FOOD DRINK
ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE &
WHAT IS SINGO?
A new way to play
Bingo at local venues
PAIR WITH CARE
Which foods go best with which beers
GIVING BACK
Helping local restaurants after a night out
China Wok in Discovery Bay has new owners
ANDREW RULLODAThe small Chinese restaurant at the Sandy Cove shopping center in Discovery Bay has been serving its patrons for more than 10 years.
Customers of China Wok may have noticed the new face is behind the counter. Bin Zhaug, a previous owner of a Sushi Bar in Brentwood, acquired China Wok in November of 2023, giving the restaurant a week to close for some light renovations before its grand opening in December 2023.
“We know Discovery Bay doesn’t
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have a lot of dining options so it’s nice to give back to the community,” Bin said. “Our customer relationship is important to us, and our team is important to us. We rely on our customer feedback that we read on Yelp to make sure we are doing what we need to to serve our community better.”
“We are a small team of five employees, myself included,” he added.
Bin invites everyone to enjoy a meal at China Wok. The restaurant is at 14870 Highway 4, Suite F, Discovery Bay. open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays noon-9 p.m. They also accept orders through DoorDash for home delivery.
Contact them at (925) 516-6688 or visit www.chinawokdiscoverybay.com
Custom GLUTEN FREE Cakes for all occasions
KARAOKE
NIGHT WITH DJ SCOTTY
SATURDAYS 8:00 pm - 12:00 am
HOURS: Sun-Thurs 11:00 am - 9:00 pm • Fri-Sat 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
HAPPY HOUR: Mon-Fri 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm • Sat-Sun 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
INDIAN LUNCH BUFFET & SALAD BAR: Mon-Sat 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Come by for a visit! Let us take care of your Event & Catering needs!
A new musical way to play Bingo catches on A
new take on a popular game of chance has been making the rounds at local eateries, with an added musical twist to it.
“Singo” is a spin on the classic game of Bingo, combining the popular number-matching game with singing. Instead of listening for a number, players will instead listen for a song title, with a wide variety of musical categories available for use.
It is described on their website as a “great game for bars and restaurants to bring people coming back week after week to play.” Doug Daley, Chief Entertainment Officer of Daley Entertainment Agency in Brentwood, says Singo has been around for a few years, but is now finally starting to explode as people are continually looking for fun and new things to do.
“We do play music genre according to the crowd as we have like 70 different games,” Daley said. “We have all the different music genres, from oldies to present to match your musical taste.”
During gameplay, a 35-second clip of a song is played, and if a player has that song on their Singo game card, it is then marked it off with a Bingo dauber. When a player gets five in a row, they win. With Singo being welcome to people of all ages, if kids don’t know the names of the songs, they are able to use their reading skills to figure the songs out by being allowed to use musical identifying app Shazam, or a special Singo app to help them win. Typically, three games are played per card, which are:
♦ Single Row: Five songs in a row in any direction.
♦ Double Row: Two complete rows in any direction.
♦ Blackout Round: Where every song on a card must be marked off.
Below is a weekly schedule of venues and locations of where Singo is played.
♦ Monday: 6-8 p.m. at Marina Bar & Grill in Discovery Bay
♦ Tuesday: 6-8 p.m. at (WTF) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Restaurant in Oakley
♦ Tuesday: 7 p.m. at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill in
How to pair beer with food
The craft beer boom has inspired millions of people to look at beer through a new lens. Once relegated to backyard barbecues and ballgames, beer is now served alongside gourmet meals. Much like the right wine can make a meal taste even better, beer can bring out the flavors of food, making it an ideal complement to anything from steak to seafood to salad.
The Brewers Association is an American trade group whose membership consists of more than 5,400 brewers, suppliers and retailers. The group recommends beer lovers follow a three-pronged approach to matching beer and food. It’s worth noting the Brewers Association does not view this approach as a 1-2-3 process, meaning beer lovers need not follow the steps in order to perfect their pairing skills.
