What to Know, Where to Go
A smart weekly look at the East Bay
through the lens of local life, housing, and development.
What the market is telling us
Mortgage rates are basically stuck. The average 30-year fixed was 6.67% on August 13, down only slightly from 6.69% the week before. That means buyers still aren’t getting the meaningful rate break many have been waiting for, and pricing and condition continue to matter a lot.
The local read
The local numbers are all over the map, which is actually the story. Over the three months ending in June, Walnut Creek’s median sale price was up 19.1% year over year, while Lafayette was down 8.1%. Pleasant Hill, Moraga, Orinda and Concord were all modestly higher, while Martinez was nearly flat.
I wouldn’t read too much into any one percentage because smaller local markets can swing based on what happened to sell. The bigger takeaway is that this is a very segmented market. Neighborhood, property type, condition and pricing strategy matter more than the broad “Bay Area market” headline.
We’re seeing that downtown too. 1655 N. California Blvd. #156 at The Mercer is pending at $1.1 million, while 1874 Bonanza St. #10 is pending at $1.05 million. Good downtown product can still move quickly when the price and presentation make sense.
What I’d actually put on the calendar
Walnut Creek
Broadway Plaza Summer Concert: Summer Night City
Broadway Plaza | August 20 | 5:30–8:30 PM | Free ABBA tribute concert closing out Broadway Plaza’s summer series.
Sunset Sessions: Brad Parese
Ruth Bancroft Garden | August 20 | 5:30–7:30 PM | Free live music, food, drinks and late-night plant shopping.
Artistic Expression
American Cancer Society Discovery Shop | August 21–22 | 10 AM–6 PM | Special two-day sale featuring clothing, jewelry, art, housewares and unusual vintage and designer finds.
Live Country Music + Line Dancing
Bourbon Highway | August 21 & 22 | 6:30 PM–1 AM | Live country music, line dancing and karaoke Friday and Saturday nights.
Headlands Brewing | August 21 | 2:00–3:00 PM | Ruth Bancroft Garden hosts an afternoon of painting, plants and pints.
Main Street Kitchen & Bar | August 21 | 5–9 PM | Friday-night patio party with live music, food and drinks downtown.
BG Open Air: Old Borges Ranch Hike + Plein Air Watercolor
Old Borges Ranch | August 22 | 9:30–11:30 AM | Guided hike through the hills followed by outdoor watercolor painting.
Northern California Walk-n-Roll for Cure SMA
Civic Park | August 22 | Festivities begin 10 AM | Community walk and gathering supporting Cure SMA and families affected by spinal muscular atrophy.
Makers Market Outdoor Market
Broadway Plaza | August 22 | 11 AM–5 PM | Local makers, artisan goods, live music and an outdoor market downtown.
Music on Main
Cypress & Main Street | August 22 | 5:30–8 PM | Free downtown concert featuring SPH. Family-friendly and open to all.
Summer Plant Swap
Ruth Bancroft Garden | August 23 | 9:00–11:30 AM | Bring healthy plants, cuttings or succulents and swap with other plant lovers. Ticketed.
Sip & Paint Brunch
Barebottle Brewing Co., 1375 S. California Blvd. | August 23 | 9:30 AM–12:00 PM | Sunday brunch paired with a guided painting session.
Summer Market at Shadelands Ranch Museum
Shadelands Ranch Museum | August 23 | 10 AM–2 PM | Outdoor summer market at the historic ranch with local makers and vendors. The Walnut Creek Historical Society confirms the Aug. 23 market.
Joybound Pet Adoptions
Headlands Brewing Walnut Creek | August 23 | 12–3 PM | Meet adoptable animals from Joybound People & Pets at the beer garden.
Children’s Jazz Program
Walnut Creek Library | August 25 | 4:30–5:30 PM | Free interactive concert with the Dave Rocha Jazz Trio for kids and families.
Sunset Yoga
Ruth Bancroft Garden | August 26 | 5:30–7:00 PM | Beginner-friendly after-hours yoga in the garden.
Improv Jam!
Walnut Creek | August 26 | 7:00–9:00 PM | An evening of spontaneous improv and audience-friendly comedy.
Community Day: Lindsay Wildlife
Headlands Brewing Walnut Creek | August 27 | 3–6 PM | Lindsay Wildlife brings some animal ambassadors to Headlands. All ages welcome.
Walnut Creek Chamber BASH
Convivia Work | August 27 | 5:30–7 PM | Chamber social with local food, dessert and networking. Free for members; $20 for guests.
Summer Nights: Sunset Abstractions
Shadelands Art Center | August 27 | 6:00–8:00 PM | Beginner-friendly evening acrylic workshop inspired by abstract sunsets.
Full Moon Eclipse Hike
Mount Diablo | August 27 | 7:15–9:15 PM | Lindsay Wildlife leads a two-mile nighttime hike during a near-total lunar eclipse. Ages 6+. Very limited availability.
Pleasant Hill
Off the Grid
Pleasant Hill City Hall | August 20 & 27 | Thursday evening | Weekly food-truck gathering on the City Hall lawn.
