January 2012 – Beyond the Creek

Tuesday Afternoon Rental Option – 555YVR – Walnut Creek

January 31, 2012 4:30 pm

Note: This is not the living room!

555YVR, a newish condo building a few years old located appropriately at 555 Ygnacio Valley Road in downtown Walnut Creek has a 1br 1ba available at $2100.

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From the Craigslist ad:

One of the few BRAND NEW condo complexes located in Downtown Walnut Creek. This unit is just over 2 years old and has complete upscale features and finishings. You are a 5 minute walk to Target, 7 minute walk to BART, and 10 minute walk to Downtown WC. Please email or call (805.704.5553) if interested. See details below:

INCLUDED:
Water/Sewer
Trash
PG&E
Comcast (TV and Internet)

Condo Unit (Available 2/15/2012):
1bd/1ba
Wide-plank upgraded hardwood flooring in living area (carpeted bedroom and tile bathroom)
Caesarstone Countertops
Bosch Stainless Steel Microwave, Gas Stove, Dishwasher, Refrigerator
European Cabinets with “soft-close” doors and drawers
Stackable Washer and Dryer included inside unit
1 Dedicated Parking Spot. Underground and Gated.
1 Storage Cage, roughly 5′ x 8′.

Community Amenities:
Gym
Roof Top Entertainment Area (Grills, Fireplace, Couches, Views)
Quiet, landscaped Courtyard w/ Wi-Fi in that area

Fine Print:
$2,100/month – 1 year lease preferred
$2,000 refundable security deposit
$30 non-refundable application fee (pays for background/credit check)
No Smoking (the entire condo complex is non-smoking)
Furniture is *negotiable* (Couch, Bed, TV)

Is $2100 a good price considering the location and newer building?

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Judging Restaurants – Ottavio

January 31, 2012 11:30 am

Ottavio, an upscale Italian restaurant located at 1606 N. Main St in downtown Walnut Creek, opened a few years ago when the French restaurant Le Bistro closed. I’ve had some great meals here. You can see their menu here. Any fans?

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Window Saying of the Day

January 31, 2012 8:30 am

As seen on the window of Crogan’s Bar and Grill in downtown Walnut Creek.

Some Guiness was spilt on the barroom floor
Out of his hole crept a wee brown mouse
He lapped up the frothy brew from the floor
And all knight long you could hear him roar
when the pub was shut for the night,
and stood in the pale moonlight.
then back on his haunches he sat,
“Bring on the @#$%&!? cat!”

Apparently this originated in 1936 and was written and performed by the Dixon Brothers:

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Kiran Anjali Project 5/10K Run/Walk March 3rd in Walnut Creek

January 30, 2012 4:30 pm

The Kiran Anjali Project, a non-profit whose mission is to, “advance educational opportunities for underprivileged children, especially girls, in India”, is having a run/walk event on March 3rd with proceeds to benefit education for disadvantagd girls in India. The run/walk location is at Sports Basement at 1881 Ygnacio Valley Rd. in Walnut Creek. From their website:

Millions of India’s low-income children receive a sub-standard education or no education at all. The situation is especially dire for girls from poor families, who are much less likely to be educated and are at risk for exploitation. However, there are many grassroots activists working to change this. The Kiran Anjali Project, a U.S. based nonprofit, links with existing Indian organizations to provide them with professional advice and grants so that they can serve more children.

KAP’s mission is to advance educational opportunities for underprivileged children, especially girls, in India. We envision a bias-free world in which all children are given a high quality education and job skills to be self-sufficient. We believe that by offering professional advice, guidance and grants to organizations that are working to educate the children of India’s poor, we can effect great change.

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Judging Barbershops – Str8 Edge

January 30, 2012 11:30 am

Str8 Edge Barbershop, located at 1626 Locust St. in downtown Walnut Creek, may be the only barbershop in town that is also a clothing store. To find it you need to walk through the Locust Street Mall walkway anchored by a travel agency and a salon. Check out the photos below:

Turns out my old barber from another Walnut Creek barbershop, who I wondered what happened about, has been here for two years now. Personally, I’m glad I found my old barber finally as I was always happy with the haircuts he gave.

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Multiple Fights Break Out in Downtown Walnut Creek

January 30, 2012 7:30 am

Looks like bars and clubs are not the only places fights are breaking out in downtown Walnut Creek. Early Sunday morning various fights broke out at the Locust Parking Garage, Cinco de Mayo Mexican restaurant, and Hubcaps of all places, with the crimes being committed including assault with a deadly weapon, battery, fighting in public and resisting arrest. The quote about the Hubcaps incident reminded me of the musical West Side Story for some reason: “Officers arrived and separated two groups challenging each other to fight.”

