Orinda City Hall	Photos by David Wakely
Orinda City Hall	Orinda City Hall Interior
The new 13,900-square foot Orinda City Hall is at the forefront of eco-friendly government construction in the Bay Area. It’s one of the first city halls in California to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)—a third-party green-verification system that is now mandatory for city government buildings in places like Berkeley, Pleasanton and San Jose, but not in smaller towns like Orinda. Designers Siegel and Strain expect to earn a LEED silver or gold certificate based on the building’s indoor air quality, low energy consumption and use of local materials and resources. Located on a hill within walking-distance to downtown, the building now houses the police, administrative, planning, public works and building departments and represents an end to 20 years of housing city functions in temporary settings.

Shakespeare Theater - The internationally known California Shakespeare Theater (510-548-9666) has its regular season from June to October at the beautiful Bruns Memorial Amphitheater in Orinda. The Theater's conservatory operates throughout the year, featuring programs for children, teenagers, young actors, teachers and adults. Website: www.calshakes.org

Theatre Square. The historic Orinda Theatre (925-254-9060), a beautifully refurbished art deco masterwork, is the centerpiece of Orinda's Theatre Square (925-254-1978), a retail, restaurant and office complex with more than 30 unique and wonderful stores.

Live at the Orinda. A gala night of champagne and comedy at the landmark Orinda Theatre featuring side-splitting comedians, presented each March by The Orinda Chamber of Commerce.

The California Independent Film Festival. Presented each April, this cavalcade of classic films with their stars often making personal appearances at the festive events is for all a highlight of the year. The California Independent Film Festival (website: CAIFF) also presents numerous other film events in Orinda throughout the year.  

Independence Day celebration. The Orinda community throws a fantastic Independence Day celebration every year. Be sure not to miss the fun!

The Orinda Restaurant Tour. A culinary explorer's delight as the restaurants of Orinda show off their fine offerings, starting with a reception at Theatre Square, presented each September by The Orinda Chamber of Commerce.

The Orinda Classic Car Show. Each September a fantastic collection of classic automobiles rolls into Orinda and admission to the show is free. Packed with nostalgia and automotive perfection, this show is preceded by a gala dinner-dance event where all the owners and super-fans gather for a Friday evening of fun the night before the show. The 2011 car show event will take place on Saturday, September 24^th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. See more at www.OrindaCarShow.com.   

Parks and preserves. The Orinda community is surrounded by several large park and regional preserves, including Tilden Park, San Pablo Reservoir, Briones Open Space, and Lafayette Reservoir. Orinda is at the crossroads of many National and Regional Trail systems. These include The American Discovery Trail, The deLaveaga Trail, The East Bay Regional Park Trail System, as well as several local walking areas. The City has received the designation of "Trail Town U.S.A." by the American Hiking Association.