Good Morning Tri-Valley! Let’s Start Exploring!

• Napa Day Trip - Wine, Food, Music, & More! 🍷

• LeeAnn Rimes is Coming to Livermore!

• Looking for Local Bakers, Makers, Shakers & Creators! 🧁

• 50 Cent Pastries TODAY!

• Board Game Bonanza this Weekend! 🎲

• List Your Upcoming Event in Tri-Valley Explorer for Free!

Napa Legends + a Hidden Gem You’ll Want to Visit!

As much as I love staying local and sipping my way through Livermore Valley, I also enjoy venturing out to explore other California wine regions—Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, and of course, Napa Valley! This past weekend, my husband and I took a quick day trip to Napa with friends and visited three exceptional estates (two you’ve definitely heard of, and one you need to).

We lucked out with the fastest drive to Napa I’ve ever experienced—no traffic, clear skies, and gorgeous views.

First stop: Seven Apart, a hidden gem in the Oak Knoll AVA along the southern Silverado Trail. This appointment-only winery debuted its first vintage in 2018 and now operates from a stunning, modern facility. Our host Juliana welcomed us with a splash of their Bordeaux-style white blend, Base Camp, before leading us through the production space and onto a seated tasting that truly wowed us. Four wines (one blend, three 100% Cabernets), paired with cheeses, were presented with precision and passion. We even got to try a couple of library selections—wines that have softened beautifully but still have years of aging potential. Definitely add Seven Apart to your Napa must-visit list.

Next up: two legends—Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Grgich Hills Estate, both with victorious ties to the 1976 Judgment of Paris. At Stag’s Leap, we enjoyed a few splashes on the patio overlooking the vineyards—an idyllic setting, even if we didn’t have time for the full tasting (which I’ve done before and highly recommend).

We ended the day at Grgich Hills for their 2025 Croatian Extravaganza—a lively evening of traditional food, music, and dancing. A Sacramento-based group performed Croatian dances while we sipped and noshed on delicious appetizers. Later, we were seated in the cellar for a family-style feast featuring Croatian fried chicken, lamb, ribs, and more. And yes—we barely saved room for a stunning dessert buffet, all capped off with an estate tour from Grgich’s wonderful events manager, Sherisse Taylor.

Have a Napa favorite I should try next? I’d love to hear about it—reply and let me know!

_{In Partnership with The Bankhead Theater}
LeAnn Rimes at the Bankhead!

🎶 An Unforgettable Night with LeAnn Rimes at the Bankhead 🎶

Get ready for a truly special evening as the legendary LeAnn Rimes headlines the 10th Annual Brilliance at the Bankhead—LVA’s biggest fundraiser of the year!

This Grammy®-winning, multi-platinum artist has racked up 12 Billboard Music Awards, 3 Academy of Country Music Awards, and became the youngest solo artist to ever win a Grammy® at just 14. She’ll be performing alongside the Livermore-Amador Symphony in a one-night-only event that blends country, pop, and symphonic brilliance.

This is the Livermore Valley Arts fundraiser of the year—and a rare chance to see a world-class talent right here in the Tri-Valley.

✨ Don’t miss it! ✨

Looking for Local Makers, Bakers, Shakers & Creators!

This summer and fall, I’m spotlighting incredible local artisans in Tri-Valley Explorer — from baked goods and small-batch sauces to candles, coffee, soaps, spices, and more. If you’re crafting something special here in the Tri-Valley, I want to help spread the word!

There’s no cost and no catch — just celebrating the amazing talent in our community. Reach out at [email protected] and let’s collaborate!

50 Cent Pan Dulce TODAY! Don Polvoron is Celebrating 19 years!

🎉 Don Polvorón Turns 19 — and You Get the Sweet Deal! 🎉

To celebrate their 19th anniversary (at their Hayward location), Don Polvorón is rolling back prices to 2005 in Livermore too! Today only (Tuesday, July 8th), enjoy their famous Conchas for just 50¢ each!

If you’ve never tried one, a Concha is a classic Mexican sweet bread—soft, buttery, and topped with a lightly crispy, sugary shell. They're absolutely delicious and a local favorite.

📍 Limit 5 per person—so don’t wait!

Swing by, grab a few, and join in the celebration!

Board Game Enthusiasts - This is For YOU!

Game On, Livermore! 🎲🍕
I love it when our community comes together for something fun—and this Sunday is going to be a blast! Local start-up Roll For Inclusion is teaming up with our friends at Wingen Bakery for a family-friendly Board Game Night!

With 100+ games to choose from (free to play!), it's the perfect chance to grab your friends, pick a game, and settle in for a fun evening. Wingen will be serving up pizza, drinks, and a special game night menu designed with gamers in mind.

🗓 Sunday, July 13
🕓 4–8pm
📍 Wingen Bakery, Livermore

This is Roll For Inclusion’s first-ever pop-up, but founders Hanna Bronnenberg and Alyssa DeMarinis have big plans—including more events and a future brick-and-mortar board game café. Let’s show them some love!

I’ve received dozens of emails from locals asking me to include upcoming events in our Thursday event listing newsletter - live music, performances, fundraisers, car shows, festivals, wine events and more! I’m happy to do it! If your business or nonprofit has an upcoming event, fundraiser, or community happening, we’ll list it in Tri-Valley Explorer for free! Click here to submit it!