State of the City

Pleasanton Mayor Karla Brown is set to deliver her State of the City address during a luncheon event organized by the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce later this month at the Palm Event Center.

"It is an honor to reflect and acknowledge the achievements we have made together over the past year, as we set our sights on a strategic and sustainable future," Brown said in a statement. "I hope to see many of our Pleasanton residents and businesses at the event to hear about ongoing projects and exciting initiatives that ensure the city's continued progress in the years to come."

Tickets remain available for the March 29 event, at $75 per person, with the registration deadline this week, according to the chamber. The event begins with networking at 11 a.m., followed by the lunch and program at 11:45 a.m. To learn more, visit www.pleasanton.org.

A video-recording is also typically broadcast after the fact on Tri-Valley Community Television.

St. Pat's Brew Crawl

Downtown Pleasanton is ready to tap into the luck of the Irish next weekend as the St. Patrick's Day Brew Crawl returns.

Officials with the Pleasanton Downtown Association, which organizes the event, said, "We are excited to see you downtown for this spirited event. Please join us on March 18 for 20-plus beers, live Celtic music, food, revelry and more!"

The event, which encourages people to wear the traditional green of St. Patrick's Day, is set to run from 5-8 p.m. next Saturday (March 18) in downtown. Open to adults 21 years old and older, tickets are available at pleasantondowntown.net.

Barrel Tasting Weekend coming up

Local wine lovers are invited to sip samples right from the barrel at wineries across the Livermore Valley next weekend.

Livermore Valley Wine Community is set to host its annual Barrel Tasting Weekend from noon to 4:30 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday (March 18 and 19), according to a statement from the organization.

For the event, 15 local wineries will open their doors to attendees to sample wines that are still in development right out of the barrel. Featured wine varietals will include Cabernet Sauvignon, GSM, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Touriga Franca and Chardonnay.

Some wineries will also offer the opportunity to pre-purchase barrel wines at a discount, a practice known as buying "futures," according to the wine community.

Barrel Tasting Weekend is open-house style, where each winery will have its own ticket for the experience at their location. A number of participating locations will host special activities including DJs and live bands.

Artisan vendors and interactive experiences will also be featured. For more information, visit lvwine.org.

LPC open house

Las Positas College in Livermore is hosting an open house later this month for prospective students, their families, adult learners, military veterans and community members to learn more about the campus and its programs.

"Informational sessions will provide an overview of the college's academic programs, student services and support systems. Campus tours will allow attendees to see the college's modern classrooms, labs and other facilities," officials said, adding that the event "will feature demonstrations, live music and food trucks, making it a fun and enjoyable experience for all ages.

The open house is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 25. Visit www.laspositascollege.edu.

Art groups to host basket weaver

Noted basket weaver Peeta Tinay will be the featured speaker at next week's general meeting of the Pleasanton Art League and Livermore Art Association.

Art has been an integral part of Tinay's life since her upbringing in the Bay Area. Her father worked as a chemist but was a jeweler by night, and her mom, a dietician by trade, was a watercolorist. Tinay first learned the craft of basket weaving in the 1990s, improving her skills at caning, splint work and rush seating, as well as restoring wicker furniture at The Caning Shop in Berkeley, according to the Tri-Valley art groups.

"Today she continues restoring both antique and contemporary wicker. Starting in 2008, she veered hard into making large scale intricate baskets and hasn't looked back since," officials with the art groups said ahead of her appearance in Pleasanton.

"At this general meeting, Peeta will show samples of her exquisite creations and describe how each piece is made. She will also bring a simple basket base and show how a basket is constructed from the beginning," they added.

"Basket Weaving with Peeta Tinay" is scheduled as the featured presentation during the groups' March general meeting, starting at 7:30 p.m. Monday (March 13) at the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Building at 4477 Black Ave.

For more information about the meeting, visit www.pal-art.com. To learn more about Tinay, visit tinaystudio.com.