IN THE BACKYARD of Patti Miller’s Orinda home sits a little yellow house. If it weren’t only about 10 feet tall, it could pass for a second home on the property. It has a gated porch and Dutch doors.

Swinging bridges. Jail cells with secret escape hatches. Zip lines. Barbara Butler has an eye for knowing what kids like. Then again, the San Francisco-based designer and builder of wooden play ...

TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT THE PARTIALLY HARD ROCK HOTEL CONSTRUCTION SITE, OFFICIALS WAITING TO GET THE GREEN LIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEMOLITION PLANT SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THE RECOVERY MISSIONS FOR THE ...