Diane’s Beach Wear, which had two stores in Broadway Plaza separated by a clothing store in-between for some reason, has closed one, right across from Nordstrom. This looks like prime real estate so I wonder what will replace it? As you can see by the photo below the other Diane’s Beach Wear store is open with no signs of closing so maybe it was just a lateral move over.
From a Walnut Creek Police Department press release:
On Tuesday September 11, 2012 at approx, 4 PM detectives from Walnut Creek PD reacting to a tip provided to Concord PD located missing juvenile Larissa Huntsman at a residence in Concord.
Walnut Creek PD detectives have been searching for Huntsman since she was last seen on 8/24/12 leaving Las Lomas High School.
The investigation determined that Huntsman was voluntarily missing, with the knowledge and assistance of her biological, non-custodial mother, Laura Huntsman. Larissa was in hiding at the Concord residence.
This case will be referred to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office for the possibility of criminal charges being filed against Laura Huntsman.
From a press release:
WALNUT CREEK (August 15, 2012) – Coming off last year’s triumphant 25th anniversary season, the California Symphony’s 2012-2013 season will focus on selecting a new music director to lead the acclaimed orchestra into a new era of world-class music-making for audiences here in the East Bay.
Seven internationally-renowned conductors, all having led major orchestras throughout the world, will audition for the position by leading the California Symphony in programs that showcase music’s most beloved and enduring works, including short pieces, concertos and symphonies by the masters — Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Berlioz, Sibelius, Prokofiev — and contemporary artists Gershwin, Porter, Lowe and Adams. The symphony’s innovative Young Composer in Residence D.J. Sparr will also offer up another world premiere.
The seven concerts take place at the Lesher Center for Arts in Walnut Creek on September 30, October 18, December 23, January 20, February 12, March 3, and May 4 and 5.
For his concert, each conductor has selected pieces that will delight audiences and showcase his musical chops and unique artistic vision. Some concerts also feature soloists who have emerged as rising stars in 21st century music: pianists Gregory Taboloff and Haochen Zhang, soprano Sarah Jane McMahon, clarinet player David Singer and violinist Caroline Goulding.
The symphony has been without a music director for the past two seasons, relying on the talents of guest conductors, several who are among this season’s finalists for the top job.
During the 2011-12 season, the symphony refined its focus as the Walnut Creek-based orchestra that brings audiences closer to the music they love in the more intimate setting of the Lesher Center’s 785-seat Hofmann Theatre. This focus and the stellar performances of the guest conductors, soloists and orchestra musicians during the 2011-12 season garnered the symphony some of the best reviews and most enthusiastic audiences of its quarter-century history. This success prompted the orchestra to add three concerts to its program for 2012-13. Two of these concerts are more accessible, constructed around the themes of Halloween and Valentine’s Day. The third is a holiday concert that will take place in December, after the symphony scored an audience hit with its first ever holiday concert in December 2011.
The Lesher Center for the Arts is located at 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Single tickets start at $35, and season subscriptions start at $130. For tickets and information, call (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit our website atwww.californiasymphony.org
That exclamation point is not to make the post more emphatic, rather that will be part of the Baking Company’s new name that replaced the previous tenant Walnut Creek Baking Company in downtown Walnut Creek.
I just had to stop by to see what was being offered, and I saw many of the exact same bakery items that I used to get at the WCBC. An employee mentioned they planned on renaming it Bake!, although it’s not been decided for sure. I did find it odd that they were reusing the Walnut Creek Baking Company’s leftover bags etc for purchases. Not to mention the award winning Diablo sign is still up on the window. If you didn’t inquire as to whether it’s a different bakery you might just assume it’s still the Walnut Creek Baking Company, especially considering the same recipes are being used. If you have been familiar with the Walnut Creek Baking Company’s pastries you can tell the difference which reminds me of a quote Lloyd Bentsen made during the vice-presidential debate against Dan Quayle in 1988.
Back last November I noted that Target was cracking down on people parking at Target only to head to the farmers market on Saturday. Well, apparently back then Target was seeing sales receipts growth so they really didn’t care that much, but word on the street is that they have seen a precipitous drop in sales receipts coinciding with the farmers market time slot and they believe this is due to lack of parking so now they are getting serious.
Apparently they have lookouts watching as people exit their cars and if they catch you as you head towards the farmers market instead of Target, you may get slapped with a ticket. As the sign states, you need to leave a receipt on your dashboard to prove you have been to Target. Your best bet is to park at the Growers Square parking garage as can be seen in the next photo. It’s free on Sundays which is news to me.
Mooyah, a Texan burger joint is opening their second California location, (the first is in Merced), right in Ygnacio Valley Shopping Center in Walnut Creek today (assuming permits go through).
Check out the inside:
This is the menu for the Walnut Creek location:
Interestingly, as I was taking photos from the outside, a bunch of people from Mooyah came out and I started asking them about the burgers, and how it compares to Habit Burger. Turns out the guy setting up the store was from Texas and had never heard of Habit Burger. I’m curious to try this place out, if you go let us know how it is! The menu says free toppings, what’s the best combo to get?
Anthropologie, due to open this Friday, September 14th in downtown Walnut Creek, has decorators hard at work transforming the store into an artistic cornucopia. I love how they don’t block the windows out while prepping the store, anyone can just check out the progress by looking in, it’s going to look amazing! This is a great addition to the downtown Walnut Creek area.
Davidson & Lichte The Watch Shoppe has closed in downtown Walnut Creek on N. Main St, however their shop on Broadway Plaza is still open so if you have repairs, a note on the door mentions to pick it up there.
I believe Davidson & Lichte own the building itself, as well as Vanessa’s next door so it’ll be interesting to see what will open in its place.
From the city of Walnut Creek website:
September 8, 2012 Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge and back
Join Mayor Bob Simmons at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, September 8 for a walk in the Sugarloaf and Shell Ridge open space areas. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Orchard Trail sign at the Sugarloaf Open Space area. The walk will cover about 4 miles on some uneven terrain. There are two moderately steep sections, with about 1000′ cumulative elevation gain. Be sure to wear sturdy walking shoes, and to bring water and sunscreen. Click for walking guide.
The Walnut Creek Baking Company is opening today, exactly one week after the original Walnut Creek Baking Company closed due to their lease expiring, and the wife of the landlord is taking over.
Diablo Dish notes that the bakery will have, “the same products, some of the same staff, and the same name—at least until they can change it”, and here is what the landlord (and husband of the new bakery owner) has to say about the new bakery:
“There will be the same level of quality—and maybe even higher.”
Does this strike anybody as odd? The only thing I can think of is that the landlord, in addition to buying the equipment, also bought the rights to the former owner’s recipes and procedures. Otherwise there is a situation where one of the former head bakers, now working for the new owner, is using Denise’s recipes and baking techniques to try to replicate what Denise came up with from scratch. They did say, “maybe even higher”, but how so if they’re using the same recipes etc? Does this rub anyone the wrong way? This is something I have to see myself.
Check out the proof it’s opening today:
Apparently some employees remained loyal to the former owner:
If you drop by tomorrow please let us know your impressions, the suspense is driving me crazy.