The Shadelands Scene
Your place for community news, updates, and insights
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EXPERIENCE THE ORCHARDS—
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!
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All retail, services, and restaurants are open at The Orchards at Walnut Creek. Some businesses may have modified hours, but The Orchards is in full-open mode.
That's great news for people looking to return to their favorite stores, shops, eateries, financial institutions, salons, and other businesses.
Check out the full directory of businesses, listed with websites and phone numbers.
Visit The Orchards and enjoy the convenience and variety of a great shopping and lifestyle center.
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The Orchards at Walnut Creek
Corner of
Ygnacio Valley & Oak Grove Rds.
Walnut Creek
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How well do you know The Orchards?
Enter for a chance to win a Starbucks gift card!
Correctly identify the retail locations in The Orchards where these four images can be found for a chance to win a $15 Starbucks gift card.
Submit your answers with your name and e-mail address before noon, Thursday, June 24, to [email protected]. The lucky gift card recipient will be pulled at random from all correct entries and announced in the July 2021 issue of The Shadelands Scene. Happy exploring!
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STARBUCKS BARISTAS' PICKS |
Starbucks is one of the most popular places at The Orchards, having served tens of thousands of customers since opening in October 2016, who stop in for coffee, a specialty drink, or a bite to eat in between work or play, or to meet up with family or friends. Sometimes it’s just for a quiet moment in their day that they can call their own.
Store Manager Vanessa Mosqueda, who comes from a Starbucks background, has been leading the team of 23 employees for close to four years, and they're always busy serving up something tasty.
“This store gets a little bit of everyone coming through the doors. We have our regulars—local residents—who make this their morning ritual, or who walk here with their dogs for exercise and a cup of coffee. We get office employees, medical personnel, and clients meeting with businesses in Shadelands.
"With so many schools in the area, we see teachers and principals, and, of course, a lot of students meeting up and hanging out. We get families on weekends heading to games and sporting events, ordering food and drinks, with their kids wearing jerseys and ready to play.”
In March 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, Starbucks was one of the few places open for grab and go food, along with Safeway. Closed for only one week, the partners quickly regrouped and reopened, offering drinks, food, and a friendly face from a table set at the store’s entrance.
Health care workers and first responders were Starbucks' first customers, who were offered something to eat and drink on their way to or from another long shift during the early days of COVID-19.
Once people were comfortable leaving the house and sitting outside, Starbucks was a touch-point for normalcy, a safe spot to once again meet up with family and friends.
Now, Starbucks is reopening for indoor dining, setting out chairs around the individual tables along the back wall first, and then eventually opening the longer shared tables throughout the room.
Just inside the front door, you'll notice the Baristas' Picks board.
"The Baristas’ Picks board was started by our employees, who like to play around with ingredients and experiment with new combinations of blended drinks,” says Vanessa.
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The Orchards at Walnut Creek
2856 Ygnacio Valley Road
Walnut Creek
925.266.0009
M-F 4:30am–8pm
Sat & Sun 4:30am–7:30pm
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“Customers often ask for drink ideas, and our baristas will suggest a personal favorite, even if it’s not on the menu, and then offer to make it for them. They created the Baristas' Picks board for the benefit of the customers and to show what's possible with a little imagination."
The next time you’re at Starbucks and you’re not sure what to order, check out the Baristas’ Picks and go for something different. Distinctive. Definitely delicious.
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DO YOU KNOW A HERO WHO DESERVES RECOGNITION? |
At the start of 2021, Walnut Creek Mayor Kevin Wilk announced a year-long campaign to shine a light on the every day heroes among us who have gone above and beyond for someone else, making life a little better for others.
“As Mayor of Walnut Creek, I wanted to counter the seemingly endless focus on what we’ve been missing the past year," says Mayor Wilk, "and celebrate the many individuals who have taken it upon themselves to make the world around them a better place—who are truly making a difference in the community in very positive ways."
