If you are looking for some local color, you might want to enjoy an evening - tonight, Monday, July 27 -  with your City Council.  First up will be two presentations.  First will be BART Director Gail Murray discussing their 2016 bond measure and their Expenditure Plan.  Then we will be hearing from Tom Guarino, Government Relations Manager with PG&E.  He will give the council an update on the Tree Removal Plan related to the Gas Pipeline Safety Initiative.  Tony Coe will give an update on Contra Costa Transportation Authority's request for a list of candidate projects that could be considered as part of a $2.3 Million Dollar Tax initiative over the next 25 years.  Public Hearing agenda items include the vacant property at Mt. Diablo Blvd and Dewing where Chase would like to build a new Bank, and then on to "The Homes at Deer Hill."  A reminder, the city council will be holding a special Saturday session to discuss the "Homes at Deerhill" on August 8th.  They plan to complete the hearings at the following city council meeting on August 10th.  The meeting starts at 7:00pm and is held at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

In Cal Shakes' production of Life Is a Dream a king driven by a chilling prophecy; a scorned woman on a journey for revenge; a dangerously ambitious couple vying for the throne; and a man who defies fate to make a new destiny for himself, his family, and his country, are the beating heart of Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz's poetic adaptation of Pedro Calderón de la Barca's ferociously beautiful Spanish Golden Age classic. This epic tale of love, power, and destiny is directed by the Magic Theatre's Loretta Greco, and features a brilliant cast led by Bay Area favorite Sean San José playing now at the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda until August 2. For information and reservations visit www.calshakes.org.