January 2017 - FREE Admission Passes - San Francisco Bay Area Attractions and Museums . . .

First Full Weekend of the Month is upon us! January 2017

Field Trip Ideas? Visit one of the Bay Area's world class museums and local attractions.

First Weekend of the month has the most FREE Museum Admission opportunities. Bank of America Cardholders enjoy FREE Admission to many museums on the first full weekend of the month. Have fun. Be inspired. Below is a partial list. CLICK other Links for additional dates and venues.

CLICK HERE to explore Bank of America Cardholder FREE Admission Days

San Francisco Bay Area Museums & Gardens:

San Francisco Botanical Garden is FREE on New Year's Day
Sunday, January 1, 2017

Oakland Museum is Free FIRST Sunday to the general public.
Closed on New Year's Day, so there may not be a free day this month.

Lindsay Wildlife Experience is FREE Third Friday to the general public.
FRIDAY, January 20, 2017

Pier 39 San Francisco - Local Advantage Coupons: CLICK HERE
50% off coupons for many restaurants, shops, attractions at Pier 39.
(CLICK LINK - new coupons good thru April 2017)

Pier 39 San Francisco Parking Garage, FREE 2-Hour Parking Coupon: CLICK HERE
(CLICK LINK - new coupon good thru April 2017)

Contemporary Jewish Museum w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, January 7, 2017 and Sunday, January 8, 2017

de Young Fine Arts Museum of SF w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, January 7, 2017 and Sunday, January 8, 2017

Legion of Honor w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, January 7, 2017 and Sunday, January 8, 2017

San Jose Museum of Art w/BofA Card FREE First weekend
Saturday, January 7, 2017 and Sunday, January 8, 2017

Tech Museum w/BofA Card FREE First weekend
Saturday, January 7, 2017 and Sunday, January 8, 2017

CuriOdyssey Museum - COMMUNITY FREE DAY to the general public
Sunday, January 8, 2017

Bay Area Discovery Museum - FREE First Wednesday, general public
Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Napa Valley Museum - FREE Family Fun Days, 2nd Saturday of the Month.
Saturday, January 14, 2017

Exploratorium - FREE Community Day, general public
Sunday, January 22, 2017

California Academy of Sciences - Quarterly FREE Sundays
Sunday, February 26, 2017


As an added bonus, there are special FREE days at gardens, Regional Parks, Museums not normally advertised:

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (located at Golden Gate Park) - FREE Admission SECOND Tuesday of the month, general public
Tuesday, January 9, 2017

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden - FREE Admission FIRST Wednesday of the month, general public
Wednesday, January 4, 2017

John Muir National Historic Site - FREE ADMISSION seven days a week. Tour the historic fruit orchards and former home of Naturalist, John Muir.


Amazing Selection of DAILY FREE Passes through your local Library


CLICK HERE: DISCOVER and GO - Find your County. Entire list of Participating Counties.

CLICK HERE: Contra Costa County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

CLICK HERE: Alameda County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

The Best Lemon Bars On Earth! - These are made for sharing...

Photo courtesy: http://www.cooksillustrated.com/

Ahh...what memories. Back when I was single and fancy free, before trading cookbooks for Dr. Seuss books, I lived and breathed from one dinner party to the next. Baking trays and trays of scrumptious desserts. A tried and true recipe from Cook's Illustrated still tops my list as an all-time favorite. Give it a try. Find a neighbor with a lemon tree. Glean a few for the food pantry. Make friends and bake yummy lemon bars!

From Cook’s Illustrated, May/June ’98.
The crust:
1 ¾ cups flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for decoration
¼ cup cornstarch
¾ tsp. salt
12 tbl. unsalted butter at very cool room temp., cut into 1-inch pieces

Lemon filling:
4 large eggs, beaten lightly
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tbl. flour
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest from 1 large lemon
2/3 cup juice from 3 large lemons, strained
1/3 cup whole milk
1/8 tsp. salt

For the crust: Lightly butter a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and line with one sheet of parchment paper. Dot paper with butter and then lay a second sheet crosswise over the first.

