A Cozy Guide to East Bay Winter Gems
From twinkling lights to gorgeous winter landscapes, the East Bay is full of surprises. This guide highlights the best places to visit, the tastiest treats to enjoy, and the most festive events to check out. Get ready to explore, celebrate, and embrace the winter magic around you
📅 This Week at a Glance
🎶 Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra: "A Winter’s Eve"
🧶 Mark Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets
🎻 Home for the Holidays: Winter Lights
☕ 2025 Oakland Coffee Holiday
🎄 Fourth Street Holiday Craft Fair & Fest
😂 HellaSecret Speakeasy Comedy Night
🍬 Candy Cane Lane
Scroll for full details 👇
Spotlight:
🌟 Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along
📍 Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
🗓️ Sunday, Dec 15th | 4:00 PM
💵 $20
This one’s for classical music lovers and anyone who wants a powerful holiday moment. Bring your voice (or just listen) as hundreds join in on the Hallelujah Chorus. Live orchestra + community energy = goosebumps.
🎨 MORE EVENTS TO EXPLORE
🍻 Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra: "A Winter’s Eve"
📍 St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Orinda
⏰ December 14 | 4:00 PM
🎟️ $20
Craft brews, live music, and winter-inspired small bites. Great last-minute gift idea: local brewery gift packs.
🎭 Mark Foehringer's Nutcracker Sweets
📍 Marina Blvd and Buchanan St., San Francisco
⏰ December 13 - 14 | 11:00 am to 1:30 pm
🎟️ $23.50 to $65.50
A unique, 50-minute version of the classic holiday ballet, perfect for families and young children. Features professional dancers and a live chamber orchestra.
🎄Home for the Holidays: Winter Lights
📍 1801 Lacassie Avenue, Walnut Creek
⏰ December 13th | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
🎟️ Adults $45
A heartwarming concert by the Diablo Symphony and the Blackhawk Chorus featuring beautiful, light-filled orchestral pieces, including Vivaldi’s “Winter” and holiday favorites
☕ 2025 Oakland Coffee Holiday Market
📍 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
⏰ December 14th | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
🎟️ Start $5
A must-visit event for coffee lovers inside the historic Rotunda Building. Sample and shop for holiday gifts from over 12 of Oakland's best local roasters.
🎄 Fourth Street Holiday Craft Fair & Fest
📍 fourth Street at Delaware Street, Berkeley
⏰ December 13 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
🎟️ Free
The decorated shopping district transforms into a festive hub featuring free, hands-on craft projects, holiday music, and appearances by Santa and The Grinch.
😂 HellaSecret Speakeasy Comedy Night
📍 Secret Speakeasy Bar in Oakland
⏰ December 13 | 7:00 pm
🎟️ Start around $28
Cute overload! Bring your fur babies (dogs, cats, bunnies welcome) for festive Santa photos. Bonus: proceeds support local animal programs.
🍬 Candy Cane Lane
📍 5801 Racine St., Oakland
⏰ December 13th | 1:30 - 4:30 pm
🎟️ Free
A free, family-friendly holiday event at Memorial Tabernacle Church featuring ornament making, games, live music, and a hot chocolate/cider bar. Guests are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation.
🍽️ Local Flavor (Indigenous American Food)
📍3301 E 12th St #133, Oakland, CA |⏰ Wed - Sun, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | 🎟️ Estimated Lowest Price $3.00
Authentic Indigenous American food, celebrating ancestral knowledge and seasonal ingredients sourced from Native cultivators. The menu changes frequently to reflect what is available, ensuring a fresh and diverse dining experience. They offer many gluten-free options.
The restaurant goes beyond just serving food; it serves as a "portal" to educate the community on the health benefits and philosophy behind Native food traditions, honoring the ingredients' roots.
🌟 Agent of the Month
Get to Know Krystle Karimian – Broker · REALTOR · Real Estate Visionary
Professional Real Estate Broker + Generational Property Management = A Legacy of Trust & Results. After growing up immersed in her family’s real estate business, Krystle brings over two decades of experience to every transaction. Since obtaining her degree in Business at CSU Monterey Bay and earning her California real estate license, she stepped into the role of Broker and CEO of Krystle Properties — expanding the family’s legacy while evolving services to meet today’s buyers’, sellers’, landlords’, and investors’ needs.
Krystle believes real estate is more than bricks and mortar — it’s about people, possibilities, and long-term vision. Whether guiding first-time homebuyers, helping seasoned investors scale their portfolios, or managing rental properties with care and professionalism, she approaches each opportunity with warmth, integrity, and deep local insight.
With clients spanning from cozy single-family homes to multifamily investments, Krystle brings a unique vantage point: decades of hands-on property management, sales expertise, and a personal commitment to ensuring each client feels seen, informed, and supported. Her track record speaks for itself, with dozens of successful sales and satisfied clients across Vallejo, Benicia, American Canyon, Napa, Fairfield, and the surrounding communities.
If you’re looking to buy, sell, rent, or invest, Krystle is ready to listen to your goals, advise with clarity, and work tirelessly to get you the outcome you deserve. Reach out, let’s talk through your vision — and let Krystle help you turn that vision into reality.
❤️ Give Back This Week
All-new ways to support your community
Adopt-a-Family for the Holidays – Brighter Beginnings
Sign up to adopt a local family and purchase gifts and/or gift cards to provide necessities and toys. Drop-off locations available in Oakland, Richmond, and Antioch.Volunteer to Sort Food – Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
Dedicate a few hours to sorting and boxing donated food at the Concord Warehouse. Shifts are available throughout the week, including evening Family Food SortsNew Coat & Toy Drive -Lend A Hand Foundation
Drop off new, unwrapped toys, coats, or pajamas at donation bins in Piedmont City Hall or the Recreation Department. Items benefit children and families in Oakland and Alameda County.
🏠 Just Listed: East Bay Homes You’ll Love
216 Phelan Avenue, Vallejo, CA 94590
3 BEDS | 2 BATHS | 1,223 SQFT
Welcome to 216 Phelan Ave, a beautifully updated single-story bungalow. Featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and a smart, open layout. View photos & details
1120 Holmes Way, Hayward, CA 94541
3 BEDS | 2.5 BATHS | 1,921 SQFT
Welcome to this beautifully updated 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom townhome offering approximately 1,921 square feet of living space. View photos & details
335 Hermosa Avenue, Vallejo, CA 94589
3 BED | 1.5 BATH | 1,110 SQFT
Welcome to this beautifully maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home, thoughtfully updated over the past Six years for modern comfort and convenience. View photos & details
💚 Twin Oaks Corner
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🌟 Catch You Next Week...
Hope this edition brings you fresh ideas, new places to explore, and a few warm pockets of joy this week. From lighted boats to candlelit music, the East Bay has a way of making December feel magical.
Stay local & stay inspired,
Ryan DeAmaral
Co-Writer, Twin Oaks Insider