Over the last few days, the number of coronavirus infections has reached triple digits in Contra Costa and even higher around the country, so, many places have unfortunately had to pause their reopenings. With so many restaurants opening outside on patios, in the streets etc, do you find it hard to walk around while still maintaining the recommended six feet social distancing?
Well, it was fun while it lasted. As more and more people head to downtown Walnut Creek as shops continue to open, the free parking holiday will be ending soon, with parking enforcement returning on July 1st. Over the weekend I saw these Welcome Back flyers on car windshields throughout downtown Walnut Creek. I smiled when I saw the text at the bottom, “This is NOT a Parking Ticket”. Who could possibly think this is a parking ticket after reading this?!
I noticed this “CREDIT CARDS ONLY” sign at the Broadway Pointe parking garage in downtown Walnut Creek. The toll booth was open but does anyone know how much they’re going to charge and whether there will be any free parking included like the three hours that Broadway Plaza offers? Or are they going to choose what La Fiesta Square did in Lafayette and offer NO free parking whatsoever? Is this the end of the road for free parking in downtown Walnut Creek?! 🚗🚘🚗🚘
In response to the George Floyd killing by a police officer in Minneapolis last week, protests have replaced shelter in place life in many cities and towns across the United States and East Bay. In Lafayette, seen in the above photo, protesters took up spots at the corners of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd. with some cars honking in support. Due to the looting that happened in Walnut Creek the other day, curfews have taken hold not only in Walnut Creek but also surrounding towns including Danville, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda for the next several days. Stay safe!
Photo by Unsplash user llanydd
Over the past month I’ve been ordering masks at varying price points to see which ones I like the best. So far I use N95 masks (left over from last year’s fires) at the grocery store, and basic two layer cloth masks everywhere else, when needed. When we’ll need to return to work, I’ll soon be getting sturdier cloth masks with filter inserts for intermediary protection.
Do you have a favorite brand of mask you wear? How much do they cost? Do they fog up your glasses? What do you like most about them?
Over the weekend I had a chance to check out two farmers markets, one in Danville and the other in downtown Walnut Creek. It was interesting to compare and contrast the signage and people at each market. Danville had the most varied signage informing people not to touch the produce and to wear masks, while the Walnut Creek signs focused on social distancing. The Walnut Creek market was really packed, comparable to what I’d normally see before the coronavirus pandemic.
I ended up buying a bunch of strawberries and cherries. Over the week I’ve been enjoying both, but about 50% are absolutely delicious, and the other half leave a lot to be desired. Unfortunately, I don’t know which place I bought the good ones from! 🍒🍓🤔
Life is strange. Massive lines at grocery stores. People wearing masks with social distancing warnings plastered around trails. If someone told you a year ago this would be the norm, how would you react? You’d think they’d be joking, right?
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
Last month we learned that Plaza Escuela in Walnut Creek closed their benches to encourage social distancing and now Broadway Plaza is getting into the act with the recent closure of the patio next to the Apple store.
Last month we noted that Plaza Escuela taped off benches in response to the coronavirus pandemic and only a short time later some of the tape has been ripped off. Looks like some people really want to get back to normalcy and are chafing at the restrictions.
This month saw the loosening of the shelter-in-place order towards outdoor activities with skate parks now allowed to operate. I dropped by a local skate park and observed about ten kids hanging out within inches of each other, none wearing face masks.
Imagine just one of these kids asymptomatically carrying the virus, spreading it to the other kids, who then go home and unknowingly spread it to their families. I guess we’ll find out in a few weeks how things are going to turn out…
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