News & Events from the Lafayette Chamber | | |
Taste of Lafayette Restaurant Stroll
Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 5pm-7:30pm
Lafayette Chamber Connectors at Creekside Commons
Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 8:15am-9:30am
Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals at Abio Properties
Thursday, May 22, 2025, 5:30pm-7pm
JOINT Nonprofit Network: Lafayette and Concord Chambers at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
Wednesday, June 4, 8:30am-10am
Rock The Plaza Summer Concert Series
Fridays, June: 6, 13, 20, 27
Lafayette Business Women at St. Perpetua
Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 8:45am-10:00am
Lafayette Chamber Mixer and Vendor Fair
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 5pm-7pm
➡ Lafayette Chamber Events Calendar ⬅
Chamber Member Events Calendar
Nonprofit Email Blast (Current issue May 2025)
Arts Community Blast (Current issue May-June 2025)
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Taste of Lafayette Restaurant Stroll
Lafayette’s Favorite Dinner Party – The “Taste of Lafayette” Restaurant Stroll! Friends, Food & Entertainment
Tuesday, May 20, 5PM - 7:30PM
Downtown Lafayette - Lafayette Plaza is located at the corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd., 3535 Plaza Way, Lafayette
Tickets are now sold out. Please join the waitlist here.
➡ All are welcome (ticket or no ticket) to enjoy music in Lafayette Plaza (corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Road) by Generations in Jazz, entertainment and photo booth by New You Dance Center, and fun activities by All Ages Recreation Downtown.
Thank you for all our sponsors, partners and especially our participating restaurants!
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Lafayette Chamber Connectors at Creekside Commons
Lafayette Chamber Connectors will meet at Creekside Commons, Wednesday, May 21st, 8:15am-9:30am!
Click here to register.
Lafayette Chamber Connectors is Co-Chaired by Fred Steingraf, Edward Jones and Rebekah Dani, Rebekah Dani Coaching & Consulting.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for drinks and snacks! Please contact Fred Steingraf at fred.steingraf@edwardjones.com for sponsorship information.
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Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals at Abio Properties
Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals will meet at Abio Properties, Thursday, May 22nd, 5:30pm-7pm!
- Please note, due to the June holiday, Young Professionals will not be meeting in June.
Click here to register.
This event is at Abio Properties, hosted by Linnette Edwards, The Linnette Team.
Lafayette Chamber Young Professionals is Co-Chaired Carolyne Charvoz, Mass Mutual of Northern California and Matt Boone, Dan Fitzpatrick Team, Compass.
Join the email list here: https://lafayettechamber.org/e-blast
Participate in the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lafayetteyopros
Join the LinkedIn Group!
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Zip Trips Summer Tour 2025
Zip Trips is making its first Summer Tour stop in Lafayette!
"The stage is set, the crew is ready, and we’re kicking things off Friday, May 23 — live on Mornings on 2 during the 9 a.m. hour and streaming on the FOX LOCAL app."
Learn more from KTVU's Instagram here!
| | WELCOME OUR NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS | | |
The following businesses/organizations recently joined the Lafayette Chamber! We encourage you to visit their website to learn more.
East Bay Regional Park District
2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605
Elsa Grandvoinet, https://www.ebparks.org
The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. We manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect.
Category: Government & Public Services
East West Kung Fu
3482 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, CA 94549
Collin Lee, bokfudo.com
In business since 1967, our world class instructors are dedicated to training men, women, and children in martial arts, self-defense and fitness. We teach people how to develop themselves physically, mentally and emotionally improving their lives on all levels.
Category: Fitness, Sports & Recreation, Health & Wellness
Oguz Law, P.C.
1990 N California Blvd Fl 8, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Dorukhan Oguz, www.oguz.law
As a leading San Francisco Bay Area-based law firm, we provide comprehensive legal services in Immigration Law, Business Law, Trademark Law, and Personal Injury Law, offering tailored solutions to both individuals and businesses.
Category: Legal Services
Orinda Living Magazine
Orinda, CA 94563
Cortney Kahn, Instagram: @orindalivingmagazine
Connecting the Orinda community through a monthly magazine featuring local families, local businesses & more!
Category: Advertising & Marketing
R&H Rejuvenation and Health Aesthetics
1080 Carol Lane, Suite 108, Lafayette, CA 94549
Hazel Tatom, www.rejuvenationandhealth.com
Our Services: Aesthetic & Facial Rejuvenation - Plexr Shower & Plasma Fibroblast: Non-surgical skin tightening and resurfacing using cutting-edge plasma technology.
Emface: A revolutionary, needle-free facial contouring treatment that lifts and tones.
