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Hi {{ first_name | neighbor }},
Downtown Lafayette’s shops are pouring complimentary mocktail samples Saturday, and costumes are welcome. I’d also make room for Moraga Library’s fall book sale, with bargains starting at 25 cents, or Saturday night’s screening of The Little Shop of Horrors with a live orchestra at Orinda Theatre. For the week’s highlights in audio form, tune into This Week in Lamorinda.
Also new this week: the Lamorinda Life Shop is open, with locally inspired tees, hoodies, and embroidered hats celebrating our three towns.
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LOCAL NEWS
Moraga closes shopping-center entrance over sinking roadway - Officials blocked vehicle access after discovering sagging pavement above a storm drain; repairs were scheduled to begin yesterday
Diablo Magazine spotlights Lamorinda’s wine country - Meet the neighbors behind our backyard vineyards and learn where to taste their wines, including Lafayette’s Local Vines tasting room
Saint Mary’s poet named National Book Award finalist - Professor Emerita Brenda Hillman’s Still House in the Desert is among five poetry finalists; she’ll return to campus for a free conversation with Robert Hass on December 9
LOCAL COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
I love that we have a museum of art right here in Lamorinda. On campus, current exhibitions include Malcolm Kenter’s architectural paintings inspired by San Francisco. Two student-curated shows explore women artists and the female gaze in Fix Your Face, and printmaker Art Hazelwood’s reflections on war in Choreographies of Calamity.
Admission is free, and you can explore on your own or join a guided tour. The museum offers walk-in public tours on select Thursdays at 11am and Saturdays at 2pm, with curators leading Thursday visits and students leading Saturdays; check the schedule before heading over.
Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm
Address: 1928 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga
ON THE CALENDAR
Thursday, October 22
4:30pm | Trunk & Treat (Orinda Library) — Bring the family for decorated displays, games, candy, and nearby food trucks.
7pm | Macbeth (Acalanes High School) — The Acalanes DramaDons present Shakespeare’s dark tale of ambition and power, with performances continuing through Saturday.
7pm | Sweet Thursday with Vanessa Hua (Lafayette Library) — Hear Hua discuss Coyoteland, a novel about family and suburban Bay Area life, with coffee and sweets before the program.
Friday, October 23
6:30pm | Wayhighs Season Finale (The Fourth Bore Taproom & Grill) — Catch the band’s final Fourth Bore show of the 2026 season.
Saturday, October 24
9am | Friends Fall Book Sale (Moraga Library) — Browse books, CDs, and DVDs priced from 25 cents to $3, with $5 fill-a-bag deals starting at noon.
11am | Witch Way to Mocktails (Downtown Lafayette) — Put on a witch hat or costume and sample complimentary signature mocktails at participating businesses.
12pm | Halloween Concert and Carnival (Campolindo High School) — Make a day of spooky student concerts, carnival games, face painting, and trunk-or-treating.
12pm | Pumpkin Patch at the Farm (Balestrieri Family Farm) — Head out of Lamorinda for a seasonal pumpkin-patch outing.
12pm | Finding Nemo Kids (Town Hall Theatre) — Ohana Theatrical Productions brings the underwater adventure to the stage in a family-friendly youth production.
7pm | The Little Shop of Horrors with Live Orchestra (Orinda Theatre) — Watch the cult classic about a flower-shop assistant and an unusual plant, accompanied by a live orchestra.
Sunday, October 25
9am | Ask a Witch! (Orchard Nursery) — Bring a question for a five-minute reading with visiting energy therapist Jennifer Pister.
12:30pm | From Farm to Tasting: Artisan Chocolate (Atma Yoga) — Follow cacao’s journey from farm to chocolate bar and taste five single-origin selections.
2pm | Halloween Neighborhood Day (Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center) — Meet the horses, learn about equine-assisted therapy, and enjoy festive activities, demonstrations, and food trucks.
Tuesday, October 27
1pm | Classic Movie Matinee: Frankenstein (Orinda Theatre) — Film critic and historian Matias Bombal presents the 1931 monster classic alongside period newsreels and short subjects.
Wednesday, October 28
4pm | Gael Trick-or-Treat (Saint Mary’s College) — Follow a short campus candy trail with the family and enjoy hot apple cider and seasonal activities.
8pm | The Moors (LeFevre Theatre, Saint Mary’s College) — Catch opening night of Saint Mary’s theatre production, with performances continuing through Sunday, November 1.
Still making plans? Explore the full events calendar.
THE LAMORINDA LIFE SHOP IS OPEN
I’ve opened the Lamorinda Life Shop, with tees, hoodies, and embroidered hats celebrating Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda, together and on their own.
Made for coffee runs, trail walks, and sideline Saturdays, they’re a little way to wear your local pride. If you pick something up, tag @thelamorindalife. I’d love to see it around town.
HOME OF THE WEEK
$2,750,000 · 4 bedrooms · 3 bathrooms · 3,528 square feet
Set on a 0.45-acre lot in Tiffany Hills, this Lafayette home pairs a private swimming pool with hill and mountain views. A chef’s kitchen and spacious family room round out the property, listed by Dana Green with Compass.
WEEKEND FORECAST
Thursday looks wet across Lamorinda, followed by a sunnier stretch for the weekend’s outdoor plans. Check the full forecast.
Thursday: Rain likely, with an 80% chance. High ~63° / Low ~54°. Bring rain gear for Trunk & Treat.
Friday: Sunny. High ~71° / Low ~51°. Take a layer for evening plans.
Saturday: Sunny. High ~72° / Low ~47°. Comfortable for the carnival and downtown costume stroll.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High ~73° / Low ~47°. A pleasant afternoon for visiting the horses.
ONE MORE LAMORINDA THING
Whether your weekend involves a costume, a stack of used books, or a seat at the theatre, I hope you find something nearby to enjoy. Leave a little room for the chocolate.
— Rajiv