photo by Flickr user The-Tim
Thanks to realtor Brian Sparr for compiling this list of home and condo sales for Beyond the Creek. Sales for Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga are included. Both PDF and Excel reports are included below:
October 2012 Sales (PDF format)
October 2012 Sales (Excel format)
Back in August I noted that the Martinez bakery Le Gateau Elegant was relocating to Walnut Creek, and as of a couple of days ago they are now open in the Terrace Shopping Center (where Pacific Bay Coffee and George’s Giant Hamburgers) on Newell Ave. I had a chance to check out the bakery in Martinez while on jury duty, and the decor is very similar in Walnut Creek.
While there of course I tried the chocolate chip cookie for comparison purposes and it was good. Take a look at some of the pastries below, they look delicious. From what I hear they already have a big following among nearby Kaiser employees.
Although they offer plenty of bakery items in front, I think they have a huge wedding and specialty cake business behind the scenes as well. You can see their cake options here.
More photos of the inside including gingerbread man cookies after the jump…
It’s that time again, Santa’s Workshop, aka photo studio, has been set up in the back of Broadway Plaza across from Boudin Bakery. Photos with Santa will be available beginning November 17th through December 24th. The schedule is:
Monday – Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
Sunday: 11AM – 6PM
Christmas Eve: 9AM – 5PM
Santa’s Breaks, Mon – Sun 2-3PM, Christmas Eve 1PM – 1:30PM
Back in July I noted that Forma Gym was moving from their prominent downtown Walnut Creek location to 1908 Olympic Blvd near 680, and finally had a chance to drop by to register for this year’s Turkey Trot. They are located at the former location of the Walnut Creek Sports and Fitness Club, and also took over membership for the Lafayette Health Club which closed earlier this year as well. According to their site, they offer group classes, martial arts, yoga, pilates, real rider cycling, TRX and cardio resistance. Membership options (sans prices) are available here. It looked nice inside, does anyone work out here? How is it?
The children’s drawing studio A Colorful Mind has closed recently in downtown Walnut Creek. Back in February I noted the opening so it hadn’t even been open a year. I was scouting birthday locations when I dropped by and couldn’t believe it was gone. It was really nice inside and the teacher there seemed great. Too bad this happened.
Last week there was a carjacking and kidnapping of a 57 year old woman from the Shadelands parking lot in Walnut Creek and now a photo has been released of one of the suspects, who possibly goes by the name “Aubrey”. Walnut Creek police has more information:
This photo depicts one of the suspects from last week’s kidnapping/robbery/carjacking case. The photo is from a drive up bank ATM. The suspect in the photo went by the name “Aubrey”. The second suspect went by the name “David”. It is important to stress we do not know if these are the suspect’s actual names.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925) 256-3577.
Back in July I noted that Chick-fil-A would be opening in Walnut Creek and last Thursday they finally opened. I had a chance to stop by on Saturday and it was absolutely packed. I’ve noted how crowded The Habit Burger Grill gets but this was nothing compared to Chick-fil-A. Even with more seating, the line wrapped throughout the restaurant and out the door despite what the Chick-fil-A president had to say about ‘traditional’ marriage. There were no protests on Saturday when I checked it out mid-day. Note that I was here strictly for the opening to see what it was all about for this post.
I also posted a video of Larry David in the Palestinian Chicken episode on Curb Your Enthusiasm which I thought was particularly apt in this situation. However having tried the chicken strips I have to say that the Larry Davids of the world don’t have to worry about this dilemma. The chicken strips I tried were mushy. When I think of chicken sandwiches my baseline is Bakesale Betty in Oakland. Now that’s a chicken sandwich. Of course, this is a fast food joint so maybe the comparison isn’t fair.
Chicken strips, potato waffle fries, and Chick-fil-A sauce:
The registers:
The car in the playroom is cool:
The most interesting thing about my experience at Chick-fil-A is that they offer table service without a number. Keep in mind that the restaurant was absolutely packed. I get to the register, order and they ask my name. I asked for my number and they told me I can sit wherever I wanted to. I asked the cashier how they did it and she said she’s physic. So I go find a seat in the corner hidden away, and sure enough another woman brings me my food. “How did you know to bring that to me?” She replied, “We know these things”. I thought that was pretty amazing but wondered how they did it. Were there video cameras or something recording where I sit? It turns out they note something about the customer in order to make them easier to find. Apparently it works almost all the time. In my case I was wearing a green jacket, and was by myself, which narrowed it down to one possibility, me. Pretty clever.
Back in August I noted that another 24 Hour Fitness would be opening up in Walnut Creek, at the former cement plant location at 2800 N. Main St. According to the 24 Hour FItness website, it will open January 26th and include the following amenities:
- Cardio Equipment
- Free Weights
- Full Sized Basketball Court
- Group Cycling
- Group Exercise
- Indoor Lap Pool
- Kids’ Club*
- Personal Training*
- Personal Training Area
- Personal Viewing Screens
- Pro Shop*
- Sauna
- Steam Room
- Strength Machines
- TRX Suspension Training
- Towel Service
- Whirlpool
Check out the inside being worked on below:
Who is going to sign up for this? What are you most looking forward to? This reminds me, I need to start going to my Crossfit gym more.
For all you running fans, from the Change of Pace website:
Please join us on Thanksgiving Morning, November 22nd, for the 20th Annual Forma Gym Walnut Creek Turkey Trot to help raise money for both the Contra Costa County Food Bank and local public schools, as well as to promote physical activity. We hosted 4,600 runners and walkers in our 5K, 10K, and Kids’ Fun Runs in 2011 and anticipate nearly 6,000 for 2012. We thank you for your support and look forward to sharing Thanksgiving morning 2012 with you and families at this annual holiday tradition.
You can register online, at the Forma gym, Sports Basement until Friday, or on race day. I’ll be running the 5K so I’ll see you there!
Every year the Moraga-Orinda Fire Department tests their hoses out to make sure it’s in proper working order. I was going for a jog one morning and happened across this scene. The hoses stretch all the way back out of frame for hundreds of feet. Pretty cool! In case you were wondering, the wider yellow hoses are for connecting from the hydrant (especially useful in hilly Orinda), while the white ones are what the firefighters hold closer up. They both fit on the fire engine itself.