Good morning and happy Monday, Walnut Creek! In today's Walnut Creek Spotlight, we're highlighting an upcoming event at the Lesher Center featuring renowned journalist Eugene Robinson, discussing key development projects and zoning changes on the agenda for the Walnut Creek Planning Commission, and offering you a chance to win a $50 gift card to Melo’s Italian Table. Grab your coffee and get ready to start the week informed and inspired!

In today’s Walnut Creek Spotlight:

• Join Eugene Robinson for a Deep Dive into American Society

• Key Development Projects and Zoning Changes on Agenda for Walnut Creek Planning Commission

• Melo’s Italian Table $50 Gift Card Competition

- Walnut Creek Spotlight Team

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Join Eugene Robinson for a Deep Dive into American Society

Eugene Robinson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist from The Washington Post and political analyst for MSNBC, will be speaking at the Lesher Center for the Arts on June 11, 2024. This event, part of the Newsmakers series presented by the Lesher Foundation, runs from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM and offers a 90-minute deep dive into Robinson's unique perspective on American society and its complexities.

Robinson's career began in Orangeburg, SC, a place marked by the Civil Rights Movement. He witnessed the "Orangeburg Massacre," an event that significantly shaped his views. After high school in Orangeburg and attending the University of Michigan, Robinson started his journalism journey at The San Francisco Chronicle. There, he covered high-profile events such as the Patricia Hearst trial.

In 1980, Robinson joined The Washington Post as a city hall reporter and quickly ascended through various roles, including foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires and London, foreign editor, and assistant managing editor of the Style section. His reporting has taken him across the globe, providing firsthand insights into diverse cultures and political landscapes.

Robinson's columns are known for dissecting and reconstructing American societal issues, using his rich experiences and elegant writing style. He explores the interconnectedness of politics and culture, addressing topics like immigration and its impact on urban communities. His works extend beyond journalism into authorship, with notable books on race and cultural revolutions.

Currently residing in Arlington, Virginia with his wife Avis, an artist and collector, Robinson remains a prominent voice in journalism and political analysis. His appearance at the Lesher Center promises to be an enlightening experience for all attendees, offering a rare opportunity to engage with his profound insights and experiences.

Buy Tickets Here

Key Development Projects and Zoning Changes on Agenda for Walnut Creek Planning Commission

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission is scheduled to meet on June 13, 2024, at 6:00 pm in the Council Chamber to address several important agenda items.

Key topics include the Shadelands SecureSpace/Calicraft project, where commissioners will review a request for a two-year extension of conditional use permits for a self-storage facility and a microbrewery, along with a minor use permit for off-site parking and a permit for the removal of 36 protected trees.

The Commission will also consider proposed zoning text amendments to better accommodate emergency shelters, Low Barrier Navigation Centers, transitional housing, and supportive housing in compliance with state mandates.

Additionally, there will be a study session to discuss potential updates to the city's parking ordinance, influenced by Assembly Bill 2097, which seeks to adjust parking requirements near major transit stations.

Public comments can be made in-person or in writing, and the meeting will be available for viewing on YouTube and local cable channels.

The next Planning Commission meeting is set for June 27, 2024.

For more information, visit Walnut Creek Meetings and Agendas.

COMPETITION TIME

🎉 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

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.

Hooked on Books | Civic Park Community Center | 1st Tuesday of each month at 12:30 PM | A different book is discussed monthly. 1st Tuesday of the month, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

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

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

REAL ESTATE

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

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