Eatery 3: Jack's Restaurant

     Jack's Restaurant
60 Crescent Dr.
Pleasant Hill, CA

      
    You'd be hard pressed to find quality food without spending alot. Jack's bar does
just that. Located on Crescent Drive in downtown Pleasant Hill, this bar/grille is 
perfect for dining out after catching a movie at the nearby theater. 
       The upscale atmosphere is family friendly and quite inviting. Their breakfast and
lunch dishes offer many tasty comfort foods while the sizes served make up for the 
prices on the menu. 
       Jack's was opened by the Marcovici's, 3 Clayton raised brothers who have followed
in their parent's footsteps in the restaurant business.
       
       Pro

       the variety of food served here is nice. The entree of fish and chips
 were hot and delicious. Waiter offered to refill my drink for free along with 
 providing condiments as well. There were many TVs to watch a game on.

      Con

       It was quite pricey for its location. Depending on what time you come in
  it can get loud (Thankfully we arrived late in afternoon). Our food took awhile
  to come despite not being very busy. 

       I have been coming here for the past few years and enjoy it every time. Jack's 
is my favorite restaurant that's close by. When it comes to quality dining, this place
is worth checking out. 

  5 out 5 stars. No problems just good food. 

Eatery 2 : The Cooperage

    The Cooperage

     32 Lafayette Circle

     Lafayette, CA

     
    Downtown Lafayette has a diverse selections of restaurants in the area and this one
is no different. Called The Cooperage, this bar/grille offers many delicious appetizers 
off their limited menu. They also serve comfort food favorites such as burgers, salads 
and fried chicken. 
      Working as head chef is Eric Hopfinger, star of Food TV's Top Chef. Owner Andrew
McCormick takes a rundown bar and turns it into a happening place to watch the game
on their many TVs. 

        Pro
         The burger was delicious along with their plentiful fries. The ample parking
  nearby made it easy to get to. The atmosphere was nice along with plenty of 
  tables to sit outside. We were seated quickly and our waiter was very friendly
  as we took our orders.

         Con: The dessert menu sorely lacked variety and ran out of the ice cream flavor
  I wanted. The prices were a bit too much for the average family that comes
  here. As more people came in, the noise got so loud we couldn't hear our orders
  being taken.
  
      Luckily, our family was treated by my cousins so we didn't have to pay. The 
 Cooperage is a good place to have a drink with friends just don't expect good 
 service. 

    Rating:  3 1/2 stars out of 5
      

Eatery 1 : Slice House

      Restaurant: Slice House

      1500 Mt Diablo Blvd. 

     Walnut Creek 

      
      Me and my significant other were hungry one day, so we decided to try out the 
 new pizzeria called the Slice House. Located in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek,
 this place serves NY style pizza by the slice or whole. They also offer delectable
 soups, salads, pasta and even hot wings. Award winning chef Tony Gemiani brings
 his culinary skills from SF to the East Bay.
      
      Pro
      Their large slices were served hot and came within a few minutes. The decor
     was nice along with the hospitable waitresses. Being an outdoor pizzeria
     kept the noise level down to a minimum. 

      Con
    Not enough tables for patrons to sit due to limited space. The price of each
  slice made up for the size served. Having to sit on a sidewalk table due to 
  location in the heart of downtown.  

     There should be room for improvement as the popularity of this place grows.
 If you're hungry for some pizza, come on down here and have a bite. 

    Stars: 4 / 5 due to lack of space and the problems listed above

K-9 Presentation

      When the Concord PD stopped by our school today, they brought their dog Jelle (Yelli)
with them to show us what the dog does while on the job. The trained GSD/ Malinois mix 
demonstrated how it smells for drugs and attack a fleeing suspect (cop dressed in a heavy 
burlap padding). Along with fielding questions from students in other programs on campus,
the police handed out stickers to us. Much appreciated for the Concord PD for stopping by
and bringing Jelle with them.                                        

In Memoriam

golfing legend Arnold Palmer (1929 - 2016)

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (1992-2016)

My brush with a 49er Great (True Story)

       One day, our cousin had offered us tickets to go see the 49ers play at the now demolished 
Candlestick Park. Being the huge 49ers fan that I am, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity
not to. Wearing my 49ers jersey, me and my Dad drove to Candlestick to watch them play. 
After being patted down by security, we went inside just in time for the game to begin. 
Little did I know that something amazing was about to happen. 

       We had gotten our seats and sat down when in the corner of my eye, I start seeing 
policemen escorting someone around the stadium. I couldn't make out who it was. 
All of a sudden they start walking up the aisle I was sitting in. Then that moment
I recognize who it was. It was 49ers legend Steve Young. Coming up my way and
walking past me, the only thing I could muster up was "I'm a big fan Steve."

     Turning around to look at me, he smiled and said "Thanks". I was completely 
starstruck when he spoke to me. The jersey I wore that day was of Steve Young's.
I learned later that they were going to retire his number at the game. Even though 
they lost, it was a day I'll never forget. 

9/11 Remembrance Picture

                     

Taking time to remember those who lost their on lives on this fateful day.