WELCOME TO ORINDA

Orinda is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 17,599 at the 2000 census. The town is located just east of the city of Oakland and home to many affluent professionals who commute to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and Walnut Creek. The city is well known in the area as one of the most desirable addresses in the East Bay due to its excellent public schools, high-priced real estate and naturally scenic landscape. While the city is in close proximity to nearby urban areas, it has maintained a very intimate, small town atmosphere. Much of the city is very hilly and dotted with multi-million dollar custom homes.

RECREATION

The Orinda Film Festival

Starting in 2002, Orinda began hosting the Orinda Film Festival, an annual regional film festival taking place at the historic Orinda Theater. In 2005, actor William Hurt attended the festival to promote the film The Blue Butterfly in which he played a leading role. The festival was last held in 2005.

In August 2009, the California Independent Film Festival (www.caiff.org) announced they will be making Orinda their new home. The 12th Annual California Independent Film Festival will be held on April 22nd through 25th. CIFF held it's first fund raiser in Orinda on September 18th, a screening of "The Birds" to a pack house, with special guest Ms. Tippi Hedren.

The California Shakespeare Theater

The internationally known California Shakespeare Theater, (a.k.a. "Cal Shakes"), performs from June to October at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater (located on land leased from EBMUD in the hills north of highway 24). The Theater's conservatory operates throughout the year, featuring programs for children, teenagers, young actors, teachers and adults.

Swimming and waterpolo

Several Orinda summer-league swim teams compete for a championship cup in mid-August every year. Over two thousand individual swimmers typically participate. Orinda is also home to the popular year-round swim team, Orinda Aquatics. Numerous competitive swimmers (and waterpolo players) from Orinda have gone on to compete for major colleges and in the Olympics. Notables include Kirk Everist '86 (US Olympic Team '92 and '96), Heather Petri '96 (Silver: 2000 Olympics, 2008 Olympics; Bronze: 2004 Olympics), and Michael Sharf (NCAA All-American, 2007 US National Team Member).