GREAT SMALL TOWN getaways
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CALIFORNIA MODERN ART MAKES A STATEMENT IN MUSEUMS, PUBLIC PLACES AND CITY STREETS INSIDE AN EICHLER AN INSPIRING HOME ENVIROnment BASQUE IN THE GLOW NEW TAPAS IN TOWN PLUS THE LATEST SCOOP ON WALNUT CREEK'S RESTAURANT BOOM
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March / April 2016
19 WHERE & WHEN
A section devoted to happenings all over the Bay Area including art, music, events, dance, museums, comedy and festivals.
25 TALK OF THE TOWN
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Public art at new residential developments; Meet the superintendent in charge of The Lyric project on Locust Street; Get the latest buzz on retailers and restaurants coming to town; Get to know a local designer who made it to Project Runway, and a whole lot more.
40 CALIFORNIA MODERN Inside the world of a Rancho San Miguel Eichler with a family who inspires with their love for architecture, each other, and the community.
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48 GREAT SMALL TOWN GETAWAYS
Northern California destinations that will lure you with hospitality, great food, and plenty of wine.
59 TASTE
Spring greens show up at Farmers’ Markets; Authentic Spanish food at Teleferic; Meet Lark Creek Walnut Creek’s new chef; Find the best places to eat and drink in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill and Alamo in the Walnut Creek Magazine dining guide.
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69 ON STAGE
Actress and writer Sally Hogarty with the Bay Area theater hot list.
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The Insider’s Guide to Walnut Creek march / april 2016 Publisher Pam Becker Kessler Editor Lauren Kessler Art Director Carrie Wallahan Online Website: Kathy Gillman Social Media: Robin Fox Photography Rachel Capil Lisa Duncan Jim Fidelibus Jessica Freels Scott Hein Sarah Grunder Kyle Luman Brian Murphy
Enjoy a wonderful day in the wine country
WINE TOURS • SAN FRANCISCO TOURS WEDDINGS • BIRTHDAYS • CONCERTS SPORTING EVENTS • AIRPORT • CORPORATE
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contributing writers Deborah Burstyn Lynn Carey Lou Fancher Sally Hogarty Fran Miller Alison Negrin Anneli Rufus Peggy Spear Alix Wall Kessler Communications, Inc. Walnut Creek Magazine Office 1280 Boulevard Way, Suite 108 Walnut Creek, CA 94595 (925)212-5146 Email: info@walnutcreekmagazine.com
925-634-7303
No material from Walnut Creek Magazine may be reproduced without written consent from the Publisher.
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Contributors
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jessica freels has been taking pictures since she was eight years old. Her passion is sports photography because it gives her a chance to spend time with her son. A long time Bay Area resident, she resides in Walnut Creek.
Fran Endicott Miller is a freelance travel and feature writer who enjoys exploring Northern California and sharing her finds with readers.
Lou Fancher is a Bay Area writer covering technology, dance, theater, education and sports for multiple publications. She is the author of two original children’s books and has designed and illustrated over 50 picture books.
alix wall is a freelance writer and personal chef living in Oakland. She covers the Bay Area food scene and restaurant openings for multiple online and print publications. Her website is theorganicepicure.com.
Sally Hogarty has been in Bay Area Theater for over 30 years as an actress, producer, and publicist. She is editor of The Orinda News and writes colorful theater columns for local publications.
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deborah burstyn is a Walnut Creek-based freelance journalist who has worked as a staff writer for The Washington Post, Newsweek, the Contra Costa Times and the California wine industry.
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From the Publisher I remember my first visit to the wine country in the 1980’s, a time when tastings were free and the top spots were Mondavi, Sutter Home and Beringer. While these iconic wineries remain, much has changed since then. On a recent visit to some of Napa Valley’s 500-plus wineries, we were overwhelmed by the abundant pairing of art and wine, and the substantial investments that places like Hall Winery have made in sculpture and paintings to enrich the visitor experience. Hall’s prestigious art collection rivals even the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C. Closer to home, the Bay Area art scene is also exploding: the University of California’s Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) reopened after a multi-million dollar renovation and San Francisco’s Modern Art Museum (SFMOMA) is making its long-awaited debut in May. Here in Walnut Creek, we are graced with the inspiring exhibits at the Bedford Gallery and the city’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality of our daily lives with major public artworks, murals and streetscapes. We applaud these cultural enhancements and bring some of them into view for you on the pages of this issue. Look around you, art is everywhere. One of the benefits of publishing Walnut Creek Magazine, is the opportunity to visit some pretty spectacular destinations. While we may yearn for the coast of Mexico, sometimes a local escape to Healdsburg or St. Helena is all it takes to rejuvenate. Our small town getaway feature is loaded with tips and treasures that will transform your travel experience. Whether you go now or later, put these destinations on your vacation list. Spring officially arrives at the end of March and with it comes baseball season, the urge to discard extra clutter, and put a fresh coat of paint on the walls. We are hopeful that the predictions for a wet spring come true, giving us the perfect weather for exploring the Bay Area’s distinguished art museums.
Pam Becker Kessler publisher @walnutcreekmagazine.com
ON THE COVER
Interior view of UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) on Center Street. Designed by the renowned New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
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Reader Feedback Have something to say? Send your rant or rave to info@walnutcreekmagazine.com. Comments may be edited.
WATER WORLD Thank you for keeping the plight of Walnut Creek's aquatics teams in a position of interest by featuring it in your JAN FEB 2016 issue. Water sports and recreation are an important part of the fabric of the healthy lifestyles enjoyed by our community. However, I regret that the story omitted some important facts regarding all of the teams that call Walnut Creek and Clarke Swim Center home. Swimming Olympians Joe Bottom, Mike Bottom, Dave Bottom, Matt Biondi, and Chrissy Ahlman all have roots with the Walnut Creek Aquabears leading into their Olympic successes. The Walnut Creek Masters swim team boasts a membership of over 500 swimmers ranging from age 18 to 85. The Masters have garnered more National Championships in their 40-year history than any other team in the nation. These two teams make up the largest contingent of user groups currently buying space in the City's facilities.
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Along with the lesson programs, adult lap swimming, water exercise classes, and recreational swimming, 90% of the aquatic use comes from Clarke Swim Center. The City Of Walnut Creek has chosen to put their emphasis on rebuilding a facility (Larkey) that meets only 10 percent of the community’s needs, and relying on outside help to figure out how best to care for the other 90 percent. —Kerry O'Brien, Head Coach - Walnut Creek Masters
CHANGES DOWNTOWN In the NOV DEC 2015 issue of Walnut Creek Magazine, Deborah Burstyn wrote a story titled “Meet Mr. Walnut Creek” in which Brian Hirahara states that Walnut Creek is becoming more like a Portland or Seattle. I grew up in Walnut Creek in the 1970s; I've lived in the Portland metro area since 1989. When returning to visit family in Walnut Creek, I've been bowled over by the changes and corporate look downtown. It does not resemble Portland — a funky, hip town accommodating a wide variety of people. My observation as a former resident is that Walnut Creek has morphed well beyond gentrification and is now for the affluent.—A. Cooper-Williams
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event scene
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wednesday night lights PHOTOGRAPHY BY jessica freels Walnut Creek Downtown kicked-off Super Bowl 50 hosting a "super" community event on Cypress Street. “Kids� of all ages danced, pranced and scored some cool prizes.
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6 1. Street Fest on Cypress 2. WCD Event Coordinator Christy Lund 3. Cristiana & Charles Andersson, Bonnie Waters 4. Lisa Kern and Andrea Toriggino 5. Alexander & Christina Alessi, Lisa Sun, Nicolas Alessi, Marci Winer, Mason, Katy, Doug & Morgan Grant, Jennifer Wickboldt 6. Super Heroes 7. Las Lomas Cheerleader Volunteers: Britney Martin and Sophia Genovese
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Be there. Be fabulous! CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2016
2:00 - 6:00 PM • Pleasant Hill Community Center’s Perera Pavilion • • • • • •
Sip fine wines from top vintners Savor delicious food bites Shop the latest in shoes & fashion accessories Mingle with Shoe Guys Bid on one-of-a-kind silent & live auction items Kick up your heels for a fashion show
Benefitting Pleasant Hill Recreation & Rehabilitation Services of Northern California
PURCHASE TICKETS AT WINEWOMENANDSHOES.COM/CONTRACOSTA
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30TH ANNIVERSARY OF EAST BAY USA PHOTOGRAPHY BY lisa chow and amy sullivan
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The East Bay Leadership Council celebrated the 30th Anniversary of East Bay USA at a lively dinner and discussion with the 66th United States Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, in January. East Bay Leadership Council, an employer-led public policy advocacy organization, focuses on economic vitality and quality of life in the East Bay region.
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1. Lynette Busby Contra Costa Centre Association, Anne Marie Taylor JFK University, Angie Coffee 2. Suzanne Schroder, Rob Schroder Mayor of Martinez, Deirdre Gabbard 3. Andrew Sabey East Bay Leadership Council Chair, Kristin Connelly President and CEO of East Bay Leadership Council, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, 66th United States Secretary of State, Keith Archuleta Immediate Past Chair of the East Bay Leadership Council 4. Jim Brandt, Diane Burgis Board Member East Bay Regional Park District, Manny Bowlby 5. Tom Rizzo, Tomi Riley Office of Supervisor Mary Piepho, Bill Dodd California State Assembly 6. Mike and Erin Easter 7. Jeff White, Denise and Ed Del Becarro
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Stars to the rescue PHOTOGRAPHY BY stephanie secrest
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In January, a sold-out crowd celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Tony La Russa’s Stars to the Rescue at a spectacular show. Proceeds from the benefit concert support ARF's lifesaving programs for animals and people.
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1. Michael Cavanaugh 2. Rich Hebert 3. Tony La Russa 4. Eric Church 5. Marc Russo 6. Elaine Bicker and friends 7. All Star Band Finale 16
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Fusion Academy is a revolutionary, accredited private middle and high school where positive relationships unlock academic potential. We are a non-traditional community of learning with the smallest class size possible: one student and one teacher. Thus allows us to personalize curriculum for each student's individual strengths, interests, and learning style. Our supportive staff and campus environment provide a safe space for students to flourish emotionally, socially, and academically. It includes a state-of-the-art recording studio and a mixed-media art studio for students to express their creativity. Our Homework CafĂŠÂŽ is where
students complete all their homework before they leave for the day with supervision and help from a teacher. Classes are offered at three levels: essential, college prep, and honors. From algebra to yoga and everything in between, we have over 250 courses to choose from, and many are UC approved. Students can enroll full-time, take classes for credit, or utilize our tutoring services. Outside of academics, we partner with outside therapeutic professionals to support students' emotional health and help foster a balanced life. While it's impossible to put our students into categories, we
generally serve students with the following backgrounds: ADHD, accredited/gifted learners, dyslexia, dysgraphia and learning differences, social challenges and school anxiety, or students with challenging schedules. Students who attend Fusion Academy have one thing in common: traditional school isn't working. During the summer we offer the summer school basics, along with some unique-to-Fusion programs. Our summer classes are the epitome of flexibility: sleep in or go on vacation without worrying where school fits in. Catch up, get ahead, or try something new with us this summer, all in personalized, one-to-one classroom.
