All The Restaurants Want To Come To Walnut Creek

IG users, click the link in my bio for full blog.

“When you look at the East Bay, Walnut Creek is the center point of that entire region. And Broadway Plaza is the bub of the whole retail and shopping experience.” – John Duggan, owner of Original Joe’s, as quoted by SFGate

According to SFGate, Broadway Plaza is the newest hotspot for San Francisco and Oakland restaurants that want to move or expand into the suburbs. As locals, we understand the allure of our hometown outdoor mall, but did you know about 6 million people visit it per year? No wonder everyone wants in!

Credit: Broadway Plaza, via SFGate

Original Joe’s plans to open its East Bay location across from Macy’s in Broadway Plaza in April, becoming the next transplant to a town that now boasts more than 150 restaurants, according to the Walnut Creek Downtown Association. That’s both a good and bad thing.

Local business owners, according to the SFGate article, are concerned about oversaturation and being priced out of town. There’s also always the risk of the restaurant boom going bust. I’m no expert in this area, but I have lived here for 25 years and have never once thought there would be a “bust” of any kind downtown. As long as I can remember, it has been growing, growing, growing! Covid was the exception, however we do often see one come and then go – it has to have good food and service or it won’t survive.

Food and drinks at Sipeos in Broadway Plaza (Credit: Hardy Wilson/Sipeos Cafe and Bar, via SFGate)

As the article lays out, there are dozens of options for every type of cuisine, plus new and innovative concepts coming to our little town every month. And Broadway Plaza may be the engine that makes it all run, but our downtown is super walkable and there are great restaurants all over the downtown map. It is a restauranteur’s paradise! Some of the newer ones that have recently popped up, not in and around Broadway Plaza are Daryoush on Locust, a Persian restaurant – has anyone been? Dads BBQ in the Rossmoor Shopping Center – heard some good things and the food truck Chicken & Biscuits on Boulevard – hear rave reviews, drove by last night at 7 pm, was going to try it, but it was all dark and the truck was on the street.

What are some of your favorite go-to spots? How about the best new places you’ve tried recently? Let me know in the comments!

136-138 Pontiac St., San Leandro

IG users, click the link in my bio for the full blog.

This is a wonderful story about a smart woman. My client is in her mid-20’s and an ICU nurse at Stanford. At her mother’s urging, they were looking for a duplex where she could live in one and rent the other. We had looked early last year and there wasn’t anything she liked. I got a call when I was coming back from Thanksgiving in Reno and she wanted to see this one in San Leandro.

I called and they had offers, but we could still write. It had been sitting for 44 days and was listed for $699,000 moving into the holidays when business tends to be slower and people are looking for deals. So, I dropped off my bags and dog and met her to see the duplex. One unit had had a fire and the other had tenants. The back unit was completely remodeled. Everything was brand new. They didn’t even put a mirror in the bathroom.

We wrote a bit above $700,000, but I was told the other offer was higher and we would have to go $750,000. Was the other agent not telling the complete truth? Maybe, but the comps supported it so my client wrote for $760,000 and $10,000 back for some closing costs. He like my communication and wasn’t sure about the other agent involved. So, my client got the home!

The renters in the first unit have been there many years and that one is much more of an original build (we got extra home warranty coverage on it).  There were a couple of caveats to getting this closed. We were to close on January 6, but the seller wanted to close a month later because he would have owned it one year and his tax account gave him the savings in taxes, so we agreed to that. My clients lease was up by the 20th, so my client was allowed to move in early, subject to a few conditions (including the seller paying the lock extension, which was in the $4,000 range).

The day my client moved in, I got a call that the hot water and gas stove were not working. I thought it must have been turned off at the main, but it was fully permitted and signed off on, thus the gas was working. The listing agent said it was our responsibility because we removed all contingencies. But, technically, my client didn’t own it yet (these are the pitfalls of allowing someone to move in before closing, which I typically do not recommend). We called PG&E to come check it out. Ironically, there had been an earthquake near San Leandro a week or so before my client moved in and it auto-shut off the valve (usually it takes a 5.0 earthquake or higher, which this one wasn’t, so PG&E was a little surprised it shut off).

At the end of the day, agents do a lot more than just show you homes and write offers. It takes some time to figure out who will fight for you in odd situations, who communicates well, and who has the experience to know to make the seller pay for the rate lock, for example, when it was what they needed.

If you want to work with an experienced agent, then give me a call.

Year of the Snake!

IG users, please click the link in my bio for the full blog.

The Year of the Snake in 2025 is believed to bring wisdom, transformation, and strategic growth. It is a time for patience, planning, and making thoughtful decisions to achieve long-term success! All you folks who were born in previous years of the Snake … did those things prove true for you?

NBC News says the Year of the Snake is all about “shedding” that bad energy (see what they did there?). The Lunar New Year kicked off on Jan. 29 for two weeks of parties, customs, and feasts. It celebrates the arrival of Spring and the start of a fresh year (according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar).

The snake gets a bad rap in some cultures, but it is highly celebrated in the East and represents letting go of the ego and letting go of the past to boost one’s personal growth. It is also most commonly associated with intelligence, resilience, and love. People born in snake years (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025) are thought to do whatever it takes to accomplish a goal.