Board Installation Dinner + Business Person of the Year Awards
Back Forty Texas BBQ | August 20 | 6–9 PM | Pleasant Hill Chamber brings back its installation dinner and honors the city’s Business Person of the Year.
Downtown Summer Concert: The Cheeseballs
Downtown Pleasant Hill | August 20 | 7–9 PM | Free outdoor concert with funk, soul, R&B and dance favorites.
Pleasant Hill Night Market
Chilpancingo Park | August 21 | Evening | Food, live music, local vendors and family activities at the city’s twice-monthly Night Market.
LEGO Builders Club
Pleasant Hill Library | August 22 | 2–4 PM | Free drop-in LEGO building for all ages and abilities.
Relaxing Sound Bath at Andaan Gallery
Andaan Gallery, 2261 Morello Ave. | August 23 | 10:30 AM–12 PM | Guided sound-bath experience inside the contemporary art gallery. Ticketed.
In Harmony Music
Pleasant Hill Library | August 25 | 6:30–7:30 PM | Free family evening of singing, movement, imaginative play and live music.
I Heart Toddler Art
Pleasant Hill Library | August 26 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Stories and hands-on art for toddlers and preschoolers.
Lamorinda
FREE Movie Night: Thelma & Louise
Orinda Theatre | August 20 | 6:30 PM | Free screening of the 1991 classic at the historic Orinda Theatre.
HOW: How Orinda Works
Orinda | August 20 & 27 | 6:00–8:30 PM | Aug. 20 covers police, emergency management and fire services; Aug. 27 covers parks and public works. The civic academy is already full.
Moraga Summer Concert: Fleetwood Mask
Moraga Commons | August 20 | 6:30–8:30 PM | Free Fleetwood Mac tribute concert and the final regular concert of Moraga’s summer series.
Despicable Me: Movie in the Park
Orinda Community Park | August 20 | Food trucks 5–8 PM; movie at dusk | Free outdoor family movie night.
Saint Mary’s vs. UC Davis Women’s Soccer
Saint Mary’s Stadium, Moraga | August 20 | 5 PM | The Gaels host UC Davis to open the home slate.
Notes4Hope House Concert
Orinda | August 21 | 5–10 PM | Live music from LUCE, food, beer, wine and cocktails at an outdoor house concert benefiting people impacted by cancer.
LIT & Laughing Improv Jam
Orinda Theatre | August 21 | 7 PM | Adults-only, BYOB improv night with low-pressure games for participants and spectators. $20.
Earthless + Primitive Ring + DümSürf
Siesta Valley Bowl, Orinda | August 21 | 8 PM | Ticketed outdoor rock show in Orinda’s new live-music venue.
Orinda Farmers’ Market
Orinda Community Center | August 22 | 9 AM–1 PM | Saturday market along Orinda Way.
LEGO Block Party
Moraga Library | August 22 | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM | Free drop-in LEGO building for kids and families.
Feel the Sounds: East Bay Community Extravaganza
Siesta Valley Bowl, Orinda | August 22 | Noon | All-ages day of surf, punk and garage rock with a large East Bay lineup.
Teen Improv Party
Orinda Theatre | August 22 | 6 PM | Improv games, pizza and a night out geared toward ages 14–18. $25.
Live Music Sundays
Headlands Brewing, Lafayette | August 23 | 1–4 PM | Sunday afternoon live music in the beer garden.
Saint Mary’s vs. Georgetown Women’s Soccer
Saint Mary’s Stadium, Moraga | August 23 | 1 PM | The Gaels host Georgetown for a Sunday-afternoon home match.
ARRIVAL From Sweden: The Music of ABBA
Siesta Valley Bowl, Orinda | August 23 | 8 PM | Internationally touring ABBA tribute show under the stars.
Classic Movie Matinee: Sabrina
Orinda Theatre | August 25 | 1 PM | Billy Wilder’s 1954 classic starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden, hosted by film critic Matías Bombal.
Christian Eck Live
Headlands Brewing, Lafayette | August 25 | 5:30–7:30 PM | Free Tuesday-evening live music.
Lafayette Young Professionals
Lafayette Public House | August 27 | 9–10 AM | Morning social and networking gathering hosted by the Lafayette Chamber. Registration required.
Sixteen Scandals: Concert in the Park
Orinda Community Park | August 27 | 6–8 PM | Free outdoor concert with food trucks in downtown Orinda.
Women Director Series: I Saw the TV Glow
Orinda Theatre | August 27 | 7:30 PM | Special screening presented as part of the theatre’s Women Director Series.
Concord
Music & Market: The 3 Queens of Motown
Todos Santos Plaza | August 20 | Market at 4 PM; concert at 6:30 PM | Tribute to Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin. Free.
Paint Your Pet at Side Gate Brewery
Side Gate Brewery | August 23 | 2–4:30 PM | Guided paint-and-sip using a pre-sketched portrait of your own pet. $65; first drink included; 21+.
BYOC Movie Night: Now & Then
Concord Library | August 24 | 5:30–7:30 PM | Bring your own chair or blanket for a free screening of the 1995 coming-of-age movie, with popcorn provided.
