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Related Blogs

Highest and Lowest Priced Homes Sold in San Carlos CA, in April 2026

May 12, 2026

For April 2026, there were a total of 27 homes sold in San Carlos, with sale prices ranging from $4,150,000 to $1,600,000. Here are the highest and lowest priced homes sold last month –

Highest and Lowest Priced Homes Sold in San Carlos CA, in March 2026

Apr 10, 2026

For March 2026, there were a total of 24 homes sold in San Carlos, with sale prices ranging from $6,250,000 to $1,650,000. Here are the highest and lowest priced homes sold last month –

Highest and Lowest Priced Homes Sold in San Carlos CA, in February 2026

Mar 16, 2026

For February 2026, there were a total of 14 homes sold in San Carlos, with sale prices ranging from $5,800,000 to $1,600,000. Here are the highest and lowest priced homes sold last month –

What Amazing 2,642 Miles Taught Ranger Kielak About People

May 1, 2026

There is a particular kind of exhaustion that rearranges a person’s thinking. It accumulates silently, settling first into the body, then pressing on everything else. By then, Ranger Kielak had been walking for close to 20 hours along the Half Moon Bay coast. Then he realized – he was on the WRONG coast.

Happy Birthday San Carlos Library!

Aug 8, 2025

It was August 8, 1999, when the current San Carlos Library first opened its doors to the public, replacing the 1963 building that had once been the busiest library per square foot in the San Mateo county. In its place rose a 41,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, six times larger than its predecessor. To celebrate, library historian Francis Herbert will curate a special birthday display in the main lobby. Here are some fascinating facts about the library’s history, its star-scattered dome that fills the rotunda with fascinating patterns of light, and the colorful murals that frame its entrance…

Cherry Street Commons Breaks Ground, Bringing 33 Affordable Units by 2026

Apr 25, 2025

San Carlos officially broke ground this week on Cherry Street Commons, a long-awaited affordable housing project that will deliver 33 income-restricted homes by late 2026; the city’s first 100% affordable, family-focused housing complex —15 years in the making.

Saffron San Carlos: A Conversation with Ajay and Reena, and the Slow Art of Feeding a Community

Jan 6, 2026

Saffron San Carlos has been a fixture in the city for twenty years, Michelin-recognized since 2019, but the story behind it reaches further back, beginning in New Delhi kitchens and winding through corporate towers in Chicago before settling into downtown San Carlos.

Small Business Saturday Deals in San Carlos 2025: Shop Small, Win Big, Feel Good

Nov 25, 2025

Small Business Saturday in San Carlos has the charm of a neighborhood block party wrapped in a shopping spree: with deals, treats, and the kind of friendly banter you just can’t get at a big-box checkout line. This guide rounds up the promos and pit stops that make the day a perfect excuse to stroll, snack, and snag something special while supporting our local shops. Check out deals from Delizie (10% off when you mention “San Carlos Life”), Laurel Street Arts (Free Hot Chocolate outside), Reach and Teach (Free Cookies and 10% off on all books), and more!

Planning Your Perfect Holiday Party at Rouge Lounge

Nov 19, 2025

As San Carlos enters the festive season, Rouge Lounge is preparing to make its mark as one of the Peninsula’s most talked-about venues for private events and celebrations. “We offer something truly unique: a high-end, fully customizable experience without the high-end hassle,” husband and wife owners Steve and Sema Tosun said. “Our process is designed to be stress-free and transparent: no complicated paperwork or awkward surprise charges.” Their goal? “We guarantee your guests will have a memorable holiday party they’ll truly rave about.”

Filoli’s Nightfall 2025 Brings Moonlit Magic Back to Woodside

Oct 8, 2025

Filoli brings back its popular after-dark event this autumn. Nightfall 2025 will run from October 3 through November 10, offering visitors an experience that blends art, light, and seasonal storytelling across the estate’s gardens and historic mansion. Here’s a peek at what’s in store –

Echoes of San Carlos High: A Beautiful Journey Through Memories

Jun 19, 2024

We’ve been able to reach out to some of the alumni of San Carlos High, and we’re grateful for Sandy Castagnino (Alumni 1967, whose grandparents were the eleventh family to become residents in San Carlos at around 1918) and best friends Deborah Cook & Debbie Morris (Alumni 1982) for sharing their stories with us here in San Carlos Life.

