Best Racetrack in Alameda County, CA

When most people think of going to the movies, they think of indoor theaters with seating. However, for those who want to indulge in nostalgia and fun, you can still enjoy a drive-in or independent movie theater. You can bring your friends or family to one of the several in Alameda County and the surrounding area. They’re also an excellent choice for an upcoming date night. more Image by Meg Boulden is licensed with Unsplash license Alameda Theatre Cineplex and Grill Pop-Up Drive-In Bring the family to the Alameda Theatre Cineplex for a fun night at the pop-up drive-in. The complex is located at 1951 Monarch St. in Alameda. There are no assigned parking spots, but you do need to buy a car pass to enjoy the show. There are limited refreshments available, all wrapped in packages. Due to current health restrictions, patrons must stay in their cars unless they go to the bathroom or buy a snack. The movie begins at sundown, with gates closing 15 minutes prior. West Wind Solano If you want a drive-in experience in a California original, head to the West Wind Solano at 1611 Solano Way in Concord. They host weekly viewings of Hollywood's latest offerings. Tuesdays are family fun nights where families can get a deal on tickets. For every other night, adults are $9, and children from ages 5-11 are $2. Anyone under the age of 4 is free. You can buy tickets online until one hour before showtime; tickets are sold at the gate until showtime. You can bring food from home or purchase snacks at the concession stand. Open fires are not allowed. The spots are available on a first come, first served basis, so arrive early for the best place. Animals, except for service dogs, are not allowed. You can request a special message to be played before any of the movies. West Wind Capitol Drive-In Another option from the West Wind company is the West Wind Capital Drive-In. It's located at 3630 Hillcap Ave. in San Jose. The theater does tend to show different movies than its Solano counterpart. While most nights they offer only one film, sometimes there are movies lined up for a double feature. There is a fifteen-minute intermission when they show two movies. Ensure your engine is off, which keeps your headlights from interfering with the movie. Keep your car battery engaged so you can tune your car radio to the posted FM station to enjoy the film. Grand Lake Theatre The Grand Lake Theatre is located at 3200 Grand Ave. in Oakland. This historic gem of an independent theater keeps the ticket prices low while keeping the entertainment value high; adults are only $7.50 for a matinee and $13 for a night movie. If you watch a movie on Tuesday, it's $6 all day. You can enjoy the latest Hollywood offerings surrounded by classic charm. There is even a 3D screen for a more immersive experience. On Friday and Saturday nights, moviegoers can take a trip back in time and listen to the beauty of a mighty Wurlitzer organ before the movies begin. The music is played in the main auditorium. Balboa Theatre For a unique experience, head for the Balboa Theatre at 3630 Balboa St. in San Francisco. The theater opened in 1926 and has been known to show some exciting movies through the years. The screenings here tend to focus on more cultural films. While you can find a few new projects from Hollywood, the focus is more on movies from the past. The upcoming schedule is posted on their website. General admission tickets are $15. Seniors over 60 pay $12.50. The New Parkway The New Parkway is a unique independent theater at 474 24th St. in Oakland. Not only do they play first-run films, but you can get a meal in the on-site cafe before your movie. They’re open throughout the week. The hours for the cafe adjust with the movies' times to ensure you can eat without having to rush before the show. Beyond the movies, the theater hosts a theme night every night of the week so customers can enjoy an activity before or after their show. Some examples of the themes include trivia, art, cooking classes, and even a video game tournament. Wednesdays are a fantastic night to catch a movie as it’s a pay-what-you-can night. After the showings, the staff donates their profits from the night to a local charity through a Karma Cinema program. All the money stays in the East Bay to support charities in the area. You can rent it out for private celebrations if you enjoy the location. Landmark Piedmont Theatre Another independent option in Oakland is the Landmark Piedmont Theatre at 4186 Piedmont Ave. They show first-run moves throughout the week. Beyond the newest from Hollywood, they also show art and independent films. The building houses three screens with state-of-the-art sound and video equipment. Guests will settle into luxury leather seats that’ll make them feel at home for the length of their show. Before the show, the concession stands are packed with everybody's favorites. If you purchase a large soft drink or popcorn, you can get free refills if you don’t mind missing a few minutes of the movie. Have you ever wanted to watch a movie with the people who made it? Piedmont offers that chance with filmmakers' Q&A sessions. You’ll enjoy the movie as usual and then be able to discuss it with the filmmaker and your fellow audience members. If you’re looking for a discount ticket rate, Tuesday night movies are $7. If you enjoy Piedmont, you can rent it for special events. They host everything from fundraisers to bachelor/bachelorette parties. You can even rent it for a gaming experience on the big screen. Before the movie begins, swing by Dublin Toyota to check out our vast selection or ask any of our associates a question. If you’re in the market to upgrade, we can make your next drive-in experience even better.