Pulse flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt in food processor to blend. Add butter and process to blend, 8 to 10 seconds, then pulse until mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse meal, about three 1-second bursts. Sprinkle mixture into lined pan and press firmly with fingers into even, ¼-inch layer over entire pan bottom and about ½ inch up sides. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake crust until golden brown about 20 minutes.

For the filling: While crust is baking, whisk eggs, sugar and flour in a medium bowl then stir in lemon juice, zest, mile and salt to blend well.

To finish the bars: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Stir filling mixture to reblend; pour into warm crust. Bake until filling feels firm when touched lightly, about 20 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack; cool to near room temperature, at least 30 minutes. Holding edges of parchment paper, lift whole cake out of pan and transfer to cutting board, fold paper down sides and cut into serving-size squares or bars, wiping knife clean between cuts. Sieve more powdered sugar over bars, if desired.

P.S.
To find a food bank or local food pantry, zip code search, nationwide, CLICK HERE.

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Food Pantry Locations: Contra Costa County, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and more local resources...

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano: 

4010 Nelson Ave, Concord, CA 94520, (925) 676-7543
www.foodbankccs.org
(800) 870-FOOD

GET HELP - Community Produce Program

Distributed by the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

CLICK HERE: For ALL Community Produce Locations

East, West, Central Contra Costa County and Solano County

Local Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, CA

Food Pantries Distribute Food and Accept Walk-in Donations.

Please call individual pantries to confirm hours for

food distribution or hours for donation drop offs.

Dial: 2 1 1 - It's a National Hotline with Local Resources for people in Crisis

CLICK HERE: for 211 Referral information.

SHARE Food Pantry - At The First Christian Church

3039 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA 94519

(925) 827-4273

The Salvation Army - Concord Community Church

3950 Clayton Road, (at West street)

Concord, CA 94521

(925) 676-6180

Monument Crisis Center

For those who need food or assistance:

1990 Market St, Concord, CA 94520

(925) 825-7751

NorthCreek Church

(non-perishable food only)

For those who need food or assistance:

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10am-12pm

2303 Ygnacio Valley Road

Walnut Creek, CA 94598

(925) 210-9036

Hillcrest Congregational Church - Food Room
404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(925) 686-3663
For those who need food or assistance
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
9:00am - 11:45am

St. Bonaventure Church

For those who need food or assistance:

Food Pantry Tuesday and Friday mornings only.

5562 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94521

Phone: (925) 672-5800 * Fax: (925) 672-4606

Inside the: St. Francis of Assisi Church

860 Oak Grove Road, Concord, CA 94518

For those who need food or assistance:

Operated by: St. Vincent de Paul (925) 682-5811

Mon-Thurs. 9 to 11 am,

Friday 1 to 3 PM, Sat. 9:30am to 11:30am

Christ the King Church

For those who need food or assistance:

199 Brandon Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

(925) 682-2486

Queen of All Saints

For those who need food or assistance:

2390 Grant St. (near Almond St.)

Concord, CA 94520

(925) 825-0350

Church of the Nazarene

1650 Ashbury, Concord, CA

For those who need food or assistance:

Phone to confirm food distribution schedule.

Saturday Mornings

Groceries at 9:00am

(925) 685-4343

November 2016 FREE Admission Tickets San Francisco Bay Area Attractions and Museums . . .

First Full Weekend of the Month is upon us! November 2016

Field Trip Ideas? Visit one of the Bay Area's world class museums and local attractions. Often, there is a FREE MUSEUM DAY in November 2016, located in a town near you. (Nationwide.) San Francisco, Oakland, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Portland, Boston and beyond.

First Weekend of the month has the most FREE Museum Admission opportunities. Have fun. Be inspired. Below is a partial list. CLICK other Links for additional dates and venues.

