KIMONO, 1652 East Second St., opened Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included such dignitaries as Mayor Elizabeth Patterson. General Manager Omer Sidike and executive chef Hiroshi Sekita, who have a combined 35 years’ experience in the restaurant industry, will operate the restaurant owned by John Meric, Napa, along with his brother, Raffi, and father, […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Credit invisibles
I LEARNED A NEW TERM LAST WEEK: CREDIT INVISIBLES. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report that found nearly 1 in 10 adults — nearly 26 million consumers in the United States — are credit invisibles. What is a credit invisible, you ask? Credit invisibles are consumers who do not have a credit […]
Prominent restaurant building has new tenant, will reopen this week
Kimono, a new Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, has moved into the building formerly occupied by Pappas Restaurant, the eatery that failed about a year after being featured in the third season of the television show “Restaurant Impossible.” The new restaurant opens Friday, the culmination of an extensive renovation, owner John Meric said.
Benicia Biz Beat: ‘Spring Tea’ at Camellia
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF BENICIA WILL HAVE ITS ANNUAL SPRING TEA, with seatings Saturday and Sunday at Camellia Tea Room. The event coincides with Benicia Main Street’s “Benicia in Bloom.” “Camellia Tea Room will offer a traditional tea,” said Nancy Martinez, Main Street’s executive director. In addition, those attending will get to participate in drawings for […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Vote
IN THIS COLUMN A FEW WEEKS AGO, I wrote about a proposed regulation that would force homeowners to upgrade their fireplaces upon the sale of their homes. This column generated more reader feedback than most. I typically stay as far away as possible from political discussions, but one reader’s comment has stuck with me and […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Lingering issues
IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A DECADE SINCE the beginning of the foreclosure crisis. Ten years ago the real estate market was still hot and home values were still rising; but the first cracks in what would become the biggest housing crisis in history were beginning to show, and mortgage loan delinquencies were beginning to rise. […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Fairyella Ice Pops in Whole Foods, other locations
FAIRYELLA ICE POPS, created by Benician Kimberli Haris and named for a character in her mother’s poems, are now being sold in many Whole Foods Markets, including San Francisco Franklin, the flagship store, as well as those in Fremont, Napa, Sonoma, Oakland and Campbell. Haris also will participate in a vendor event May 30 in […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Making $ense in Solano
IS SOLANO COUNTY POISED for explosive growth in home values? According to Realtor.com, the county is presently the seventh hottest market in the nation. “We are now firmly in the time of the year when peak demand and peak inventory levels typically occur, through spring and early summer,” wrote Jonathan Smoke, Realtor.com chief economist. “Buyers […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Benicia magician inducted into ‘Wall of Fame’
RICK ALLEN, WHO HAS BEEN ENTERTAINING AUDIENCES with his rabbits and feats of magic for years, has been inducted into the “Wall of Fame” of the Society of American Magicians. Allen received the honor at a meeting of the society’s Chapter 112. Chapter President Larry Wright, of Concord, gave Allen his award. Allen has twice […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Change is in the air
THE BAY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT — the folks who bring you “Spare the Air” days — has proposed new changes to regulations governing the use of wood-burning fireplaces and other wood-burning devices, such as wood stoves. The new regulations will cost homeowners thousands of dollars when they sell their homes, so it is […]