Spotted in downtown Walnut Creek, I’m not sure sitting on an American flag makes the most sense but…
Spotted in downtown Walnut Creek, I’m not sure sitting on an American flag makes the most sense but…
Back in April I noted that Rochester Big & Tall was closing on N. Main St. across from Starbucks in downtown Walnut Creek, and it turns out that the women’s fashion store Brandy Melville will be moving from its current spot next to the Cheesecake Factory to this location by the end of the month.
In February I made a “Judging Boutiques” post about Brandy Melville and when I stopped by recently it was packed with young women shopping so it looks like the Italian fashion line is doing quite well in Walnut Creek.
By the way, it seems that there was quite some competition for this retail location as I know a couple of stores that were trying to get it although Brandy landed it in the end.
Take a close look at the above photo. What time time does it say? 6:12 PM? Wonderful, after 6 o’clock, free parking, woo-hoo! Except it wasn’t 6:12 PM, it was 5:12 PM, and technically I was responsible for paying for 48 minutes on the meter. The only problem is that it wouldn’t accept credit cards. Of course I remember Crazy in Suburbia’s parking debacle on President’s Day a few years back, so I stood at the meter contemplating what to do. I had some coins so I put one in. Nothing gets registered. So I pondered whether to just take a chance, after all it’s not my fault that it won’t accept money right? Yeah sure, tell that to the judge is what I was thinking in the back of my mind.
As I stood there wondering what to do, two women walked by and told me it’s not accepting any money. Turns out they tried to put money in as well. So it’s free to park? Yes they replied, and I went happily on my way.
The city should really fix the time on the meters, (daylight savings adjustment probably), if only to not confuse people. If not, does anyone know whether it’s legally ok to park there for free if the time is not correct and it won’t accept money?
Driving by Shadelands Ranch recently, home to the Walnut Creek Historical Society at 2660 Ygnacio Valley Rd, I noticed a pumpkin patch will be open now through October 31st. From their Facebook page:
Petting zoo with pigs, goats, rabbits and chicks
Pumpkin Painting. A quick lesson about pumpkins from our Pumpkin Guide. A small pumpkin to take home. Photo stations to take your adorable Halloween pictures
Snacks: including popcorn
Bring the entire family. While at the pumpkin patch you will have free
access to Shadelands Ranch and use of its picnic tables and parking.
Please call soon to schedule your field trip to the pumpkin patch.
Friday[Saturday] nights are MOVIE NIGHT. We show a different movie each week.
According to the owner a different movie will play every Saturday night at 7pm, like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.The petting zoo and pumpkin painting area are free to use, with pumpkins priced at 50 cents for the smallest size to $15 for the largest ones. They are open 9am – 9pm every day and approximately 10% of what they make will go to the Walnut Creek Historical Society. This looks like a convenient place to take the kids especially now before it gets too crowded.
What do you think of the panorama photo at top? That’s the first time I used the panorama feature on the iPhone (iOS 6) and think it’s pretty slick!
Sample pumpkins will be displayed to show the price:
Various pumpkins are available, including plenty of the traditional orange ones:
See photos of jack-o’-lanterns after the jump:
Back in May I noted that Betsey Johnson was closing in Broadway Plaza, located in a prime Walnut Creek spot across from Nordstrom, and next to Neiman Marcus. On October 10th the fashion jewelry store Bracchiale will be opening up. From the Broadway Plaza website:
Embrace the experience at Bracchaile and shop great fashion accessories including jewelry, scarves, hair accessories, brooches, bags and wallets!
I wish Bracchiale all the best, although given its prime location, I do wonder why better known chains have not opened up instead. My guess would be that the retail space is not large enough to accommodate most stores. Anyone know why?
Previously I posted about a Russian grocery, and last month an Indian grocery, now I present to you a Japanese grocery, Diablo Oriental Foods in Walnut Creek (2590 N. Main St.). Note this is a different grocery than Diablo Foods in Lafayette. If you’re looking for Japanese staples such as natto, Calpis or senbei crackers and don’t want to leave Walnut Creek, this is the place to head to. Driving by looks straight out of the 1970s if not earlier, but they pack an enormous amount of items within.
Note the high quality rice at bottom right:
Check out more photos after the jump including natto…
A
Time Capsule
was buried here
October 16, 1989
in celebration of
Walnut Creek’s
75th anniversary of cityhood
to be opened in 2089
plaque donated by Dean and Margaret Lesher
Does anyone know what’s inside this time capsule?
The frame store Art Form closed in July in Walnut Creek, and apparently Sunrise Bistro next door may be expanding although when I dropped by this week the “Available” sign was still visible so maybe it’s not been finalized yet. I have never eaten at Sunrise Bistro, how’s the food there?
Sunrise Bistro is located at 1559 Botelho Drive in Walnut Creek. Check out their menus here.
It’s only been a couple of weeks since I posted about the men’s store Atlas (1356 N. Main St.) in downtown Walnut Creek, and within that time they managed to have their store remodeled with a new arrangement, new flooring and more, including slick dressing rooms and a sale section in the back. This is a fun store to browse and shop at. Check out the new look in the photos below:
I’m noticing a trend with the iPad registers:
Cool lounge area towards the back:
Check out more photos after the jump…
The Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts in downtown Walnut Creek is hosting an exhibit titled Captured: Specimens in Contemporary Art through November 18th. From their webpage:
The intersection of art and nature has inspired artists for centuries. Artists have looked to the natural world as a source book for creative projects and strategies. From Impressionist plein air painting, to medieval bestiaries art has been committed to exploring the unfamiliar and unknown creatures and environments that share our world. Artists in this show will illustrate how a complex and rewarding dialogue between the arts, scientific exploration, and organic, found materials has been staged in a contemporary context.
Looking to traditions as diverse as taxidermy, specimen boxes, and the cabinet of curiosities, this exhibition will address the changing nature of our relationship with the natural world. It will offer us a glimpse into the impermanence and vitality of wildlife and the botanical world, encouraging us to question our assumptions about the curious world of unique and unusual creatures around us.
The Vache Rouge by Marcus Kenney:
Check out this cool tent scene:
