May

May 17, 2016

Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley Provide Great Options for Entertainment

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

With the long daylight hours of summer almost here, the nights heat up as well. To keep the good times rolling, there are a host of entertainment options available right here in the Tri-Valley. From live music, theater, comedy, dance, opera, and more to first-run and classic movies, DJ dancing, and karaoke, you can find something for everyone.

In Hacienda

Faz
5121 Hopyard Road
(925) 460-0444
www.fazrestaurants.com

Faz is well known throughout the area for fabulous Mediterranean and Near Eastern cuisine, but the restaurant's lounge is a local hotspot for fun music and other events. Weeknight happy hours feature drink specials and complimentary house-made potato chips with salsa fresca from 4:00 to 7:00 pm and live music from Joey T & Friends from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Mavericks Country Lounge
4825 Hopyard Road
(925) 202-5491
www.maverickscountrylounge.com

With a mechanical bull, live music, and line dancing, Mavericks is the place to go in the Tri-Valley to get a taste of country living. Line dancing classes start every Friday at 7:30 pm and Saturday nights frequently feature live music.

Pick 6 Sports Lounge
4825 Hopyard Road
(925) 416-0606
www.pick6lounge.com

Pick 6 is the place for sports fans! Open weekdays from 11:00 am and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am, Pick 6 has 20 televisions available to watch the big game, along with food and drink specials during A's and Giants games and weekday happy hours from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. This Saturday, May 21, Pick 6 celebrates their first anniversary with a live performance by The Spazmatics.

In Town

Barone's
474 St. John Street
(925) 426-0987
www.baronespleasanton.com

Barone's summer concert series, Music Under the Stars, features live music every Thursday night, with doors opening at 5:00 pm and the performance beginning at 6:30 pm. This season's series starts off on May 26 with Pride & Joy, with bands including Night Shift, The Cheeseballs, Entourage, and Too Smooth appearing on subsequent weeks. The cover charge is $10, with private cabanas available for additional fees.

Blue Agave Club
625 Main Street
(925) 417-1224
www.blueagaveclub.com

A downtown institution, the restaurant featuring "alta cocina Mexicana" - upscale Mexican cooking - is open daily for lunch and dinner. On Wednesday through Saturday nights, you can enjoy your dinner while being serenaded by a solo musician.

Cellar Door
4469 Railroad Avenue
(925) 846-3667
www.ourcellardoor.com

Located one block off Main Street in downtown Pleasanton, the Cellar Door offers a rotating wine list of over 30 wines by the glass, creative wine flights & unique food pairings, wine maker seminars, special events, and more. Live music starts at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday nights and at 4:00 pm on Sunday. Access the Cellar Door web site for a complete schedule.

Main Street Brewery
830 Main Street
(925) 462-8218
www.mainstbrewery.com

Main Street Brewery is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! This full service restaurant and brewery in downtown Pleasanton offers five or more house brews plus a dozen rotating guest taps and is open for dinner daily and lunch from Tuesday through Sunday. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can hear live music beginning at 9:00 pm. Main Street's music lineup features rock, blues, R&B, soul, jazz, and more. Check out their web site for a complete schedule.

Sunshine Saloon
1807 Santa Rita Road
(925) 846-6108
www.sunshinesaloon.com

The "Shine," established in 1978, is a sports bar and more, with activities like darts, pool, shuffleboard, and ping-pong to go with the 27 different video screens showing sporting events. Open from 11:00 am to 2:00 am Monday through Friday and 9:00 am to 2:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays, their extensive menu features breakfast served all day and a variety of daily specials. There's a trivia contest at 8:00 pm on Tuesdays followed by a beer pong league at 10:00 pm, Questionnairey on Wednesday, and karaoke on Thursdays and Saturdays. You can also find DJ AK spinning the dance music Thursday through Saturday night.

Tommy T's Comedy Steakhouse
5104 Hopyard Road
(925) 227 1800
www.tommyts.com/pleasanton

Tommy T's is your place for laughs in the Tri-Valley! Upcoming performers include Adele Givens, Bill Bellamy, Cindy Kaza, Al Clethen, Paul Rodriguez, Fifty Shades of Men, and Lil Rel. Check out their web site for show times and tickets.

Regional Draws

Amador Theater
1155 Santa Rita Road
(925) 931-5361
www.firehousearts.org/locations/amador-theater

Owned and operated by the City of Pleasanton, the Amador Theater served as the area's principal performing arts facility for over 60 years. With the opening of the Firehouse Arts Center, the program at this 591 seat theater has been scaled back and is now used primarily by the adjacent Amador Valley High School. It is available to rent for private events.

Bankhead Theater
2400 First Street
(925) 373-6800
www.livermoreperformingarts.org

The Bankhead Theater is the 507 seat home of area arts organizations including Del Valle Fine Arts, Livermore Valley Opera, Livermore-Amador Symphony, Valley Dance Theater, Pacific Chamber Symphony, the Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre, Valley Concert Chorale, Cantabella Children's Chorus, and the Rae Dorough Speaker Series. In addition, the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Council uses the facility to present performers from around the Bay Area and the globe, such as upcoming cinema screenings for the Livermore Valley Film Festival, concerts from Karen Marguth & Le Jazz Hot and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a performance by Smuin Ballet, and musical theater including Mary Poppins. View their website for a full event listing.