Microneedling RF: Stimulates collagen and elastin production for firmer skin.
Category: Health & Wellness
The Specific Chiropractic Centers
Lafayette, CA 94549
Chris Brown, drchrisbrown.co
Upper Cervical Chiropractic specializing in central nervous system care for idiopathic conditions.
Category: Health & Wellness, Healthcare & Medical
True Story Foods
Fairfield, CA
Antonio Solorzano, https://www.truestoryfoods.com
Family-owned local business based out of Fairfield Ca, specializing in Organic & Antibiotic free Deli meats, Sausages, & Bacon. We’re improving the welfare of our land, our animals, our farmers and our families.
Category: Restaurants, Food & Beverage
| | THANK YOU, RENEWING CHAMBER MEMBERS | | |
In Remembrance of Karl Anderson
Our hearts to go out to the Anderson family on the passing of Karl Anderson. Karl ran Anderson Bros. Movers and was a staple at Lafayette Chamber events; a Chamber member since 2010.
Photo is from the Chamber’s 2024 Holiday Mixer at Merrill Gardens, pictured from left is Jeremy Steel, Karl Anderson, and daughter Stephanie Anderson who has taken over the business.
Mass and a reception will be held at St. Perpetua Church on Saturday, August 16th starting at 10:30am.
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City of Lafayette
On Monday, May 12, the City of Lafayette held a special unveiling ceremony honoring the Saclan heritage and recognizing the deep, rich history of this land.
As part of the City’s ongoing commitment to cultural recognition, the Land Acknowledgment Task Force, working with artist Hannah Henry, has designed an educational sign that reflects the Saclan culture’s profound connection to the land. Two of these signs have been created—one will be installed at the Lafayette Community Center, and the other stands at the First Street Rain Garden.
📷 See pictures from the event here.
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JOINT Nonprofit Network: Lafayette and Concord Chambers
The Concord Nonprofit Network and Lafayette Chamber Nonprofit Network are sharing knowledge and building community together.
Wednesday, June 4, 8:30AM - 10AM
Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa, 3287 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.
Register here.
We believe that nonprofit organizations play an essential role in building and sustaining thriving communities. Our mission is to foster collaboration, share expertise, and promote best practices among nonprofit professionals and volunteers. Whether you're a seasoned executive or a newcomer to the non-profit sector, we're here to provide you with the resources, connections, and support you need to make a positive impact in the world.
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Resource spotlight for the morning will be “Insights on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Resources available for Non-profits to best leverage" presented by Nichol Carranza, Marathon Renewable Fuels.
FREE and open to Lafayette Chamber AND Concord Chamber member nonprofit executives, staff, board, volunteers.
Please note that we are planning to meet outside in the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa Courtyard, please dress accordingly. The Courtyard is limited to 75 attendees. We encourage early registration to ensure your spot—this event is expected to fill quickly.
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Mix, Mingle & Market Yourself!
Join fellow Lafayette Chamber members for an evening of networking, community connection, and local business discovery. This is your chance to build visibility, make new contacts, and showcase your organization in a casual, social setting.
Lafayette Chamber Mixer & Vendor Fair
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | 5:00pm – 7:00pm
REGISTER HERE
Hosted at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA.
Free for Chamber Members | $20 Guest Fee (Non-Members)
Featuring local wines by Deer Hill Vineyards, Los Arabis Vineyards and Raisin d'Etre Vineyards at the no-host bar. Complementary non-alcoholic beverages from Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling.
Vendor Opportunities – Members Only:
• 20 Business Tables Available: $100 (ONLY 4 LEFT!)
• 5 Nonprofit Showcase Spots: $50 (CALL FOR WAITLIST!)
Vendor setup begins at 4:00 PM. Vendor-to-Vendor Preview: 4:30pm–5:00pm
Events sponsored by Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County.
Space is limited—register early to reserve your spot! And don’t forget your business cards!
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⚠️ Social Media Scams!
There have been scams through social media messaging asking for your phone number. Do your research, if the messaging seems suspicious, do not respond, or respond via another communication channel to confirm.
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⚠️ Friendly Reminder: Watch Out for Scams Targeting Local Businesses
Lafayette Chamber was alerted of recent scam attempts—via email and phone—targeting local businesses and employees. These messages often appear to come from a supervisor or team member and may request urgent payments, gift cards, or sensitive information.
Scammers do their homework—they might know who’s out of the office or use real names to sound convincing.
Please pause and verify any unusual requests through a trusted method before taking action. When in doubt, check it out!
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All Ages Recreation Downtown Presents Art Market in the Parklet
Artisan Fair, Lawn Games, Food, Treats, Crafts & Activities.
