Swirl and sip at Walnut Creek's burgeoning wine bar scene

OK, to describe it as a wine bar scene might be a bit much, but Walnut Creek has two renowned restaurants (Prima Ristorante and Va de Vi) known for their attention to wine and their ability to create fun wine tasting opportunities.

Meanwhile, establishments whose focus is on the pleasure of tasting and enjoying wine are moving in, and, apparently adding something new to the downtown cultural, entertainment, and dining scene.

I've yet to stop in at Artisan Wine Lounge on Bonanza Street, but it sounds like it's thriving, according to a co-worker who had a big girls' night out planned last Friday. Meanwhile, in its February issue, Diablo magazine celebrates the booming wine bar scene in the East Bay suburbs and describes Artisan as one highlight of this scene. "Come worship the Enomatic wine-pouring machine at this sleek little haven. Just pick a wine you want to try, insert your card, put your glass under the spigot, et voilà. Wine selections reflect the taste of co-owner Lena Chu, who lived in Spain but also loves Napa."

Just today, I received an e-mail about how Artisan's owners demonstrate their interest in enhancing local culture by showcasing the works of local artists. Through April 24, the wine lounge will display the works of Roger Sperling, a Walnut Creek artist and a former engineer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. According to a note I received, "When he retired his wife, Nancy, a watercolor student of Pat Strout, challenged him to try painting. He signed up for Pat’s acrylic class at Mount Diablo Adult Education. Roger discovered that his most popular subjects have been 'edible' still life and the slopes of Mount Diablo. "

Over on Locust Street, diagonal from the Lesher Center, Walnut Creek natives Jim and Jennifer Telford are putting finishing touches on their Residual Sugar wine bar (pictured above), hoping to open it April. Jim is a trained sommelier, and says the wine bar will offer 800 wines from around the world for taste by the glass or in flights or for sale.

Last week, I stopped in and saw the spacious, light-filled space and met Jim. One wall is lined ceiling high with a rich, dark-wood wine rack. On the opposite side runs a long marble-topped bar, where tastings will take place. Near the front, Jim said, there will be tables. The bar will serve small cheese plates and other appetizers, but Jim said that  the emphasis will be on wine, not on serving food.

While Jim says his bar will definitely feature and celebrate locallly produced wines, he added that he wants to also customers the good value now available from wines made in Europe or South America. The bar will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the hope that it will become a popular spot for patrons of the Lesher Center to stop in before or after performances.

Making it through? Highlights of Walnut Creek’s budget reflects economic challenges, successes

The City Council is expected to adopt its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the 2009 fiscal year (which ended June 30) at itsTuesday night meeting.

The 188-page document highlights the challenges the city faced last year, and will continue to face this year. It also notes ideas for tackling those challenges, as well as some successes that might surprise some residents, particularly on the question of that “damn library” and whether investing in arts and recreation is good for the city.

I tried to pick through all its pages, but since I’m not a budget and finance person I may have missed some interesting little details. Feel free to pore through this document yourself and add or dispute what I found to be highlights. Basically:

THE BOTTOM LINE:
The reports says:

Almost all City revenues have declined substantially since the adoption of the 2008-10 operating Budget in June 2008. Sales tax revenue in fiscal year 2008-2009 was $18.5 million, a decrease of 8 percent over the amount received in the prior year primarily due to the slowdown in auto and retail markets. Together with declines in property tax revenue and fees and charges collected by the city for services, total revenues were approximately $4 million below initial projections for 2008-09 and are expected to finish $9 million below initial projections for 2009-10.

Total Revenues: "$82 million, of which $27 million were derived from Governmental Activities, $2 million were derived from Business-type Activities and $53 million from General Revenues Existing reserves were used to cover an additional $1 million of expenditures."

Total Expenses: "$83 million, of which Governmental Activities incurred $81 million and Business-type Activities incurred $2 million (see tables 2 and 5 for additional information)."