Are you preparing to move to a new home in Dublin, California? Finding a reliable moving service can make relocating a lot more manageable. Luckily, there's no shortage of moving truck services for you to choose from around Dublin. Our team at Dublin Toyota has put its local expertise to good use and identified five of the best moving companies based on our review of the local area's offerings. If you're unsure who to turn to for your moving needs, we hope our guide will serve as a helpful starting point. more Why Use a Moving Truck Service in Dublin? Finding the right moving truck service can make the whole new-home process a lot easier. Professional movers can safely pack your belongings, transport them to your new location, and unpack everything in your new home. The best moving companies also have insurance coverage, so you won't have to worry if there’s any damage to your items during the move. Another advantage of hiring a professional home moving service is that you can focus on other things during this busy time. A move always involves a long list of essential tasks, whether it’s decorating your new home, finding a new school for your kids, or selling furniture and other things you no longer need. Letting the professionals handle the move rather than doing it yourself with a truck and a group of friends promises a more relaxed, hassle-free experience for everyone involved. Moving can be complicated, especially if you have valuable or fragile items that need special care. A professional mover has the equipment and know-how to ensure your belongings arrive at your new location safely. Tony's Movers Tony's Movers' motto is "making your life easier one move at a time," and it's been doing just that for over a decade. The company specializes in heavy lifting and moving bulky items, such as pianos and large pieces of furniture. Additional services include packing and delivery. Allowing the professionals at Tony's Movers to take care of the heavy lifting reduces the likelihood of you suffering injuries. The movers can load and unload your belongings to alleviate the worry of possible damage to your items. The company has an SMS loyalty program that lets you access the best prices and various contact options, including social media and email. Location: 2150 Munro St., Apt. 9, Santa Clara, 95050 Castro Moving Services This Santa Clara-based moving service has expertise in residential and commercial moving. It also provides long-distance moving services, so it's the ideal partner if your next move takes you out of state. You can request a quote online or speak to one of Castro's moving experts to discuss your requirements. The company promises close attention to detail and is committed to tailoring the moving experience to your needs. Castro's also provides a storage service if you need a secure place to keep your belongings until you're in your new location. If you want an idea of the potential cost, you can request a free no-obligation quote via the website. Location: 3670 Peacock Court, Santa Clara, 95051 Smart People Moving Smart People Moving has dedicated teams of movers for local, long-distance, and cross-country moves. So this company can help you wherever your next journey takes you. It offers three moving packages depending on your project size, so you'll have anywhere from two to four movers to complete the job. On top of moving your gear, Smart People Moving can assemble furniture, perform heavy lifting, and safely transport items up and down flights of stairs. The price includes the free use of blankets, wardrobe boxes, and other packing supplies, along with dollies, tools, and straps to make your move easier. You can easily request a quote or browse the per-hour rates online. Location: 1300 Lawton St., San Francisco, 94122 Happy House Movers This moving company specializes in both residential and commercial moves. So whether you're moving your business to a new office or your home to another part of town, it has everything you need for a stress-free move. Packing supplies, such as bubble wrap, garment boxes, and tape, are available for your convenience. It also offers junk removal and specialist services, such as piano moving. Happy House Movers offers a variety of insurance options, so you can be confident your belongings are secure throughout the move. Location: 6334 Market Ave., Newark, 94560 Two Friends Movers Two Friends offers a range of services you'll find useful throughout the move. This company’s professionals can disassemble furniture, pack your things safely, load them into your chosen vehicle, and then unload and unpack your belongings at your new location. If you want your furniture reassembled, the team can handle that too. The company also offers specialist moving services, so if you’re transporting art, relocating a piano, or moving antique pieces, the Two Friends team can take care of it for you. It'll also take care of any junk removal you may need. The moving team allows the free use of blankets, wardrobe boxes, and other moving supplies. It backs up its professional service with insurance coverage so you won't have to worry about covering the cost of any damage resulting from your move. Two Friends Movers can handle local and long-distance moves. To make a reservation, the office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 3 p.m. on Saturday. You can also email them at any time, which is extremely helpful if you need to plan your move around a tight schedule. Location: 834 Willow St., Redwood City, 94063 As you can see, there's no shortage of professional house movers in the Dublin area. Whether you need a large truck for all your items or a more specialist service to safely move your valuables, we hope our shortlist has helped you find the right company for your needs. Have you done business with any of the movers we've featured? Do you have another tip for our customers that you'd like to share? Feel free to contact us today at Dublin Toyota, and we'll be sure to use your feedback in one of our future blog articles. Image by Brooke Cagle is licensed with Unplase License

