June 2008

06/30/08

Good deal on meal at Amber Bistro

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
~ or ~
Organic Baby Green Salad / Feta Cheese / Orange Segments /
Balsamic Vinaigrette

Second Course
Hangar Steak / Pineapple Relish / Garlic Mashed Potatoes
~ or ~
Grilled Mahi Mahi / Mushroom Risotto Cake / Garlic Spinach /
Tamarind Demi-Glace
~ or ~
Pan Seared Breast of Chicken / Goat Cheese Raviolis /
Orange Sherry...

Posted at 11:47 AM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/29/08

Bedford Gallery: Local Voice 2008

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...

Posted at 10:19 AM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/28/08

Free concert Saturday at Pleasanton Public Library

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.  

Posted at 06:10 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/27/08

Free concert and movie night in Benicia

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...

Posted at 02:28 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/26/08

Best Hamburger Showdown: George's Vs. The Counter

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...

Posted at 03:02 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/24/08

Walnut Creek Wine Walk

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...

Posted at 07:25 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/23/08

Free Tuesday concerts in Livermore

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...

Posted at 05:17 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/23/08

Winners of the Best Martini Contest in Lafayette

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...

Posted at 01:46 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/20/08

Triathlon in the Tri-Valley

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.

Posted at 01:40 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments

06/19/08

East Bay author picked by Oprah's O magazine/X Files star

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...

Posted at 02:29 PM in Best Of Editor Picks | Permalink | Comments