1606 N. Main St, Walnut Creek
Thanks to everyone for sending word that the popular Italian restaurant Ottavio, which opened back in 2012, has closed in downtown Walnut Creek. Last week’s question of the day was about Italian restaurants so check it out for ideas on other Italian restaurants worth checking out.
I was walking by the Lesher Center in downtown Walnut Creek the other day when I happened upon a ceremony for the Walnut Creek Free Ride buses going electric. They used to be diesel. Can anyone tell me why are they called “trolleys”? They look like buses to me. Is that a gimmick?
From the County Connection electric bus page:
The electric trolley’s were built locally by Gillig and are the first electric buses to come off their line. These trolley’s also represent another first – a partnership between Gillig, BAE(manufacturer of the electric power system) and WAVE (the manufacturer of the inductive charging station).
The new electric trolleys will replace the existing diesel trolleys that are used on the popular Route 4 Free Downtown Trolley in Walnut Creek. The City of Walnut Creek provides operating assistance for the service, allowing passengers to ride for free. The buses run between the Walnut Creek BART station, downtown Walnut Creek, and the Broadway Plaza seven days a week.
The Bold Dry Garden: Lessons from the Ruth Bancroft Garden:
Lafayette Library and Learning Center
3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Tuesday, November 29th, 2016
6:30 – 8:00pm | FreeSunset Magazine Garden Editor, Johanna Silver, offers behind-the-scenes secrets of the Ruth Bancroft Garden that every gardener will appreciate. Her book, The Bold Dry Garden: Lessons from the Ruth Bancroft Garden, offers glimpses of Bancroft throughout her life, and stunning images of her iconic garden.
Johanna Silver began at Sunset in 2008, managing the editorial test garden where she designed, built and maintained small gardens for publication in the magazine. By 2009 she earned a James Beard award for her online contributions to Sunsets’s One Block Diet project, a garden-to-table experiment.
“In 2016, she oversaw the creation of new editorial test gardens as part of the brand’s historic move from Menlo Park to Oakland and Sonoma. Her work has been featured in Architectual Digest, Refinery29, Popsugar, and more, and her collaborations helped earn Sunset The American Society of Magazine Editors award for General Excellence in 2014, and a nomination again in 2015.The Bold Dry Garden is an excellent holiday gift book!
Books available for purchase courtesy of Orinda Books
2151 Salvio St, Concord
The new Hawaiian-style Poke restaurant Poke Salad has opened across from Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. Check out their menu here. As you can see in the above photo there are a few outdoor tables available.
As I write this I don’t know the results of the election, but there were a couple of surprising situations I found out voting at an election poll. One is that, years ago without paying much attention, I previously registered to vote by mail which means I could not vote at the poll without filling out more paperwork to be used for a provisional ballot. (While I was filling out the paperwork numerous voters made the same mistake so I didn’t feel too bad). According to the election official I will have to register to vote again and select NOT to vote by mail if want to vote at the poll. If you check your eligibility to vote here, take note of the Permanent Vote by Mail Voter line.
Another awkward point is that there was little privacy when voting. I had expected a curtain or at least for my back to be facing a wall. But the way the table was set up, my back was facing towards the public area where people walking by could easily see my votes.
La Fiesta Square, Lafayette
Douglah Designs opened a showroom in La Fiesta Square in Lafayette late last year and they have now expanded next door where Caroline’s Salon used to be. Check out their reatil showroom page here.
Art, Wine, and Music Show:
Infinity Salon
2073 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek
Sunday, November 13th, 2016
1:00 – 5:00pm | FreeFeaturing local artists, furniture makers, vintners, and possibly the world’s finest bicycle-based, pirate-themed, all-vinyl record shop!
1539 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Back in February we learned that Piedmont-based Mr. Green Bubble would be opening in downtown Walnut Creek and they have now opened. In addition to boba teas and smoothies they will also be offering fried snacks such as popcorn chicken. Check out their menu here. The inside styling looks great, check it out!
More photos of the inside after the jump…
I was driving through Orinda on Moraga Way the other day when I spotted an election sign for Hillary Weiner, and thought maybe it was put up by Trump supporters to connect the Clinton campaign with Anthony Weiner. Then I drove by several more signs and realized there is actually someone named Hillary Weiner running for the Orinda School Board. 😯