1. Match strength with strength. The Brewers Association recommends pairing strongly flavored foods with assertive beers and delicate foods with delicate beers. For example, a relatively low-alcohol witbier should pair well with light seafood
like steamed mussels. Beer lovers who enjoy strong barley wines, which are typically 10 percent alcohol by volume or higher, should find that a strong cheese or dessert matches up well with this overpowering style.
2. Find harmonies. The Brewers Association notes that beer-food combinations typically resonate most effectively when they share some common flavor or aroma element. The Brewers Association points to how the deep, roasted flavors of an imperial stout often pair nicely with chocolate truffles.
3. Consider sweetness, bitterness, carbonation, heat (spice), and richness.
The Brewers Association recommends that beer lovers take advantage of the specific and predictable ways that certain qualities of food and beer interact with each other. For example, malty sweetness can cool the heat, making a hoppy beer with plenty of malt a good choice to pair with spicy food.
Pairing the right beer with food can make any night out that much better.
– Courtesy of Metro Creative
Pair like a pro
Want to pair your favorite craft beers like an old pro at home or at your local pub with an extensive tap list?
Consider these pairing recommendations, courtesy of the Brewers Association.
♦ Witbier: Lighter seafood dishes like steamed mussels
♦ Blonde ale: Light food, including chicken, salads and salmon
♦ India Pale Ale: Strong spicy food and bold, sweet desserts like carrot cake
♦ Double/Imperial IPA: Smoked beef brisket, grilled lamb and Southern chicken-fried steak
♦ Amber/red ale: Chicken, seafood, burgers, and spicy cuisine
♦ Porter: Barbecue, sausages, roasted meat, and blackened fish
♦ Sweet or Oatmeal stout: Rich, spicy food, including barbecued beef and Szechuan cuisine
♦ Classic pilsner: Light food such as chicken, salads and salmon
♦ American wheat ale: Light food, including salads, sushi and vegetable dishes
♦ Abbey dubbel: Barbecue, meat stews, and a thick, hearty steak
Singo from page 3B
♦ Tuesday: 8-10 p.m. at Nu-Rays Bar in Martinez
♦ Wednesday: 6-8 p.m. at La Tapatia Restaurant in Martinez
♦ Wednesday: 7-9 p.m. at Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill in Brentwood
♦ Wednesday: 8-10 p.m. at Clayton Club Saloon in Clayton
♦ Thursday: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Orwood Resort in Brentwood
Additionally, Singo is also played on every last Thursday of every month at the Buon Vino Wine Bar in Walnut Creek. And according to Daley, starting on Friday, May 24, Singo will be played every Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Sugar Barge Resort in Bethel Island.
While Daley says it is hard to determine exactly how many people Singo attracts to each venue due to each location being different, on average about 40 people show up. Players may also win gift cards or prizes provided by the various bars or restaurants where Singo is played.
“We play weekly as to bring people back every week to play,” Daley said. “It does not cost to play as the bar or restaurant pays us to bring people in to play.”
For more information on Singo and other services, visit the Daley Entertainment Agency official website at http://www.dea4fun. com/. A brief video on Singo can be
found here at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=aIuUzhAdoWo
A link to the upcoming Singo schedule is at https://dea4planning.com/eventcalendar.asp?djidnumber=21557.
How to help local restaurants after a night out
The restaurant business was dealt a significant blow during the COVID-19 pandemic when forced closures of nonessential businesses reduced many eateries to takeout-only establishments. Even when those restrictions were relaxed, social distancing guidelines meant many establishments could not seat guests at full capacity, further cutting into restaurants’ profits.
Now that life has largely returned to pre-pandemic normalcy, the restaurants that made it through the restrictions are back, and many are as busy as ever. But there are still a lot diners can do to help bars and restaurants after a night out on the town. The benefits of a thriving local business sector include more tax revenue, more jobs, a stronger sense of community, and, in communities with ample nightlife opportunities, a town that residents view as a fun place to live. A local business sector benefits when customers do their part, and the following are some ways residents can help their local bars and restaurants continue their recovery from pandemic-related restrictions.
