More Miscellany

Accompanied by the Trusty BoulevarDog, Your Boulevardier walked his errands today and has a few tidbits to share.

Previously, Valley Java has been nominated in this space as the friendliest establishment in town. And regular readers know of the warm spot Your Boulevardier holds in his heart (if not his waistline) for Rudy's Donuts. But another possible nominee must be considered -- Clayworth Healthcare. Your Boulevardier has been patronizing this small, family-run pharmacy for a few months, and is pleased to be greeted by name and asked -- with genuine concern -- about the well-being of Madame Boulevardier when he visits. The tiny retail store seems to have everything that the town's bigger stores have, and many things they don't. And still, there's room for some of the proprietor's sports memorabilia (the pharmacy is the official apothecary of the Oakland Athletics) and a picture of his race car.

As of 9:40 a.m., a pack of a dozen or so children waited, somewhat impatiently, to enter the Chabot Cinema to catch the free showing of Charlotte's Web. Other groups were seen walking -- yes, hooray, walking -- along the Boulevard toward the theatre. Although Your Boulevardier does not have children of his own, he thanks the Chabot for providing these free Wednesday shows.

The former Daughtrey's Department Store will once again be a Spirit Halloween Superstore this autumn; garish orange signage and exhortations to apply for seasonal employment are already posted on the building. Spirit, by the way, is an enterprise with local roots, having been founded in Hayward. (One of its two real estate offices is still in our neighboring city.) The company is now owned by a national gift-store chain.

Details have been uncovered regarding the broken window at Swenson's Ice Creamery. As Your Boulevardier passed the shop this morning, employees of Beeline Glass were busily installing a new pane in the gaping opening. An inquiry was made as to what had caused the window to break, and the workmen pointed to a brand-new fire hydrant a few dozen feet to the west of the building. An automobile had hit the previous fireplug and sent it crashing through the sash. The incident, the men said, happened late at night; we are fortunate that nobody was injured.

Finally, Your Boulevardier notes that the Taco Bell on Redwood Road is closed for remodeling. (Let us hope that the work includes a serious degreasing.) The Castro Valley outlet is one of the few in the area that maintains the faux-adobe-brick arched windows that Taco Bell popularized more than 30 years ago. (Your Boulevardier believes that the family-owned Pancho's Mexican Restaurant on Castro Valley Boulevard is in a former Taco Bell building.) Your Boulevardier has but one hope for the soon-to-be-remodeled restaurant: that it does not include a drive-through.