Spotted in front of the St. Mary’s chapel in Moraga. Find out more about the chapel here.
Lamorinda Music (Big Room Theater)
81 Lafayette Cir, Lafayette
Saturday, March 19th, 2016
8:00pm | $10Ever 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!
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.
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.
Meet the Women of the Gold Rush:
Swan’s Fine Books
1381 Locust Street, Walnut Creek
Thursday, March 17th, 2016
7:30pm | FreeThere 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.
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?
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.
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.
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland, CA
Saturday, March 19th, 2016
11:00am – 4:00pmHuman exploration of Mars isn’t only about learning to live on the Red Planet…. it is about surviving the trip there! What does it take to travel to Mars? Join us to learn more about the journey to the Red Planet. Watch science demonstrations that highlight the challenges, participate in hands-on activities related to space travel and listen to engaging scientists speak about the next steps in our journey to Mars.
1932 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill
Last month we learned that a new Italian restaurant called Wisegirl Ristorante Italiano & Cocktails would be opening in Oak Park Center in Pleasant Hill where Dallimonti’s Italian Restaurant used to be and they have now opened. Check out their menu here.
From their website:
WiseGirl Ristorante Italiano & Cocktails is an up and coming bar and restaurant where the décor and ambiance resemble a meeting place between Jay Gatsby and Al Capone. Nestled in the neighbor-friendly center off Oak Park Blvd., WiseGirl is part roaring twenties, part prohibition, two parts Good Fellas in a skirt, shaken-up with a whole lot of Italian roots. Music from your favorite local musicians fills the air. The menu takes a page from comfortable eating in old Sicily. The wine and cocktails embody an era reminiscent of warm cheeks, boisterous cheer and timeless memories.
