Spunk by Zora Neale Hurston Playing Now through July 29th at Cal Shakes in Orinda

July 10, 2012 4:30 pm

From the California Shakespeare Theater website:

Our 2012 season continues with a wild, bluesy wail—three stories by the great Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston, adapted into a staggeringly theatrical play by George C. Wolfe, who won an Obie for its 1989 off-Broadway premiere production. A trio of vignettes of African-American life in the first half of the 20th century, Spunk is a raucous, charming, blues-infused look at love, revenge, jealousy, and the fine art of the hustle.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS: Spunk contains mature subject matter. Click on the INFORMATION FOR PARENTS tab below for more details.

Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission

Originally Developed at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, California
Originally Produced at Crossroads Theatre Company, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Original New York Production by New York Shakespeare Festival, Joseph Papp, Producer

Click here to get directions to the California Shakespeare Theater, located in Orinda. Tickets are available here. Has anyone been to a performance at Cal Shakes? How is it?

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New Delhi Bistro Opening in Moraga

July 10, 2012 11:30 am

A new Indian restaurant, New Delhi Bistro, is coming to the Rheem Valley Shopping Center in Moraga. According to Lamorinda Weekly, the owner is none other than Roos Pal, who owns Terzetto Cuisine, also in Moraga.

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Pelican Rock Men’s Clothing Store Opening July in Downtown Walnut Creek

July 10, 2012 8:30 am

Back in June I posted some scuttlebutt about a new men’s clothing store in downtown Walnut Creek, and it turned out to be true, it is called Pelican Rock, and is opening up this month with a resort/boating theme. This looks like it might be a perfect compliment to the Walnut Creek Yacht Club a few blocks away. Pelican Rock is located next to Main St. Rags and Papyrus at 1378 N. Main St.

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Diablo Ballet’s Gourmet Gallop Food & Wine Walk – Aug. 9th in Walnut Creek

July 9, 2012 4:30 pm

photo by Ashraf

From a press release:

You’re invited to taste the best food & wine in downtown Walnut Creek at Diablo Ballet’s 2012 Gourmet Gallop on Thursday August 9th 6 – 9 PM. For information, visit www.DiabloBallet.org or call 925-943-1775.

A gourmet adventure awaits you at 13 downtown locations, where you’ll sample culinary creations at many top restaurants:

Walnut Creek Yacht Club
Massimo
Sasa
Cypress
Bosphorus
Babalous
Silk Road
Peet’s Cofee & Tea
Pomegranate
Tender Greens
Lettuce
SF Creamery Company

Plus an exclusive Damian Rae Winery tasting at We Olive

Tickets are $30 when ordered before July 25th. After July 25th, the price is $40.

With your Gallop map in hand, you’ll be able to set your own schedule, where you can sip, sample, and stroll to each of these renowned restaurants.

Diablo Ballet’s Gourmet Gallop is a fundraising event for the Company’s acclaimed PEEK Youth Outreach, which brings in-school arts education to over 5,000 students in under-served Contra Costa County elementary schools.

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Back to the Table Cooking School Opening July 12th in Lafayette

July 9, 2012 11:30 am

Back in April I noted that Back to the Table Cooking School in Lafayette was opening in July, and it’s been confirmed that they will have their grand opening this Thursday evening, July 12th, from 5pm – 8pm. From their website:

Join us for an evening of food, community and celebration!

Lisa Evaristo & Leslie Pease, owners of Back to the Table, invite everyone to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Come meet our 12 cooking school teachers.

They also have a production kitchen upstairs for local businesses which are taking reservations. Check out the cooking school teacher bios here, and the huge 157 class list here. Photos of the inside can be found on their Facebook page here.

As some one who has taken cooking classes at the now closed Viking store in Walnut Creek, and elsewhere, this looks like it has a lot of potential for both those looking to improve or learn something new, as well as local businesses who need access to a professional kitchen. If I had to choose 3 classes, I would check out, ‘Backyard BBQ’, ‘Seasonal Pies’, ‘Slider Mania’. Which classes look good to you?

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Mural of the Day

July 9, 2012 8:30 am

Spotted in La Fiesta Square in downtown Lafayette.

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Win 4 Tickets to Chevron Family Theatre Festival at the Lesher Center

July 6, 2012 5:00 pm

The people at the Walnut Creek Implementation Team have a new newsletter available highlighting the history and future of parking in downtown Walnut Creek. Check it out here.

From the newsletter:

Interested in winning tickets to the Chevron Family Theatre Festival at the Lesher Center of the Arts on Saturday, July 21, 2012?

Forward this email to at least three people to be entered to win a family four-pack of tickets.

Five random winners will be chosen on July 12. Winners will be notified via email by 5:00pm that day.

Presumably since it’s a web page not email, you could just forward the page via email as well. I checked the Lesher site and tickets are going for $5 per performance. Check out what’s playing here.

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Citra Grill gets a Sign and is Scheduled to Open July 16th

July 6, 2012 11:30 am

After several delays, Citra Grill, located across the street from the Century Movie Theater in downtown Walnut Creek is scheduled to open on July 16th. As you can see they have a new sign in front. I hope this opens soon because I can’t wait to try it out!

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Sculpture of the Day (Waterboarding Edition)

July 6, 2012 8:30 am

In case you haven’t been in downtown Walnut Creek yet, the second redesigned Walnut Creek water fountain on North Main St. (in front of Mechanics bank) has been finished. The first one by Wowhaus received favorable reviews, but this new one, by Seyed Alavi, of a giant head with watering trickling over its face as if being waterboarded (or taking a shower), is getting mixed reviews based on the numerous emails I’ve been getting.

Is having a polarizing sculpture good for Walnut Creek, to encourage people to check it out or will this alienate Walnut Creek shoppers? So what do you think, do you love it or hate it?

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Walk with Walnut Creek Mayor Bob Simmons on July 14th

July 5, 2012 4:30 pm

From the City of Walnut Creek website:

Join Mayor Bob Simmons on a walk in the Acalanes Open Space on Saturday, July 14. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Larkey Lane and Second Avenue, which is also an entrance to the Mount Diablo-Briones Trail. Then follow the Mayor on a 4-mile walk through Acalanes Open Space and be amazed by some of the most amazing views in Walnut Creek. Be sure to bring water and suncreen. The walk is part of Walnut Creek Walks.

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July 2012