Do you require a smog check as part of your vehicle's registration? Perhaps you're registering a vehicle for the first time, and you're wondering if you can claim a smog test exemption. Here at Dublin Toyota, we've put together a guide to help you understand the key points about smog tests in Dublin, California, and where you can get a test done. more California Smog Test Requirements The state government introduced smog tests to limit vehicle emissions in California. This test can be required when you newly register or reregister a car, truck, or SUV. As part of the test, an inspector will examine your tailpipe and related equipment, including emissions reduction features. They'll also look at other parts of your vehicle to ensure they're in good working order and that you don't have any issues, such as a warning engine light. Several types of vehicles are exempt from the smog test requirement. If you drive a car built before 1975, it's exempt. You also won't need to perform a smog test for an electric vehicle, a diesel-powered vehicle built before 1997, or a natural gas-powered vehicle weighing more than 14,000 pounds. You are exempt if you drive an electric or a gas-powered vehicle less than eight model years old. These exemptions can help make the vehicle registration process a bit easier and save you the $30 to $60 that a typical smog test costs. If your vehicle requires smog testing, there are several steps you can take to make sure it passes the first time around. First, it's well worth getting all your routine maintenance updated. For example, if you're approaching your next oil change, stop by our Dublin service center for an oil change. Smog test inspectors may be more likely to find fault with a vehicle with low engine oil levels because they may associate this with poorer emissions performance. It's also worth driving your car at highway speeds for about 15 minutes before you head to the test center. That's because warming up your car can help produce a more accurate reading of your car's emissions during the test. Finally, you may consider taking a pre-test inspection at one of Dublin's smog testing locations. During this inspection, a specialist will point out any problems with your vehicle that would cause you to automatically fail the test. This will allow you to resolve any issues before performing the smog test. There is a good selection of smog test stations in and around Dublin. Check out one on our list and let us know what you think of their services. Smog Station This location is STAR certified, a government program to ensure the quality of a smog test. You can get a certificate at Smog Station simply by dropping by during business hours, as no appointment is necessary. Smog Station has been serving Dublin drivers since 1984 and has expert technicians on-site six days a week. In addition to performing smog tests, they can handle a wide range of auto repairs and maintenance requests. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Location: 6355 Scarlett Court, Suite 9, Dublin. Dublin Smog Test At Dublin Smog Test, you can take care of your biennial smog test and vehicle registration in no time. Another big bonus about this test site is that they offer Sunday hours, which may come in handy if you don't have the time during the week to get your test done. On top of testing your car, the team at Dublin Smog Test can handle brake repairs, fluid flushes, and other general vehicle maintenance tasks. You can email them or fill out the online form to arrange an appointment. Hours: Closed Monday through Thursday. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Location: 6427 Golden Gate Drive, Dublin. Dublin Automotive and Smog You can reserve an appointment at Dublin Automotive and Smog for your smog test or drop by. Their team of auto technicians can also perform emissions servicing on your vehicle, including repairs and improvements to your exhaust system. The test center also offers more general auto repairs, whether you're having problems with your air conditioning, heating, or engine. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Location: 7034 Village Parkway, Dublin. Dougherty Road Smog Located conveniently on Dougherty Road, this location can deal with everything surrounding your smog test. You can choose to make an appointment or drop by, and they'll be happy to help. If you can't make it during the week, call ahead to arrange for an appointment on Saturday. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Friday, and call for appointments on Saturday. Location: 6055 Dougherty Road, Dublin. Smog King Test Station At Smog King, you get a premium test service with a comfortable place to relax while the professionals take care of your vehicle. You can get a detailed presentation of your test results, including the performance of specific components, or just the "pass" or "fail" grade. The test includes a visual inspection of your vehicle, testing various components, and testing the level of emissions from your exhaust. While you wait, you can read the complimentary newspapers on offer or browse online, thanks to their free Wi-Fi. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Location: 19 Beta Court, San Ramon. So, there you have a list of smog test centers easily accessible from Dublin. Did we include a test center you've used before? Or maybe we missed one you've had a great experience with? Contact us with your comments about our smog test guide, and feel free to ask any questions you may have. We'd be delighted to share your smog test tips in a future blog post. Smoke Coming From the Exhaust Pipes by Khunkorn Laowisit Is licensed with Pexels