School’s in, weekend’s on 🎒

With the kids officially back in school this week, it’s time to take a deep breath and enjoy a well-deserved weekend reset. Whether you are looking to unwind with a breezy morning coffee walk, do some evening shopping under the lights, or grab drinks at a fantastic local spot we fell in love with last week, we've got you covered.🥨

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Spend a relaxing summer Sunday under the shade trees at historic Susana Park for Martinez’s premier fine art and craft festival. Browse unique works from dozens of Bay Area artists, including ceramics, glasswork, photography, handcrafted jewelry, and woodworking. The festival features live music performances throughout the day, local food trucks, craft beer, and wine gardens, plus a dedicated children's art zone.

💡Insider tip: Street parking around Susana Park fills up quickly. Park at the Downtown Martinez Plaza garage on Ignacio Street (just a 5-minute walk away) and bring a light blanket if you want to eat lunch under the park oaks while listening to the live music!

Ease into the weekend with live smooth jazz performed in the courtyard gazebo. Featuring a talented trio bringing smooth tunes, classic standards, and relaxed acoustic vibes, it is one of the East Bay’s best-kept secrets for a Friday night wind-down. Sip on craft cocktails, enjoy local wine, and soak up the lingering "second summer" weather on Benicia’s historic First Street waterfront.

💡 Insider Tip: Tables right around the gazebo fill up fast. Pre-reserve a courtyard table for dinner and drinks to guarantee a front-row view of the trio.

Kick off the weekend at Todos Santos Plaza with a vibrant outdoor night market featuring a rotating lineup of Bay Area food trucks, local craft vendors, and live music on the central stage. It is a fantastic spot to grab dinner, sample local treats, and shop small artisan booths under the evening lights.

💡Insider Tip: Parking in the Salvio Street garage is free for the first two hours. Grab a spot on the grassy square near the historic stage early—around 5:30 PM—before the lines at popular trucks like Senor Sisig get long.

Celebrate the wind-down of summer with a creative back-to-school pop-up along the plaza. Enjoy interactive story times, children's plant-potting workshops, craft stations, and photo opportunities amidst summer botanical displays.

Activities Include:
🌸 Flower-Pressed Bookmark Craft
📚 Kids' Activities
📸 360° Photo Booth
🎸 Live Performances by School of Rock
🐾 Pet Adoptions
🎈 And More!

💡Insider Tip: The "Make Your Own Flower-Pressed Bookmark" station is a crowd favorite! Make sure to head straight there when you arrive to secure your spot before supplies run out.

Celebrate the peak of summer fruit with a fun, family-friendly event at Walnut Creek's Shadelands Business Park! This annual festival features a watermelon-eating contest, kids' crafts, cooking classes, watermelon bowling, and sweet, farm-fresh seedless and seeded watermelons brought in directly from Brentwood family farms.

💡Insider Tip: Park along North Wiget Lane or Mitchell Drive for easy access, and grab a spot at the covered picnic tables to enjoy hot food stall bites alongside your fresh melon slices.

Enjoy a breezy coastal morning strolling flat, paved pathways along the San Francisco Bay. Start at the marina, grab a coffee, and follow the scenic loop around César Chávez Park for panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the SF skyline. With fresh sea air, open green lawns, and kite-flyers overhead, it is one of the most relaxing waterfront walks in the East Bay.

💡Insider Tip: Park for free at the Marina South Lot or along Spinnaker Way. Grab a signature cardamom latte or cold brew from Roaming Bean Coffee (the mobile espresso cart sitting right on the walkway) before starting your loop. The bay breeze can pick up fast, so bring a light windbreaker even on sunny mornings!

Every weekend, Golden Gate Park’s official "Skatin' Place" transforms into an open-air roller disco along the car-free JFK Promenade. Led by local legend David Miles Jr. ("The Godfather of Skate"), skaters of all ages and skill levels roll, groove, and dance to a booming soundtrack of classic funk, disco, and house music.

💡 Insider Tip: There are no skate rentals directly on site at the park, so bring your own quad skates or rollerblades.