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Parking Keeps Business Happening
ParkSmart keeps business happening by being an industry leader in parking innovation, technology and services.
Download the FREE Downtown Walnut Creek Parking App See available parking and rates. It's fast and easy.
For more information contact
ParkSmart, Inc. 925-933-8795 | parksmartinc.com 18
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where & when EVENTS | ART | MUSIC | DANCE | MUSEUMS | COMEDY | FESTIVALS
ILLUMINATED
Stunning art and film museum reopens in Berkeley BY LOU FANCHER PHOTOGRAPHY BY IWAN BAAN
Courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, EHDD and Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
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where & when If you like architecture, put a visit to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) on your to-do list. Designed by the renowned New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the $112 million art and film museum opened at its new Center Street location in February joining the ranks of local architectural icons such as the De Young Museum and soon-to-reopen SFMoMa.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY IWAN BAAN
Founded in 1963, BAMPFA (pronounced BAM P-F-A) is an exhibition space and resource center for both film and the arts. Its collection encompasses over 19,000 works of art and 17,500 films and videos in 25,000-square-feet of versatile gallery space, along with a huge library of cinematic archives.
Yet the new building’s biggest draw may be its exterior where a “cloak” of stainless steel drapes like silver lava over one-third of the transformed printing plant, and a massive LED screen and plaza area sets the stage for summer outdoor screenings. Perched on the second floor over Berkeley’s Center Street is the museum’s chic café, Babette, where diners can peek at the exhibition spaces below. Inside, cavernous museum galleries boast 28-foot-high ceilings and skylights flood spaces with natural light. There are numerous places to get lost including study centers that house BAMPFA’s massive collection of film related books, posters and documents. Film buffs will marvel at the 232-seat Barbro Osher Theater, a state-of-the-art venue providing a top-level viewing experience for the roughly 450 film events planned in 2016. Another highlight is the Crane Forum, an airy amphitheater lined by master woodworker Paul Disco with stepped, wooden seating fashioned from pine trees removed during construction. Defining the forum space is Qiu Zhijie’s magnificent 60 x 25 foot mural of a world map imagined as a Chinese garden. The mural is part of BAMPFA’s opening show Architecture of Life, a multimedia exhibit that examines architecture as both metaphor and practice. DETAILS: Wednesday through Sunday, 11am-9pm, 2155 Center Street, just steps from Berkeley's Downtown BART station, bampfa.org.
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MAKE IT A NEW RITUAL Join us for exceptional food and hospitality in the lobby lounge or restaurant
LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS Free Valet Parking 7 Days a Week
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where & when
Things to Do and See
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Photography by Michael Zagaris Closing Winterland, 1978
Celebrating 21 years of movie magic, the East Bay International Jewish Film Festival features award winning films from around the world — Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Morocco, Poland, New Zealand, Spain and United Kingdom. Many of the independent films explore the importance of pluralism and tolerance. DETAILS: Through March 13, Century 16 Theatres, Pleasant Hill, eastbayjewishfilm.org.
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This spring, San Francisco honors the life of rock impresario Bill Graham (1931–1991) who launched the careers of countless artists, including the Grateful Dead, Santana, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin at his famed Fillmore Auditorium, and later Winterland. Through photographs, art and concert footage, Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution explores the role Graham played in transforming rock music and illuminates how growing up as a Jewish emigrant from Nazi Germany fueled his drive as a cultural innovator and advocate for social justice. DETAILS: March 17–July 5, Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, thecjm.org.
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Hosted by Brazen Racing, Diablo Trails Challenge is a fundraising run for Save Mount Diablo showcasing the mountain’s beauty on 5K, 10K and half marathon runs beginning and ending at Castle Rock Recreation Area in Diablo Foothills, Walnut Creek. For serious athletes, the 50K loops up peaks to a stretch of one of Save Mount Diablo's grandest protected lands not yet open to the public. DETAILS: April 17, brazenracing.com.
where & when
In the first-ever museum exhibition focused on marijuana, OMCA presents Altered State: Marijuana in California to spark conversation about the plant and the complex issues surrounding it. With California on the verge of making decisions around marijuana that will impact its residents, the show provides a community space for people to learn, question, and discuss. DETAILS: April 16-September 25, Oakland Museum of California, museumca.org.
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Jump over bonfires to welcome the lightness of spring at the Persian New Year Festival. A Persian ritual passed down since Zoroastrian times, the fire festival is held on the last Tuesday of winter, just before the Vernal Equinox or first moment of spring. At this free, familyfriendly event, guests dance in the street, eat delicious kabobs and celebrate an ancient culture. DETAILS: March 15, 6-10PM, Persian Center, 2029 Durant Ave., Berkeley, anotherbullwinkelshow.com.
Baseball Ballet by Ulrickson
Coldplay’s Chris Martin and the Stone Foxes join writers BJ Novak, Dave Eggers and Kelly Corrigan for the seventh annual Notes & Words benefit at Oakland’s historic Fox Theater. This incredible evening of entertainment supports the programs and services at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. DETAILS: April 30, Fox Theater, Oakland, notesandwords.org.
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Take me out to the ball game! Safe at Home hails America’s beloved pastime by bringing the sights, sounds, and excitement of the stadium into the gallery. For this exhibition, Bedford Curator Carrie Lederer teamed up with Bay Area art dealer George Krevsky to assemble a rich mix of memorabilia as well as contemporary and historic work by leading artists including Warhol, DeKooning, Ulriksen, Levinthal, and Nieman. DETAILS: April 3 to June 12, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, bedfordgallery.org.
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where & when
Celebrating its 22nd Anniversary with stunning works from the company’s history, Diablo Ballet’s gala performance opens with Tears from Above by Val Caniparoli, a solo from Gary Master's Diablo Opus, Sérénade pour Cordes et Corps by Sonya Delwaide, the romantic pas de deux from La Fille Mal Gardée, and a new breathtaking Film by Robert Dekkers. DETAILS: March 17, 6:30PM show, Lesher Center for the Arts, diabloballet.org.
Photography by Bérenger Zyla
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Experience a variety of butterfly-friendly, pesticidefree, low maintenance gardens on the annual Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour. Registration is now open for free, self-guided tours of spectacular gardens throughout Alameda and Contra Costa County. The event also features plant sales, garden talks, workshops. DETAILS: May 1, 10AM TO 5PM, bringingbackthenatives.net.
10 Tracing the rise of one of fashion’s most influential designers over five decades, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco present the world premiere of Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective. Included in the exhibition are more than 130 ensembles. DETAILS: De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Tuesday–Sunday, famsf.org.
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culture
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STYLE
"Intersect in Red" at The Landing
talk
Art Boom
Public art is popping up all over the city
People today often seem blind to their surroundings, absorbed talking on their phones, or plugged into headphones listening to music. Yet give them a radical piece of public art like the big orange Fountain Head in front of Mechanics Bank or the bright Gradient Column at the Brio Apartments, and urban dwellers shed their indifference and become positively inspired. Public Art pieces break up ordinary life and provide a new way to experience the city. ➤ march april 2016 / walnut creek
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talk of the town Walnut Creek officially adopted its Public Art Program in 2000 when the City Council approved two key ordinances mandating funding and the inclusion of public art in new development and renovation projects. Since then, public artwork is popping up all over, enlivening the environment and quality of life.
INTERSECT IN RED Red steel cylinders rising 50-feet high will grace The Landing Apartments on Ygnacio Valley Road when completed in the summer of 2017. “We’re very excited to bring this bold, modern sculpture to Walnut Creek. It’s a critical corner for the city and an opportunity to make a statement about the city’s commitment to public art,” says Project Director Lauren Colbert Seaver. The $300,000 sculpture is being created by artist Shayne Dark, considered one of Canada’s masters of public art. BHV CenterStreet Properties, a Danville-based developer, has broken ground on the 178-unit apartment complex geared toward millennial commuters, otherwise known as persons born in the 1980s-90s. The $73.5 million Landing Apartments project in Walnut Creek will feature cutting-edge amenities: a sky-deck yoga studio, community roof-top garden, an outdoor movie theater and
resort-style pool. Designed as a commuter complex, the building will offer 223 parking stalls for an additional fee. Rent is expected to run on average $2,000 to $3,000 per month. BHV CenterStreet Properties is also believed to be developing the BART Transit Village, a 600-unit apartment and retail complex. The project is expected to include a public art sculpture similar to “Intersect in Red.”
SPARKS The steel sculpture at the front of 1756 Cole comple-
ments the modern architecture of the new 12-unit Lenox Homes condominium complex. Created by artist Linda Fleming, the shadows cast by the sculpture create ever-changing patterns that transform the visual size and feel of the sculpture throughout the day. The angles of the sculpture shift and change as people walk past it, “sparking” the imagination. 1756 Cole is Lenox president Dan Freeman’s vision for another segment of the Walnut Creek population—downsizing baby boomers—who have left their large subur-
ban homes for a more urban lifestyle. Referred to as the “Tesla of condominium living” by Freeman, the sprawling 2,000-square-foot units sold out prior to construction, bringing a new level to downtown living, and a $1.5 million price tag. While the chic condos are within easy walking distance to shopping, dining and entertainment, a significant feature in Freeman’s design is a state-of-theart underground stackable parking system, permitting residents two cars per unit. Lenox is developing another new upscale condominium project on Trinity Avenue. —P.K.
The Walnut Creek Public Art Program is administered by the Arts, Recreation & Community Services Department and overseen by the Bedford Gallery Advisory Council and the Arts Commission. Self-guided mobile walking tours are available of 30 public art locations downtown. For details, go to walnut-creek.org.
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The Superintendent
talk/people
Michael Finch has left his mark on buildings in 46 states By Sophie Johnson
WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU? I’m on the job site from 5 am to 5 pm, coordinating contractors and ensuring our two-year construction project in Walnut Creek goes smoothly. I’m like a symphony conductor and it’s my job to be here before the guys get to the site until after they leave. IS YOUR JOB PHYSICAL? I walk and climb stairs and do about 12,000 steps a day. I love carpentry and miss working with tools, but I’m 63 and sometimes when I’m down on my knees, it’s tough to get up! I go to the gym at 4 am and drink my spinach and flax seed smoothie, so I’m in pretty good shape.
