Wishing you the best for 2019! Have a safe and enjoyable weekend, and ring in the New Year properly on Monday!
Tag: New Year’s Eve
Event Round-Up: Dec. 15th
I’m going to keep it super local for the December events this holiday season. After all, isn’t that what the holidays are for? Spending time at home with family and reveling in each other’s company? Well, that and lots and lots of food and cocktails. I’ve got you covered on all fronts here!
Holiday Gala & Fundraiser: Boundary Oak Golf Course – Dec. 20th (Walnut Creek)
Take in a great night for an even greater cause at a premiere venue in Walnut Creek! For $50, entry gets each person a surf and tur dinner, a wine and beer sampling, access to live music, and entry into a live auction and gift boutique. If you bring a new book for ages 0-11, you receive a free raffle ticket! Proceeds go to the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. Register here!
80’s Prom New Year’s Eve Bash: Retro Junkie – Dec. 31st (Walnut Creek)
Now this is what I’m talkin’ about! On New Year’s Eve, you can enjoy live 80’s music all night. There will be a themed photo booth, a midnight countdown and balloon drop, a complimentary champagne toast, and a huge game room with pinball, arcade games, pool, and more! Pizza by the slice and a full bar top things off – but, hurry! Tickets must be bought in advance!
Widmer-World Holiday Fun: Widmer-World – Dec. 1st-31st (Pleasanton)
Everybody loves a good Christmas lights show! If you want a more family-friendly night in the month of December, pop on down to Pleasanton and take in the Widmer-World holiday extravaganza. Their light show is timed to music and the entire place will be covered in holiday cheer! It’s completely free!
Free Admission Day: Bedford Gallery – Jan. 1st (Walnut Creek)
What better way to knock off the New Year’s rust than taking in one of Walnut Creek’s greatest artistic gems for FREE? It’s in the Bedford Gallery on New Year’s Day, which always has really cool, unique installations. I’d highly recommend going if you haven’t already! Take it in from 12-5 p.m. on the 1st.
Altered States Opening Night: Bedford Gallery – Jan. 13th (Walnut Creek)
That’s right! Back-to-back Bedford Gallery exhibitions here. It’s always fun to go to the opening night of a new exhibit, and this one will only run non-members $5. The guest curation from Heather Marx features “artists across generations living and working along the California coast who harness natural elements or the environment to create their artwork.” This sounds pretty neat!
Happy New Year’s!
Wishing you a Happy & Prosperous New Year!
Remembering 2015, Looking Ahead to 2016
According to History.com, the tradition of celebrating the new year dates back nearly 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. Though they weren’t on our modern Gregorian calendar at the time (so, New Year’s was actually in March back then!), they still rang in the new year with feasts and celebrations, much like we do today.
Back then, Babylonians would make promises in order to earn the favor of the gods and start the year off on the right foot (can’t confirm whether they broke their promises in the first month like we do today…), thus beginning the practice of making resolutions.
Obviously the norm today is to eat, drink and celebrate wildly at midnight, and then watch fireworks over the night sky. The explosions signify the closing of the past year and the ushering in of the next. So, as we remember the 
craziness of 2015 and look forward to a fresh start in 2016, which questions do you ask yourself? What resolutions will you make? What does this time represent for you?
For me 2016 will be continued self improvement and finding balance between work and home and what truly feeds me and makes me happy. This past year I found Yoga – it has helped loosen those tight hip flexers and release the stress in my shoulders. I even went on a one week Yoga Retreat to Costa Rica. The comments I received at how well rested and relaxed I look made me think more than just in passing about balance. I also hedged my bet on El Nino and bought a ski pass to Squaw/Alpine, totally the right decision and am looking forward to some awesome days on the slopes in 2016.
Other notables was Jackson off to UNR … empty nester, not so bad. A nice trip to NY to celebrate Ryan’s birthday and hanging out with my friends and dog Bodie … all good stuff.
2015 flew by me, as I am sure will happen to 2016, just another reason to savor the moments. On that note, I wish you a happy, prosperous and balanced New Year!
~k