Beyond the Creek

Update on Walnut Creek N. Main / Mt. Diablo Corner Project

February 14, 2013 11:30 am

UPDATE: According to the developer’s comments below there will be a Mt. Diablo view from the rooftop dining area!

Last February I posted a preview of the N. Main / Mt. Diablo corner lot project diagonally across from Neiman Marcus and now there are new renderings of what the proposed project will look like. According to Brian Hirahara from B.H. Development who is developing the property, the plan is for one retail tenant in the corner taking up two stories and a restaurant on the Mt. Diablo side taking up two stories plus a roof deck.

I look forward to finding out which retailer and restaurant open up here. The developer was also responsible for the project across the street anchored by Tiffany and brought the upscale restaurants Sasa and Va de Vi to Walnut Creek so I imagine similarly upscale tenants will open up here as well. What kind of restaurant would you most like to see here? What retailer would work well?

Check out the retractable windows on the 2nd floor:

The current location has an older rendering displayed:

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Giggle Baby Store Closing in Walnut Creek

February 14, 2013 8:30 am

Last November I pointed out that the baby store The Right Start was closing in Walnut Creek and now the colorful baby store Giggle, located in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek, will be closing by the end the month. In addition to the Walnut Creek closure, the Corte Madera store will also close. Apparently the opening of the baby store Buy Buy Baby, owned by Bed Bath & Beyond in Pleasant Hill a couple of years ago siphoned a lot of business from baby stores.

There’s not much stock remaining but strollers and car seats are 30% off and everything else is 50% off so check out Giggle while you can. Thanks to a reader for the tip!

Giggle’s colorful awning and window displays made downtown Walnut Creek a brighter place so this is disappointing news that they will shut their doors.

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Diablo Ballet’s Web Ballet Project Deadline February 14th

February 13, 2013 4:30 pm

Photo by Ashraf

The Web Ballet
Twitter hashtag #DiabloWebBallet
Deadline: February 14th, 2013

From a press release:

Diablo Ballet of California will become the first professional dance company to create an entirely new dance work from ideas suggested by internet users.

The Web Ballet will be based on choreography suggestions submitted by individuals all around the world to Diablo Ballet’s Twitter page @DiabloBallet and performed March 1st & 2nd in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Now through Thursday February 14th, people may use the Twitter hash tag #DiabloWebBallet to suggest:

– Emotion of the dancers (happy, sad, etc)
– The mood of the entire work (intense, lighthearted)
– Specific dance moves ( turning, jumping, specific steps)

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Judging Quilting Stores – The Cotton Patch in Lafayette

February 13, 2013 11:30 am

I was looking for some jeans needles when I happened upon this quilting store called The Cotton Patch in downtown Lafayette next to Artisan Bistro. Now, I’m no expert when it comes to quilting but when I stepped inside I was amazed at how cool this place is. They have all kinds of sewing machines, fabrics and even offer classes across the street. They will have a Beginning Quilting class on March 4th. If you have any interest in quilting you have to check this store out. And they have been open for 35 years!

From their website:

The Cotton Patch is a one-stop destination quilting shop in Lafayette, California. It was opened in 1978, which makes it one of the oldest quilt shops in the country. The continued success is due to the large selection of everything needed to make quilts of any type.

The shop houses over 4,000 bolts of fabric. There is a large selection of solids, blenders, batiks, black & whites, as well as the latest lines. Books are another specialty of The Cotton Patch. There are hundreds of titles, from the latest to the out of print.

Check the colorful inside:

The Cotton Patch is located at 1025 Brown Avenue in Lafayette.

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Cars of the Day

February 13, 2013 8:30 am

These two red Ferraris were spotted, as usual, in front of Nordstrom in Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek.

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Wild Valentines at Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek Feb. 14th – 18th

February 12, 2013 4:30 pm

Photo courtesy Lindsay Wildlife Museum

From the Lindsay Wildlife Museum:

Wild Valentines
Lindsay Wildlife Museum
Thursday, February 14th – Monday, February 18th, 2013
12-5 PM (Feb. 14 -15, 10am – 5pm Feb. 16 – 18 | $7 adults, $5 children

Creek—Which wildlife mom knows her young by their scent? Which shares her
nest with other moms, while the “teenagers” help raise the babies? Find out how our
wild neighbors raise families and find mates during Lindsay Wildlife Museum’s WILD
VALENTINES, Thursday, February 14 to Monday, February 18.

