Tuesday Tiptoe Through the Town

Mon Petit Chou was kind enough to make the trip to the City of Lite this last Tuesday to do her reading while Your Boulevardier worked at his desk. A stopping point arrived at around 11:00 a.m., and a walk downtown and an early lunch was proposed and accepted. Your Boulevardier's standard route to Castro Village was taken, but new eyes were applied to the familiar scenes. One of the images that caught those new eyes was of this magnolia campbelii putting on a fabulous show against the wall of T-Kane Karate.



The early-springlike weather has encouraged many other trees around Castro Valley to blossom as well; rain is predicted for this weekend, and Your Boulevardier is curious whether the precipitation will interfere with pollination.

Lunch was found at Swiss Delices. Two different sandwiches (chicken curry, and mozzarella and tomato) were procured, and each was cut in half so both diners got a little variety. The sandwiches were excellent -- the bread particularly so -- and the shop's staff volunteered two small bites of pastry for dessert, which were gratefully accepted and enthusiastically consumed.

In all, it was a perfect day for a walk and a lovely time. As aforementioned, inclement weather is forecast, so Your Boulevardier encourages readers to enjoy the sunshine while you can.

Noodling On Nunes

One of Your Boulevardier's favorite spots in Castro Valley is the house on Nunes Avenue that has a seasonally adjusted collection of homemade garden art. For Valentine's Day (and indeed, the entire month of February so far) this has been the display.


A hearty tip of the beret goes to the creator of these charming cutouts.

Bubbling Beauty

For the umpteenth time, the fountain at El Rancho STEAK House was soaped again yesterday. And for the umpteenth time, Your Boulevardier has decided to report on it.



Perhaps this particular bit of mischief attracts Your Boulevardier's eye because soaping a fountain is one of the few harmless pranks -- one might say acts of vandalism -- that he played in his all-too-tame adolescence. (The steakhouse fountain did not exist then, of course; his soaping was done to the waterworks, now a planter, by the Hayward Public Library.)

This fountain, it's believed, does not contain ichthyic life, even though it is maintained by Connie's Pond & Garden -- just up the Boulevard -- which also sells fish. So perhaps the occasional spate of suds is not a bad thing. Certainly, it's a hassle for the good Rancheros. But it also certainly can be day-brightening to a pedestrian passer-by.

Instant Conflict

Your Boulevardier noticed new advertisements on Castro Valley Boulevard, including a billboard and a bus shelter poster, hawking instant coffee. One wonders who the intended target of the new ads might be.

Truth be told, Your Boulevardier does not understand the appeal of instant coffee. He uses a #2 Melitta cup-top coffeemaker when he requires a single dose of demon caffeine, and finds it just as fast -- and vastly superior in quality -- to instant coffee.

Goings and Comings and Goings

Your Boulevardier notes that Worthington Photography has vacated its spot in the building it shared with the Ice Creamery on Castro Valley Boulevard, and moved a block west to the corner of Chester Street. In its place, signs indicate that the I Love Stained Glass Shoppe will take up residence; it's not known (by Your Boulevardier, that is) whether their shop(pe) on Grand Avenue in Hayward will close, of if this will be an extension of that business. And while Your Boulevardier is a fan of I Love Stained Glass Shoppe -- he gave the late Madame Boulevardier's stained glass tools and materials to the shop when she died -- he is not completely certain that stained glass and ice cream are a good mix. It remains to be seen.

Around the corner on Redwood Road, the Hollywood Video/Game Crazy store is closing. Two sign-waving barkers were noted earlier today on Redwood Road, attempting to draw shoppers to the going out of business sale. Your Boulevardier has never been a patron, but is saddened to see any business close.

Considering the difficult times, Your Boulevardier has been surprised that more Castro Valley businesses -- and, in particular, its restaurants -- have not failed or consolidated in the last two years. It's hoped that, as the economy improves, conditions will pick up for everyone.

Wholly Clean

Last weekend Your Boulevardier was hosting the Subcompact Loaner, and so more walks were taken in our immediate neighborhood. This piece of garden art has been noticed many times before, but this time a photo was snapped.



It is a statue of the Virgin Mary, and yes, the protective shell behind her appears to be fashioned from a bathtub. (Click the photo for a closer view.) It's quite beautifully and respectfully done, in Your Boulevardier's opinion, and clever to boot. In its shape and in its blue color, it evokes the grotto at Lourdes. There's also an unexpected touch of whimsy in the whole thing.

If readers can suggest other pieces of Castro Valley garden art Your Boulevardier should check out, please post in the comments or email your.boulevardier@gmail.com.

Feats of Clé

Your Boulevardier spent most of the day away today, and after dinner at home he realized he had not yet collected the mail from his Post Office Box. She evening was cool and clear, so an after-dinner walk downtown seemed in order. After 20 minutes of brisk marching, the mail was collected. After that, a stop was made at Trader Joe's on the way home. The walk was, in total, about 60 minutes.

Upon arriving home, Your Boulevardier realized he did not have his keys. He emptied his pockets and his shopping bag, to no avail. But he had had it at the Post Office. Thinking he had left it tangling in his PO Box -- sadly, not an entirely unlikely possibility -- he walked back to the post office after stashing the groceries in the side yard.

No keys were to be found.

Soeur de Boulevardier was phoned. She grabbed her copy of the key to Chez Boulevardier and drove downtown. She delivered Your Boulevardier home and waited in the car until her copy of the key was returned.

Tomorrow, Your Boulevardier will visit the Post Office again in hopes that a Good Samaritan found the keys and slipped them through the mail slot. Cross your fingers, readers. Replacing the keys is no big deal, but it is a hassle Your Boulevardier would prefer not to go through.