October

October 17, 2000 | Volume 8, Number 10

Tri-Valley Entertainment Scene Offers Music, Dancing, Movies, More

By Denise Howe

Singer-songwriter Leslie Claussen, who records for the Canto Veritas label, performs at Borders.

ShBoom has been giving Hacienda a chance to dance for over 10 years. Photo: Don Corning

The blues band Killin' Floor performs frequently at The Hop Yard.

When you've had a busy week at work and you want to relax and enjoy some good entertainment as the week winds down, there are plenty of choices in Pleasanton and neighboring Tri-Valley communities. Whether it's dancing, listening to cool, piano-bar jazz, dancing to live rock 'n' roll or a DJ spinning R&B, you'll find a great variety nearby.

The entertainment options don't stop there, either. Local bookstores feature poetry readings and visits from well-known authors. Local merchants offer classes in wine tasting and, for those who like to take their fun on cue, places to play pool.

The Tri-Valley area is also home to the latest Imax movie theater in the Bay Area, just across I-580 in Dublin. There's even a movie house showing classic, independent, and foreign films just down the road at the Rose Pavilion.

Throw in the headline entertainment seen each summer at Wente's "Concerts at the Vineyard" series and you've got an entertainment menu that covers the whole spectrum.

(All phone numbers are 925 area code. For fine arts fans, a directory of live theater, classical and choral music, opera, and Pleasanton Civic Arts programs was published in our November 1999 issue and can be found online. Fine arts listings may also be found online at the Hacienda Calendar page.)

Entertainment in Hacienda

Borders Music, Books, Cafe

4575 Rosewood Drive 227-1412 Borders has events for everyone in the family with author visits, story times for children including costumed characters, events for teachers and specialized book discussion groups, including groups on the Civil War, classic literature, and great books. You can almost always find live music on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, and the Borders Cafe means you can get your latte there, too.

Faz America

5121 Hopyard Road 460-0444

Besides the delicious cuisine that's offered every night in the restaurant, the lounge at Faz has special entertainment as well. Enjoy piano bar music Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Claudio Medeiros tickles the ivories with accompaniment on saxophone and trumpet on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

ShBoom

4825 Hopyard Road, in the Gateway Center 734-0666

ShBoom has been providing entertainment in Hacienda for over ten years. The club is open Wednesday through Saturday, starting off the week with "T.G.I.W.," a singles party, on Wednesday night. Every night gives revelers a chance to dance to the hits of the 50s through the 80s, with the added feature of the staff doing choreographed dance routines several times per night. ShBoom also features theme nights and contests.

The Beach

4555 Hopyard Road 416-2080

This bar and nightclub is the place to be for Monday Night Football-big-screen viewing and drink specials are on tap and the pool tables are free all night. The Beach also offers music on Friday nights with DJ Leo and DJ Alexander Gutierrez keeping the house moving with top 40, hip-hop, and house. Saturday nights sees DJ Alexander Gutierrez return along with DJ Suavecito, offering the Z95.7 Club Mix from 9:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m.

Outside the Park

Headliners

Wente Vineyards and Restaurant

5050 Arroyo Rd. Livermore 456-2400

The renowned Summer Concerts in the Vineyards series attracts names such as Bill Cosby, Boz Scaggs, Clint Black, and Natalie Merchant. While this season's outdoor entertainment has concluded, information on next year's series will be available in the coming months at 456-2424.

Live Bands

Cabana Dave's

724 Main St. 462-4256

Cabana Dave's offers cuisine with flavors of the Caribbean and the Cajun/Creole regions. Bands play at the outdoor cabana from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday nights, spilling reggae or rock 'n' roll sounds into the night.

Hilton Pleasanton At the Club

7050 Johnson Dr. 463-8000

There's band music in the lounge from 5:30 to 9:00 on Thursday.

The Hop Yard American Alehouse & Grill

3015 Hopyard 426-9600

While most places would be content to offer good food and more microbrews than you can shake a stick at, the Hop Yard adds live blues, R&B, or rock 'n' roll music from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tuesday night is brewery night- get a pint glass with a brewery logo and discounts on refills.

Union Jack Pub

725 Main 462-5596

Open daily, the Union Jack features bands playing everything from swing to Top 40 dance music from 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, and light jazz beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday. They've also got a big-screen TV for selected sporting events.

Food with Music

Barone's

474 St. John St. 426-0987

Barone's is known for their great Italian food. They also offer piano bar music every Friday and Saturday night from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The restaurant is open daily for dinner and for lunch on weekdays.

Blue Agave

625 Main St. 417-1224

This restaurant, open daily, features the spicy sounds of live Flamenco guitar from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Coffee Beans & Bistro

401 Main St. 461-0110

Sip at latte and relax to light jazz featuring guitarists, singers or small groups from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Coffee Roast Express

780 Main St. 426-8869

Another source for your quota of caffeine, the music menu here is varied with combos, singers and guitar players from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Hap's Original

122 W. Neal 600-9200

Known for their steak, seafood, and chops, Hap's is open daily for dinner and for lunch on weekdays. There's piano music for relaxing dining and listening from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday

Pleasanton Hotel

855 Main 846-8106

While executive chef Chuck Trujillo is serving up his own "California freestyle" cuisine, there is soft rock and jazz in the cocktail lounge from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, with big band, swing and more from 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Vineyards Restaurant

30 W. Neal 485-7896

A great spot for hearty American fare, the Vineyards serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekends and dinners and mid-day meals on weekdays. Sit inside or on the patio and listen to piano or guitar music from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Closed Monday.

Movies & More

Galaxy 8 Cinemas

4200 Rosewood Drive 277-8380

Pleasanton's new art movie cinemas, the theater has a fine selection of alternative films, including foreign and independent movies.

Regal Cinemas Hacienda Crossings 20 & Regal IMAX

5000 Dublin Blvd. 560-9600 Dublin

The biggest thing in movies is IMAX and the new Regal Cinemas bring the IMAX experience to the Tri-Valley. Films shown on the really big screen include Fantasia 2000 and the latest, Cyberworld 3D. The theater's 20 other screens show first run films and all the facilities offer digital sound and stadium seating.

Some Other Options

Alberto's Cantina

435 Main St. 462-2316

Besides their authentic Mexican cuisine, Alberto's has a 56-inch big-screen television for a variety of sporting events. They're open from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Sunshine Saloon Sports Bar & Charcoal Grill

1807 Santa Rita Rd. 846-6108

Open daily, this informal club offers many pool tables, ping pong tables, shuffleboard and a television for every game on the satellite dish.

Toast of the Town Wine Merchant

349 Main 461-4813

Offers wine tasting and classes that explore "the fun of wine - not the snobbery of wine." Classes taught in homes, businesses, or the store.

Towne Center Books

555 Main 846-8826

Author's events, book signings and book discussion clubs are offered right in the heart of the downtown. Call for a schedule of events. Open daily.

Wine Steward

641 Main 600-9563 Wine lovers will enjoy wine appreciation classes, and wine tasting with up to 20 new wines each week.

Also in this issue ...

October Tri-Valley Entertainment Scene