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UPDATE on June 8, 2023: The entire Hiddenbrooke Plaza is for sale. See the listing at https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/8300-8340-Bennington-Ct-Vallejo-CA/27836986/ (UPDATED text in boldface as of April 18, 2023) What type of businesses do you think should fill the current and upcoming vacancies at Hiddenbrooke Plaza?  It’s been years since the dry cleaner moved out, and the real …

UPDATE on May 10, 2023: Thanks for all the neighbors who came out to cheer me on. Here are some video highlights from the show: ———————————————– I’ve been a theater geek since elementary school when I was cast as Snoopy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” My favorite role is “audience member” and there …

UPDATE on May 14, 2023: Jason Mills at Savage and Cooke, who we all met at our Meet-up there, asked us to pass along that they have begun featuring entertainment on Thursday eveninds.  This Thursday, May 18 from 4-7 pm they will feature the “contemportary jazz groove” of Mr. Quiet Trio.  No cover and no …

We first fell in love with Suisun Valley on a weekend day trip from our previous home in Berkeley.  We followed signs to Winterhawk Winery that was serving local wine, a funky blues band, and pizzas made fresh by Tony, Jr. of Napoli’s Pizza Vallejo in an oven fired with discarded barrel staves. Sadly, that …

Any search for Vallejo’s favorite pizza will lead to Napoli’s Pizza at 124 Tennessee Street in Vallejo.  That’s where you’re likely to be greeted by the owner himself, Tony, as he kneads his house-made dough and toppings in front of the large pizza oven.  He makes the sauce and ravioli himself as well, but when …

I traveled to New Orleans 4 times to enjoy JazzFest but I’m embarrassed to say I hadn’t participated in BottleRock right here in Napa until last year.  Given my love of far-away music festivals, I thought it would be fun to volunteer backstage at BottleRock.  But they don’t take volunteers.  So instead they hired me …

I enjoyed my time as a volunteer at last year’s Sonoma International Film Festival.  The annual Festival features more than 100 films, representing 29 countries, screening at various venues throughout Sonoma, plus two culinary showcase events, and themed parties, panels and more.  This year, the 26th annual event will be March 22-26. As a venue …

Mare Island, just across the water from downtown Vallejo, offers an amazing glimpse of its history as a vibrant warship factory. Back then, the fuel that powered the ships was stored in enormous “coal sheds” near the waterfront.  Today, a couple of those sheds have been repurposed to brew and serve flavorful beer with intriguing …

Growing up back East, I remember the best ears of corn and melons were from the produce stands on the side of the road in the summertime.  During the pandemic, Hiddenbrooke restaurant chef Michael Warring shared that his local source for organic produce was now selling direct to the general public.  We first met Courtney …

Michael Warring and his wife Ali Gulczynski opened their Hiddenbrooke Plaza restaurant, Michael Warring, in June 2012 which is the same month that my wife and I purchased our home in Hiddenbrooke and moved here from Berkeley.  After our first visit to his restaurant, we were thrilled to have a dining experience right down our …