06/30/08
Amber Bistro in Danville has a good deal for dinner thrugh the month of July. Monday-Thursday, the restaurant offers a three course prix fixe menu for $25. Owners Eric and Dawn Janssen offered the deal in June and got such a positive response they decided to keep it going another month. Here's the menu: First Course Caesar Salad / Hearts of Romaine Spears / Parmesan / Croutons
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Organic Baby Green Salad / Feta Cheese / Orange Segments /
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Second Course
Hangar Steak / Pineapple Relish / Garlic Mashed Potatoes
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Grilled Mahi Mahi / Mushroom Risotto Cake / Garlic Spinach /
Tamarind Demi-Glace
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Pan Seared Breast of Chicken / Goat Cheese Raviolis /
Orange Sherry...
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06/29/08
Have you ever suspected that your neighbor has a hidden talent? If that talent is for artwork, one of your neighbor’s pieces just might be on display this summer at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek. Local Voice 2008: Defining Community Through Art opens this Sunday and features 186 works from Contra Costa County artists, including newcomers to the local art scene and a few who are already nationally established. Juror Phillip Linhares, chief curator at the Oakland Museum of California, handpicked the best of 661 entries to win Local Voice Cash Awards and gift cards from local businesses. Take advantage of the opportunity to redecorate with the works on display up for sale at affordable prices. You may have until the end of August to make it out to the gallery, but...
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06/28/08
A series of four Tri-Valley concerts featuring young local musicians kicks off with a free after-hours jazz performance by the Tyler Sussman Quartet. Saxophonist Tyler Sussman, a graduate of Amador Valley High School, is bringing home a taste of New York’s music scene at the Pleasanton Public Library on Saturday, June 28 at 7:00 pm.
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06/27/08
Celebrate the end of another busy workweek by enjoying a free concert and movie at the Benicia City Park on Friday, June 27. The monthly event starts with a concert at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a movie shown at dusk.
This week, the members of the Benicia Performing Arts, featuring Jack Gates, will be playing. Afterwards, the popular animated feature, Bee Movie, with the voices of Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zelleweger, will be shown.
The park, complete with an open lawn, gazebo, and wooden play structure, is the perfect place to bring the kids and relax. Grab a pizza from Pizza Pirate (across the street in the Safeway shopping center,) bring some chairs or blankets and sit down to enjoy the shows!
The concert runs from 6:30...
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06/26/08
Diablo's big Best of the East Bay issue just hit mailboxes and newsstands, so make sure to check it out. Just after the issue came out, a cool new burger joint opened in Walnut Creek. We decided to put our reader's favorite hamburger joint, the longtime fave George's Giant on Newell Ave. up to a taste test against The Counter, a trendy chain that has another location in San Jose's Santana Row. Here's the scoop:
BEST OF THE EAST BAY WINNER: GEORGE'S GIANT HAMBURGER
THE SCENE: George's Giant Hamburger is a classic burger diner tucked into a Walnut Creek mini mall, with a limited menu and loyal regulars. Cash orders are taken at the counter, and orders are grilled right in front of you. Sandwiches and fries are served plain in traditional plastic...
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06/24/08
What’s the perfect way to end a hot summer day in Walnut Creek? Why, taking a stroll around Downtown of course. Now let’s add wine to that picture. Sound nice? Then you’ll love this: New to downtown Walnut Creek is the "Wine Walk", being held Wednesday, June 25th, from 6pm-9pm. Come enjoy your favorite Napa Valley red and white wine selections, located in several downtown Walnut Creek retail stores and restaurants.
Cost is $20 per person. Must be 21 or over. Tickets can be purchased online, at Mechanics Bank, Summit Bank, Main Street Postal or at the ticket booth on the day of. All participants MUST begin the "Wine Walk" at Alexis H in The Courtyard. Parking is conveniently located across the street at the Broadway Parking Garage (1390 Broadway).
For more...
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06/23/08
Relax and enjoy live music in picturesque downtown Livermore this Tuesday when the city hosts its weekly “Tuesday Tunes” event. Each Tuesday evening from June to October, a different local band performs a free concert at either Livermore Valley Plaza or Flag Pole Plaza, located a block apart from each other on First Street. Livermore Valley Plaza, concerts are every 1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesday of the month, while the Flag Pole Plaza shows are every 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month
This week, local blues band, “Papa’s Garage,” will be playing its set lists of classic and contemporary blues at Flag Pole Plaza. Next week, the Livermore-based band, “The Midnight Trio,” will...
