Today! FOOD TRUCKS in Antioch, DOUG HOUSER in Walnut Creek, MARIACHI SAN MIGUEL in Antioch. Friday! RELYKS in Clayton, JAMES FUNK in Richmond, KILLBILLIES in Martinez, MICHELE LAMBERT in Danville.

Fun Starts Today! Today! NATIVE ELEMENTS in Concord, DAVE LAND LIVE in Clayton, FOOD TRUCKS in Antioch, JOHN PAUL HODGE in Walnut Creek, MARIACHI SAN MIGUEL in Antioch

Today! OKTOBERFEST in Antioch, CAR SHOW in Pittsburg, a four-day FESTIVAL starts in Walnut Creek, the UNORIGINAL BAND plays in Concord, BRAZILIAN HAPPINESS in Richmond, Mariachi Band in Antioch, Contra Costa Fun Starts Today!

CONCORD has ZEPPARELLA, (a rocking women's Led Zeppelin tribute band) playing FREE tonight at Todos Santos. BRENTWOOD has Cherries Jubillee being prepared tableside at CAP'S RESTAURANT. ANTIOCH has San Francisco-style Cioppino on their Sunday Brunch Menu. WALNUT CREEK has a Red Help fundraiser tonight (for firefighters struggling with PTSD) at HESS BREWING COMPANY.

Are you tired of P2P messages? I'm hoping these political text messages STOP next week. Politicians are allowed to circumvent FCC rulings because they are politicians. I've been using BLOCK when I get these texts but they persist. After reading this article I'm going to simply use the word STOP and see how that works.

Make Your Vote Count! Whether you like Newsom or not we should all vote by September 14th. I started "getting familiar" with the ballot weeks ago (ran out of time) and forgot about it. My sister-in-law asked me who was I voting for? The question startled me, I had to admit I was not through deciding yet. I don't want to be "one of those voters" the one who votes party, or votes for a name they like, or flips a coin. I will finish my homework and cast my vote Saturday, Sept 4th. I hope you make your decision soon and vote.

The Rolling Stones Never Missed A Beat With Charlie Watts. Every time the Rolling Stones tour I ask myself why? The simple answer is "It's Only Rock and Roll" and they like it. One website shows they have played in more than 50 countries including China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. The band has changed over the years but they never missed a beat and we can all thank Charlie Watts for that. Thanks for more than 50 years of rock and roll. I miss you already.

It's Time To Vote Again. First, you vote "yes" or "no" on Newsom being recalled. Then you vote for one of 46 candidates for governor if Newsom is removed. According to the Secretary of State to be a candidate for governor you had to pay $4,200 or gather 7,000 signatures to be on the ballot (I guess that's why we have 46 candidates). If you choose to write a positioning statement (Official Voters Guide) that's $9,800 extra. If there is a recall of the governor I think the new one will come from the 34 candidates who are in the GUIDE (so that's 12 I don't have to research). As a registered independent I will read the write-ups and choose a candidate regardless of their party.

The Dixie Fire is Huge. News reports say this is the 2nd largest fire ever in California. Since its start, July 14th, it's consumed nearly 1,000,000 acres. I have no idea what 1,000,000 acres looks like. Google says Contra Costa County is 458,000 acres. That makes the Dixie fire twice as large as Contra Costa County. Now, that's a lot of ground.

Happiness is All-Around. There are many things, every day, to get our daubers down. Fortunately, there are more things that will make us happy if we look around. Help a friend, the laughter of a child, a flower in your hand can snap you out of a foul mood. Now, when you are feeling right, eat something tasty, wash it down with a cocktail, and then dance to some live music!

Olympic Spirit Always Brings Me Back. From the opening ceremony, I'm hooked. Countries I never heard of with three or four athletes parade around the track with their flags just like everyone else. How many medals the USA wins is not important to me as countries that win their first gold medal. Bermuda and the Philippines come to mind. What about the 17-year-old Alaskan girl that won gold in swimming and lives in a state with only one pool in it? Media hype, blood, and guts are not for me. I prefer the spirit of the Olympics and the stories that show our humanity and make us feel good about the world we live in anytime.

Restaurants are open, we have music in the park, we can shop without a mask. I'm feeling safe (I still wash my hands a lot). Now I hear things are spiking and hospitals are filling up. People are dying. It's people who have not been vaccinated. Isn't the fear of catching Covid, giving it to a friend, or a family member more important to you than your long-term fears or the inconvenience? Get vaccinated, do it for someone you love, please.

