4th of July Festivities in the East Bay!

It’s that time of the year–where we rejoice in our nation’s freedom and celebrate our Independence Day! There are many fireworks displays and events across the Bay Area, and the East Bay is hosting some so that you don’t have to travel far.

Alameda County Fair

The Alameda County Fair is well known across Northern California for being an all-inclusive fair for the family with events for everyone, and their annual 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is sure to be a sparkler this year! Beginning around 9:30pm, this year spectators get a special treat of the Oakland Symphony accompanying this fantastic show of lights. Grab a seat at the Budweiser Grandstand at the Horse Racing track for the best view. 

Fremont 4th of July Parade 

There’s nothing like a hometown parade to help join our community together to celebrate our independence. Don’t miss this event in Fremont–featuring 70 entries and with over 10,000 people expected be sure to get there early and grab a seat! The parade starts at 10am and will have marching bands, entertainers and floats.

Livermore Downtown Celebration

Join your friends and neighbors for this fun-filled tradition in happening downtown Livermore! There will be family activities, an abundance of great food and shopping with local merchants. Bring the family and stay for the amazing fireworks show starting at 9:30pm from the top of the parking structure on Railroad Avenue.

Wherever your 4th of July celebration festivities take you and your family, we wish you a happy one from all of us at The Janki Patel Team.

The Alameda County Fair – Fun for the whole family!

The Alameda County Fair is something many Bay Area residents look forward to every summer. People come from near and far for this great event that is named known as “The Spirit of Summer” this year.

Featuring something for everyone in the family to enjoy, from the midway full of rides and games to the exhibit halls with unique vendors that’s a great place to cool off. The Great American Petting Zoo and Barnyard Adventure gets you up close and personal with many animals, and close by is a rabbit exhibit!

There is the Kids Park for those too small to go on the midway rides, including a pony ride and entertainers on various stages. The ActionZone arena features freestyle motorcross, demolition derbies, and Monster Trucks and it’s definitely something to experience if you have never seen it.

Popular discount days include $2 admission until 5pm on June 21 and 28. On June 24 and July 1, kids 12 and under are free until 5pm. For free senior admission, plan to go on June 23 and 30.

The Alameda County Fair concert series are very popular, and seats are free with paid admission. Coming up is country favorites Joe Nichols and LeAnn Rimes, Smash Mouth, Tower of Power and Kool and the Gang. Check out the lineup to find one of your favorites!

Closing on the 4th of July this year, the Alameda County Fair is well known for its impressive fireworks show. Grab a seat in the horse racing stadium to witness the great Fireworks Spectacular, accompanied by the Oakland Symphony and with a special Tribute to Hometown Heroes preceding the great show of lights.

You can buy tickets online, at the entrance booth, or at these locations, including several Safeway stores.

All of us here at The Jank Patel Team hopes you have the opportunity to visit this special event and have a day of fun with the whole family!

Fun Memorial Day Activities for the Family

It’s Memorial Day weekend and to help say thanks to all who serve, why not enjoy some fun activities the Bay Area has to offer.

Ardenwood Historic Farms

This popular family farm is offering free admission on Memorial Day. Centrally located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. in Fremont, there will be train rides, Victorian farmhouse tours and many farm animals to visit. It’s a well-known place for field trips, fun family days and a wonderful place to get some local history lessons. Bring the kids and make a day of it!

Niles Canyon Railway

In honor of those who served, the historic Niles Canyon Railway is offering free admission this weekend for active and past military personnel. Come enjoy the beautiful Niles canyon views and experience the wonder nature has to offer right in our own backyard. Operated by the Pacific Locomotive Association, the Niles Canyon Railway has been operating trains for the public since 1987 on the last leg of the Transcontinental Railroad between Fremont and Sunol.

Mushroom Mardi Gras

On Saturday and Sunday, downtown Morgan Hill hosts this fun-filled festival. Enjoy learning about mushrooms and taste many different ways they can be prepared–in sandwiches, deep fried, grilled, on skewers, and much more. Featuring live music and entertainers, there will be vendors with fine arts and crafts. For the kids, they will have a blast in a Munchkin Land with rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, and other performers. Admission is free.