Campo di Bocce of Livermore
175 E. Vineyard Avenue
(925) 249-9800
www.campodibocce.com/Livermore

This restaurant features traditional Italian cuisine, a fully stocked bar, and an extensive wine list, with indoor and outdoor seating. With eight world class bocce courts for an opportunity to "escape to Italy in your own backyard." Campo di Bocce offers bocce instruction and you can play by the hour or even join a league. From June 26 to July 2, Campo di Bocce of Livermore will be hosting the 2016 U.S. Bocce Championships! Opens 9:00 am daily, with food served from 11:00 am to close Monday through Saturday and from 10:00 am on Sunday.

Cinema West - Livermore 13 Cinemas
2490 First Street
(925) 443-SHOW
www.cinemawest.com/liv.html

With all-digital movie projection and sound, Cinema West offers many state-of-the-art features for your film-going pleasure. Luxury seats and electric recliners offer "first class for the price of coach," and the theater will begin offering both beer and wine and reserved seating this month. The latest Dolby audio, Dolby Atmos, is on display in two new giant screen auditoriums. D-Box Motion Seats are also available for select features. Access their web site for show times and to purchase tickets.

Firehouse Arts Center
4444 Railroad Avenue
Pleasanton Information: (925) 931-4850
Box Office: (925) 931-4848
www.firehousearts.org

The Firehouse Arts Center is the place for great performances in music, theater, comedy, poetry, film, and more. The 20,000 sqare foot cultural arts center, which was built in part from the city's 1929 main firehouse, features a 221 seat theater the 2,000 square foot Harrington Gallery fine arts showcase, an 1,800 square foot classroom, and an hourglass-shaped lobby that connects downtown Pleasanton to a large patio which abuts Lions Wayside Park. Upcoming performances include Swingin' Blues Stars of the USS Hornet, the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, Bee Gees Gold, and An Evening with George Winston. Check out their web site for the full event calendar.

Hacienda Crossings Stadium 20 & IMAX
5000 Dublin Boulevard
(925) 560-0900
www.regmovies.com

Regal Cinemas bring the supersized IMAX experience to the Tri-Valley. Other screens show first-run films, and all theaters offer digital projection and sound and stadium seating. Reserved seats as well as mobile and print-at-home tickets are available. The theater is wheelchair accessible, and has a cafe and game room.

Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association
(925) 447-WINE (9463)
www.lvwine.org

With over 40 member wineries, the Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association offers a tremendous selection of festive events, including themed tastings, and special music, food, and wine happenings. Access the association's web site for the current calendar of events.

San Ramon Performing Arts Center
10550 Albion Road
(925) 973-ARTS
www.SanRamonPerformingArts.com

Located on the Dougherty Valley High School campus, this 600 seat proscenium theater hosts entertainment ranging from theater to music to comedy. Visit the web site for the calendar and ticket information. Events in the San Ramon Performing Arts 2016-2017 Season will be announced this fall.

Sanctuary Ultra Lounge
2369 First Street
(925) 373-0521
www.sanctuaryultralounge.com

Sanctuary's genesis came from its founders "love and experiences with great friends, excellent food, diversity in spirits and wine, and fantastic entertainment." The lounge and night club offers daily lunch specials, happy hours every weeknight and all day Sunday, a free comedy show on Thursday nights, and no-cover DJ dancing Thursday through Saturday. Their web site has a full listing of hours and events.

Vine Cinema & Alehouse
1722 First Street
(925) 447-2546
www.vinecinema.com

This movie theater offers an assortment of first-run and classic films as well as craft beer on tap, local wines, and food, all delivered to your table or couch inside the theater. Upcoming special features include The Princess Bride on May 26 and American Graffiti on June 23. View schedules and trailers of coming attractions at their web site.

Wente Vineyards and Restaurant
5050 Arroyo Road
(925) 456-2300
Ticket office: (925) 456-2424
www.wentevineyards.com

What could be more pleasant than a splendid meal eaten on a warm patio in a vineyard setting, followed by a concert from world-class performers? This year's Wente Concert series features music from Chicago, Diana Ross, Phillip Phillips & Matt Nathanson, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, Huey Lewis & The News, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Melissa Etheridge, Andy Grammer & Gavin Degraw, Chris Isaak, and a solo acoustic performance from Jackson Browne. Access the web site for tickets.

Photos: (top to bottom)
Firehouse Arts Center Bankhead Theater
Patio dining available overlooking the beautiful gardens at Faz Restaurant
Tommy T’s Comedy Club
Mary Poppins
Campo di Bocce outdoor play
San Ramon Performing Arts Center
Lisa Rigge "Meditation" (Photo courtesy of Firehouse Arts Center).
Wente Vineyards Concerts

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