18th Kaiser Permanente San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival

TAKE BART TO THE BOATs !

Festival Highlights

Come for a weekend of world-class dragon boat racing, spectacular cultural performances, and fun-filled activities for the whole family at the largest competitivedragon boat festival in the United States. This year,  enjoy over 130 dragon boat teams and 3,500 dragon boat paddlers racing our 500 and 300 meter course. Dragon boat teams range from novice to competitive skill level. Novice teams represent local Bay Area corporations, public agencies, and non-profit community. Recreational and competitive teams practice year-round and hail from all over the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. This year's championship race is going to be one of the fiercest battles for victory to date! In addition to the exciting dragon boat racing, the Festival features many fun cultural activities: an entertainment stage with live dance and music performances, the Dragon Land children's activity pavilion, and a variety of food, arts & crafts, and other vendors. Kaiser Permanente Health and Fitness Pavilion The Kaiser Permanente Fitness Pavilion is the place to be at the 2013 Dragon Boat Festival! There is no shortage of activities – take a seat in a real dragon boat on land, lather yourself in sunscreen at the sunscreen bar, clean your sunglasses, or get an airbrush dragon tattoo. All new this year...bicycle spin art!  Come try it out! Entertainment Don't miss the rhythmic & powerful Taiko drumming, nimble lion dancing, acrobatic martial arts, talented dance groups, and cultural music. This year we have award-winning magic, yo-yo stunts, and children's sing-along & dancing! Dragon Land A 3,000+ square foot pavilion filled with activities (ALL FREE!) for children of all ages, including arts and crafts, fun games with prizes, animal balloons, face painting, temporary tattoos, airbrush tattoos, yo yo instruction provided by YoYo Joe, and much more! Read more about all the family-friendly activities, here. International Food Vendors Our food area will feature a wide variety of delicious food vendors offering Thai, Hawaiian, Vietnamese, and seafood. Local, yet nationally-recognized food trucks/carts include: Curry Up Now and Kara's Cupcakes. Kids and grown-ups alike can grab a pizza, Jamba Juice, or sno cone for a quick treat! Merchandise You'll find something for everyone in our merchandise area, which includes everything from unique handmade craft items to Chinese cultural gifts to athletic wear and paddling gear. Opening Ceremony On Saturday at noon, we kick off the festivities with the traditional blessing of the festival by Buddhist monks from Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale. >PLAY VIDEO FREE Shuttles by Bauer's to Festival 1st-Class Shuttles will run from 4th and Mission (outside the SF Marriott Marquis and near the Powell Street BART / MUNI Station) and from San Francisco Chinatown (Kearny Street near Sacramento Street). Shuttles will run about every 15-20 minutes between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. Look for the Dragon Boat Festival Shuttle Signs and enjoy the ride! Where to Stay? Embassy Suites Walnut Creek is across the street from the Pleasant Hill BART station.  All guests enjoy: Free cooked to order breakfast Complimentary Evening Reception Two Room Suite Take BART to the BOATs and enjoy your choice of packages that include: Free Parking Gift Cards Free High Speed Internet Click Here and choose the package perfect for your  Dragon Boat Racing Weekend

Many Staying Local for Labor Day in Walnut Creek

Staying Local for Labor Day or Hitting the Road?

A lagging economy and slightly higher travel costs will most likely keep people closer to home this holiday weekend. Here are a few tips for local fun, and tell us your ideas!

Posted by David Mills (Editor Walnut Creek Patch) 

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Are you jetting off or packing up the car for a road trip during the long weekend? Are you taking this opportunity to relax at the neighborhood pool or at home?

If you are staying closer to home, you are not alone. More Californians are expected to stay local this Labor Day weekend, than in recent years. The California State Automobile Association says increased gas prices, and a lagging economy will contribute to the decline in travel.

Here are some facts about Labor Day travel from the association:The association predicts just 3.7 million Californians will travel more than 50 miles this holiday weekend — a 2.6 percent decrease from last year.

