Residing in suburban bliss has once again brought on an acute case of the “Get-me-into-the-bustle-of-the-city-for-some-culture-dining-and-noise” fever.

Though I can live without the public human waste and stink of some urban areas, every so often I crave the pulse, the noise, the pollution and street-side dining and shopping as much as I crave urban offerings in arts, culture, commerce, industry and frequently talented sidewalk performers.

My condition is more a case of “urbaphilia” than “suburbaphobia.”

Despite my love of Pleasanton, reminders of my urbaphilia come in strong waves.

A couple of months ago, I met a long-lost friend and fellow high school swim team member in Berkeley for lunch and realized I needed to tap into my inner urban girl more often.

Last summer, a spontaneous family daytrip to several of the less touristy neighborhoods in San Francisco also satiated my need for urban bliss.

The only trouble was that upon arriving in the city and parking our suburban assault vehicle, my family members were enveloped by a blinding white light as they stepped to the curb on Shrader St.

The glare emanated from their formerly city-chic wife and mother.

A light fog from the direction of Amoeba Music seemed to magnify the gleam of my jeans (white), my shoes (white running shoes), my t-shirt (pale pink) and my jacket (tan linen). The effect was a halo of sorts, marking our family distinctly suburban visitors.

Guess I forgot how to dress for the city. The four other family members were dressed in crowd-camouflage dark colors. One of my daughters even wore faded green and gray tie-dyed sweatshirt.

“Quick!” I said in a rushed, breathy whisper as I gauged my surroundings. “Someone find me a consignment store. I need a long black jacket and a hat or  scarf, and now!”

I glowed like the suburbanite I’d grown to be over the previous 14 years. Even my hair spoke suburban.

Not that there’s anything wrong with suburbia. I love where we live. But I need either to find or create the rich urban tenor I so crave in my hometown.

My Pleasanton friend and art afficianado, Claudia Hess, recently mused that she wants to see what we can do to make suburbia feel “not so culturally absent.”

The answer to her question began popping up simultaneously in various Pleasanton venues beginning this week.

“Pop-Up” Art Gift Shop - Today at Studio Unfiltered, 9-1 p.m. & 5-8 p.m.

The hottest new little art gallery in Pleasanton, Studio Unfiltered, is open for a two-day “pop-up” shop through today. After previewing the event, I found it to be surprisingly eclectic, international and artistic.

What gives it the urban flare?

Besides a get-it-now or get-it-never feeling, organizer Kim Clark Pace said the reasonably priced gifts include artistically crafted jewelry, glassware, display art and handmade wares. The gifts for sale are offered from local artisans or through fair trade art arrangements from Kenya, Haiti and Panama.

The coolest parts: Many of these pieces are unavailable anywhere else, the setting is one-of-a-kind, and a good cup of joe can be found at Peet’s when you leave. What's more, a portion of all sales benefits The SOLD Project.

Getting there: Studio Unfiltered is located at 5765 Valley Ave. in Pleasanton (Hopyard Village Shopping Center). Park across the lot from Peet’s. The gallery is to the left of the Peet’s entrance, down a small sidewalk.

Other Events - Most are Free, All are Unique

Friday “Open Mic Nites” at Coffee Ali, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Willing performers are welcome to step up to the mic and show their stuff at what is becoming a regular event at Coffee Ali, located in the Vintage Hills Shopping Center at 3550 Bernal Ave (at Tawny).

By special demand this weekend, aspiring performers' confidence will be boosted by encouragement from local band, The Switch.

Arrive by 5:45 p.m. to sign in and get on the schedule.

Vintage Brass, Sun., Dec. 11, 2:00 p.m.

Vintage Brass Quintet will perform a free holiday concert this Sunday. This vintage brass quartet quintet is made up of local musicians including two trumpets, a trombone, a horn and a tuba. Quintet members have played together for more than a decade and will perform a classic selection of holiday music.  

Old World Folk Band, Sun., Dec. 18, 2:00 p.m.

The Pleasanton Library presents The Ellis Island Old World Folk Band, which has been performing for more than 30 years. The band’s performances feature klezmer music, which was brought to the United States in the early 1900s by the Jews of Eastern Europe.

The group is truly an Old World Folk Band. Its repertoire includes lively freilachs, soulful doinas, spirited bulgars, old world waltzes, Yiddish vocals, and traditional music from Eastern Europe, Greece, Russia, Spain and Italy.

The Wine Steward on Main Street also hosts regular tasting events in its funky, loft-style wine bar. I keep telling my friend, wine bar manager Eric Edgar, to bring in some live music to add to the atmosphere.

It appears Pleasanton is not completely bereft of arts and culture. But we may lack an eclectic arts-culture “scene.”

Readers, please help those of us suffering from urbaphilia-in-the-suburbs by sharing other events and attractions we may be missing.

This antsy suburbanite needs to get her ‘urban’ on.