Spring Bouquets

Your Boulevardier noticed this lovely array of faux freesias with colorful ribbons outside Dried & Tied in Castro Village the other day. The arrangements did a lovely job of heralding the arrival of springtime.



Our springlike weather in Castro Valley is turning wintery again, for a short time. Tonight's rain is not unwelcome, as one has grown tired of watering here at Chez Boulevardier.

Apologies, as ever, for the dearth of posts. Family duties have called. A few walks have been made, and a few stories collected; finding time to share them becomes the challenge. Thank you for your patience.

Bump And Grind

Your Boulevardier met an old friend -- actually, his junior high music teacher -- for coffee at Peet's early this afternoon. The gentleman wanted advice on a new gadget he had purchased, and Your Boulevardier was happy for the excuse to get together and chat -- about musical instruments, electronics, mutual friends, travels, and the joys and complications of life.

Not long before we arrived, a car just outside of Peet's had missed its parking spot and plowed into Marshall Steel Cleaners. Your Boulevardier does not know the circumstances or if anyone was hurt.




This incident isn't the only automotive excitement in town. Last night after 9:00 p.m., as Your Boulevardier was driving home from a rehearsal, he noticed the CHP directing traffic at the intersection of Santa Maria Avenue and Castro Valley Boulevard. It turns out a vehicle had crashed into the control box that's planted in the lawn near the bus stop between Rigatoni's and the corner. (Truth be told, Your Boulevardier had never noticed the box before.) This rendered the traffic lights nonoperational.

Tax Season Is Upon Us

Your Boulevardier has, once again, fallen behind on postings. It's not for lack of material; it's for lack of a much more precious commodity: time. Work has been very busy, leaving time for walks but not time for writing about walks.

Another profession that is busy this time of the year is that of tax preparer. Dueling sign-carrying dancers have been at work in front of the H&R Block and Liberty Income Tax offices on Castro Valley Boulevard, luring in those for whom a person in a gown the color of aged French copper seems like a reliable advisor in financial matters.

Those who are less inclined to follow a human-animated sign would do well to look for this gem, which Your Boulevardier and Mon Petit Chou spotted the other week as lunch was eaten at Swiss Delices.



There's much to admire in this hand-painted beauty: the rich, albeit faded, color scheme (Your Boulevardier counts at least seven different hues), the artistic touches (the flower over the "i" and the pointing finger, for example), and the unusual typography leap out. One hopes Don & Linda's Tax Service keeps the sign forever.

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.

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.

Twilight Walks

The rains continue to drench Castro Valley, but on two successive late afternoons Your Boulevardier has been able to get out and walk the town. On Monday night he ventured onto Castro Valley Boulevard, first passing through residential neighborhoods as area residents rolled their trash carts to the curb. This evening he braved the post-work grocery store rush at the Lucky supermarket. It's a wonderful time to walk, as the town transitions from the workday world to the home and hearth. Lights glow in windows, but shades are not yet drawn; neighbors are chatting as they haul groceries or check mail; yes, people are eager to get home, but the pace seems gentler, more restful, than at mid-day.

A walker sees that a certain amount of post-storm detritus litters the sidewalks and clogs the gutters. But from what little he saw, Your Boulevardier believes that the town has come through the weeklong-plus deluge in good shape.

There are exceptions, of course. The interchange construction at Redwood Road and I-580 is shut down -- and flooded, on the east side. (A FOB who works for the firm doing the project says that, currently, just 1% of the company’s heavy equipment is in active use statewide.) Just up the road, the demolition of the Center Street offramp from I-580 has paused as well, due perhaps to the creation of a sizeable temporary lakelet next to the freeway.

Your Boulevardier has not checked on how the rains are affecting the other big construction project in town, the building of a new Eden Hospital. However, he was impressed by the seven-phase construction plan recently posted on the hospital’s website by civil engineer Jeff Moore of the Castro Valley-based firm Greenwood & Moore. Reading it is recommended.

And frankly, Your Boulevardier was surprised -- and very pleased -- to read that a local firm is so intimately involved in the hospital project. And he is surprised that Sutter Health has not made a bigger deal out of the fact. Your Boulevardier has walked past the Greenwood & Moore offices on Castro Valley Boulevard hundreds of times and never knew what went on up there. Now the veil is lifted, however slightly. (Not that the firm is mysterious; rather, Your Boulevardier does not have need of civil engineering in his daily life, and has precious little knowledge of what a civil engineer does.)