· Write an online review. A recent report from Review Tracker found that 81 percent of consumers are inclined to visit Google Reviews before patronizing a business. A positive review on Google Reviews or other popular review aggregators like Yelp is sure to benefit a local restaurant. Share details about the food and drinks, but don’t forget to mention exceptional service as well.
· Spread the word to neighbors and friends. Online
reviews are a great way to spread the word far and wide, but word-of-mouth also can be effective. The marketing solution experts at Hibü contend that word-of-mouth marketing is the most popular way to recommend a business. Share details of a fun night out at a local bar or restaurant when speaking with friends and neighbors around town.
· Do it all over again in the future. Repeat customers are the backbone of many small businesses, and bars and restaurants are no exception. A report in Harvard Business Review noted that bringing on a new customer can be as
much as 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing customer. The next time a night of socializing is in order, go back to the bar or restaurant where you had fun night on the first go-round. Doing so ensures another night’s worth of fun memories and helps bars and restaurants thrive.
After enduring hardships related to the pandemic, many bars and restaurants are back to offering great service in a fun atmosphere. But there’s still a lot their loyal customers can do to ensure such establishments continue to thrive in the future.
These are less obvious sources of caffeine
Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world.
Caffeine speeds up the central nervous system and can make users feel more alert. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada says more than 80 percent of adults regularly consume caffeine, which is often used to provide an energy boost or increase alertness.
Caffeine is found in coffee, teas, colas, and chocolate in varying amountsm, but caffeine can be found in other places as well. While some caffeine daily generally is safe, excessive caffeine consumption can cause insomnia, headaches and high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. Quitting caffeine cold turkey also can lead to withdrawal symptoms, particularly for those who consume lots of it regularly.
Learning about less obvious sources of caffeine can help people avoid over-consumption.
· Energy drinks: The National Institutes of Health says the primary ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine. Approximately two-thirds of energy drink consumers now are 13 and 35 years old. Energy drinks usually contain large amounts of sugar and anywhere from 80 to 150 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that 400 mg of caffeine daily has generally not been associated with adverse health effects. Most energy drinks are 16 ounces or more, so it’s important individuals monitor their consumption of such beverages. Drinking multiple energy drinks can quickly add up.
♦ Decaffeinated products: Despite the name decaffeinated, these beverages are not entirely devoid of caffeine. The FDA requires 97 percent of the caffeine to be stripped in products marked “decaf,” but that still leaves some caffeine.
♦ Snack bars and pre-workout drinks: Protein and energy bars and drinks may feature various ingredi -
ents to give individuals energy. It’s important to check the nutrition information to determine caffeine content.
♦ Kombucha: This product is a fermented tea beverage. Since tea contains caffeine, kombucha will have caffeine as well. Kombucha caffeine levels range from 5 to 15 mg per serving, according to Health.com.
♦ Additives: Some additives and other ingredients in foods and beverages contain caffeine. The Mayo Clinic says choline, ginseng, guarana, kola nut, malic acid, and maltodextrin can contain caffeine.
♦ Painkillers: Certain pain relievers, particularly those that are geared toward headache relief, contain caffeine. Caffeine is put into some painkillers to ensure their active ingredients work. A pill can contain upwards of 65 mg.
♦ Non-cola sodas: Cola sodas usually contain caffeine, but lighter soft drinks, such as lemon-lime or orange varieties, also can contain caffeine.
– Courtesy of Metro Creative
For print, email your events to calendar@brentwoodpress.com one week prior to publication. For online, post your events for free on The Press Community Calendar www.thepress.net/calendar.
This Week’s Events
Saturday, April 20
4th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show
Catholic Daughters of the Americas
Immaculate Heart of Mary Court #2714 presents the 4th annual luncheon and Fashion Show from 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Day of event tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for 12 and under. Wear your favorite spring hat because there will be a prize for the best hat, plus basket raffles and more. For details, email Marina Khayat ihmcda2714@gmail.com.
