Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa has been feeding the hungry of Contra Costa County since 1983 through its food pantry and dining rooms, which serve hot lunches in Antioch, Martinez, Oakley, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek.

Kaiperm Credit Union, a longtime supporter of Loaves and Fishes, is hosting a food drive now through January 15, 2023, and has placed a food drive barrel in plain view in its lobby at 325 N. Wiget Lane.

Please consider picking up a few extra non-perishables the next time you make a grocery run, and then visit Kaiperm on your lunch hour to help keep the pantry shelves stocked and our hungry neighbors fed. Suggested items:

• Bottled water

• Peanut butter

• Mac & cheese

• Tuna, rice, beans

• Pasta, pasta sauce

• Snack cups, snack bars

• Canned proteins, fruits, veggies

Please, no glass or expired food.

Thanksgiving is a good time to remember those in need of something as basic as food. Donating food is an easy way to make a profound difference in the lives of others.

Kaiperm Credit Union

325 N. Wiget Lane

Suite 130

Walnut Creek

925.939.5626

The food drive barrel will be in the lobby of Kaiperm Credit Union through January 15, 2023, for the benefit of our hungry neighbors.

Musical theater is returning to Contra Costa School of Performing Arts (CoCoSPA) after a break due to the pandemic, and that's exciting news for CoCoSPA students and staff, families and friends, and the theater-going public.

Big Fish, an all-school musical adapted from the 2003 Tim Burton film by the same name, will run for six performances—with an option to extend to eight performances.

Big Fish

A Magical Musical Comedy

The Black Box Theater

November 4, 5 & 12 | 7pm

November 6 & 13 | 3pm

November 12 | 2pm

"We want to challenge our artist-scholars to think beyond what art can be," says Director of Theater and Dance Aejay Mitchell, known as DM to students. "So we tend to do shows with social justice conversations and conversations that students are having with families and peers. But every now and then, we want to put on a musical that's full of joy and magic, and Big Fish is that!"

Big Fish is the story of a dreamer, Edward, who tells fantastical stories about his journeys as a young man, and his son, Will, who is struggling to know his real father and the truth inside these stories.

A company of close to 20 7th through 12th grade students in theater, dance, and music take on performing roles, and a crew of close to 30 production and design students, led by Director of Production and Design Kayla Knowles, are building the show.

Visiting artist Jon Gallo is the musical director, and a small band of professional musicians will accompany the school's instrumental students in the orchestra pit.

Performance dates, times, and tiered ticket sales can be found at Buy Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online and at the door. The show runs two hours with one intermission (light concessions will be available).

Plan a big day or big night out with Big Fish and celebrate the return of musical theater to CoCoSPA!

Contra Costa School of

Performing Arts

2730 Mitchell Drive

Walnut Creek

925.235.1130

Aejay Mitchell, director of theater and dance, surrounded by the company of Big Fish. 

Actors Y. Thorstad as "Will" (l) and Hanna Phipps as "Josephine" (c) rehearse Big Fish as director Aejay Mitchell (r) looks on.

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals Walnut Creek Outpatient Center has been focusing on a multi-year expansion project, renovating more than 7,000 SF of former office space and transforming it into a state-of-the-art sub-specialty and infusion center.

The space, which is fully open to patients, added 12 exam rooms, six private infusion rooms, and updated and expanded laboratory and blood draw stations, greatly expanding the hospital's medical services and capabilities.

The expansion offers greater regional access to patients seeking critical medical services because the Walnut Creek Outpatient Center is the only full-service outpatient center in Contra Costa County designed for the unique needs of children and adolescents.

The Outpatient Center's full range of diagnostic, medical, and surgical care are all offered in one location.

The expanded Walnut Creek Outpatient Center represents the commitment UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals has made to providing world-class, community-focused pediatric care to Contra Costa County.

UCSF Benioff

Children's Hospitals

Walnut Creek Outpatient Center

2401 Shadelands Drive

Walnut Creek

925.979.4000

Child-friendly exam rooms in the Walnut Creek Outpatient Center are designed for the comfort of children and adolescents.

Eighteen new exam rooms, including six new infusion rooms, give young patients and their families total privacy.

Now is a great time to consider adopting a dog or cat and enjoying the unconditional love an animal offers to all who choose to open their hearts and homes.

For one day only, Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) is hosting a Free Adoption Day, sponsored by Diablo Subaru, which will cover all adoption fees for cats and dogs, kittens and pups. 

Free Adoption Day at ARF

Sponsored by Diablo Subaru

Wednesday, November 16

Noon–6pm

9am: Doors open to preview 

Doors open at 9am to preview animals and add your name to the early sign-in sheet, which secures your place in line. Adoptions officially begin at noon on a first come, first served basis.

Read about ARF's adoption process and what to expect during the adoption interview.

With more than 47,000 adoptions in its 30+ years of operation, ARF continues to drive innovative programs that bring people and animals together to enrich each other's lives. 

