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Dublin Family Campout

Are you looking for a great opportunity to do some local camping?  Why not in Dublin’s own backyard. Grab your families, sleeping bags and tents.  Emerald Glen Park will play host to this year’s Camp Dublin.

This will be fun for the whole family.  The event will be held on September 11th and 12th.

Activities include:

• Nature based arts and crafts
• Nature hike led by a Naturalist
• Games and crafts
• A campfire with s’mores
• Music, dinner and breakfast.

If you decide to attend, please bring the following:

• Tent & sleeping bags
• Chairs
• Flashlight
• Personal refillable water bottle, snacks, change of clothes & personal items

Check-in 3:00pm • Activities begin at 4:30pm • Check-out Sunday 10:00am

The cost is $15 per person for Dublin residents and $17 for non-residents.
Registration is underway (use Activity Number 24833).

PLEASE, NO PETS
For more information please call 556-4500. To register go online to www.DublinRecGuide.com or visit the Shannon Community Center, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mortgage Rate Update Ending 8/4/2010

Bankrate.com  conducts a weekly national survey on the interest rates for the five most common consumer banking products.  Here’s the outcome for 8/4/2010:

• 30 Year Fixed Rate: 4.66 percent
• 30 Year Fixed Rate Jumbo: 5.34 percent
• 15 Year Fixed Rate: 4.11 percent
• 5/1 ARM (Adjustable): 3.95 percent
• 1 Year ARM (Adjustable): 4.80 percent 

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association:

• Mortgage applications rose 1.3 percent when compared to a week earlier
• Refinance applications shot up 1.3 percent when compared to a week earlier
• Applications for new purchases increased 1.5 percent

According to the National Association of Realtors:

• Pending home sales fell 2.6 percent in June when compared to a month earlier
• Sales were also down 18.6 percent year over year.

Mortgage Rate Update Ending 7/7/2010

Bankrate.com  conducts a weekly national survey on the interest rates for the five most common consumer banking products.  Here’s the outcome for 7/7/2010:

• 30 Year Fixed Rate: 4.74 percent
• 30 Year Fixed Rate Jumbo: 5.48 percent
• 15 Year Fixed Rate: 4.22 percent
• 5/1 ARM (Adjustable): 4.06 percent
• 1 Year ARM (Adjustable): 4.79 percent 

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association:

• Mortgage applications rose 6.7 percent when compared to a week earlier
• Refinance applications shot up 9 percent and are at 13-month highs
• Applications for new purchase dipped 2 percent

According to the National Association of Realtors:

• Pending home sales fell 30 percent in May when compared to a month earlier
• Sales were also down 15.9 percent year over year.

Restaurant at Wente Vineyards

Maybe it was because it was our anniversary celebration.  Or maybe it was because my wife and I were out together for an extremely rare evening alone.  Whatever it was, there was a special magic to our recent visit to the Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore. 

We called ahead for reservations and learned that you can reserve a table for dinner and work in a quick wine tasting beforehand at the within-walking-distance Vineyard Tasting Room.  Thinking that sounded like a great evening, it quickly became our anniversary plan.  We thought to have about an hour to taste right before dinner, since the Vineyard Tasting Room closes at 6:30 PM. Great plan, but we got there behind schedule, leaving us a very short amount of time to taste.  Our wine server saved the day by suggesting we share a flight, which worked out really well.  We shared the Nth Degree flight for around $10 and each had several sips of some nice wines. A perfect way to start out any anniversary dinner. 

Even the two minute walk to and from the parking lot between the Tasting Room and the Restaurant was nice due to the beautiful wedding taking place on the grounds.  The scene was serene, with the Restaurant’s patio humming with patrons enjoying the sun-soaked early evening. 

My wife and I both feel that the service that night was excellent.  From the host/manager who sat us to our waiter with his knowledgeable recommendations, we really got the impression that the restaurant was infused with class and elegance simply by their skilled delivery.  Our food was wonderful, including a Mary’s Farm chicken dish and a recommended pan stew.  Even the bread and butter brought at the beginning of the meal were notable, including a light sprinkle of salt on the butter.  My wife said that the word “fresh” kept coming to her mind, with the veggies being a consistent standout.  We had a fritto misto appetizer that was crunchy and light (even though fried), however both of us felt that there was a mysterious fried item (was it lemon slices?) that created an odd flavor.  We also ordered a side dish of baby artichokes that was a nice accompaniment.  Sweetly, Wente created an assorted cookie/truffle plate for us spelling out a chocolatey “Happy Anniversary!”  It’s the little things that make all the difference.

At the end of this special evening, more magic wafted around our table as a well-meaning, older couple leaned over and expressed that we must always remember how important it is to fit alone time into the daily hectic schedule of young family life.  Agreed.  And this night was so memorable that it will be a bookmark in our lives, serving as that important reminder.  Thanks, Wente.

Spring and Gardening in the Tri-Valley Go Hand in Hand

I can feel it; we’re getting so close. Last week’s warm weather in San Ramon and the rest of the Tri-Valley stirred the gardener in me.  Not personally knowing me, most folks would assume I am not the gardening type.  Upon closer inspection, pruning my bushes, digging in the dirt and helping the garden and plants in my yard to thrive is a hobby, if not a secret thrill, of mine.  Along with home construction and renovation, I rank gardening as a top stress reliever for me.  So, as the cold, crispy hold winter has on our lives starts to thaw, my green thumb starts to itch.  Spring is on the way - let the gardening begin!

A few years back, my family and I started a vegetable garden project.  We have just a wee bit of space in our backyard where we plant vegetables and herbs.  The kids get a kick out of it, and my wife loves to use the “fruit” of our labors in her cooking.  We’ve come to realize that our tiny garden (and our novice gardening skills) really delivers in a few varieties, but is not so stellar at more.  We can do tomatoes, peppers and herbs successfully, and unfortunately not much else.  So, in preparation for this year’s crop, Read more

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