Lots of the fun things we missed last summer are back. Lots of dates are circled on my calendar. There are some really good bands playing at Todos Santos Plaza starting tonight. Car show and a band tonight in Pittsburg.

Oysters, Prawns & Mussels are on the Brunch Menu @ Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, Earth, Wine, & Fire @ Flemings Steakhouse, Walnut Creek, $5 Blackjack in Antioch, Sip Wine like They Do On The Mediterranean Sea, and the Mariachi's Are Back in Antioch!

Let's Play a Game

My friend Don Huntington and I went to the LONE TREE THAI restaurant recently for lunch. He tells me he always orders the same thing there. He's paying $10 cash to the 10th person who correctly guesses his favorite dish (he's already given me the cash so no wait for the winner HA!). Only one entry per person. I'll monitor the emails and if you are the winner I will ask you for a mailing address to send you the sawbuck. You have a 50/50 shot of being correct. Much better than the lottery. Good luck. BTW I ate the other dish and it was yummy.

Good Reason To Go Shopping

After 6 or 7 months of ordering home-delivery groceries, I did my own shopping this week. I used to love grocery shopping. I could spend two hours shopping every aisle looking for treats and bargains. After spending all that time shopping it would upset me to stand in line to pay for groceries. The longer I waited the more I wanted to remove items from my cart for making me wait. On my recent visit, I realized what a time-waster shopping is. I not only save "line-time aggravation" but I also save shopping time. I have made the change. The only reason to go grocery shopping now is to meet someone. "Excuse me, you look like a fine cook, have you ever cooked with this?"

Sunday is Father's Day and the Start of Summer

Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit... It's Latin, it means "the changing vine becomes the living vine." It's from a scene in LONESOME DOVE a popular 1989 miniseries. It reminds us of an important truth. Changes are going to come whether we want them or not. Some can be especially difficult. That's when we have to adapt and do the best we can or it will eat us alive. I love this show and I appreciate the life lesson reminder.

Please don't buy fireworks. They are illegal in Contra Costa, they start fires, they bother dogs and neighbors, and dangerous. Too legal fireworks shows you can enjoy.

This Week! Memorial Day Fun. Mexican Food, Margaritas, and Motorcycle Racing with Family. Patio Dining with Friends.

This Weekend, Cherry Picking, Motorcycle Racing, Patio Music, Ferrari's, Farmers Markets, Art Show, & Artist Market.

As more people get vaccinated, and with the warmer weather, we see more options for venturing out. Please continue to do everything you can to stop the pandemic. Enjoy yourself and stay safe. We can do this.

Nourish Gala Tonight, $6 Margaritas, Clam Linguini, Young Gal Help Old Folks.

10 Mother's Day Breakfast, Brunch & Dinner Choices Mom Will Love! Looking for an ala carte breakfast, a special brunch menu, a dinner menu for dine-in, patio dining, pick up, or delivered meal for mom? These Contra Costa restaurants are making special plans for mom. With covid safety in mind, visit these websites for menus and serving availability. To assure proper service please call ahead for accommodations and a reservation.

Najee Harris, Antioch High School Football Player To Be Drafted Tonight!

There is a nice story on Antioch High School running back Najee Harris (written by Luke Johnson) in the Antioch Herald. I'm so grateful to Antioch High School principal Louie Rocha for the heads up he gave me on this athlete a few years ago. I saw most of Najee's games during his junior and senior high school years. It was a lot of fun to go to a packed event and see your alma mater have so much success. I also saw many Alabama games on TV. Najee and I spoke briefly at one of the 19th Hole Casino and Sports Bar Crab Feed fundraisers when Najee stopped serving us crab and graciously posed for a few photos for me. He's a fine young man. I wish him nothing but success!

The Weather Is Perfect For A Dine Out. It's been a good week, people are being vaccinated and restaurants are opening for inside dining. The weather is warming. For those of us who have learned to love patio dining, the weather is perfect and we can have live music! It's mostly afternoon and early evening time slots (perfect for this early to bed early to rise, guy). It's been a while since I did my last honky-tonk. Please, continue to get vaccinated, wear your masks and practice social distancing. We are on the right path.