Living Better After 50
A day of learning with workshops on Tai Chi, laughter yoga, safe driving, scams and fraud safety, preventing falls, mindfulness, aging care decisions, fitness and nutrition and brain health. Workshops are $5 and are from 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. at Black Diamond High School, 1131 Stoneman Ave., in Pittsburg. Light breakfast, lunch and a raffle are included. For details, call the Pittsburg Adult Education Center at 925-473-2400.
Tuesday, April 23
Oakley Senior Center Hard Rock Casino bus trip
Round-trip motorcoach transportation with water and snacks playing Bingo on the bus and have a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $47, which includes the driver’s tip. Veterans get a free coffee and doughnut. Make your reservations and pay in advance by April 22. Bus will leave the Oakley Senior Center, 215 Second St. at 8 a.m. and will be back by 5:30 p.m. after five hours at Hard Rock Casino to gamble and eat. For details, call Joyce or Allan at the Oakley Senior Center at 925-626-7223 or 925-265-3417.
Thursday, April 25
Heritage High School Club Fest: Games Galore & Cultural Showcase
The Heritage High Green, 101 American Ave. in Brentwood, will host Club Fest with games and cultural performances from 5-8 p.m. Cultural performances by students in the school’s various culture clubs start at 7, plus a cultural showcase made by the school’s art club. Admission is free, but tickets for the games and food trucks (cash only) are for sale at the event. For details, call 925-634-3671.
On the Horizon
Saturday, April 27
Volunteers sought for Brentwood Community Day of Service
This inaugural event is scheduled for 8 a.m.-5 p.m. starting with a free pancake breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club of Brentwood at Veterans Park at 3841 Balfour Road, then the projects begin at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers are sought to help with projects such as a clothing and food drive, blood drive, farmworker outreach, East County Historical Society projects, writing letters to seniors and U.S. troops, planting and landscaping projects, family counseling services, cleanup and beautification, and meal delivery. For details, visit https://www. brentwoodca.gov/government/city-manager/ community-day-of-service or contact Amy Tilley and Julie Deck at BrentwoodCDOS@ gmail.com. To sign up to volunteer, visit https://www.brentwoodca.gov/government/ city-manager/community-day-of-service
National Drug Take Back Day
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Drop off unneeded prescription medications to one of these two locations: Brentwood at the Brentwood Police
Department at 9100 Brentwood Blvd.
Discovery Bay at the Sandy Cove Shopping Center at 14840 Highway 4 between CVS and Safeway.
Third annual Texas Hold ‘em Tournament
Presented by the Antioch Band Backers, Antioch High football and flag football, dinner and drinks start at 5 p.m. with cards at 6 p.m. at Pac Pride, 4100 Wilbur Ave. suite 100, in Oakley. First prize is $500, second prize is $300, third prize is $150. Tickets are $75 per person, re-buys are $20 and add-ons $20. Dinner only is $20. This is a fundraiser for the Antioch High Marching Band and color guard, football and flag football programs. For details, email abba. president.antioch@gmail.com.
Free Shred-it Day in Byron
St. Anne Council Knights of Columbus annual free Shred-It Day is from 9 a.m.-noon in the St. Anne Chapel parking lot. at 2800 Camino Diablo, Byron. Donations are accepted to defray the cost. For details, visit http://anne.church
Sunday, April 28
Antioch Urban Arts Festival: uniting communities through art, music, and justice
The second Urban Arts Festival takes place in Antioch at the El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. 2nd St. Presented by California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA), the festival begins at 3 p.m. with a student talent showcase featuring emerging artists from the Antioch Unified School District who will compete for a $1,000 grand prize. Then at 7 p.m., The Comedy Party will present performances from Bay Area comedians Jay Rich, Joe Hill, and Kaseem Bentley. The Festival will also include a visual art showcase produced by Empowerment Avenue, highlighting works depicting involuntary servitude by incarcerated artists. The CLA will host an informational legal clinic. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.calawyersforthearts.org/urbanartsfestivals
Tuesday, April 30
5th Annual East Bay Business Expo & Job Fair
More than 80 businesses will be at the free business expo and job fair from 4-7:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak St. Free food, raffles, give-aways, wine and beer tastings. For details, contact the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce at brentwoodchamber. com or call 925- 634-3344.
