Good morning, Walnut Creek! We've got some exciting updates for you. Sky Zone is opening a new park right here in Walnut Creek, promising endless fun and activities for all ages. The Lesher Foundation has launched a $300,000 CARE Fund to support our local nonprofits, a fantastic initiative to strengthen our community. In major real estate news, The Rise Apartments have been sold in a significant deal. Plus, don't forget to enter Melo’s Italian Table $50 gift card competition for a chance to enjoy their delicious dishes.

In today’s Walnut Creek Spotlight:

• Sky Zone to Open New Park in Walnut Creek, California

• Lesher Foundation Launches $300,000 CARE Fund for Nonprofits

• Walnut Creek's The Rise Apartments Sold in Major Real Estate Deal

• Melo’s Italian Table $50 Gift Card Competition

- Walnut Creek Spotlight Team

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Sky Zone to Open New Park in Walnut Creek, California

Sky Zone, the premier indoor active entertainment company, is expanding with a new location in Walnut Creek, California. Set to open within the next 12 months, this park will be led by partners Mohammed Zia and Sanket Patel. It is part of Sky Zone's broader strategy to increase its presence in Northern California, with four additional locations under development in the Bay Area. Sky Zone offers a variety of attractions for children, including birthday parties, team events, and school functions, and promotes active play and memorable experiences for families.

Learn More…

Lesher Foundation Launches $300,000 CARE Fund for Nonprofits

The Lesher Foundation has announced the launch of the CARE Fund, a $300,000 initiative designed to support nonprofit organizations in Contra Costa County. This one-time fund marks the foundation's 30-year history of grantmaking and is aimed at honoring and assisting its community partners.

The CARE Fund will provide grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000, focusing on enhancing organizational resilience and supporting staff renewal. Devorah Levine, Executive Director of the Lesher Foundation, highlighted the importance of this support, especially after the challenges faced by nonprofits in recent years.

Grants will be available for a variety of activities, including staff and board retreats, wellness stipends, leadership development conferences, skill-building workshops, and professional coaching. These activities are intended to help nonprofit organizations and their staff continue their vital work in the community.

To be eligible for the CARE Fund, nonprofits must hold a 501(c)3 status or be fiscally sponsored, serve residents of Contra Costa County, work in the areas of arts and culture, children and families, or education, and serve low-income or marginalized communities. The foundation particularly encourages applications from nonprofits with less than 10 years of experience and annual budgets under $1 million.

Applications for the CARE Fund will be accepted from June 10 to July 19, 2024, with grant decisions announced by August 30, 2024. Grant requests should not exceed 25% of the nonprofit's organizational budget.

Learn More…

Walnut Creek's The Rise Apartments Sold in Major Real Estate Deal

Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap, has successfully facilitated the sale of The Rise Walnut Creek, a multifamily property located at 1380 N. California Blvd in Walnut Creek, California. The property, previously owned by Rescore, has been acquired by Hines. The financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed.

Completed in 2023, The Rise Walnut Creek offers 97 modern apartments, each equipped with washers and dryers, wide plank white oak flooring, stainless steel appliances, and expansive windows. Residents also benefit from a variety of community amenities, including a landscaped roof deck, a fitness center, walk-in storage lockers, and a subterranean parking garage featuring electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, the property includes 8,000 square feet of retail space.

The Rise Apartments are part of a significant redevelopment of Walnut Creek's downtown commercial and retail district, which has transformed into a vibrant community hub with modern amenities and conveniences. The site, previously occupied by a McDonald's, has been redeveloped into a luxury apartment complex, contributing to the area's revitalization.

The transaction was managed by IPA representatives Alex Tartaglia, Stanford Jones, Philip Saglimbeni, and Salvatore Saglimbeni, who worked diligently to represent the seller and secure the buyer.

MELO’S ITALIAN TABLE GIVEAWAY

🎉 Celebrating 100 Issues of Walnut Creek Spotlight! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that we have reached a major milestone – 100 issues of Walnut Creek Spotlight! To celebrate this special occasion, we have teamed up with Melo's Italian Table in downtown Walnut Creek to give away a $50 gift card to one lucky reader.

