courtesy of Annika Helmer
Cinematographer David Mai, director Daniel Julien, dog owner Meching Mai and rescued dog Nova appear together. Montclair resident Julien debuted his new movie, “For the Love of a Dog” this week at Warehouse 416 in Oakland.

MONTCLARION: September 26, 2019

It’s a dog’s world. At least that’s the takeaway from a new film highlighting Oakland’s canine companions. Montclarion Daniel Julien debuted his new movie, “For the Love of a Dog” this week at Warehouse 416 in Oakland. The four-footed members of the audience yelped with delight as they saw themselves on the big screen with their human handlers. But why a film about dogs? The idea was spawned by the death of Julien’s 15-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Simon. Continue reading →

courtesy of Susan Slusser
Oakland A’s broadcaster Ken Korach and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, above, on Sept. 18 will be at the Montclair Library in support of their new book, “If these Walls could Talk: Stories from the Oakland A’s Dugout, Locker Room and Press Box.”

MONTCLARION: Sept 12, 2019

The art of the compromise — it’s never as easy as it seems. Take the folks living on Heather Ridge Way in the Oakland hills. These neighbors need a solution to the problem of parked cars clogging access to emergency vehicles. But the Oakland Fire Department’s decision to prohibit all street parking is clearly not going to work. Continue reading →

Photo by Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group

MONTCLARION: August 29, 2019

Spain was never on my bucket list. I don’t speak Spanish, and summers there can be searing-hot. But here I am, on a Norwegian Air nonstop flight from Oakland to Barcelona. It seems everyone I know has been to Barcelona this summer. The route has been popular, according to Anders Lindström, Norwegian Air’s director of communications for North America. Yet sadly, Norwegian Air’s nonstops between Oakland International Airport and Barcelona and between Oakland and Paris will end Oct. 26. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is getting these routes, just like they got our Oakland-London route. Continue reading →

courtesy of Chris Gulli
A group at an Oakland hills park enjoys a recent game of Ultimate Frisbee. There are four pickup games a week in Montclair and Shepherd Canyon parks, and players range in age from 7 to 70, says longtime player Chris Gulli.

MONTCLARION: August 16, 2019

Who knew a flying disc could bring so much joy to the hills? Ultimate Frisbee is bringing “kids” of all ages together and the organizers are looking for you. “You don’t even need a Frisbee to come out and play” says longtime player Chris Gulli. “All you need is a willingness to learn the game and have fun.” Continue reading →

Salvio Pacheco Square in downtown Concord sits across from Todos Santos Plaza, which pulsates with everything from live Latin jazz to Concord’s world champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of jazz in Concord, and in a nod to the late Montclair and Concord Dave Brubeck is being celebrated Aug. 1-10 with Take 10 — 10 days of jazz events. – Photo Courtesy of Visit Concord

EASTBAYTIMES.COM: July 12, 2019

It was the first jazz standard in the country to sell a million records. Dave Brubeck’s syncopated 5/4-time hit “Take Five” is one of the most recognized songs in the jazz genre — but did you know Brubeck’s connection to Concord helped spawn the Concord Pavilion and the famed Concord Jazz record label? Continue reading →

Old fashioned Guerneville 5 & 10 in downtown Guerneville. Photo by Ginny Prior

EASTBAYTIMES.COM: June 14, 2019

It’s the trifecta of topography — the redwoods, the river and the ocean. Add 130 wineries to the mix (from the Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area), and Guerneville comes up as the perfect setting for a culinary adventure. Continue reading →