Pleasanton’s Main Street Brewery & Live Music

Stroll with me through downtown Pleasanton to the old cheese factory.  You’ll discover a delicious aroma wafting through the air – one of scrumptious food mixed with malts, hops, and barley.  You have arrived at Pleasanton’s Main Street Brewery!

Established in 1995, Main Street Brewery is Pleasanton’s only BrewPub.  In addition to being a full-service restaurant, this is THE place for ale lovers everywhere.  Main Street serves four home brews made from malted barley, hops, yeast, and water – all brewed with locally grown hops.  Using top-fermenting yeast, these home brews shimmer with colors from golden to dark brown, are all full-bodied and hearty, and resemble the style of the British Isles.

In true ale-loving style, Main Street also features twelve rotating guest taps and a full liquor bar.  Some of the guest tap offerings include Guinness Stout, Hoegaarden, Boddingtons, Pyramid Apricot, Kona Longboard Lager, Sierra Nevada Summerfest, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Wyders Pear Cider, and Thomas Kemper Rootbeer.  Pass the suds!!

Just to make sure everyone’s tastebuds are satisfied, the following five specialty drinks are available:

1. Main Street Strawberry Blonde Wheat – Brewed with 35% wheat malt and 10 pounds of pure strawberries.
2. Pleasanton Pale Ale – Brewed with lots of North American Mt. Hood and Cluster hops.
3. Attaboy IPA – Like the brew sent to the British troops occupying India in the late 1700”s.
4. Red Leaf Strong Ale – Features six specialty malts and Pacific Northwest hops.
5. Zone 7 Porter – Dark malted barleys brewed as a version of dark English porter.

Main Street’s food menu includes unique burger and sandwich combinations, such as the Ragin’Cajun and Black & Bleu burgers; South of the Border specials; Starters and Snacks; Beer Batter Appetizers; salads; and Kids’ Meals.  For their special sports fans, televised sports are shown all day and night.

A variety of live music adds to guests’ enjoyment every Friday and Saturday night from 9 PM – 12 AM.

Coming Saturday, September 19 – JamFunkShus – 9 PM

Known as Northern California’s Premier Dance Party Band, JamFunkShus is an 11-piece professional band playing numerous styles of music.  Saturday night’s performance will feature a high-energy dance event you don’t want to miss!

AAA Transportation is a first-class, family-owned business serving the Tri-Valley and Bay Area since 2001.  Our fleet of sleek, late-model limousines, sedans, and vans provides luxury transportation to individuals and businesses alike.  With excellence as our standard, you are guaranteed complete satisfaction.  You may make your bookings by calling us at 866-558-0222 or online at www.aaa-trans.com.

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!

Concerts and Fine Dining at Wente Vineyards

Concerts at Wente Wineyards

Imagine sitting down with your friends or family to an exquisite four-course dinner surrounded by the elegant ambiance of a vineyard setting.   Add to this delight front-row seats to the most outstanding concert performances around.  You may ask, “Where can I find this magical experience?”  Wente Vineyards in Northern California is the gateway to this fantastic encounter.

Tucked away in 3000 acres of prime vineyard country, Wente Vineyards is in its 125^th year, and is the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery.  The Concerts at Wente Vineyards bring top-named performers almost “to your table”.   A few of their upcoming events are:

Blondie and Pat Benatar – July 22: Music lovers know the fame of these two performers.  Blondie has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while Pat Benatar is a Grammy Award nominee.

Kathy Griffin – July 23: Known for her “off-the-wall” comedy, Kathy will have you laughing all through the night.  Rest of the lineup is here.

You choose from front-row seating just 10 feet from the stage, Orchestra seating to either the left or right of the stage front, or a range of group tables elegantly stationed in the middle of lush vineyards and gardens.

Before the concerts, The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards offers superb flavors in four-course meals that feature organically grown local ingredients and a unique variety of wines.

Adding to your enjoyment, The Course at Wente Vineyards provides discounted tee times on their first-class golf course the day of each concert.

Wine-tasting events are offered 7 days a week in their Estate Tasting Room.  For private occasions, you can reserve intimate tables in Wente Vineyard’s wine caves for the most unique wine-tasting experience ever.  Tours of their wines, which are stored and aged in the caves, are also available.

AAA Transportation helps begin your day or evening with the perfect start by our fleet of luxury limousines, sedans, and vans.  We safely transport up to 20 people at a time to the beautiful French doors of Wente Vineyards.  While you are enjoying complimentary sodas and beverages, our professional and courteous drivers are delivering you to this “must-have” opportunity.  Make your reservations in advance by either calling 866-558-0222, or online at www.aaa-trans.com. We provide the personal attention you deserve. As always, AAA reminds you to Not Drink And Drive!