Beyond the Creek

Slow Down Lamorinda – June 1st Through Aug. 31st

May 25, 2012 10:00 am

Photo by Flickr user Thomas Hawk

From the Moraga-Orinda Fire District website:

The Chiefs of Moraga, Orinda, and Lafayette Police Departments, with support from Chief Bradley of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, have agreed to share resources to address traffic safety this summer. The “Slow Down Lamorinda” program was initiated in 2007 by then Moraga Mayor Mike Metcalf in reaction to two fatal collisions involving juvenile drivers. The program was a great success and Mayor Metcalf listed the program as a Town Council goal this year.

One day each week, police from all three departments will saturate areas of concern within one city, and rotate among the cities weekly. The goal of the program is not to issue hundreds of citations, but to increase traffic safety awareness by targeting speed, distracted driving, and other violations. Banners will be displayed at local Fire Stations and free bumper stickers will be available at police and fire stations. The program will begin on June 1 and continue through August 31.

All Lamorinda residents are also asked to sign THE LAMORINDA SAFE DRIVING PLEDGE and submit it to your local police department. The pledge form will be available at locations with the bumper stickers and on our Town website. The pledge is intended to remind each of us to be safe and tolerant drivers to make our communities safe for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

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Friday Question of the Day – Favorite Old Time Restaurant

May 25, 2012 8:30 am

This year is Prima Ristorante’s 35th anniversary, which got me thinking, since I’m constantly talking about new restaurants all the time I thought it would be interesting to see what old time places out there are recommended. So for Friday’s Question of the Day, what’s your favorite old time restaurant? Let’s say it has to be over 10 years old. Also, what are any must order items?

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Contra Costa Performing Arts Morning Concert – Fri. May 25th

May 24, 2012 4:30 pm

Photo by Flickr user luchilu

From the Contra Costa Performing Arts website:

Friday Morning Concert
May 25, 2012 10:30 a.m.
Grace Presbyterian Church

Sonata for Violin and Piano
Francis Poulenc(1899-1963)

I. Allegro con fuoco
II. Intermezzo
III. Presto tragico

Candace Sanderson, Violin
Kay Andre, Piano
“Frondi tenere…Ombra mai fu” from opera Serse
George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759)

‘O del mio dolce ardor’ from opera, Paride ed Elena
Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)

An Die Musik, D 547
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Nacht und Träume, D.827 (Op.43 No.2)

Ah! Chloris
Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947)

Del cabello más sutil
Fernando J. Obradors (1897-1945)
Frühlingsnacht No. 12 Liederkreis, Op.39
Robert Schumann (1810 –1856)

Abraham Avililes-Scott, Lyric Tenor
James Greening-Valenzuela, Piano

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Judging Cupcake Shops – Republic of Cake in Orinda

May 24, 2012 11:30 am

With news that Loot Antiques is closing in Lafayette, possibly to be replaced with a cupcake shop, I thought it would be good to make a post on another cupcake shop nearby, Republic of Cake in Orinda. How does this compare to Kara’s Cupcakes in Walnut Creek, or the Teacake Bake Shop in Lafayette?

Republic of Cake is located at 2 Theatre Square in Orinda. You can see their menu here. Any fans?

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Lamorinda Theater Academy Opening Late June in Lafayette

May 24, 2012 8:30 am

Lamorinda Theater Academy, a new dance, singing and acting studio for children is opening in late June above Lamorinda Music in Lafayette, and I was able to check out the progress and find out more about the studio. The staircase entrance is to the left of Lamorinda Music.

Check out the dance studio where tap, jazz, creative and contemporary dance classes will be offered:

This is where the acting studio will be, although it’s being completely made over, with a new staircase added at back for safety reasons:

In addition to the dance and acting studio, there will be a smaller vocal studio for private singing lessons, yoga classes, as well as a large lobby for parents and kids. Parents will be able to look in both studios to see how the kids are doing, and there are also bathrooms and lockers available as well.

The owners Renee DeWeese and Rena Wilson seem very enthusiastic about the new academy and have quite an impressive resume so this looks very promising and I look forward to seeing how it turns out next month. They are accepting registrations for summer programs (1 camp is already sold out) . They are also offering free classes from June 25th – July 1st so you can try out a class to see how it is. The class schedule is here.

Considering the recent expansion of Lamorinda Music, it looks like this area will become an increasingly important part of the Lafayette art scene.

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Art by the Glass Event Thurs. May 24th in Moraga

May 23, 2012 4:30 pm

From an email:

Join the Hacienda Foundation of Moraga on Thursday, May 24 from 5:00-7:00 pm for a Local Wine Tasting, Art Exhibit and Sale at the Hacienda de las Flores. Captain Vineyards from Moraga will pour their wines, and Moraga Artists will exhibit their artworks. The $8 entry fee buys 2 tickets. Additional tickets are $3 each. 1 ticket = half glass of wine; 2 tickets = full glass of wine. Dine afterwards at your favorite local restaurant!

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Be on the Lookout for Open House Thieves

May 23, 2012 11:59 am

Photo by Flickr user myxi

Lafayette Police is warning people to be careful about thieves at open house events. There have been two recent incidents in Walnut Creek:

Be aware of suspicious subjects walking around during open house events. Walnut Creek has reported that the following subjects are suspected of thefts from at least two open houses in their City. A tall black male and heavy set Hispanic female, both in their late 20’s to mid 30’s. The female has tattoos of laces going up her calves. The vehicle associated with them was described as a large, white SUV.

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Guanatos Ice Cream Opens in Walnut Creek

May 23, 2012 11:30 am

Guanatos Ice Cream just opened their second location in the Countrywood Shopping Center in Walnut Creek a couple of weeks ago. Their first store in Bay Point has been in business for 5 years, and according to their website:

We are a family owned company that shares our grandparent’s recipes.

Check out their flavors here. Some of the more intriguing flavors are, avocado, corn, chongos zamoranos, nassberry and cheese! They also offer sorbet.

Take a look at the inside:

Check out more photos including a close up of the avocado flavor after the jump…

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North Main Street Fountains Getting Refurbished in Walnut Creek

May 23, 2012 8:30 am

The two fountains in downtown Walnut Creek on N. Main St. are getting a huge facelift and the one you see above in front of Wells Fargo should be finished by the end of the week. The artist for this fountain is Ene Osteraas-Constable from Wowhaus, and a Walnut Creek Arts Commision agenda has the details:

Wowhaus for the fountain in front of Wells FargoGeologica, by the artist team of Wowhaus (Ene Osteraas-Constable and Scott Constable) isinspired by tracing water to its elemental source: the earth itself. Ceramic and glass mosaic evokegeological stratification. Glints of reflective glass throughout the piece echo veining in layeredstone, leaving the impression that the fountain might have been hewn out of a single, massiverock. In the center of the fountain lies a 30” “geode”, a rock-like spherical form that is sliced toreveal a beautiful, shimmering geode-like pattern. The geode hovers just at the surface of thewater. Striking at a distance, the complex patterning of the fountain draws viewers in, invitingthem to walk around the entire piece to observe the intricate details of the mosaic and to discover
the sparkling geode in the fountain’s center. Water will flow over the surface of the geode as itrises from the center of the sphere.

The other fountain will be installed by early June. This is going to look amazing when completed. I can’t wait to check it out when they turn it on!

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itrim Community Walk – Every Tues Evening in Lafayette

May 22, 2012 4:30 pm

The health center itrim in Lafayette is having it’s inaugural community walk (2 & 4 mile loop) this evening beginning at 6:15pm (every Tues) meeting in front of Clock Etc. next to the future itrim location at 973 Moraga Rd. First time walkers get a t-shirt and pedometer and water will be available.

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