Continuing our survey of storm effects, Your Boulevardier has not traveled to Lake Chabot to see the precipitation’s impact on the town’s main waterway. If readers have reports, please consider adding them to the comments. (One can do so anonymously.)

But back to the rain’s effects on local business establishments. The enterprises Your Boulevardier visited did not have telltale buckets catching roof leaks. Restaurants seemed fairly busy; bowlers and barflies were practicing their arts; hot coffee was being dispensed with caffeinated vigor; young people danced and kicked and chopped while their parents waited, sometimes impatiently, for after-school classes to finish. Pete’s Hardware seemed to do a brisk business in tarps, galoshes, and other rain-related retail items. Perhaps the hair-and-nail salons were a bit slow, but they always seem to have empty chairs when Your Boulevardier peeks through their windows.

Skies are forecast to be cloudy but dry for a couple of days, with a chance of rain returning on Friday. (Your Boulevardier will again be hosting the Subcompact Loaner this coming weekend, so walking weather is hoped for.) One should not put away the slicker just yet, but we should all attempt to enjoy the respite from the damp while we can. Perhaps another evening walk is called for.

Good Architectural News

Your Boulevardier received a letter today from his bank, Wells Fargo. The company has decided to consolidate its Castro Valley options into the lovely building at the corner of Castro Valley Boulevard and Redwood Road -- the building that was once World Savings, and which now is Wachovia. (Wells Fargo owns Wachovia.)

This was the very outcome Your Boulevardier hoped for back in October of 2008 when Wells Fargo acquired the collapsing Wachovia. One does not harbor any illusions that the banking powers paid any heed to, or even would deign to acknowledge, this blog. But satisfaction in the resolution is nonetheless derived.

This may not be the best of news for the other merchants in the strip mall (on Castro Valley Boulevard between Anita and San Miguel Streets) where Wells Fargo currently makes its home. The Vella's Locker Room has decamped for San Leandro (taking with it half of its sign), and many Blockbuster Video stores in the Bay Area have already closed. The Asian restaurants, dollar stores, and cleaners have had a tough go of things in that shopping center. Your Boulevardier does not patronize the other shops, so he cannot attest to their health. But certainly losing the walk-in traffic of a busy bank branch cannot be good news.

One can only hope that the converse is true -- that the center surrounding the new location will perk up. Although Your Boulevardier has not inspected it carefully in some time, he believes it to be mostly empty. Time will tell.

Why we love the Village Barber Shop

Your Boulevardier had a tough day today. He hit his desk early in the morning, without bathing or shaving. (Such are the privileges of working at home.) Lunch was eaten at the desk. Such days can be fun and exciting, but they can also be exhausting.

Around 3:00 p.m. a window of time opened up. If exercise was to be gotten, this was the opportunity. So a jacket and walking shoes were pulled on, and course was set for The Boulevard. The bank and post office were visited, after which Your Boulevardier cut through Castro Village on his way to Redwood Road.

He found his barber, Terence "Limbo" Lim, sitting on a bench outside the Village Barber Shop. Cordial conversation ensued, and soon Limbo invited Your Boulevardier in for a free trim.

Now remember: the desk had been hit this morning before bathing. To say Your Boulevard was a bit unkept is an understatement. "C'mon in, buddy. I'm not doing anything anyway," Limbo insisted. The offer was accepted. Jokes were made by other barbers that Limbo would be fired for giving away free trims.

It was a perfect treat for an otherwise-tiring day. A major tip of the Beret goes to the Village Barbershop and to Limbo. Thank you!

More Window Vandalism

Your Boulevardier notes that a large window at Eden Bicycles in Castro Village was boarded up yesterday afternoon. Asking in the shop about the circumstances, he learned that nothing was taken from the store; the vandals simply broke the window and ran. So the spree continues, but has now moved off the Boulevard.

Chabot Continues to Please

It must be said: we in Castro Valley are very fortunate to have the Chabot Theater here. Last night, at the very last minute, Your Boulevardier decided to catch Sherlock Holmes at the movie house. (Today it has been replaced with -- sigh -- Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel.) He left home at 7:25, found street parking in front of Direct Sales (the broken window has not yet been repaired), and walked right in. No lines, no hassles -- and the staff actually seems to care about customers and about movies. (This, in Your Boulevardier's opinion, is not the experience at the big multiplex in Hayward.)

