Mixed Nuts will be performing at Lafayette’s Summer Series this Friday, August 17th at 6pm, at the Lafayette Plaza.
Mixed Nuts will be performing at Lafayette’s Summer Series this Friday, August 17th at 6pm, at the Lafayette Plaza.
Diablo Ballet and the Lafayette Library Foundation will be presenting An American in Paris on August 15th at 6:30pm at the Lafayette Library. Admission is $5, proceeds to benefit the Lafayette Library Foundation. From a press release:
Diablo Ballet & The Lafayette Library Foundation continue the popular Dance on Film series with a screening of the legendary movie An American in Paris on Wednesday, August 15th 6:30 PM at the Lafayette Library. For information, visit www.DiabloBallet.org or call the library at 925-283-6513.
From the era of MGM’s classic film musicals comes An American in Paris, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. A love story set amid the lights of Paris, the film features a glorious score by George & Ira Gershwin. In 1951, the film won numerous Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Before the screening, Lauren Jonas, Diablo Ballet Artistic Director and noted local film critic Beau Behan will share fascinating facts about the making of the film.
Dance on Film celebrates some of the finest examples of dance captured in popular movies. The series debuted last June with a sold-out screening of The Red Shoes, and will conclude September 12th with the Academy Award winning film West Side Story.
The Dance on Film Series presents An American in Paris Wednesday August 15th 6:30 PM in the Community Hall at the Lafayette Library – 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Admission is $5 for all. Proceeds benefit the Lafayette Library Foundation. For information, visit www.DiabloBallet.org or call the library at 925-283-6513.
Back in May I noted that Loot Antiques was closing in Lafayette, and also mentioned that a cupcake chain would be possibly moving in. Well, this has now been confirmed thanks to an email from a reader. SusieCakes will be opening up shop sometime in the Fall at the old Loot Antiques store at 3598 Mt. Diablo Blvd, next to Pizza Antica in Lafayette.
SusieCakes started out in Southern California and currently has 3 Northern California locations, one in Marin, one in San Francisco, and one in Menlo Park, so an East Bay location seems well thought-out. It will not be a franchise, but rather owned directly by SusieCakes.
From their website:
SusieCakes is an all-American bakery offering home-style dessert favorites baked entirely from scratch. Our classic treats are made daily by in-house bakers, using the freshest & finest ingredients. Come visit us for delicious, sentimental sweets and a friendly, old-fashioned neighborhood experience.
This interview with SusieCakes founder Susan Sarich by Forbes has quite a bit of information about the founder as well as the bakery. It looks like they will offer plenty of custom cakes for all kinds of celebrations, baked on-site with natural ingredients.
Although I’m not a big cake eater, I look forward to checking out SusieCakes to try a cookie every now and then. Yum!
A new belly dancing studio has opened in Lafayette called Shimmy Dreams, and is owned by Lafayette resident Dawn Morrison, AKA Samira Dawn. Located at 1018 Almanor Ln, right off Mt. Diablo Blvd, the studio shares space with Rhythm Room Dance and other dance studios.
Dawn has been a belly dancing professional for 14 years, and in the past was on the US National Synchronized Swimming Team with the Walnut Creek Aquanuts. She has also taught various fitness classes such as Yoga and Pilates.
From the Shimmy Dreams website:
Within a year of doing group classes and private lessons I took my first dive into professional dancing at restaurants, private parties and corporate events. The El Morrocco in Pleasant Hill, Kasba in San Rafael, Marrakech in San Francisco, Tanjias in Oakland, Bijan in Walnut Creek, Plaza Mediterranean in Blackhawk, and India for U in Antioch, all have been fabulous restaurants to dance at over the years. I have taught regular belly dance and exercise classes at 10 facilities. From 2007-2009 I was fortunate enough to co-direct Dansoleil Belly Dance in Brentwood California with the fabulous- Talia Soleil.
Shimmy Dreams offers a cardio belly dance class, as well as beginning and advanced classes, and plans on forming a belly dancing troupe to perform at nearby festivals. Check out the complete schedule here. I believe Shimmy Dreams is the only belly dancing studio in the Lafayette/Lamorinda area, so if interested drop by since the first class is free.
From the Contra Costa Library website:
Start Time: 6:30 PM
End Time: 8:00 PM
Description:
This talk, presented by Master Gardener Janet Miller, will help us learn the steps necessary now to keep your soil at its peak and reap a bountiful winter harvest.Join us to find out:
* How growing vegetables in the winter has its advantages over summer vegetables.
* What allowances have to be made for the shorter days and less intense sunlight.Library: Lafayette Library and Learning Center
Location: Arts & Science Room
Other Information:
Fee: $5/person
Photo by Flickr user Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL)
From the Lafayette Police:
AVOID Pleasant Hill Road at Condit due to PG&E wire down on Roadway. Detours in effect, PG&E working to get road open.
Police and Fire are on scene, initial report was of a grass fire, fire is contained wire is still down.
Back in April I noted that the Swedish weight loss program Itrim was coming to Lafayette, and today is the grand opening. This is the first Itrim location in the United States, with a San Ramon location opening within the next couple of months, and Walnut Creek being considered as well. For those not familiar with the Itrim program, this is from their website:
We educate, motivate and support you through the toughest parts of losing weight and keeping it off. The Itrim program focuses the first 2 to 4 months on helping you lose the weight you want to lose, and the next 22 to 24 months teaching you, practicing with you and supporting you to maintain your weight loss.
Developing the skills to maintain your weight loss takes time, energy, commitment, and practice. Itrim knows this, and has everything you need lined up under one roof: a personal lifestyle coach, fun and effective exercise training, educational life-changing classes, a comfortable member lounge, personal exercise trainers and more.
Work progressed rather quickly and the results are amazing. The addition of the huge windows really lightens the place up inside. The blue paint matching the Swedish flag as well as the copper roof over the cupola really makes this place stand out. What a great addition to downtown Lafayette!
Check out the lounge area (free wifi and iPad usage included):
Among the various gym equipment is a TRX machine:
check out photos of the other gym equipment, locker room, classroom and personal consultation room after the jump…
Spotted in front of Lamorinda Music, Lamorinda Theatre Academy and the soon to be opened Mighty Fine Guitars store. I love finding creative displays like this, hats off to them!
A couple of weeks ago I noted about a mystery clothing store opening up in downtown Lafayette but it turns out that despite the City of Lafayette attempting to keep it a secret, Diablo Magazine uncovered the details a while ago. The store is called Venture Men’s Goods, and after some additional research I found out the Facebook page:
Venture offers men’s apparel that has a decidedly West Coast orientation, grounded with California-based brands and manufacturers. The product is genuine and well-crafted. Comfortable, yet aspirational. Stylish, but not trendy.
Venture Goods is located at 3571 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in downtown Lafayette, a few stores down from Patxi’s Pizzeria.
The final movie showing at the Lafayette Plaza (Mt. Diablo Blvd. & Moraga Rd.) for the 2012 Lafayette Summer Series will be Iron Man. The start time is “at dusk” with a snack bar compliments of Whole Foods. Beginning August the Summer Series will turn into “Rock the Plaza” and showcase rock music Friday evenings.