Open Mic Night at Vinnie’s
Vinnie’s Bar & Grill | August 24 | Evening | Weekly downtown open mic for local performers.
Concord Farmers’ Market
Todos Santos Plaza | August 25 | 9 AM–2 PM | Downtown’s year-round Tuesday market.
Country Night at Vinnie’s
Vinnie’s Bar & Grill | August 25 | 8–11 PM | Free country line-dancing lessons and dancing downtown.
Side Gate Trivia Night
Side Gate Brewery | August 26 | 6:30–8:30 PM | Weekly Geeks Who Drink team trivia; sign-ups at 6:30 PM and quiz at 7 PM.
Music & Market: Aja Vu
Todos Santos Plaza | August 27 | Market at 4 PM; concert at 6:30 PM | Steely Dan and Chicago tribute at the weekly free concert series.
Martinez
John Muir Association Networking Mixer
John Muir National Historic Site | August 20 | 5:30–7 PM | Community and business mixer at one of Martinez’s signature historic landmarks.
Friday & Saturday Night Out at Nu-Rays
Nu-Rays Bar | August 21 & 22 | 6–10 PM | Downtown Martinez’s recurring weekend street gathering at Nu-Rays.
Aire Libre Weekends
Escobar Street at Del Cielo Brewing | August 21–23 | Friday–Sunday | Downtown street space opens up for food, drinks and outdoor gathering throughout the weekend.
The Kurt Ribak Trio
Roxx on Main | August 21 | 7–9 PM | Friday-night jazz in downtown Martinez.
Jimbo Scott & Yesterday’s Biscuits
Del Cielo Brewing | August 22 | 6:30–9:30 PM | Saturday-night country and folk music downtown.
Macy Blackman & The Mighty Fines
Roxx on Main | August 22 | 7–9 PM | Live journey through early rock and roll, rhythm and blues and New Orleans music.
Downtown Martinez Farmers’ Market
Main Street | August 23 | 9 AM–1 PM | Sunday morning market downtown.
Martinez Library Book Club: The Outsiders
Martinez Library | August 25 | 6:00–7:00 PM | Monthly adult book discussion featuring S.E. Hinton’s classic novel.
Watch Your Tone: Scotty O’s Birthday – Who Cares!?
Luigi’s Downtown Martinez | August 26 | 6:30–8:30 PM | The Wednesday Night Listening Room returns with another intimate live-music night.
First Baptist Church 100th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting
First Baptist Church, 1802 Alhambra Ave. | August 27 | 5:30–7 PM | Community celebration marking the church’s 100-year anniversary.
The Cottage Auditions
Campbell Theater, 636 Ward Street | August 27 | 6:30–9:00 PM | Open auditions for the Martinez Campbell Theater’s upcoming production.
Meetings that matter
Walnut Creek
Planning Commission | August 27 | 6 PM
The agenda is still to come. This is the main Walnut Creek land-use meeting this week.
Pleasant Hill
Architectural Review Commission | August 20 | 5 PM
Planning Commission | August 25 | 6:30 PM
Zoning Administrator | August 27 | 5 PM
Three meetings to watch for development, design and land-use items.
Lamorinda
Orinda Planning Commission | August 25 | 7 PM
Moraga Town Council Special Meeting | August 26 | 5:30 PM
Orinda Planning is the main land-use meeting to watch this week.
Concord
City Council | August 25 | 6:30 PM
Design Review Board | August 27 | 5:30 PM
Council is the main meeting to watch, with Design Review following Thursday.
Martinez
Zoning Administrator | August 20 | 4 PM
A relatively light civic week after the August 19 City Council meeting.
The scoreboard
Latest available local snapshot, three months ending June 2026:
Walnut Creek: $997,457 median sale price | 287 homes sold | 18 days on market | +19.1% YoY
Pleasant Hill: $948,484 median sale price | 105 homes sold | 14 days on market | +5.4% YoY
Lafayette: $1,998,912 median sale price | 85 homes sold | 18 days on market | -8.1% YoY
Moraga: $1,780,281 median sale price | 57 homes sold | 14 days on market | +4.7% YoY
Orinda: $2,012,905 median sale price | 68 homes sold | 12 days on market | +4.4% YoY
Concord: $799,565 median sale price | 299 homes sold | 17 days on market | +3.8% YoY
Martinez: $804,562 median sale price | 110 homes sold | 16 days on market | -1.0% YoY
5 Star Sold Property
5 beds | 4 baths | 3,338 sqft
$2,348,000
5 Star Pending Properties
3 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,673 sqft
$1,100,000
2 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,448 sqft
$1,050,000
3 beds | 3 baths | 1,899 sqft
$1,410,000
5 Star Just Listed Property
1 bed | 1 bath | 726 sqft
$435,000
One smart add-on
Walnut Creek is focusing on community engagement this August with the Walnut Creek 2050 General Plan Update pop-ups, new downtown public art murals, and sign-ups for the Civic Academy, alongside steady construction progress on the massive new Heather Farm Park community center.
If there’s an East Bay neighborhood, project, local issue, event, or market question you want me to cover in a future edition, hit reply and send it my way.
– Brendan