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Photography by Jessica Freels
HOW MUCH DO CONTRACTORS MAKE? There’s a huge range and it depends on your skills, the type of project and whether you’re in a union — most of us are not. A carpenter can make $20 to $35 an hour and a general manager can make a salary of over six figures. DO YOU HAVE SUPERSTITIONS? Ladders – I don’t walk under them. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT HUMAN NATURE? People want to know their presence means something to you. Just saying ‘Hi’ to the guys each day is important. But sometimes kindness can be seen as a weakness and as much as I care about the guys, I can’t make friends.
DO YOU HAVE TO MOVE EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A NEW PROJECT TO OVERSEE? I have two houses in Oregon, where I live and I sure do love it up there. But for a big project like this one, overseeing construction of a multi-use development on Locust Street in Walnut Creek, I have a nice trailer with a garage for my bike. I’ve worked in all but four states and recently remarried after losing my first wife in 2014. My lovely lady is coming down this weekend for 10 days and I’m taking her to the Gold Country. It’ll be the longest we’ve been together! I’ll retire in a few years and show my wife all of the amazing places I’ve seen.
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On the Horizon Happenings, announcements and things to know about
BIG BEN
Port of Oakland welcomes giant cargo ships It’s a new day on the waters of the San Francisco Bay. Millions of dollars later, the Port of Oakland has significantly dredged the bottom of the Bay to receive the biggest cargo ships in the world, like the 1,310-foot-long CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin that was here in February. Big Ben is capable of carrying up to 18,000 shipping containers and expected to be a regular visitor to Oakland, hauling cargo between the West Coast and Asia. The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is the largest cargo ship to ever visit the United States. For details on public tours of the port, go to portofoakland.com.
Trophy Wine
Deep Water In February, the Walnut Creek City Council awarded $4,108,000 to Arntz Builders for the Larkey Park Swim Center Improvements Project. As part of the deal, the city’s celebrated synchronized swim team, the Walnut Creek Aquanuts, agreed to raise $200,000 towards to the cost of the project for deepening of the pool to hold practices and performances. The Larkey pool project is slated for completion in spring 2017. For details, go to larkeysplash.org.
Award-winning Shadowbrook breaking ground on new winery and tasting room Proprietor Tim Jochner is putting Walnut Creek back on the map as a distinguished wine-growing region. For the eleventh consecutive year, Shadowbrook took home gold and silver medals from the San Francisco Wine Competition beating out competitors in Napa and Sonoma for its 2013 Cabernet and Pinot Noir. Adding to the excitement is the news that Shadowbrook has begun digging its new winery and tasting room on Northgate Road. Established in 2005 by Tim and his wife Courtney Jochner, Shadowbrook is the first winery in Walnut Creek since Prohibition. They also produce Contra Costa County's only California Olive Oil Council certified extra virgin olive oil. Visit shadowbrook.com for more information.
What’s In Store If you’re one of Walnut Creek’s downtown dwellers, we have good news for you. The home furnishing giant, Z Gallery, is returning to town with its eclectic mix of mod and traditional décor. Look for the new store on Locust Street after Anthropologie moves to Main Street. Right next door, Mt. Diablo’s iconic service center, Walnut Creek Automotive announced plans to relocate to Pleasant Hill. Need a new place to get polished? Lafayette’s upscale men’s salon, 1818, opened on Botelho Drive, near Men’s Wearhouse and Atlas. Over on Cypress Street, Renew Cryotherapy is treating clients for pain and inflammation with its invigorating cold technology. Impulse Room, a new jazz club featuring live music, is opening this summer on Lincoln Avenue. Got buzz? Send it to us: info@walnutcreekmagazine.com.
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BEAUTY–IT’S OUR NATURE Expert craftsmanship and well-being are part of every cut and color at Thirteen. That’s why we became an Aveda Concept Salon. Each service includes a ritual of renewal, from stress relieving scalp treatments to hand massages. Plus, we carry the entire line of Aveda products so you can continue the experience at home.
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY.
1525 Locust Street, Walnut Creek
(925) 932-2242 13hairsalon.com
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talk/on the horizon
SAVOR
Downtown pizza boom, a new barbecue joint, and two hamburger havens Pizza superstar Tony Gemignani is opening his first East Bay café on the ground floor of 1500 Mt. Diablo. Slice House starts dishing slices in April. With the sudden closure of Project Pie, the Capitola classic Pizza My Heart, grabbed the ready-made parlor for creating their award-winning pies. Anytime now, California Pizza Kitchen will relocate its Broadway Plaza restaurant to the new Agora community on S. Main Street. And Take One Pizza is bringing their build-your-own pie restaurant to Olympia Place. Southern charm comes to Locust Street when Sauced opens in the former Pyramid Brewery. The barbecue house is expected to open in late summer serving authentic eats like spare ribs, brisket and peanut butter pie.
ZONING GAME Will the downtown become a victim of its own success?
After several hundred new residential units in the downtown core were approved with conditional use permits, essentially changing the downtown footprint, the Walnut Creek City Council decided it was time for other communities in the East Bay to help house the tri-valley’s growing population. In January, the council voted to remove the conditional use permit provision from the General Plan, requiring city council approval and an amendment to the General Plan, for future zoning changes from commercial to residential in certain areas of the city. According to Senior City Planner Andy Smith, “the new Commercial Land Preservation Ordinance eliminates the ability to build multi-family developments in commercial zones with the use of a conditional use permit.” Quality of life, lighting, setbacks, shadows, views and developer fees for future impacts all played a role in this decision.
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Back Story How did conditional use permits end up in the city’s General Plan? It dates back to 1989 and a time when housing was not being developed downtown, yet the city’s General Plan specified residential housing downtown. “It was our hope that by adding the conditional use permit to the General Plan as a provision, we would attract downtown residential development and create a walkable environment with easy access to BART,” explains Walnut Creek’s Community Development Director Sandra Meyer. “It wasn’t until 2010, that the commercial real estate market, and financial institutions, started showing interest in downtown residential projects. Before then, we couldn’t beg for housing downtown,” says Meyer. “Since that time, we have seen dramatic changes downtown and an abundance of new housing, so we asked the council to remove the provision from the General Plan,” says Meyer. More information on Walnut Creek’s General Plan and zoning can be found on the city’s website walnut-creek.org. —P.K.
In a new partnership with Sacramento restauranteur Chris Jarosz, the Hubcaps team kicks it up a notch remerging in late April as Broderick Roadhouse, a Wild West burger emporium. Down the street all eyes are on the opening of the iconic Gott’s Roadside. Stay tuned at walnutcreekmagazine.com.
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Photography by Jessica Freels
talk/people
meet byron best
The man who's got walnut creek dancing in the streets
S
Spring Wine Walk, First Wednesdays, Off the Grid Tuesdays, utility box wraps by local artists —this is Walnut Creek Downtown (WCD) in action. Started in 1992 to market and support the retailers and restaurants in the downtown area, the business association’s 550 members sponsor events and programs funded through a tiered membership assessment. The City of Walnut Creek supplements WCD’s approximate $300,000 annual budget by subsidizing things like the 34
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BY deborah burstyn
tree lights on Main and Locust Streets. Last year, WCD welcomed Byron Best as its new executive director. Best previously was the marketing director for Oxnard’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has four daughters and is married to Alison Best, CEO of Visit Oakland, an organization focused on bringing more visitors to Oakland. We spoke with Best in his office to get a current snapshot of what’s happening downtown.
Describe yourself in three words. Happy, Father/Husband, Analytical
What is your favorite thing about Walnut Creek? There is so much going on and a great deal of untapped potential. I love that Walnut Creek is the community that other cities, especially in the 680 corridor, point to as what they would like to become. ➤
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talk/people What is the goal of the Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association? The city wants a downtown with lots of vitality and energy. Our members want more people in their shops and restaurants. There’s definitely a crossover there. So we try to build consensus.
What is your biggest challenge?Cutting through all the clutter of everyday life and getting people’s attention long enough to prompt them to act. But we’re getting there. Crowds are growing at our First Wednesday events and digital communication is increasing among local businesses and groups. We need local organizations as well as our members to keep us updated about their events. If it’s going on downtown, we want to help promote it.
Who are the visitors to downtown Walnut Creek? About 65 percent of our visitors are from out of town and 35 percent are residents. Our stats show that people are coming here from all over the Bay Area, particularly San Francisco, Martinez, Concord and Benicia.
What cities do you consider as competition? It’s getting fiercer as more people with more disposable income move into the East Bay. Livermore used to be just a small town. Now they have wineries, a cute little downtown and an outlet mall. San Ramon is trying to create an attractive downtown. But we are not looking at our competition. We are looking at WCD and the things we can afford to do with the biggest impact. Walnut Creek is set up to do bigger things than we are presently doing.
What one thing do you want in Walnut Creek? An outdoor amphitheater for larger music concerts.
What’s coming up downtown? We’re working on parklets (landscaped sidewalk extensions that provide more space for people to enjoy sitting outside.) One or two sites downtown appear to be a good fit. We are also creating a branded marketing campaign as well as a walking map.
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What does the future hold? We are seeing a trans-
Reservations: 925/938-8700 2805 Jones Road Walnut Creek, CA 94597 renaissanceclubsport.com *EXPIRES 4/30/16
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formation happening in downtown Walnut Creek. With the redesign of Broadway Plaza, all the new mixed-use building complexes coming online and the new BART Transit Village, things will be happening here that make the future very exciting.
photography by jessica freels
HOUSE OF CUOCO
Local designer takes her edgy leather fashions to Project Runway
W
By lou fancher
hen it comes to fashion, designer Candice Cuoco has one rule: tear up the template because there’s no telling where the next zig will zag. “There are no more rules,” she says about the industry. “My advice to women is not to follow trends. Fashion shouldn’t be driven by labels. You can combine a Target top, Fendi bottoms, Gucci purse and Goodwill vintage shoes. The women who follow their own sense of style, they look the best.”
