The Curran and August: Osage County

Have you ever wanted to look into another family’s lives without being an intruder?  Let’s take a sneak peek at the Westons, a large extended clan in rural Oklahoma.  Picture them surrounded by ideal farmland, plenty of farm animals, wide-open spaces, and expanses of beautiful blue skies.  Sounds almost like paradise doesn’t it?  However, a closer look tells us all is not well in this idealistic setting.

The patriarch is an alcoholic who suddenly disappears – whether thru his own design or by sinister means won’t be revealed here.  Violet, the matriarch, has her own set of problems that include popping pills and other unsettling actions.  The clan is large enough to include a budding romance, a marriage being torn apart, hidden family lies being uncovered, and the suspenseful outcome of all of these situations running their course!

Given the Tony Award for Best Play in 2008, “August: Osage County” unfolds this drama about the Westons.  Tracy Letts is the distinguished playwright, who won the Pulitzer Prize for this play in 2008. Academy Award winner, Estelle Parsons, stars as the unstable, unpredictable Violet.

The Curran Theatre in San Francisco is currently hosting repeat performances.  The Curran proudly boasts that its goal is “providing an authentic Broadway experience to San Francisco locals”.  There isn’t another theatre in America that is more like a Broadway theatre.  The Curran holds the distinction of being used by Hollywood for scenes in the famous movie, “All About Eve”.  The interior of the theatre is stunning elegance as evidenced by its many crystal chandeliers.

The next weekend showing for this “must see” play is:

Friday, August 28 at 8 PM

Saturday, August 28 at 2 PM and 8 PM

Sunday, August 29 at 2 PM

AAA Transportation provides first-class, luxury transportation to individuals and businesses in the tri-valley and the bay area since 2001. We offer a fleet of late model limousines, sedans, and vans.  You may make your bookings by calling 866-558-0222 or online at www.aaa-trans.com.  Our professional staff is waiting to guide you in selecting the best ride in town!

Hot Sizzling Thursday Nights at the Pleasanton Hilton.

Pleasanton is known as having a small town atmosphere with big city connections.  Having the best of both worlds makes Pleasanton a “happening” location for one of the most prestigious hotels, The Hilton Pleasanton at The Club.  This top-class, three diamond hotel has some of the most luxurious amenities in the Tri-Valley area.

You may ask, “Why would I be interested in The Hilton Pleasanton?”  One reason is their “Hot Sizzling Nights” every Thursday evening.  Top-notch live bands perform on the patio from 6 PM – 9 PM.  Then there’s an “After Party” inside from 9 PM – 11 PM.  Each week features food and drink specials you don’t want to miss.

The remaining schedule for August is:

August 20 – The Fundamentals perform a dance concert.  Known for their “Red Hot Rockin’ Soul” music, The Fundamentals feature three lead vocalists, horn and rhythm sections, and dancers (upon request).

August 27 – Jam Funkshus perform a rock/pop concert.

Enjoy a culinary masterpiece before the concerts in The Hilton Pleasanton’s gourmet dining room.  If you’re traveling, you can also enjoy their indoor basketball and tennis courts, free access to a first-class health club – ClubSport, indoor and outdoor pools, jogging track, health spa, child care, and children’s programs.  For business needs, The Hilton provides a 24-hour business center.

Do you have wedding bells ringing in your dreams?  Modern Bridal is presenting Contra Costa’s first-ever luxury wedding showcase this coming Sunday, August 23 from 11 AM – 4 PM.   Hosted by the Marriott hotel in San Ramon, you can sip champagne and nibble choice hors d’oeuvres while feasting your eyes on the West Coast’s most sought-after wedding ideas.  Premier venues, extravagent wedding cakes, exotic honeymoon destinations, and a bridal runway fashion show are just a few of the exciting aspects of this fashionable occasion. 

The Marriott San Ramon carries the Marriott tradition with pride in its exquisite rooms, 16,500 square feet of meeting space, business center, fitness center, pools, and other fine amenities.