Free admission for all ages.
14 Sundays, May 18 - Aug. 17 11am-5pm, 3501 Golden Gate Way
Artists, Food Trucks, Treats Vendors, please use form on allagesplay.org to participate, or use this link.
This 14 Summer Sundays event series focused on local artisans, fun, food, and funds for downtown parks is made possible thanks to many generous donors, and the support of:
All Ages Recreation Downtown is a 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(2) public benefit nonprofit dedicated to bringing all ages and all abilities parks and recreation programs to downtown Lafayette, CA. TX ID # 93-2021276
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Get Your Free Ad in the Grapevine Coupon Book
Good when you purchase an ad in the July/ August issue of The Grapevine, mailed to 81,000 homes in the same 4 great mailing zones!
Click here to learn more!
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Small Business Help Office Hours - Hosted by SCORE
SCORE has the largest network of free volunteer small business mentors in the nation. No matter what stage your business is at SCORE can be a valuable resource.
The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has been partnering with SCORE for over 15 years. We welcome our chamber members and community members to schedule a meeting with a SCORE representative on Tuesdays between the hours of 1:30pm-4:00pm in our Chamber office at 251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150.
To schedule your appointment, please call the Lafayette Chamber at (925) 284-7404 or book your appointment online.
| | UPCOMING CHAMBER MEMBER EVENTS | | |
Las Trampas Feature on FOX KTVU
Las Trampas is so excited to share that they will be featured on KTVU's Giving Day segment on Tuesday, May 20th at 9 AM! Watch live on Channel 2 or at ktvu.com/givingday.
This segment is an incredible opportunity to spotlight the essential programs and services that they offer to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Media coverage like this gives them a platform to raise awareness, advocate for their community, and bring new supporters into their mission!
You can also join them for a special community event!
Want to learn more about what they do? Sign up for a Campus Tour here!
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Acalanes Senior Rally in the Park!
Acalanes is excited that the City approved blocking off Plaza Way for their new annual event: Senior Rally in the Park!
May 22, 3pm-4:30pm, Lafayette Plaza
Seniors will decorate their cars and then start the celebration with the annual Memory Walk through their respective Lafayette elementary school.
At 3pm, Seniors and families are invited to come together at Lafayette Plaza for live music (an awesome student band), Sideboard food and drink, games, and lots of Dons spirit. It will be a special way for them to celebrate their hometown community of Downtown Lafayette. They hope there will be plenty of cheers and car horns from passersby!
- They encourage families to stay downtown to shop and eat that evening with their seniors.
- Parking - Attendees can park in nearby parking lots (Plaza Center, La Fiesta Square) and in metered spots along Mt. Diablo Blvd and Golden Gate Way.
Thank you for your continued support of our Acalanes grads!
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County Connection: Youth Ride Free
Youth Ride Free, Summer Pilot Program
Regional summer travel just got a whole lot better for area youth in central Contra Costa County! County Connection is excited to announce our new Youth Ride Free Summer pilot program—offering fare-free rides on all bus routes for young people up to 18 years of age from June 1 through July 31.
Young riders can hop on any County Connection bus without needing to fill out an application or get a special pass. It’s easy! Just get on and go!
Goals of the Youth Ride Free Program
Throughout June and July 2025, our Youth Ride Free initiative aims to:
- Enhance Mobility: Enable young people to move around freely and confidently.
- Access Vital Resources: Ensure area youth can visit libraries, parks, shopping centers, and explore summer job opportunities.
- Reduce Social Isolation: Foster connections among peers and encourage greater transit literacy.
- Understand Travel Patterns: Help County Connection gain insights into youth travel habits to better serve our community.
While previous programs like the Summer Youth Pass (now discontinued) and Pass2Class have provided incentives for youth to ride transit, our youth ridership trends have not shown much growth, suggesting a need for a change in strategy. The Youth Ride Free pilot program is designed to revitalize youth engagement with public transit.
Remove Barriers, Roll Out the Welcome Mat
The Youth Ride Free pilot encourages County Connection to think outside the box and examine the needs of younger riders. By removing the need for applications and passes–what some may deem as obstacles–they are opening their doors and welcome any youth (18 and under) to give their bus service a try. Fees? Gone. Show an ID? Not necessary. Fill out an application? Nope! No catch. They hope to see you on board this summer! Learn more here.
| | CAMPS, SCHOOLS & KIDS’ ACTIVITIES! | | Check out opportunities from these fellow Lafayette Chamber members. Have a program to add? Email us at info@lafayettechamber.org. | | |
Give us Your Thoughts: Lafayette Downtown Parking Management Study
Save the date of Wednesday, May 21 to join us for an in-person workshop to provide input on the Lafayette Downtown Parking Management Study. After a series of workshops for downtown business owners in March, we are now hosting a workshop for visitors to our downtown. Visitors, business owners, employees, and residents of our downtown are encouraged to share parking experiences with us and provide feedback on how downtown’s parking supply may or may not meet demands for the wide range of land uses in our downtown.
