This white Ferrari convertible was spotted in downtown Walnut Creek in an appropriate parking spot I must say. 🙂
This white Ferrari convertible was spotted in downtown Walnut Creek in an appropriate parking spot I must say. 🙂
La Fiesta Square, Lafayette
With plenty of new and popular restaurants having opened up recently within downtown Lafayette, La Fiesta Square has decided to install parking meters in the popular parking lot. (Yes, even the 20 minute parking spots). I spoke with some La Fiesta Square store employees who aren’t aware of free validation offers which is what I would have expected. We’ll find out soon enough. One reader commented that they witnessed a parking attendant threaten someone with a ticket for going to a non-La Fiesta Square restaurant:
Just watch out for the parking attendant who monitors the lot to the right of the restaurant; it is part of La Fiesta Square, and we saw one customer get threatened with towing and tickets just because he walked toward American Kitchen and not toward Chow.
So I suppose this isn’t surprising. It’s getting so crowded that even the Lamorinda Music/Lamorinda Theatre parking lot has a “No restaurant parking” sign out front (see photo at bottom). There are free parking spaces if you drive past La Fiesta Square until the road turns into Hough Ave. Thanks to a reader for sending word on this.
Lamorinda Music/Theatre Academy parking lot:
Heart of Modernism with Young Sun Bai:
Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery
3620 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Saturday, September 13th, 2014
5:00pm – 7:00pm | FreePresenting a solo exhibit, Heart of Modernism with veteran artist Young Sun Bai. Heart of Modernism focuses on recent work inspired by personal, familial, and public life in the San Francisco Bay Area in general, and Contra Costa County in particular.
Young Sun Bai’s abstract paintings use collage, bright colors, and bold lines to tell a story of enchantment and connection with the people and world around her. Said Dr. Jeanne Willette in Vision Magazine, she “… is the sum of the history of modernist art, reflecting the intensity of Matisse’s color, the construction of Picasso’s Cubism, the free-floating forms of Miro’s Surrealism, and the poetry of Motherwell.”
100 Railroad Ave, Danville
A new ice cream shop called Crafts Creamery featuring ice cream made with the help of liquid nitrogen is coming to downtown Danville this fall. According to this Shop Danville newsletter there will be more than 30 flavors including dairy-free options. Check out their website here. Is this the first liquid nitrogen ice cream place in Danville?
Last September we learned that a new assisted living apartment complex called Merrill Gardens would be opening on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette and plenty of progress has been made although the planned-for spring opening has been pushed back until fall according to their website. One possible explanation for the delay is the need to stain the lighter colored bricks so they don’t clash so much. Check out this Lamorinda Weekly article for details. Judging from the above photo they still have more staining to do.
Hand of Peace Unveiling Ceremony:
Civic Park
1375 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014
3:00pm – 3:30pm | FreeThe public is invited to a celebration to welcome Beniamino Bufano’s monumental sculpture, Hand of Peace to its new location in Civic Park. Walnut Creek Mayor Kristina Lawson will lead the event.
For 43 years, Hand of Peace, a 32‐foot public art sculpture by world renowned artist Beniamino Bufano stood tucked away in the Quail Court office park in south Walnut Creek. Public art tours visited the sculpture often, but the piece, made from copper, mosaic and stained glass, was mostly hidden from public view – many residents and visitors to Walnut Creek never knew it existed.
Looks like 1940s Chevrolets are gaining popularity in Walnut Creek. This one was spotted in front of Peet’s on Locust St.
1657 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek
Back in July we learned about a new indoor cycling gym called Cycle Scape Fitness coming to downtown Walnut Creek and according to the owner they are planning for a September 27th opening by kicking off a, “community event so that everyone interested can review the facility, speak to the trainers, see and participate in a class and share their views.” Check out their website here.
From their Facebook page:
Cycle Scape is an indoor cycling boutique that seamlessly blends video presentation, high impact sound and live instruction allowing our clients to see the world by riding virtually to places in Northern Italy, Paris, and British Columbia.
Each ride lasts 45 minutes and is guided by one of our experienced instructors who will provide you with a vigorous and challenging exercise experience you’ll find in no other fitness club.
Swan’s Fine Books
1381 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Sunday, September 7th, 2014
3:00pm – 4:00pm | FreePlease join us this Sunday afternoon, September 7th, for some live Jazz! Sip a glass of wine, browse our books, and enjoy the music.
We are featuring Chili Corder, a guitarist currently studying at UCLA with jazz guitar legend Kenny Burrell, Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA. Chili appeared at Swan’s Fine Books last August and we’re thrilled to have him and his group at our shop again!
Chili and his group will begin playing at 3:00 pm. There is no charge to attend and light refreshments will be served.
Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Oak Grove Rd.
The Contra Costa Times recently reported that the Orchards Safeway development complex in the Shadelands Business Park in Walnut Creek has been officially approved after a resident’s appeal was denied. The article noted that a bocce-themed restaurant may be in the plans and taking a look at the renderings of the official Orchards website shows one rendering which looks awfully like bocce courts in the back.
A source familiar with the plan indicates that Campo Di Bocce, an Italian restaurant + bocce facility with locations in Los Gatos and Livermore may be opening in the Orchards. Check out the Livermore menu here. Their bocce page indicates pricing is, “$12.50 per person for 1.5 hours on the court for parties of less than 12 people.”
From their website:
Campo di Bocce of Los Gatos is a family owned Italian restaurant and United States Bocce Federation affiliated Bocce Club located in the beautiful town of Los Gatos. The fundamental building blocks for first class bocce clubs in the United States, our Los Gatos location opened its doors in 1997. The first and premiere bocce and dining entertainment facility of its kind, Campo di Bocce is the brain child of Bocce Aficionado, Tom Albanese. In his quest to create a place for food, friends, fun and of course bocce, Tom, has created the ideal location for any family gathering, corporate outing, rehearsal dinner, wedding or simply a venue to enjoy a glass of wine after a long work week.