and enter the parking lot at anytime. I simply pulled over to let my 2 daughters out of the car. Once I stopped and my daughters were getting out of the car, NASH comes burling out of his booth screaming at me and my daughters to MOVE, MOVE, MOVE you get out this is an exist, do you see the trouble your causing, sticking his fingers inches away from my child.... He is irrate and his SPIT got on my jacket because he was belligerent I get out of the car because this is a grown man screaming at my daughters and I am trying to calm him down. He continues to yell and say I cannot come in, when I am not trying to come in, now I am asking him to move so I can turn around and get out, which he refuses. The other cars now have come behind me- all filled with women and children, and he is NOW yelling at us all. He is taking my picture, telling me he is calling security that my daughters will be kicked out of the tournament. Now my daughters are crying and I am still trying to figure out why this man is so angry. I kindly speak to the other Mothers in the line and we figure out how to work together to reverse out instead of him allowing us to turn around- he kept pointing his finger at me saying "you caused this - you caused this". His co-workers tried to calm him but continued to say he was the manager and they couldn't do anything. They all agreed that he was out of line and that he should not speak to women and children like that but also stating he "didn't talk to them like that". Justin, I would like to discuss with you the severity of my experience and the experience of the young women and small children that come here to watch, grow, and confidently continue their craft of sports. We play at a high-level and PAY a painful amount of money not just for our daughters to play but for us to be in the facility. We pay for NASH TO BE HERE- AND WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE. WE HAVENT FELT SAFE AND WE ARE CONTINUALLY BULLIED AND HARRASSED BY THIS MAN. I look forward to hearing from you about your plans of action as well as mine. I have no problem bringing in the City, County, convention center board, ACLU, the Womens Volleyball leagues, and the league of Women Voters, NAACP, and a plethora of others willing to assist in the protection of women and girls sports events and not be a victim to harassment and threatening the threatening behavior of a uncontrollable man with severe aggression toward women...

Attended the Makers Faire again this year, and San Mateo is the original and flagship Makers Faire to this day. It is quite a lot of space that the event covers, and while years ago it seemed like they would never come close to needing the entire expanse, it has started to seem a possibility as the years progressed. Huge faire, with an insanely diverse range of various parts of the Maker Movement.

I took some family and friends who had never been, and was constantly bombarded with questions about what the Makers Faire is actually about. These continued up to the day of the event despite my explanation that it wasn't what they probably expect and the diversity makes it impossible to summarize efficiently. Once we got there, and walked around for a couple minutes those questions instantly ceased. Their sudden and overwhelmingly clear comprehension of my explanatory struggles was plainly obvious, but overshadowed by the sense of wonder that is inevitably evoked by such a huge range of creative, hands on projects in the endless rows of booths.

I have no idea what this venue looks like for any other events throughout the year, so I cannot comment there. But it is so spectacular for this glorious annual gathering of the Maker Community, albeit a bit short on available parking within the immediate vicinity. We parked a few blocks away and simply hailed an Uber to take us that last mile. Ultimately this was far more preferable to having to deal with the backed up traffic immediately adjacent to the grounds.

The event organizers did an excellent job designating an area for Uber, Lyft, or any other drop-off or roadside pickup service. They kept it close enough to not be a hassle to use the area, while ensuring the bit of roadway was only having event traffic directed along there if providing such services. So the traffic around the ride share service area was not bad at all, not having to battle with the rest of those folks driving 5 MPH looking for the $50 parking!

I'll absolutely be attending again soon! If not next year, then I'll certainly be sure to plan attending within three years or so. If you or someone you love is at all technically inclined, or even if just the type who is great at skills that are particularly hands-on, I urge you to check out this event. You will not be disappointed! (But purchase your tickets prior to approaching the entrance gate, or expect to pay significantly more...