Of the 12 zodiac animals the snake is said to be the most tenacious and some people born in those years are even considered sinister or intimidating. Wow! To all those celebrating Lunar New Year, I hope it is enjoyable!

Views, and more Views! in Concord!

IG users, click the link in my bio to see the full blog.

979 Via Montanas

I can’t get enough of this new home on Lime Ridge in Concord. My new listing is officially live and I hope you like it as much as I do! It is a single-story home on nearly an acre of land with views from the house and the yards to die for. A 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 2,310-square-foot gem going for $1.25 million. Take a look:

The home has vaulted ceilings, wood-burning fireplaces, hardwood floors, and gardens, giving it a comfortable and welcoming air, perfect for hosting guests or relaxing alone. You can’t beat 180-degree vistas from your patio, with plenty of space to expand creatively with a deck, pool, or other landscaping dreams.

There are additional exterior living areas and room to add an ADU. You’re just steps from the Lime Ridge Open Space and the Contra Costa Canal Trail for miles of walking, running, biking, and hiking. You’re also just five minutes in the car from shopping and a BART station, meaning you’re all set on both tranquility and accessibility.

Don’t miss the opportunity to make this extraordinary home your own. Built in 1985, it is a sturdy and well-constructed house; move-in ready, or a blank canvas to be expanded on! Give me a call today if you are interested in touring 979 Via Montanas.

Art Town: Untitled and Unsure

IG users, click the link in my bio for full blog.

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!

IG users, click on the link in my bio for full blog.

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.

A Slice of Heaven(ly) in Tahoe

IG users, click the link in my bio for the full blog.

I recently took a road trip to South Lake Tahoe. I love Tahoe and go up there in the winter and summer often to ski and relax – it is one of my favorite local destinations and growing up in Reno, it was always very accessible. This time, I stayed at the Timber Lodge and made sure to eat dinner at Base Camp Pizza. It was highly recommended by my friend Evo who has a cabin on the North Shore It’s an extremely popular (I’m talkin’ 2-hour lines!) pizza joint.

The same group owns Fireside in the Palisades in Tahoe and Azul Latin Kitchen in Heavenly. Base Camp is by far the most popular, as it sits right at the base of the iconic Heavenly Valley gondola. I have now eaten at all three locations; Fireside doesn’t have the line like Base Camp, but the Village at the Palisades (I can’t stop thinking it is “Squaw Valley!”) is a bit more sleepy than at the base of Heavanly’s Gondola.

Rubicon is a small pizza place in Northstar and Wally’s is a collaboration with Base Camp (and the number one sports bar in Folsom). Believe it or not, Yelp’s list of the top 100 pizza places in America has Base Camp at #5. The fifth-best pizza place in the country!

I haven’t sampled all of the competition, of course, but it definitely was delicious. Like I said, it was worth the wait and the crowd. We ordered the Base Camp medium pizza which includes pepperoni, Italian sausage, roasted peppers, roasted onions, portobello mushrooms, and a four-cheese blend. I only wanted pepperoni on my side and my friend only wanted sausage on her side. Since it was already on the pizza, they did this for us but typically only do halves on the large pizza.

What we ordered was more than enough for two people. We also ordered the pear walnut salad. All of it was delicious. The key for the reservations, especially if you are staying at the Timber Lodge or the Marriott Chateau (Harveys and Harrahs are also very close), is to put your name in way ahead of time.

In our case, we were able to go back to the Lodge and enjoy the hot tub. We started getting ready a little less than two hours later and it worked out perfectly. Once the text message saying your table is ready is received, you have about seven minutes to get there. By the time we arrived for our reservation, they were not taking any more reservations for the night, booked out until 9:00 p.m.

According to SF Gate’s review, Base Camp’s success is due to its unique dough recipe. I don’t know if that’s what did it for me, but there is nothing like a hot slice of ‘zza in the snow. Where is your go-to spot for a slice?

The Word of the Year…

IG users, click on link in my bio for the full blog.

…is actually two terms using three words? According to Dictionary.com, the word of the year is “demure.” According to Oxford, it is “brain rot.” Though both can apply, depending on the situation, they can’t both be the word(s) of the year. Right?

Why don’t you decide? Here is what Dictionary.com says about demure: “The word demure experienced a meteoric rise in usage in 2024. Between January and the end of August, this term saw a nearly 1200% increase in usage in digital web media alone.” This phenomenon is mostly attributable to a TikToker whose videos using the word went viral. What an incredibly “2024” reason!

As for brain rot, Oxford has this to say: “Our experts noticed that brain rot gained new prominence this year as a term used to capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media. The term increased in usage frequency by 230% between 2023 and 2024.”

“Demure” has traditionally been used to describe someone reserved, quite, or modest, the new social media usage of it is to describe a refined or sophisticated appearance. “Brain rot” is pretty self-explanatory, but defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (particularly online).”

Both of those definitions check out and I can see why they would be chosen as the Word of the Year for 2024, given what we all went through this year! Now, take your pick. Which should be the real Word of the Year for 2024? Or, suggest your own!

Word of the Year?