Even as we experience more openings and eased restrictions, the Heroes Among Us campaign will continue through 2021, says the Mayor, "celebrating the kindness and achievements of individuals who help make Walnut Creek a great place to call home.”
The second round of nominations ended May 31; local heroes will be announced at the June 15 City Council meeting.
The City will be accepting applications July 3–July 16, for its next round of local hero submissions. A panel of Walnut Creek Citizens Institute graduates will review the submissions and forward three names for public recognition at the August 3 City Council meeting.
Do you know someone worthy of recognition? Find the Heroes Among Us nomination form here.
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Visit the City's Heroes Among Us for more information about the year-long campaign, and meet the local heroes honored to date.
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Jennifer Perry, director of the Ballet School of Performing Arts, was recognized at the April 6, City Council meeting, with Margaret Stauffer, Cancer Support Community, and Marilyn & Mark Weiss, who came to the rescue of the Monument Crisis Center. |
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FREE CLASSIC CAR SHOW, SUNDAY, JUNE 6 |
This free, outdoor event will be held on the grounds of the Shadelands Ranch Museum, 2660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek.
Join the fun checking out a century of classic Fords from Model T’s to T-Birds and Mustangs, with a few modern cars in the mix.
Enjoy live music, awards, and a raffle. Heritage Eats will be on-site with its popular food truck—always a fan favorite.
This free, family-friendly event also celebrates the grand re-opening of the Shadelands Ranch Museum, which will be open for tours.
Would you like to enter your Classic Ford? Contact the Historical Society at [email protected], or
download an application.
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June 6, 10am–3pm
2660 Ygnacio Valley Road
Walnut Creek
925.935.7871
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Calicraft Brewing Co. is celebrating the reopening of places and spaces and once again hosting family-friendly community events that showcase local art and crafts.
On Saturday, June 12, Noon–6pm, Calicraft is holding an in-person, onsite Makers Movement.
Proceeds will be donated to CalFire in support of its work, serving and safeguarding the people of California, and protecting the property and resources of our great state.
Makers Movement
Saturday, June 12; Noon–6pm
2700 Mitchel Drive
Walnut Creek
925.478.8103
Featuring new Calicraft releases
Festivities include live music, food vendors, and 20–30 local artisans and craftpersons, displaying and selling their art, many with items specifically crafted for Father's Day gifts.
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A great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Walnut Creek! |
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CITY SEEKING COVID-19 TESTING & VACCINATION SPACE |
The current COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites at the Ygnacio Valley Library and Tice Valley Gym will no longer be available as of mid-June.
If you or someone you know has available space in Shadelands and is interested in opening the space for critical testing and vaccinations, please reach out to Betsy Burkhart, Communications and Outreach Manager for the City of Walnut Creek.
Betsy Burkhart
Communications and
Outreach Manager
City of Walnut Creek
925.943.5895
The State and County are looking to maintain both a testing and a vaccination location in Walnut Creek. Co-locating would be appreciated, but not required.
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NO BUTTS ABOUT IT:
YOU CAN QUIT!
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Are you or someone you know struggling to quit smoking or vaping?
The Contra Costa Crisis Center helps keep people alive and safe, and that includes providing resources and connections to help people quit tobacco and vaping habits.
The California Smokers' Helpline is a free telephone program that can help you or someone you love quit smoking, vaping, and using tobacco products. Clients have access to confidential counseling and will learn practical strategies from experienced quit coaches who know what works.
Find out if you qualify for free nicotine patches, discover shareable content, and more.
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24-hour access to emotional support and resources
Call 211
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Tuesday, June 8, 9–10am
Community Development Director
City of Walnut Creek
Mark Wardlaw recently joined City staff as Community Development Director to manage the full array of community development services, including housing, planning, and sustainability. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet Mark Wardlaw and exchange ideas about Walnut Creek's future.
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2nd Tuesday | 9–10am | via Zoom
Visit Walnut Creek Chamber for upcoming webinar details and registration. Topics, agendas, and dates are subject to change.
For all topics and recordings, visit
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