I could use some advice or even just a sympathetic ear. I’m 28, live in Palo Alto, and work in higher education (cool job, questionable paycheck). Despite what I think are decent photos and a well-crafted profile, my time on Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder has been…let’s just say, uneventful. For the life of me, I can’t seem to get past the “Hey, how’s it going?” stage and this has been for 3 years.

A little about me: I’m 5’7”, on the thin but well-proportioned side, and would humbly rate myself a 6/10. I went to an elite liberal arts college and USC, and I’m originally from the Midwest, so I’m still adjusting to the Bay Area’s unique dating scene. The last few months, though, it feels like I’ve just been writing clever (I think?) intros that disappear into the void.

Honestly, is anyone else in the Bay Area finding dating apps feel like an endless cycle of swipes and ghosting? I’m not against meeting people outside the apps, but I’d love any pointers on where or how – especially since my job keeps me around the college crowd, which isn’t exactly my dating pool.

So, what’s worked for others here? Am I missing some local secret? Any advice, horror stories, or even brutal truths would be great. Thanks!

Anyone know any good mechanics or anyone that can help install a hitch mount for my 2015 Nissan Sentra? On a budget.

Each one is unique, none of them are identical in style or architecture (modern, Spanish style, Tudor, cottage, etc )

So there are three open seats coming up. No incumbents. This has the makings of a major shift in PAUSD. JAR (Josh Salcman, Alison Kamhi and Rowena Chiu) seem like a welcome change of direction. The last 5 years have been tough. The Superintendent and his team have a style that is top-down, tough (some would saying bullying) and uncompromising. They decide in secret and push forward like a steamroller. A lot of groups have ended up under that steamroller. The School Board, as it currently is, really supports this approach. They continually renew Superintendent contracts. This year, they liked him so much, they gave him and his wife lifetime healthcare regardless of whether he works for PAUSD. (it'll end when he reaches Medicare age). So, if you're ok with the status quo, then the non-JAR candidates are for you. They're financed and endorsed by the outgoing Board members Ladomirak and DiBrienza (and still sitting Board member Dharap). No doubt the money and endorsement comes with the expectation of maintaining the "legacy" of this Superintendent and his team. The current board also seems to tacitly endorse the Supertendent's weird side gig, simplewins llc. His second in command is also apparently joining in on the fun. So, he's ready to go, he's got the exit plan in place. Clearly he's not going to stick around if this election goes a certain direction.

So, with all that in consideration. I'm going for JAR. I'm ready for a new direction for our schools.

I’m shocked how beautiful some of the houses decorated for Halloween especially near Waverley St. Do people go all out for Christmas too?

I was wondering if there is anyplace where people post free furniture or discounted furniture in old Palo Alto or Palo Alto ? I’m figuring there must be someplace where wealthy people donate furniture that students can check !

I was in a hit and run accident on 101-S. No luck on getting the license plate. Does anyone know if PAPD has traffic cams and can provide footage? This happened on 101-South just after the Embarcadero Rd on ramp.

Hello there SWEs and tech people—

Pretty new (OK, very new) so if I don’t follow protocols correctly, I apologise in advance. Feel free to tell me where I’m going wrong.

I’m an English screenwriter, director and producer based in London UK, researching the culture and psychology of working as a SWE—at all levels—for startups and FAANG in SV.

This is for a feature film I’m writing (working title: SOLID STATE)—a revenge psychological drama and for a short film to serve as a promo to raise finance.

My last film, THE ELECTRICITY IN ME, also a short, was accepted into 23 festivals in total, a number of which were BAFTA/Academy accredited, premiered in HollyShorts in the iconic Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard and won three awards. You can see my films here www.AESTHETIK.film.

I’ve spent a few weeks reading subreddits, making good progress and amassed plenty of historical background data but desk based work only gets you so far. It’s not the same as being on the ground.

So, if people want to take advantage of the offer of free coffee/drinks/lunch/dinner, I’d be very interested to hear your insights, approach to life and work, the highs and lows of startups (or FAANG), the sacrifices, rewards and more generally the psychology of tech. 

