1385 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
After more than 33 years in business, (they have been at their current location since 1990), R. Brooks Fine Jewelry is closing for good after Christmas. There was a sale last weekend but I imagine there’ll be great deals going on throughout the month.
1320 Locust St, Walnut Creek
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone for sending word that the opening got delayed…
The first Veggie Grill in the East Bay is opening on Monday, December 8th at 11am in downtown Walnut Creek and they are giving away $50 gift cards to the first 50 guests in line. Check out their menu here. (The photo is from last month, it’s progressed a lot since then.)
Thanks to a reader for sending word that CorePower Yoga is coming to downtown Walnut Creek. I have confirmed they are planning to open in the first quarter of 2015 somewhere near lululemon on S. Main St. where they currently offer yoga classes on Sundays. I’ve heard the second floor where Adib’s Persian Rug Company used to be although the location has not been confirmed yet. Check out their class descriptions here.
From their website:
CorePower Yoga strives to increase awareness and widespread adoption of yoga by making yoga accessible to everyone through a variety of yoga styles for beginners and more advanced yoga students, and class times to meet any schedule.
We believe in the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga.
1375 N Main St, Walnut Creek
Original Mel’s
1394 N Main St, Walnut Creek
Wednesday, November 19th, 2014
6:00pm – 8:00pm | freeCotton Candy Bar – $5 & up
Free Kids Ornament Workshop – make one for home & one for the Nov. 29 Civic Park Tree Lighting – Mel’s Dinner – 1394 N. Main St.
Hot Cocoa/Cider – Mancini’s Sleepworld – 1359 N. Main St.
Live Music – Steinway Piano Gallery – 1605 Bonanza St.
Harpist – Café Leonidas – 1397 N. Main St.
1575 Botelho Dr, Walnut Creek
Last month we learned that the women’s fashion boutique jinny would be opening next to Atlas in downtown Walnut Creek and they are now open. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide abundant natural light and as you can see from the photos below the interior design makes for a great experience. Check out their website here. There will be a grand opening celebration this Saturday; for more details check out their Facebook event here.
From a press release:
Providing a highly edited seasonal collection of emerging and established upper crust designers of apparel, accessories and footwear, as well as one-off limited edition and vintage treasures to satiate the growing appetite of local fashionistas for style-grounded merchandise, jinny caters to fashion curious women aged 25-75,” says Fillinger. “Opening the second chapter of my shop is my dream come true,” she says. “Columbus was a young and growing city and provided me the wings to propel my brand to jinny 2.0 on the active West Coast.”
The vibrant 1,360 sq. ft. shop, located at 1575 Botelho Dr., will house close to 50 lines from such established global designers as Jason Wu, Rick Owens, Givenchy, Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and Acne, to up-and-coming names such as Common Projects, Nili Lotan, 6397 denim, Time’s Arrow, Adam Lippes, Veronica Beard, Avant Toi, Aquazzura, Roseanna, Ancient Greek Sandals, and many more.
More photos of the inside after the jump…
Holiday Marketplace at the Elks Lodge:
Elks Lodge
1475 Creekside Dr, Walnut Creek
Saturday, November 15th, 2014
9:00am – 5:00pm | FreePlease join us for The Holiday Marketplace Show. We are a group of crafters who create handmade, unique items. The show is a great place to come and shop for holidays or teacher gifts. We have a garden section with toparies and succulents, a kitchen with jams and jellies, breads and nuts. Our crafters created fuzed class, hand painted cards, wooden treasures and a lot more!
It is Friday, Nov. 14 & Saturday, Nov. 15th. Show time are Fri., from 11-7pm & Sat. from 9-5pm.
We invite you to sop by, say hello and shop!
Boradway Plaza, Walnut Creek
Diablo Dish reports that True Food Kitchen is opening a giant 6,000 square foot restaurant next to Macy’s in May, 2016 in Broadway Plaza in downtown Walnut Creek. The True Food Kitchen concept is based on Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet (see the food pyramid). I’ve followed Dr. Weil’s advice many times so this looks very promising! Check out their San Diego lunch menu here and dinner menu here.
From their website:
You don’t have to be a die-hard Yogi to dine at True Food Kitchen. You need only a desire to give your body nutrients, and your palate something memorable. The basis for the anti-inflammatory diet isn’t meant to deprive a healthy body of great flavors, it’s meant to take popular trends in cuisine and pair them with healthy living.
With a wide, healthy selection of vegan, vegetarian, or gluten free options we offer something for everyone. Try the kale and quinoa, you’ll live longer. Drink the seabuckthorn and acai, you’ll feel better. At True Food Kitchen, we want you to feel better, live longer, and make your mouth happy in the process. It’s honest food that tastes really good.
Yesterday I posted about the amazing new all abilities playground at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek which is one of the most versatile playgrounds I’ve seen. I’ve been to plenty of playgrounds around the world and have cringed at some elements, but they pale in comparison to one particular element of this new playground. Specifically the “climbing” hills.
From the Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation website:
Free-Play Climbing Hill: Also centrally located, this area has concrete ball elements, facilitating free, unstructured play for all ages.
As you can see in these photos the giant concrete spheres are placed right at the bottom of the hills, and since the hills are used less for climbing and more for sliding down using cardboard sheets there is a huge potential for someone to crash hard into these spheres. I witnessed numerous near-misses in the few minutes I spent watching my kid sliding down.
For those that have been to this playground, am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
Heather Farm Park, Walnut Creek
Last month the all abilities playground opened in Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek and it is HUGE! There are so many interesting things to do here that it’s rather overwhelming when first visiting. Make sure you have a meetup spot with your kids because it is very easy to lose sight of them. There is plenty of seating on the side as well as some shaded seated areas. Check out details and features of the playground here. My favorite parts are the shakable ship that can be shaken on the outside, the climbing wall, the long slides and the periscope. Other play structures are also cool so check out the photos below to see what I mean.
One thing to beware of however, which I’ll make another post about, are the popular “climbing” hills. They should be called “sliding” hills because kids use torn-up cardboard boxes to slide down the hills. Beware of the giant concrete spheres located at the bottom of the hill. This is a potential disaster waiting to happen.
Plenty more photos after the jump…
Downtown Walnut Creek
Wednesday, November 12th, 2014
6:00pm – 8:00pm | FreeHot Cocoa/Cider – Mancini’s Sleepworld – 1359 N. Main St.
LIVE MUSIC
The Revivals – WC Florist – 1668 Locust St.
Silverwood Jazz – Peets Coffee – 1343 Locust St.
Harpist at Rivendale Book & Hatchet – 1601 N. Main St.
Jared & Matt – Tillys – 1179 Locust St.
VISITS WITH FROSTY FROM WALNUT CREEK ON ICE
6-7pm – Orange Theory Fitness – 1531 Locust St.
7-8pm – Mel’s Diner – 1394 n. Main St.