From 12-5 PM on February 14 and 15, and 10 AM-5 PM on February 16, 17 and 18:
• meet and learn about wildlife family members
• make a valentine craft, and/or purchase a valentine to hang in our exhibit hall
• watch a bald or golden eagle presentation
• pet a live rat, hamster, guinea pig or rabbit
• see an animal ambassador being fed
• greet an owl up close and personal.

Throughout the day, visit our exhibits to get closer than you’ve ever been to a real,
working beehive and its queen bee at Hive Alive! Glimpse how 5,000 wild animals a
year are cared for at Wildlife Hospital Behind the Scenes. Spread your wings and soar—
virtually—like a hawk over Mount Diablo at Raptors, Hunters in the Sky.

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Zachary’s Chicago Pizza Opens in Pleasant Hill

February 12, 2013 11:30 am

It’s official, Zachary’s Chicago Pizza has opened in Pleasant Hill right across the street from the Cinemark movie theater on Crescent Drive. They offer both Chicago style stuffed pizza as well as thin pizza. Check out their menu here. In addition to pizza they also have salads. Lunch slices will be offered beginning March 1st. Remember that a stuffed pizza can take 40 minutes to make so you should order while you’re waiting. They give you a pager that will page you twice. Once so you can place your order and get the estimated wait time, and a second time when you can sit down and order drinks and salads until the pizza comes.

The inside is very cool looking:

More photos of pizza closeups and the patio after the jump…

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Sign of the Day (Spelling Edition)

February 12, 2013 10:00 am

Spotted at an unnamed East Bay entertainment establishment…

Thanks to a reader for the photo.

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Clarissa Bridal Salon Closes in Walnut Creek

February 12, 2013 8:30 am

In business for 32 years, the owners of Clarissa Bridal Salon in Walnut Creek next to the Pacific Bay Coffee Company on N. Main St. have retired after 32 years in business. Thanks to a reader for the tip!

If you’re looking for bridal dresses check out Flares Bridal which recently expanded in Broadway Plaza a stone’s throw away. Also, La Soie Bridal will eventually open in downtown Walnut Creek at the corner of Broadway and Cypress once the new building is completed.

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Valentine’s Day Specials at Walnut Creek Yacht Club on Feb. 14th

February 11, 2013 4:30 pm

From the Walnut Creek Yacht Club:

We urge you to give us a call asap if you’d like to dine with us on this very oyster-licious day. We will be starting dinner a bit earlier than usual: We will start taking reservations for dinner at 4:00. Our last lunch reservation will be at 2:00 that day. As usual, in addition to our regular menu, Chef Kevin has a special prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu for two.

February 14, 2013
Valentine’s Day Menu for Two
Each of you can choose first and main course.
The dessert is served to share.

Amuse Bouche

Smoked Trout & Fennel Canapé

First Course

Roasted Red Pepper & Crab Bisque
herb cracker, horseradish crème fraîche
or
Fried Oyster & Spinach Salad
bacon, beets, cucumber
tabasco & buttermilk dressing

Main Course

Idaho Trout Valentino
prawn & dill mousse, parsley potatoes
pink peppercorn sauce
or
Moroccan Chicken Brochette
ras el hanout, saffron cous cous, mint
raisins & pistachios
meyer lemon & shrimp sauce

Dessert

Love Potion #21413
warm , spiced, aztec chocolate shot
bittersweet chocolate & rum truffle
chocolate espresso – shortbread cookie
tcho chocolate brownie
dark chocolate ice cream
chocolate sauce, candied hazelnuts

$80.00 for Two
(tax and gratuity are not included)

These menu items will not be available outside of this menu.
The regular menu is also available.

Call us now for Valentine’s Day reservations. We’re filling up.

VALENTINE’S DAY LOYALTY MEMBERS’ RESERVATION SPECIAL
Make a reservation for 4 or more for Valentine’s Day, and you will receive a complimentary dozen Oysters when you come in on 2/14 to dine.
(You must be a Loyalty Member to receive this special, and only one dozen per table of 4 or more. Please mention that you would like to take advantage of this special when you are making your reservation.)

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