This week we learned that Sinful Bliss Cupcakes closed in Pleasant Hill with some wondering whether cupcakes have had their 15 minutes. Same for frozen yogurt. These days juice bars seem to be in vogue. What do you think the next big thing will be, say, five years from now? Cronuts?
Photo by Flickr user nomindsvision
This week we learned that killer bees have arrived in the Bay Area, specifically Lafayette. As a kid growing up in the 1980s I remember reading how killer bees were eventually going to make there way from South America to the United States and I was scared. Now that it has happened, that got me wondering what natural event are you most afraid of?
I’ve experienced several large earthquakes and while those were pretty nerve-racking, I can’t imagine what it would be like to experience a killer bee attack, especially as a child. What if a kid is exploring in a backyard and happens to be at the wrong place and wrong time? What’s scarier than a killer bee attack?
Photo by Flickr user peterm7
Last week we learned that the Valley Vista tennis club is closing in a few months in Walnut Creek and as someone who played a lot of tennis when I was younger I can imagine how inconvenient this must be for people who played there. Later on I took up running but due to a nagging foot injury I’ve stopped that as well. I guess my only options now are swimming or cycling. Soccer would be fun, too.
What sport or physical activity do you enjoy playing? Do you compete?
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
This week we learned that the activewear clothing store YOGASMOGA would be joining other activewear shops before year’s end at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, including Athleta, Lululemon, Kit & Ace, and Ivviva. Is the activewear fashion movement here to stay or is this a fad that will subside in the future? Do you feel there are too many activewear shops coming to Broadway Plaza?
Having signed up for Apple Music recently I find myself listening to way more music, especially artists and groups I’ve passed over previously, like The White Stripes, Harry Nilson, The Clash, Marvin Gaye and more. What is your favorite musical artist or band right now?
A few days ago I posted about Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical coming to the Lesher Center for the Arts in downtown Walnut Creek which prompted one comment about, “Lesher options being directed for the over 70 crowd. Those of us who like more contemporary entertainment have to leave town”.
From Wikipedia:
“Tenderly” is a popular song published in 1946.
Since then, “Tenderly” has been recorded by many artists, but perhaps the best-known version was by Rosemary Clooney. Clooney’s recorded version reached only #17 on the Billboard magazine pop charts in early 1952, but it is more popular than the chart data would suggest, as is evidenced by the fact that Tenderly served as the theme song for Clooney’s 1956-1957 TV variety show. The song featured prominently in the 1953 film Torch Song.
Do you agree that entertainment options in Walnut Creek and surrounding areas are lacking, especially for younger, twenty-somethings? Do you head out to Berkeley, Oakland or San Francisco for entertainment? Or are the Lesher Center and Town Hall Theatre solid venues for all ages? Are there other venues you would recommend in this area that might appeal to a younger, hipper crowd?
Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
Earlier this week we learned about most of the stores that will be going into Broadway Plaza in their initial phase one plan in downtown Walnut Creek. Plenty of active/street wear shops. Kiehl’s, Lush and NYX Cosmetics are new cosmetics shops debuting as well. Are you happy with this selection? Considering there are five spots that have yet to be announced, what would you like to see? Keep in mind this is only for the initial phase. More stores have been confirmed for future phases in other areas of Broadway Plaza, such as Gap and possibly Restoration Hardware as well as restaurants True Food Kitchen and Boca Pizzeria.
Via Southern California Earthquake Data Center
On Monday a 4.0 earthquake centered in Piedmont hit at 6:49am. It only lasted a couple of seconds and wasn’t that powerful, but my young kids, having never experienced an earthquake of this magnitude, came running over to my office with worried looks on their faces. They had no idea what was going on. Having experienced the 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake back in 1989 in Santa Cruz, as well as several not quite-as-big ones in Japan in the 90’s, I knew it could have been far worse.
I’ve been thinking about retrofitting the foundation but having talked this over with several engineers, they don’t think it’s necessary for my one story house built in the 60’s. What have you done to prepare for the “big one”? Do you have earthquake insurance or an earthquake kit? Anything else? Or are there more important things to worry about?
Earlier this week we learned that Swad Indian Cuisine was relocating in Lafayette which got me thinking about Indian food. Lafayette also has T’s Firehouse Indian Cuisine. For fusion there is Kanishka’s in Walnut Creek. What is your favorite Indian restaurant?
Earlier this week we learned about a labor dispute protest in front of the Apple store in downtown Walnut Creek. One Facebook comment mentioned “crossing the picket line”. Some other comments indicate that this is a less-than valid protest.
At the time I didn’t even think of this as a picket line but rather more of an informational display. Would you cross a labor picket line or would you back off in solidarity with the protesters?