Ed Ames – My Cup Runneth Over (1967). Spotted at Rainbow’s End thrift store in downtown Walnut Creek.
Ed Ames – My Cup Runneth Over (1967). Spotted at Rainbow’s End thrift store in downtown Walnut Creek.
The apartment and retail complex at 1500 N. California Blvd. and Bonanza St. in downtown Walnut Creek is expected to be finished in 2015 and I had a chance to check out some renderings and learn more about the development. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was published in March and can be accessed here.
There will be 18,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 141 apartment rentals (not condos) on the upper floors. One interesting aspect of the complex is the addition of a public park on the Locust St. side right across from Hubcaps Diner. Although it’s not exactly huge at under 2,000 square feet, anyone is free to use it, not just people living there which should be nice. It will include a seating area, water features and bamboo. The architecture will include brick, stone, steel, and glass.
Plans are underway to bring in restaurants and a cafe to the Bonanza side of the development with service businesses on the N. California side. The corner of Locust and Bonanza will be a great spot for whoever ends up there. Which cafe would you most like to see open up in this new complex? (Please not another Starbucks, there are so many within walking distance already).
Current view down Bonanza Street:
Check out more renderings after the jump…
Photo by Aris Bernales
Diablo Ballet Stars and Stripes Pas de Deux:
Shadelands Arts Center Auditorium
111 N Wiget Ln, Walnut Creek
Saturday, May 3rd & Sunday, May 4th, 2013
8:00pm (Sat) 2:00pm & 8:00pm (Sun) | $29 – $38Diablo Ballet continues its 2012-13 season at the Shadelands Arts Center Auditorium in Walnut Creek, with the Company’s popular Inside the Dancer’s Studio series, featuring the Bay Area return of George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes Pas de Deux, Friday, May 3rd at 8:00 pm and Saturday, May 4th at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
The performance will begin with the Pas de Deux from Stars and Stripes by George Balanchine, set to the rousing, patriotic music of John Philip Sousa.
The program continues with the duet from They’ve Lost Their Footing by KT Nelson, Co-Artistic Director of ODC San Francisco. Set to the music of Hoven Droven, this electric dance displays the power and control of Nelson’s contemporary style.
Continued after the jump…
Back last December I noted that the mattress store Sleep Number would be opening on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in downtown Walnut Creek and they have now opened. This is right next to the Vitamin Shoppe where Eco Shoppe used to be. Sleep Number offers mattresses where you can adjust the firmness and temperature of each side with a remote control. Check out the inside of the store below.
Sleep Number is located at 1601 Mt Diablo Blvd.
Thanks to a reader for sending word that the gourmet Italian deli A.G. Ferrari Foods has closed in La Fiesta Square in downtown Lafayette. I was recently there so this came as a big surprise to me. I dropped by and sure enough it’s completely bare. Take a look at the photo below to see inside.
Apparently their lease was up and their rent was going to be raised so they closed up shop. I wonder if this is related to Whole Foods opening up nearby? There is also the market part of Chow on the other side of the square which has expanded over time.
If you want to shop at A.G. Ferrari you’ll need to to head to Piedmont Avenue in Oakland or one of their other locations here.
An assistant coach of the girls junior varsity water polo team at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek has been arrested for various sex crimes with a minor that took place in Walnut Creek according to this article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
From the article:
Christopher Yang, 27, of Walnut Creek, an assistant coach on the junior varsity girls water polo team at Northgate High School, is free on bail after being arrested last week by Contra Costa County sheriff’s investigators.
Magical History Downtown Walking Tour:
Liberty Bell Plaza
Broadway and Mount Diablo Boulevard, Walnut Creek
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
9:00am – 10:30am | FreeThe Walnut Creek Historical Society will lead a walking tour of downtown Walnut Creek as part of the Second Saturday Spotlight series in May. Learn about the days when Walnut Creek was known as “the Corners,” and find out which buildings still standing today have their roots deep in the past. The 90-minute program begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 11. For details and registration, visit the Second Saturday Spotlight webpage.
The program begins promptly at 9 a.m. promptly at Liberty Bell Plaza, corner of Broadway and Mount Diablo Boulevard, and will conclude by 10:30 a.m. at City Hall, 1666. N. Main Street. Wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat. Bring water.
Total distance is about 3/4 of a mile, with stops along the way.
BONUS! The Historical Society will loan each participant a Downtown History Tour guidebook. The guidebook is available for purchase that day for $5 (cash only, exact change, please).
The cafe on N. Main St. in downtown Walnut Creek originally known as Saxby’s Coffee changed their name a while ago to Sax Coffee and as of a couple of weeks ago is now known as Cilantro Cafe. Focusing on fresh, tasty and healthy meals they also offer coffee (not Saxby’s), smoothies and pastries. Check out their sandwich menu below.
The interior:
Cilantro Cafe sandwich menu:
Cilantro Cafe is located at 1632 N. Main St. next to Main Street Postal & Business Center in Walnut Creek.
Some may remember my problem procuring Orbit bubblegum at the Walnut Creek Target. After months and months of Target not stocking Orbit bubblegum flavor I gave up and switched to Trident bubblegum. Since Trident also contains Xylitol which may be good for your teeth I decided to switch permanently to Trident even after Orbit bubblegum finally made its appearance at the Walnut Creek Target. Well, sure enough given my luck, this past weekend they were out of Trident bubblegum flavor! Take a look at the above photo. They stock every flavor under the sun plus Orbit bubblegum but no Trident bubblegum. Is this some kind of joke someone is playing on me?
P.S. I got the Cinammon flavor but it’s burning my mouth. I may need to give up my gum habit for good.
Back in February I noted that the gift shop Wish opened in downtown Walnut Creek on N. Main St. but due to Davidson & Licht planning on opening a new Jewelry store in this location (Vanessa’s Bistro also moved) Wish has moved to 2333 Boulevard Circle in Walnut Creek next to Kepler’s Golf Repair and a few stores away from Florali. According to the owner, the new location “was an old house that we are renovating. It will have lots of room to expand and also has some patio areas so we can carry outdoor and garden furnishings and accessories. Also very easy free parking which will be a welcome change”.
To celebrate the opening of the new store they are offering a one-time 20% off coupon which expires at the end of May. Click here to print out the coupon and a map. Check out their Facebook page here.
