“Above and Beyond” by Marcos LaFarga
Spotted near the downtown Walnut Creek library. See the previous utility box artwork here and here.
On Thanksgiving news broke at Inside Bay Area about the Orinda School District kicking out a live-in nanny’s daughter for not technically residing in Orinda. A private investigator was hired by the Orinda School district who determined she resided at her grandmother’s house in Bay Point. However, the district reversed course this week and allowed her to remain at her Orinda school and today issued a statement about their decision:
Last month, the district notified the family of a student that the district’s residency requirement had not been met and that the student would not be permitted to continue attending a district school. In late November, after correspondence with the family and the submission of additional documentation, the district determined that the residency requirements had been fulfilled. The student remains enrolled in a district school.
How do you feel the Orinda School District acted by hiring a private investigator and initially kicking out the student? Did they go overboard or did they take the appropriate response to make sure that only local residents attend local Orinda schools?
Authors & Athletes – Marissa Irvin Gould & Lisa Alipaz:
Lafayette Library
3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Sunday, December 7th, 2014
3:00pm – 5:00pm | $5Marissa Irvin Gould, tennis player, NCAA Champion, school teacher, wife, mother and author of A Magical Racquet Ride, Journey to the Four Grand Slam Tournament of Tennis. Marissa and Lisa Alipaz, the Head Womens Tennis Coach at Saint Mary’s College, will discuss the incredible journey from a child tennis player to a college competitor, and the challenges of turning pro.
Tickets $5 at the door
1467 Newell Ave, Walnut Creek
A fairly new showroom for active girls called ivivva, owned by lululemon, has opened in Walnut Creek on Newell Ave. (located in the back of the strip mall where Pacific Bay Coffee and George’s Giant Hamburgers are located). They also offer free yoga classes for girls. Check out their schedule here. Check out photos of the inside below.
From their website:
In a response to a calling from active girls who wanted gear that was as committed to high performance as they were in their sports and sweaty activities, ivivva was created in 2009 by lululemon. We design our athletic wear with input from athletes in our local communities and online at help us design so we know what you need to be a top performer.
1960 North Main St, Walnut Creek
Last April we noted the beginning of construction of the North Main Apartments across from Target in Walnut Creek and since then there has been lots of progress. Now known as Moderna on North Main, the apartment web site notes: “Leasing is expected to begin in Spring of 2015 with first move-ins in Mid Summer of 2015.” There will be studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available for lease.
It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Celebration:
Lafayette Plaza
Downtown Lafayette
Friday, December 5th, 2014
4:00pm – 7:00pm | FreeArrive early and plan to stay! This fun and festive event includes visits with Santa, official holiday tree lighting ceremony, one-of-a-kind photo ops, live musical entertainment, crafts, holiday treats and a holiday sing-a-long.
Festivities begin at 4pm. Santa is scheduled to parade on Lafayette’s treasured Old Betsy fire engine, starting from the Lafayette Historical Society, traveling down Golden Gate Way and arriving at Lafayette Plaza Park at 4:30pm. A must-not-miss for the little ones!
1531 Locust St, Walnut Creek
Back in September we learned that Orangetheory Fitness would be opening this month in downtown Walnut Creek but there is still construction going on so they now anticipate a February opening. There is still no internal wall separating the other half of the former Manicini’s Sleepworld so looks like there’s quite a lot left to do.
Orangetheory Fitness uses a heart rate monitor to monitor everyone’s progress on screens which sounds interesting. Find out more here. They are still offering a free two week trial before they officially open.
Locust St. & Olympic Blvd, Walnut Creek
Two new “scramble” crosswalks opened recently in downtown Walnut Creek at the intersections of Olympic Blvd. / Locust St. and S. Main St. Popular in larger cities, the crosswalks are intended to, “make it easier, and safer, to get around by reducing potential conflict between pedestrians in crosswalks and vehicles making right.” according to a city press release.
From the press release:
These intersections will now have three signal cycles: one cycle just for vehicles traveling north and south, one cycle just for vehicles traveling east and west, and a third cycle just for foot traffic (pedestrians or cyclists walking their bicycles). During the third cycle, those on foot may cross in any direction, including diagonally.
I’ve tried walking across them and it’s somewhat useful although unlike larger cities with massive amounts of people crossing I would be wary of cars that may make right turns unaware that people may be approaching diagonally. Check out the sign below which was placed next to the crosswalks. “All pedestrian movements allowed only on walk“. What do you think of these new crosswalks?
Sign:
Scramble crosswalk diagram:
Opening Reception for The Jealous Curator: From Blog, to Book, to Gallery Opening:
Bedford gallery
1601 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek
Sunday, December 7th, 2014
3:00pm – 5:00pm | $5Wine and hors d’oeuvres hosted by the Bedford Gallery Guild. The Jealous Curator will be signing copies of her book.
This winter the Bedford brings the blogosphere into the gallery with a show by the internationally renowned contemporary art blogger, The Jealous Curator.
This show is designed to enlighten, inspire, and chase away creative blocks that inhibit the artist in all of us. Using The Jealous Curator’s newly released book, Creative Block: Advice and Projects from 50 Successful Artists, as a launch pad, the exhibition features art in a variety of media from 21 artists profiled in the book and on the blog.
The Jealous Curator blog highlights contemporary artists from around the world who make us stop and think, “I wish I thought of that!” Creative Block expands on the blog to further explore how successful working artists react when they get blocked, hear their inner critic or have days when the ideas just won’t come. Their answers, many of which are featured on the gallery walls, are honest, funny, helpful, and show that none of us are alone when it comes to struggling with the creative process.
1500 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Walnut Creek
Plenty of progress going on at Walnut Creek’s most desirable shopping section, at the corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and N. Main St, with structural steel beams having gone up recently. Back in September we learned that the preppy clothing store Vineyard Vines would be opening in this location. Two upper floor restaurants will be be finalized sometime this month. Stay tuned…
Rendering by Robert Becker / IDF Global