San Jose Taco Festival of Innovation

Celebrating its 5th year, the San Jose Taco Festival of Innovation features 30 different taco trucks so there’s sure to be something for everyone. Hosted at History Park, located at 1650 Senter Road in San Jose, there’s over 30 taco vendors and all plates are $6 or less. Grab a craft beer and come stroll through the best local tacos and browse through arts and crafts vendors as well. The day will feature the entertainment of Lucha Libre and yes, an Air Accordion championship! There’s also a Kid’s Camp where the little ones can hang out. Tickets are $10 presale and $15 at the door.

Wherever your plans take you this Memorial Day weekend, we here at The Jank Patel Team hope you enjoy the beautiful weather with your friends and family!

Best Walking Trails in Fremont

Did you know that the earliest Easy Bay inhabitants were ancestors of the Ohlone Indians? These hunters and gatherers lived off the land’s natural resources. With so much natural history abundant in our own backyard, there are many places you can visit to get some fresh air and exercise and get off the beaten path where our settlers lived.

Coyote Hills Regional Park 

Perfect for many activities such as running, biking, walking, jogging, bird or butterfly watching, pack a picnic and spend the day here. Coyote Hills Regional Park is comprised of almost 1,000 acres of marshland and grassy hills. With a mix of wetlands, flat lands, hills and marshes, this serene spot off the Dumbarton Bridge (Paseo Padre Parkway exit) is sure to be a wonderful visit any time of year.

Lake Elizabeth

Located in the heart of Fremont on Paseo Padre Parkway between Stevenson Blvd and Mission View Dr, Lake Elizabeth is a popular spot for day camps, weekend parties, nature watching and fun for the whole family. There is a treehouse-themed playground that will keep the kids entertained for hours, and a playground suited for smaller kids near the parking lot. There is also basketball, tennis, fishing, skate park, and boat rentals. During the summer months visit adjacent Aqua Adventure Waterpark. With a 2 mile pedestrian walking trail, it’s the perfect spot to spend the day with the family and picnic or barbeque.

Quarry Lakes

Near the Union City border of Fremont on Isherwood Way, Quarry Lakes is often a less-crowded place to nature watch and walk the trail than other parks. With many trails, this park connects to the Alameda Creek so there are many geese, ducks and other birds to watch while enjoying your time whether it be walking, swimming, fishing or just enjoying the day with a picnic. It’s about 3 miles all around the lake, and if you have dogs this is a great place for them to explore with you.

With so much nature around us, The Janki Patel Team hopes you will take advantage and enjoy these wonderful parks perfect for walking and other activities!

Spring Cleaning Tips from The Janki Patel Team!

Spring is finally here! If you want to do some spring cleaning but don’t know where to start, here are some quick tips!

Windows:

Use a rag and soapy water, then clean with another rag. You can get good quality rags at auto parts store as well as a windshield squeegee, which can help

• Focus on the outside where dirt builds up more
• Try to clean on cloudy days so the sun won’t dry the soap before you are done wiping

Carpet/Rugs:

• For a quick touch up, focus on high-traffic zones that get dirtier quicker, including where people eat, play areas, where pets spend time
• Vacuum first, and run the vacuum for 30 seconds over the worse spots
• Use an inexpensive cleaner and degreaser, and cloths. Spray, let sit for 10 minutes and use cloth to blot up
• Use a hairdryer to help speed up drying, and open windows
• Professional carpet cleaning is suggested 3-4 times/year

Refrigerator

• Clean the outside AND the inside!
• Take out all shelves and wash with warm, soapy water. Dry and put back
• Taking out the shelves is a great opportunity to throw away old or expired food
• Salt and soda water is a great cleaner as well. The bubbling factor of soda water combined with abrasiveness of salt will help get rid of buildup
• For areas that can’t be removed, clean with soapy water and sponge, wipe down to dry
• For stainless steel, try cleaning exterior with a wax-based aerosol spray. Use 1-2 time per week

Mattress/Blankets/Bedding:

• Blankets that have been in storage might not need to be washed, just aired out in the sun for a few hours
• Always clean sheets every 2 weeks, and comforters 3-4 times per year based on manufacturer’s label directions
• While bedding is in the wash, clean mattress using crevice tool of vaccuum. Spot clean with upholstery cleaner
• Sanitize mattress with a little bit of disinfectant spray and remake beds

When starting the often daunting task of spring cleaning, it’s best to go in with a plan and how much time you will dedicate to each activity. Don’t try to overdo it by attempting to clean everything in one day. Delegate tasks to family members as well, and get all your cleaning supplies together before you start.

