This weekend is the perfect time to relax, unwind and elevate your mind. Here are three great opportunities for high culture in the Bay Area.

One of the most celebrated of the bard’s comedies makes a special appearance at the Pleasanton library this weekend! The acclaimed San Francisco Shakespeare Festival presents As You Like It on Sunday, March 29 at 2PM. This comedy makes for a peaceful afternoon of art and laugher, and elite talents like those in the S.F. Shakespeare Festival are not to be missed. Click here to learn more.

Gather with park rangers for a fun-filled afternoon of nature storytime at Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore on Sunday, March 29th at 1PM. And Smokey Bear may just make an appearance! RSVP for a free parking pass by contacting [email protected] or calling 925-960-2400. Drop-ins are also welcome – but be aware there is a $5-per vehicle parking fee. Learn more here.

Professional pianist Stanislav Khristenko is coming to Livermore this weekend! Performing a program of Russian ballet masterworks, this leading genius of piano is hitting the stage at the Bankhead Theater this Saturday, March 28^th at 8PM. Get tickets here.

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It’s another great weekend in the Bay Area. Check out what’s happening near you on Saturday and Sunday.

Celebrate Irish heritage this weekend in Pleasanton! Premier Celtic harpist and spoken word artist, Patrick Ball is coming to the Pleasanton Library this Saturday, March 21^st at 2PM. Known as an “American master of the Irish instrument,” Ball has sold over half a million albums and has won national awards. For more info, click here. 

Your weekend isn’t complete without a trip to the farmers’ market! The Sunday market in Livermore brings you the freshest produce and lots of booths to explore from 10AM to 2PM.  Learn more info here. 

Travel back to the days of teen idols and bouffant hairdos this weekend in Pleasanton! Kit & The Kats: Put a Nickel in the Jukebox mixes R&B, pop and rock ‘n’ roll this Sunday, March 22^nd at the Firehouse Arts Center at 3PM. For tickets, go here. 

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It’s a fun-filled weekend of classic and modern tunes and the opportunity to learn in the Bay Area! Check out what’s happening in your neck of the woods.

It’s that time again – your little ones get to invent this weekend in Pleasanton! Lawrence Hall of Science Inventor’s Workshop presents “Catapults,” a hands-on science workshop for children grades 1 – 5. Your kids will explore the laws of physics and rules of engineering and construct a paper-launching machine. Space is limited – register today here. 

Get ready to celebrate opera this weekend in Livermore! The Opening Night Gala for Lucia di Lammermoor is being held this Saturday, March 14^th at 4PM at Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard in downtown Livermore. To learn more and purchase tickets, click here. 

A concert is the perfect way to end a weekend in Pleasanton! Come listen to the sounds of rock, pop, Latin and soul music by Beyond Standard Jazz at the Pleasanton Library this Sunday, March 15^th at 2PM. For more info, click here.

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It’s the first full weekend of March! The Bay Area is brimming with fun events for the whole family. Check it out!

The Livermore Farmer’s Market is sure to delight! Come out every Sunday, all year long, for some of the Bay Area’s freshest finds from 10AM to 2PM. The market is adjacent to the Historical Train Depot. Click here to learn more. 

A C.S. Lewis classic is coming to Pleasanton this weekend! Take a trip to the magical and mysterious land of Narnia with the Civic Arts Stage Company as they present The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Show times are Saturday, March 7 at 2:30PM and 7:30PM at the Firehouse Arts Center. Get tickets here.

Experience music, plenty of laughs and the rich history of blues this weekend in Livermore! The Official Blues Brothers Revue is hitting the stage at the Bankhead Theater this Saturday, March 7 at 8PM. Sing along to tunes from “Soul Man” to “Gimme Some Lovin’” and more. For tickets, click here. 

Shop for great book deals this weekend in Dublin! The Friends of the Dublin Library present their semi-annual used book sale on Sunday, March 8 from 1 to 4PM. Get more details here.

Don’t forget we’re springing ahead this weekend! Daylight saving time happens this Sunday.

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Check out the great things happening in Pleasanton and Livermore on Saturday and Sunday.

Your little ones are sure to love this weekend event! Family Storytime is happening this Saturday, February 28 at the Civic Center Library in Livermore. Enjoy singing, dancing, reading and more at 10AM. To learn more, click here. 

Kids can become an inventor this weekend in Pleasanton! The Lawrence Hall of Science Inventor’s Workshop: Roller Coaster Engineer is taking place this Saturday, February 28 for children in first through fifth grade. They’ll custom design and make a table-top marble roller coaster and learn about physics while they’re at it. The fun starts at 1:30PM. Click here to register.

Friends of the Livermore Library are hosting their monthly sale this weekend! Come out for great deals on books on Sunday, March 1 from 12PM to 4PM at the outdoor plaza of the former library. For more info, go here.

Get ready to be taken to the opera this weekend in Pleasanton! The Livermore Valley Opera will perform arias and duets from Lucia di Lammermoor on Sunday, March 1 at the Pleasanton Library at 2PM. This one-hour performance also includes a question and answer session for the audience. Get more info, here.