Coming off the whirl of making it as a finalist on Project Runway, the Walnut Creek designer’s Spring 2016 collection reflects flowing floral prints, shimmering silk chiffons, black gowns with no-bra sheer tops and strategically placed piping. But there’s also her signature leather in sculptured hourglass silhouettes and thigh-hugging pants studded with metal rivets. House of CCUOCO operates out of a studio in northeast Walnut Creek, where the design team draws, cuts, and sews her stunning garments. But it wasn’t always that way. ➤
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talk/people
Just a few months ago, Cuoco and Assistant Designer Felicia Gold were on their hands and knees, cutting out a white leather wedding gown on the kitchen floor of Cuoco’s mother’s Oakland home while five dogs ran through the room. A nearby hallway was her “studio.” As the mother of a ten-year-old daughter, Perseaus, and four-year-old son, Logan, like many women she balances professional passion with her other passion, parenthood. During the six weeks of filming Project Runway, Cuoco recalls, “I had five-minute phone calls with my kids, then I was home for five weeks making pieces for New York Fashion Week and Project Runway—plus I made 40 other looks for London Fashion Week,” she says. The stress was enormously worthwhile, in the attention it generated and for positioning Cuoco back on track. “I had lost me. At Project Runway I found myself.” Long before the 27-year-old creative was making strides, she was relying on design to escape a tumultuous upbringing in Alameda. “My parents were both drug addicts. I remember going to Safeway with my dad and eating from the garbage bins.” To gain a sense of order, she made art. “My earliest memories are of drawing, painting and cutting fabric. It made me happy to create my own vision of the world. To control it.” Control and intentional chaos are signature features of her fashion profile. The deep plunging necklines, the dark strength of midnight blue and the raw power of a gash-like split in the corset of
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a red leather gown suggest that a woman is sexy, soft, wild, withdrawn, strong, vulnerable, and conflicted. “I’m a giant walking contradiction. You’ll get floral from me in winter and black in spring.” And always, leather. “I love leather because it reminds me of women: how it ages, how it’s soft and hard, how it’s strong and sexy, how it drapes, how you can put it through hell and it’s still beautiful.” Grateful for input from judges like Heidi Klum on Project Runway who said, “You’re cool, why aren’t you making you? Why aren’t you making things you wear?” Cuoco says the show got one thing wrong. “They had the bad stuff about my parents but they didn’t have the part about my mother now. I don’t know a mother who’s more supportive. She quit drugs when I was 20. She’s so down for me now, I couldn’t do this without her.” Perception, she says, is critical in fashion and in life. “People get up every day and if they think they’re not making a statement, they’re wrong. The way you wear your hair, the way you tie your jacket, you’re making a choice. You say I care, I don’t care; I take myself seriously, or I don’t.” In the end, what matters most are the stories we tell the world. Cuoco says her world story is to build “a house of women who do things they never dreamed they were capable of” and to have her collection in Selfridges, a high-end department store in the United Kingdom. As for the future, it’s best to stay tuned. If there’s anyone worth watching, it’s Candice Cuoco.
good reads
Books by Bay Area Authors by lynn carey
Riders
Veronica Rossi (Tor Teen, February 2016)
The first in a new series from Danville resident and New York Times bestselling author Rossi, a teenage boy mysteriously recovers from a fatal accident and finds himself with strange new powers. He's become War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who want to save the world but instead, get blamed for a horrific event and struggle to prove their innocence.
Mile 46: Face to Face in Maasailand Joni Binder
(Earth Aware Editions, April 2016)
In 1988, 21-year-old Binder packed journals, a camera and red hair dye and went to live with the Maasai for a year. Now 25 years later, Binder, who lives in Orinda, revisits her photos and journals with a new perspective, resulting in a book the Los Angeles Review of Books calls “a revelation in the depth of its empathy by one so young at the time.” In it she addresses cultural rituals, including female circumcision.
Mixed Up With Murder Susan C. Shea (Reputation, February 2016)
You've gotta love it when a gal who's the fundraiser for a San Francisco museum ends up solving murder mysteries. But that's the pickle Dani O'Rourke finds herself in on a consulting job in New England when a college administrator ends up dead. In the third book from Marin County’s Susan Shea's series, Dani once again steps up to the task of cracking the crime.
Quotations from Chairman Trump Edited by Carol Pogash (Rosetta Books, January 2016)
In one compact book are all the gems from the man who has a quote for every occasion. Trump, who started out his empire in Brooklyn with a million dollar business loan, is surprising the universe with his rapid accession to political power. Orinda's Pogash has compiled a book of Trump’s quotes that will make you laugh, or perhaps cry, but definitely keep for posterity.
A Doubter's Almanac Ethan Canin
(Random House, February 2016)
In Ethan Canin's latest novel, a family of mathematicians learn to deal with the dark side of their genius in a moving and suspenseful story that spans seven generations. The Washington Post says the San Francisco bestselling author "writes with such luxuriant beauty and tender sympathy that even victims of Algebra II will follow his calculations with rapt comprehension."
MINI AUTHOR GALA Meg Waite Clayton ("The Race for Paris," "The Wednesday Sisters") and Jan Ellison ("A Small Indiscretion") will be in discussion with former Contra Costa Times Book Club diva Lynn Carey at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 at the Del Valle Theater, 1963 Tice Valley Road in Walnut Creek. Tickets are $15. Call 925-280-3980 or email adulted@acalanes.k12.ca.us.
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CALIFORNIA
MODERN 40
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Northeast Walnut Creek is a mélange of architectural styles, but none are as popular right now as the mid-20th century homes developed by Joseph Eichler. Built between 1949 and 1966, Eichler’s compact geometric homes helped define the popular style that came to be known as “California Modern.” So when Monique and John Jansen, a recently transplanted couple from New Zealand and their son Joel, went house hunting in Walnut Creek’s Rancho San Miguel neighborhood, John discovered a place that looked oddly familiar. Then it came to him. His father, a builder in New Zealand, had been fond of California architecture and John had grown up looking through his father’s architectural books. One of the books had featured Eichlers and now John was actually seeing them. What’s more, he had the opportunity to buy one. Visionary developer Joseph Eichler had made it his mission during the post-World War II housing boom to bring quality modern architecture to the masses. His communities of homes were characterized by both flair and affordability. While only an elite few could afford a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house, the 11,000 modestlysized futuristic homes built by Eichler throughout California were priced for the returning World War II veterans and their families. Perhaps too sophisticated and ahead of their time, the Eichlers were futuristic in a radical way with open floor plans, wood-paneled walls and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living with skylights and floor to ceiling glass windows. The homes also featured stream-lined modern bathrooms and kitchens. With the current renewed respect for innovative 20th century modern design, Eichlers are enjoying new desirability.
INSIDE THE INSPIRED WORLD OF AN EICHLER BY DEBORAH BURSTYN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA FREELS
Walnut Creek’s Rancho San Miguel neighborhood, across from Heather Farm Park, has roughly 350 original Eichler homes. Rancho San Miguel was Eichler’s first and only move into the East Bay after building extensively in the Santa Clara Valley. He enthusiastically donated land for the Rancho San Miguel Swim Club and designed the facility which still stands today. The neighborhood recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and remains a close-knit community with a mix of original residents and younger families like the Jansens. ➤
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Joel is part of the reason the Jansens are so happy in their new home. They’re delighted with his elementary school Walnut Acres and have enjoyed getting to know the faculty and other parents. Monique explains that before purchasing their home they had researched the local schools to make sure it was a good investment. “Once Joel started school, we understood why the schools here have such good ratings,” she says.
In the minimalist living room of the 1958 Eichler, meticulously updated by the Jansens for the 21st century even the original mahogany wood walls have been preserved. Sleek furniture in gray and white — mostly from West Elm and Ikea — are accented with pops of orange, lime green and vibrant artwork created by Monique. A glass wall looks out onto a patio and rectangular pool. Although these were additions put in by the Jansens, the rectilinear grid lines and concrete material make both the pool and patio look original to the house. “John is the son of a builder and has a great eye for lines,” Monique says. “I’ve spent some time at art school, and between us, we have found a common ground where lines should have a purpose, and consistency is king. John and I are a great team and both love the same architecture, furniture and interior styles.” Joel, the Jansens’ six-year-old son, seems to be following in his parents footsteps. He spends hours expertly building massive Lego kits designed for much older children.
Owning an authentic Eichler in pristine condition is a great source of pride and joy for the Jansens. They are very mindful of the home’s provenance even when changing small details. “We’ve been respectful to the original design, but when we find something that we know Eichler’s architects would have used if it had been available, we use it,” says John. That means replacing the old black plastic light switch plates with wide brushed steel ones, inserting a flat square LED light fixture into the hallway ceiling, and switching out the olive green panels in the sliding closet doors for white laminated ones. In the kitchen, the home’s original stainless steel Thermador wall oven and a 1970s KitchenAid dishwasher gleam with retro chic, along with a kitchen island that swivels for meal prep and dining. Even the bathroom sinks stand on original sleek wood and stainless steel legs. John, a software engineer, appreciates the well-engineered design details in their retro home, while Monique, an artist and stayat-home mom for Joel, appreciates the home’s compact coziness. Her original colorful paintings grace the home’s walls with striking contrasts, bold lines and strong definition. ➤
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california modern
"The place informs everything that we do. The house tells us how to do things. We just follow the lines."
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Even the front door features her bold striped artwork. “I might come home from work one day and find Monique painting the ceiling,” jokes John. When it comes to creative talent, John has his own strengths, recently building Joel a mini-Eichler tree-house that replicates their home. The family downsized from a 4,000-square-foot home in New Zealand to their 1550-square-foot Eichler. Their previous house sat isolated high on a hilltop on fourand-a-half acres of land. Here in Rancho San Miguel, the Jansens are enjoying being surrounded by neighbors, many who are restoring their own Eichlers. “It’s such a lovely neighborhood,” Monique says. “Everyone walks in this area. We have met so many people.” The Jansens are forging ahead with other updates to their home – in period style, of course. Next on the list is an outdoor kitchen. “The place informs everything that we do. The house tells us how to do things. We just follow the lines,” John says. Thanks to a gift from his mother, for inspiration they turn to the book “Case Study Houses 1945 – 1962” with the photos of Eichlers that John first saw as a child. “Dad never got to see an Eichler. But these houses were an inspiration for him and now I have one.”
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local history
Majestic Trees
TELL STORIES
Photography by Jessica Freels
Walnut Creek's first settlers came to the area in 1849 from other states with a spirit of adventure. For the most part, they were farmers. Gold would come to them from planting wheat, oat, fruit and nut trees, and vineyards in the lush soil of the area. During the 1920s-50s, Walnut Creek was an important center of California’s agriculture. Principle crops were pears, walnuts, and exceptional grazing land for cattle. The farmers also planted trees on the sparsely populated land — majestic oaks, palms and walnuts. Some of these trees, along with their stories, remain today.
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The Dewing Home Once a huge ranch owned by an early settler named John Jones, the land was purchased around 1905 by Stephen and Eva Lincoln Dewing who came to California from Connecticut. Here they raised dairy cows and planted orchards and vineyards. But when their farming ventures did not prove profitable, the Dewings began subdividing their land. Years later their son James Dewing built a craftsman-style house on two-thirds of acre designed by Randolph Hook, an architect who constructed many Walnut Creek homes during the era. Completed in 1915, the “California Bungalow” has been passed through generations of the Dewing family. Carole and Tom Dewing still reside in the lovely old home today that sits under a date palm tree heralding back to 1853 when it was first planted on the Jones ranch. The tree has grown taller than the house and is a landmark in the upper Saranap neighborhood.