AAA Transportation provides first-class, luxury transportation to individuals and businesses in the tri-valley and the bay area since 2001. We offer a fleet of late model limousines, sedans, and vans.  You may make your bookings by calling 866-558-0222 or online at www.aaa-trans.com.  Our professional staff is waiting to guide you in selecting the best ride in town!

Something “WICKED” This Way Comes!

The ornate Spanish cathedral sits on Market Street in San Francisco beckoning visitors from far and wide to enter its doors into an “out-of-this-world” experience.  Built in 1926 to model a 12^th Century Spanish palace, the Orpheum Theatre has hosted an unbelievable variety of theatrical productions.

First, let’s step into this magical palace.  Cascades of beautiful tapestries create an old-world atmosphere where kings and queens once ruled.  Circling the ceiling, full-bodied lions look down on the seated guests (am I imagining that they look “hungry”?).  As you walk down the aisles to your plush theatre seat, figures from mythical folklore follow you with their unblinking eyes.  In the center ceiling of this grand palace, an ornate sun and twinkling stars dance and glitter over every seat in the house.

Crowned with the privilege of being one of San Francisco’s Historical Landmarks, the Orpheum Theatre has been host to vaudeville shows, silent films, motion pictures, musical comedies, and even large-scale Broadway shows.  Open 7 days a week, your family and friends can dip into any number of cultural delights all through the year.

Currently, the Orpheum is presenting the smash hit musical, WICKED.  This fanciful tale carries you to the Land of Oz long before Dorothy and Toto blew in by tornado.  Two girls’ lives are forever changed there – one for the better – the other for the worse.  Both make a later appearance in “The Wizard of Oz” as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.  Which witch is which girl?  You’ll need to attend this wonderful tale of exhilarating music and staged action to find out.

WICKED debuted in San Francisco’s own Curran Theatre in 2003, then became a Gershwin Theatre Broadway hit in the same year.  Since then, box office sales have averaged $1.4 million a week!

*Catch the next showing on Saturday, August 15, at 2:00 PM.                  *Repeat performances continue through the remainder of 2009.

AAA Transportation provides your “royal carriage” to and from this exciting event.  Spotless, luxury limousines, vans, and passenger cars await to whisk your group away in style and comfort.  Make your advance reservations NOW by calling 866-558-0222 or going online at www.aaa-trans.com.   We always carry you in style!

Really interested in saving the earth? Leave your choices at home- a perspective.

Choices

Have you ever wondered why someone would buy the ugly pie shaped “hybrid” car while there so many “cool” cars you can buy for so much cheaper?  It’s no doubt that America gives us the freedom to make choices- the choice of cooking at home or ordering a pizza; the choice of  taking your groceries in a plastic bag, paper bag, or no bag; the choice of biking to a store or driving your gas guzzling SUV.

All the little choices come with good or bad consequences.  We chose to drive big hefty cars to work, and we suffered the most when the gas prices surged. Some are too lazy to cook at home and exercise regularly, and they end up spending thousands on their health.  On one hand we protest to preserve the forests and on the other we carry piles of paper grocery bags home. On one hand we are baffled why the health insurance costs so much, and on the other we find it hard to adopt a healthy diet.  I believe the little choices chain up so badly that the consequences are mind boggling.

A few steps that can inevitably help save the earth and you:

1. Find a colleague or neighbor who’s willing to share a ride with you to work.  Not only do you get to meet new people, you save money and reduce carbon emissions.

2. Avoid paper and plastic bags when you buy just one or two items.  Better yet, buy a decent cloth made grocery bag and use it to bring all your groceries.

3. Cook at least three times a week at home.  Go for a 10 minute walk.

4. If it’s not far, don’t take the car.  Get a bike and take it to the movies, the gym, or other nearby places.  Bikes are cheaper than you think.

5. Shut down your monitors and computers before going to bed.  Unplug all wall chargers when not in use.

You don’t have to buy a Solar powered energy solution or a hybrid car to preserve the earth.  Quite surprisingly, it’s the simple choices that can do wonders.

AAA Transportation does its share of saving the earth by providing a fleet of fuel efficient shuttles for commuters, and hybrid cars for point to point transportation. It eliminates paper usage by relying on electronic means of communication.