Beyond the Creek

Do Stores Not Accepting Credit Cards Bother You?

March 16, 2012 11:32 am

This is the sign on the door of Yogurt Park in Broadway Plaza. Does anyone know why they don’t accept credit cards? Is it because of the extra fees they get charged or actually setting up the system to accept them in the first place? I ask because it seems like it would be more convenient for customers to be allowed to use credit cards, and considering other yogurt places nearby accept them, like Yogurtland and Coco Swirl, it would be in their interest to accept them as well.

Maybe Yogurt Park and similar stores are so well known and in such great locations that they can continue to function like it’s the 70s and 80s and accept checks. Has anyone ever seen someone write a check to buy yogurt?

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Ming Quong May Not be able to Renew Lease

March 16, 2012 8:30 am

Ming Quong, the quaint downtown Walnut Creek jewelry and gift shop run by Jim and Nona Wyman since 1969 may not be able to renew their lease in September if plans go through with The Pizza Place a couple of doors down getting sold and turned into an organic restaurant and store which would expand through to the Ming Quong store. Ming Quong is named after an orphanage in the East Bay where Nona grew up, and they have a lot of support from the community. Check out a couple of the many notes people have written for support:

This is one of my favorite stores in Walnut Creek. My parents have been comming here before they were married.
-from a child

I have been coming to Ming Quong for almost twenty years, and it’s the most unique store in Walnut Creek. If it closes, it would be a great loss to the community.

If their lease is not renewed they would still like to remain in downtown Walnut Creek if they can find the right location. This was my first time visiting the store and it reminded me of something straight out of Berkeley. A nice change from the typical Walnut Creek shops. They are located at 1517 1/2 N. Main St. across from Prima Ristorante, so if you’re in the area stop by to show your support and check out the things they have to offer, it’s quite interesting.

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Lamorinda CrossFit Grand Re-Opening April 22nd

March 15, 2012 5:00 pm

Lamorinda CrossFit, located at 1031 Blackwood Ln. in Lafayette, recently moved to a bigger location right next door to their old location, and they are having a grand re-opening celebration on April 22nd at 4pm. From an email:

Join your Cave Family for a celebration in FINALLY making our move to the New Cave! We are thrilled with our new space and are grateful that you are part of our growing community!
Potluck style bash. Bring food, snack, dessert or drink to share. Friends and family are welcome!

Disclosure: I am a member of this CrossFit gym and really like the bigger location. Stop by and say hi if you’re nearby!

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Sunset Blvd. Musical Opens March 16 at Lesher Center

March 15, 2012 4:30 pm

The musical Sunset Blvd. will be playing at the Lesher Center in downtown Walnut Creek beginning March 16th through April 15th. Tickets can be purchased here. It is being put on by the Contra Costa Musical Theatre. From their website:

A magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Silent movie star Norma Desmond longs for a return to the big screen, having been discarded by tinsel town with the advent of “talkies”. When she meets struggling Hollywood screen-writer Joe Gillis in dramatic circumstnces, their volatile relationship leads to an unforeseen and tragic conclusion. Extravagant, spectacular, witty and genuinely poetic – this is Lloyd Webber at his most lushly melodic! Winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Meet the Cast

Norma Desmond: Annmarie Martin*
Joe Gillis: Robert Lopez
Max Von Mayerling: Gene Bencomo
Betty Schaefer: Nicole Helfer
Cecil B. DeMille: Tom Flynn
Artie Green: Joshua Milbourne
Sheldrake: Mark Eichorn
Manfred: John Rinaldi

Men’s Ensemble:
Jim Coniglio
Mark Eichorn
Joshua Milbourne
John Rinaldi
Erik Scanlon
Austin Scott
Jay Serpas
Greg Zema

Women’s Ensemble:
Joan Evans
Melissa Heinrich
Dawn Krapfel
Linda Sciacqua
Jennifer Stark
Ann Taylor
Jennifer West
Diella Wottrich

