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Sprouts & Shutters: Voodoo Kitchen, Shalimar Restaurant, The Body Bar and More

Here's the latest roundup of retail, restaurant and other business news and happenings in the Tri-Valley area.

Wondering what’s moving into your neighborhood shopping center? Our weekly Sprouts & Shutters column highlights the latest Tri-Valley restaurant, retail and other business news.

Darcie Kent Vineyard’s new tasting room and art gallery opened recently and will celebrate its Grand Opening Sept. 28 and 29. The new Darcie Kent Wine Gallery features the vineyard’s single-estate wines and showcases the paintings of vintner and artist Darcie Kent. The new wine tasting room and gallery is located at Concannon Vineyard next to the Underdog Wine Bar.

Livermore’s  “2012 Taste of Downtown” winners were just announced: won both “Best Restaurant Taste” and "Best Restaurant Presentation" with their four-course tasting of Cheese Fondue, Salad Entrée and Chocolate Fondue. Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake and Chocolate Dipped Strawberry captured the “Best Dessert Taste” award. Artistic Edge was the favorite in the “Best Shopping” category. Little Valley Winery served Almond Sparkling Champagne to snag the “Best Livermore Valley Wine” title. And “Best Global Wine Taste,” from the cellar of , went to Guardian Peak South Africa for its Frontier blend.

Get the most recent list of new stores opening up in Livermore’s new Paragon Outlets in Patch’s .

Dublin’s new Shalimar Restaurant opened in late June on Amador Valley Boulevard, replacing the short-lived Masala Time. The new restaurant, which specializes in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, also has restaurants in San Francisco and Fremont. View a menu at shalimarsf.com.

Enjoy Creole cuisine? Voodoo Kitchen is set to open this September on Koll Center Parkway in Pleasanton. Owner Wendy Wang’s new restaurant specializes in New Orleans inspired dishes such as Shrimp Remoulade, Oyster Po-Boy, Jambalaya Pasta, Gumbo, just to name a few. Voodoo Kitchen replaces Rage Super Burgers and is next door to another new eatery, Marco’s Pizza, currently under construction.

Opening Update: Mike’s Bikes, previewed in a , opened Aug. 3 in the Pleasanton Gateway shopping center.

Quickly Café’s owner says his new eatery will open this week, on August 15, at the Plaza at Gale Ranch in San Ramon. Read more about the new Asian café in the .

We hope this is the final Firehouse No. 37 update! San Ramon's new bar and grill's grand opening is officially set for Aug. 18. Sounds like quite a party: Owner Dan Hawkins says that even local firefighters plan to visit for a few hours starting at noon, bringing their trucks and handing out goodies to the kids. Hawkins hopes to open for business later this week. Learn more about the new restaurant .

The Body Bar, a new mobile massage and spa service business, recently launched in Danville. Owner and Danville resident Leslie Mooldyk brings her therapeutic massages, including a non-invasive “face-lift,” right to your door. She also offers massage, scrubs and spray tanning at Jolie Salon. Mooldyk, a recent Army widow, says she always gives a discount to any military active duty soldiers, veterans and all military family members. Learn more on The Body Bar's facebook page.

Mark your calendars for Danville’s popular annual Art & Wine Stroll, taking place Aug. 23, from 6 – 9 p.m. in downtown Danville, the Danville Livery and the Rose Garden shopping center. Tickets cost $25 and include wine tasting, a commemorative wine glass and trolley rides between all locations. The event also features live music, art vendors and shopping deals. Buy your ticket and learn more at discoverdanvilleca.com.

Don’t miss your chance to have a say in what businesses in your city win this year’s “Patch Readers’ Choice.” Click on your city’s name to go to vote: , , , , . Deadline is August 17!

