Southern California road trip
Hi neighbor,
I grew up in Southern California and still make the trip down a handful of times each year — including last week.
There’s a great stopping point about halfway down at Bravo Farms, and my kids get so excited every time we pull in. There's a cute western-themed play area, a BBQ restaurant, an ice cream shop, and a coffee shop. It’s so nice to get out of the car to stretch our legs and grab some food somewhere other than a fast food place.
Have you ever been? Do you have any other favorite places to stop on your way to Southern California? Reply and let me know!
See you around town,
Jen
Here’s what happening in and around Pleasant Hill this week
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please verify details with the event website to ensure accuracy.
View events by date
Thursday, July 23
Details: Stories, songs, and movement; best suited for ages 0–5.
Time: 11am–12pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Food trucks and live music make for a fun and easy Thursday night dinner.
Time: 5–9pm
Location: City Hall Park, 138 Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill
More happening Thursday:
Hang Out and Draw; 2–3pm; Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda
Read to a dog; 4–5pm; Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord
Music & Market: Not. Greenday; Farmers Market 4–8pm, music 6:30–8pm; Todos Santos Plaza, Concord
Crafternoons with I Heart Art; 4:30–5:30pm; Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek
Opera in the Park; 6–8pm; Orinda Community Center Park, 28 Orinda Way, Orinda
Summer Concert: Delta Wires; 6:30–8:30pm; Moraga Commons Park, 1425 St. Mary's Road, Moraga
Friday, July 24
Details: Outdoor games, activities, and a movie.
Time: Activities before dusk, movie begins at dusk;
Location: Emerald Glen Park, 4201 Central Pkwy, Dublin
More happening Friday:
Japanese Tea Garden; Free entry between 9–10am; 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Eraser Stamp Carving; For tweens and teens (ages 9–18 years); 3–4pm; Moraga Library, 1500 St. Mary's Road, Moraga
Good Night Farm at Tilden Park; 3:30–4pm; Tilden Park, 1500 Central Park Dr, Berkeley
Telescope Viewings at Chabot; 7:30–10:30pm; Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland
Saturday, July 25
Details: Your local stop for fresh produce, flowers, and prepared foods from local vendors.
Time: 9am–1pm
Location: Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill
Puppet show, story time princess, kids cooking classes, and crafts.
Time: 9am–1pm; Puppet show 10:30am
Location: North Wiget Lane and Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek.
Details: Build your own Lego creations
Time: 2–4pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Taylor Swift Tribute Band
Time: 6–8
Location: Town Green, 420 Front Street, Danville
More happening Saturday:
de Young; 9:30am–5:15pm; 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco; reserve tickets in advance online
Legion of Honor; 9:30am–5:15pm; 100 34th Avenue, San Francisco; reserve tickets in advance online
Storytime; 10–11am; Martinez Library, 740 Court Street, Martinez
Creature Feature in Tilden Park; 10:30–11am; Tilden Park visitor center, 1500 Central Park Drive, Berkeley
Wild Explorations in Tilden Park; 2–2:30pm; Tilden Park visitor center, 1500 Central Park Drive, Berkeley
Good Night Farm in Tilden Park; 3:30–4pm; Tilden Little Farm, 1500 Central Park Drive, Berkeley
Clayton Concerts in the Grove: Houserockers; 6–8:30pm; The Grove, 6100 Main Street, Clayton
Bishop Ranch Smooth Jazz Series: Lee Ritenour (Guitar); 7pm; Alexander Square, City Center Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon
Telescope Viewings; 7:30–10:30pm; Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland
Sunday, July 26
Details: Acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, clowns, and a band. Bring your own blankets or chairs and plan to stay for about an hour.
Time: 1pm and 3pm
Location: Union Square, 250 Geary Street, San Francisco
More happening Sunday:
Martinez Farmers' Market; 9am–1pm; 700 Main Street, Martinez
Sunday Storytime; 10:30–11am; Tilden Visitor Center, 1500 Central Park Drive, Berkeley
Good Night Farm; 3:30–4pm; Tilden Visitor Center, 1500 Central Park Drive, Berkeley
Monday, July 27
Details: The oldest operating public Japanese Garden in North America.
Time: Enter for free on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9–10am
Location: Golden Gate Park, 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Details: Use your creative expression and destress with this free art program.
Time: 1–2pm
Location: Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord
Details: Bring your own chair for a Movie Night and popcorn at the Concord Library. Rated PG.
Time: 5:30–7:30pm
Location: Concord Library, 2900 Salvio Street, Concord
Tuesday, July 28
Details: Year-round farmers market on the plaza.
Time: 9am–2pm (the first hour is reserved for seniors and others at greater risk)
Location: Todos Santos Plaza, Concord
Details: A family movie night at the library.
Time: 6–7:30pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
More happening Tuesday:
Peek-A-Book Storytime; 10:15–11:15am; Ygnacio Valley Library; 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek
Dungeons & Dragons®; For teens ages 13–18; 2–4pm; Walnut Creek Library, 1644 North Broadway, Walnut Creek; Registration required
Read to a Dog; 2:15–3:15pm; Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette; Registration required
Kiddo Crafternoons; 4:30pm–6:00pm; Concord Library, 2900 Salvio St, Concord
Wednesday, July 29
Details: Drop-in art activities for toddlers.
Time: 11am–12pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Drop-in art activities for school-age kids.
Time: 1:30–3:30pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
More happening Wednesday:
Japanese Tea Garden; Free entry between 9–10am; 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco
Sing Me a Storytime; 10:30–11am; Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Meditation; Teens and adults; 6–7pm; Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette
Thursday, July 30
Details: Stories, songs, and movement for little ones, followed by Stay & Play. Best suited for ages 0–5.
Time: 11am–12pm
Location: Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Avenue, Pleasant Hill
Details: Food trucks and live music make for a fun and easy Thursday night dinner.
Time: 5–9pm
Location: City Hall Park, 138 Trelany Road, Pleasant Hill
More happening Thursday:
Hang Out and Draw; 2–3pm; Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda
Music & Market: Court n’ Disaster; Farmers Market 4–8pm, music 6:30–8pm; Todos Santos Plaza, Concord
Summer Concert: Hitmen; 6:30–8:30pm; Moraga Commons Park, 1425 St. Mary's Road, Moraga
Have an event to add to future newsletters? Reply back and let me know!
Jen