Fentanyl awareness event
Learn more about the fentanyl crisis, its effect on youth and how to respond to an overdose at the Liberty High School Performing Arts Center, 850 2nd St. in Brentwood, at from 6-7:30 p.m. Narcan will be distributed to everyone who attends. This event is open to everyone, and is appropriate for middle and high school-aged children. Registration is highly encouraged. Register at https://docs.google. com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgFmm77l3Lg5E9sjYCdeshJpfU5eFNW_vi2KozCi-VOuwjw/ viewform?usp=sf_link.
Saturday, May 4
Liberty High School Annual Car Show
The 11th annual show is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Independence High School, 929 Second St., Brentwood. Car registration is $30, and proceeds from this not-for-profit benefit the Liberty High School Auto Shop Program’s projects. But the event is free to the public. Cars start lining up at 7 a.m. and drive in coming north on First Street downtown towards Pine Street. To register, visit https://linktr.ee/ libertyautoclub?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=eab5fe90-61d4-445a-8d23cac0c29fc4aa
Look at the many local events on
Unified Prom’s Under-the-Sea theme Parade and Concert
The Unified Prom, parade and free concert are from 5-9 p.m. ats City Park, 710 Second St. in Brentwood. It starts with a parade downtown for the community, and everyone is invited to attend the parade and concert – and to dress in costume – and cheer the students as they are driven down First Street to City Park. After the parade, the students go into the community center for their prom while the public is invited to stay and listen to live music from The 925 Band in the park. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Volunteers sought for Mount Diablo State Park Dig Days
The Mount Diablo Trails Alliance seeks volunteers for its Dig Days, the last of which is May 4. The event is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and the focus of the March 24 effort will be the Upper Summit Trail above Green Ranch Road junction. On May 4, it will be on the Lower Summit Trail on the Upper Dan Cook SIngletrack near South Gate Road. Volunteers will help maintain and improve trails on the mountain using proven techniques with a focus on safety, preservation and equitable access. For details, visit mountdiablotrailsalliance.org/dig-days
Sunday, May 5
Fiesta Themed Mothers Day Brunch Fundraiser
Join the Mothers of Brentwood for a fiesta like no other at our annual Mothers Day Brunch Fundraiser from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Club Los Meganos, 1700 Trilogy Parkway in Brentwood. This event is not just a celebration of mothers but also an opportunity to support the group’s community outreach initiatives. Raffle tickets can be purchased for the chance to win luxurious spa treatments to gourmet gift baskets. Auction items include a weekend getaway or jewelry among other things. This event is exclusively for ladies. No kids are allowed unless you are breastfeeding. Tickets are $55. For details, visit https://www.mothersofbrentwood.com/events/ annual-mothers-day-brunch-fundraiser/
Saturday, May 11
Rotary Club of Oakley gala
The Rotary Club and Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery host the club’s fifth annual gala at La Grande Estates, 1799 Carpenter Dr. in Oakley, from 5:30-10 p.m. There will be raffles, a silent auction, dessert auction, live auction and a door prize. Tickets are $65 and include dinner and dancing. For tickets, call Amy at 925-206-5394 or Brenda at 925-382-7057. All proceeds from this fundraiser benefit the local community through service projects, scholarships and grants, including Little Libraries, senior home repairs, dictionaries for all third-grade students, the Christmas Food & Toy Drive, to name a few.
