Good morning, Walnut Creek! We're thrilled to share the latest updates from our vibrant city. The city has been recognized for excellence in financial reporting! Get ready to enjoy La Ezkina Grill & Cantina, opening soon at the former Twisted Times location. Don’t miss an evening with Ali Wentworth at the Lesher Center on July 10. Congratulations to our Handels $100 Gift Card Winner!

I missed a few days of the newsletter while on a family vacation in Discovery Bay for the 4th of July. Now, I'm back and ready to keep you updated! Have a fantastic day!

In today’s Walnut Creek Spotlight:

• News Release - City recognized for excellence in financial reporting

• La Ezkina Grill & Cantina to Debut at Former Twisted Times Location

• Enjoy an Evening with Ali Wentworth at the Lesher Center on July 10

• 🍦 Handels $100 Gift Card Winner (see below)

- Walnut Creek Spotlight Team

P.S. pdkmail@dew*****fam.com you are the winner. Please reply to this email to claim your prize.

P.P.S. We are looking for more advertisers. Do you want to get your business in front of 5,300+ locals daily?

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

News Release - City recognized for excellence in financial reporting

The City of Walnut Creek has been honored for its governmental accounting and financial reporting. The Government Finance Officers Association granted Walnut Creek a Certificate of Achievement, its highest form of recognition for government agencies. The Association also presented the City with its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the budget covered by the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award reflects the City’s commitment to meeting the highest principles of government budgeting. Both awards represent significant accomplishments by the City and its management.

The award relates to the City’s annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year that ended in June of 2023. Walnut Creek Mayor Loella Haskew notes that this is a testament to the City’s careful management of taxpayer dollars. “Walnut Creek has long been known to be a good steward of finances,” Haskew said. “Residents can trust that we are using their tax money to bring the best programs and services to them, and that we are transparent in how we spend the funds. That has become even more important since our residents passed Measure O, the half-cent sales tax increase. We already have established an oversight committee comprised of Walnut Creek citizens to ensure our financial reporting on Measure O spending is accurate.”

City Manager Dan Buckshi is proud that this isn’t the first time the City has been recognized by the Association. “This is the 12th time in the past 15 years that Walnut Creek has received this honor,” Buckshi said. “The consistency of high standards in financial reporting demonstrates the professionalism and dedication of our City team.”

The City’s financial report was judged by an impartial panel and noted that it demonstrated a constructive spirit of full disclosure in communicating the City’s financial story. The City’s budget can be found on our Walnut Creek website.

Media contact: Betsy Burkhart, Communications Manager, [email protected]

La Ezkina Grill & Cantina to Debut at Former Twisted Times Location

La Ezkina Grill & Cantina will soon open at 2065 N Broadway in Walnut Creek, taking over the former Twisted Times Restaurant location. The new eatery, which will offer a menu (link) including tacos, is set to open sometime in July.

Enjoy an Evening with Ali Wentworth at the Lesher Center on July 10

Ali Wentworth to Speak at Lesher Center for the Arts

Presented by the Lesher Foundation

Date: July 10, 2024
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, California 94596

Ali Wentworth, a multi-talented actor, comedian, and author, will be speaking at the Lesher Center for the Arts on July 10, 2024. Known for her roles in "In Living Color" and the "Soup Nazi" episode of "Seinfeld," Wentworth has also been a regular on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and other late-night shows. She created and starred in the series "HEAD CASE" and "Nightcap," and has appeared in several notable films. A three-time New York Times bestselling author, Wentworth shares humorous stories about life in her public speaking engagements. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Buy Tickets (link)

GoFundMe for Lemongrass Farms

The Walnut Creek Farmers' Market has launched a GoFundMe for Lemongrass Farms to support medical bills, rehabilitation, and lost income for two members critically injured in a DUI accident on June 2nd on Locust Street. (link)

NEW EVENTS ADDED

Summer Sounds: Tom Rigney and Flambeau | July 11, 2024 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 | Free | Enjoy a high-energy, uplifting music concert at Rudney Plaza. Featuring Tom Rigney and Flambeau, renowned for their infectious grooves and rich soloing. No ticket required.

La voix humaine - Dido & Aeneas | July 12-14, 2024 | Check event listing for times | Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 | Check event listing for ticket prices | A double-bill of short operas exploring love and betrayal. Experience "La voix humaine" and "Dido & Aeneas" with powerful performances and emotional depth.

All the World's A Stage (Young Actors Studio) | July 12, 2024 | 6:30 PM - 7:10 PM | Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 | Check event listing for ticket prices | Enjoy a performance by young actors from The Ballet School Performing Arts, featuring Broadway songs and favorite stories. Approx. 40 minutes, no intermission.

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.

Community

Tai Chi | Mondays at 10:15 AM | Walnut Creek Library | Participants will learn the basic Tai chi movements, a series of sequential postures resembling a slow-motion dance.

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!

Native Plant Growers | July 12, 2024 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Civic Park, 1375 Civic Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 | Free | Join the Native Plant Growers at the Native Wildflower Garden in Civic Park. Volunteers who like to garden are welcome. Meets weekly on Fridays.

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.

Kids

Peek-A-Book Storytime | Ygnacio Valley Library | Tuesdays at 10:15 AM | Peek-A-Book Storytime is a playful event for ages 0-2 at Ygnacio Valley Library in Walnut Creek, CA, featuring books, songs, and activities to enhance early literacy skills.

Baby Storytime | Walnut Creek Library | Tuesdays at 12 PM | The Walnut Creek Library hosts Baby Storytime. Parents and caregivers with babies aged 0-1 are invited to enjoy stories, songs, and interactive activities. No registration is required for this engaging and nurturing experience designed for the youngest attendees.

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.

👉 CLICK TO SEE OUR FULL CALENDAR 👈

LIVE MUSIC & DANCE

Salsa Tuesdays | Tuesdays at 6 PM | Retro Junkie | Join Salsa Tuesdays at Retro Junkie for $10, featuring salsa lessons, DJ, and open dancing. Watch Video

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

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