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06/23/08
Last week, a bunch of bartenders from all around the East Bay got together at the Lafayette Park Hotel for the annual martini making contest to benefit Project Second Chance. This year's event raised $13,000+ for this outstanding adult literacy program. To see photos from the event, click here. And here's information about the winning cocktails:
Bartender Leonard “Buzz” Buzzard of Zio Fraedos’s (Pleasant Hill) captured the judges’ first prize of $500 for his original creation, the Thai-tini. Feliz Parra of Havana (Walnut Creek) took the $300 second-place award for his Tamarind ‘tini, and The Ladybug, concocted by Julie Jaluska of...
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06/20/08
Ever wanted to run in a triathlon but never thought you could cut it? Well here’s your chance to give it a shot. Pleasanton kicks off the 21st annual Tri-For-Fun series on Saturday at Shadow Cliffs Park.
It’s not just for the skilled and experienced either, this triathlon series is actually designed for novices. Plus it’s non-competitive and time is not ranked or recorded. So, come on down and bring the kids and parents.
The course is a 400-yard swim, 11-mile bike and 3-mile run. It will begin in waves from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. For you first-timers, shake those jitters with a 6:45 a.m. pep talk on the beach. Pre-registration is closed but on site registration will be available: $65 per person or $190 per team. Check-in opens at 5 a.m. See you at the starting line.
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06/19/08
Just received a nice note from Berkeley author Elizabeth Rosner (The Speed of Light, Blue Nude). Seems Rosner's Speed of Light received a nice plug in the new issue of O magazine—actor Gillian Anderson (Scully on The X-Files) raves about the book, which she has optioned to direct as a feature film. All this attention is sure to give Rosner's book a big sales bump at Amazon.com. Only problem is Amazon says the book is out of stock. I just called the Lafayette Bookstore, and they have a copy for sale...
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06/19/08
For the past decade, our friends Kevin and Ellen at the Walnut Creek Yacht Club have been throwing a big lobster cookout the day before Independence Day. Best to book reservations early as the family-style lobsterfest tends to sell out. Information below:
11th Annual Independence Day Lobster Party
Tuesday, July 3rd. A fun and tasty dinner with family style seating and service. Limited seating available.
Menu
Trio of Summer Hors d’oeuvres
Iceberg Wedge and Ft. Bragg Bay Shrimp Salad
our special 10,000 island dressing, crispy onions, marinated red and yellow sun drop tomatoes
New England Lobster Boil Platter
1 1/4 lb maine lobster, littleneck clams,...
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06/18/08
Every weekend, Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea in Alamo undergoes a transformation. The cozy coffee shop, known for its Arabica coffees, loose leaf teas, sandwiches and salads, becomes a sophisticated wine bar and concert hall.
At 3 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, wine bottles are uncorked and Yellow Wood turns into Moonlight—where patrons can enjoy beer and a full wine bar alongside their favorite coffee drinks.
It gets better. On Friday and Saturday nights, Moonlight offers free concerts from local artists.
This week, Hilary How and Dom Rivera will be playing a rare Thursday night jazz concert. Brazilian guitarist and Danville resident Carlos Kampf will be strumming tunes on Friday and frequent Moonlight contributors, the Yellow Wood...
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06/18/08
Tonight's the night for a moonlight stroll. I was just reading this article about why tonight's full moon will create an illusion of being unusually large. So check it out. And if it inspires you to seek out more stargazing and such, check out the events at Chabot's Space and Science Center this weekend. Here's some info from their press release:
On Friday, June 20th at 10:00am, we are holding a ceremony dedicating a marker in the spot where the original Oakland Observatory stood. The location is Lafayette Square in downtown Oakland, at 11th and Jefferson Streets. The marker reads something to the effect of “on this spot in 1883, a telescope...
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06/17/08
Looking for a way to cool off this weekend? Grab an inner tube this Friday evening and bring the whole family down to the Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park, where you can enjoy a movie while lounging in the pool at the first Family Dive In Movie Night, sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Park District—the waterpark's debut feature will be Flipper. Take advantage of the 25-yard pool and the brand new Sprayground, where kids of all ages can wade in the fountains. The park will be selling snacks, so you won’t have to be without your traditional movie candy, but be sure to bring your own inner tube or noodle.
Call 925-682-0896 or visit www.pleasanthillrec.com to reserve your tickets now. The Pleasant Hill Aquatic Park is at 147...
