Spotted at Mechanics Bank in downtown Walnut Creek.
SITE OF
ROGERS HOTEL
ERECTED 1880 BY WILLIAM B. ROGERS
OPERATED BY THE ROGERS FAMILY
UNTIL 1918 LATER KNOWN AS THE
LAS PALMAS HOTEL, ALA COSTA HOTEL
COLONIAL INN, AND EL CURTOLA INN,
RAZED 1959
DEDICATED 1988
WALNUT CREEK HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Master Diamond, located at 1372 N. Main St. in downtown Walnut Creek, across the street from Adib’s Persian Rug store, has closed. According to the sign in the window they have been in business since 1985 so it looks like they have been there for over 25 years.
According to a tweet by Elisabeth Nardi from the Contra Costa Times, the Walnut Creek City Council denied an appeal by LIFT Lounge and Grill in downtown Walnut Creek and so alcohol service has been cut back to 11:30pm. This shouldn’t come as a surprise based on the numerous fights that have broken out over the years at similar bars in downtown Walnut Creek.
This seems like a reasonable response based on all the issues LIFT has had in the past. Did the city council make the right move or should LIFT have been allowed to serve alcohol until 12:30 like usual?
As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, a new Chinese restaurant has opened up in downtown Walnut Creek focusing on Hunan and Mandarin cuisine, Dragon’s Pond, located at 1353 Locust St. across the street from Lark Creek restaurant. The offical grand opening will happen as soon as they can get a permanent sign but it’s still open now for business. They also have a restaurant in Livermore. I received an email from one reader who wrote:
FYI, I went to the new Dragon’s Pond on Saturday night and was impressed. Family run, attention to detail, the decor is really nice including the bathroom! Food was fantastic and great wine list.
Here’s a view of their bar:
I had a chance to speak with the manager who told me they’re focusing on healthy fare by not using any additional MSG and keeping it low sodium compared to typical Chinese restaurants. And because they cook everything to order, they can make things as spicy or as mild as you want. They will validate public parking tickets for up to 2 hours, and offer 10% off for seniors.
If anyone has eaten here please let us know how it was. I’m looking forward to trying this out.
*As far as the previous Vietnamese restaurant Da Lat is concerned, the owners decided to focus on their other restaurant in Marin.
A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9th at 7pm at the Walnut Creek City Hall to consider tearing down the building at N. Broadway and Cypress, across the street from the Sprint store and rebuilding it with 2 stories, with a bridal salon on the first floor and office space on the second floor. Here is how the current building looks:
Looks like this was discussed last October. The notice mentions La Soie Bridal Salon as the current occupant, although I only remember a coin and gun shop there previously.
The George Bernard Shaw comedy, Arms and the Man is playing until Feb. 25 at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek:
The master of wit and social comedy at his most entertaining and romantic. What makes a hero? What makes a good husband? Raina must choose between Captain Bluntschli, the practical man who prefers chocolates to cartridges and Sergius, the dashing hero of the mistaken cavalry charge that sent Bluntschli climbing into her bedroom window at night. Shaw’s most popular play is a charming tale of romance going awry with unexpected turns, mistaken identities and of course, the author’s always surprising opinions – on war and marriage, and everything else!
Located at 1813 Ygnacio Valley Rd. in the Rancho San Miguel area of Walnut Creek in the Ygnacio Valley shopping center, Daphne’s Greek Cafe also has locations in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon. You can see their menu here.
I believe this is the first restaurant I posted about in Walnut Creek outside of downtown. I need to get out there more often. My go-to Greek (Mediterranean) place downtown is Pomegranate as well as occasionally Babalou’s. Question, how do you pronounce Gyro? I pronounce it “jai-roh”. Is that wrong?
You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. I’ll open this thread every Friday at 5pm.