First it was Lift, Redux and Vice clubs, now it’s Hubcaps?! What’s next Tiffany’s and Va de Vi?

From a Walnut Creek police report:

On 1/29/12 at 1:35 a.m., police officers on foot patrol in the downtown area received a report of a fight on the second floor of the parking garage directly above Lark Creek restaurant. Officers responded and found a semiconscious subject on the ground bleeding from the face. The victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance for head injuries. Two subjects in a vehicle were detained by officers as they left the area. The subjects were identified as Mario and Marcos Bustamante. Officers spoke with several witnesses that identified Mario and Marcos as having assaulted the victim. Both subjects were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and transported to Martinez County Jail. It is believed the victim also assaulted the two suspects. Officers are reviewing security camera footage to determine exactly how the fight started.

At 1:54 a.m., as officers were still investigating this incident, a large fight started inside Cinco de Mayo restaurant at 1372 Locust (next to the parking garage). Arriving officers saw 4-5 people actively fighting and 10-15 more people pushing and shoving each other. Some of the subjects were bleeding from the face and the group failed to obey repeated commands to stop fighting. Officers had to use pepper spray to restore order and take several combatants into custody. One subject was transported to the hospital for facial injuries and several others were treated at the scene by paramedics and firefighters. Three people were arrested for fighting in public, assault and drunkenness.

At 2:25 a.m., as officers were completing their investigation at Cinco de Mayo another disturbance between two groups was reported by employees of Hubcaps Diner. Officers arrived and separated two groups challenging each other to fight. Two subjects who refused to leave the area were arrested for drunkenness and disturbing the peace. One of the subjects was also arrested for resisting arrest after he fought with officers.

Between the three incidents nine people were arrested. Three officers sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment or were treated at the scene by paramedics.

Walnut Creek PD encourages anyone who has information about these incidents to contact us at (925) 943-5844.

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Weekend Reader Rant and/or Revel

January 27, 2012 5:00 pm

You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. I’ll open this thread every Friday at 5pm.

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Action for Beauty Award of Excellence – Sasa Restaurant

January 27, 2012 11:30 am

The restaurant Sasa has appeared on this blog for its side door, its front door, the meat sign on the side wall, and it’s Koi pond so it’s easy to see how it won the Action for Beauty award of excellence last year.

From the Walnut Creek Action for Beauty Council website:

The council, consisting of a group of citizens independent of the city’s political structure, has been issuing design review awards for 40 years. The awards honor projects in architecture, landscaping, and public art. The awards tend to focus on businesses, and how their designs enhance the quality of life in Walnut Creek.

Walnut Creek Action for Beauty Council’s community involvement dates back to the mid 1960’s when we partnered with the Chamber of Commerce on a “Clean-up-Fix-up-Paint-Up” Campaign in 1967 resulting in improvements to many business fronts, landscaping, homes cleaned up, and junk cars removed.

Walnut Creek Action for Beauty Council encourages good design, quality development and landscaping in Walnut Creek. Any citizen can nominate possible candidate projects.

Prominent Architects and Landscape Architects come to Walnut Creek to judge the work of award nominees. Our annual Awards Luncheon presents awards to outstanding projects in the Walnut Creek area to reward and encourage more high quality projects.

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Neiman Marcus Cafe to Sell Alcohol

January 27, 2012 8:30 am

Looks like the Neiman Marcus Cafe or “NM Cafe” as noted in the public notice, is planning on offering alcoholic beverages at the restaurant inside. Although “cafe” is stated, I’m not sure whether it will offer more limited cafe fare or more restaurant-type cuisine like what’s available at Nordstrom Cafe.

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Harvest Market to Reopen Late Feb. in Walnut Creek

January 26, 2012 4:30 pm

Last October I posted that Harvest Market had closed and today I was able to get a look inside and found out that it will be reopening in late February with an expanded menu and be open for dinner in addition to lunch. There will be plenty of gluten-free options and all ingredients will be either organic or ‘natural’. In order to handle dinner preparation they now have a massive stove, and added new tables and chairs as well. According to the owner Damian De Larosa, who was previously the GM for McCovey’s restaurant, they plan on helping local artists showcase farm-related and local bay area artwork on the walls which will also be available for purchase.

Has anyone eaten here before it closed? How was it?

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