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06/16/08
I spent Sunday driving around the backroads of Diabloland, listening to the Old 97s terrific new record, Blame It On Gravity. These Texas rockers have been around for nearly 20 years, have a loyal following, and always get great reviews for their albums and smokin' live shows—but never seem to get past the Fillmore as far as venue size. On one hand, its kind of a shame, as Old 97s deserve a bigger share of the pie carved out by country-pop caricatures like Rascal Flatts. On the other hand, it's great for fans of Old 97's infectious rock meets country meets swing meets punk style of music, to get to see a band of the caliber in an intimate venue like the Fillmore. In any case, if you don't have anything to do on Tuesday night, head across the bridge and check out the...
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06/12/08
Get your blues on in Point Richmond this Friday, as a summer concert series kicks off with a rockin' double bill. Info below:
POINT RICHMOND MUSIC'S 2008 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES BEGINS JUNE 13TH
Point Richmond Music's (PRM) free summer concert series kicks off on Friday, June 13th with a mix of classic Blues and Blues Rock performances. The concert begins at 5:30 pm and will be held outdoors on Park Place at Washington Avenue in historic downtown Point Richmond.
From 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, enjoy classic Blues from The Dave Workman Band featuring John "Broadway" Tucker. Dave Workman built his reputation opening for B.B.King and Muddy Waters, while John "Broadway" Tucker is a regional blues legend and winner of the prestigious Monterey Bay Blues Festival Mobay...
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06/12/08
This is really awesome, breaking news. Just received a notice from Seth Adams at save Mount Diablo about Walnut Creek resident David Gowen discovering two new plant species in the Lime Ridge Open Space, never before described by nature. That doesn't happen every day! The exact locations of the new species are being kept secret to protect them. The whole clandestine element makes it even cooler. Press release follows:
(Walnut Creek/Concord) Lightning has struck twice in Walnut Creek, CA, at Lime Ridge Open Space, a biodiversity hot spot of just three square miles but including roughly 35 rare species. David Gowen, an amateur botanist associated with the California Native Plant Society, has discovered two new plant species never before described by...
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06/12/08
What happened when CBS deserted Martinez-based physicist, chemist and champion table tennis player on the remote island of Fiji? Meet Yau-Man Chan, a finalist from Survivor: Fiji and hear his story Saturday, June 14 at 2pm at the Danville Library.
Chan will discuss how the show was filmed ad other insider secrets. Sponsored by the Friends of the Danville Library.
420 Front Street Danville, http://ccclib.org/
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06/11/08
Alameda-based writer Mary F. Pols is scheduled to speak tonight at a reading and signing at Barnes & Noble in Walnut Creek at 7:30 pm. Pols’ new memoir, Accidentally on Purpose: A One-Night Stand, My Unplanned Parenthood, and Loving the Best Mistake I Ever Made, candidly answers some of women’s most frightening questions: Is there a mute button on my incessantly ticking biological clock? What is the morning-after protocol for the one-night stand with a man ten years my junior? Will I survive single motherhood? How will my philosophical Irish Catholic father react to my unplanned pregnancy? Where can I find support for my unique situation?
Hear answers straight from the author’s mouth and ask a few questions of your own tonight.
Wednesday,...
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06/10/08
Every time I attend an event at the Claremont Resort, I'm blown away by how beautiful this landmark hotel is...particularly stunning is the view from the deck of the Paragon Bar across the Bay at San Francisco. So, I'm psyched to see that the Claremont has launched a quarterly live jazz concert series, with a concert by guitarist Peter White on June 20...this is a great way to visit the hotel as an entertainment venue in our backyard. Of course, if you want to spend the night and get a spa treatment in the morning, nobody's stopping you. Here's the press release about the jazz concert series:
HISTORIC CLAREMONT BALLROOM HOSTS QUARTERLY
CONCERTS AT THE CLAREMONT MUSIC SERIES
BERKELEY, Calif. – The Claremont Resort & Spa is pleased to announce the Concerts at...
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06/09/08
I drove back to Danville from Biola more than two weeks ago, but mountainous piles of half-unpacked Citizen jeans and Marc Jacobs tops still consumed my bedroom floor. I was at a loss for how to combine the latest trends I had accumulated at school in with the ones left at home. The piles spilled their way out into the hallway, bathroom, laundry room, and home office before motivation struck. The answer came in the form of a glamorous silver screen hit starring fabulous Manolo Blahniks and two oversized walk-in closets. After seeing the Sex and the City movie for the second time, first on opening weekend with a gaggle of heeled girls in our City, and again at Hacienda, one line echoed in my mind. SPOILER ALERT! When Big and Carrie decide to get married, Carrie...
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06/05/08
The 14th annual tour of San Ramon Valley artists studios takes place this weekend throughout the Tri-Valley. The festivities begin Friday, June 6, with a reception at the Danville Community Center, then tours run all weekend. More than 100 artists will participate. More information here. Have fun!
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