It started with the French restaurant Chevalier in Lafayette. A picture of the Eiffel Tower, a picture of sunflowers. Then the restaurant TAO eventually incorporated it into their windows. Does anyone find this appealing? Or does this come off as a bit odd?
From the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce website:
What
A tour of Lafayette’s finest dining establishments and the opportunity to sample the signature cuisine of each restaurant.
When
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 – 5:30pm – 9:00pm
Wine Reception at Lafayette Plaza – 5:30pm – 6:30 pm
Tasting at participating restaurants – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Coffee and Dessert at Lafayette Plaza – 8:30 pm – 9:30 pmWhere
The tour begins at Elam and Margaret Brown Plaza (corner of Moraga Road and Mt. Diablo Blvd.) From there, ticket holders will go at their own pace to any – or all – of the participating restaurants.
The evening wraps up back at the Plaza with dessert and coffee, more music, raffles, silent and live auction.
Special Features
Musical entertainment at selected locations
Raffle prizes
Auction
Benefits
Lafayette Community Foundation and the programs and services of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Cost
$45 per person by mail to Chamber Office or fax to 925-284-3109 with completed registration form. Or register online.
Chef Chao, located at 343 Rheem Blvd. in Moraga, next to 24 Fitness, is one of two highly rated Chinese restaurants in Moraga, Asia Palace being the other. You can see their menu here.
I don’t know why but when I entered and looked around, I thought I had been transported back to the ’80s eating as a kid with my family in the suburbs. That being said, the decor is quite nice inside, and the food was really good. Are there any other fans of this place? Any must-order items? Chef Chao vs. Asia Palace? What do you prefer?
I don’t what it is about Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Nordstrom but there sure are a lot of them right in front all the time. Behind this yellow Lamborghini is a blue Ferrari by the way. I wonder if they might prefer shopping at Neiman Marcus instead. (Thanks to the reader below for the correction.)
The designer fashion chain Betsey Johnson is being liquidated and all 69 stores will be shutdown, including the one in downtown Walnut Creek at 1198 Broadway Plaza across from Nordstrom. There are 20-40% markdowns now, but I imagine the discounts will increase over the next few weeks as they get rid of their current inventory.
This is a prime retail location with newly opened Neiman Marcus around the corner, and Nordstrom right across the street, so I’m curious what store will open in its place. What would you like to see there?
The Moraga Community Faire will be held at the Rheem Valley Shopping Center this Saturday, May 12th starting at 11am. In addition the entertainment listed below, there will be a classic car show and wine tasting. From the Moraga Chamber of Commerce website:
Activities for the whole family:
Entertainment Schedule
11:00am Campo Chamber Singers
11-1:30pm Chalk Drawing Contest
11:15am Dunk Tank Moraga Celebrity
11:30am The Saklan School Musicians
11:30-2pm Fingerprinting with Moraga PD
12:00pm Dunk Tank Moraga Celebrity
12:15pm Oak Grove Bluegrass Family
1:15pm Dunk Tank Moraga Celebrity
1:30pm EE and Friends (Littledog2)
2:30pm Dunk Tank Moraga Celebrity
2:45pm Peter Pan Foundation Kids
3:15pm Faire Passport Prize Drawing
3:30pm Carshow Trophies
3:45pm Dunk Tank Moraga Celebrity
photo by Flickr user Seuss
From the Friends of the Creeks website:
Join us for the 23rd Annual Creek Cleanup on Saturday, May 12. Meet at the gazebo in Civic Park at the corner of Broadway and Civic Drive in downtown Walnut Creek.
Continental breakfast at 8:45. Registration at 9:00.
ALL PARTICIPANTS must have a waiver form. Click here to download a form and get more details about the cleanup.
Photos of the 2011 creek cleanup are available here. Photos from this year’s cleanup will be posted approximately a week after the cleanup.
Spotted on Locust St. in downtown Walnut Creek:
A Tribute to Ted Gurney
The Mayor of Locust Street
Master of photography – photographic craftsman
President Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce 1977-78
President Parent Club, Los Lomas High School
Locust Street beautification chairman
Chairman Civic Arts Commission
U.S. Air Corp World War II
Walnut Creek’s business person of the year 1982
It’s been a while since I checked in on the new restaurant Citra Grill in downtown Walnut Creek across the street from the Century Movie Theater, at 1550 Olympic Boulevard. Yesterday I met with the owner to see how the progress was coming and found out that they expect to open in the beginning of June.
The vaulted ceilings really makes it feel spacious. Note the brand new kitchen equipment behind the counter.
At the other end of the counter are the cash registers:
An interesting component will be the combination of self and full service so you’ll order and pay at the counter but once seated, you’ll be able to order an extra dish from your table as well if you wish. The ingredients will be top quality and will serve fresh California cuisine. A private soft opening will be followed by a public opening in early June if all goes well.
With the weather getting nicer out, I want to ask about outdoor dining options. Va de Vi, pictured above, is one option. The recently opened Corners Tavern is another. Citra Grill, opening next month, will have outdoor seating with butterfly doors opening up the inside as well. The Counter, Lark Creek, and Pomegranate also come to mind. In Lafayette there’s Chow, Pizza Antica and Metro.
So for this week’s question of the day, where is your favorite restaurant patio in Walnut Creek, Lafayette or nearby? Any newly opened places have good outdoor spaces? What other ones are promising?