The Janki Patel Team hopes these tips were helpful and we wish you all the best in your spring cleaning adventures.

Wine Tasting near Fremont, CA!

One of the best parts about living in the Bay Area is the wonderful wineries throughout the area! If you live in or near Fremont, Livermore is a short trip away and features many wonderful wineries to experience.

Elliston Vineyards

This beautiful winery in the hills of Sunol is a lovely, picturesque location to go wine tasting, have a picnic, or get married! Located at 463 Kilkare Road in Sunol, the historic mansion and grounds are definitely something to take your time to explore and enjoy as you will feel far away from the busy areas you are close by to. What fun on a weekend to sample their delicious wines  and learn more about this historic winery!

(image courtesy of elliston.com)

Tenuta Vineyards

Located at 633 Kalthoff Common in Livermore, Tenuta Vineyards is a fun place to enjoy both wine and beer tasting. With a price point of $5 for 5 wines or $10 for 10 wines, you’re bound to find something you like–and they even customize wine labels so you can remember the day with your friends, family or loved ones!

(photo courtesy of tenutawinery.com)

Fenestra Winery

This winery has a fun atmosphere with a barn and picnic tables and is a great place to spend part of your Saturday or Sunday with friends. Located at 83 Vallecitos Road in Livermore, it’s easily accessible from the Fremont area. With many different wines to choose from,  Fenestra also hosts many different events throughout the year that locals love attending–like the Spring Fling and Prelude to Christmas!

(photo courtesy of fenestrawinery.com)

Now that Spring is almost here and the weather is warming up, we here at The Janki Patel Team hope you take advantage of living in such a beautiful area that offers some really great wineries! We’d love to hear which one is your favorite!

 

Best Places for Fitness near Fremont, CA!

Having a good fitness routine is so important for a sound body and mind. Finding the place that works for you can be half the battle!  If you are looking for somewhere to get motivated and have some fun, there are many places in Fremont you can try.

Mission Peak Fitness

Mission Peak Fitness, located at 3755 Washington Blvd, is a family friendly studio that offers many different classes–including Zumba, U-Jam, yoga, circut training and boot camps. With the freedom to mix and match classes in your package and pay as you go, you won’t be committed to something that doesn’t work for you.

(photo courtesy of Yelp.com)

XFIT 

Specializing in 40-45 minute bootcamp-style classes, XFIT is located at 37428 Centralmont Pl. If you’re looking for more of a lifestyle change with great trainers in a group setting, XFIT may be for you! There’s great camaraderie and motivation to get you the goals you are looking for! They also offer a 21 day trial to see if its right for you.

(photo courtesy of Yelp.com)

Crossfit of Fremont

If Crossfit is something you have been interested but haven’t tried, check out Crossfit of Fremont, located at 3733 Cedar Blvd in Newark! With a free intro class every Saturday at 9am, you can spend the time in their facility to get a taste for what Crossfit really is. This large facility has a lot of equipment and room and a great family atmosphere. They even offer Crossfit for Kids!

(photo courtesy of Yelp.com)

We here at The Janki Patel Team know how important fitness and health is, and we wish you all the best on your journey, wherever it takes you!

Best Bakeries near Fremont, CA!

With so many great restaurants and places to eat in Fremont, don’t forget about the many delicious bakeries that offer sweets and goodies for the whole family! Whether you just want a quick snack or yummy treats for a party, here are some great local places you can try.

Niles Pie Company

Located at 32990 Alvarado-Niles Blvd in Union City, the Niles Pie Company is a local favorite for their delicious pies, sweets including pop tarts and croissants,  and other doughy treats like biscuits and cheese or beef & potato pasties. The also have mouth-watering quiche, empanadas, bratwurst rolls and chicken chorizo & cheddar sausage rolls.