The Struby Carriage House & Palm Walk In 1897, Papinta (Carrie Holpin) bought 162-acres of land where Orchard Estates Drive, Bowling Green Drive, and Burlington Way now sit in northeast Walnut Creek. A famous professional dancer, Papinta performed all over the world including the 1883 Chicago World’s Fair. She danced barefoot in yards of silk creating the illusion of butterflies, birds and flames surrounding her. Through her work as an exotic dancer, Papinta earned the money to pursue her true passion: developing a thoroughbred race horse farm and track, along with a one-acre aviary for exotic birds known as “Euphorbia Gardens.” Across the street from Northgate High School, her “Palm Walk” remains today lining the driveway that once was a carriage lane from her home to the stables.
Four Winds Farm In 1935 John and Jerry LarRieu purchased 10-acres of land in the Walnut Heights neighborhood of Walnut Creek to build a country estate known as Four Winds Farms. “Punk” Vaughn, a professor at UC Berkeley, landscaped the property where they raised pedigree chickens, ducks and pigeons. An architect named Valentine designed the home, guest quarters and namesake windmill. It was a “La Jolla” style home with a terra cotta tile roof and brick coated in white paint.
A philanthropist, Jerry was a founder of John Muir Hospital and the Lesher Center. After her death at age 101, she left over $5 million to her favorite charities, which included the City of Walnut Creek, who got her Four Winds Farm estate. While the house is now gone, the trees that grace this Walnut Creek public treasure remain along with spectacular views of Mt. Diablo and the surrounding open space. Sources: “Legacy Homes and Their Stories” by Sally Ingraham- a local realtor for over 30 years and charter member of the Walnut Creek Historical Society.
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Each year towards the end of winter, wine country vineyards come alive with a brilliant carpet of yellow, orange and gold beneath the bare grape trunks. More than just a feast for the eyes, mustard is a feast for the vines, turning into mulch and providing valuable nutrients to the emerging grape plants.
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Great
SMALL TOWN G E TAWAYS
Here are several charming Northern California destinations that will lure you with hospitality, great food and plenty of wine, whether you visit for a day or the weekend. Some are glitzy, others earthy, but all are perfect for a spring getaway when the vines are budding and the crowds are still thin. ➤
Nn By Fran Miller and Pam Kessler
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getaways
Ahi Crudo at the Bar, Valette 2015, Kim Carrol
Interior of Shed
Relais & Chateaux Hotel Les Mar
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Studio Barndiva
Healdsburg Population: 11,254
and bites, plus local cheese and charcuterie. (bearrepublic.com)
Distance from WC: 80 miles What your money can buy? Median home price: $615,000
H
ealdsburg has come a long way since its agricultural days drawing star chefs, vintners and restauranteurs from around the globe. Located about 90 minutes from Walnut Creek, the tiny Sonoma Valley town sits at the crux of three world-class wine growing regions—the Russian River, Alexander and Dry Creek Valley. Mix-in the vineyard vistas, charming boutiques, art galleries, and delicious cuisine, and after a weekend in Healdsburg you may not want to leave.
Former Dry Creek Kitchen Chef Dustin Valette and his brother Aaron Garzini recently opened Valette, rocking the food world with their locally sourced dishes served in the historic building once owned by their great grandfather. (valettehealdsburg.com)
Shoppers will love Studio Barndiva, an art gallery and bar featuring an eclectic collection of wire art, paintings, and sculptures. (barndiva.com) The gallery also runs the Healdsburg Modern Cottages, a private compound nestled off the town square surrounded by sculpture gardens, a very private pool and lounging green. The four cottages appeal to guests seeking a taste of simple wine country lodging. (healdburgmoderncottages.com)
The streets lining the historic downtown plaza are a wine lover’s paradise filled with tasting rooms and lounges – La Crema, Banshee, Kendall Jackson, Thumbprint Cellars, and Ferrari-Carano. Destination restaurants have proliferated in Healdsburg, with eco-conscientious proprietors leading the charge. Here are a few of our favorite places to eat, shop and sleep: Already a Healdsburg classic and lively gathering spot, people stop just to take photographs of this remarkable building by Jensen Architects. Inside SHED, the legendary food and garden emporium features a café, a ‘pantry’ stocked with kitchen basics, and outdoor wood-fired grill weekends. (healdsburgshed.com)
For more informal fare, check out Pizzando. (pizzandohealdsburg.com) A wood fire oven bakes amazing pizzas heaped with the freshest seasonal ingredients. Or swing over for lunch at Bear Republic. The brewery's well-appointed patio is the perfect spot to sample classics such as Racer 5 IPA. Food-wise, you'll find burgers
For the ultimate in luxury, try the 16-room Relais & Chateaux Hotel Les Mars, where you’ll be greeted with champagne and provided insider access to proprietor Bill Foley’s wineries such as Roth and Lancaster. (hotellesmars.com)
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getaways
geyserville Population: 862 Distance from WC: 87 miles What your money can buy? Median home price: $641,000
Geyserville has long attracted tourists to its geothermal hot springs. Add to that gourmet food, wine, art, and an abundance of outdoor activities, and people keep coming back to this tiny town. Picturesque and charming, Geyserville’s ambiance is that of a bygone era. Original brick buildings line the stoplightfree main street with its wooden boardwalks and Bonanza-reminiscent storefronts. But don’t let such modesty mislead you – these humble buildings boast 52
fine art, antiques, wine-tasting rooms, and top dining spots like Catelli’s. Originally opened in 1936 by Italian immigrants, the restaurant is now run by third generation siblings, Domenica and Nicholas Catelli, who have reimagined the menu into a true gourmet experience highlighting local farmers and a wine list featuring over 100 wines. (mycatellis.com) Another Italian hot spot is Diavola. Set in a historic landmark dating back to the 1900’s, the restaurant is
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known for its Neopolitan style pizza, handmade pasta and house cured salumi. (diavolapizzeria.com) Overnight accommodations can be found at local inns and B&B’s, but the ultimate resort-like experience in Geyserville does not require a room. At Francis Ford Coppola Winery, (francisfordcoppolawinery.com) day guests rent European-style pool-front cabins and luxuriate on chaise lounges (open April thru October). The property also boasts a movie gallery, a park, bocce courts, and a Godfather museum, housing Coppola’s Oscars, and Brando’s Godfather desk. Guests at Coppola can also taste the more than 40 wines produced on site, and dine at Rustic, featuring the movie producer’s personal recipes. Coppola’s wine empire continues to grow with his newest venture, Virginia Dare Winery in Geyserville. Stop in daily from 11am – 4:30pm for a taste. (virginiadarewinery.com)
forestville Population: 3,293 Distance from WC: 76 miles What your money can buy? Median home price: $306,799
Just south of Healdsburg in the Russian River Valley lies lowkey Forestville, whose vineyard vibe, coastal effect, and beautiful wooded forests have given the town its motto: “Where the Redwoods meet the Vineyards.” Forestville is best known for its celebrated Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, a romantic boutique hotel with luxury amenities and a Michelin-starred restaurant. (farmhouseinn.com)
The once Bohemian enclave of Forestville has long attracted writers, artists and counterculture activists. But more and more, residents are noticing changes in their quiet town. While tie-dye is still around, well-heeled tourists now roam the streets where an old-time hardware store and pharmacy reside amongst bakeries and wine-tasting rooms. “Things are still calm here, and not yet overrun,” says resident Carol Edgar. “We’re what Sebastopol used to be.”
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getaways
The town’s architecture is eclectic, modest, and friendly – a built-over-time mix of quaint, free standing buildings, some dating back to the turn of the last century. Bicyclists and hikers love the many miles of trail, and kayakers and canoers flock to the river. But increasingly, it’s the food that’s a draw. In addition to the artisanal cuisine at Farmhouse, the town boasts other notables – Canneti Roadhouse Italiana (cannetirestaurant. com) with its rustic Italian food and Backyard, an unassuming spot with a menu focused on hyper-local ingredients. (backyardforestville.com) Noted for its highly regarded sparkling wines, nearby Iron Horse Vineyards (ironhorsevineyards.com) produces twelve different cuvées, as well as award-winning pinot noirs and chardonnays. High on the hillside, the winery is situated among a cluster of rustic, redwood barn-style buildings at the end of a one-lane road. For lodging, Farmhouse is the way to go. Proprietors Catherine Bartolomei-Smith and her brother Joe grew up in Forestville and know the area well. Their expertise and hometown knowledge provide guests an unforgettable weekend experience.
“Things are still calm here, and not yet overrun,” says resident Carol Edgar. “We’re what Sebastopol used to be.”
VINE TO VINO A FARMER’S GUIDE TO GRAPE GROWTH ‹‹ BUDBREAK In early spring when the soil has warmed to at least 50 degrees, sap begins leaking from pruned branches, and tiny buds emerge on the vine.
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‹‹ flowering In May or June, shoots that have sprung from the buds form flower clusters making way for pollination.
‹‹ flowering set Almost immediately after flowering, the fertilized bloom forms a seed around which the berry grows. The grape skin and tannin begins to mature.
st. helena Population: 6,000 Distance from WC: 60 minutes What your money can buy? Median home price: $1,050,600
North of the San Francisco Bay, the land seems to exhale. The surge of Bay Area congestion thins, giving way to the legendary golden hills of the wine country. In 1976, Stags Leap came out of nowhere to take first place among reds at an international wine tasting. A local chardonnay produced by Chateau Montelena took first among whites. It ultimately put sleepy little Napa
Valley on the map and created a boomtown. Located in the heart of California’s famed Napa Valley, residents of St. Helena love to talk about the days when wine tastings were free at the handful of wineries that lined Highway 29. Today there are more than 530 wineries in the valley and counting. And while complimentary wine tastings
‹‹ VERAISON Still sour, green and hard, the grapes start to ripen in August. The fruit changes color, softening as sugars build up and acidity decreases, then doubles in size.
are a thing of the past, sipping your way through stunning tasting rooms is the perfect way to spend a spring day. Here are a few of our favorites. Be sure to call ahead and make tasting appointments. Hall Wines is a standout. Here lifelong art collectors, Craig and Kathryn Hall, combine expressive art and world-class wines. The winery features internationally acclaimed artists including John Baldessari, Jim Campbell, Nick Cave, Jaume Plensa and Graham Caldwell. Guests are guided through the impressive art collection, while sipping the winery’s acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon wines. (hallwines.com)
‹‹ harvest The fruit is picked between September and October, depending on the varietal as well as acid and sugar levels. It's crush time. The winemaking begins.