This is partly because I’ve read many subreddits saying how tough it is to be here, to cope with the pressure and make enough money to live particularly when you’re starting out. I’m also interested to hear more about the startup mythology of recent grads coding in garages, living in tents or worse still very nearly or actually homeless, chasing the dream of creating an app or product that could change the world. Is really true? Does this really happen? 

To be clear, I have no specific agenda. Veracity is important.

Simply making a low budget SOCIAL NETWORK or STEVE JOBS doesn’t hold any interest.

So if you wanna meet in Palo Alto or anywhere else in SV, I’m here Oct 30-Nov 7 2024 and like I say, I’m buying.

Absolutely no obligation to say who you work for, or share (obviously) any kind of specifics of what you’re working on. You don’t even need to tell me your name…

Happy to meet in a public or private spot—I’ll be going to a few well known hangouts (again, accordingly to Redditors)

If there are recommendations of other quality places or meetups, or you prefer to comment or send me a DM that would also be very much appreciated.

thanks

mat

Hi PA folks!

I’m new to the area (and in general new to the Bay Area). I was told before moving here that the traffic at PA is much better than others like Cupertino, Fremont, etc. Still, I found that areas besides US 101 can have crazy traffic especially at peak hours. Is it always like this? Or just recent years or post pandemic.

Edit: I love the PA community with good facilities and nice people!

Hi All, We just moved to Palo Alto and our baby isn't enjoying day care (like cries all day). We had a nanny before and looks like we may need to go back to having a nanny. Would any of you have recommendations for one or a service? Appreciate any help.

Hi all I love running but have trouble getting "in the zone" with suburban running with cars and crossings everywhere.

I enjoy paved "rail trails" generally but am not aware of any nearby that aren't surrounded by cars or rather industrial.

The only places I've found that I like are Byxbee Park and the Dish loop, but I'm looking to broaden my horizons. Thanks in advance!

Edit: Thanks all I’ll be trying these 1 by 1, appreciate the responses

Hey everyone! 👋

I’m a 26y/o guy moving from the South to California soon to start a new job in tech, and I’m trying to figure out the best neighborhood to live in. Done some research, and Palo Alto seems like a decent fit based on what I’m looking for in a community and lifestyle, but I’d love some local insight.

About Me

• Demographics: 26M, single, and working in tech

• Interests: art classes (painting & ceramics), piano lessons, movie theaters, creative writing/reading, soccer, church, parks and volunteering

What I’ve Found Out So Far

I’ve read up on a few neighborhoods that seem to have different things, like Downtown Palo Alto, Midtown, College Terrace, and California Avenue

Question

Would Palo Alto be a good fit for someone like me? Are there other neighborhoods or nearby cities I should consider? I’ll be looking to rent an apartment and would love any recommendations on places with a strong sense of community, where it’s easy to meet people and dive into activities like mine. Thanks!

2 VIP acoustic experience tix available $115 each! (Originally $140 each). Mat Kearney is the best, we’re sad we can’t make it. @ the Guild Theater. Doors at 7 pm.

Hello all, I unfortunately could not get Filoli Nightfall tickets, by any chance anybody in here looking to sell theirs?

Not complaining - genuinely curious! They inherited the house from their parents. Tore it down and rebuilt it during Covid. Interior around 3000sqft. 7000ft lot. Worth $4-5M but taxed on $1.2M only. What is the secret? How can I do this??

Hey, PCNSE hopefuls!

I’m currently preparing for the Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) exam, and wow – it’s no joke! Between mastering security features, understanding PAN-OS, and configuring firewall settings, there’s a lot to tackle. But the challenge is worth it, especially with the career opportunities this certification unlocks!

What’s really helped me is finding solid, targeted practice tests that simulate the actual exam. It’s one thing to read and memorize, but practicing under realistic exam conditions made a huge difference for me. I’ve been using NWExam for my PCNSE prep, and honestly, it’s been a game-changer. Their practice tests really helped me get comfortable with the format and reinforced key concepts.