Did you miss Patch's last retail and restaurant roundup? Read about these and more in our last Sprouts & Shutters column:  

  • in Danville
  • in San Ramon
  • update in Dublin
  • in Pleasanton 
  • in Livermore

Know of a restaurant or shop opening or closing in the Tri-Valley? Please send me a news tip at patchsprouts@gmail.com.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Carol Wright June 19, 2013 at 10:17 am
Meeting is on Jun 20th.
Kathleen Schoening June 19, 2013 at 05:11 pm
You can also attend if you are part of the Neighborhood Watch. It was the Neighborhood Watch whoRead More negotiated having the Mayor come to the Springtown HOA meeting.
Nika Megino (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 10:59 am
Hi Christian! Sorry for the trouble! I've gone in and reapproved your posts. I did, however, deleteRead More the duplicates. Please let me know if you have any more trouble with posting, and again, sorry for the inconvenience with our Spambot!
Christian Holm June 17, 2013 at 04:04 pm
Thanks, Nika! I truly appreciate your efforts. I just wish the software would get fixed.
Bridget Carney June 15, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Hi Penelope! I am interested in finding out more about your puppies. Please e-mail me atRead More bridget.carney@gmail.com
Cindy Eckel June 14, 2013 at 08:01 am
Did you try 'Pleasanton Rentals' in Pleasanton...I know you asked for Livermore but this place hasRead More it all!
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 14, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Thank you Cindy I'll give them a call. apprecitate you taking the time.
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 19, 2013 at 01:22 pm
Settled on Partyland. One bottle of free blue syrup with the rental too. Nice touch. Thank you forRead More the tip. It will be a fun party with this little addition! :-)
Abby and Buddy
Beatrice Karnes June 13, 2013 at 08:48 am
They are beautiful and you described them so well! I hope that someone steps forward quickly! (IRead More have my quota of cats already.)
TrueRealist June 12, 2013 at 06:35 pm
It isn't up to the gov. to help raise your kids. The stork didn't drop the kid off unexpectedly. IfRead More you can't afford kids then don't have them.
barbieann June 13, 2013 at 08:39 am
Wow, so quick to jump to conclusions and judge. Maybe T.G. BUYS the child's lunch. Every schoolRead More sells hot lunch every day. At the majority of our schools, more lunches are bought than given for free.
DeAnna Senft McDaid June 13, 2013 at 12:43 pm
The schools give us 2 options as parents. 1. Buying lunches on campus or 2. Send them with a lunch.Read More Clearly the author of this chose number 1 and the school was OUT leaving the child with NO 3rd option. Shame on that school.
Jason Morgan June 9, 2013 at 09:33 pm
A great issue! However, the rodeo is nothing but animal cruelty wrapped up as "tradition"Read More and "entertainment". Why would the animal's welfare become a concern now? Rodeo performers have been documented beating, kicking, and shocking normally docile cows and horses in chutes and holding pens. "Bucking broncos" and steers are provoked with electric prods, sharp sticks, caustic ointments, and the pinching "bucking" strap, which is what really makes them jump, they are not "wild" and "dangerous" . The cowboys earn points by spurring the bucking horse. I have seen them up close and many are bleeding. Calves, roped when running, have their necks snapped back by the lasso, often resulting in neck and back injuries, bruises, broken bones, and internal bleeding. After their short and painful "careers," animals in rodeos are sent to the slaughterhouse. Dr. C.G. Haber, a veterinarian who spent 30 years as a federal meat inspector, describes the animals discarded from rodeos for slaughter as being "so extensively bruised that the only areas in which the skin was attached [to the flesh] was the head, neck, leg, and belly. I have seen animals with six to eight ribs broken from the spine and, at times, puncturing the lungs. I have seen as much as 2 to 3 gallons of free blood accumulated under the detached skin." Every national animal protection organization opposes rodeos because of their inherent cruelty. Don't feel bad everyone, I used to love the rodeo too. Before I knew better...
Bonbrwneyes June 10, 2013 at 09:13 pm
Something to consider and not pushing it aside because I feel its unimportant, but what I'd love toRead More have access to is how the riders that were hurt are doing today. Two bull riders got gored, one in the back and he was down and out for a bit and then obviously not "okay" as he stumbled out of the arena and then another that got his leg hurt and he couldn't get himself over the gate on his own. Left saturday's Rodeo hoping they were okay and would love follow up if at all possible. Thanks!