Spotted inside Str8 Edge Barbershop in downtown Walnut Creek.
I happened to check out Neiman Marcus in Walnut Creek yesterday when I noticed there is a pre-sale going on right now before the actual sale begins on May 31st. There were multiple racks of women’s shoes in the pre-sale as well so you might want to stop by before the sale begins next Thursday for the best selection.
From May 29th through May 31st you can also get triple inCircle bonus points on selected sale merchandise in Fine Apparel and Ladies’ Shoes.
Photo by Flickr user davidyuweb
From the City of Walnut Creek website:
The City of Walnut Creek will honor the memory of fallen soldiers during its traditional Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 28. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m at the gazebo at Civic Park, corner of North Broadway and Civic Drive.
Keynote speakers retired Tech Sergeant Bob Tharratt and retired Sergeant Dick Ingraham will tell the story of how a regiment of Ingraham’s Infantry Division liberated a group of POWs that included Tharratt, and how they discovered that connection more than 50 years later during a conversation at a Walnut Creek church.
Other highlights of the Memorial Day Ceremony include music by the Walnut Creek Concert Band under the direction of Harvey Benstein. Chaplain Dwane Michael of John Muir/Mt. Diablo Health System will give the invocation and blessing, and the National Guard will present the colors and close the ceremony with the traditional laying of the wreaths at the Veterans Memorial Plaza.
North Broadway between Civic Drive and Lincoln Avenue will be closed during the ceremony.
The Paragon Apartments project has been approved by the Walnut Creek Planning Commission last night. The Walnut Creek Current Projects website says:
A proposed project to demolish an 80,000 square-foot office building and develop a 300-unit, market-rate apartment development on the 5.08-acre site. The project includes: a 468-stall, five-level parking structure; on-site public pedestrian path; and, a new intersection at the project entry.
The final Environmental Impact Report can been viewed here. The Paragon Apartments will be located at 141 North Civic Drive:
Looking at the map it seems like it would be at least a 25 minute walk to either Walnut Creek Bart or downtown. Would anyone be interested living here?
Earlier this month I reported on some scuttlebutt about an empty storefront being turned into conference space, and recently I noticed they added 2 images from inaugural Broadway Plaza store advertisements and an aerial view of Broadway Plaza as well.
From the October 10, 1951 Contra Costa Times:
Here is an ad with all the new stores listed:
Of these stores, I’d be most curious to check out, “Le Savarin Bakery”, and “Dwight’s New Yorker Delicatessen”. Also listed is:
What I’d like to know is what kind of health food was sold back in 1951? I never even realized they had health food stores back then! Does anyone remember these stores?
Photo by Flickr user Thomas Hawk
From the Moraga-Orinda Fire District website:
The Chiefs of Moraga, Orinda, and Lafayette Police Departments, with support from Chief Bradley of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, have agreed to share resources to address traffic safety this summer. The “Slow Down Lamorinda” program was initiated in 2007 by then Moraga Mayor Mike Metcalf in reaction to two fatal collisions involving juvenile drivers. The program was a great success and Mayor Metcalf listed the program as a Town Council goal this year.
One day each week, police from all three departments will saturate areas of concern within one city, and rotate among the cities weekly. The goal of the program is not to issue hundreds of citations, but to increase traffic safety awareness by targeting speed, distracted driving, and other violations. Banners will be displayed at local Fire Stations and free bumper stickers will be available at police and fire stations. The program will begin on June 1 and continue through August 31.
All Lamorinda residents are also asked to sign THE LAMORINDA SAFE DRIVING PLEDGE and submit it to your local police department. The pledge form will be available at locations with the bumper stickers and on our Town website. The pledge is intended to remind each of us to be safe and tolerant drivers to make our communities safe for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
This year is Prima Ristorante’s 35th anniversary, which got me thinking, since I’m constantly talking about new restaurants all the time I thought it would be interesting to see what old time places out there are recommended. So for Friday’s Question of the Day, what’s your favorite old time restaurant? Let’s say it has to be over 10 years old. Also, what are any must order items?
Photo by Flickr user luchilu
From the Contra Costa Performing Arts website:
Friday Morning Concert
May 25, 2012 10:30 a.m.
Grace Presbyterian ChurchSonata for Violin and Piano
Francis Poulenc(1899-1963)I. Allegro con fuoco
II. Intermezzo
III. Presto tragicoCandace Sanderson, Violin
Kay Andre, Piano
“Frondi tenere…Ombra mai fu” from opera Serse
George Frideric Handel (1685 – 1759)‘O del mio dolce ardor’ from opera, Paride ed Elena
Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)An Die Musik, D 547
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Nacht und Träume, D.827 (Op.43 No.2)Ah! Chloris
Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947)Del cabello más sutil
Fernando J. Obradors (1897-1945)
Frühlingsnacht No. 12 Liederkreis, Op.39
Robert Schumann (1810 –1856)Abraham Avililes-Scott, Lyric Tenor
James Greening-Valenzuela, Piano
With news that Loot Antiques is closing in Lafayette, possibly to be replaced with a cupcake shop, I thought it would be good to make a post on another cupcake shop nearby, Republic of Cake in Orinda. How does this compare to Kara’s Cupcakes in Walnut Creek, or the Teacake Bake Shop in Lafayette?
Republic of Cake is located at 2 Theatre Square in Orinda. You can see their menu here. Any fans?
Lamorinda Theater Academy, a new dance, singing and acting studio for children is opening in late June above Lamorinda Music in Lafayette, and I was able to check out the progress and find out more about the studio. The staircase entrance is to the left of Lamorinda Music.
Check out the dance studio where tap, jazz, creative and contemporary dance classes will be offered:
This is where the acting studio will be, although it’s being completely made over, with a new staircase added at back for safety reasons:
In addition to the dance and acting studio, there will be a smaller vocal studio for private singing lessons, yoga classes, as well as a large lobby for parents and kids. Parents will be able to look in both studios to see how the kids are doing, and there are also bathrooms and lockers available as well.
The owners Renee DeWeese and Rena Wilson seem very enthusiastic about the new academy and have quite an impressive resume so this looks very promising and I look forward to seeing how it turns out next month. They are accepting registrations for summer programs (1 camp is already sold out) . They are also offering free classes from June 25th – July 1st so you can try out a class to see how it is. The class schedule is here.
Considering the recent expansion of Lamorinda Music, it looks like this area will become an increasingly important part of the Lafayette art scene.