Benicia foodies having to settle for brand name cooking oils, condiments and spices for the last month can now rejoice. Heritage Pantry and Spice has reopened at a new location. In case you need a refresher, here it is: Heritage Pantry and Spice was opened last September in the Tannery Building by husband and […]
Lucca launched new outdoor seating area Wednesday
After much wrangling with design and logistical details, Lucca Bar and Grill is happy to announce that it has opened its new, outdoor seating area adjacent to the restaurant at 439 First St. The restaurant has developed a new menu specific to the outdoor area – outdoor customers may order from the outdoor menu and […]
Lucca to open beer garden, live music venue
First Street has no shortage of places to drink beer. However, residents have wanted a place to drink beers and enjoy live music in a garden setting while the sun is still up. Jan Lucca is looking to fill that void. Lucca has owned Lucca Bar & Grill since 2010 and previously operated O’Leary’s […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Rebuilding in Solano County
ALMOST EVERYBODY HAS HEARD OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, the nonprofit that builds homes for low-income families. About a year ago, I learned about a similar organization that is making a difference right here in our own backyard. Since 2009, Rebuilding Together Solano County has organized rehabilitation projects for low-income seniors, veterans and the disabled in […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Numbers game
THE NATION’S HOUSING MARKET CONTINUES TO ROLL ALONG at a healthy pace, according to the July Pending Home Sales Index, which is compiled by the National Association of Realtors. The index measures home sales by contract signing activity compared to the average contract activity in 2001, when the NAR began compiling the report on a […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Yellow light ahead
CHINA RECENTLY MADE THE UNUSUAL MOVE of purposely devaluing its currency to stimulate a sagging economy. The effect was a shockwave of concern among investors around the globe, and over the last several days stock markets around the globe have lost considerable value. U.S. stock markets dropped for five straight days, punctuated by what many […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Gain and pain through remodeling
AMONG THE THINGS IN LIFE WE MOST LOOK FORWARD TO, living through a home remodeling project is right up there with going to the dentist. My wife and I are now living the dream — which is sometimes like a nightmare — of remodeling our home. Like many remodel projects, ours started out small and […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Ballet co. merges with dance school
TWO OF BENICIA’S DANCE SCHOOLS have merged to be come Benicia Academy of Performing Arts, a spokesperson said Monday. Benicia Ballet School and Susie Harper School of Dance began their merger this summer, Renee Albrecht said. Both are long-time operations in Benicia, each with its own followings.
Making $ense of Real Estate: Up market
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS RELEASED more information on June home sales activity last week. Distressed sales activity — homes that sold through the bank-owned process or through a short sale — actually went up a little, from 7.4 percent in May to 7.6 percent in June. Most counties in the state reflected declining numbers […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Panda Express gives lunches to day campers
PANDA EXPRESS OF BENICIA has donated lunch for 145 children aged 7 to 11 who participated in a free, two-week summer day camp in Richmond. In addition, the local restaurant, 804 Southampton Road, provided lunch for the camp’s 25 adult volunteers, said Amy Collins, a Benicia resident familiar with the program. The summer day camp […]