Frugal Family Summer Entertainment

We know everyone likes to save money, so we look for local deals to share with you each week. This week get ready for a summer packed with free family entertainment options.

One of my favorite things about summertime in our local community is enjoying simple pleasures, like going to the movies and listening to great music. Knowing that there are so many opportunities to do both for free (or nearly free) with my family makes these summer movie and music deals all that more sweet. Free Family Movies: 1. Moonlight Movies presented by the Town of Danville Where: Town Green in front of the Danville Library, 400 Front Street, in Danville. When: Movies start at approximately 8:15 p.m. Craft and activities start at 6:30 p.m. Schedule: For more information call the Town of Danville at (925) 314-3400. 2. 2011 Movies Under the Stars in Alamo Where: Alamo Elementary School, 100 Wilson Avenue, in Alamo. When: Gates open at…

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Kirsten Branch

2:31 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011

UPDATE--Livery has also just announced their summer concerts: Summer Round-Up Saturdays, June 11th, July 9th & August 13th Formerly known as “Summer Nights,” the Livery is bringing you three fun Saturdays in June, July and August! Free, family fun, featuring live music, horse-drawn wagon rides, caramel apples, giveaways, entertainment and more! If you hear of any other free concerts or movies, …   more ›

Frugal Family

Books, Movies and Toy Deals

We know everyone likes a good deal, so we decided to find five great deals for families each week. This week we're telling you where to find book, movie and toy deals.

This week’s deals are for books, movies and toys. A few local stores are closing and there are savings opportunities as a result. But, as some businesses fall, others rise and the grand opening of a business nearby promises savings now and in the future. There also are deals at local stores that are thriving with the support of the community. The place: Borders Book & Music 120 Sunset Drive, San Ramon and 4575 Rosewood Drive, Pleasanton The deal: These two stores are scheduled to close as a result of Borders' recent bankruptcy filing. All merchandise in the stores is 20-40 percent off. Borders Pleasant Hill will remain open, as will the chain's online operations, so if you have a rewards card or gift cards, they 're still effective.  The …

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Can't Jet to the Met? Visit Blackhawk for Opera and More

The Century Blackhawk Plaza theatre regularly features special events, such as screening of live opera performances, concerts, and more.

Living in Danville, it might not be feasible to jet to the Met in New York to catch an opera performance, or the 25th anniversary concert of "Les Miserables" in London. You can get a glimpse of these performances at the Century Blackhawk Plaza movie theatre's live broadcasts of the events on the big screen. The Metropolitan Opera's, "The Met: Live in HD", transmits live performances in high definition to theaters across the country, including Blackhawk's, on Saturday at 10 a.m. Recorded encores of the performances are presented on Wednesday evenings. Ticket prices range from $16 to $24. This Saturday, Nov. 13 you can catch "Don Pasquale." The 25th anniversary celebratory performance of the legendary musical "Les Misérables" to be performed…

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About Town

Options for the Senior Silver Screen Lover

The Town of Danville's Recreation Department offers a weekly free movie at the Village Theatre, and will offer two classes during the Winter session for the seasoned film enthusiast.

The Town of Danville Recreation Services Department offers three options for seniors (50+) who are silver screen lovers. Recreation Services will continue to offer their popular "The Auteur: Film Criticism" classes, held on Wednesdays, from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., from Nov. 3 to Dec 22. The Auteur class focuses on film criticism and interpretation, covering filmmakers of the past and present. The class includes discussion about script, dialogue, narrative style, production values, music, cinematography, and art direction. A new "Senior Film Festival" class will be offered, on Tuesdays, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., beginning on Nov. 16, through Jan. 25. The Senior Film Festival class will put students in the role of filmmaker, and feature a project-…

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Kirsten Branch

9:25 am on Friday, November 5, 2010

I saw a list of the movies for November and December...good stuff for both classic and contemporary movie lovers. Take advantage of this great program!   more ›

About Town

Be an Extra and Raise Money for Lazarex Cancer Foundation

The Danville-based group is calling on locals to be extras in a short film to be shown on local movie screens.

Looking to land 15 minutes of fame and serve a good cause? Danville-based Lazarex Cancer Foundation is looking for volunteers for a short film in conjunction with San Francisco-based Lost Road Entertainment. The producers need several individuals who look 18 years old, and parents, siblings, grandparents and other family members to appear as extras in a graduation scene to be filmed in or near Danville on Oct. 24. No experience is necessary, and the producers are seeking "serious-minded people that wish to be in a national ad posted to TV and premovie show screen advertisements." Local theaters will screen the short film during the holiday season, with national exposure possible next year. The foundation "raises money to help late-stage …

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About Town

Danville Producer's Documentary Airs on HBO on Monday

John Loar is co-producer of 'Teenage Paparazzo,' with actor/director/producer Adrian Grenier of HBO's 'Entourage.'

Merging his passion for "worthwhile" film and TV projects with his business acumen, longtime Danville resident and businessman John Loar has been building his entertainment industry focused investment group and production company, J. Loar, Inc., since 2005 with partner Tom Halbach. One of Loar's latest productions, "Teenage Paparazzo," was an official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and is premiering on HBO on Monday at 9 p.m. The documentary is directed by actor Adrian Grenier, star of HBO's "Entourage," and co-produced by Grenier's company, Reckless Productions.  The story is of Austin Visschedyk, a 13- year-old paparazzo who caught Grenier's attention when he took a picture of the actor. Grenier immersed himself in Austin's…

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Danville Native's Obsession with the Undead Comes to Life

Filmmaker Brandon Hunt makes his directorial debut with zombie flick, "The Duty of Living."

It can't be often Danville cops have to respond to calls of soldiers running through town armed with M-16s. But that's exactly what happened twice in one day last September. The man responsible? Twenty-seven-year-old Danville native Brandon Hunt, a filmmaker with an admitted obsession with zombies, comics and campy horror flicks. The army guys invading the quiet streets off Diablo Road near Ackerman Drive were actors in his debut living-dead movie, "The Duty of Living." Lesson learned, he said: "Next time I'll warn police ahead of time." Hunt—whose right arm is inked up with comic-book-style zombie silhouettes— has dabbled in cinema since he first laid hands on his parents' Panasonic camcorder as a 14-year-old. What his folks used to …

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