Saturday, May 18
Rotary Club of Brentwood 75th Anniversary Party
The Rotary Club of Brentwood is going to be celebrating 75 years of community service and making a difference at McCauley Estate Vineyards, 2525 Sunset Road in Brentwood, from 5:30–9:30 p.m. Tickets are $89, which includes dinner. For details, visit https://75thAnniversary.eventbrite.com.
EMPOWER - Embracing Your Body
Image - A Teen Workshop
A free, live, interactive workshop from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. is designed to empower teens with body image resilience. Learn strategies to navigate cultural influences and foster a positive relationship with your body. This free event at Healthy Minds Counseling Center, 5065 Deer Valley Road, Suite 247 in Antioch, is hosted by Kira Monterrey, LCSW. All donations will go towards our scholarship fund to provide therapy for individuals in need. For more information, email Brittany Perales at brittany@ healthymindscenter.com or call 925-663-8158.
Mind Matters Book Club
This free virtual book club is hosted by Marie Whelan, board-certified sex therapist and registered associate professional clinical counselor. This month’s read is Come Together: The Science (And Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D. Register at Mind Matters Book Club. Admission is free, but all donations will go towards a scholarship fund to provide therapy for individuals in need. ZOOM Conference Room at 5065 Deer Valley Road, Suite 247, in Antioch.
Brentwood Bike Rodeo
Meet traffic officers and the bike patrol team at the Brentwood Senior Center, 193 Griffith Lane, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be bike obstacle courses, a bike safety check, helmet fitting check, bike registration and bike safety tips. To register, visit brentwood.info/BPD/bikerodeo.
Thursday, May 30
Vendors Resource Fair in Oakley
The annual Vendors Resource Fair comes once per year, this year from 10 a.m to 2 p.m at 215 Second St. in Oakley. There will be a distribution, all food free for any who attend. Cross streets are Acme near O’Hara Avenue. For information, call 925-626-7223.
Oakley Senior Center 2024 membership drive
Activities at the center at 215 Second St. include their flea market, the first Saturday of each month, free food distribution every Thursday, a lunch program for seniors, monthly casino trips, exercise class, can-do class (self-defense), iPhone and Android class, CHP safe-driving class, monthly Bingo, plus other events. The drive is from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. For information call 925-626-7223.
Saturday, June 8
Golden Hills Community Church Food distribution
The church at 2401 Shady Lane in Brentwood is offering food distribution to anyone on the following Saturdays from 12:30-2:30 p.m. while supplies last. There are no income requirements or qualifications. Also offered on these Saturdays: Aug. 10, Oct. 12 and Dec. 14. For details, call 925-234-8739.
Saturday, June 15
Brentwood veterans host LUAU 2024
Wear your favorite Hawai’ian shirt and enjoy live Hawai’ian music and cuisine provided by Landeza’s Island, from 6-10 p.m. at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Building, 757 First. St. Hosted by the Marine Corps League, Detachment 155, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10789 and American Legion Post 202. Tickets are $80 and are available until June 10. Wear your favorite Hawai’ian shirt and enjoy live Hawai’ian music, hula dancers, and raffle, silent auction prizes. Proceeds benefit the veterans buiding and veterans organizations affected by the wildfires in Maui last year. Win raffle and silent aution prizes. For tickets, visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ a97eba5d-7b78-44b9-bb3b-e6dfa00759e8
Thursday, July 4
Liberty Bell 5K -Presented by the Liberty Lions Band Boosters
The first Liberty High School Band 5K (3.1 mile) fun run is from 7:30-10 a.m. at Veterans Park, 3841 Balfour Road. Registration starts at $35. Proceeds directly benefit the marching band, jazz band, concert programs, winter percussion and winter guard programs. For the virtual run, you can run whenever and where ever you want from Thursday, July 4-Sunday July 14. All participants will receive a 2024 first annual commemorative T-shirt and medal participating. Packet pick-up is scheduled for Wednesday, July 3, from 3-7 p.m. at Fleet Feet, 6061 Lone Tree Way, in Brentwood. For details, visit https://libertybell5kfunrun.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=16236