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

• Coming Soon - Small Business Spotlights!

• New Speakeasy Bar Opens THIS WEEK! 🍸

• June Bloom in Yolo County - Worth the Drive!

• Alameda County Fair Starts Soon! 🎡

• Meadowlark Dairy is Coming to Livermore! 🍦

• San Ramon Concert Series

For the Movers, Shakers, & Bakers in the Tri-Valley!

This one is for all my fellow Small Business Owners!

I’m a small business owner too—I know the hustle, the heart, and the hustle after the hustle. Big advertising budgets aren’t built for businesses like ours, so I’m launching Hustle & Heart to spotlight the makers, doers, and dreamers of the Tri-Valley. This is your space to shine.

Here’s how it works:

• On Thursday, June 26th, I’m featuring 10 local small businesses in my Tri-Valley Explorer newsletter. Each spotlight includes an image (logo, product, headshot—your choice), a ~125-word description of your business and any special offers, plus a link to your website or Instagram.

•  Why only 10 businesses? To keep the newsletter engaging and easy to read—and to make the most of Instagram! I’ll run two boosted Instagram posts (featuring 5 businesses each, the max allowed per collab post). When you accept the Instagram collab, you’ll get extra exposure—and help promote other local businesses, creating a rising-tide effect.

• I’m putting $200 in Instagram ads behind these posts to maximize reach.

•  For this first edition of Hustle & Heart, the cost is $175—and you’ll reach at least 20,000 local people. That’s less than one cent per person learning about your business! Here’s the breakdown:
  📬 Tri-Valley Explorer newsletter reaches 20,000 locals each week, with a 47% open rate (9,500+ readers).
  📱 Instagram boosted posts + collabs will reach at least 11,000 locals.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

There are a few rules before deciding if you want to sign up. You’re eligible if:

• You’re a solo entrepreneur or have a team of 3 or fewer (including yourself).

• It can be your primary source of income, a side hustle, farmers market pop-up, communal kitchen business, online shop, or brick & mortar.

• All types of businesses are welcome - products, food, services, coaching, real estate, etc.

• Real Estate agents who own their own business are welcome, you just can’t be under a large national brokerage or an independent contractor affiliated with a larger firm like Compass, Edward Jones, etc. We have other advertising options for Real Estate firms. Send me an email! [email protected]

•  No multi-level marketing businesses.

• No adult-only content or services.

I review all submissions before publishing to ensure they align with our values and our readers’ interests. If you’re not sure you qualify, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to chat! [email protected]

A Hidden Bar in Downtown Livermore…Shhhh….

🍸 New Speakeasy Vibes in Downtown Livermore!

There’s a swanky new spot opening this week in downtown Livermore, and I’m so excited to tell you about it! From the team behind Sons of Liberty Alehouse comes Honeycomb Cocktail Lounge—a hidden gem tucked away in an alley between Sons of Liberty and Locanda on 1st Street (enter through an unlabeled door - photo above!).

I was lucky enough to attend their soft opening last Friday, and let me just say—this place is legit. The vibe is pure speakeasy: moody, chic, and totally transporting. The cocktail game? 🍹 Absolutely on point.

The bartenders know their stuff—but honestly, just calling Bryan a “bartender” doesn’t do him justice. He’s more like a cocktail curator—someone who elevates the art of drink-making to a whole new level. Bryan gave me the inside scoop on Honeycomb while whipping up some seriously inventive drinks. I started with a Gin Martini with fresh lime (because it was a warm night and that just hits), but Bryan’s signature cocktail is on my must-try list: the Miel de Mezcal—a wild blend of toasted corn-infused mezcal (yes, they actually toast the corn in-house!), lemon, orgeat, cotija foam (from a whipped cream dispenser, no less), and a dusting of pico chile for that extra kick. It’s bold, creative, and unlike anything I’ve seen before.

I don’t have all the deets on their hours or if they’ll take reservations yet, but the word on the street is they’ll be open Wednesday through Sunday. Keep an eye on their website and socials for the latest! 👀

_{In Partnership with Alameda County Fair}
Opening Day is JUNE 13th!

Mark your calendars—Opening Day is June 13, and on Thursday, July 3, they’re going all out with a Fireworks & Drone Spectacular lighting up the night sky above the Michelob Ultra Grandstand. It’s going to be epic!

And for the 4th of July, bring the whole family out to the Fair—open from 10am to 8pm (no fireworks or drone show that day, so plan accordingly).

Get ready for fair food, rides, concerts, and all the summer fun you can handle! Click for July 4 info. Buy now and save through June 12 at alamedacountyfair.com. 

June Bloom in YOLO County!

I received a great email from a reader last week who said, “You can’t sleep on YOLO!” And honestly—YOLO? You only live once! So why not check out all the amazing things happening just a short drive away in Yolo County?

June is a magical time to visit. Their June Bloom celebration is packed with lavender weekends 🌿, vineyard dinners 🍷, al fresco food & wine events, and flower-picking experiences that are bursting with color. Picture this: sipping wine surrounded by fields of lavender, picking your own flowers at Park Winters, or building a one-of-a-kind pollinator bouquet at The HIVE in Woodland.

You’ll find something fun every weekend—like the Twilight Food & Wine event with 13 Yolo wineries, or the dreamy vineyard dinner series at Grindstone Wines. And don’t forget to check out the local B&Bs, inns, and hotels for a cozy overnight stay!

Want in? Head over to Visit Yolo for all the details!

Legendary Ice Cream Spot Coming to Livermore!

Did you hear the news? Meadowlark Dairy is opening in downtown Livermore soon! You can see the sign HERE - they’ll be on the corner of Livermore Ave. and 2nd street.

San Ramon Summer Concert Series

Lots of great bands coming to San Ramon this Summer! I’ve got my eyes on Yacht Rock icons, Mustache Harbor! More details here!