PRESENTED BY
Hi {{ first_name | neighbor }},
Saint Mary’s Oasis Music Festival brings four acts to the lawn Friday night, giving the long weekend an early soundtrack. The San Francisco Comedy Competition gives 16 comics just six minutes each to win over the Orinda Theatre crowd, while Saturday pairs Yoga Sculpt with Loard’s Ice Cream. Thursday food trucks and outdoor entertainment in Orinda make for an easy start. Keep reading and I’ll get you caught up on all of it, plus local news and the rest of the long-weekend calendar.
PRESENTED BY VILLAGE HYPNOTHERAPY
While every athlete trains their body, the ones who consistently perform well train their minds. Jason Akel, founder of Orinda-based Village Hypnotherapy, is a Sports Performance Coach & Hypnotist and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He helps athletes quiet performance anxiety and regulate their nervous systems so they can compete with calm, courage, and confidence.
Happy clients: NBA and NFL players, pro pitchers & hitters, top tennis players and golfers, Olympic hopefuls, D1-D3 college, middle & high school players, and recreational players of all ages.
Jason helps athletes internalize the mental skills and beliefs that drive strong performance: bouncing back quickly from mistakes, excelling under pressure, leadership, and overcoming injury.
If you, your spouse, or your student struggles or wants an edge, or you're a coach looking for fresh impact, text 925-255-5157 or visit villagehypnotherapy.com/sports to arrange a consultation.
Beyond sports, Jason can resolve most cases of severe anxiety, trauma, and fears.
THE LAMORINDA LIFE PODCAST
Catch up on the week’s events, local news and community highlights in a few minutes. Listen to the latest episode, or search for Lamorinda Life in your favorite podcast app.
LOCAL NEWS
Wayside Social begins its soft opening in Moraga - The menu includes $11 burgers and chicken burgers, $9 hot dogs, kids’ options, fries and sweet potato tots
Golden Palace is back after a major renovation - The Moraga restaurant has a new look, and its reopening offer of 10% off runs through today
$40K available for wildfire mitigation grants - Fire Safe Moraga-Orinda is helping residents offset the cost of hazardous vegetation removal, with funding to be awarded by November
Lilikoi Boba becomes Lafayette Milk Tea Co. - The downtown shop is still serving bubble tea while adding Hawaiian shave ice and an expanded menu
Local musicians invited to join Lamorinda Community Band - Fall registration is open for students and adult amateurs across four ensembles
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
For more than 55 years, Holden High School in Orinda has offered a different kind of high school experience. With small classes and a close-knit community, Holden supports bright, capable students who may struggle in traditional school settings, including those navigating anxiety, ADHD, learning differences, or other social and emotional challenges. Students get the time, flexibility, and individual attention to build confidence and find a path that works for them.
LAMORINDA DINNER CLUB
The next Lamorinda Dinner Club is Thursday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. in Lafayette. It’s a chance to share a meal with five neighbors you might not otherwise meet and see where the conversation goes. Reservations are $19.99, with dinner and drinks purchased separately.
ON THE CALENDAR
Thursday, September 3
6pm | Thursday Nights in Orinda (Orinda Community Center) — Enjoy food trucks and rotating live entertainment at this weekly summer gathering.
6:30pm | Collective Medicine Circle (Orindawoods, Woodhall) — Settle in for a guided evening of meditation, sound and shared reflection.
Friday, September 4
All day | Labor Day Weekend at the Farm (Balestrieri Family Farm) — Celebrate the long weekend at the farm through Monday, September 7.
5pm | Saint Mary's Men’s Soccer vs Marist (Saint Mary's Stadium) — Cheer on the Gaels in a collegiate men’s soccer matchup.
5:30pm | Makers Market (Orinda Theatre) — Shop from local makers while enjoying food and drinks from Theatre Square restaurants and bars.
7pm | Oasis Music Festival (Saint Mary's College of California) — Catch four musical acts and dance on the lawn.
8:30pm | Dracula (Orinda Community Center) — See Bram Stoker’s classic reimagined with projections, recordings and live performance in the style of a black-and-white film.
Saturday, September 5
10am | Yoga Sculpt and Ice Cream Social (Moraga Commons Park) — Join an all-levels sculpt class followed by a Loard’s Ice Cream social.
2pm | San Francisco Comedy Competition (Orinda Theatre) — Sixteen contestants deliver their best six-minute sets in the competition’s 50th year.
3pm | Lamorinda Chess Club (Europa Hofbrau) — Drop in for casual, all-ages games welcoming players of every skill level.
Monday, September 7
1pm | Saint Mary's Men’s Soccer vs Air Force (Saint Mary's Stadium) — Support the Gaels as they take on Air Force in men’s soccer.
Wednesday, September 9
3pm | Second Wednesday Book Club: September (Orinda Books) — Discuss Fredrik Backman’s My Friends with fellow readers.
5pm | Second Line Pleasure Club Presents: The Boil (Canyon Club Brewery) — Enjoy a New Orleans-inspired crawfish feast with live Zydeco music.
Find more ways to spend the long weekend in the full events calendar.
The cookware the world's best chefs actually cook on, and millions of home cooks swear by, is at its lowest prices of the year. Made In's End of Season Sale is live now, up to 40% off professional-grade cookware, knives, and full sets.
HOME OF THE WEEK
The move-in-ready home at 12 Diablo Vista Way is listed at $2,249,000, with buyers invited to ask about a $50,000 seller credit and lender incentives. Set on an oversized lot in gated Lafayette Oaks, the brand-new five-bedroom home pairs sweeping hillside views and a mature oak with an open indoor-outdoor layout, a main-level bedroom suite, a Bosch-equipped kitchen, solar and a Tesla Powerwall.
THE FORECAST
Thursday may bring a few showers, but the forecast shows a sunny weekend before temperatures climb Monday.
Thu: Showers possible, with a 65% chance. High ~69° / Low ~56°. Keep an umbrella nearby for evening plans.
Fri: Sunny. High ~71° / Low ~55°. Comfortable conditions for outdoor music and theater.
Sat: Sunny. High ~73° / Low ~53°. A pleasant day for activities around town.
Sun: Sunny. High ~70° / Low ~54°. Bring a light layer if you’re staying out into the evening.
Mon: Sunny. High ~81° / Low ~53°. Expect a much warmer afternoon after a cool start.
Tue: Partly cloudy. High ~82° / Low ~55°. Plan for the week’s warmest afternoon.
Wed: Cloudy. High ~76° / Low ~58°. Mild conditions should make evening plans comfortable.
ONE MORE LAMORINDA THING
If you had one completely free afternoon in Lamorinda this weekend, where would you spend it? Hit reply and tell me your ideal local itinerary.
— Rajiv
Know someone who’d enjoy Lamorinda Life? Send it their way.