They also host events and classes for the community for a fun night out. Visit them every Saturday year-round at the Niles Farmer’s Market from 8-2!

photo courtesy of nilespie.com

Amia Bakery

Centrally located in the Fremont Hub next to Coldstone, Amia Bakery is an ideal place to stop if you just want something small and sweet like a cupcake or slice of cake, or if you need a cake in a pinch or want to view their options to order! They can cater a cake to meet your food allergy needs or limitations as well. If your child’s birthday is coming up and you want a fun cake the staff will gladly work with your cake vision!

photo courtesy of Yelp.com

La Farfella Bakery

Located in the Mission San Jose area of Fremont at 39947 Mission Blvd, this delightful bakery features yummy milk drinks and other specialty drinks to accompany your treat. Well-known for the fluffy and elegant mousse and also guava cakes, the interior is welcoming and inviting to enjoy what they have to offer!

They also take custom cake orders for your upcoming special occasion!

photo courtesy of Yelp.com

We here at The Janki Patel Team  love sweets and treats and hope that you get a chance to visit one of these great bakeries soon!

Helpful Tips to Declutter your Home!

Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes with the stuff in your home? Do you start cleaning on the weekends but never seem to get anything done? Clutter can slowly creep over your home and your mind, but there are many tricks and small projects you can do so that you to help enjoy the space of your home, which is the most important place to make memories that last forever. Here are some helpful tips from The Janki Patel Team!

• Organize the paper in one place. We have a lot of paper–whether it be bills, mail, school and extracurricular activity handouts, coupons, and work files. Instead of having a lot of small piles for paper, have one designated area for it. Start small by making quick file folders in a file organizer. Leave these in the one designated place for easy access. After 6 months, recycle or shred that paper!

• Give away one thing a day. By simply making the decision to donate or give away one item a day, this daily goal is not overwhelming, especially if you are sentimental with your belongings. And after a year, you will have gotten rid of 365 things! This small goal can make a huge difference over time and other people will be grateful for your generosity, which feels good at the end of the day.
• KonMarie. This groundbreaking book from Japanese organization expert Marie Kondo has a simple philosophy: does this item bring you joy? If not, say goodbye and thank you for its service and move on. By organizing categories and not rooms, the decluttering process actually has a process.

•  Take the 12-12-12 challenge. This is simple: find 12 things to donate, 12 things to throw away and 12 things to put back in their proper place. Get the whole family involved and have some fun!
• Purge toys and children’s things. Kids grow and outgrow their toys, books and clothes. Throw away broken toys, and donate or use a consignment shop to offload their clothes twice a year. There are many online groups where you can buy, sell or trade these items and maybe find something new or gently used for your kids they will love while doing it! Keep a couple of your favorite outfits or sentimental items, but remember that the love is in the memories, not the stuff.

We hope these tips from The Janki Patel Team are helpful to keep your home happy and stress-free.

 

 

Best Places to Watch the Superbowl near Fremont, CA!

The Bay Area is hosting Superbowl 50 this year, and excitement is in the air! Along with big game of course comes many parties! So whether you decide to stay home, go to a friend’s house or out to a venue, there are many local places around Fremont to watch the game (and the commercials).

Jack’s Brewing Company

Located in the heart of Fremont at the Hub (39176 Argonaut Way), Jack’s Brewing Company is a great place to grab a bite to eat and watch your favorite team! Featuring great appetizers, salads, burgers and sandwiches, and pub food, they also have a large beer selection. They have over 20 HD tv’s and one huge 10 ft screen.

Chaplin’s Sports Bistro

This hidden gem in Union City, located at 29200 Kohoutek Way already offers an NFL Sunday Brunch every NFL Sunday! With a sports bar meets lounge theme, Chaplin’s Sports Bistro is a great place to unwind after work to hang out with friends or catch your team’s game. The TV views are good from any seat and the menu has something for everyone!

O’Sullivan’s Sports Bar

This recently remodeled sports bar is a hit with Tri City locals. They are having a huge Superbowl party with a Trip for 2 to Maui giveaway! It’s very spacious inside with great service and a friendly atmosphere. Located at 5660 Thornton Ave in Newark, stop by and visit if you want to catch your favorite team live. They also offer Paint Nite to experience your creative side!

Wherever your Superbowl viewing takes you, we here at The Janki Patel Team wish you a fun and safe Sunday!