ca: 2006 All America City - Lincoln, California (Placer County, CA) - 10/16/09 11:37 AM
2006 All America City - Lincoln, California (Placer County, CA)
Lincoln is located in southwest Placer County, California. The City of Lincoln was established on August 18, 1890 and the population as of July 2008 was approximately 43,602. Gladding, McBean & Co. (a manufacturer of clay pottery, roof tiles, sewer pipe and other clay products) is a famous landmark in Lincoln, as well as Thunder Valley Resort, the first casino in the Sacramento area. In 2006, the National Civic League named Lincoln an All-America City and not only was Lincoln the only city in California named that year, but only 10 … (0 comments)

ca: 2009 Art & Pumpkin Festival - Half Moon Bay, California (San Mateo County, CA) - 10/11/09 08:05 PM
2009 Art & Pumpkin Festival - Half Moon Bay, California (San Mateo County, CA)
Half Moon Bay is the pumpkin capital of the world and its historic Main Street will be hustling and bustling this coming weekend with the 39th Annual Art & Pumpkin Festival! For those early riser pancake-lovers, there will be a 7:00 am pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday...but not to worry if you miss it, as there will be plenty of pumpkin-inspired munchies throughout the weekend...and even a pumpkin pie eating contest for kids 12 and under as well as one for "kids" over 12! :)

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ca: Simpson Ranch Estates - Wilton, California (Sacramento County, CA) - 10/11/09 05:47 PM
Simpson Ranch Estates - Wilton, California (Sacramento County, CA)
Simpson Ranch Estates is an equestrian community in the equestrian town of Wilton, Sacramento county, California. Simpson Ranch Court is located off Dillard Road between Apple Road and Cherry Road. There are two streets in Simpson Ranch Estates (Simpson Ranch Court and Tessie Place) and a total of 15 parcels, averaging approximately 20 acres each. Simpson Ranch Estates was established in 2003 and has CC&R's but no HOA.

Simpson Ranch Estates currently has 5-6 custom homes either already completed or under construction. The minimum house size in Simpson Ranch Estates is … (4 comments)

ca: Kanpai Sushi - Livermore, California (Alameda County, CA) - 10/08/09 02:18 PM
Kanpai Sushi - Livermore, California (Alameda County, CA)
After many dining experiences searching for the best sushi in the Tri-Valley (San Francisco East Bay, California), Kanpai Sushi is the winner! Kanpai Sushi is at 1510 N. Vasco Road, Livermore, CA and they're just two minutes off the 580 freeway at Vasco Road. They're located in the PW Market shopping center between Starbucks and Carl's Jr.

Kanpai Sushi serves the freshest fish and in generous portions. They also have the most magnificent nigiri sushi I've ever had called "Escolar" which is Japanese for "Butterfish." The servers at Kanpai Sushi even remember … (5 comments)

ca: First Street Ale House - Livermore, California (Alameda County, CA) - 10/08/09 01:13 PM
First Street Ale House - Livermore, California (Alameda County, CA)
First Street Ale House is the busiest restaurant in downtown Livermore...it seems no matter what time of day it is, people are there eating, drinking and/or talking. Their outdoor patio fills up very quickly as Happy Hour approaches and stays packed pretty much for the rest of the night. Service is very friendly, their burgers aren't bad...and their garlic fries are awesome! I'm not a beer drinker, but Bob is and he loved their Pyramid Apricot Ale. First Street Ale House has 20 beers on tap.

First Street Ale House … (0 comments)

ca: Simply Greek - Pleasanton, California (Alameda County, CA) - 10/08/09 12:21 PM
Simply Greek - Pleasanton, California (Alameda County, CA)
Simply Greek is simply the best Greek restaurant in the Tri-Valley area of the San Francisco East Bay, California. They are located at 4220-C Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton, just two minutes off the 580 freeway at Santa Rita Road. They have another location in Oakland at 4060 Piedmont Avenue.
My favorite menu item at Simply Greek is their gyros, but they also have excellent chicken, pork and lamb souvlaki! Service is always friendly and fast, you order and pay at the register then they bring the food out to your table when it's … (5 comments)

ca: 1st Annual Barrel Tasting Event - Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA) - 10/07/09 08:32 PM
1st Annual Barrel Tasting Event - Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA)