• 3 million people in California will travel by car, an increase of 0.9 percent from last year.
• 453,000 people will fly, a drop of 1.5 percent from a year ago.
• 230,000 will travel by train, boat or other means of transportation. That's a decline of 33 percent.

Overall, air fares are up 13 percent from a year ago and hotel rates are up 6 percent.

Gas prices have also risen the past week.

In California, the average price is $3.81 for a gallon of regular unleaded. That's up 8 cents from last week, according to the CSAA website that tracks gas prices.

In the East Bay, a gallon of unleaded regular costs an average of $3.82, up 9 cents from a week ago. Find the cheapest gas near you at gasbuddy.com.

CSAA officials say Californians who stay close to home will shop, visit friends, dine out and go on bike rides to enjoy the holiday weekend.

Ideas for fun close to home:

Walnut Creek Family Fest, Saturday to Monday. This event for the whole family will have arts and crafts booths, a food court and nearly 20 rides, including a Ferris wheel and pony rides. .

Danville Antique and Art Faire, Monday. Shop at over 30 artisans and antique merchants, listen to live music and sample local food in downtown Danville. Get the details and read more about it.

Harvest Wine celebration in Livermore, Sunday and Monday. Taste wines, listen to live music, sample foods and browse local art at wineries in Livermore. .

Create your own Labor Day - cation at Embassy Suites Walnut Creek.  Stay close to home but not AT home.  Let Embassy Suites Walnut Creek take pamper you with:

• Free cooked to order breakfast
• Complimentary Evening reception
• Free High Speed Internet
• Two Room Suite
• Complimentary Shuttle to downtown Walnut Creek

Click Here to find the perfect Labor Day - cation for you at

Embassy Suites Walnut Creek

7th Annual Fall Downtown Wine Walk

Fall Wine Walk

7th Annual Fall Wine Walk

Enjoy a special wine tasting event throughout Downtown Walnut Creek! Receive a complimentary wine glass and map at the starting location
and begin your tour of favorite wineries!

The Fall Wine Walk features wine tastings in downtown shops, restaurants and businesses, live acoustic musicians playing on local plazas and sidewalks, and fun prize drawings. Enjoy the beauty and unique experience of Downtown Walnut Creek, all at your own leisurely pace!

This event will take place rain or shine. You must be 21 years or older to participate.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Starting Location:
Pro Home Systems
1561 Civic Drive

Ticket Information:

$30/person in advance
$40/person at the door

Where to Stay?

Embassy Suites Walnut Creek

1345 Treat Boulevard, Walnut Creek, California, 94597, USATEL: 1-925-934-2500
Click here to choose your Overnight Package with Embassy Suites Walnut Creek and enjoy your tour of the Wineries of Walnut Creek