Happily, the theater had a pretty good turnout for a Thursday evening. (The movie itself was strange but compelling.) Still, the Chabot always needs our patronage -- particularly when it presents interesting fare. Your Boulevardier encourages Castro Valleyans to support our local movie theater.

Post-Holiday Blues ... and Reds

On his walk today Your Boulevardier noticed several broken windows on Castro Valley Boulevard. Specifically, a window at Crush Comics was boarded up, and a window and two glass doors at Direct Sales were secured with plywood or tape and awaiting repair. It's a shame to think that holiday revels in Castro Valley got so out of hand that vandalism was the result, but it so appears. Do readers have any more information about these happenings?

By way of contrast, nature was having none of the human-caused havoc. The morning skies were clear and cold, and the few remaining leaves and berries on deciduous plants were calling for attention, as evidenced by these fruits appearing on a shrub on Redwood Road.



The clear winter weather just begs for long, objective-free walking, in the opinion of Yours Truly. It (the weather, that is) is not supposed to last; off-and-on rain is predicted for the rest of the week. Your Boulevardier has professional work to catch up on, and so, in a way, he hopes the inclement weather comes; it will force him to stay at his desk and complete the projects before the New Year arrives.

Coupe de Grace

Your Boulevardier is an habitue of the Village Barber Shop, but he acknowledges that there are many other places in the City of Lite to get one's hair done. One, on Redwood Road near Trader Joe's, sports this charming hand-painted sign.



The stark blue-black-orange color scheme, while unusual, works well for the sign, in Your Boulevardier's opinion. And the images themselves have an endearing retro style; perhaps they are an homage to Roy Lichtenstein. The upper haircut might be a portrait of movie idol George Chakiris, while the lower image could be a subtle appeal to the Mad Men crowd.

The building itself is, if Your Boulevardier recalls correctly, the former office of a Castro Valley real estate agent named Jem Angus. He was Your Boulevardier's first employer, paying this garçon a half-cent each to hang his advertising flyers on Castro Valley doorknobs. Perhaps that is when the love of walking our neighborhoods was first cultivated.

It Was a Wonderful Night

Your Boulevardier, accompanied by Soeur et Neveu de Boulevardier, took in the 11:30 p.m. showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the Chabot Theater last night, along with about 145 of their closest friends.



In truth, no personal friends were recognized in the crowd, but the atmosphere was friendly and festive. Ages varied, but most persons seemed in to be in the 20s-to-50s range, with a contingent wearing CVHS apparel. Many people, it seemed, had pre-purchased their tickets and walked straight into the auditorium; one young woman in line who had an extra ticket offered it gratis to Your Boulevardier, but he insisted on compensating her. Still, the generosity of her offer was noted and appreciated.

A number of people arrived in barely disguised sleepwear. Some attendees took advantage of the snack bar, though takers of the popcorn-and-cocoa offer were not, by Your Boulevardier's observation, in abundance.

The movie itself was shown without ceremony. Indeed, there were no trailers or previews or advertisements on the screen before the show; only a digital countdown in the corner of the screen. Projection itself was flawless, thanks to a digital "print" of the film and a digital projector. (Your Boulevardier had worried to his companions before the show about the print quality -- worries that were unfounded.) The only semi-comical footnote to this use of technology was the large blue-and-white message that appeared immediately after the show -- something about pressing PLAY. This got a laugh from the audience.

But indeed, the entire show got laughs where appropriate (the dance over the swimming pool, for example); a cringe, where Capra-induced (George Bailey's occasional and irrational tirades over his seemingly hopeless existence); and a tear or two (such as when newlywed Mary Bailey makes the most of her ruined honeymoon by setting a beautiful table in the shabby, leaking Granville house.

The film's message of rapacious bankers, impending foreclosure, and financial desperation took on, perhaps, a more urgent tone this year than in years past. Certainly the current economic downturn is affecting our area. Thanks go to the Chabot for putting together an evening of inexpensive holiday entertainment, and to almost 150 people for partaking of it. Castro Valley may not be Bedford Falls, but it ain't Potterville, either.

Happy Holidays

Your Boulevardier notes with pleasure that Castro Village is making good use of an empty storefront to create a sitting room for Santa. What's more, it has marked the space with a very attractive sign.


