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FOOD & DRINK
The Walnut Creek bar at the center of controversy is for sale — but there’s a catch
WALNUT CREEK — A back-alley bar known as a “hidden gem” for speakeasy vibes and trendy tunes in Walnut Creek is up for sale after the owner tussled with city officials last year. Bidding starts at $250,000 to take the helm of Spoontonic Lounge, which is advertised...
Firefighter’s racist rant goes viral on TikTok
A collision on the freeway near Stockton, CA spiraled out of control when an Alameda County firefighter went on a racist rant that the victim caught on video and shared on TikTok. The firefighter who has not publicly been identified approached the driver side window of another driver and called...
Shake Shack shuts down in Oakland, First Edition sets closing date
Unique, comic-book-themed cocktail bar First Edition has announced its upcoming closure, happening at the end of September. Until then there will be many farewell parties and “all-night happy hours” as it counts down its final days. “Oakland, you are amazing,” said the August 24 Instagram announcement. “Your resilience and community spirit have carried us through a roller coaster of times. We are grateful for every memory made and every person who walked through our doors.” The team went on to graciously plug surrounding downtown Oakland neighborhood bars such as Night Heron. First Edition is at 1915 Broadway in Oakland and will close on September 30, watch for updates next month.
Restaurant Review: Hakashi in Walnut Creek
Trust me. Famous last words, right? But it’s become a common refrain at upscale Japanese restaurants around the Bay Area, where omakase (derived from a phrase meaning “trust the chef”) tasting menus are all the rage. Rather than pick and choose favorite nigiri or rolls, intrepid diners place their palate in the hand of highly trained chefs who prepare multicourse meals consisting of various fish and other dishes—sort of the equivalent of a culinary trust fall. And an expensive one at that: It’s not unusual for full omakase menus to run upward of $200 per person.
The Bay Area’s Largest Vegan Food Festival Is Also Its Most Diverse
This weekend, one of the Bay Area’s biggest and most forward-thinking food festivals gets underway in downtown Berkeley, offering a multicultural smorgasbord of jollof, lumpia, curry rice bowls, Cajun fried chicken and Dole Whip–style soft serve. Add in an array of mostly local art, apparel and wellness brands, and there will be about 100 vendors in all, the vast majority of which are owner-operated small businesses run by people of color.
Ringling Bros. circus returns to Bay Area next two weekends
The circus is back in town starting this weekend for the second year without animals. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus has six shows Friday through Sunday at Oakland Arena then six more shows Sept. 6-8 at SAP Center in San Jose. For show times and tickets, visit...
Vulture survives after starting Berkeley grass fire
A fire earlier this week in the Berkeley Hills was caused by a vulture that flew into the power lines, authorities report. The fire burned 1.3 acres of land in Berkeley's Tilden Regional Park on Tuesday afternoon. But, thanks to alert hikers who spotted the blaze and called it in,...
The California Dawn 2 ran its first albacore trip of the season
We had 2 trips out today. Live bait albacore and a rockfish and lingcod run. Weather was spectacular for the boats, rockfish and lings were lights out. Limits on both for 10. The California Dawn 2 ran its first albacore trip of the season. We managed 44 Tuna to 20 pounds. We got the fish up on a couple of stops and they were eating the fly line. I'm planning more dates of tuna. Watch for the posts, looking for weather windows and temp breaks to make it happen again soon.
This Weekend’s Bizerkeley Food Fest Set to Serve Up ‘Meat Eater-Approved Vegan Food’
The Bay Area’s big Labor Day weekend street fair will be Sunday’s fourth annual Bizerkeley Food Fest, with samples and delicious dishes galore of eats “made by vegans for a meat eater's tastebuds.”. The cancellation of this year’s Hiero Day took out the Bay Area’s biggest Labor...
Top 5 Things To Do In The Brentwood Area With Kids This Week
Every week, Macaroni KID Brentwood shares our picks for five things to do with your kids in and around Brentwood, CA over the coming week. Here are Macaroni KID Brentwood's picks for the five things to do in the Brentwood area with kids this week. Click on the links for all the details!
Fun at the Firehouse: ‘Unforgettable lineup of performances’ this season at downtown Pleasanton theater
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Soaring rock solos, dynamic dance routines and many other captivating performances will be coming to downtown Pleasanton over the next months as part of the Firehouse Arts Center’s new 2024-25 season. Julian Mireles, Pleasanton’s new recreation supervisor who was recently hired by the...
NorCal’s Largest Vegan Food Fest Celebrates Black Entrepreneurship
Going green never tasted better, says the Bay Area Black woman behind Northern California’s largest vegan food festival. The Bizerkeley Food Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1, with 100 vendors, among them businesses showcasing plant-based cuisine and drinks, live entertainment, games and a number of giveaways. The festival will be held at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, 2151 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley.
Your New Favorite Bay Area Event Might Be ‘A Thing To Talk About’
In the Bay Area it’s easier to find a talented artist than a quality parking spot. And platforms that highlight the work of local creatives are even more scarce. Artists might make this region a cultural hub, but it’s hard for them to stay afloat out here. That’s...
ADORABLE Klipspringers Zeelie and Matawi Steal the Show in Exclusive Oakland Zoo VIDEO!
OAKLAND, CA – Visitors at the Oakland Zoo recently got a special treat with a charming video of klipspringers Zeelie and Matawi. In the footage, captured by Keeper Aeriell, the two adorable antelopes are seen munching contentedly on their food. Klipspringers are small, agile antelopes native to Eastern and...
St. George Spirits: America’s first craft distillery on the perfect Eau de vie
Eau de vie is a colorless and sweet brandy made using fermentation and double distillation techniques. The result is a fruity but light beverage, not unlike a wine. The key characteristic, however, is that it’s made using fruit other than grapes, such as pears, cherries, raspberries, or even kiwi. Sounds delicious, right?
Jazz Jams returning to Longevity Wines
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Las Positas College and the Livermore Jazz Society are putting on a second season of Jazz Jam Sessions at Longevity Wines in Livermore, starting this weekend. At the jam session shows, LPC students and graduates associated with LJS will perform improvised jazz music and...
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