Walnut Creek Open Space Weekend Events

April 21, 2012 8:00 am

photo by Flickr user John-Morgan

Walnut Creek Open Space is hosting a large number of events this weekend just in time for Earth Day on Sunday. Here are the activities that will be held:

Saturday, April 21st

9 am Beginning Bird Walk – Acalanes Open Space
1:30 pm Walnut Creek Walks – Lime Ridge Open Space
2 pm Week 3 of Plantapalooza – Lime Ridge Open Space

Sunday, April 22nd

9 am Work Project – Howe Homestead Park
12 pm Community Picnic – Hanna Grove (registration required)
3 pm Environmental Education Activities for Kids – Howe Homestead Park (registration required)
7pm Campfire – Sugarloaf Open Space

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Diablo Ballet Fundraiser to Benefit PEEK Youth Outreach Program April 26th

April 20, 2012 4:30 pm

From an email:

Diablo Ballet of Walnut Creek mixes beauty & ballet in a fundraising event for its PEEK Youth Outreach Program. Beauty, Body, & Ballet takes place on Thursday April 26th 6 – 8 PM at SkinSpirit Spa, 1647 North California Blvd. in Walnut Creek. Admission is free for 21 years and older.

In conjunction with Walnut Creek Magazine and SkinSpirt Spa of Walnut Creek, guests are invited to walk the red carpet into an evening of fun and glamour, where they can try the latest beauty cosmetics and treatments, enjoy wine and tasty appetizers, plus enter the drawing to win great prizes such as a Napa Valley wine tour, dinners at local restaurants, and more.

Proceeds from Beauty, Body, & Ballet will benefit Diablo Ballet’s acclaimed PEEK Youth Outreach Program, which brings in-school arts education to over 5,000 elementary school students in under-served areas of Contra Costa County each year. Congressman John Garrimendi recently awarded Diablo Ballet a state proclamation recognizing the PEEK Program for its invaluable service to the community.

Beauty, Body, & Ballet happens Thursday April 26th 6 – 8 PM at SkinSpirit Spa, 1647 North California Blvd. in Walnut Creek. Admission is free. Advance RSVP is requested by calling SkinSpirit at 925-952-9200. For more information, visit Diablo Ballet at www.DiabloBallet.org.

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Recently Opened – Dollar Tree in Moraga

April 20, 2012 11:30 am

Walnut Creek gets Neiman Marcus, Lafayette gets Whole Foods, and Moraga gets… Dollar Tree. Before it opened last year, there was quite a debate as to whether it should be approved or not, but obviously it was, and the result is the store pictured above. Some people argued that it would lower property values while others proclaimed that it would increase tax revenue for the city, as well as supporting the notion of a free market.

So if anyone from Walnut Creek, Lamorinda and elsewhere is looking for a marijuana drug test, the Moraga Dollar Tree has you covered:

And if you just can’t find a masculine enough aftershave at Target or The Art of Shaving, come down to the Moraga Dollar Tree for this:

Any opinions on the Moraga Dollar Tree? Are you happy with how it turned out, or would you have rather waited for another retailer?

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Walnut Creek Available Parking Digital Sign of the Day

April 20, 2012 8:30 am

The digital signs around downtown Walnut Creek notifying people of the available spaces is a really useful service so people can try other garages that may have more spots available. This sign is next to the Broadway Plaza parking garage near Crate & Barrel. Does anyone know how long this has been there?

Previously someone commented on how the employee spots are on the first floor. Do people think the employee spots should remain there or be moved to the top floor, or to the top covered floor?

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Spring Awakening Musical April 19th – May 13th at Lesher Center

April 19, 2012 4:30 pm

The musical Spring Awakening will have shows beginning tonight through May 13th at the Lesher Center. From their website:

Spring Awakening is the winner of eight Tony Awards in 2007 including Best Musical. The groundbreaking musical with its bold rock score is a universal coming of age story that tells the timeless story of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality as seen through the eyes of three teenagers. Spring Awakening celebrates an unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget.

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Barbacoa Opening Soon in Orinda

April 19, 2012 11:30 am

Opening soon in Orinda Theatre Square is the wood-fired Mexican grill Barbacoa. Diablo Dish reports it should be open by June, and that chef Jason Moniz will remain at nearby Table 24 as well. I look forward to the ‘six-foot “barbacoa” wood fired grill’. Stay tuned…

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title nine Opens in New Location on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Walnut Creek

April 19, 2012 10:30 am

Last month I noted how the women’s sportswear store title 9 is moving to Mt. Diablo Blvd, and yesterday saw that they are now open in their new location at 1637 Mt. DIablo Blvd, previously the Le Creuset store.

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Anahid Designs Florist Opening April 20th in Orinda Theatre Square

April 19, 2012 8:30 am

It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Orinda Theatre Square and I have to say it’s really coming alive with new stores and restaurants. A new florist is having a soft opening on Friday called Anahid Designs. They were originally located in Santa Monica, then San Lorenzo and the owner has been doing floral designs the past 12 years. They are available for weddings and special events.

Check out an example of their work:

The grand opening will be held on May 5th. Just in time for Mother’s Day.

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An Evening with Howie Mandel at Lesher Center April 20th

April 18, 2012 4:30 pm

HomeAid is presenting, “An Evening with Howie Mandel” this Friday, April 20th at the Lesher Center in downtown Walnut Creek. Tickets are still available here.

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Man Driving White Lexus Killed in Crash on Highway 24 in Orinda

April 18, 2012 4:15 pm

photo by Flickr user kaylacasey

The Contra Costa Times reported that a Pleasant Hill man died in a crash on Highway 24 earlier today after hitting a tree. It was reported that the driver was driving erratically. A pit bull in the car survived.

I happened to drive past the accident, well after it happened but before the car was removed and couldn’t believe what happened to the car. I’ve never seen a car so smashed up before.

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Beyond the Creek