Lots of bridal store action happening in Walnut Creek lately with the bridal boutique Kinsley James Couture Bridal opening up over the weekend. Located at 1623 Mt. Diablo Blvd. around the corner from the Century movie theater, they have a spacious and contemporary interior which looks amazing. You can check out their Facebook page here.
Check out the sweet interior:
Brett Kern, Inflatable Dinosaur Series: Tyrannosaurus Rex, 2013, ceramic.
Peaceable Kingdom: Animals, Real and Imagined
Bedford Gallery
1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek
March 3rd – May 19th, 2013
$5 | FREE first Tuesdays of the monthA juried show devoted to investigating our storied and rich relationship with the animal world,Peaceable Kingdom will invite prominent curators to assemble a collection of innovative and appealing works by national artists. This exhibition will explore the presence of animals in the visual arts, and how they appear as metaphors, totems, objects of fear, and sources of emotional attachment and affection. The history of human and animal interaction is filled with tales of failed domestication, unusual friendships, and fearsome predators. Human fascination with the animal kingdom has run the gamut from emotional connection, to economic exploitation, and even scientific curiosity. Throughout all of these interactions, however, the sense of wonder we feel when we encounter animal life has been an enduring theme that has informed their continued and abiding presence in the visual arts. This juried exhibition will encourage artists to meditate on these complex and diverse relationships, addressing such issues as antagonism, admiration, attachment, and even the politically charged issue of animal rights.
One of the unique parts of the Walnut Creek Neiman Marcus store was the wind fins in front which would swing back and forth with the wind. Some loved them, others hated them, but now they are gone. However, according to an employee I spoke with they were falling off so they were taken down to fix.They should be back in four months.
Back in January the Walnut Creek night club Vice Ultra Lounge closed after a contentious existence culminating with a sarcastic YouTube video by owner Matt DeLima thanking the city for their ‘help’ through the years. Now, DeLima is back at the same location with a new sports (& coffee) lounge concept called Blu 42. With a full liquor license and breakfast, lunch and dinner menus available, it’s possible to enjoy the game while watching one of the numerous widescreen TVs hanging around the lounge area. Thanks to a reader for letting me know about this.
The back part of the lounge will offer dancing at the end of April. Blu 42 will be open every day until 11pm and in April they are scheduled to be open until 2am. With a full liquor license and dancing you might be tempted to call it part night club, part sports lounge but Blu 42 wants to stay away from that word so call it a dance lounge, call it a night life establishment but remember, it’s not a night club. 😉
Check out their breakfast menu (click to enlarge):
This is part of the sports lounge area:
Blu 42 is located at 1251 Arroyo Way in Walnut Creek between Civic Drive and N. Broadway.
Dancers Hiromi Yamazaki & Robert Dekkers – credit Ashraf
Diablo Crowdsourced Web Ballet:
Shadelands Arts Center Auditorium
111 N. Wiget Ln, Walnut Creek
Friday, March 1st & Saturday, March 2nd, 2013
8:00pm (Fri), 2:00pm & 8:00pm (Sat) | $38 evening, $29 matinee
Diablo Ballet of Walnut Creek, CA premiers the world’s first ballet created via suggestions from the internet this weekend (March 1st & 2nd).
The Web Ballet has been created from various suggestions submitted from all over the world to the Diablo Ballet’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
Over 132 ideas were sent in from the United States and international locations such as Australia, Japan, Scotland, Russia, Sweden, Japan, and Trinidad & Tobago among others. Choreographer Robert Dekkers reviewed the ideas and selected seven that have been incorporated into the work, entitled Flight of the Dodo, which premieres this Friday and Saturday in Walnut Creek, CA.
Read the rest after the jump
Some more progress at Ike’s as their signage is now up in downtown Walnut Creek near The Cheesecake factory. We’ve been patiently waiting until they open up. Can’t wait to try this place out!
Just read this on Ike’s Facebook page:
Want Ike’s coupons emailed to you (almost) every month? Also, get a FREE sandwich coupon emailed to you on your birthday! Join our E-preciation Club for free HERE: https://secure.murgent.com/emopt/index.php?id=5580
♥ + Sandwiches + Appreciation,
Ike Shehadeh
Ike’s is expanding like crazy with a new location opening in Los Angeles as well.
Canvas and Cabernet, a new paint and sip art studio that serves alcoholic beverages in downtown Walnut Creek has a cool looking wood logo hand-carved from an antique blade displayed in their bar area. Note the various beverages available in the foreground. The place is looking better and better every time I drop by.
Check out their schedule here. Canvas and Cabernet is located at 1421 Locust Street in Walnut Creek.
From the Principal of Walnut Creek Intermediate:
The Walnut Creek PD contacted WCI administrators on 2/26/12 regarding inappropriate messages sent through social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Kik) to female students at WCI. Today, the WCPD was able to apprehend the person who contacted these female students.
From the Walnut Creek Police:
On 2/24/13, parents of Walnut Creek Intermediate School students reported to the Walnut Creek Police Department that their minor daughters were receiving lewd and lascivious text and Facebook messages from an unknown adult male. The male suspect was also attempting to arrange meetings with the juveniles to engage in sex acts. Detectives worked with school administrators and were able to identify additional juvenile victims that had received similar communications.
Detectives were able to identify the suspect and obtained an arrest warrant and a search warrant for his residence. On 2/27/13, the warrants were served and the suspect was arrested and evidence of the crimes was seized.
The suspect was booked at Walnut Creek Police Department and transported to Contra Costa County Jail where he is being held on $65,000.00 bail. The charges were 288.2PC- Sending Harmful Matter to a Minor with the Intent to Seduce, 288.3 PC Contact/Communicate with a Minor with the Intent to Commit a Sex Act, and 288.4 PC Attempt to Meet a Minor to Engage in Lewd or Lascivious Behavior.
Anyone with further information regarding this case or suspect is encouraged to contact Walnut Creek Police Department, Detective Keagy at 925-943-5881
Suspect Description:
Ariel Romero Ortigoza
29 year old male
Resident Walnut Creek
From an email:
Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building
3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette
Friday, March 8th, 2013
6:30pm – Midnight | $85Generations in Jazz Foundation invites you to It’s a Wonderful World – an evening of dinner and music Including the Big Band of Rossmoor, Bob Athayde & Friends, Dominant 7 and Juice This dinner is a salute to all the generous foundations and organizations that help to make Lafayette a wonderful place to live, work and play.
It all happens Friday March 8 at the Lafayette Events Center (aka Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building at 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Cocktails begin at 6:30pm and Dinner is served at 8:00pm.
For information or to make reservations please visit the Chamber website or call us at 284-7404. Tickets which go towards supporting the Big Band of Rossmoor are $85 per person.
Back in December I noted that Fresh Choice was closing in Walnut Creek and now the same owner is back with a makeover called California Fresh. According to head chef Doug Korach in addition to the organic salad bar there will be a coffee bar with pastries for sale as well as a wine and beer bar. Rice bowls with vegetables will be introduced where the pasta station used to be. No word yet on when the Fresh Choice sign will be replaced.
Check out the salad bar:
California Fresh is located at 1275 S Main St in Walnut Creek at the corner of Botelho Dr. and S. Main St.