Photo by Flickr user dvids
Thank you to all veterans who have served.
Photo by Bérenger Zyla: Tetyana Martyanova and Robert Dekkers in A Swingin’ Holiday
Diablo Ballet presents “A Swingin’ Holiday and More”:
Del Valle Theatre
1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek
Friday, November 13th – Sunday, November 15th, 2015
$24-$44Begin your holidays in style as Diablo Ballet
presents the opening program of their 22nd season celebrating the power of dance with A Swingin’ Holiday and More, November 13 – 15 at the Del Valle Theatre in Walnut
Creek.The 2015-2016 season kicks off with the 2015 Edition of A Swingin’ Holiday, created in 2012 by Sean Kelly, former resident choreographer for the national tour of the musical Billy Elliot and former principal of Houston Ballet. Set to the exhilarating music of the 30’s and 40’s, enjoy your favorite holiday tunes by legends Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller,
Nat “King” Cole, and Wynton Marsalis, as well as jazzy renditions of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite, performed by the Diablo Ballet Swing Orchestra, under the musical direction of Greg Sudmeier.
4391 Treat Blvd, Concord
Thanks to a reader for sending word that Mels Original Diner is coming soon to Concord where Coco’s Bakery Restaurant used to be on Treat Blvd.
From their website:
The Original Mels has been serving up fun and great food since 1947. With locations throughout Northern California and Nevada, we are the place to go for a bye-gone era that offers simple pleasures and a friendly atmosphere.
The 1973 release of the classic “American Graffiti” was set at The Original Mels, and you can still experience the fun and excitement of the movie, and more importantly, the very time itself.
Encina Grande, Walnut Creek
In August we learned that Safeway was closing for a new Whole Foods at the Encina Grande shopping Center on Ygancio Valley Rd. in Walnut Creek and as you can see in the above photo the entire building has been demolished.
Orinda Theatre
4 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda
Thursday, November 12th, 2015
7:00pm | FreeThe next free classic film is The Godfather on Thursday November 12th at 7pm at the Orinda Theatre.
1275 S. Main St, Walnut Creek
A couple of years ago we learned that Fresh Choice had a makeover at their downtown Walnut Creek location and was renamed California Fresh. It looks like the signage was never changed for some reason and they have now permanently closed as of last month.
1645 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek
Pure Barre is opening a new location in downtown Walnut Creek where American Express used to be early next year. Check out the latest updates on their Walnut Creek Facebook page here.
From the Pure Barre Facebook page:
Pure Barre is the largest, most established barre franchise in North America, with more than 250 studios across the United States and more opening every month. Pure Barre is a total body workout that utilizes the ballet barre to perform small, isometric movements, which burn fat, sculpt muscles, and create long, lean physiques. In addition to barre classes, Pure Barre also offers DVDs, equipment, and chic athletic apparel.
Bedford Gallery
1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek
Saturday, November 7th & Sunday, November 8th, 2015
10:00am – 4:00pm | FreeThe Bedford Gallery brings together the best of Bay Area crafters and artists for the Eighth Annual Bg CraftFest. This curated festival is a celebration of handmade gifts, featuring an array of unique items from jewelry to home goods. Held inside the gallery, visitors can shop the Craft Fest and see the current exhibitions, The Art of the Brick and Became by Jud Bergeron – admission is free both days!
The Bg Craft Fest is the perfect opportunity to get a head start on holiday shopping. Visitors can find one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on their list at this popular event. Craft Fest regulars including Shimmer Jewels and Jake’s Castro Kitchen are back and we have plenty of new surprises, including live crafting demos from Hollie’s Homegrown, Tea Drops and Blue Nectar Soaps.
Vendors Include:
Rice to Riches, NYC
You can barely walk a few blocks around here without running into a frozen yogurt shop, juice bar or cupcake bakery. Last month I even asked about what the next big thing will be. I think I finally may have found it while in NYC recently. Called Rice to Riches, this is a shop selling various flavors of rice pudding. I had Butterscotch Boulevard and “Category 5” Caramel and it was ridiculously good. Maybe some day we’ll see a rice pudding fast food joint around here. This could be the next big thing…
Photo by Flickr user rowdykittens
Yesterday there was a talk given about the “Joy of Small House Living” at the Lafayette Library. Sometimes I browse beautiful galleries of tiny/small houses and dream about getting 20 acres in the country and plopping down one of these tiny houses where I could live peacefully while still travelling and seeing the world. But is this realistic? Would you live in a tiny house (< 400 sf)? What about a small house (< 1000 sf)?