Art Town: Untitled and Unsure

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On the Crate and Barrel building downtown, across the street from Pinstripes on S. Main Street, there is a new mural painted on a large, indented, white brick canvas. It caught my eye when I was heading to my holiday party for work recently and I’ve been trying to find more information on it ever since!

I think, after much digging, I at least know the artist’s name. It is signed with the username or tag @caseyoconnell_. According to this brief Beyond the Creek write-up (they love it too!), the artist has an Instagram account. From there, I was able to find Casey O’Connell’s artist website. Based on the looks of her other work, this is definitely her mural!

It does not feature as a mural on her website, but it may just not have been updated since this mural was created in Walnut Creek. Also, on her Instagram page, there was a photo of a piece called “The Red Panda Moon Is Honoring Me” that bears a striking resemblance to the mural. There are subtle differences between the two, but it’s clearly the same theme.

I really just love how it looks when viewed in full, but then you get closer and there is so much little detail in the shadowy trees and the reflection of the moon in multiple places at the bottom (I presume, in water?). This is one thing I really love about where we live: we take our public art seriously!

Pinstripes Is A Hit!

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For our BHG Christmas party this year, we checked out the new location of the Pinstripes chain in Broadway Plaza – where Crate & Barrel used to be. Pinstripes has several locations around the country (with a few more to come, apparently!) and after our party, I can definitely see why it’s so popular.

Downstairs, there is a full-service restaurant offering food, drinks, and a Mon-Fri Happy Hour from 3-6!!! Upstairs, they have a 4 lane bowling alley, 1 short bocce ball court, and an area for reserved groups with a bar and eating area where they catered the event. We held our party upstairs and had a great time.

It was really a fun way to celebrate, great for a group of people, and equally fun for a family. They catered with sliders, a chicken dish, Caesar salad, and a pasta dish – along with some dessert cookies.

After having carpal tunnel surgery, I have found that I am a horrible bowler (who am I kidding? I was never a great bowler!). But this was a fun way to hang out with my colleagues. I do want to try the downstairs, and the bar area looks fun. Maybe I’ll schedule a happy hour birthday drink with fellow Capricorns and a few non-Capricorns next week.