A common refrain I read in some of the complaints about Neiman Marcus: It is not “local.” Since Neiman Marcus is part of a chain with headquarters… Read more “One Neiman Marcus complaint: It’s a chain store! But wait, Broadway Plaza has always had chain stores…”

After all the debate and, uh, brew-ha-ha, over the arrest of Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., I’m not sure there is a whole lot left… Read more “Does racial profiling happen in the East Bay ‘burbs? Yes, it has happened, according to San Ramon’s mayor”

It seems like a good idea in theory, and maybe this style looks okay in catalogues, on the runways, and even, kinda, sorta on the likes of… Read more “Stupid summer fashion trend: the maxi dress as "casual day dress"”

The good news: with the new state budget–whatever condition it is in, and who knows these days?–fewer state parks will be closed than originally thought. The very… Read more “Mt. Diablo still on potential state park closure list”

I won’t call the past year my year of living dangerously. Rather, I’ll refer to it as my year of living less than healthfully. After I got… Read more “Can we ever change our bad habits? I I took a baby step with an a.m. fitness "boot camp" class.”

Today, I wrote a commentary on the ugly rape allegations involving former Contra Costa County prosecutor Michael Gressett and a younger and junior female colleague. My commentary… Read more “DA Kochly responds to allegations of sex talk, denigration of victims among attorneys in his sex crimes unit”

My local–and former–Longs in downtown Walnut Creek is getting a new sign and undergoing some interior renovations, as it is transformed into CVS. Rhode Island-based CVS bought… Read more “Longs to CVS”

Facing a $7.3 million shortfall this fiscal year, and a nearly $30 million deficit, in the next two years, Walnut Creek is looking for various ways to… Read more “WC joins other cities in seeking federal dollars to deal with the foreclosure crisis”

Of course, this photo has absolutely nothing to do with Walnut Creek, suburbia, or any debate about an important civic or moral issue. But I came across… Read more “In happier times: Before the groom called the bride a fat alcoholic and the best man’s death became a global sensation”

Lamorinda blogger The East Bay Daze reports that the California Highway Patrol is still looking for witnesses to the June 26 traffic accident east of San Ramon… Read more “CHP still looking for witnesses to tragic bike accident that killed WC man”