A year and a half ago I posted about the Italian restaurant Ottavio in downtown Walnut Creek. Recently I noticed what seems to me as new signage although it may have been up for a while.
A year and a half ago I posted about the Italian restaurant Ottavio in downtown Walnut Creek. Recently I noticed what seems to me as new signage although it may have been up for a while.
After 17 years in business, Lori’s Swim & Sun has closed in the Moraga Shopping Center. A couple of weeks ago I noted that Hallmark would be closing next door so it seems rather empty over there these days.
Whole Foods
3502 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Saturday, June 1st, 2013
12:00pm – 3:00pm | FreeCome and celebrate our Two Year Anniversary with music, food, and fun!
We are going to be giving away Fork in the Road Hot Dogs for our Bluegrass Barbeque! And there will be more free give aways! You’re not going to want to miss this!!!
Corners Tavern kids burger
I consider the Corners Tavern burger (Walnut Creek) one of my favorite burgers in the East Bay (through the tunnel). So when I found that recently opened Rustic Tavern (Lafayette) was offering a burger I knew I had to try one out to see if it can hold its own against a Corners burger.
The Corners burger comes with fries, pickled onions, lettuce, tomato and aged cheddar while a Rustic burger comes with fries, bacon, grilled onions, pickles, and cheese. The Rustic bun was more brioche-like, fries thicker cut and herb-coated. A Corners burger costs $15 while a Rustic burger goes for $14.
There’s a saying that everything tastes better with bacon so I’m not sure if it’s the bacon but the Rustic burger tasted amazing. Everything worked really well together. I thought I’d miss the lettuce and tomato but the pickles, bacon and onion combined with the high quality ground beef was delicious. I’m so glad there are multiple burger options around here. And pretty soon Lafayette will have yet another burger option as Roam Artisan Burgers plans on opening in October. Yum!
Rustic Tavern half-burger
Rustic Tavern is located at 3576 Mt Diablo Blvd in downtown Lafayette and Corners Tavern is located at 1342 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek next to Macy’s.
Gisele MacKenzie, album from the 50s (?). Check out the video of “The Song from Moulin Rouge”.
A few weeks ago at this downtown corner in Walnut Creek I was waiting for the light to turn green with some other people including an older, well-dressed couple in their 60s. While waiting a street solicitor repeatedly asked the older man for a donation, referring to the color of his shirt to single him out. As I observed this the man mentioned to his wife how uncomfortable he felt.
So for the Friday question of the day, does street soliciting bother you? Are these legitimate charities?
Heather Farm Park
1540 Marchbanks Dr, Walnut Creek
Saturday, June 8th, 2013
9:00am | FreeThis is a walk between two of Walnut Creek’s amazing non-profit gardens, the Gardens at Heather Farm and the Ruth Bancroft Garden.
The Gardens at Heather Farm is dedicated to inspiring and educating the community about gardening and stewardship practices that preserve and protect the environment. The Gardens at Heather Farm features six acres of gardens used in education programs for people of all ages. In addition, the GHF provides a serene environment for strolling, resting or picnicking with family and friends. One of the highlights are the roses, which come into bloom in May and continue throughout the summer.
The Ruth Bancroft Garden features a world-class collection of succulents, cacti, and other drought-tolerant plants as well as California natives. A highlight each summer is Sculpture in the Garden, where the Ruth Bancroft Garden provides a spectacular backdrop for artists to display their works. On Saturday, June 8, artists will be busy installing their works for the event, which opens Friday, June 14.DETAILS: Meet at 9 a.m. at the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Dr. Park in the parking lot. (Do not park in the Diablo Hills Golf Course lot)
Participants will tour the Gardens at Heather Farm, then walk to the Ruth Bancroft Garden (approximately 1 mile), then tour the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Participants must walk back to their cars at the Gardens at Heather Farm.
Wear a hat and sturdy walking shoes. Don’t forget suncreen and water!Check in at the front door of the Howard Center, which is adjacent to the Gardens at Heather Farm parking lot.
Photo courtesy of Lafayette Juniors
Last week I made the first kitchen of the day post from one of the homes featured on the Lafayette Juniors Kitchen Tour. This Lafayette kitchen was also featured at the Lafayette Juniors Tour this year and features an Ina Garten “Barefoot Contessa” inspired farmhouse kitchen. The kitchen tour supports several non-profit beneficiaries including CoachArt and is held every year in May.
This kitchen features a huge Casa Esmeralda granite island with stools that slide completely under the island when not in use. The design choices all come together really well here. My favorite aspects of this kitchen are the natural lighting and soapstone countertops on the sides. The vaulted ceiling combined with white cabinetry and french doors at right makes the kitchen feel really open and airy throughout.
The kitchen is expansive:
Photo courtesy of Lafayette Juniors
Outdoor dining area right outside the kitchen:
Photo courtesy of Lafayette Juniors
As you can see from the above photo the hillside views are incredible! Note the tennis court in the background. Thanks to designer Kathleen Burke for answering questions during the tour.
If anyone would like to see their kitchen or remodel featured on Beyond the Creek email me a photo at btcreek(at)beyondthecreek(dot)com with location, details and I’ll get back to you.
Last month I noted that Residual Sugar would be expanding next door with a separate pizzeria but now Diablo Dish is reporting that these plans have been canceled due to, “too many building code and fire requirements and regulations for the project to make sense financially”. This is really unfortunate as downtown Walnut Creek needs a nice pizzeria. Downtown Lafayette has Pizza Antica and Patxi’s so why can’t downtown Walnut Creek get a nice pizzeria?
Last month I noted that Mancini’s Sleepworld would be moving a few blocks from their Locust St. location to N. Main St. where the baby store Giggle used to be and the signs are now up. According to a Mancini’s employee I spoke with they’re planning for a mid to late June opening.
Yesterday Diablo Style mentioned that the men’s clothing store JoS. A. Banks would be opening up in this location but as you can see by the sign Mancini’s is definitely opening here. I would have thought a clothing store would have worked well here but that’s not going to happen now.