For those already certified – any advice for us? Or if you’re prepping too, what’s your go-to strategy? Let’s share tips and keep each other motivated!

I keep responding stop and they do but then everyday a new person running for something shows up. They must have my number on a list somewhere anyone know if there is one and how to get removed?

EDIT: Just to make things more obvious, I’m George Lu. Please vote for me, and other good candidates (like Cari Templeton, Katie Causey, and Anne Cribbs) for City Council!

I’ve been following the redevelopment of the Nuthouse building for years, which is in large part why I got into this whole Planning Commission + City Council business. I really want our city to be vibrant with a variety of small businesses.

(If you don’t know, the Nuthouse was a great dive bar on Cal Ave. It was beloved by Stanford students, and also has a part in a lot of local tech history. The building has a really prominent location, and has been vacant for years.)

Basic timeline:

1. 2020: The Nuthouse closes, following the death of its owner Tony (Antonio), and his kids sell the building after trying to run the business for a while.
2. 2021: Local real estate developer #1 buys the site from the owner’s kids for $4.4m
3. 2021 to 2023: Proposals to re-open a restaurant get floated around.
4. 2024: Developer #1 gives up, and sells the site for $4.5m, which is probably a significant loss.

So yeah, not a great story. We should actually look back on what the city could have done to help fill the vacancy. Two quick shoutouts:

Potentially Historic Parking Lot

When developer #1 proposed a restaurant / beer garden, there was a long report for the city’s Historic Resources Board since the building was previously one of the first Safeways with a parking lot.

Sure — no one minds throwing a plaque on the side of the building, but the more you read the worse it gets:
- “Character-defining features include… [the] side entrance facing paved parking lot next to building”.
- “In spite of the change of use and more enclosed character, the area formerly occupied by the parking lot will remain largely open, preserving the historic character of open space immediately adjacent to the building that helps convey its original use as a drive-in supermarket. Thus, this important spatial relationship will largely remain intact.”

No one at the city definitively said that the parking lot is historic, but there's still a chilling effect since (1) these issues take time and effort to resolve and (2) buildings are designed with historic concerns in mind. The parking lot is big + prominent! It could have been more than outdoor dining, but we’ve seen peculiar fights in the past for this kind thing (like there was a Mexican restaurant on El Camino which some people insisted was potentially historic when someone tried to build mixed-use housing).

Parking Minimums

The Nuthouse building is right behind a giant parking garage with a lot of capacity. It’s also a couple of blocks to Caltrain.

The original redevelopment proposal (with the beer garden vibe) would have required 31 parking spaces. The developer could pay fees to replace 18 of those parking spaces ($$$), but also planned to demolish an addition in the back of the building to make room for parking ($$$).

Ultimately, the city’s parking requirements were moot, since a state law kicked in, removing parking minimums near Caltrain. The last plans include 3 parking spaces anyways for loading / accessibility anyways.

If state law hadn’t kicked in, I'd wonder whether the project could even be close to getting off the ground. The City Council could have led here, but parking can be a touchy subject like how a restaurant / office building on Cal Ave was potentially held up over 1 space.

TLDR

I'm trying not to make this post go on forever. I think we can do better as a city, which is why I (George Lu) am running for Palo Alto City Council. Believe it or not, people have actually tried to attack me for flagging the two points above, which is why I need your support to actually make reasonable changes to help local businesses.

Please vote for me! And also, consider voting for some other candidates that favor streamlining + allowing the city to evolve like Anne Cribbs, Cari Templeton, and Katie Causey.

As a teaser, I heard a rumor on good authority that a community-serving business may finally open at the Nuthouse at the end of all this process...

New to me 1950s home has a radiant floor heating system setup with a Takagi tankless water heater providing the heated water (See pics). Everything seems to be in functioning (turns on, heats water) but the house remains cold. The first radiant heating specialist I called wants to replace the hot water heater with a boiler for $13k! Any chance some of the Eichler's in the area have a similar setup and can recommend someone to service this configuration.

https://imgur.com/Z8pm6NM