I hope everyone has a happy, safe and fun Independence Day weekend!
Fourth of July Celebration:
Moraga Commons Park
1425 St. Mary’s Rd., Moraga
Friday, July 4th, 2014
All Day | Free
A new garden has been planted at the edge of the parking lot on Civic Dr. and Locust St. in downtown Walnut Creek where the restaurant Lettuce is and appropriately enough this one’s edible as you can see from the photo below showing off a Tango Mandarin sapling. There are also tomato plants growing. Amazing!
1259 S. Main St, Walnut Creek
In January I noted the Japanese clothing store Uniqlo would be coming to downtown Walnut Creek and construction has now begun. Gina Khan Salon temporarily replaced The Children’s Place which closed last September and they have temporarily relocated to San Francisco.
4th of July Concert and Ice Cream Social:
Civic Park Gazebo
1375 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek
Friday, July 4th, 2014
3:00pm – 7:30pm | FreeWalnut Creek continues its Centennial Celebrations with an Independence Day Concert and Ice Cream Social. The family friendly evening includes performances by the acclaimed Walnut Creek Band and free root beer floats served by the city’s current and former Mayors. The Valley Art Gallery is hosting a “Walnut Creek Paint-Out” project, a display of plein aire art scenes of Walnut Creek created by local artists. People attending the social will be able to view the works of art and vote for their favorite painting at www.valleyartgallery.org.
2933 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek
A new children’s birthday and fun center called Smile Tu recently opened in the Encina Grande Shopping Center in Walnut Creek. The main feature are Japanese purikura photo booths where 4 – 8 kids and others can dress up in costumes, wigs, masks etc. and get their photos taken which can be customized afterwards. Drop-ins are allowed anytime. They also have different party-themed rooms like Western, Frozen and glow in the dark. Check out the party packages here.
From their website:
We are a cool NEW store in Walnut Creek that currently has 10 unique party themes designed around our different, out of this world photo booths. We have an experience that will take you UP to a new level of entertainment.
These machines have the ability to alter lighting, back grounds, hair color, and eye animation. Essentially they are digital photoshop pictures, making you look great! One can then customize the picture sticker strip by using a touch screen and stylist pen. The touch screen displays a vast array of options to decorate your picture sticker strip, with different boarders, frames, stamps, creatures, smiley faces, sparkles, glitter and different colored pens to draw freehand. Two pictures are never a like, all being done under a time limit adds to the excitement. Finally the number and size of pictures are chosen and then printed on a glossy very colorful 6×4 inch sticker sheet.
Back of the Purikura photo booth:
Plenty more photos after the jump…
Photo by Flickr user slack12
Orinda Theatre
4 Orinda Theatre Square, Orinda
Friday, July 4th, 2014
10:00am | FreeJuly 4th is an Orinda tradition started by the Orinda Association in the early 1980s as a way to celebrate not only Independence Day, but also to celebrate “community.” Thousands of citizens gather on this special day to not only watch or participate in the parade, but also attend the numerous other events available throughout the day. On July 4th there are events for every age group starting with the annual Pancake Breakfast, flag raising ceremony, fun run, parade, live music, food, games and booths in the park following the parade. Everyone is invited to participate in the planning, sponsor a booth or event, participate in the parade, host a booth in the park, or just come and enjoy the events.
Back in January I noted that construction on Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf had begun in the Sprouts Shopping Center located on Geary Rd. and N. Main St. in Walnut Creek and judging by the inside it’s getting much closer to opening now. This place has been empty for a really long time so it’s good to see significant progress being made on the inside. Stay tuned…
1192 Locust St, Walnut Creek
A new men’s section is opening sometime in July within the Forever 21 clothing store in downtown Walnut Creek across from The Cheesecake Factory.