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getaways
Clif Family Winery is the perfect spot for a casual pairing of incredible wines and delicious bites. Owned by the family behind Clif Bars, the roadside tasting room is popular among both sports and wine enthusiasts. Food served from the winery’s Bruschetteria Food Truck is sourced from their certified family farm: caramelized Brussel sprouts, organic chicken wings and Pomodoro bruschetta — a tomato fonduta with whipped goat cheese. Pair with a glass of wine for a quick lunch. (cliffamilywinery.com) Robert Sinskey Vineyards is up the road on Silverado Trail, but worth the trip. The biodynamic operation is renowned for its Zins, Pinots, and gourmet kitchen. One of the first wineries in the Napa Valley to incorporate organic conservation practices into winemaking, all of the Robert Sinskey grapes are harvested from CCOF certified organic vintages. Their perfectly blended reds pair well with the grilled meats, pizzas and cheeses that come out of the kitchen. (robertsinskey.com) Owned by the recently deceased wine pioneer Peter Mondavi, Charles Krug is the oldest winery in the Napa Valley and the first to 56
counter. (cooksthelena.com) Terra remains at the top of foodie lists for its delicious fusion of French and Japanese cuisines. The savory menu includes such favorites as tuna tartare and noodles topped with egg, and pork belly with a dashi broth. Meat eaters will revel in the grilled New York steak. (terrarestaurant.com) A visit to St. Helena is not complete without a juicy burger and fries or ahi fish tacos at Gott’s Roadside. The first in the restaurant group, Gott’s in St. Helena, charms visitors and locals alike with its food and festive outdoor atmosphere. (gotts.com)
import French oak barrels for aging grapes. A leader in wine innovation, Mondavi was revolutionary in cold fermentation for producing crisp, white wines. Built in 1872, the newly restored Redwood Cellar Tasting Room won a 2015 Architecture and Landscape Award for its inviting space that blends heritage with contemporary design. The grounds alone are worth the visit to explore with wine and food pairings. (charleskrug.com)
Napa Valley Wine Train unloads passengers from their three-hour touring excursions to explore and dine in town. (winetrain.com)
St Helena features two blocks of stunning 19th century architecture stuffed with everything from high-end designer shoes and fashions to baked goods and artisanal olive oil. At the town’s southern edge, the
Best food bets: A favorite among locals, the fresh, tasty menu at Cook features fresh pasta, fried calamari, and mussels. Quality meats like the braised short ribs are sourced locally and reasonably priced. If you can’t get a table at this hot spot, sit at the
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Overnight accommodations in St. Helena are on the pricey side, but some like the Wine Country Inn are worthy of the splurge. Surrounded by vineyards on a secluded up a country lane, the award-winning B & B is five minutes from downtown St. Helena and a short distance to Calistoga. Rooms range from standard to lavishly appointed cottages with sprawling private patios and sweeping vineyard views. A bountiful buffet breakfast and daily winetasting are included with overnight stays. (winecountryinn.com)
yountville Population: 2,973 Distance from WC: 40 minutes What your money can buy? Median home price: $755,000
Every great wine country adventure should begin or end in Yountville, the place Thomas Keller put on the map with his chic restaurant French Laundry. A food lover’s paradise, Yountville is also bursting with boutique hotels and wine collectives. Relax amongst sculptures and fountains outside, or choose a cozy space inside, at Maisonry Winery Collective where the boutique wines pair perfectly with art. The ivy-covered manor is filled with local works of art and limited production wines, both available for purchase. (maisonry.com)
Another coveted tasting spot is hope & grace, modest producers of 3,500 cases annually. Winemaker Charles Hendricks creates 100 percent single vineyard vintages—Pinots, Cabs, Chards. For a nominal fee, you can taste them all at the hip Yountville salon. (hopeandgracewines.com) The town is also home to other Keller hot spots, including his French bistro Bouchon, where meals can be made from starters: oysters, pate, and escargot, followed by savory crocks of
French onion soup. You can be assured that everything in the polished dining room—from the frites that come with your flatiron steak to the potato puree beneath a plump sausage adheres to Keller’s high standards. Save room for the chocolate chip cake at Bouchon Bakery next door. Sold by the bagful, the decadent cake chunks are the perfect gift to take home, if you can stop yourself from devouring them. (thomaskeller.com) Hotels in town match the caliber of the food and wine. Bardessono (bardessono.com) is about as ecochic as you can get, down to its platinum LEED certification. The Hotel Yountville (hotelyountville. com) aspires to a contemporary French farmhouse vibe. Before returning home, sample another type of gastronomy: grilled fish tacos topped with cabbage and tangy dressing at Tacos Garcia, a taco truck in the parking lot of the dive bar Pancha’s. Any place that makes Thomas Keller’s list of top places to eat is worth trying.
A road trip is even more exciting when your destination is food and wine. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, California’s Artisan Cheese Festival takes place March 18-20 at the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma. The weekend-long festival is everything cheese — find out how it is made on local farm tours, meet the cheesemakers who create some of America’s best artisan cheeses, then sip and sample your way through a culinary competition, Sunday morning brunch with celebrity Chef John Ash and the artisan marketplace. For more information and tickets, go to artisancheesefestival.com.
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taste
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drin k in g Full of flavor and nutrients, tender salad greens such as peppery arugula, lemony sorrel, and delicate m창che are a sure sign of spring's arrival. They first show up at farmers' markets in "baby" forms, harvested before the leaves reach full size. Enjoy them at their freshest in delicious salads. ARUGULA SALAD WITH FUJI APPLE AND GOAT CHEESE By Chef Debbie Shavar Buttercup Grill Salad: 2 cups arugula leaves 1 large fennel bulb, tough outer leaves removed, thinly sliced 1 large Fuji apple, thinly sliced 1/4 cup goat cheese crumbles Dressing: 3 tbsp. olive oil 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp. finely diced shallot 1 t. honey Pinch of salt & pepper Put all ingredients in Mason jar and shake! Directions: Toss arugula, fennel and Fuji apple in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss until all ingredients are coated. Add goat cheese and toss gently. Serves 4 - 6 people.
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BASQUE
IN THE GLOW Authentic Spanish bistro serves tasty bites BY ALIX WALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETH THOMAS
Talk about buzz. Xavi Padrosa was already feeling upbeat about the praise he’d been receiving for his new restaurant, Teleferic Barcelona, when one of the most respected chefs in the world came in to dine. 60
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Jöel Robuchon, who runs a worldwide restaurant empire with more Michelin stars than any other living chef, slipped in under the radar for dinner. “We didn’t even notice,” admits Padrosa. “A friend of his came in a few days later and we started talking,” Padrosa says. “At first he didn’t want to say who had recommended us, but finally he said it was Robuchon, adding that it was one of the chef’s best experiences with Spanish food.” Padrosa acknowledges that when dreaming of expanding his family’s restaurant concept to the United States, Walnut Creek was hardly among his top destinations. Yet chalk it up to the persuasive powers of developer Brian Hirahara, who fell ➤
in love with the Padrosa family’s Spanish food on his honeymoon in Barcelona, and worked ever since to bring it here. Given Hirahara’s track record with Va de Vi and Sasa, and willingness to partner on the restaurant deal, when Padrosa saw the building with its open rooftop, outdoor dining areas and key location on Mt. Diablo Boulevard, he simply couldn’t refuse. “Walnut Creek is exploding right now,” he says. “There are a lot of things going on.” Padrosa’s parents, Soledad and Ramon, opened their first restaurant 23 years ago in Sant Cugat de Vallè, a town northwest of Barcelona. Called Rondes, it quickly developed a stellar reputation despite limited seating for only 50 diners. “My mom is from Pamplona, the Basque country of northern Spain, and that’s where pintxos are very common. We were the first ones to bring them to Barcelona,” said Padrosa. Pintxo which literally means spike, is a small snack typically eaten in Northern Spain on a skewer, similar to a toothpick. Pintxos are singular bites of all kinds but most commonly seafood. Imagine a big bite of the freshest ahi tuna, swabbed with a dab of wasabi cream that melts in your mouth. That’s a pintxo. Others include
important. Art suggests atmosphere and culture. The food we do is artistic. It all works together, everything has a relationship.”
fois gras with grilled apple, caramelized onion and cherry jam on crostini; salmon on toast with capers and mascarpone; chorizo wrapped in a mini-croissant. (Be forewarned, these nibbles are priced per piece.) The restaurant’s name comes from family summers spent in Switzerland where Xavi and his sister Maria were enthralled with gondola rides—called telefèric in Spanish. If you look up at the ceiling in their Walnut Creek restaurant, a toy telefèric runs back and forth along the ceiling. Adding to the vibrant atmosphere are paintings on the colorful walls by Spanish artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Juan Miro. My mom is an art collector,” says Padrosa. “To her the relationship between art and food is
Padrosa is especially proud of his El Chuletón Del Norte—a 40-ounce steak for four marinated with fresh herbs and Spanish olive oil. The wine list, not surprisingly, is mostly Spanish, and cocktails include the Spanish Merchant Gin & Tonic with juniper, orange, pimento, and nasturtium flower and Sangria Telefèric made with red wine, sherry, ginger, citrus, berries, apple, chamomile and cinnamon. While most of the produce is sourced from local farms, much of the meats and cheeses are imported. The chefs are imported too, from the Padrosa family restaurants in Spain. “We’re feeding our guests great quality food with great presentation,” Padrosa says, “making them feel like they’re eating on the Plaça de Catalonia in downtown Barcelona.” Open daily for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, 1500 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Walnut Creek, 925.451.9576, telefericbarcelona.com.
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taste
SOUTHERN COMFORT A new chef takes over the kitchen at Lark Creek BY ALIX WALL
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on Rhiver’s culinary career began on his 13th birthday. His family was at their favorite Chinese restaurant, when the owner came over insisting Rhiver work for him. Starting as a bus boy, Rhiver soon moved to food prepping. “The language barrier made things interesting, as I had no idea what these old dudes were saying, they’d just point and show me what they needed,” he said. Rhiver has come a long way since then, now the new executive chef at Lark Creek Walnut Creek. Rhiver never actually decided to be a chef; he says the profession picked him. The Atlanta native grew up with a family garden, and his father regularly hunted and fished. “I baked with both grandmothers, and I learned early on how to butcher without wasting food,” Rhiver says. “Cooking was a family affair in our house.” After the Chinese restaurant stint, he moved from kitchen to kitchen until a visit to New Orleans landed him a spot at Gautreau’s—a chic uptown establishment
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known for developing young talent and named “one of the finest restaurants anywhere, and certainly in New Orleans,” by ZAGAT. At Gautreau’s, Rhiver learned to create sophisticated, yet approachable cuisine. “I’m rooted in the comfort food of the South, with Creole, French, and Latin flavors being the styles I rely on the most,” Rhiver says. Given Lark Creek’s reputation for serving upscale comfort food, he considers his new home is a good fit. “Everyone has a mom or a grandma who cooked them something special, and food can bring them back to that memory and it’s comforting,” he says. While Rhiver has only been at the helm of the Lark Creek kitchen for a short time, he’s waiting to get a better handle on his patron’s palates before adding his own culinary flair to the menu. “We have an established clientele here and we want to keep them coming in,” he says. “But I’d like their grandkids to eat here too.” This means
popular dishes like the tamale pancake, Cobb salad, Steelhead salmon and roasted chicken with mashers will remain on the menu. Guests can also expect to see new additions with a Southern flair like lobster pot pie and gumbo. Rhiver is not the only new addition to Lark Creek. At the helm is Josh Cilley who joined the team as general manager after Moana Restaurant Group—which owns and operates Lark Creek Walnut Creek, Yankee Pier and Corner’s Tavern, along with multiple other establishments across the country—closed Lark Creek Steak in San Francisco where Cilley was general manager.
