I just came across this great article in the Contra Costa Times about how other cities are trying to mimic Walnut Creek’s downtown. For those of you that don’t know, Walnut Creek is situated in the East Bay Area about 30 minutes from San Francisco. It is a great city with one of the best public school districts in the entire Bay Area. It mostly consists of an upper middle class to affluent caucasian demographic. I actually read a similar article on Cnn.com (yes I admit it, I read and watch CNN from time to time. Hey we all need mainstream news as well.) about a year ago talking about Cleveland, OH trying to duplicate Walnut Creek’s success.

But what truly sets Walnut Creek apart is its vibrant downtown and what it has to offer. It is in no way comparable in size to an urban or metropolitan shopping complex, but that is what makes it appealing. It is large yet not overbearing. It has a great mix of shopping, restaurants, cafes, spas, bars, and even a few night clubs. And it isn’t one of those disgusting mega strip malls you see in Antioch and Dublin. There is something for everyone which is why you see people aged 16 to 70 hanging out there. And considering that downtown Walnut Creek is not a business hub, it makes it even more impressive. My hat goes off to the brilliant city planning that has made Walnut Creek a revenue generating power house in terms of shopping, entertainment, and eating.

Of couse I’ll have to leave you with a few of my favorite spots:

Tomatina - Try the Piadine

Tiki Tom’s - Great for Happy Hour (overlook the website, it sucks!!)

Crepes A-Go Go - Excellent crepes! Try the ones with Nutella in it. Yummy!!

Pyramid Brewery - I personally don’t like Pyramid beer, but the food & atmosphere are great.