Update: Earlier I noted that these Christmas lights were coming down, but it turns out they are going up to celebrate the grand opening of Neiman Marcus this week. They will also be displayed on the trees in front of California Pizza Kitchen all year.
The Christmas lights at the Broadway Plaza fountain were taken down last Friday. Note the new Neiman Marcus popup in the background.
Since the Neiman Marcus building in downtown Walnut Creek has finally been completed, I decided to update the header of this blog to show off the new building. See the before and after photos below.
I also added a tagline, “Walnut Creek’s Neighborhood Blog” below, although I also plan to focus on downtown Lafayette as well. And if I can figure out how to combine photos together I’d like to switch over to a panoramic view of the Four Corners (Mt. Diablo/N. Main) to include Tiffany’s and Pottery Barn otherwise people may think it’s only about Neiman Marcus.
New BtCreek Header, Neiman Marcus Building, Walnut Creek, [Completed]
Old BtCreek Header, Neiman Marcus Building, Walnut Creek, [Work in Progress]
Feedback on the new header is welcome, is it clear enough? Does the tagline make sense? Thanks!
The Bedford Gallery in Lesher Center in downtown Walnut Creek is hosting a new exhibit starting this Sunday, March 4 through May 13 titled, Outfitters: The Contemporary Art of Clothing.
This outfit will be on display outside the Lesher Center beginning around 1:30 with the opening reception running from 3pm – 5pm. You can actually walk into the the dress and view a video screen with more information. Yes, a real person will actually be at top.
From the exhibit web page:
Each day, every one of us adorns our bodies in some way. We can all relate to wearing clothing, and we all instinctively know that clothing has meaning and the power to communicate who we are and where we are going. Outfitters features 20 artists who create surreal narratives about clothing, or use clothes or their armature, to explore concepts of memory, identity and human nature. Artists in Outfitters hail from around the world and work on the conceptual edge of craft, creating artworks that address our deep-seated attachment to what we – and others – wear.
“Many of the artworks reference the nature and value of clothing, transforming it into a sculpture with a historic or political reference, or a narrative story,” says Bedford Gallery Curator Carrie Lederer. “Since the Middle Ages, the ways in which people cover or adorn our bodies provide ample clues about their lives – from social status and profession to ethnicity. There is an inherent political statement in our outerwear, and many of the artworks beg the questions: ‘What is beauty?’ ‘How is it defined?’ And, ‘who defines it?'”
I was able to get a sneak peek of this exhibit and it looks amazing. If you have a chance definitely drop by to check it out. I really want to see that dress with a woman at top on Sunday, this is going to be a fun one!
Check out a photo of dresses made out of maps from the exhibit after the jump
From the Walnut Creek Downtown Association website:
Enjoy a unique wine tasting event while strolling through beautiful Downtown Walnut Creek, featuring boutique wineries.
Date: Wednesday, March 21 – 6pm – 9pm
Location: Starts at Broadway Plaza
Price: $30 in advance, $35 at the door
Has anyone done this before? I know about the street fairs they have downtown, never been to this though. Worth it?
Spotted in front of Forever 21, across the street from the Cheesecake Factory, I imagine she’s holding a book as this was the site of Walnut Creek Grammar School from 1871 – 1956.
Check out the contemporary design of the Walnut Creek Neiman Marcus Cafe opening next Friday. Ever since I noted that the Neiman Marcus Cafe had applied to sell alcoholic beverages a couple of months ago, interest has been growing with people inquiring about reservations and other details. I spoke with the manager of the Walnut Creek Neiman Marcus Cafe and learned that they will not be taking reservations until March 24th. Until then it will be first come, first served. However there will be pagers available so you can walk around the store while waiting for your table. I really want to try one of the famous Neiman Marcus popovers.