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Dining Guide where to eat now Edited by Anneli Rufus
These listings include advertisers and non-advertisers at the discretion of Walnut Creek Magazine. We suggest that you phone the restaurants ahead for reservations, current hours, and days of operation. All listings are in the (925) area code, unless noted otherwise. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please write to us: Dine, Walnut Creek Magazine PO Box 5550, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 or email us at info@walnutcreekmagazine.com.
AMERICAN BREAKFAST JOINTS / BURGERS / SALADS / BARBECUE
BACK FORTY TEXAS BARBECUE: Meat is king here - from steak to sliced brisket to turkey, chicken and catfish, much of it cooked according to Austin-style family recipes. 100 Coggins Dr., Pleasant Hill, 935-1440, backforty.us. BUCKHORN GRILL: When it comes to big salads, Buckhorn is a star. Casual and comfortable, the downtown eatery dishes-up fresh veggies and grilled meats in satisfying combinations. 1171 Locust St., 945-7676, buckhorngrill.com. BUTTERCUP: At this family- run restaurant, it’s all about savory homemade meals. Besides big breakfasts, Buttercup dishes up lunch and dinner from its spacious location next to the courthouse. And on Friday nights, they serve Matzo Ball soup. 660 Ygnacio Valley Rd., 932-2763, buttercupgrillandbar.com
DENICA’S: There’s a lot to love at this north Walnut Creek restaurant starting with the mouthwatering pastries lining the bakery’s shelves. Other show stoppers include breakfast burritos, Benedict four ways and big salads. 2280 Oak Grove Rd., 945-6200, denicascafe.com. GEORGE'S GIANT HAMBURGER: A Walnut Creek tradition for 30 years, meat is ground fresh daily at this clean, comfortable diner. Save room for a chocolate milkshake. 1491 Newell Avenue, 939-4888, georgesgianthamburger.com.
LARK CREEK: Chef Scott Wall produces flawless renditions of Bradley Ogden's dishes at this upscale restaurant specializing in fresh seasonal comfort food. 1360 Locust St., 256-1234, larkcreek.com. LETTUCE: This salad emporium loads farm-fresh produce into generously sized classics and creative new inventions. 1632 Locust St., 933-5600, lettuce1.net.
MOOYAH: It’s a franchise with a load of personality. Take your kids to this colorful burger joint and let them build their own burger and eat it with a side of fries and a milkshake. 1815 Ygnacio Valley Rd., 280-5555, mooyah.com.
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE: It may be a chain, but there’s a
lot to be said for consistency. New York steaks, rib eyes and filets are served on sizzling 500-degree plates cooked to perfection. Round out the meal with a side of spinach au gratin. 1553 Olympic Blvd., 977-3477, ruthschris.com.
STANFORD’S: Happy hour is hot here with steak bites, flatbreads, and burgers on the menu. This is the place to take a shopping break and indulge in one of the signature cocktails. 1330 S. Main St., 944-0895, stanfords.com. STADIUM PUB: Around for decades, the pub is covered in
memorabilia with all the sights and sounds you’d expect from a Chicago sports bar. The menu is stuffed with BLTs, burgers and fish tacos. 1420 Lincoln Ave., 256-7302, stadiumpub.com.
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AMERICAN Corners Tavern: Upscale comfort food served in a spirited atmosphere. Get communal and cozy around the 30-seat bar or hang out in the lounge alcoves with mussels, sliders or garlicky shrimp. Great collection of craft beers and wines. 1342 Broadway Plaza, 948-8711, cornerstavern.com. HOME OF CHICKEN AND WAFFLES: Classic fried chicken is served moist and tender, and the wings are a stand-out. Eat them with waffles or something savory like the house grits, biscuits and collard greens. Open until 4am on weekends. 1653 Mt. Diablo, 280-1653, homeofchickenandwaffles.com. SUNRISE BISTRO: The emphasis here is on fresh, healthy food, but it’s also delicious. For breakfast try the sweet potato hash or yogurt pancakes. At lunch, you can’t go wrong with a chicken salad sandwich or big salad. 1559 Botelho Dr,. 930-0122, sunrisebistrocatering.com. THE COUNTER: Upscale burger joint where they make it the way you want it, from exotic to classic, and top it with your favorites. 1699 N. California Blvd., 935-3795, thecounterburger.com. THE ORIGINAL HICK’RY PIT: This diner is known for its honest American food served all day with a heaping side of hospitality. House specialties are big breakfasts, barbecue ribs and homemade pies. 1495 S. Main St., 935-7450, hickrypit.com VIC STEWART’S: Walnut Creek’s original elegant steakhouse where
you can dine in a Pullman train car. It’s a classic all the way, from the food to the martinis. 850 S. Broadway, 943-5666, vicstewarts.com.
ASIAN CHINESE / VIETNAMESE / JAPANESE / THAI DRAGON POND: Executive Chef Xiao creates Hunan and Mandarin delicacies drawing from his years of experience. House favorites include Mango Chicken, Honey Walnut Prawns and Salt & Pepper Calamari. 1353 Locust St., 926-0278, dragonpond.com.
HAMACHI: A sushi lounge with water wall, striking kimono art, and live music on weekends. Fat sushi rolls are made of lush combinations of fresh fish served on dazzling designs of sauce. 1523 Giammona Drive, 296-0630, sushihamachi.com.
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SAVORY
HOME COOKING Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Daily • Full Bar 660 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD WALNUT CREEK
(925) 932-2763 64
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LE CHEVAL: Renowned for its authentic dishes and classic
Vietnamese cuisine; vermicelli salad, ginger crab and lemongrass chicken. 1375 N. Broadway, 938-2288, lecheval.com.
KACHA THAI BISTRO: An extensive Thai menu goes beyond the basics with dishes such as coconut-milk-roasted duck served in a half-pineapple. A chic setting glamorizes the satay, plar, and larb. 1665 Mt. Diablo Blvd., 988-9877, kachathai.com. MIXED GRAIN: Authentic Korean comfort food. Try the bibimbap, a big bowl of fluffy rice, colorful vegetables and creamy egg. Nine condiments accompany every meal, including spicy cucumber and seaweed salad. 1546 Bonanza St., 938-5959, mixedgrain.com.
Nama Sushi & Teriyaki: This casual sushi spot in a north WC strip mall is always packed with raw fish fanatics craving the chef’s mastery. Creative rolls, ocean fresh fish and Japanese fare. 1502 Sunnyvale Avenue, 932-9540. OI-C BOWL: Delicious Chinese food served in a spacious setting with outdoor patio. Spicy Szechuan cuisine, big noodle bowls and Bento Box lunch specials. 1616 N. Main St., 287-8118, oicbowl.com. PF CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO: This large Chinese restaurant manages to feel intimate with an interesting menu that draws on multiple Chinese cooking styles. Try the lettuce wraps and Dan Dan noodles. 1205 Broadway Plaza, 979-9070, pfchangs.com. RAMEN HIROSHI
Flavorful broth bowls are filled with Japanese noodles then topped with pork belly, soft-cooked egg, black mushrooms and lotus root. The restaurant is tiny, so plan to wait for a table on weekends. 1633 Bonanza St., 942-0664, ramenhiroshi.com.
Nightly Classics, Craft Beers on Tap and Seasonal Fare In the Heart of Walnut Creek
SASA: Upscale Japanese izakaya with dazzling décor and decadently fresh fish. Melt-in-your-mouth sashimi is served with an array of sake. 1432 N. Main St., 210-0188, sasawc.com.
YAN’S CHINA BISTRO: This spicy-food haven makes its potstickers to order and vegetables crisp. Bestsellers include Singapore noodles, salt & pepper pork chops and Mongolian beef. 3162 Danville Blvd., Alamo, 837-8298, yanschinabistro.com.
1360 Locust Street Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925-256-1234 | larkcreekwalnutcreek.com
CALIFORNIA PASTA / FISH / ORGANIC PRODUCE A’trio: Lively restaurant-lounge inside the Walnut Creek Marriott turns out delicious California cuisine with a Mediterranean flare. Flatbreads, salads, tasty burgers and salmon. This is a place where grown-ups relax and play. Live music Friday & Saturday nights. 2355 N. Main St., 934-2000, marriottwalnutcreek.com. 1515 RESTAURANT LOUNGE: Always bustling for cocktails, flavorful pastas and fresh fish, the heated outdoor patio is a good place to people watch. 1515 N. Main Street, 939-1515, 1515wc.com. C-BLUE BISTRO: With its spacious restaurant and hip décor, Cblue Bistro, inside Renaissance Club Sport, features Pacific Rim dishes and California classics. Sunday brunch is a weekend ritual with Bloody Mary’s on the patio. 2805 N. Jones Rd., 938-8700, renaissanceclubsport.com.
CHOW: Always packed with locals, the menu offers plenty
of comfortable choices from sandwiches to brunch fare. An adjoining market sells organic greens, and fresh meats. 53 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, 962-2469, chowfoodbar.com.
MAIN STREET KITCHEN: Farm-fresh seasonal ingredients grace the menu here. Standouts include fish and chips served with hand-cut chips and cabbage slaw. Burgers are made from grass-fed beef and fried green pickles come with a lemon aioli. 1358 N. Main St., 933-1001, mainstkitchen.com.
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METRO: In a seriously hip space with a huge outdoor patio, executive chef Albert Rivera turns out international fare from diverse organic ingredients. 3524 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 284-4422, metrolafayette.com. THE PEASANT'S COURTYARD: Sister restaurant of the wildly popular Peasant and the Pear Restaurant in Danville, its casual, bistro classics taste even better in its charming courtyard. 3195 Danville Blvd, Alamo, 362-0088, thepeasantscourtyard.com.
DELIs / cafĂŠs soups / sandwiches / salads CREPES OOH LA LA: Thin pancakes made the Parisian way,
cooked from a stream of batter, poured on a hot griddle and spread to thinness. Range of toppings for sweet and savory palates. 1548 Locust St., 944-5790.
GENOVA: Italian meats, fresh ravioli and sauces. Take a number; they line-up for the fresh roasted turkey sandwiches at lunch. Two WC locations: 1105 S. California Blvd., 939-3838 and 2064 Treat Blvd., 938-2888. genovadeli.net.
