PRESENTED BY  |
Hi {{ first_name | neighbor }},
Thirty-five flutists in the Lafayette Library feels like a very Lamorinda way to start the holiday season. On Sunday, Town Hall Theatre’s fourth- and fifth-graders put on The Grunch, a musical about a kid bent on ruining the school show. And next Wednesday, we’re setting a table in Moraga for neighbors who haven’t met yet. Come have dinner with us.
Prefer to listen? Catch this week’s Lamorinda Life podcast.
Gif by pearljam on Giphy
PRESENTED BY 925 DANCE COLLECTIVE
925 Dance Collective serves the Lamorinda community, providing a welcoming space where dancers build confidence, creativity, friendships, and skills.
Registration is now open for our Winter/Spring session, beginning Monday, January 4. Our Lafayette studio offers classes for ages 2–18 in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, AcroDance, and more. Whether your child is new to dance or ready for our Competition and Performance Team, there is a place for them at 925.
Adults can join the fun too, with Tap, Hip Hop, and Club Cardio. Come discover a studio where every dancer is encouraged, challenged, and celebrated.
LOCAL NEWS
Orinda dad takes on a 100-mile run for children of fallen service members - Gary O’Brien plans to start running laps around Lake Cascade around 1:30pm Friday. Join him for a lap or cheer him on at the lemonade and bake stand near the Orinda Country Club tennis courts around 8am Saturday. Donate to Gary’s fundraiser.
Moraga’s parks plan goes to the Town Council November 18 - The draft covers everything from improvements at Moraga Commons and Rancho Laguna to better trail connections. Email your comments by 3:30pm that day, ahead of the 5:30pm meeting.
Orinda wants your input on bike routes, trails, and walkways - Is there a sidewalk that ends too soon or a bike route you wish connected to downtown? Tell the city what would make it easier to get around.
Lamorinda Pod launched last week - Veteran TV reporters Amy Hollyfield and Kim Hunter are taking on everything from school news to local politics in their weekly show. I’ve already subscribed, and I’m glad to have two more reporters telling our community’s stories.
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
When Sophia and Cecilia started keeping bees in 2017, they were picking up a family tradition. Their dad had kept bees with his own father growing up and wanted to share the hobby with his daughters.
That backyard project became S&C Honey. Today, the sisters tend the hives, harvest the honey, and bottle it themselves. If you’d like a jar, they offer free porch delivery throughout Lamorinda. Order from S&C Honey.
ON THE CALENDAR
Thursday, November 12
7pm | Flock of Flutes Presents A Holiday Journey (Lafayette Library) — Thirty-five flutists and a cello ensemble fill the library with holiday music.
Friday, November 13
6pm | SEED’s 20th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser (Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center) — Celebrate 20 years of SEED Lafayette over dinner, drinks, and an auction benefiting local special education programs.
7pm | LIT & Laughing Improv Jam (Lamorinda Improv Theater) — Bring your own drink and join in on a night of unscripted comedy games for adults.
7pm | Saint Mary’s Men’s Basketball vs UIC (Saint Mary’s College of California) — The Gaels host the University of Illinois Chicago, with 50% off upper-level general admission and reserved seats for a limited time.
Saturday, November 14
2pm | Rally in the Valley Benefit Concert (Siesta Valley Bowl) — Five local bands close out the Bowl’s first season with a benefit for the Orinda amphitheater.
6pm | Adrian West Band (The Fourth Bore Taproom & Grill) — Settle in at the Fourth Bore for acoustic rock originals, covers, and a little jazz.
6pm | Line Dancing in the Barn (Balestrieri Family Farm) — Bring the family and try a few steps on the barn floor.
7pm | Stroll Down Penny Lane (Orinda Theatre) — Hear Paul McCartney’s songs performed live with short films on the Orinda Theatre’s big screen.
Sunday, November 15
2pm | The Grunch (Town Hall Theatre Company) — Town Hall’s fourth- and fifth-graders put on a musical about a grumpy sixth grader plotting to ruin the school show.
4pm | Fiddlers, Friends and a Wee Bit O’ Cheer! (Orinda Community Center) — Come for Scottish fiddle tunes and sing-alongs, then stay for a Highland Happy Hour reception benefiting WomenSing.
4:30pm | Celestial Sound Bath (Recharge Health) — Wind down on Sunday afternoon with gongs, crystal bowls, and hand chimes.
Monday, November 16
4pm | Food Truck Monday: Got Roasted? Gourmet Rotisserie (Canyon Club Brewery) — Grab dinner from the truck and a pint from the taproom.
Tuesday, November 17
5pm | Lamorinda Chess Club (Canyon Club Brewery) — Drop in for a casual game of chess with neighbors of all ages and skill levels.
6pm | Cookie Decorating: Pumpkin Bouquet (Western Flyer Brewing) — Learn to decorate eight cookies to make a pumpkin bouquet, with supplies and a drink ticket included.
Wednesday, November 18
5:30pm | Lamorinda Dinner Club (Moraga) — Pull up a chair at a Moraga restaurant and get to know five neighbors over dinner.
7:30pm | Growing Up Movies: The Show Screening (Orinda Theatre) — A homemade movie from 1989 gets a second life on the big screen in a show about the stories we make up as kids.
Thursday, November 19
6:30pm | Screenagers: Generation AI (Campolindo High School Library) — Bring your middle or high schooler to a documentary about how AI is showing up in teens’ lives.
FEATURED PARTNER: MORGAN LLOYD
Tech has always moved fast. Now AI is setting a new pace, and many workers are being asked to keep up with machines. In my psychotherapy practice, I hear what that pressure costs: uncertainty, fear of layoffs, loss of craft, and the feeling that being good at your job is no longer enough. This article looks at what happens when speed becomes the standard—and what gets lost when people are expected to work like machines. — Morgan Lloyd, LCSW, Psychotherapist in Walnut Creek
THE LAMORINDA LIFE SHOP
For the neighbor who’s lived here forever or the friend who still calls Lamorinda home from across the country, there’s the Three Towns Graphic Tee, the Rolling Hills Hoodie for chilly mornings, or the Upside Down Lamorinda Dad Hat. Find a hometown gift.
HOME OF THE WEEK
4 Julianna Ct, Moraga | $2,445,000
4 bedrooms | 4 full baths | 4,277 sq. ft.
Set on 1.21 acres in Moraga’s Sanders Ranch, this home has vaulted ceilings and walls of windows that frame wooded views. The kitchen opens to the family room, and a newer deck beneath mature oaks has room for dinner outside. Take a look inside.
WEEKEND FORECAST
Thursday stays cloudy, with rain likely Friday through Sunday. Saturday has the lowest chance of rain this weekend, so check the forecast before heading out.
Thursday: Cloudy. High ~69° / Low ~50°. Bring a layer for evening plans.
Friday: Rain likely (95%). High ~59° / Low ~51°. Keep an umbrella handy.
Saturday: Chance of rain (55%). High ~62° / Low ~49°. Check ahead for outdoor events.
Sunday: Rain likely (85%). High ~59° / Low ~51°. A good afternoon for an indoor show.
ONE MORE THING
If someone on your street gets an early start on holiday lights, hit reply and tell me where. I’m adding displays to Light Up Lamorinda so more neighbors can enjoy them.
— Rajiv