Public Workshop:
In addition to the community workshop, an online survey will launch soon and that will provide an opportunity to provide input. It is expected that the online survey will launch by mid-May and will be open for 4 weeks.
We launched a Downtown Parking Management Study in Fall 2024 to identify parking management strategies that achieve an efficient balance between existing and future parking supply and demand, an expected increase in new housing, and increased multi-modal travel throughout Lafayette’s downtown area.
This study will update and supplement Lafayette’s 2016 Parking Management Strategy to address current and future parking needs in the Downtown area. It will include recommended parking management strategies to balance on-street and off-street public and private parking availability and uses to support the diverse range of downtown land uses, accommodate the expected rise in housing supply, and anticipate the potential future reduction in commuter parking at BART station lots. Additionally, it will address the community’s desire for expanding safe pedestrian and cycling networks in Downtown Lafayette and enhancing active transportation connections to other parts of the City. Read more about the Downtown Parking Management Study.
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BART MAINTENANCE WORK
BART will be performing rail maintenance work between Orinda and Lafayette Stations. The work each night is scheduled to start at 10pm and continue until BART service begins the next morning. To create safe clearance for our crews, BART will reduce service from two tracks to one while the work is taking place. Riders can anticipate delays of 15-20 minutes on work nights. BART does not anticipate noise levels to exceed the sound of the surrounding freeway.
The work entails destressing the rail to enable it to withstand swings between high and low temperatures. Temperature extremes can introduce extreme stress on the tracks. In cold weather, contraction of the rail can lead to fractures, while hot conditions can induce expansion and cause track buckling. Climate change is expected make these temperature swings more common and significant. Destressing the rail will reduce the risk of derailments and will ensure a more resilient transit system for BART riders.
Dates for this scheduled work include May 22 – 23, 2025.
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City of Lafayette: The Weekly Roundup
The Weekly Roundup, May 16, 2025 | Latest News | City of Lafayette, CA
News From the City Manager’s Corner
This week’s updates from City Manager, Niroop Srivatsa highlight:
- Provide your Thoughts About Parking Management Downtown
- Sign Honoring Saclan Connection to Land and Water Unveiled
- Springtime Weed Abatement Deadline Approaching
- Taste of Lafayette is This Tuesday, May 20
- Coffee with the Cops on Wednesday Morning at Peets
- Joint Planning Commission and Design Review Commission Meeting on Monday Night
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Spring/Summer Roadwork Updates
- City Road Paving on Mt. Diablo Blvd. and St. Mary’s Road
- EBMUD Roadwork on Reliez Valley Road
- EBMUD to Start Roadwork in June on Glorietta Blvd in Orinda
➡ Sign up to receive City notifications: Sign up for meeting agendas and Lafayette’s publications at bit.ly/LafayetteNotifications. Also, find out how to follow the City of Lafayette on social media at https://www.lovelafayette.org/connect.
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Supervisor Candace Andersen Weekly Update
May 16, 2025, Weekly Update
➡ Contra Costa Health Awarded $98M in Prop 1 Dollars for Three Projects
➡ Treasurer-Tax Collector's Unclaimed Money in Contra Costa County
➡ East Bay EDA Economic Conference Sparks Insightful Dialogue with East Bay Experts
➡ Candace Joins Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary for Breakfast on May 9th
➡ Contra Costa County Library Partners with Brainfuse JobNow
➡ Contra Costa Health Services Launches Community Planning Process to Transform Our Behavioral Health System
➡ Are You Registered to Do Business in Contra Costa County?
➡ Draft Mental Health Services Act Three-Year Program and Expenditure Plan Public Comment Period Open!
➡ Sinkhole Repair Work on Taylor Blvd
➡ 2025 Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival on Saturday, May 31 & Sunday, June 1
➡ Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Weed Abatement Deadline June 1st
➡ "State of the County Address" on July 29th featuring Supervisor Candace Andersen
➡ Invasive Mosquitoes Found in Contra Costa County
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Highlight Your Chamber Membership!
Showcase your Lafayette Chamber membership on your website or marketing materials with the official Chamber logo! Simply email your request to info@lafayettechamber.org.
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