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East Bay baker launches new dessert spots — psst, there’s more than cupcakes there

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

Batter ‘N Icing in Danville and Pleasant Hill offers catering and wedding cakes in addition to its cupcake and dessert shop offerings. (Courtesy Nisha Kanakarajan.) A Danville cupcake shop is now offering a wider range of desserts, and it’s got a new sister location in Pleasant Hill.After five years in business operating as a franchise of Smallcakes in Danville, owner Nisha Kanakarajan of San Ramon made some big changes this year. In April, she spun out the bakery into her own brand, Batter ‘N Icing, and in May, she opened a second location in Pleasant Hill.Kanakarajan, an engineer and former IT professional, had always been an avid home baker when she encountered Smallcakes in 2018.“I was looking for an outlet to be able to feed more people,” she says. “I hadn’t gone to culinary school and … was looking for a brand that would help me get started.”Now she’s striking out on her own, launching her own shops and expanding...

Single-family residence sells in Los Gatos for $2.2 million

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

32 Mariposa Avenue – Google Street ViewA house located in the first block of Mariposa Avenue in Los Gatos has new owners. The 1,084-square-foot property, built in 1941, was sold on July 7, 2023, for $2,210,000, or $2,039 per square foot. The layout of this single-story home consists of two bedrooms and one bath. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the house includes a two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The lot of the property is substantial, measuring 9,620 square feet, and boasts a pool for relaxation and recreation.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:In April 2023, a 1,892-square-foot home on Fancher Court in Los Gatos sold for $2,951,000, a price per square foot of $1,560. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Fancher Court, Los Gatos, in May 2023, a 2,250-square-foot home was sold for $2,850,000, a price per square foot of $1,267. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,692-square-foot home on the 100 b...

Santa Cruz Boardwalk 2023: Summer/fall movies, concerts, festivals, chili cook-off

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

Summer’s never over at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, even when the calendar says that autumn is heading our way. Here’s a roundup of events taking place in August, September and October. And, as always, Boardwalk admission is free:Free Thursday concertsCalifornia bands have been providing the beach soundtrack this season, with free concerts set for 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, through Aug. 10, on the Boardwalk’s Colonnade. There’s a dance area in front of the stage; picnic table seating is first come, first served.This Thursday, Aug. 3, an alt-Mexican band from Salinas/Watsonville called 4to Prestigio will perform corridos, cumbias, zapateados and rancheros.The finale on Aug. 10 will feature Pacific Roots, a reggae, punk and rock group from Santa Cruz.Free movies on the beachWhen the sun goes down, the screen comes up.At 9 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 11, movies will be the attraction on the Main Beach in front of the Colonnade. Bring your Boardwalk snacks and your ...

Berkeley housing tower project pushes ahead with real estate deal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

BERKELEY — A housing highrise that’s being eyed in Berkeley is pushing ahead with a property purchase by the real estate firm that ultimately intends to develop the tower, public records show.An East Bay real estate firm has bought the development site, which is at 2109 Milvia Street in downtown Berkeley, documents on file at the Alameda County Recorder’s Office show.NX Ventures, acting through an affiliate, paid slightly less than $3.7 million for the Milvia Street site, according to county real estate records.Century Properties sold the property, which at present is a surface parking lot, the public documents show.The purchase of the property is a fresh sign that NX Ventures is pushing ahead with the development.NX Ventures, whose principal executive is business entrepreneur Nathan George, has proposed several housing development projects in Berkeley.The 105-unit 2109 Milvia site is expected to have 11 affordable apartments that would be set aside for people with...