In the not-so-distant past, of course, the big guy sat in a chair in the window of the Village Toy Shop. When that store closed and Eden Bicycles took over its place, the bike shop kindly (and, Your Boulevardier thinks, wisely) ceded some of its sales floor to the man from the North Pole.

This new situation makes sense. It puts another storefront to use while not taking away valuable space from merchants. Still, his presence in his own quarters will draw the young ones and their parents to the Village.

Happy holidays, all. Let the season commence!

Crowing about Rowells

Don, the fiberglass horse that stands guard outside of Rowell's Saddlery, has a new friend -- a large-headed scarecrow. Your Boulevardier does not know if the smiling new fellow is a temporary or permanent addition to the shop's publicity team, but we're certain Don enjoys the companionship on chilly days like today.



("Don," by the way, is Your Boulevardier's name for the horse; the handle was bestowed in honor of Don Guillermo Castro, who once owned the valley in which our town now resides. Yes, Your Boulevardier is aware that "Don" is, in this case, a title, not a name. Work with me, people.)

Changing the Locs

As noted earlier on these pages, half of the former storefront occupied by Vella's Locker Room will become a bike shop. (There's now a business card taped in the window as well; Your Boulevardier forgot to make note of the shop name.) The shopping center management company, in preparation for its new tenant, has removed the signage over that part of the center.


This move, to Your Boulevardier, makes no sense. If one is going to bring in the equipment and personnel to remove part of the sign, remove all of it. One cannot imagine a scenario in which the shop occupying the left half of the building is going to want any part of the old signage.

Boulevard & Vine

How could it be that Your Boulevardier has walked the City of Lite for so long and never noticed the fantastic vine on the side of the B.A. Morrison building? Be sure to click the photo for a larger view.



The building was for many years a feed store. One believes that live chicks -- once the foundation of the Castro Valley economy -- were still sold there when Your Boulevardier was a youth. Given today's boomlet in backyard poultry among the eat-local set, that could perhaps be a going concern again.

On a related note: Mr. Morrison is to be commended for maintaining the building to such high standards. (Check the photos on the company website, linked above.) It definitely earns the coveted "favorite buildings" tag. He's also commended for letting such a rambunctious vine run rampant!

Worthy Cause in Castro Valley

Your Boulevardier received the following email from two different people, and commenter Greenridge posted it below. The originator is L'avocat de Boulevardier Steven Dimick, who has given permission to republish it here. (Some slight edits have been made, clearly marked.)

Your Boulevardier went by Lee's Donuts this morning and purchased a very nice cinnamon roll. His waistline will not let him do so daily, but he will be making a contribution and encourages readers who are able to do the same.

Friends,

You have probably read that the owner of Lee's Donuts on the corner of Grove Way and Redwood Road was brutally pistol whipped about a couple of weeks ago during an early morning robbery. I'd like to tell you a little more about him.

Sam Nouv came to the U.S. from Cambodia and, in 1987, started working at Lee's Donuts. Before long, he was leasing the business from its owner and, in 1990, bought the business. He and his wife, Lori, go to work every day at 3:30 a.m., open up at 4:00 a.m. and don't close until 6:00 p.m. -- every day, seven days a week. They do close on a very few holidays, but in 19 years have never had a vacation and the most time they have ever had off at any one time is two days.

Our grandparents or great-grandparents worked like this when they first came to America, but no native-born American that I know would do so.

In addition to working these brutal hours, they are raising three sons, a 21-year-old currently at Chabot College, a 15-year-old at Castro Valley High School and a 10-year-old at Independent Elementary.

And Sam and Lori are two of the friendliest people you could ever hope to meet.

Sam has been back to work -- briefly -- for the last couple of days, but the burden of keeping the shop open for the last two weeks has fallen on Lori, the kids and a few friends.

I asked Lori if they had adequate medical insurance and she said they did, but their deductible and co-pay were killing them, when nearly all of their income goes for basic living expenses. Lori said their share of the medical expenses was $15,000. Sam later told me it might not be that high, but is at least $7,000 (Kaiser told them they don't have a final figure yet.)

Some community members are [planning] a series of fundraisers for the family. Ken Martin is planning a charity bocce ball tournament and other ideas that have been kicked around include a car wash. If you'd like to participate, [contact Steve Dimick via the link above].