To enter the draw, simply refer a friend to Walnut Creek Spotlight by clicking the green button below and sharing your link (it contains your personalized referral code)

Once they’ve signed up, you’ll be entered & we’ll then pick a name at random. Good luck! 🤞

About Melo's Italian Table: Welcome to Melo’s Italian Table! Our journey began in Calabria, Italy, with family recipes passed down through generations. For over 50 years, Melo’s has been a Contra Costa staple. At Melo's Italian Table, we blend modern creativity with our tradition of emphasizing variety, freshness, and authenticity. Enjoy classic pasta dishes, mouthwatering pizzas, gourmet salads, and a range of entrees. Join us and experience a true taste of Italy!

EVENTS

Food & Drink

Trivia + Karaoke Night | Wednesdays at 6 PM | Retro Junkie | Join us for a fun-filled night with free admission, starting at 6 PM with happy hour, followed by pop culture trivia at 7 PM, and karaoke from 8 PM to 1 AM—no RSVP needed!

Trivia | Wednesdays at 6 PM | Mike Hess Brewing | Free to play! Test your knowledge and bring out some loved ones.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia | Rotator Taproom | Wednesdays at 6:30 PM

Karaoke Wednesday | Bourbon Highway | Wednesdays at 8 PM. Watch Video

Theatre

Best of San Francisco Stand Up Comedy | Lesher Center for the Arts | 6/15 - 8/31 on Saturdays | New generation of comedic talent with the "Best of San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy" tour, featuring some of the hottest up-and-coming acts in the Bay Area.

Cabaret | 5/26 - 6/23 | Lesher Center for the Arts | Don't miss Center REP's season finale, the Tony Award-winning musical Cabaret, set in 1920s Berlin with its provocative storyline, scintillating choreography, and acclaimed score

Community

Qi Gong Drop-In (Seniors) | Civic Park Community Center | Wednesdays at 12 PM | Slow meditative stretching. No experience is needed. Weekly, Wednesdays from 11:50 - 12:10 PM. Civic Park, Assembly Hall.

Mah Jong Drop-In (Seniors) | Civic Park Community Center - Wednesdays at 1 PM

Bingo Drop-In (Seniors) | Civic Park Community Center | Thursdays at 12 PM | 50+ Drop-in activity. Try your luck and have fun!

Farmer’s Market Walnut Creek | Locust St | Sundays at 9 AM | The Walnut Creek Market, open Sundays 9 am-1 pm year-round on Locust Street, offers local produce, supports sustainability, and provides free first-hour parking at Grower’s Square; only certified service animals are allowed.

Diablo Valley Farmers’ Market | Shadelands | Saturdays at 9 AM | Located in Walnut Creek's Shadelands Business Park, the Diablo Valley Farmers' Market, open Saturdays 9 AM to 1 PM with over 40 vendors, features fresh Brentwood produce, a Kid’s Craft Corner, and is a family favorite, having been voted #1 in America’s Favorite Farmers’ Market contest.

Meditation hosted by the Divya Babaji Sushumna Kriya Yoga Foundation | Fridays at 10:30 AM | Walnut Creek Library | The meditation will be simple, effective, and designed for contemporary times to suit the needs of our community’s Holistic health – Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social health and Spiritual well-being. Meditation will take place seated in chairs and there will be time for questions after the session. No registration is required and beginners are always welcome.

Kids

Family Storytime | Thursdays at 10:15 AM | Ygnacio Valley Library

Toddler Storytime & Play | Thursdays at 10:15 AM | Walnut Creek Library | Join us for songs, stories, and movement! Stay after the stories to play! Most appropriate for ages 0-3, but all ages are welcome.

Civic

Planning Commission Meeting | Thursday 6/13 | 6:00 PM | Council Chamber | The Walnut Creek Planning Commission meeting will address routine matters, public communications, a public hearing on extending permits for the Shadelands SecureSpace/Calicraft project, and zoning updates for emergency shelters and parking ordinances.

👉 CLICK TO SEE OUR FULL CALENDAR 👈

LIVE MUSIC & DANCE

Line Dancing Lessons | Tuesday, Thursday - Saturday at 8 PM | Bourbon Highway | Watch Video

REAL ESTATE

*Email us if you want a home or rental featured in this new section.

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