2895 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill
A couple of weeks ago we learned that four Navlet’s Garden Centers would be replaced with Sloat Garden Centers and they are all now open according to this Sloat Garden Center page. The four locations are in Concord, Danville, Martinez and Pleasant Hill. Above you can see a photo of the Pleasant Hill store.
1928 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill
I can’t remember the last time I visited a video rental store. With Blockbuster gone, and being able to rent movies online, I haven’t been to one in over 10 years. Recently I was checking out the soon-to-open Wisegirl restaurant in Oak Park Center in Pleasant Hill when I passed by a bonafide video rental store (originally based in Lafayette) called Take One Video. Feeling nostalgic, I decided to check it out and realized that not only do they carry uncommon out-of-print films not available on Amazon or Netflix but actually carry blu-ray new releases for $5/week with a $1 discount if it’s returned within 2 days. This is cheaper than renting online at Amazon or Apple!
Not only are the video rentals reasonably priced, but the employees are super-knowledgeable and make great recommendations as well. Having two kids five years apart I was wondering whether one movie was appropriate for my younger child when one employee I talked with steered me away from it and instead recommended a great movie that our whole family enjoyed. I returned it the same weekend so ended up with a $4 rental which isn’t even available to rent online. Check out their website here.
Rethinking Plants: Choosing Multi-function Plants:
Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center
315 Cortsen Rd, Pleasant Hill
Saturday, February 13, 2016
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | $35 (bulk discount available)The quality of soil makes or breaks any garden. Anyone can improve their soil with just a little time and effort – and it doesn’t have to cost a dime. Plus, the healthier your soil, the more you save in amendments, your garden blossoms and you spend less time weeding and wondering why your garden isn’t thriving. Participants will be able to: indentify soil characteristics based on texture, structure and types of plants growing in it; know what turns soil into dirt; understand basic plant biology (and why never to buy petrochemically-based fertilizers again); know how to compost and vermicompost; understand the importance of organic matter in soil (hint: more is better!).
1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill
Thanks to a reader for sending word that Wisegirl Ristorante Italiano & Cocktails will be having a ribbon cutting on February 18th in Oak Park Center in Pleasant Hill where Dallimonti’s Italian Restaurant used to be. According to a city architectural memorandum, “the remodel proposes to establish a “speak easy” design theme, harkening back to the Prohibition days of the 1920’s/1930’s for a new restaurant”.
Bounty From Your Garden: Fruit Trees 101:
Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center
315 Cortsen Rd, Pleasant Hill
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | $20Fresh fruit! The goal of many home gardeners it to be able to wander into your garden and pick luscious, tree-ripened fruit, fruit that has not traveled hundreds of miles, or been in cold storage before hitting the grocery shelves.
Come explore the many varieties of fruit bearing trees that thrive in the varied microclimates of Contra Costa. Our class will cover all the basics, including root-stocks, multiple grafting, suppliers and year-round care.
2642 Pleasant Hill Rd, Pleasant Hill
Thanks to a reader for sending word (and photo) that Zen Restaurant has closed and will be reopening (with a new name) in March by the same owners as Dragon’s Pond in downtown Walnut Creek. Check out Dragon’s Pond menu here.
1942 Linda Dr, Pleasant Hill
A new vintage home decor shop called Kait’s Art Vintage Home opened a couple of months ago in Pleasant Hill. In addition to home decor pieces they also offer paint parties for adults and children and are planning on offering paint & sip parties in May. Check for updates on their Facebook page here.
From their website:
Create With Kait is all about finding your inner creative side. I provide a fun, positive and stress free environment that helps to bring out your inner artist. Instead of being “by the book,” I have a simple philosophy that I live by ever since I graduated from Cal Poly. “Learn By Doing” and create whatever you can with one-on-one guidance. Art is fun! I make sure that is my top priority at all times in my classes.
More photos of the inside after the jump…
Perma-What? the What, Why, When, Where & Who (You!) of Permaculture:
Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center
315 Cortsen Rd, Pleasant Hill
Saturday, January 30, 2016
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | $35 (bulk discount available)Redefine your definition and expectation of a garden and how little effort is needed to work with nature for bountiful yields. Particpants will be able to: explain what Permaculture is, understand why it addresses climate change, define your ideal garden, and begin gathering information to design your space.
2391 Pleasant Hill Rd, Pleasant Hill
Siren’s Sandwich Shop opened a few months ago in Pleasant Hill with a healthy twist: A juice bar featuring kombucha on tap. Check out their menu here. I tried the chicken vegetable with orzo pasta soup and it was delicious! The kombucha juice bar confused me as in my mind kombucha goes with yoga not a sandwich joint. It turns out the owner is a huge kombucha fan and so two flavors are available on tap. I’ve tried kombucha in glass bottles before and found the taste to be too vinegary so when I was offered a sample I was a bit leery. I tried watermelon basil and grapefruit sage and it was surprisingly good without the vinegar taste. I’ll be back for more.
As for the firehouse motif, it turns out the owner’s husband is an actual fire captain with the Pleasant Hill fire department and sure enough, as I was leaving they entered the shop to get a bite to eat. Check out the photos after the jump to see the old style fire alarms that you can actually ring. Another nice touch is a red, white and blue fire hose shaped into an American flag. Appropriately, a giant fire truck was parked in the back of the parking lot.
More photos of the inside including old, working fire alarms after the jump…
Downtown Pleasant Hill Shopping Center
This fall we learned that Orchard Supply Hardware was coming to the Downtown Pleasant Hill Shopping Center where Lucky’s used to be and they have now opened. How does Orchard compare with Home Depot and Lowe’s?