Beyond the Creek

House Deal of the Day

March 17, 2016 2:00 pm

Brendan Moran is a real estate broker with Moran Real Estate Group and a partner with Executive Brokers. Neither he nor any company he’s affiliated with represented any of the parties or were directly involved in the transaction reported below. The source of information is Contra Costa Association of Realtors MLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Address: 699 Rock Oak Road, Walnut Creek
List Price: $899,000
Sold Price: $850,000
Days on market: 5
Close of escrow: 2/26/16

This four bed, two and a half bath rancher in the Woodlands neighborhood of Walnut Creek lasted a whopping 5 days before being snatched up by an all cash buyer for more than $40,000 under the list price. Sure, it could stand a little updating, but this home is in an impeccable spot on Rock Oak Road, a quiet street the dead-ends at Lime Ridge Open Space. Homes in the Woodlands are selling well into the $900,000 range, making this one a great deal.

Listing courtesy of Marc Graves, Courtyard Realty.

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Giant Emu Eggs for Sale at Diablo Valley Farmers’ Market in Walnut Creek

March 17, 2016 11:30 am

The Lafayette Whole Foods unfortunately stopped carrying ostrich eggs, but if you’re looking for some giants eggs look no farther than the Shadelands Diablo Valley Farmers’ Market in Walnut Creek. I stopped by last weekend and spotted giant green emu eggs being sold. While not quite as large as an ostrich egg, as you can see from the quarter laying on top of one of the emu eggs, they are very, very large. And green. $12 an egg. Anyone try an emu egg before?

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Statue of the Day

March 17, 2016 8:30 am

Spotted in front of the St. Mary’s chapel in Moraga. Find out more about the chapel here.

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The Joke Show! at Synergy Theater in Lafayette on March 19th

March 16, 2016 4:30 pm

The Joke Show!:

Lamorinda Music (Big Room Theater)
81 Lafayette Cir, Lafayette
Saturday, March 19th, 2016
8:00pm | $10

Ever wonder what happened after the priest, the rabbi and the pastor left the bar? Or, after those 15 Berkeley grad students finished changing the light bulb? Or, after that chicken finally got herself across the road? Find out in The Joke Show – a hysterical evening of improvised comedies all based on your favorite jokes!

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Kona Grill coming to Agora at South Main in Downtown Walnut Creek

March 16, 2016 11:30 am

1500 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek

Last week we learned about the new apartment complex Agora at South Main coming to the corner of S. Main St, and Newell Ave. in downtown Walnut Creek, and thanks to a reader for sending word that Kona Grill, a casual dining restaurant featuring sushi and American dishes, is looking to opening here as well, next to California Pizza Kitchen.

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The Ultimate Fieldhouse Recreation Center Opens in Walnut Creek Shadelands

March 16, 2016 8:30 am

2675 Mitchell Dr, Walnut Creek

A huge recreation center featuring four full-sized basketball courts plus a separate training court with basketball machines as well as another training area opened recently in the Walnut Creek Shadelands area. I dropped by recently while and it was jam-packed full of kids of various ages playing regulation games. I’ve never seen so many hoops in my life. If you like basketball this looks like the perfect place to go and play. Check out all the features of this new center here. For performance training information click here.

From their website:

The Ultimate Fieldhouse has four regulation, state of the art full length basketball courts, a separate training court featuring five baskets, and shooting machines to provide practice repetitions for players. There are a total of 32 baskets in the facility! There are also four volleyball courts along with a number of other additional opportunities for other youth activities, to share in this wonderful, first class facility.

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Meet the Women of the Gold Rush at Swan’s Fine Books on March 17th in Walnut Creek

March 15, 2016 4:30 pm

Meet the Women of the Gold Rush:

Swan’s Fine Books
1381 Locust Street, Walnut Creek
Thursday, March 17th, 2016
7:30pm | Free

There are still a few seats left, so please join us on Thursday, March 17th, to hear some fascinating stories about History’s Lost Voices – the Women of the California Gold Rush.

After 1848, when gold was discovered in California, dreams of adventure and instant wealth made westward movement the all-consuming passion of the nation. “Go West Young Man” became the catch phrase of the era, but joining these young men was a hardy collection of women.
Prostitutes and preacher’s wives, escaped slaves and society women, reformers, teachers, saloon keepers, cross dressers, criminals…the women of the Gold Rush helped shape the region and the nation. Yet their stories have been largely forgotten.

Who were Luzena Wilson, Mary Ellen Pleasant, Eliza Farnham, and Lola Montez? During her engaging talk Mary Volmer will explore how the interplay of fiction and history allows for the compassionate re-imagining some of California’s most famous (and infamous) female residents.

If you have not already done so, please RSVP to hold a space. There is no charge to attend and light refreshments will be served.

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What happened to Molino’s Ravioli in Pleasant Hill?

March 15, 2016 11:30 am

2150 Pleasant Hill Rd, Pleasant Hill

A reader asks:

Do you have any information if Molino’s Ravioli Factory shut down?

I dropped by recently and the gates are locked. Anyone know what’s going on?

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Office Depot Closing in Pleasant Hill

March 15, 2016 8:30 am

250 Buskirk Ave, Pleasant Hill

Office Depot is closing in Pleasant Hill a couple of stores down from Best Buy and they are having a closing sale with the entire store “up to 50% off”. That may sound good but please note the “UP TO” part. There were some things 5% off and other items 20-30% off that are priced higher than Amazon.

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PG&E Works to Restore Service after Giant Sinkhole Appears in Moraga

March 15, 2016 7:30 am

Photo from Moraga PD
Rheem Blvd. & Center St, Moraga

Check out the photo above from the Moraga police showing the massive sinkhole that appeared across the street from Nation’s Giant Hamburgers in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center in Moraga. When I dropped by later in the day there was a huge PG&E presence with mobile command center in the 24 Hour Fitness parking lot.

From the Moraga PD:

The Town of Moraga and PG&E are continuing to work to repair the damage caused by recent sinkhole at Rheem Blvd. and Center Street. Beginning at around 1:00 PM today PG&E will be venting the small amounts of natural gas as the broken line is repressurized. There are approximately 25 vent sites in the Rheem Valley area that will be staffed with PG&E personnel. Residents may smell the odor of natural gas between 1:00 and 3:00 PM today. The natural gas odor will quickly dissipate and will not be harmful.

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