November 12th and 13th
Huge selection of crafts, jewelry, quilts, candles, ornaments, woodworking, gift baskets, and many local businesses! FREE Kids Zone including visits with Santa! Live entertainment NEW THIS YEAR “Smokin’ on the Delta” Our 1st KCBS Sanctioned BBQ Competition along with our annual Backyard BBQ’er Amateur Contest.

Event Hours
Saturday November 12th 10am-5pm
Sunday November 13th 10am-4pm
Adults $5 Kids 12 & under FREE FREE Parking
Fairgrounds in Antioch 925-757-4400
www.contracostafair.com
1201 West 10th Street Antioch, CA 94509

Joni Morris pays her own special tribute to the ladies of country music, which has been playing to sold out crowds across the country, on Saturday November 5 at 8 pm at the El Campanil Theatre in Antioch.

And the critics love Joni, love her voice and love her show! “A doubled- barreled voice that can belt, sob, exult… We’re transported back into the Golden Years of the late 50’s and 60’s,” says Holly Johnson of the Sacramento Bee newspaper. “A loving portrait… a polished, rollicking and often soulful country-western music show,” states Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Joni Morris has traveled nationally for the past 13 years with her talented “Jordonaire” singing style band. She is accompanied by Keith McKee, drums and vocals, , Kevin Jachetta, keyboards, bass and vocals and Fred Treece playing lead guitar and vocals.

Audiences love Joni’s tributes to the music of Patsy Cline, Connie Francis, and the Legendary Ladies in Country Music. She is a dazzling entertainer with a doubled-barreled voice. You can also expect to hear a few of Joni’s own original songs in every show. She adds comedy, eye-catching costumes, and lots of audience interaction to each performance.

Tickets: Adults: $27, Seniors (62 and Older): $24, Child (17 and Under): $15. Tickets May Be Purchased in Advance at the Ticket Office, 604 W. Second Street – Next Door To The Theatre Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and 1 hour before showtime or by phone: (925) 757-9500 or ONLINE www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

The prestigious Friends of Music series continues with its’ second installment of the year on November 20th at 4 p.m. at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church at 3351 Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch.

William Vaughn, one of the finest organists in the Bay Area, is the featured performer. Director of Music and Organist for St. Pascal Baylon Church in Oakland and Assistant Organist for the Cathedral of Light, Mr Vaughn will perform “A Harvest Festival of Fall Music” on the magnificent Rodgers Trillium Masterpiece Pipe/Digital organ. Each piece will highlight a feast, festival or civic commemoration that is part of the last days of the liturgical year: All Saints All Souls, Christ the King. Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Advent.

A free will offering will be received to defray the cost of the concert and champagne reception to follow. For more information or to be put on the mailing list for future events call Walter Ruehlg at (925) 756-7628 or e-mail walter.ruehlig@gmail.com.

By Ray Faulkenberry

I have known the owner of the Bases Loaded Restaurant Bar since I was in 7th grade. Terry Karp is his name and let me tell you a little about Terry. He was a stellar three-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball and baseball.

Terry Karp

More than that, Terry was and is a genuinely nice guy. I can honestly say that playing the same three sports there weren’t a lot of nice guys – at least not like Terry. Although Terry and I weren’t great friends in high school as we ran around with different people, I always enjoyed him on every team I ever played.

When I heard that Terry would be opening up the restaurant, I grew excited that not only somebody I knew was opening a restaurant, but the fact that it was a sports bar and restaurant made it that much better. Although Terry opened up in August of 2009, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
“We struggle like any other business, but we’ve developed a good, core group of people who like the food, the music and the atmosphere,” Terry said.

Terry is not one to rest on his laurels. He spent countless hours planning, designing and doing the necessary paperwork with the city to realize his dream. He received a restaurant incentive grant, which gave him $300,000 to help with the creation of the restaurant. While that grant helped a lot, Terry has spent lots of his own as well as his family’s money to make Bases Loaded the incredible place that it is.

“We didn’t have a design like a McDonald’s or a Burger King in which you could just go in and cookie-cut the place out,” he said. “I had to go through a lot of meetings to get city approvals, use permits, inspections and such. It’s taken a lot of work.”

He recently put in an ultra-modern juke box, an “old-school” pinball machine and a couple of pool tables. Although I liked Bases Loaded the way that it was, this new version has a more vibrant atmosphere. It feels even more alive and interactive. “They’ve been a big hit, as people like to listen to the music of their choosing, and playing pool and pinball is something so many people like to do,” said Terry.

Terry is even considering incorporating video games that could be played by the family on one of his many large screens.

Terry has one of the largest dance floors in the area and he brings in some incredible musicians on the weekend that cover a wide range of music. You can hear dance music from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s that make it very easy to get up and dance to. I know that the last time I danced was at Terry’s place while listening to a wonderful cover band that played the music I listened to in high school – and yes, it was the disco era! Bases Loaded will also be featuring a Country Western Night starting in the new year.

It is not easy in this economy to launch any new business, and restaurants are not easy in any economy! It took great courage to undertake this project, and it’s been a lot more work than Terry anticipated. However, knowing Terry the way that I do, I can tell you without asking him that when it became more work than he thought, he rolled up his sleeves, got creative and began pushing harder to achieve the success he wanted.

I believe in this day and time that it is vitally important to get out and support our local businesses. It has to do with sharing ourselves and supporting the business in our community. How we evolve, grow, and prosper in business AND life is to get out and interact with the world. We share ideas and support the dreams of our friends. We encourage them to improve as we also look to also improve.