Red Bull Youth America's Cup

Red Bull Youth America's Cup - Objective Australia team heads off

'Objective Australia Media Launch'    Simon Reffold    Click Here to view large photo Red Bull Australia and NZ MD Jason Sargent joined Yachting Australia CEO Phil Jones today, in wishing Objective Australia Team members all the best in their preparations for the upcoming Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. Objective Australia is the team that will represent Australia in this upcoming inaugural series. The event, an initiative of Red Bull, is the curtain raiser to the America’s Cup and will be sailed in the AC45 Class boats on San Francisco Bay from 1st to 4th September. Three things mark this event as a standout; firstly the crews are all country of origin, returning to the original America’s Cup approach. The second is that the event is for youth teams 18-24 years of age. Finally, this is a fleet racing event, where the 10 country competitors will be head to head on the line in the exceptionally fast and exciting AC45 Catamarans that have been racing around the world for the past three years. Raced on a tight and fast circuit, close to the shore and with the boats covered in cameras and telemetry gear, this is an event designed to maximise impact for spectators. The One Design boats mean that the first over the line is the winner. The Australian team qualified for the event in February, and have since been individually competing internationally. Some of the team are beginning the journey towards Olympic Selection for 2016 and have been competing successfully in the many northern hemisphere regattas. Some are journeyman competitors, participating in the many top level sailing events around the world for various classes. When they come together in a weeks’ time in San Francisco though, all thoughts are focussed on preparing for what all of them see as being the biggest event of their lives.  Objective Australia Media Launch -  Simon Reffold   Click Here to view large photo Objective Australia join nine other teams from the US (x2), Germany, France, New Zealand (x2), Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Five of those teams have qualified through the February series, the other five as part of existing America’s Cup teams. Over the past six weeks or so the existing AC45s have been brought into strict One Design compliance ensuring that no boat is favoured over another. All teams will begin with a familiarisation period where they effectively get their racing licenses in these boats. AC45s typically race at speeds between 18 and 35 knots (33-65kmh) and are powered by a wing mainsail as opposed to the traditional fabric sails. They are an incredibly physically demanding boat for the six crew members and require precision timing for all their manoeuvres. Once mastered, the crew can focus on positioning the boat well in San Francisco’s notoriously windy and current affected waterways. The team have a little under a month to properly bond, acclimatise, perfect the handling of the boat and get ready for what will be the biggest event of their lives to date. The Objective Australia team are well up to the task though, between them they have four World Championships, countless National Championships and many are ranked at the top in their classes in the world including world Laser no1 Tom Burton. The sailing team consists of: Jason Waterhouse, 22 – Newport NSW. Skipper. Tom Burton, 23 – Baulkham Hills, NSW Keiran Searle, 23 – Lismore, NSW Ted Hackney, 23 – Randwick NSW Josh McKnight, 22 – Sydney, NSW Luke Parkinson, 23 – Subiaco, WA James Wierzbowski, 21 – Melbourne, Vic Jasper 'Fang' Warren, 24 – Albany, WA In addition, the team will has been coached and managed by Traks Gordon. The team is privately funded by Team Principal, Tony Walls, who is the founder and CEO of Objective Corporation, an ASX listed Technology Company. This is the first Australian Team to compete in an America’s Cup event since Syd Fischer sent a bunch of youth sailors to New Zealand in 2000. While the Young Australia challenge didn’t get past the elimination series it was the incubator for so many of today’s successful Australian sailors including the now America’s Cup wining skipper James Spithill. In fact, in all the America’s Cup teams competing this year, some 40 percent are Australian Sailors. Yet there is no Australian team. Yachting Australia are seeing the Objective Australia campaign as the siren call for a new surge of interest in the America’s Cup. In this, the 30th Anniversary year of Australia II’s historic victory in Newport they are hoping that the new breed of America’s Cup sailors will be taking on the world in San Francisco – and winning.  Objective Australia by Simon Reffold

Waterworld California Makes a Splash in Northern California !

 Waterworld California

 Northern California's Premier Water Park   

Waterworld California offers an enormous amount of attractions. Key rides include the Honolulu Half-pipe  a slide that sends riders plunging down over four stories both forwards and backwards, the Tornado funnel ride, The Big Kahuna family raft ride, Diablo Falls Shotgun Slides, and a gigantic, 15-foot wide lazy river and so much more.

Don't worry, you will get wet!

5 minutes away from Waterworld California, the All Suite Embassy Suites Walnut Creek provides complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast each morning in our beautiful, tropical open-air atrium.  After your Waterworld California adventure meet with family and friends and enjoy evening drinks and snacks at our nightly Manager’s Reception* or enjoy delicious cuisine prepared to perfection in the casual and comfortable environment of our Embassy Grill.  Take advantage of all Walnut Creek has to offer—world class shopping and restaurants, hiking and jogging paths and more.  Let us be part of your Waterworld California Adventure!