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Mural of the Day

March 15, 2012 11:34 am

Spotted at the parking garage next to Lesher Center in downtown Walnut Creek:

Josh Keyes, Treadmill, 2006
A gift to the City of Walnut Creek
in memory of Susan Booth
longtime friend of Bedford Gallery

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The Pizza Place May Be Sold Off to Make Room for Organic Restaurant/Store

March 15, 2012 8:30 am

Way back in October of last year, I posted about Hanna’s Bags moving to a different location, and now it’s all coming together with the uproar over Ming Quong potentially moving as well. If you look closely in the above photo you’ll notice an empty storefront, formerly Hanna’s Bags, between Dudum-owned The Pizza Place and Ming Quong (out of frame at left).

It turns out that the building is owned by Jack Dudum, the father, and according to the owner of Ming Quong, Jim Wyman, there may have been plans to sell The Pizza Place to an organic restaurant and store that would expand into Hanna’s Bags and Ming Quong. Eventually, people even stopped by to take measurements, confirming their suspicions. However, these people thought they were leaving in April even though their lease is not up until September, and so they don’t know whether the deal is going to go through or not.

Stay tuned… I wonder what the Dudums will say about this.

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Walnut Creek Giving Out Free Sandbags @ Heather Farm

March 14, 2012 3:30 pm

photo by flickr user joeshlabotnik

The City of Walnut Creek is giving out free sandbags:

Free sand and sandbags are available in the parking lots of Heather Farm Community Center, Howe Homestead, Larkey Park and at Lancaster Road at Orchard Lane. Bring your own shovel. See a road hazard due to the rain? Call 943-5854.

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Judging New Restaurants – Kacha Thai Bistro

March 14, 2012 11:30 am

Kacha Thai Bistro, located at 1665 Mt. Diablo Blvd. near World Market is a relatively new Thai restaurant, and since Erawan closed, is one of the only Thai restaurants in downtown Walnut Creek I believe. It has a modern feel inside and you can see the lunch menu here and the dinner menu here. Anyone check them out yet? Any must order items?

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Neiman Marcus Men’s Fashion – How Hip is Too Hip?

March 14, 2012 8:30 am

I’ll admit I’m not the most fashionable dresser out there, and when I saw this display at the Walnut Creek Neiman Marcus the other day, I thought to myself, “Who would wear this kind of outfit around here”? So I pose this question to everyone out there, what do you make of this?

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Tues. Afternoon Rental Option – Bonanza Oaks – Downtown Walnut Creek

March 13, 2012 4:30 pm

A 2br/2ba affordable multi-family rental apartment is available beginning April 3rd at Bonanza Oaks in downtown Walnut Creek at 1852 Bonanza St for $2400:

View Larger Map

From the Craigslist ad:

Available April 3rd!

*Please allow 24 hrs notice before showing

This award-winning building offers gorgeous finishes and is located right in downtown Walnut Creek, steps to a huge selection of shoppping, dining and services!

Features include:

-Hardwood flooring and carpet
-2 bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms on opposite sides of unit for maximum privacy
-Quiet corner unit with large, private BBQ-friendly patio!
-Beautiful kitchen w/ granite countertops and stainless steel appliances (oven/glass-top range, dishwasher, fridge, microwave & disposal)
-Marble & limestone bathrooms
-Ample closet space & recessed lighting throughout
-Marble-enclosed gas fireplace
-Washer/dryer in unit
-Secure building w/ telephone entry
-2 car parking included!
-Storage locker and bike parking in garage
-Cats ok w/ additional deposit, dog under 10lbs $100/mo
-Ideal downtown Walnut Creek location- just steps to restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, Broadway Plaza, Whole Foods, Trader Joes and so much more!
-Easy access to freeways (24, 680, 580) and all modes of public transit (10 minute walk to Walnut Creek BART)

Although the city of Walnut Creek notes that the complex is “affordable”, at $2400, does this seem like a fair amount? It’s a couple of blocks from McCovey’s so the location is great. The kitchen looks quite new as well.

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