🧭 Easter Brunch, Craft Cocktail Competition, & More

Plus: My Family Did The "Smoke Show" Challenge

Author

Rebecca Navarro
April 15, 2025

Good Morning Tri-Valley! Let’s get to this week’s Explorations!

  • WIN Tickets to Cirque du Soleil! 🎪

  • Can’t Miss Easter Brunch Options in the Tri-Valley! 🍴

  • Big Laughs at the Bankhead and their 2025 schedule!

  • My Family Attempted the Sauced BBQ “Smoke Show” Challenge!

  • The 925 Low Down - Craft Cocktail Competition, AND MORE. 🍸

WIN TICKETS to Cirque du Soleil!

🎪 Win Tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO!
Who’s ready for a little magic under the Big Top?

Cirque du Soleil’s newest show, ECHO, is dazzling audiences with gravity-defying acrobatics, stunning visuals, and a storyline that’s perfect for families, date nights, or a fun night out with friends.

I’ve got TWO more pairs of tickets to give away — here’s how to enter:

  1. Make sure you’re following Tri-Valley Explorer on Instagram

  2. Leave a comment on the latest Cirque du Soleil post (posted last night!)

That’s it! 🎉
Winners will be announced in Thursday’s newsletter â€” stay tuned and good luck!

Skip the Kitchen, These Brunches Hit the Spot!

Steak & Eggs at LB Steak San Ramon @ City Center Bishop Ranch

Real talk? I skip breakfast. But brunch? Brunch is my love language.
Whether it’s Easter Sunday, a birthday bash, or just an excuse to gather your people, the Tri-Valley delivers some seriously standout brunch spots. I could easily fill this whole newsletter listing them all (and I just might one day). But for now, here are some spots that totally get the brunch game right. And yes—I know I left some gems out, but don’t worry, I’ll circle back!

🍤 Sabio on Main (Pleasanton)
One of my go-to date night spots is getting festive with a special Easter brunch! Think 3-course menus for adults, 2-course for kiddos, and Grilled Gulf Shrimp n’ Grits that’ll make you rethink your breakfast loyalty.

🥟 Mayflower Restaurant (Dublin)
Dim Sum dreams come true here. My kids call it #DumplingFest, and honestly? They're not wrong.

🍓 The Peasant & The Pear (Danville)
Chef Rodney Worth is serving up a 3-course Easter menu, and the Filet Mignon Hash + Strawberry Shortcake duo is pure brunch poetry.

🥩 LB Steak at City Center Bishop Ranch (San Ramon)
A date night fave that’s equally strong in the brunch game. Their Ribeye & Eggs has me sipping Cabernet before noon—and I’m not even sorry.

🌇 First Street (Livermore)
Livermore’s brunch scene is stacked. I couldn’t list them all here, so I made a Top 10 just for you! Think Mornings on First, Rebel Kitchen, Monica’s, The Press, The Breakfast Club at Midtown, [Click here for the list.]

🍝 Pasta’s Trattoria (Pleasanton)
One of downtown’s OG restaurants is serving a special Easter brunch that blends classics with Italian flair. Bellissimo, baby.

🦞 Bridges (Danville)
Want to treat yourself on Easter Sunday? Filet Mignon & Lobster, Spring Risotto, and desserts that deserve their own holiday.

🌮 Rubys & Roses (Pleasanton)
One of the most eclectic and delicious brunch menus in the Tri-Valley. From Poke Tuna Tacos to Wings n’ Waffles—come hungry, leave obsessed.

If I left off your favorite brunch spot, don’t be shy—email me! I read every message and I’m always on the hunt for my next weekend bite. 🥂

Bankhead Theater Date Night with my Son!

Let me tell you about my Friday night date with my son last week! We had a rare free evening and headed to the Bankhead Theater for a night of laughs with the legendary Second City— and WOW, they crushed it!

Every time I go to the Bankhead, I’m reminded what a treasure we have in the Tri-Valley. We’ve taken the whole family to magic shows, dance, live music — and the hubby and I love catching the big-name comics (Marc Maron, Tom Papa, Maria Bamford, to name a few).

And during Nutcracker season? We basically move in for the month of December — my two oldest perform in the show every year!

Big love to Livermore Valley Arts for making world-class arts so accessible right here at home. We are seriously lucky.

DID YOU KNOW that the Bankhead just announced their 2025/26 Season? Tons of big-name acts are coming to Livermore - check out the schedule here!

Presented by the Alameda County Fair

Can’t Wait for Corn Dogs, Carnival Rides, Live Music and more!

Fair warning: I’m obsessed with the Alameda County Fair.
It’s one of my favorite summer traditions—and my whole crew is all in. This year’s fair runs June 13 through July 6, and if you're planning to hit the rides (or just crush some funnel cake), now’s the time to grab Advance Discount pricing on carnival wristbands.

Save up to $8 if you snag 'em by June 12! Let’s gooo!🎡

Visit alamedacountyfair.com and see all the ways you can save! 

CELEBRATE GIVEAWAY â€“ click and enter to win a Family 4 Pack of Fair general admission tickets (four lucky winners will be selected).

Can You Handle The Smoke Show?

We’ve eaten at Sauced BBQ & Spirits in Livermore at least 30 times over the years.
I still remember my youngest (now 13!) happily gnawing on rib bones as a toddler, and my middle kid falling head-over-heels for their sweet potatoes. And when the world shut down? Sauced came through with one of the smartest, most delicious family meals of the pandemic—it was a total staple in our house.

But now? They’ve officially outdone themselves with The Smoke Show.

This beast of a meal comes with:
🔥 A full rack of ribs
🔥 A whole smoked chicken
🔥 1 lb tri-tip
🔥 1 lb jalapeño cheddar sausage
🔥 6 pieces of cornbread
🔥 3 hearty sides (we went with beans, slaw, and sweet potato casserole, of course!)

It’s built to feed 4–6 people. When I showed it to my kids, they instantly launched The Smoke Show Challenge—convinced our fam of 5 could polish it off in one night.

Spoiler: we absolutely could not.
We ate it the first night, had leftovers the second, and everyone packed it for lunch on the third. All for $175? It’s a ridiculous deal if you’ve got a hungry crew (and even better if you like leftovers).

Also—the tri-tip is new-ish at Sauced and it was fabulous.
Everything was spot on, flavorful, and super satisfying. You just can’t go wrong with this one.

The 925 Lowdown - Your Weekly Pulse on News Around Town!

Did I miss any breaking news? Is there something you’d like me to cover? Send me an email! [email protected]

Last Week’s Poll Results!

If Tri-Valley Explorer had a WEEKLY JOB BOARD, what would be of most interest to you?

  • Browsing available local job opportunities 80%

  • Posting positions available in my company 10%

  • Not really interested 10%