The Carlos Theater: The Stories of Those Who Experienced the Magic

Mar 26, 2024

For this article, we posted an old photo of the Carlos Theater in the Facebook Group of San Carlos High School Alumni and asked them to share their stories of the theater. We are pleased to be able to shares their stories here as one…

Inside the Amazing San Carlos Curbside Lunch Program

Nov 3, 2025

San Carlos Life had the privilege of sitting down with the dedicated team at the Adult Community Center to learn how the Curbside Lunch Program began, how it operates today, and why it continues to be such an important part of San Carlos. Every month, the program offers a different dish daily that rotates around salads, soups, sandwiches, pies, roasts, pasta, and more. There’s always something new to enjoy. Staff often hear how much the program means to participants. “We often hear from customers who say they no longer cook for themselves,” one team member noted. “Having access to a hot, nutritious lunch each day makes a real difference in their lives.” Many also express gratitude not only for the meals but for the consistency and care that goes into providing them.

Happy Birthday San Carlos Library!

Aug 8, 2025

City Council Greenlights Harrington Park Renovation; Rethinks Fountain Design

Jun 13, 2025

In a closely watched public meeting, the San Carlos City Council reached a key decision on the long-anticipated renovation of Harrington Park and the 700 Block of Laurel Street. While plans for the Harrington Park renovation are moving forward, one major element—the water feature—remains in flux.

Inside Ballet America’s Famous Annual Nutcracker

Dec 19, 2025

Welcome to Ballet America’s Nutcracker. The annual tradition returned during the first week of December 2025, featuring more than 100 performers ages 4 to 77, drawing sold-out crowds, and weaving another chapter into one of the Bay Area’s longest-running family events. “A community production where so many people and levels come together to give their best,” San Carlos’s very own art director Julia Ball-Dugan commented. Indeed, Ballet America’s Nutcracker is a one-of-a-kind community event made possible by volunteers and families who return each year to decorate sets, dance beside their children and friends, and perform before a joyful audience of familiar faces. What began as a humble production at Stanford University in 1995 has become an enduring story over 30 years in the making.

Too Much Stuff? A Local Guide To Prevent Holiday Hoarding

Dec 2, 2025

San Carlos, like the rest of America, is facing an issue more households are reluctant to talk about: too much stuff, and nowhere to put it. According to a recent survey, the average American family is hoarding about 300,000 stuff at any given time. Also, 71% of Americans admit to repurchasing items they already own because clutter keeps them from finding the original. Sounds familiar? If you face the same problem, here are several great options for donating items and giving them a second life –

Small Business Saturday Deals in San Carlos 2025: Shop Small, Win Big, Feel Good

Nov 25, 2025

Behind Life’s Most Important Paperwork: A Talk with Shannon Kampa, Owner of Ellaphun Mobile Notary

Apr 16, 2026

Before a signature is placed on paper, people often pause for reasons that have little to do with the pen in their hand. Thoughts surface about responsibility, permanence, and how a single signature can shape finances, families, or futures. These small, human moments unfold in ordinary rooms, and they are where Shannon Kampa does her work.

As the founder of Ellaphun Mobile Notary, Shannon brings steadiness into moments that feel uncertain. Notarization often coincides with times of stress or urgency, and a mobile notary allows her to arrive quickly and meet clients where reaching out feels especially difficult, including those who are unable to leave their homes. This is their story –

A Personal Mission: Why Fateh Sidhu Became a Senior Care Advisor

Mar 11, 2026

Some decisions feel heavy because they are layered with memory, responsibility, and love. Choosing senior care is one of those decisions. It often arrives during a season when families are already stretched thin, emotionally and practically.

When families reach that moment, they are often searching for steadiness. That is where Fateh Sidhu enters the picture. As the owner of Elder Compass, Fateh supports families as they navigate assisted living, memory care, and in-home care across San Mateo County and nearby communities. His work centers on helping families slow down, understand their options, and move forward with confidence.

That instinct to guide comes from experience. As Fateh puts it, “My journey into senior care began in a deeply personal space.”

How Will Strohl Put Love & Integrity Into Tech: The Story of Upendo Ventures

Feb 4, 2026

On a weekday morning in San Carlos, Laurel Street has its own rhythm. Coffee cups clink. Familiar faces pass by. Conversations resume among kind people. That rhythm offers a useful entry point into understanding Will Strohl and the company he started: Upendo Ventures, a Bay Area based software and consulting firm that operates across three continents and ten countries.

Yet its center of gravity remains firmly rooted in San Carlos’s walkable downtown, where neighbors linger over coffee and share a genuine sense of connection. “The small-town feel where you actually know your neighbors, paired with an entrepreneurial energy you don’t find everywhere,” Will said, when asked about San Carlos.

He calls it “something special”, and that special something has has shaped both Will and his work for years. That story began with a single word.