Hours of Operation
M-F: 10 – 7
SAT: 10 – 6
SUN: 11 – 5
Phone Number
925-472-6186
So if you’re thinking about checking out the cafe within the next couple of weeks, head straight to the cafe, get signed in, and you’ll get a pager so you can check out the rest of the store while you’re waiting for a table to open up. And let us know how it was if you go!
Strolling around downtown Walnut Creek while window shopping, hanging out at a fountain, or getting a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant, you might never realize that hiding within steps of this great shopping district is a koi pond so magnificent, yet so serene, it’s as if you stepped into a different world. These koi are HUGE by the way. You have to see it in person to see what I mean.
To get to the koi pond, go to the corner of N. Main St. and Mt. Diablo Blvd, where Tiffany’s is, and walk over to Va de Vi, the tapas style restaurant, and turn left as if you were going to go to the resturant. You’ll see a giant oak tree. Keep walking past the oak tree, and the koi pond will be a few steps beyond.
I had always wondered what the story was behind the koi pond, and finally found out that it was built by the developer of that block, called “The Corners”, Brian Hirahara, of BH Development (the company that was recently awarded the parking lot across the street), who turns out grew up in Walnut Creek. He emailed me a detailed explanation:
The origin of the koi started with the fact that I grew up
near the creek that runs by Oak Grove & Valley Vista, down the hill from Boundary Oak. My brother and I and our friends used to spend countless hours exploring the creek, and there were even orange carp (less fancy versions of koi, which are fancy carp) that were trapped under the aqua-duct and we would try to catch them. So this fascination with water / creeks / fish evolved into a tropical fish hobby growing up and much later the ponds / water features that have become a signature element of our projects.The pond has been there since we developed the project, which was completed in 2003. My office is right above Va de Vi, so the koi pond is my pet project and I feed them every day. We also have 4 resident turtles in the pond, 3 of which are transplants. Turtles apparently don’t make the best pets for kids at home, so people drop their unwanted turtles in our pond where they are pretty happy. One is quite large in fact, and they are quite tame and will basically eat out of my had as will the koi.
Yes, the pond is absolutely open to the public, although we don’t encourage feeding since we feed them koi food and their digestive system basically shut down during the winter so it can be harmful or fatal for the koi if they are fed the wrong food.
Unfortunately, we’ve had to replace the koi 1.5 x, the first time due to a prank (some kids stole several of the koi and put them into the fountain across the street from the Chevron and killed them) and the 2nd time due to an equipment malfunction. We’ve had to install security cameras to help with the vandalism.
As far as why we built the pond and added the koi, both of which are very expensive, it was to add unexpected life, charm, character, and authenticity to our project. Nothing gives me more pleasure than watching kids run up to the pond to marvel at the huge koi, parents from around the area bring their kids to see the pond. It provide a surprise peaceful break from the bustling downtown, an oasis in the middle of suburbia.
So please do yourself a favor and the next time you find yourself in downtown Walnut Creek, drop by the koi pond behind Va de Vi and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while gazing at these beautiful creatures. Thanks to Brian for taking the time to explain the origins of this koi pond, as well as for installing and maintaining it for the public to enjoy.
Check out more photos of the koi pond after the jump
After finding out that the dog wash and grooming sign that was featured on BtCreek a few months ago was stolen recently, I now present to you the store behind the sign, Clean Dog Healthy Dog. Located at 1829 Mt Diablo Blvd in downtown Walnut Creek next to Alborz Persian Cuisine restaurant, they have been in business for about 7 months, and one of the owners is originally from Wales, in the United Kingdom, where his sister owned a dog grooming salon. He met his American wife over there and they decided to settle in Walnut Creek to start their dog wash and grooming business.
Check out the cool portraits below. If I had a dog I would definitely try this place out as the owners are really friendly and knowledgeable and it looks well managed. If anyone has been please let us know how it was.
Finally, if anyone can make it happen, please return the dog head to them; I’m sure they would be thrilled getting it back, as well as the legions of drivers coming to town from Highway 24.