MORUCCI'S: Fans travel from several towns away for these savory sandwiches. Try the 6 3/4: turkey, tomato and fresh mozzarella on ciabatta, pastrami or the popular chicken Caesar sandwich. 1218 Boulevard Way, 939-2426. MR. PICKLES: A newcomer to the WC food scene, this little sandwich shop is serving up flavor-packed sandwiches at great prices. Big enough to split, bread is baked fresh and packed with your favorite fillings. 1991 N. Broadway, 280-5510, mrpicklesinc.com.
sweets, treaTs and bakeries LEONIDAS CHOCOLATES: Pick up a handful or a pound at this Belgian chocolate emporium. Sample your sweets with an espresso on the patio. 1397 N. Main St., 932-6666, cafeleonidas.com. Lottie's CreamerY: Scoops are packed with fresh ingredients at this ice cream parlor, where everything, including the cones, is made in-house. 1414 Main Street, 472-0723, lottiescreamery.com. Noah's Bagels: Neighborhood deli serves a variety of signature bagels, sandwiches and home-style soups. Two Walnut Creek locations: 1930 Mt. Diablo Boulevard and 730 Bancroft Road, noahs.com.
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SAN FRANCISCO CREAMERY: Perfect for birthdays and celebrations, serving up ice cream and toppings the old fashioned way. 1370 Locust St., 926-0228, sanfranciscocreameryco.com. SWEET AFFAIR BAKERY: Sandwiches are legendary here, so
are the pastries and cookies that make this bakery a Walnut Creek mainstay for 30 years. 1815 Ygnacio Valley Rd., 944-1910, asweetaffairbakery.com.
ITALIAN / pizza 54 Mint Forni: Italian bakery features pizza, focaccia and pastries created from authentic Roman recipes. The cornetti crema, flaky croissant with rich pastry cream, is intoxicating. 1686 Locust St., 476-5844, 54mint.com. IL FORNAIO: Italian food so innovative, you’ll forget it’s a chain. Lovely dining room with outdoor seating in the heart of downtown shopping. 1430 Mount Diablo Blvd., 296-0100, ilfornaio.com. MASSIMO: Upscale atmosphere with a piano bar and food from Northern Italy. Just across the street from the Lesher Center for the Arts, Massimo's offers good small plates and pasta. 1604 Locust St., 932-1474, massimoristorante.com.
MONTECATINI RISTORANTE: An Italian restaurant with staying
power; it opened the day of the big earthquake in 1989. The traditional menu features excellent seafood, pastas and veal. 1528 Civic Drive, 943-6608, montecatiniristorante.com.
POSTINO: In a romantic, fireplace-studded, brick building, executive chef Stewart Beatty and his team create elegant seasonal and regional fare using many local ingredients. 3565 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 299-8700, postinorestaurant.com. PRIMA: Everything’s made fresh on the premises at Chef Peter
Chastain’s acclaimed contemporary Italian restaurant. His flavorful risottos and light gnocchi will have you coming back for more. 1522 N. Main St., 935-7780, primaristorante.com.
ROCCO’S: This renowned family restaurant is the place for pizza
aficionados. The meaty Dominator and vegetarian Dante’s Inferno are house specialties, along with heaping pastas and salads. 2909 Ygnacio Valley Rd., 947-6105, roccospizzeria.com.
Weekend Brunch Never Tasted So Good TWE LV E LOC AL BE E R S ON TAP C R AF T C OC K TAILS SE ASON AL FAR E
SKIPOLINI’S: Fans flock here for the family vibe and can't- miss pies. The Martinelli, white sauce topped with red peppers, cayenne chicken and fresh spinach is a house favorite. Legend has it that Skip's Prego pizza brings on labor quicker than you can say "more pepperoni, please." 1535 Giammona Dr., 280-1100, skipolinispizza.com. PINKY’S: Perfect for birthday parties and post-game feasts, Pinky’s is a Walnut Creek tradition. Simple, affordable and comfortable, the pizzeria has remained true to its vision since opening in the 1960’s. 2085 N. Broadway, 939-5000,pinkyspizzawc.com.
1342 Broadway Plaza Walnut Creek, CA 94596 925-948-8711 | cornerstavern.com
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Legendary Fresh Food
MEXICAN
Serving Breakfast and Lunch Daily Enjoy our Healthy Comfort Food Mon-Sat 7:00AM – 3:00PM Sunday Brunch 7:00AM – 3:00PM
EL CHARRO: A Lafayette favorite, the margaritas are magic accompanied with chips, salsa and “cheese dip.” From fish tacos to burritos, this restaurant has served generations. 3339 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 283-2345, elcharro1947.com. MARIA MARIA: This beautiful Mexican restaurant sits on a creek, with seating inside and out. Try the tableside guacamole and margaritas. 1470 N. Broadway, 946-1010, mariamariarestaurants.com.
(925) 930-0122
1559 Botelho Drive, Walnut Creek sunrisebsitrocatering.com
ED ANTENUCCI Owner/Broker UC B REAL ESTATE Buying, Selling Or Investing? Let’s Talk, I’ll Listen! Real Estate Advisor with over 22 yrs. experience & over 3,700 homes sold!
925-351-8686 ed@homeinsider.com
MI CASA: The owners are from Honduras and the menu may fool you. Mildly spiced cuisine mixes tastes of Mexico and Central America. Weekly specials include $2 Taco Tuesday. 2195 N. Broadway, 937-8800, micasa-wc.com.
MID-TO-FAR-EAST Babalou’s: Great food at great prices. The Middle Eastern menu is seductive for vegetarians and carnivores alike—with aromatic meats and a tempting display of salads served in a brightly muraled room. 1645 Bonanza St., 930-8000, babalous.com. JACK’S: This restaurant has a warm vibe and big bar. Souvlaki and spanakopita honor the owners' Greek heritage; an eclectic international menu features pasta, steak and breakfasts. 60 Crescent Dr., Pleasant Hill, 849-6195, jacksrestaurants.com. SILK ROAD: Good food served in a sunny patio setting. House
favorites are kabobs, gyros and falafels, but save room, you can make a meal from the appetizer plate - hummus, tabouli, fresh pita bread and a decadent garlic dipping sauce. 1440 N. Main St., 932-9090, silkroadwalnutcreek.com.
SEAFOOD Scott’s: Elegant surroundings, attentive service and good food. They also do a lavish Sunday brunch, catering and social events. 1333 N California Blvd., 934-1300, scottsrestaurants.com. Walnut Creek Yacht Club: For more than 15 years, WCYC has been cultivating customers with its lobster and crab feasts, fresh oysters, and fresh fish. The restaurant’s specialties—killer cocktails and phenomenal fish—attract barflies and foodies alike. 1555 Bonanza St., 944-3474, walnutcreekyachtclub.com. Yankee Pier: Bustling seafood house has an East Coast vibe and a menu featuring live Maine lobsters and fresh-shucked oysters, an array of grilled fish, popcorn shrimp and beer-battered clams. House-made desserts and full bar. 3593 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 283-4100, yankeepier.com. 68
walnut creek / march april 2016
on stage bay area t h eater | concerts | p erformances
by Sally Hogarty
musical
Declared the “Best Musical of the Decade,” Wicked returns to San Francisco with a remarkable odyssey of two unlikely friends. Long before Dorothy drops into Oz, these two formed a special bond – Wicked Witch born with emerald-green skin is smart, fiery and misunderstood while Glinda the Good is beautiful, ambitious and oh-so popular. Don’t miss these cultural icons as they wield phenomenal power. DETAILS: Through April 16, SHN Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, shnsf.com.
s h a ke s pe a r e
An overpowering lust for power leads to murder as Shakespeare’s most notorious couple come together in Macbeth. Starring Conleth Hill (Lord Varys in Game of Thrones) and Frances McDormand (Fargo) the team bring their impressive talent to a powerful production. DETAILS: Through April 10, Berkeley Repertory Company, Berkeley, berkeleyrep.org.
Musical
Discover the redemptive power of music when The Lion roars into San Francisco. Fresh from sold-out performances in New York, this one-man show inspires with its raw wit and emotional depth taking you on a rock’n’roll journey from boyhood to manhood. A good storyteller uses everything he has, and in the case of spellbinding Benjamin Scheuer, that means six guitars plus a dynamic personality. DETAILS: April 19 – May 1, Strand Theatre, San Francisco, act-sf-org.
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on stage co me dy
An earth-shattering comedy with a dash of wisdom takes center stage in the off-Broadway hit Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus. Based on John Gray’s best-selling novel, this sexy one-man performance will have couples in the audience elbowing each other as they recognize themselves on stage. Definitely for adults only. DETAILS: April 22-23, Marines’ Memorial Theatre, San Francisco, shnsf.com.
musical
A little bit of magic and a whole lot of imagination make for a surreal musical voyage in ACT’s The Unfortunates. This darkly comic musical, based on an old blues song, transports audiences to a world of memory and mythmaking when a tough-talking soldier with huge hands journeys through a dream world to save his love from the plague. DETAILS: Through April 10, Strand Theatre, San Francisco, act-sf-org.
co me dy
musical
Set in Paris, Center Repertory Company’s production of Yasmina Reza’s comedy Art, revolves around three long-time male friends. One just bought a ridiculously expensive pure white painting while another thinks he’s out of his mind for purchasing it, and the third tries to be the peace maker. Long held grudges as well as art and friendship emerge in this award-winning show. DETAILS: April 1 – 30, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, centerrep.org.
In Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s performance of Gypsy, Lynda DiVito stars as a determined mother who pushes her daughters into vaudeville and burlesque. Based on the memoirs of famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, the show is orchestrated to Stephen Sondheim’s melodies “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Let Me Entertain You.” DETAILS: April 1 – May 1, Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, lesherartscenter.org.
musical
Rediscover laughter and romance during an enchanted month under the Italian sun. Set in the 1920s, Enchanted April follows the adventures of four English women who rent a castle on a remote Italian island during the month of April. Pacific Coast Repertory presents the world premiere of this musical adaptation featuring Broadway veteran David Bryant directed by Lois Grandi. DETAILS: April 23 – May 8, Firehouse Arts Center, Pleasanton, pcrtproductions.org.
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A Last Look
The Crayon Initiative Brightening children’s lives one color at a time Photography by Jessica Freels Taking his passion for people and art to the next level, Bryan Ware has uncovered a creative way to recirculate discarded crayons. After years of helping major companies streamline their processes for ultimate efficiency, Ware decided to combine his manufacturing skills and love for the arts to help children in need. In 2014, he founded The Crayon Initiative with the goal of giving sick kids a creative outlet for self-expression. The organization collects discarded crayons everywhere – restaurants, schools, families – and re-manufactures them into shiny new packs for hospital pediatric wards. With the help of corporate partners like AAA, who recently donated a mobile trailer to Ware and his colorful team, The Crayon Initiative can bring its recycling process and benefits to more hospitals and organizations, including underfunded schools and other charitable organizations. For more information, go to thecrayoninitiative.org. 72
walnut creek / march april 2016
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march / april 2016
california modern
walnut creek magazine