The San Mateo Resource Conservation District is spearheading a project that will remove a concrete barrier from the San Francisquito Creek, making it easier for fish to swim through.

Take 50 Stanford University engineering students, give them $250,000 and two years, and what do you get? An affordable net-zero energy house for the 2013 Solar Decathlon.

Ten years ago, Ellen Brook took a professional leap of faith. After taking a silk painting class, she left a Silicon Valley career in investor relations to follow her dream. Her pieces now hang throughout the Bay Area.

Esther’s German Bakery serves traditional German foods beloved by the cafe’s owner, Esther Nio. Now, it’s also beloved by members of the German-American Business Association.

Empire Vintage Clothing differs from the surrounding boutiques of Palo Alto’s University Avenue. Rather than selling brand name apparel, the store distributes one-of-a-kind vintage pieces from the 1940s through 80s.