In the meantime, if any of you can see your way to making a donation, however small, the family can sure use it. $100 would be great, but $5 or $10 will be equally appreciated. (I merely slipped them some cash.) Please look in your wallets for old, unused bills or consider writing a check to "Sam Nouv." You can deliver your donations to my office (20880 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley) or directly to the Nouv family at their store.

You could also pass this story on to your neighbors or other friends in Castro Valley. They just might see fit to give you a donation to pass on, or to visit Lee's and slip a few dollars into Lori's hand. And maybe they'll pass the story along even further.

Thank you in advance for any help you might be able to give. Despite our occasional differences, Castro Valley is a real community.

Steve Dimick

CV Crime Scene

On his morning walk, Your Boulevardier noticed an Alameda County Sheriff's cruiser and a crime scene truck in the strip mall kittycorner to Trader Joe's, at the corner of Grove Way and Redwood Road. The part of the shopping center with the nail salon and pizza parlor was cordoned off with crime scene tape, and a few anxious-looking folks hovered about. No other details are available at this time.

Head over Heels

Your Boulevardier took a twilight stroll around downtown, stopping at the usual places: the bank (Wells Fargo, in his case), the post office, Castro Village (Yogofina is becoming a minor obsession) and Peet's. On the way to coffee, he noticed that the new day spa in the former Beneficial Finance storefront -- cleverly named "Holiday Spa" and featuring foot reflexology -- has a sign issue that only appears at night.



There are two ways to look at this situation (he said, not at all intending to be clever or ironic). Either the owners of the strip mall (or the Holiday Spa itself) were cutting costs and corners in making their sign; or that they were recycling, and also giving a subliminal message that the services presented are, in fact, beneficial. Either way, though, it must be noted that the sign is nearly impossible to read at night.

Ol' '56

The fading blue, white, and rust-colored 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air has been parked in the lot behind Castro Valley Lumber for as long as Your Boulevardier can remember. The tires still hold air, so it seems that it's not entirely derelict, but its registration does not appear to be current. The body seems to be in very good shape overall, and the original wheel covers are intact; perhaps someone at the lumberyard is waiting for the right opportunity to restore the vehicle.



A sidenote: The car's license plate -- AER 101 -- seems to hail from the very early days of six-digit letter-number combinations in California (assuming that AAA 001 was the first plate off the stamper).

The Fix Is In

Your Boulevardier has discovered why there was a pack of bicyclists in the Blockbuster parking lot the other night: a new bike shop appears to be opening in that shopping center, occupying half of what used to be Vella's Locker Room. From the looks of the bikes being test-driven in the lot, the shop will carry "fixies" -- the fixed-gear bicycles so popular with hipsters.

As Autumn Arrives

Your Boulevardier made an after-dinner circuit of downtown Castro Valley this evening, walking first to the Chabot Cinema to view a truly bizarre movie, All About Steve, and then completing a few errands.

The warm evening air and the fingernail moon were, it seems, enticing to others as well. For a weeknight, the town was buzzing with people. Starbucks, Yogofina, and the Ice Creamery all had crowds; packs of teenagers wandered the streets (clumps of boys in their big shirts and cockeyed hats, trying to look hard, trailed by equally sized clumps of girls in tanks and flipflops, texting as they walked). Bicyclists practiced tricks in the parking lot by Blockbuster, while car buffs admired each others' vehicles near Safeway.

Among his errands: Your Boulevardier took a few cuttings (for rooting, even though this is the wrong time of year to do so) from the lantana in front of Chateau Fiebig. The building itself may be an architectural monstrosity, but the colors of the flowers in front of it are wonderful.

Obsession in Pink - no, Beige

Your Boulevardier admits to an obsession with the former Carry Outee. Will it become a food place again? (Toula's Gyros was trumpeted, then vanished.) Or will the site -- a large, unsightly lot, currently with a makeshift chain-link fence -- be cleared for a new use? It's one of Castro Valley's enduring questions, perhaps second only to what will happen with the Gemignanis' unopened diner near Rudy's Donuts.

It doesn't answer the question, but one thing has happened to the Carry Outee: the formerly pink building has been painted a mellow dove grey. This happened earlier this week.

Sunday Buzz

Your Boulevardier and the Subcompact Loaner walked to Valley Java this morning. We have three observations:

1) The construction of the 238-Strobridge interchange seems to have stopped at about 90 percent of completion. Though the ramps themselves are finished, cones (or whatever one calls those upright orange pylons with the black bases that are glued to the pavement) and striping are all that, to this layman's eyes, remain to be completed. Along with regular trash removal, of course.