If you are a fan of sports, come down and spend some time with Terry. Try some of his killer nachos. Tell him I sent you. You can even make him feel good by saying you forgive him (and me) for going to a rival high school in Concord – Clayton Valley.

Bases Loaded is located at 400 G Street in downtown Antioch and it’s open on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday from noon to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Ray Faulkenberry, Ph.D. is a business analyst, consultant, author, coach, and entrepreneur. Log onto his website through 2011 and receive his books on success, leadership, and transformation for free. He can be reached at www.rayfaulkenberry.com or rayfaulkenberry@comcast.net.

Astonishing flips, spins and acts of gymnastic levitation are the rule when China’s renowned Golden Acrobats take the stage Saturday October 29 at 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm. They’re the same breathtaking precious acrobats who wowed the crowds at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, only this time the stage is Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre. The colorful spectacle includes acrobatic stunts, dance and ancient and contemporary music.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time honored tradition that began more than twenty-five centuries ago. The Golden Dragons are recognized throughout the United States and abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company of today.

The reputation of the company is solidly rooted in a commitment to the highest of production values and an attention to artistic details that is unparalleled in the art form. World renowned impresario Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a show of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty.

Adults: $28, Seniors: $24, Children (under 18): $12. El Campanil Theatre, 602 W Second Street Antioch. Phone: (925) 757-9500. Online: www.ElCampanilTheatre.com.

After publishing five novels over a span of 15 years, local author Alfred J. Garrotto thought he had run out of stories. Not so. On July 26, 2010, he woke up with a new plot and set of characters playing in his head.

“It was all there, beginning, middle and end,” the author said. It took a year for him to write and edit the book, meticulously grinding through nine full revisions. “The book grew in detail and depth, but basically the original story found its way onto the printed page.” On September 1, The Saint of Florenville: A Love Story was released in both print and ebook formats.

Set in modern-day Belgium, this tragic yet uplifting story begins when two good friends, an American priest and a Belgian nun, are sightseeing in picturesque Bruges. They are about to part, when a local man who has befriended them drugs and kidnaps them. What follows is a tale of loss and suffering, faith and the struggle to survive. Thrown together under the worst possible conditions, Fr. Tom Jensen and Sr. Marie-Therese form a bond that transcends the demands of their religious vows. In the end, only one of the pair survives, but this is a plot full of unexpected twists and turns, dark secrets and surprises.

The author has resided in Contra Costa County for 40 years and has lived in the Antioch-Pittsburg area since 2005. In addition to writing fiction, he reviews books for a national periodical and edits manuscripts for other authors. He served two terms as president of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the historic California Writers Club. The statewide organization was founded in 1909 by the great Jack London and a group of his writing buddies.

Additional information about Alfred J. Garrotto and The Saint of Florenville: A Love Story can be found at http://saintofflorenville.wordpress.com.

St. Ignatius of Antioch Concert Series kicks off its new season on October 15th at 7:30 p.m. at 3351 Contra Loma Blvd.

Don Pearson the Director of Music, Organist and Artist in Residence, plays a concert in celebration of the second anniversary at the church of the Rodgers Trillium Masterpiece Pipe/Digital Organ. A reception follows in the parish hall. All are welcome. A free will offering is accepted. For information call (925) 778-0845.

Five-time GRAMMY® award nominee and Hawaii’’s top selling female vocalist shares her love for her home, her Hawaiian heritage, and her passion for music, inspired by her Tutu Jennie. Singing Jazz, traditional Hawaiian and contemporary, Hanai`ali`i is joined by her hula dancer and A-list Hawaiian Jazz musicians; Steve Jones (Bass), Jeff Peterson (guitar), Chino Montero (guitar), and Darryl Pellegrini (drums).

Hanai`ali`i will be performing on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 1pm in Downtown Antioch at the El Campanil Theatre. Tickets are available by calling (925) 757-9500 or by visiting www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

Hânaiali‘i is a classically trained vocalist which allows her to embrace many genres of music. Hanai`ali`i’s success as a recording artist speaks for itself and is evidenced by the multitude of awards and acknowledgements including five GRAMMY® nominations for Best Hawaiian Music Album.

Hanai`ali`i’s albums have also garnered 16 Nâ Hôkû Hanohano Awards (Hawai‘i’s equivalent to the GRAMMY®), including the prestigious Female Vocalist of the Year (4 times), Album of the Year (2 times), Hawaiian Album of the Year (3 times), Song of the Year, Group of the Year, most recently Contemporary Album of the Year and even Christmas Album of the Year.

The artists for whom Amy has opened are legendary and include Carlos Santana in Germany, Willie Nelson, Diana Krall, Joe Cocker, Wayne Newton, Arlo Guthrie, The Beach Boys, Ernie Watts, Boz Scaggs, Earth, Wind and Fire, Sergio Mendes and many more. Hânaiali‘i has toured extensively on the East and West Coasts of America, Germany, China, Tahiti and she often frequents Japan. Hanai`ali`i is officially Hawai‘i’s Music Ambassador as proclaimed by Hawai‘i’s former Governor Linda Lingle.

Halau Ka Waikahe Lani Malie, an Antioch based Hula institution under the direction of Kumu Hula Juni Kalahikiola Romuar, will be opening with Ke Kaniwai.