We had an event here last week and absolutely loved it! Located right above the main taproom, Calicraft’s upstairs space offers a cozy, elevated vibe pairing 20 craft taps (house-brewed IPAs, sours, and crisp lagers) with a scratch cocktail menu and creative small plates—think gourmet kettle chip nachos, roasted shishitos, and savory sourdough waffles.

💡 Insider Tip: Head straight upstairs to grab a craft cocktail (the zero-waste Pink Caddy was one of our favorites), then order a few small plates from Chef Jeffrey Amber's menu to share on the patio while watching the sun set over the Shadelands.

📸✨Here are a few photos from our visit:

2268 Coffeeberry Rd. West Sacramento, CA 95691
3 BEDS | 2.5 BATHS | 1,312 SQFT
Move-in ready in the heart of Southport! Welcome to 2268 Coffeeberry Road, a beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home in West Sacramento's desirable Lindenwood community. Offering 1,312 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space, the home features a bright, open great-room layout perfect for everyday living and entertaining. The kitchen is finished with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, ample cabinetry, and an easy connection to the main living area. Upstairs, you'll find three comfortable bedrooms, including a spacious primary suite with private bath. Outside, the private, low-maintenance backyard offers plenty of space to relax, entertain, or enjoy a weekend BBQ without all the upkeep. The location is hard to beat Nugget Market, Target, Southport Town Center, parks, schools, dining, and everyday shopping are all just moments away, with convenient access to major commuter routes and Downtown Sacramento. Well cared for, move-in ready, and exceptionally located, 2268 Coffeeberry Road delivers the space, convenience, and easy lifestyle buyers are looking for.

207 Los Altos Pl, American Canyon, CA 94503
5 BEDS | 2 BATHS | 1,510 SQFT
Endless possibilities await with this charming home situated on an oversized lot! Whether you're looking to expand, create the backyard of your dreams, add an ADU, or simply enjoy the extra outdoor space, this property offers incredible potential. The home has been thoughtfully updated with fresh interior paint, new vinyl flooring in the living room, hallway, and back 2 bedrooms, new carpet in the back rooms, updated door knobs, light fixtures, and new baseboards in the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom. The remodeled main bathroom was completed approximately 1.5 years ago. Additional improvements include a newer roof (2022) and solar installed in 2023. The property is also equipped with utility upgrades, including 220V wiring in the kitchen, 220V and gas hookups in the laundry room, and plumbing stub-outs for water and drain lines, along with a gas line stub-out providing added flexibility for future improvements. Don't miss this opportunity to own a home with room to grow and endless possibilities!

130 W C St. Benicia, CA 94510
3 BEDS | 3 BATHS | 1,945 SQFT
Waterfront Luxury in the Heart of Downtown Benicia. Wake up to the Carquinez Strait and the iconic bridge, every single day, from a residence built in 2009 that makes the case for itself the moment you walk through the door. A striking red onyx entryway sets the tone, an architectural signature you won't find twice. Throughout, transom windows crowned with banker's glass rise above solid wood doors, oversized baseboards and crown moulding lend a level of custom detail rarely seen, and ceilings soaring 9 to 12 feet give every room a sense of scale that feels unmistakably grand. The kitchen is built for people who actually cook, and for people who love to entertain the ones who do. Honed marble countertops, a Wolf double oven and cooktop, and a Bosch hood and refrigerator anchor a space where form and function meet, the soft matte finish of the marble adding quiet sophistication rather than shine. A generous island doubles as bar seating, the dining area flows naturally alongside it, and every sightline points back to the water. This is downtown Benicia living at its most elevated: a three-car garage and private elevator mean effortless, single-level ease no matter which floor you're on, while coffee, celebrated dining, and the events that make Benicia one of the Bay Area's most beloved small towns are just around the corner. HOA dues of $367/month keep the lifestyle as effortless as the address. Waterfront. Walkable. Unmistakably rare. This is the one you stop searching for.

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That’s a wrap for this week! Hope you get to kick back, catch your breath, and enjoy a slow, relaxing weekend.

Ryan DeAmaral

Co-Writer, Twin Oaks Insider

[email protected]