Celebrate Happy [Free] Adoption Day at ARF on November 16, noon–6pm.

Tony La Russa's 

Animal Rescue Foundation

2890 Mitchell Drive

Walnut Creek

925.256.1273

Lou Russa's Boutique has everything your new cat or dog will need, and all proceeds benefit lifesaving programs for pets and people.

Make your reservations now for these holiday events at the Walnut Creek Historical Society .

• Holiday Teas are back!

Featuring a three-course luncheon with scones, homemade lemon curd, and secret Shadelands Tea Blend held inside the historic 1903 Hiram Penniman home.

Luncheon Teas

November 26–December 11

Two seatings every day

11am & 1:30pm

Champagne Teas

December 3 | 4pm

December 10 | 4pm

Cost | Reservations required

Call for reservations

925.935.7871

• Santa & Mrs. Claus return!

November 26 | 10am–4pm

$5/person | Tickets required

• Holiday Craft Faire 

November 26–December 11

10am–4pm

The Holiday Craft Faire has been a seasonal tradition at the Shadelands Ranch Museum since 1983. During this two-week event, the historic 1903 ranch house overflows with handcrafted items and gifts, offered by dozens of artisans and vendors. Admission and parking are free.

Walnut Creek

Historical Society

Shadelands Ranch Museum

2660 Ygnacio Valley Road

Walnut Creek

925.935.7871

The Center for Community Arts will host its annual two-day Handcrafted Holiday Sale showcasing handmade ceramics, glass, jewelry, fiber arts, photography, prints, and much more, all created by Community Arts students and teaching artists.

A portion of the sales will benefit Center for Community Arts, the Clay Arts Guild, and the Community Arts Foundation.

Handcrafted Holiday Sale

Shadelands Art Center

111 N. Wiget Lane

Walnut Creek

Saturday, December 3

10am–5pm

Sunday, December 4

11am–4pm

Center for Community Arts

Shadelands Art Center

111 N. Wiget Lane

Walnut Creek

925.943.5846

Construction continues on the new one-story, purpose-built building on the NW corner of Shadelands Drive and Oak Grove Road that will be the home of a Bank of America (BofA) branch, replacing the temporarily closed branch located across the street in Citrus Center.

Joining BofA retail banking at the new Shadelands location will be Merrill financial advisors.

Walls are up; doors and windows are framed; the structure is wrapped in blue building insulation; and grading has begun on the front parking lot. It's good to see this signature corner of Shadelands come to life.

Bank of America

2153 Oak Grove Road

Walnut Creek

Opening Early 2023

Look for an early 2023 opening for the new Bank of America Shadelands branch.

The 27-acre Walnut Creek Executive Park (WCEP), spanning several addresses along Shadelands Drive, Mitchell Drive, and Oak Grove Road, is under new ownership having been purchased by California Capital & Investment Group (CCIG), a Bay Area full-service commercial real estate firm. Read more about the transition in the August 2022 issue of The Shadelands Scene.

The 12-building campus features landscaped grounds with paths and bridges connecting well water ponds, streams, and fountains set among its two- and three-story office buildings.

In addition to planned property and infrastructure upgrades, and tenancy enhancements, rebranding is in place and ongoing. 

Look for the CCIG logo on signage as it makes its appearance around WCEP. 

Walnut Creek Executive Park

California Capital & Investment Group

Management Office

2820 Shadelands Drive

925.938.8171

Walnut Creek Executive Park as seen from Oak Grove Road, now with branded CCIG signage.

The City of Walnut Creek repaved Lennon Lane and N. Via Monte this summer. The funding came from reserves established by Shadelands property owners when the roadways were built and can only be spent within the business park.

Along with the asphalt work, additional changes were made to Lennon Lane, including a pilot of one-way separated bikeways known as protected bike lanes. The striping portion of that project is complete; the final step is to install posts within the striped area adjacent to the bike lanes.

Once the posts are installed, Lennon Lane will be Walnut Creek's first full-length protected bike lane facility. 

This work was identified in the recently approved Shadelands Multi-Modal Plan, the goal of which is to make Shadelands a business and lifestyle center of the future, offering safe alternatives to driving by providing comfortable space for people who are walking, biking, and using other mobility devices.

Shadelands Drive and Wiget Lane have been identified for roadway improvements in 2023, which will incorporate bicycle and pedestrian enhancements.

Freshly paved N. Via Monte adjacent to Viamonte Senior Living (left foreground) and Safeway (left background).

Striped protected bike lanes on Lennon Lane are ready for the next stage: post installation.

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, the City of Walnut Creek and the Walnut Creek Concert Band will honor our American veterans at a ceremony to be held at the Lesher Center for the Arts.

Mayor Matt Francois will lead the ceremony, which is free and open to the public.

Veterans Day Ceremony

Friday, November 11, 11am

Lesher Center for the Arts

1601 Civic Drive

Walnut Creek