A Day in the Life of Lafayette on June 21st

Lafayette
Friday, June 21st, 2013
12:01am – 11:59pm | Free

A Day in the Life of Lafayette aims to create a crowdsourced snapshot of our community on that particular day. All are invited to participate, from 5 years old to 105 years old! This is your opportunity to think outside the lens.

Here’s how it works:

On Friday, June 21 – the Summer Solstice, the longest day of year –take pictures in Lafayette anytime between 12:01 am and 11:59 pm. Choose a photo, including the time and location it was taken, and submit it to the City of Lafayette Offices between July 12^thand July 30^th (by 5 pm). The Lafayette Public Art Committee will review the entries and select the winning photographs to be displayed at the Library Gallery at the Community Hall and on the City’s website from September through November. A reception will be held at the gallery in late September to recognize the finalists.

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Entrez! Open House Closes in Walnut Creek

June 11, 2013 11:30 am

The housewares and gift shop Entrez! Open House has recently closed in downtown Walnut Creek on Cypress St. Their new location will be at 100 Grand Ave. in Oakland beginning June 24th. Check out their website here. This leaves downtown Walnut Creek without two great housewares and gift shops as Wish also left downtown Walnut Creek for 2333 Boulevard Way in Walnut Creek less than a mile away.

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Fun Times at the Inaugural Walnut Creek Film Festival

June 11, 2013 10:00 am

The inaugural Walnut Creek Film Festival took place last weekend beginning Friday night and lasting throughout Sunday evening. I had a chance to see some of the short films being shown and thought the movies were really cool. My favorites were:

Shanghai Love Market (hilarious!!!)
ASAD (moving and funny)
Harry Grows Up (cute)
The Maker (weird in a good way)
Talking Dog For Sale, 10 Euros (hilarious)
Spaghetti for Two (crazy funny)
Los Gritones (2 minutes long, great!)

It’s refreshing to have access to these independent movies right downtown so I’m thrilled about this film festival coming to Walnut Creek. Being the comedy fan I am I was partial to the comedy shorts although I enjoyed other genres as well. Yes, there were a few that didn’t work for me at all, but it was more than offset by the standouts listed above. I will definitely be back next year to check out the new offerings. Since they offer tickets based on genres in addition to all-day passes the possibilities are huge. I’ll definitely be back for the comedy block next year!

Did anyone go to this festival? What were your favorites?

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Twigs Floral & Art Building getting Demolished in Lafayette

June 11, 2013 8:30 am

In order to make room for extra parking for the new restaurant The Cooperage in downtown Lafayette, the building where Twigs Floral & Art called home for over 25 years will be demolished soon. Twigs will still be open for phone and online orders so check out their website for more info here.

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Twilight Hikes With Night Birds at White Canyon on June 22nd

June 10, 2013 4:30 pm

Photo by Flickr user Marie Hale

Twilight Hikes With Night Birds:

Mitchell Canyon Visitors Center and Trailhead
Mt. Diablo State Park, Walnut Creek
Saturday, June 22nd, 2013
7:00pm | $6

We’ll start at Mitchell Canyon listening to birds of the early evening as we hike to Red Road. As twilight approaches, we will plan to be near the upper part of Red Road, listening for Common Poorwill and local owls. Bring a flashlight, binoculars and water. The retuning hike in the dark may also turn up some interesting wildlife.

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J. Colleen Boutique Opening Sept 1st in Lafayette

June 10, 2013 11:30 am

Last month I noted that the home decor shop Queen Bee would be closing in Lafayette and according to Diablo Style a new boutique called J. Colleen will be offering “upscale vintage clothing, original artwork” and jewelry beginning September 1st at this location.

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Gas Pump of the Day

June 10, 2013 8:30 am

Spotted at Lafayette Auto Body on Mt. Diablo Blvd, this is an old Richfield gas pump with a custom paint job. They even have a Blue Chip Stamp sign on the side. Does anyone remember those?

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Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society Summer Show on June 29th

June 7, 2013 4:30 pm

Photo from Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society

Model Railroad Society Summer Show:

Larkey Park
2751 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek
Saturday, June 29th, 2013
8:00pm – 10:00pm | $3

Families can ‘ride’ the Diablo Valley Lines during their three whistle stop summer shows, featuring hundreds of model trains representing the mid 20th century through today, traveling over 4,300 feet of track on one of the world’s most mountainous model railroad layouts. The continuous show, dispatched by two Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society members, includes a dramatic sunset and night scenes with a rainy thunderstorm, a street railway with trolley cars, big freight yards and a large passenger terminal.

The elaborate 34×56 foot layout includes a composite of the mountainous area of the Western United States, bridges, tunnels, terrain from desert to snow covered mountains, towns, train yards, electric street cars, wind turbine, ski lift gondola and more. More than 200 train cars and 50 steam and diesel engines are in operation during the show. A unique summertime experience for the whole family – especially train buffs!

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Sign of the Day

June 7, 2013 11:30 am

Live music every Fri. @ 8PM – great sign by the Mexican restaurant Barbacoa in downtown Orinda.

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Friday Question of the Day – What’s on your Summer Reading List?

June 7, 2013 8:30 am

Photo by Flickr user Spirit-Fire

Now that summer is right around the corner I’ve been wondering what books people plan on reading this summer. I’m thinking of reading The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and Run or Die by the French ultra distance runner Kilian Jornet. What do you plan on reading this summer? What are some fun books you’ve read that you recommend?

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June 2013