CLICK HERE to find more FREE MUSEUM DAYS in a city near you.


CLICK HERE to explore Bank of America Cardholder FREE Admission Days


San Francisco Bay Area Museums & Gardens:

Oakland Museum is Free FIRST Sunday to the general public.
Sunday, November 6, 2016


Lindsay Wildlife Experience is FREE Third Friday to the general public.
FRIDAY, November 18, 2016


Pier 39 San Francisco - Local Advantage Coupons: CLICK HERE
50% off coupons for many restaurants, shops, attractions at Pier 39.


Pier 39 San Francisco Parking Garage, FREE 2-Hour Parking Coupon: CLICK HERE

Chabot Space & Science Center w/BofA Card FREE First weekend.
Saturday, November 5, 2016 and Sunday, November 6, 2016


Contemporary Jewish Museum w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, November 5, 2016 and Sunday, November 6, 2016


de Young Fine Arts Museum of SF w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, November 5, 2016 and Sunday, November 6, 2016


Legion of Honor w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, November 5, 2016 and Sunday, November 6, 2016


San Jose Museum of Art w/BofA Card FREE First weekend
Saturday, November 5, 2016 and Sunday, November 6, 2016


Tech Museum w/BofA Card FREE First weekend
Saturday, November 5, 2016 and Sunday, November 6, 2016


CuriOdyssey Museum - COMMUNITY FREE DAY to the general public
Friday, November 18, 2016


Bay Area Discovery Museum - FREE First Wednesday, general public
Wednesday, November 2, 2016


Napa Valley Museum - FREE Family Fun Days, 2nd Saturday of the Month.
Saturday, November 12, 2016


California Academy of Sciences - Quarterly FREE Sundays
Sunday, December 11, 2016 


As an added bonus, there are special FREE days at gardens, Regional Parks, Museums not normally advertised:


San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (located at Golden Gate Park) - FREE Admission SECOND Tuesday of the month, general public
Tuesday, November 8, 2016


UC Berkeley Botanical Garden - FREE Admission FIRST Wednesday of the month, general public
Wednesday, November 2, 2016


John Muir National Historic Site - FREE ADMISSION seven days a week. Tour the historic fruit orchards and former home of Naturalist, John Muir.


Amazing Selection of DAILY FREE Passes through your local Library


CLICK HERE: DISCOVER and GO - Find your County. Entire list of Participating Counties.


CLICK HERE: Contra Costa County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.


CLICK HERE: Alameda County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

Celebrating a Birthday in 2016? FREE $30.00 at Benihana and FREE $30.00 at Kobe Japan...

Happy Birthday!  Celebrating a birthday soon?

FREE $30.00 certificate at Benihana, you must sign up in advance. Good for use during your birthday month. http://profile.benihana.com/registration/

FREE $30.00 certificate at Kobe Japan in Pleasant Hill, must sign up in advance: http://www.kobejapanrestaurant.com 

FREE Admission Tickets San Francisco Bay Area Attractions and Museums - AUGUST 2016 . . .

First Full Weekend of the Month is upon us! August 2016

Field Trip Ideas? Visit one of the Bay Area's world class museums and local attractions. Often, there is a FREE MUSEUM DAY in August 2016, located in a town near you. (Nationwide.) San Francisco, Oakland, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Portland, Boston and beyond.

First Weekend of the month has the most FREE Museum Admission opportunities. Have fun. Be inspired. Below is a partial list. CLICK other Links for additional dates and venues.

CLICK HERE to find more FREE MUSEUM DAYS in a city near you.

CLICK HERE to explore Bank of America Cardholder FREE Admission Days

San Francisco Bay Area Museums & Gardens:

Asian Art Museum is Free FIRST Sunday to the general public.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Oakland Museum is Free FIRST Sunday to the general public.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Lindsay Wildlife Experience is FREE Third Friday to the general public.