The Embassy Suites Walnut Creek Waterworld California package includes:

• 2 General Admission tickets to Waterworld California*
• Free cooked to order breakfast daily
• Two Room Suite
• Complimentary drinks and snacks at Evening Reception
• Free Internet Access
• Discounted Parking
• Free shuttle to downtown Walnut Creek Shopping and Restaurants
• Fitness Center
• Indoor Pool

Click Here to begin your Waterworld California Adventure today !

or call 925-934-2500

(A) Embassy Suites Walnut Creek is 5 minutes from (B)Waterworld California 

*Please verify Waterworld California hours of operation at 925-609-1364.  Waterworld California Park tickets are available for pick-up at the hotel beginning at 9AM, the morning of your reservation.  Hotel cannot guarantee early check in.  Hotel will provide luggage storage on a space available basis.  Two additional Water Park tickets can be purchased at the hotel for each confirmed reservation.  Cost $25 per ticket.  All packages are subject to availability.

Check Out the Attractions Here

For Events and Promotions Click Here

See you down the Lazy River!

Click here for more Overnight Packages at 

Embassy Suites Walnut Creek

Baseball Stats and Fun Facts You May Not Know [Infographic] | Nationwide Blog

Baseball Stats and Fun Facts You May Not Know [Infographic] | Nationwide Blog

San Francisco prepares for America's Cup Summer of Racing

America's Cup Summer of Racing                    July 4 - September 21, 2013                                        San Francisco

San Francisco Bay turns into the world's showcase with the return of America's Cup to the U.S. after 18 years.  It's fitting it begins on the birthday of the country - July 4th with the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Louis Vuitton Cup 

What?

Used as the selection series to select the team to sail as the challenger in the America's Cup. Four out of the six winners of the Louis Vuitton Cup have subsequently won the America's Cup itself.  Slated to compete in the Louis Vuitton Cup are teams from Italy, Sweden, New Zealand and Korea; the winner races the Cup's defender, ORACLE TEAM USA, in the America's Cup Finals in September 2013 in San Francisco. The boats in the World Series are AC45 catamarans, 45 feet long and two-hulled. In the September 2013 Cup finals, the boats will be ultra-tech, ultra-fast AC72 (72-foot-long) catamaran

When?

7/4/13-8/30/13

Red Bull Youth America's Cup

What?

Red Bull Youth America's Cup is the newest event of the 34th America's Cup. It was created to afford young, talented sailors, 19-24 years old,  a pathway towards competing for one of the most prestigious trophies in their sport - the America's Cup.

When?

9/01/13-9/04/13

America's Cup Finals

What?

34th America's Cup Finals comes back to the U.S.A. for the first time in 18 years.  The prize?  The oldest trophy in international sports.

When?

9/07/13-9/21/13

Where to Watch?

AMERICA'S CUP VILLAGE AT MARINA GREEN -Marina Boulevard at Fillmore Street. America’s Cup Village at Marina Green offers free access for all visitors along with paid seating where fans can buy the best seats on the Bay to reserve their view of the action. The America’s Cup Village will also have food and beverage services, merchandise and live race commentary. 

The races will be broadcast on a big screen, while shows will be presented on a stage throughout the day, including live racing commentary and interviews with the sailors. You can simulate sailing tasks like raising a sail, dive into the history of sailing or learn about ocean creatures at interactive exhibits. There is a kid's zone and a beer garden, and this being San Francisco, a Napa Valley wine lounge, too.

Piers 27/29 are also the site of the America’s Cup Pavilion where up to 20 concerts, along with family shows, community and business events, and comedy acts, are planned with the support of Live Nation. 

Where to Stay?

Take the BART to the BAY.  From Embassy Suites Walnut Creek the BART train at Pleasant Hill Station will take you to the first stop in San Francisco - Embarcadero.  America's Cup Village at Marina Green is only 2.9 miles and 10 minutes away.

Close enough to enjoy all the sight, sound and excitement of America's Cup while far enough away to relax and rejuvenate.

Embassy Suites Walnut Creek features overnight packages perfect for all Visitors to San Francisco events.  Packages* include:

• Free cooked to order breakfast
• Free Parking
• Free High Speed Internet Access
• Two Room Suite
• Bonus HHonor Points
• Two Room Suite
• Pleasant Hill BART station across the street
• Shuttle to downtown Walnut Creek and 3 mile radius of hotel

Click here now to reserve your package for the America's Cup Summer of Racing

*packages subject to availability.  certain packages include free parking.