Bay Area arts: 6 great shows to see this weekend and beyond

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

There are some great live shows to catch this week in the Bay Area, from ALO’s return to the Bruns to S.F. Ballet’s return to the Frost and Family Fiesta’s return to History Park.Here’s a partial rundown.ALO Fest returns to OrindaSadly, California Shakespeare Theater isn’t part of the Bay Area’s summer entertainment landscape this year, as the financially troubled troupe is idled until 2024; but at least its lovely home — Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda — is being put to use.This weekend, for example, finds the Bruns, a gorgeous tree-shrouded outdoor venue nestled among rolling hills, hosting the lively Animal Liberation Orchestra for two shows.The 25-year-old Northern California, which just dropped its ninth studio album, “Silver Saturdsays,”  band is known for a blues/folk/rock sound that is plenty tight but leaves room for improvisation, jamming and some attitude thrown in. Opening the shows are the folk duo Two Runner on S...

California man accused of instigating violence at rallies is extradited from Romania

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

A Huntington Beach man accused of helping establish a Southern California-based militant, white supremacist group has been extradited back to the United States from Romania to face federal charges for allegedly instigating violence at local political rallies.Robert Paul Rundo, authorities say, is the founding member of the Rise Above Movement and the lead defendant among three men charged with recruiting and training others to commit violence at rallies in Huntington Beach, Berkeley and San Bernardino. He  was flown to California on Tuesday evening, Aug. 1, and is in federal custody as he awaits trial, the United States Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday morning, Aug. 2.The Rise Above Movement, prosecutors note, publicly describes itself as a “combat-ready, militant group of a new nationalist white supremacy and identity movement.” Federal prosecutors have previously described members as “serial rioters” with an anti-Semitic, racist ideology who train to attack those who hold con...

Alleged Lake Tahoe foot fondler identified, arrested in NorCal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

(KRON) -- A man accused of breaking into a Lake Tahoe resort and fondling women's feet has been apprehended, sheriff's investigators said Wednesday. The suspected foot fondler was identified as Mark Anthony Gonzales, 26, of Atwater, Calif., according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada. The creepy pre-dawn incidents happened when many tourists were vacationing around Lake Tahoe for the Fourth of July holiday. "During the early morning hours between July 1-3, 2023, an adult male entered two Stateline resort condominiums by opening unlocked screen doors. Once inside, he positioned himself at the foot of the bed and rubbed the feet of two separate adult females," the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office wrote.Mark Anthony Gonzales' mugshot was released by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The women woke up to discover that a complete stranger was fondling their feet, investigators said. The victims confronted the man and he fled. DCSO wrote, "Investigators learned Gonzales w...

Oakland kidnapping near south shore of Lake Merritt being investigated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

(KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department is investigating a kidnapping that occurred on Tuesday morning on the 100 block of East 15th Street, police confirmed. Officers arrived on the scene and learned that a female victim had been forced into a vehicle by an individual at 8:15 a.m. Alleged Lake Tahoe foot fondler identified, arrested in NorCal The individual then fled with the victim at a high rate of speed, police said.The investigation is active. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the OPD Special Victims Unit at (510) 238-7910.No other information was provided at this time.

Brazil’s Lula voices support for more countries joining BRICS group

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that he supports more countries joining the BRICS group of large developing nations, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.The group will hold a summit in Johannesburg from Aug. 22 to 24. The meeting will have in hand a list of others desiring to join ther group.“Possibly, in this meeting, we can already consensually decide which new countries can join BRICS,” Lula told international journalists in the capital, Brasilia. “I am of the opinion that as many countries want to enter, if they are in compliance with the rules we are establishing, we will accept the countries’ entrance.”Lula’s comments came hours after Reuters reported that Brazil has resisted expanding the group’s membership. It quoted unidentified Brazilian diplomats as voicing concern that adding more nations could lessen the influence of the existing members.Around 20 countries have for...

Senate office buildings locked down over reports of gunman

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:54:11 GMT

U.S. Capitol Police officers clear a stairwell in the Dirksen Senate Office Building next to the Russell Senate Office Building, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) U.S. Capitol Police officers clear a stairwell in the Dirksen Senate Office Building next to the Russell Senate Office Building, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order and began searching Senate office buildings near the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon amid reports of an active shooter.The U.S. Capitol Police announced on the X social media platf...