“City Of The Stars”

The City of Stars- the name says it all.  There is no better way to describe Brisbane, California than by its own depiction.  During the late fall and winter nights as the sun sets on the Pacific, residents of Brisbane unite as hundreds of decorative stars illuminate the hillside homes of this small, but spirited town.  The lighting of the stars is a deeply rooted tradition that dates back to Brisbane’s holiday celebrations over 65 years ago.  Now an annual spectacle, the stars not only represent the ephemeral sense of community, tradition, and pride amongst Brisbane residents, but illustrate the character and foundation of Brisbane itself.

Brisbane is a small and charming town of around 4,000 residents that is nestled in a quiet hillside of San Bruno Mountain.  It lies adjacent to the San Francisco Bay and is only minutes away from both the borders of San Francisco and South San Francisco.  It has a total area of 20.5 square miles, with 17 square miles of it being water.  The town enjoys generally sunny weather, as its location on San Bruno Mountain lies just under the area’s fog belt.

The sense of community in Brisbane is notably one of its greatest assets.  Life in a small and tight knit town allows citizens to enjoy a quality and pace of life incomparable to those in most big cities.  The people of Brisbane are welcoming and involved, as well as committed to working for the benefit of all.  The town enjoys an annual Marina Festival, Concerts in the Park, community volunteer gatherings, and much more.  There are also many recreation centers in town, including a teen center, a public swimming pool, a performance center, and a community park.  Meanwhile, Brisbane enjoys a variety of local restaurants, services, and small shops that line the city’s shopping center and its main street.  The city also has its own unified public school district, which includes a local elementary school and middle school.  With its many community and family-structured offerings, Brisbane is a warm, friendly, and safe environment for children to grow up in, adults to come home to, and retirees to enjoy.

The prime location of Brisbane truly offers the best of both worlds.  It is a unique and hidden treasure amongst the metropolitan Bay Area, in that if offers the quality and privacy of small town living paired with the convenience of being located next to many bustling large cities.  Brisbane even offers free transportation, with a shuttle that takes citizens to both Caltrain and BART stations.  At the same time, San Francisco, its neighboring cities, and highway 101 are only a short distance away, providing easy access to entertainment, transportation, jobs, resources, and much more for Brisbane residents.  In contrast, aside from the town’s big city accessibility, Brisbane is also conveniently situated on San Bruno Mountain.  With a state park, literally, as the town’s very own backyard, residents can benefit from the natural setting and wildlife found on the mountain, alongside hiking trails and a dog park.

Throughout the rapid development of surrounding urban areas and the increasingly fast pace of American life, Brisbane continues to retain its small-town appeal and serene atmosphere.    Although private, it is a the same time bustling, with neighbors that gather for festivals in the park, teens that hang out at the skate park and recreation center, and children that go to school every morning.  Brisbane, California truly offers an ideal place to live and to grow in.  For some, it is everything that one may hope for in a perfect living location: the capability of remaining close to a metropolitan area, while living in a city that has captured the delights of small-town living.