Beyond the Creek

The Ballet School Expanding in Downtown Walnut Creek

March 30, 2015 8:30 am

1357 N. Main St, Walnut Creek

The Ballet School is expanding in downtown Walnut Creek off N. Main St. in the covered passageway where boutique Norf London and the barber shop Amplify are located. There will be a few small rooms available for private pilates and music classes.

From their Facebook page:

Exciting News! We are expanding!!!! We will have 2 music rooms for private voice and piano lessons with Mr Vince. As well as a new room for Miss Kelley to have her private and duo Pilates Reformer lessons!! It’s a great space in the alley by our friends Norf London and Threads!!!!! This means a wonderful new viewing area lobby for our downstairs studio.

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Learn the Art of Pysanky at Lafayette Library on Apr. 1st

March 27, 2015 4:30 pm

Learn the Art of Pysanky:

Lafayette Library and Learning Center
3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Wednesday, April 1st, 2015
6:30pm – 8:00pm | $5

Evie Michon will teach us the folk art of Pysanky, Ukrainian Egg decorating. Each person will get to dye and decorate an egg. All Ages / Families Welcome!

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Izakaya Jun Opening End of April in Downtown Walnut Creek

March 27, 2015 11:30 am

1552 Locust St, Walnut Creek

Back in February we learned that the Japanese restaurant Izakaya Jun stopped development after a stop work order was issued by the city but that has been resolved and when I looked inside recently the extensive wood paneling looked completed. According to Diablo Dish they are planning to open late April. The contractor told me they expect to finish within a couple of weeks.

Izakaya, as explained by Wikipedia:

An izakaya (居酒屋) is a type of informal Japanese drinking establishment that serves food to accompany the drinks. They are casual places for after-work drinking.

Izakaya food is usually more substantial than tapas or mezze. Many items are designed to be shared.

Yakitori – grilled chicken skewers
Kushiyaki – grilled meat or vegetable skewers
Sashimi – slices of raw fish
Karaage – bite-sized fried chicken
Edamame – boiled and salted soybean pods
Tofu
Hiyayakko – chilled silken tofu with toppings
Agedashi tofu – deep fried tofu in broth
Tsukemono – pickles

I look forward to yakitori with an Asahi when this place opens!

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Friday Question of the Day – What Store would you Like to See in Ygnacio Plaza where Fresh & Easy is?

March 27, 2015 8:30 am

Ygnacio Plaza, Walnut Creek

Supermarkets have pulling a disappearing act lately in Walnut Creek on Ygnacio Valley Blvd. with word that Fresh & Easy will be closing soon, and Safeway closing in Encina Grande a short hop away, to be replaced by Whole Foods next year. Safeway may reappear across the street at Orchards sometime in the future. Considering that Nob Hill Foods and Trader Joe’s are close by, what supermarket or store would you most like to see where Fresh & Easy is now? Draegers? 99 Ranch?

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Master Gardeners’ Annual Tomato Plant Sale in Walnut Creek on April 4th

March 26, 2015 4:30 pm

Photo by Flickr user manjithkaini

Master Gardeners’ Annual Tomato Plant Sale:

Contra Costa Master Gardeners Garden
N. Wiget Lane and Shadelands Drive,Walnut Creek
Saturday, April 4th, 2015
10:00am – 3:00pm | Free

Thousands of unique heirloom tomato plants available for purchase! There are more than 58 proven varieties, many unavailable at local nurseries. Seedlings have been propagated by Master Gardeners using open-pollinated, non-GMO seeds. Also, there will be a wonderful selection of artichokes, eggplants, sweet and chili peppers, and tomatillos ready to be planted in your garden.

Experts will be on hand to provide advice about plant selection, site location and preparation, planting, fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting. Avid gardeners can get specific questions answered and learn about strategies to minimize plant disease and maximize production.

Our own veggie guru, Janet Miller, will be giving two talks at the Our Garden sale in Walnut Creek, on April 4 at 11:00 and 12:30 on Growing Tomatoes and other Summer Vegetables.
BYOB (boxes) or better yet, wagon! Tomato plants $3.00 each. Cash or check only, please.
Visit us online to see a list of all available plants, at: http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/EdibleGardening/GreatTomatoPlantSale/

The plant sale is happening in two different locations.

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Yalla Mediterranean Opens Today in Ygnacio Plaza in Walnut Creek

March 26, 2015 11:30 am

1813 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek

Yalla Mediterranean‘s second location (the first one is in Pleasant Hill) opens today in Walnut Creek in Ygnacio Plaza where Sports Basement is located. Last night I had the opportunity to check it out and it looks quite simlar to the one in Pleasant Hill with an herb wall and repurposed wood from an 1880’s farmhouse serving as paneling throughout. Check out their menu here. I usually go with the kefta (Turkish spiced ground beef and lamb) skewers but this time I went for the salmon (marinated in charmoula sauce and fresh herbs) skewers on a salad and it was delicious! The open-flame, rotisserie-style grill that cooks the protein right behind the order station really improves the overall taste. I also enjoyed the Greek eggplant, kale and beet and tabouli salad sides. Very fresh with just the right amount of spices. As you can see from the above photo there is an outdoor patio in front and to the left. There is also plenty of seating inside including a long communal table (not visible in the below photo).

More photos of the inside after the jump…

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Sweet Ride of the Day

March 26, 2015 8:30 am

Spotted on Mt. Diablo Blvd. in downtown Walnut Creek. I love the color of this Chevrolet. Anyone know the year?

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Photo of the Day – Elliot’s Since 1907

March 25, 2015 11:30 am

I like this photo of Elliot’s bar on Hartz Ave. in Danville, “since 1907”.

If you have an interesting photo you’d like featured on Beyond the Creek please email photos[at]beyondthecreek.com with the photo or link, thanks!

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Brookstone Lane Community – 9 New Homes Planned for Danville in September

March 25, 2015 8:30 am

Via Brookstone Lane Facebook

Nine new homes are being built for the Brookstone Lane community in the Greenbrook neighborhood in Danville at the corner of Camino Ramon and El Capitan Drive. Check out the house features here. See a rendering of what it will look like when it’s completed below. Follow the progress on Facebook here.

Via Brookstone Lane Facebook

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Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning Request the Pleasure of your Company at Swan’s Fine Books in Walnut Creek on Mar. 26th

March 24, 2015 4:30 pm

Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning Request the Pleasure of your Company:

Swan’s Fine Books
1381 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Thursday, March 26th, 2015
7:30pm | Free

Roberto Palumbo, playwright and Professor Emerita (Holy Names University), will present the story of the secret courtship of young, robust Robert Browning and older, frail Elizabeth Barrett, including several of Elizabeth’s famous sonnets: from her desire for death to her acceptance of life with Robert – certainly a story of “love gone good.”

Seating will be limited, so please RSVP to hold a space. There is no charge to attend and light refreshments will be served.

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