July is almost over – so make sure it continues to be a memorable month! Take a look at these fun events that are happening in the Bay Area.

There’s plenty of laughs to be had this weekend in Pleasanton! Stop by the Firehouse Arts Center tomorrow night at 8PM for Summer Comedy Night 2015 featuring Joe Klocek. For tickets, click here.

Soulful tunes will fill your ears this weekend in Livermore! Local San Francisco jazz and blues vocalist Pamela Rose is coming to the Livermore Civic Center Library this Sunday, July 26^th at 2PM. Click here for more info.

Another legendary concert is happening at the Wente Vineyards in Livermore next week – and Ponderosa Homes is a proud sponsor! Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo celebrate their 35^th anniversary tour with special guest John Waite on Tuesday, July 28^th at 8PM. Go here for tickets.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.

Craft time in the summer is always the best! Take your little ones to the Livermore Library this Saturday, July 18^th between 11AM and 3PM for Drop-In Craft Time. Learn more here.

Theatrical classic The King and I is coming to Livermore this weekend! This dramatic tale is hitting the stage of the Bankhead Theater this Sunday, July 19^th at 2PM. For tickets, click here.

San Francisco-based non-profit theater company Lamplighters is coming to Pleasanton this weekend! Come watch this free concert on Sunday, July 19^th at 2PM at the Pleasanton Public Library. For more info, click here.

And save the date for an Evening with Lyle Lovett and his Large Band on Tuesday, July 21^st at Wente Vineyards in Livermore at 8:15PM! Ponderosa Homes is a proud sponsor of this summertime musical event, so don’t miss out on a fun-filled evening under the stars. Purchase tickets here. 

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.

Some great musical tunes will fill your ears in Livermore and Pleasanton this weekend! Enjoy!

A little rock music is coming to Pleasanton tonight! The Pleasanton Downtown Association’s Concert in the Park presents West Grand Boulevard from 7PM to 8:30PM at Lions Wayside Park. Learn more here.

A hilarious theatrical production is hitting the stage in Livermore this weekend! Girl’s Night: The Musical is coming to the Bankhead Theater this Saturday, July 11^th at 8PM. Get tickets here.

An all-star jazz ensemble is heading to Livermore! Jazz Caliente is performing their Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms at the Livermore Library this Sunday, July 12^th at 2PM. For more info, click here.

A free family event is happening in Pleasanton! The internationally award-winning Cantabella Children’s Choir brings beautiful sounds to the Pleasanton Public Library this Sunday, July 12^th at 2PM. To find out more, go here.

Don’t miss out on this summer concert series that Ponderosa Homes is proud to sponsor! Head over to Wente Vineyards in Livermore next Wednesday, July 15th for Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional at 8:15PM. This show is almost sold out, so get your tickets today! The concert series doesn’t end here – Lyle Lovett, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Christina Perri and Colbie Caillat are all coming to the vineyard amphitheater. Click here for tickets.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.

Celebrate our nation’s independence with a fun fireworks spectacular and try out this recipe your family will love. Enjoy!

There will be fireworks galore in downtown Livermore this weekend! Come out to enjoy delicious eats, live music and more starting at 6PM. To learn more, click here.

Honor the red, white and blue with a red and blue berry lemonade slush for your 4th of July BBQ.

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. + freezing
MAKES: 8 servings

Ingredients

2 cups lemon juice
1 and 1/2 cups fresh raspberries
1 and 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1 to 1 and 1/4 cups sugar
3 cups cold water

Directions
In batches, place lemon juice, raspberries, blueberries and sugar in a blender; cover and process until blended. Strain and discard seeds.

Transfer to a 2and 1/2-qt. freezer container; stir in water. Freeze for 8 hours or overnight.
Just before serving, remove from freezer and let stand 45 minutes or until slushy. Yield: 8 servings.

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We’re celebrating dad this weekend, and what better way to say I love you then with a delicious meal he’ll love.

Goat Cheese Steak with Balsamic Glaze 

Yield: 4 SERVINGS

Cook time: 26 MINUTES

Total time: 30 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

1 and 1/2 cups balsamic vinegar

4 (5-7 ounce) steaks, such as filet mignon, rib eye, etc.

salt and pepper

4 ounces goat cheese

1 pound cherry tomatoes

chopped parsley, to garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Turn your grill on to high heat.

In a saucepan, bring the balsamic vinegar to a boil. Stir occasionally for 15-20 minutes, until the vinegar has reduced by about 1/3 and is syrupy. Don’t let it burn! Babysit it. Once syrupy, turn the heat to low and leave it on the stove.