Livermore Valley Wine Country celebrated its first annual barrel tasting event the weekend of March 28-29, 2009. This was the first time we tasted wine from the barrel and it was not only educational but also quite entertaining! We visited 16 different Livermore wineries in two days:
Deer Ridge Vineyards Livermore Valley Cellars Steven Kent Winery Cuda Ridge Wines Wood Family Vineyards El Sol Winery Garre Vineyard & Winery Murrieta's Well Bent Creek Winery White Crane Winery Charles R Vineyard Big White House McGrail Vineyards & Winery … (5 comments)

ca: Video of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates in Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA) - 10/07/09 07:56 PM
Video of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates in Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA)

Thanks for watching my video tour of 6 homes at Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates plus Kalthoff Vineyards! The video starts out on Highway 84 at the Ruby Hill East Gate and proceeds on to Kalthoff Common.
Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates is a planned community in Livermore Valley Wine Country next to the Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, California.
The vineyards at Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates are a part of the Tri-Valley Conservancy. Building permits for Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates are obtained through the City of … (2 comments)

ca: Homes of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates in Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA) - 10/07/09 07:12 PM
Homes of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates in Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA)

Thanks for watching my gallery of homes at Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates!
Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates is a planned community in Livermore Valley Wine Country next to the Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, California.
Each lot has about a 2-acre homesite and a typical lot size of approximately 20 acres. Signature Properties developed Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates and sold the first lot in 1999 for $900,000. The last lot sale closed in March 2008 for $1,770,000. The only home sale closed in March 2004 for … (3 comments)

ca: Map of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates in Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA) - 10/07/09 05:40 PM
Map of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates in Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA)
Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates is a planned community in Livermore Valley Wine Country next to the Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, California.
There are 30 vineyard estate lots that are a part of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates. Most grape varieties planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot. Fenestra Winery, Kalthoff Vineyards and Thomas Coyne Winery have been in the vicinity for many years prior to the creation of Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates. Tenuta Vineyards and Picazo Vineyards are the newest tasting rooms in the neighborhood. Las … (2 comments)

ca: Yogofina Frozen Yogurt - Downtown Pleasanton, California (Alameda County, CA) - 09/28/09 08:52 PM
Yogofina Frozen Yogurt - Downtown Pleasanton, California (Alameda County, CA)
Yogofina Frozen Yogurt is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop (also called "fro-yo") which are seemingly ubiquitous nowadays throughout California. They all have a variety of flavors that you dispense yourself, then you can add toppings as you please. Once you're done with your yogurt and topping selections, you simply take it to the cashier and place it on a scale because you are charged by the ounce. Most places I've been to in the San Francisco East Bay range from 38 to 43 cents per ounce.

My favorite fro-yo is...Yogofina … (3 comments)

ca: Speechless Sunday: I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag Of The United States Of America - Byron, California (Contra Costa County, CA) - 09/27/09 08:00 PM
I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag Of The United States Of America
and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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ca: Speechless Sunday: Old Vine Zinfandel - Valley of the Moon, Glen Ellen, California (Sonoma County, CA) - 09/19/09 07:22 PM
Old Vine Zinfandel - Valley of the Moon, Glen Ellen, California (Sonoma County, CA)

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ca: Wordless Wednesday: Chardonnay Harvest at Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates - Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA) - 09/16/09 05:19 PM
Chardonnay Harvest at Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates - Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA)


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ca: Vineyard Harvest Videos at Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates - Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA) - 09/16/09 05:49 AM
Vineyard Harvest Videos at Ruby Hill Vineyard Estates - Livermore Wine Country, California (Alameda County, CA)
It's harvest time for Chardonnay grapes in California's Livermore Valley Wine Country! Harvesting is typically done during the late night and early morning hours, as maintaining a cool temperature is vital for the grapes...not only while they are sitting in the bins, but also while they are being transported.
Here are a couple of videos of the grapes being harvested, one at night and one in the morning:


This Chardonnay vineyard is expected to produce approximately 6-7 tons per acre and there are … (0 comments)