SOME SURPRISING, OR NOT SO SURPRISING, HIGHLIGHTS

That “Damn Library.” Sorry, library supporters, I’m not taking any position on the library when I refer to it this way. I’m just honoring readers, for whom referring to it this way, has become something of a Crazy inside joke.

Anyway, the news about this budgeted $42 million project. Despite concerns, controversies, etc., the city expects to complete its new library on time and within budget. The city has so far spent around $23 million, and has $17 million left to spend.

Surprise No. 2: Arts and recreation are good, very good, for Walnut Creek: In a year when revenues declined in most areas (sales, property tax, state revenues, including vehicle license fees, and city license and permit fees), one sector proved to be a money-maker: Arts and recreation.

Sure, the city’s spending on arts and recreation increased $324,000, or 2 percent, from the previous year. This was due to increased salaries and benefit and other costs. And the city had to pour money into arts and recreation because more people were taking Civic Arts and recreation classes and going to see shows at the Lesher Center.

Notably, ticket sales at the Lesher Center, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, continued strong, bucking the trend of other performing arts organizations hurting in tough economic Times. Charges for tickets and fees for classes and other programs increased $249,000 from the prior year.

Not such a surprise: The other money maker. Increased parking rates at meters also helped bring in an additional $233,000 (5%) from the previous year.

GOING FORWARD

In 2010 and beyond, the goals include:

• Continuing to enhance the vitality of downtown
• Oversee a comprehensive cost allocation, fees and charges study
• Adopt the Locust Street / Mount Diablo Boulevard Area Specific Plan
• Complete review of the BART Transit Center Village and Neiman Marcus projects
•  Implement parking pay stations in the downtown
• Finishing that new library and parking garage.
• Do reconstruction on Geary Road.
• Work on a retaining wall for Rudgear Road Retaining Wall
• Conduct a needs assessment for Heather Farm Swim Center

Get your holiday entertainment on

First, forget the Jim Carey animated movie version of A Christmas Carol. Or don’t. I’ve heard it’s supposed to be pretty good, but Jim Carey usually gives me a headache, even when he’s in his “serious actor” mode, so this movie version is a no-go for me.

Besides, I’d prefer to see a live theater version of the Charles Dickens’ classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his Christmas Eve redemption. There is something more traditional about seeing it live, especially if it’s a version presented by a local professional company.

The production to see is the one at the Lesher Center by the resident theater company, Center Repertory. The company has been doing the show for 11 years, and, according to Contra Costa Times’ theater critic, it is one of the best staged versions of A Christmas Carol in the Bay Area, as good as the one presented at American Conservatory Theater.

The cast includes a number of Bay Area theater veterans and local kids and teens (from Walnut Creek elementary, middle, and high schools), sometimes getting their first chance to perform in a professional show. I’ve seen A Christmas Carol twice, and it’s well worth it. A Christmas Carol plays at the Lesher Center through December 20. For tickets and information visit www.centerrep.org.

White Christmas at the Orinda Theatre on Saturday. This is the second film in which Bing Crosby sang his now classic holiday tune. I admit I prefer the first film, a 1942 black-and-white musical called Holiday Inn, starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, as partners in show but rivals in love. Holiday Inn was about an entertainer who wants to get out of the rat race and open a Vermont inn that is only open on holidays. This musical features music by Irving Berlin and some killer dance numbers by Fred Astaire (and one unfortunate and anachronistic blackface production number). You should be able to rent it or catch it on TV in the next couple weeks.

Still, White Christmas, despite its somewhat fluffy and contrived plot, works. It was apparently conceived and enhanced with color and splashier sets to cash in on Bing’s White Christmas popularity. Here Bing’s partner in entertainment is comic singer, dancer, actor Danny Kaye, and his love interest is the radiant singer Rosemary Clooney (George Clooney's aunt!). The production numbers are fun, and features some amazing dancing by the lithe Vera Ellen.

The two screenings of White Christmas at 4 and 7 p.m. are part of the California Independent Film Festival. Ticket sales will benefit the Lamorinda Teen Center, and both screenings will feature carols performed by the Miramonte High School Chamber choir.

For tickets, click here.