Generously salt and pepper both sides of each steak.

Get the full recipe here.

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We love Bay Area weekends! See what’s happening in Pleasanton and Livermore this Saturday and Sunday.

Adventure, mystery, classic music and contemporary ballet will fill the stage this weekend in Livermore! Alice in Wonderland is coming to the Bankhead Theater tomorrow, June 13^th at 7PM and Sunday, June 14^th at 2PM. For tickets, click here. 

Head back to the time of swing this weekend in Pleasanton as What’s Up Big Band will have you tapping your feet and humming along to the music of the era. The band is coming to the Pleasanton Library this Sunday, June 14^th at 2PM. For more info, go here.

Take a journey through reading this summer! The Pleasanton Library is offering great prizes based on how many books you read and library programs you attend. How fun is that? The voyage begins tomorrow, June 13^th and lasts until August 2^nd. Click here to learn more. 

Save the date for the 4^th of July Red, White and Boom Fireworks and Block party in Livermore! The event is happening in downtown Livermore at 6PM, and fireworks start at 9:30PM. Get more details here.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.

A great June weekend is ahead in the Bay Area! Take a look.

The Livermore Public Library annual Summer Reading Program starts tomorrow! Enjoy fun, family-friendly activities including crafts, story time, animal shows, music and dance – and get the chance to win prizes until August 15^th for completion of the program. Learn more here.

You’ll love this event tomorrow in Livermore! Skating and Tasting at Tri Valley Ice features the best in wine and food from nearby restaurants and wineries, plus ice skating, games and music from 6PM to 10PM. Get more info here.

A free music concert is happening this Sunday in Pleasanton! Presented by the Friends of the Pleasanton Library, baritone Richard Keys is performing at 2PM. Find out more here. 

Harp music is happening tomorrow in Pleasanton! Don’t miss out on a lovely concert featuring the winners of the 2015 Yvonne La Mothe Schwager Harp Competition. Click here for tickets.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.

There are plenty of great events happening this weekend in Pleasanton and Livermore! Take a look.

Get ready to hop on your bike – a family-friendly event is coming this weekend to Pleasanton! The Community Bike Ride will take you through the streets of Pleasanton and Dublin this Sunday, May 31^st at 9:30AM. To learn more, click here.

A night of dance is heading to Livermore! Valley Dance Theatre presents their spring showing at the Bankhead Theater tomorrow, May 30^th at 7PM. For tickets, click here. 

A high-energy tribute show is coming to Pleasanton this weekend! The Super Diamond First-Class Tribute to Neil Diamond will perform at the Firehouse Arts Center tomorrow, May 30^th at 8PM. Click here for tickets.

Kick off the summer with some great reads on Sunday in Livermore! Learn about current bestsellers and upcoming titles with Judy Wheeler, owner of Pleasanton’s Towne Center Books at the Civic Center Library this Sunday, May 31^st at 2PM. For more info, go here.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.

It’s Memorial Day weekend! What better way to kick off the summer season than with a delicious recipe that’s sure to be a big hit at your holiday gathering.

Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

3 hours

Total time

3 hours 20 mins

Author: AfricanBites

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Caribbean

Serves: 5-6

Ingredients

• 1 lime or lemon
• 6-7chicken thighs or 3 -3½ pound chicken cut up
• 2 teaspoons creole seasoning (replace with salt and pepper or chicken spice)
• 1 or more Scotch Bonnet Pepper (Habaneros)
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• ½ tablespoon cinnamon powder
• ½ tablespoon allspice coarsely ground
• ½ teaspoon coarsely ground white pepper
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 3 medium scallions, chopped
• 1 sprig of fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ½ cup pineapple juice or pineapple

For the rest of the recipe, click here.

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Classical tunes will fill your ears this weekend in Pleasanton! The Pleasanton Chamber Players are hitting the stage at The Firehouse Arts Center with the works of Tchaikovsky, Dvorak and Mendelssohn this Sunday, May 17^th at 2PM. Click here for tickets.

The American spirit comes to life this weekend in Livermore! Author Shirley Streshinsky discusses the life and work of naturalist and pioneer, J.J. Audubon at The Livermore Civic Center Library on Sunday, May 17^th at 2PM. Learn more here.

Violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn is coming to Livermore this Saturday! Pitcairn will perform Beethoven’s violin concerto that inspired the Academy Award-winning film, The Red Violin at The Bankhead Theater starting at 8PM. For tickets, click here.

To make sure you’re always in the loop and up to date with everything happening in your community, be sure to Like the Ponderosa Facebook page.