Other Restaurants

Pho Vinh San Carlos, Vibrant Authentic Vietnamese Pho

Pho Vinh is more than just a neighborhood pho spot—it’s a local treasure and bragged by customers as the “best pho in the Bay Area”. From their deeply flavorful broths to the spot-on service, it’s easy to see why so many call it their go-to.

Soko Soko Japanese Cuisine: San Carlos’s New Sushi Star

Soko Soko delivers Fresh, Homestyle Japanese Cuisine in San Carlos Soko Soko Japanese Cuisine in San Carlos, CA, is a contemporary Japanese restaurant offering a fusion of traditional flavors with modern twists. Opened on February 1, 2025, by owner Stephanie Zhu, who...

Esnaf San Carlos: Authentic Turkish-Mediterranean Delights

Discover the authentic flavors of Turkey at Esnaf in San Carlos. From delectable mezzes to hearty main courses, Esnaf offers a culinary journey that delights the senses.

ABOUT VIV AND MARK

Vabrato Real Estate

Vabrato is a locally based, top-rated real estate team led by Mark Martinho and Vivienne Kelvin. Together, they bring over 30 years of combined experience helping home buyers and sellers throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. With expert negotiation skills, in-depth market knowledge, precise pricing strategies and marketing tactics, they consistently deliver exceptional results. Through their Design-to-Sell Service, they provide strategic property upgrades, cover upfront improvement costs, and manage the entire process from start to finish.

Mark is a Real Estate Broker and General Contractor, with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Law. Viv is also a Broker, expert Negotiator, respected Interior Designer, seasoned Marketing Expert, and trusted San Carlos business community leader.

Thinking about buying or selling in San Carlos?

As long time residents in San Carlos, Viv and Mark know every street, school, and local market shift, so you get strategic pricing, standout marketing, and negotiations that deliver. Get a complimentary market snapshot or home valuation and a no-pressure plan tailored to your goals. Contact us today: your next move starts here.

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Welcome to San Carlos Life, a site about all things San Carlos, California. This is meant to be a guide about this beautiful town, its many amenities and activities plus all life has to offer its residents and visitors. Come and have a look around and let us know if anything is missing from this site.

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ABOUT MARK & VIV

Viv and Mark are the owners of Vabrato Real Estate, a local brokerage serving home buyers and sellers for over 15 years. They are intimately familiar with all of San Carlos, from its flats to its rolling hills and canyons. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in San Carlos, they are your local experts.

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ABOUT SAN CARLOS

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San Carlos Lions Tri Tip Dinner 2025

Pints for Parkinson’s 2024

Related Blogs

Highest and Lowest Priced Homes Sold in San Carlos CA, in April 2026

Highest and Lowest Priced Homes Sold in San Carlos CA, in March 2026

Highest and Lowest Priced Homes Sold in San Carlos CA, in February 2026

What Amazing 2,642 Miles Taught Ranger Kielak About People

Happy Birthday San Carlos Library!

Cherry Street Commons Breaks Ground, Bringing 33 Affordable Units by 2026

Saffron San Carlos: A Conversation with Ajay and Reena, and the Slow Art of Feeding a Community

Small Business Saturday Deals in San Carlos 2025: Shop Small, Win Big, Feel Good

Planning Your Perfect Holiday Party at Rouge Lounge

Filoli’s Nightfall 2025 Brings Moonlit Magic Back to Woodside

Echoes of San Carlos High: A Beautiful Journey Through Memories

The Carlos Theater: The Stories of Those Who Experienced the Magic

Inside the Amazing San Carlos Curbside Lunch Program

Happy Birthday San Carlos Library!

City Council Greenlights Harrington Park Renovation; Rethinks Fountain Design

Inside Ballet America’s Famous Annual Nutcracker

Too Much Stuff? A Local Guide To Prevent Holiday Hoarding

Small Business Saturday Deals in San Carlos 2025: Shop Small, Win Big, Feel Good

Behind Life’s Most Important Paperwork: A Talk with Shannon Kampa, Owner of Ellaphun Mobile Notary

A Personal Mission: Why Fateh Sidhu Became a Senior Care Advisor

How Will Strohl Put Love & Integrity Into Tech: The Story of Upendo Ventures

Other Restaurants

Pho Vinh San Carlos, Vibrant Authentic Vietnamese Pho

Soko Soko Japanese Cuisine: San Carlos’s New Sushi Star

Esnaf San Carlos: Authentic Turkish-Mediterranean Delights

ABOUT VIV AND MARK

CONTACT