Staycation–one of the latest buzzwords in these times of trimmed budgets–may be the key for the extended Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekend. Whether it’s checking out some local wineries or dancing the night away on the USS Hornet, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season of love locally.
Visit a local winery
The Livermore Valley wine country has produced world-class wines and many will be poured over the long weekend. Even with the growing popularity and award-winning wines, the local wineries remain humble.
Chris Chandler, executive director of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association, said the intimate experience at Livermore Valley is unmatched in other regions.
“Often, the person behind the counter is the winemaker,” she said. “There is a high probability you will get to meet them. There are so many personailities and stories, everyone has a different reason they came to be a winemaker.”
The wineries, many of them boutique wineries which produce less than 5,000 cases each year, are very close together and have tastings at little or no cost. Even if residents have gone to a few, with more than 40 wineries spanning from Livermore to Castro Valley, there are always more to discover.
“Part of having a weekend or a day off is to pamper yourself,” Chandler said. “[This weekend’s event] allows you to do that and still be back at home for dinner. Or you can stay in downtown Livermore or Pleasanton and go out.”
Listed below are a few participating wineries, and more can be found at LVwine.org. There is also a feature to preselect wineries to visit and it will create a map with directions to each desination.
Sounds sweet
Pleasanton is going to be bursting with talent as the second annual Campana Jazz Weekend comes to town, presented by Amador Friends of Music, the Pleasanton Public Library and Civic Arts.
It begins tonight at 8 when the Brubeck Brothers Quartet takes the Amador Theater. The group features two members of one of America’s most accomplished musical families, Dan Brubeck on drums and Chris Brubeck on bass and trombone. Other members include guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb.
Tickets for the show are $20-$30 for adults and $15-$21 for students. They may be purchased online at www.civicartstickets.org, by calling 931-3444 or at the theater’s box office, located at 1155 Santa Rita Road.
The music continues Saturday with the 34th annual Campana Jazz Festival, named after longtime Amador Valley High School music director Jim Campana. Over 40 ensembles from 25 middle and high schools will compete in big band, combo and jazz choir divisions. The 800-plus participating students will also take part in instrumental workshops and master classes. More than $13,000 in scholarships to regional and state summer jazz camps and schools will be awarded at two concerts at the end f the day.
To commemorate Valentine’s Day, there will also be special awards given in the big band and jazz choir divisions for Most Romantic Song.
Performances are open to the public and a $6 entrance fee provides admission and a festival program.
To learn more about the Campana Jazz Festival, visit www.amadorband.org.
Dance aboard the USS Hornet
If your heart skips a beat for a special someone, consider getting the beat back on track to the sounds of big band. The USS Hornet hosts a Valentine’s Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
Partygoers can enjoy the “frolicking jazz” sounds of Stompy Jones and other big band classics performed by the Romano Marchetti Orchestra. These songs were chart toppers in the ’40s and ’50s. And as always, period attire is welcomed. There will be three dance floors set up on the enclosed, heated hangar deck. Don’t worry about having all the right moves, because former Fred Astaire instructor Jim Truesdale will give lessons throughout the evening.
Tickets range from $40 to $75 and parking is free. Doors open at 7:15 and cash bars and dinner concessions will also be available.
This is a fundraiser for the Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the preservation of the historic aircraft carrier, which is permanently docked in Alameda, and educational programs through its museum.
SIDEBAR 1
A sampling of the weekend’s winery events
McGrail Vineyards: From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, McGrail will pair chocolate-dipped treats and cabernets from 2004, 2005 and 2006, all made from estate vineyard grapes. Live jazz will be performed by TankHalfFull. They are located at 5600 Greenville Road in Livermore and the cost is $20.
Wente Vineyards: Touted as a “sensual experience,” Wente offers five wine and chocolate pairings from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the tasting facility at 5565 Tesla Road in Livermore. The cost is $35, or $30 for club members, and space is limited. Call 456-2400 for reservations.
Concannon Vineyard: The newly renovated tasting room, 4590 Tesla Road in Livermore, is open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday for their Valentine’s Day weekend open house. The cost is $5 and wines will be paired with chocolate.
Chouinard Vineyards: The Castro Valley winery will be having red wine barrel tastings paired with homemade bread and Amish cheeses from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Roger Kardinal will also perform classic folk and rock. The cost is $10 and they are located at 33853 Palomares Road.
Little Valley Winery: From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Little Valley will have sweets for you and your sweetie: California champagne with wild hibiscus, truffles, port in chocolate cups and more. The cost is $20, and wearing red can save you 10 percent on a wine purchase. They are located at 5700 Greenville Road in Livermore.
Thomas Coyne Winery: The historical tasting room, 51 East Vallecitos Road in Livermore, is the home of their popular Bottle Your Own Wine event Saturday and Sunday. It is $5, or $4.50 if you bring an empty bottle. They will also release four new wines to taste from noon to 5 Saturday through Monday.
Red Feather Winery: Sweet wines will be poured at Red Feather, 5700 Greenville Road in Livermore, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The cost is $10.
John Christopher Cellars: Quixotic feelings are in the air at John Christopher Cellars, 25 South Livermore Ave., Ste. 103 in Livermore. From noon to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday, they will release a new wine that will be paired with food and locally crafted fudge made with wine.
For more wineries as well as a map, visit LVwine.org.
SIDEBAR 2:
Valentine’s Day by the number
Love is sweet
*1,170: Number of locations producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2006. California led the nation in the number of such establishments with 128, followed by Pennsylvania with 116.
*$13.9 billion: Total value of shipments in 2006 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a $7.2 billion industry.
*3,563: Number of confectionery and nut stores in the United States in 2006.
*24.5 pounds: Per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2007.
Flora and fauna
*$416 million: The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2007 for all flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales. Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for about three-quarters of this amount ($320 million).
*$29 million: The combined wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2007 for all operations with $100,000 or more in sales.
*20,227: The number of florists nationwide in 2006. These businesses employed 98,373 people.
Sparkle and shine
*28,300: Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2006. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2008, these stores sold $2.6 billion in merchandise.
Be mine
*2.2 million: The number of marriages that took place in the United States in 2007. That breaks down to a little more than 6,000 a day.
*126,354: The number of marriages performed in Nevada during 2007. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked fifth nationally in marriages, even though its total population that year among states was 35th. California ranked first in marriages.
*57 and 60: The percentages of American women and men, respectively, who are 18 or older and married (includes those who are separated).
*72: Percentage of people 30 to 34 in 2007 who had been married at some point in their lives–either currently or formerly.
*73: Among women who married for the first time between 1985 and 1989, the percentage who marked their 10th anniversary. This compares with 87 percent of women who married for the first time between 1955 and 1959.
*6: The percentage of currently married women who have been married for at least 50 years. A little more than half of currently married women have been married for at least 15 years.
Single and ready to mingle
*904: The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2002. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed nearly 4,300 people and pulled in $489 million in revenue.
A second chance
*8: Average length, in years, of first marriages ending in divorce.
*3 1/2: The median time in years between divorce and a second marriage.
*12 and 13: Percentage of men and women, respectively, 15 and older who have married twice. Three percent each have married three or more times. By comparison, 54 percent of men and 58 percent of women have made only one trip down the aisle.
*52 and 44: Among adults 25 and older who have ever divorced, the percentage of men and women, respectively, who were currently married.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