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You’ll enjoy a wonderful weekend of artistic endeavors in the Bay Area!

Spend the afternoon learning about Dr. Seuss in Pleasanton this weekend! Children’s storyteller and magician Bob Kann will delight the audience with inspirational tales of the author and his play with language. The fun starts this Saturday, February 21^st at 2PM at the Pleasanton Public Library. To learn more, click here.

Explore classical ballet this weekend in Livermore! Ballet Basics, led by Vineyard Ballet Academy instructors, is a free interactive program for children in second to fifth grade. Your little ones will learn basic positions as well as the French terms for each step this Saturday, February 21^st at 2PM at the Civic Center Library. The event is part of Livermore Reads Together 2015. Click here to learn more. 

Visit the homes of artists Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh and more this weekend in Livermore! Carol Nelson, from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, presents a captivating slideshow and lecture at the Civic Center Library this Sunday, February 22^nd at 2PM. Click here for more info.

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Come out next Saturday, February 28th for the Phase 7 sales release at Cameron Place in Pleasanton. Potential purchasers must be pre-qualified by 4pm on February 27th, 2015 with one of Ponderosa Homes’ preferred lenders to participate!

This phase of homes will be sold by lottery on February 28th, with prices expected to start in the high $1,000,000s. Lottery and sales release guidelines are available upon request.
Things you need to know to purchase in Phase 7:

1. Preview the site map, floor plans and amenities online:
http://www.ponderosahomes.com/northern-california/cameron-place-in-pleasanton/.

2. Then contact one of Ponderosa’s preferred lenders to get
pre-qualified for financing or to have liquid cash assets verified for a
cash purchase. Pre-qualification letters from outside lenders will not be accepted. Contact them early; do not wait until the last minute.

Omni Mortgage: Charlene Low at 800-719-9898 Toll Free Voice

Wells Fargo: Devoreaha (Devora) Smith at 877-868-0295 or Email at [email protected]

3. Bring your pre-qualification letter to Cameron Place by Ponderosa Homes, located at 2157 Cameron Circle, Pleasanton, CA 94588, during business hours (Thurs – Sun, 10am – 5pm and Mon, 2 – 5pm) and you will be entered in the lottery for Phase 7. Registration for Phase 7 will end on Friday, February 27 at 4pm.

And don’t miss out on your opportunity to own our featured home: Homesite 18. This home boasts up to approximately 3,725 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths plus study.

See you on February 28th!

Cameron Place

2157 Cameron Circle

Pleasanton, CA 94588

925.399.5798

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Treat your sweetheart to a scrumptious dish this Valentine’s Day.

Rack of Lamb with Mustard-Shallot Sauce

PREPARATION: 15 MIN

TOTAL TIME: 45 MIN

SERVINGS: 2

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons vegetable oil

2 1/2-pound frenched rack of lamb

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 medium shallots, thinly sliced

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth

1 tablespoon whole grain mustard

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons chopped thyme

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until simmering. Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Add the lamb to the skillet, fat side down, and cook over moderately high heat until richly browned, about 3 minutes. Turn the lamb fat side up and cook for 2 minutes longer. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast the rack for about 20 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meat registers 125°F for medium-rare. Transfer the lamb to a carving board and let rest for 10 minutes.

2. Discard the fat in the skillet. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil and the shallots to the skillet and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the whole grain, Dijon mustard and the thyme. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.

3. Carve the lamb into chops and arrange on warmed plates. Spoon the sauce over the lamb and serve.

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Spring is in full swing and after a long winter, it’s time for you and your home to bask in the radiant sunshine outside. That’s why it’s important to make sure your home is prepped and ready to take on the rays and heat bound to come in the months ahead.

Here are five quick spring maintenance tips for your home:

• From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.
• Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home’s foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. Then, when weather permits, power-wash and then seal the concrete.
• Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you’re at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.
• Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.
• Check your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure they’re ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yard work that much easier.

There are so many great things happening in the Bay Area this weekend! Take a look.

Get ready to sing along to your favorite tunes from the 50s this weekend! The Taffetas will pay tribute to the girl groups of the poodle skirt-wearing decade at the Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre on Sunday, February 8th at 2PM. For tickets, click here.

Take a trip to the “Big Easy” this weekend in Livermore! The New Orleans Bash at the Bothwell Arts Center is complete with Louisiana-style cuisine and a French Quarter atmosphere. Be a part of this fun event this Saturday, February 7th. Click here for tickets. 

Happy Lunar New Year! Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of music and dance performances, games, goodies and more as the Friends of the San Jose Public Libraries celebrate the new year on Saturday, February 7th at 2PM. For more info, go here.

It’s all about wine this weekend in Livermore! Join Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser for a fun afternoon learning about his experience in the industry and his tasting project – and you’ll have the opportunity to ask him all your questions about wine on Sunday, February 8th at 2PM. To learn more, click here.

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