FRIDAY, August 19, 2016

Pier 39 FREE Parking Coupon: CLICK HERE

Show your AAA Card at the Welcome Center for a 2-hour free parking validation coupon.

http://www.pier39.com/home/offers/aaa/

Pier 39 - Local Advantage Coupons: CLICK HERE

Chabot Space & Science Center w/BofA Card FREE First weekend.

Saturday, August 6, 2016 and Sunday, August 7, 2016

Contemporary Jewish Museum w/BofA card FREE First weekend

Saturday, July 2, 2016 and Sunday, Sunday, July 3, 2016

de Young Fine Arts Museum of SF w/BofA card FREE First weekend

Saturday, August 6, 2016 and Sunday, August 7, 2016

Legion of Honor w/BofA card FREE First weekend

Saturday, August 6, 2016 and Sunday, August 7, 2016

San Jose Museum of Art w/BofA Card FREE First weekend

Saturday, August 6, 2016 and Sunday, August 7, 2016

Tech Museum w/BofA Card FREE First weekend

Saturday, August 6, 2016 and Sunday, August 7, 2016

CuriOdyssey Museum - COMMUNITY FREE DAY to the general public

(Free days are past, future dates to be determined)

Bay Area Discovery Museum - FREE First Wednesday, general public

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Napa Valley Museum - FREE Family Fun Days, 2nd Saturday of the Month.

Saturday, August 13, 2016 

As an added bonus, there are special FREE days at gardens, Regional Parks, Swimming Pools, Museums not normally advertised:

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (located at Golden Gate Park) - FREE Admission SECOND Tuesday of the month, general public

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden - FREE Admission FIRST Wednesday of the month, general public

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

John Muir National Historic Site - FREE ADMISSION seven days a week. Tour the historic fruit orchards and former home of Naturalist, John Muir.

Amazing Selection of DAILY FREE Passes through your local Library

CLICK HERE: DISCOVER and GO - Find your County. Entire list of Participating Counties.

CLICK HERE: Contra Costa County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

CLICK HERE: Alameda County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

San Pablo Reservoir. Boat Rentals Open February thru October. Beauty On the Lake...

San Pablo Reservoir

The Bay Area is such a beautiful place with easy access to reservoirs and boat rides, simple enough for an afternoon adventure. This scenic park and reservoir is located only a few miles East of the quaint town of Orinda.

Have you ever visited San Pablo Reservoir?

CLICK HERE for EBMUD info on San Pablo Reservoir.

Boat Rental info is on a separate website:

CLICK HERE for boat rental info.

CLICK HERE for directions. We were pleasantly thrilled to find such a spectacular place, only minutes from home. A relaxing boat ride is a peaceful, perfect way to introduce little ones to the wonders of nature.

According to the park brochure, Seniors, POWs, and Disabled receive 50% off boat rental fee Monday thru Friday. A great incentive to take Grandma and Grandpa out for a boat ride with the little ones!

On the EBMUD website: SPECIAL: Rent a boat six times and receive a free 1/2 day weekday rental. Awesome!

This is a fantastic after school or weekday adventure! Hurry. The San Pablo Reservoir will close during the winter months. They're only open mid-February thru October. Don't look for us under any lemon trees, because we'll be making memories, boating, picnicking and having fun.

We also enjoy that San Pablo Dam Reservoir has a Cafe on premises. Even if only to buy a refreshing ice-cream, sandwich, or cup of coffee on a whim! Cafe is closed on Mondays and closes early before the facility closes, so be sure to make note of the times.

San Pablo Reservoir

7301 San Pablo Dam Rd.

El Sobrante, Ca. 94803

(510) 223-1661

Boat Rentals Managed by Rocky Mountain Recreation

http://www.rockymountainrec.com/lakes/san-pablo-reservoir.htm

CLICK HERE: YELP Reviews, mostly 5 stars. No surprise!