2) The congregants of the Neighborhood Church may be fine people, but they really don't seem to care much about pedestrians and small dogs who are trying to cross Castro Valley Boulevard. A little more observation and courtesy would be appreciated. Please, friends: at least pretend to stop at the limit line -- that's the first line of the crosswalk -- before turning right onto John Drive.

3) The activity level at Valley Java was, at least at this visit, considerably lower than it used to be. Maybe Peet's has siphoned off some of the business, or perhaps the decamping of Judge Peggy Hora to parts east has caused her klatsch to find another place to gather.

Connection Revealed

A facade improvement (at least Your Boulevardier assumes that's what's going on) at 3235 Castro Valley Boulevard has revealed this long-covered hand-painted business sign.


Do any readers recall when the Rental Connection did business in Castro Valley? The typography leads one to think it was in the 1970s.

Ouch

Your Boulevardier generally avoids ribald humor in this space, but this is the exception that proves the rule.

After reading Mary Roach's wonderful Bonk over the Labor Day Weekend (thank you, Renée), this office on Strobridge Avenue across from McDonald's took on a whole new meaning.

On Four-Day Workweeks

On this first day of a four-day workweek, it seems an appropriate time to call attention to a small typewritten sign spotted recently by Your Boulevardier on the door of Merle Norman Cosmetics on Castro Valley Boulevard. It reads:

ATTENTION .... PLEASE !!!!!

WE TRY TO CONSERVE ENERGY BY:
(1) KEEPING THE LIGHTS TURNED DOWN
(2) BEING CLOSED ONE EXTRA DAY

IF EVERYONE THAT COULD WORK A FOUR DAY WEEK
WOULD SAVE MILLIONS $$$$$$$

ONE LESS CAR ON THE ROAD JUST ONE DAY A WEEK
AGAIN MILLIONS $$$$$ WOULD BE SAVED ....
LESS FOSSIL FUEL BEING BURNED ... MUCH BETTER
FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT ......

ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR CHOICES
TO MAKE THIS A BETTER WORLD-------INSTEAD OF
COMPLAINING THAT IT'S NOT CONVENIENT!

SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY

To which Your Boulevardier can only respond: "Amen."

Spanked by Hand

In spite of the risqué-seeming title, this post is about another hand-painted sign in Castro Valley: that of Spanky's Lounge, a tavern on Baker Road. Its sign is low-key and no-nonsense; Your Boulevardier's impression of the place (he is not, personally, a denizen of dive bars) is that domestic beer is the beverage of choice, but the sign depicts a rather tall martini glass, as painted with an airbrush.

Four Castro Valley Murals

Your Boulevardier spent some time over the weekend walking in San Francisco's Mission District and was swept away by the many stunning murals in the neighborhood. Then he realized: though they're not as eclectic, Castro Valley has a few murals of its own. Four are documented here; can you name others? Please click on the photos for larger images.


This mural is on the side of the former Valley Truck, 2625 Castro Valley Boulevard. The place is now a Budget Rent-A-Truck location (Your Boulevardier misses Valley Truck's giant tire sign), and the rental agency has chosen to mar the mural with its drop box and signage. Still, it's a fun mural and very appropriate for the business that formerly resided here.


This natural - perhaps hyper-natural - scene is on the garage door at Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital, 2509 Lessley Avenue. (It's the same place that has the whimsical three-dimensional sign.)


Another veterinarian's office - this time Boulevard Pet Hospital, 3489 Castro Valley Blvd. - has a fetching collection of animals painted all over its building. The menagerie seems to expand each time Your Boulevardier walks by. (This is where both Chat du Boulevardier and the Trusty BoulevarDog received their care; at times, Your Boulevardier hopes to see their images immortalized too.)


A scene that could easily be at Lake Chabot is actually painted on the wall of Blenzers, 20668 Rustic Drive in Castro Village. Your Boulevardier is surprised that more people don't sit under the eaves at these tables on warm days, but the awnings at Starbucks seem to be more popular.

Dining News

Your Boulevardier noticed several restaurant happenings on his walk this evening.

1. JD's is closed for the week. Workers are now digging away inside the restaurant, apparently replacing the entire floor. At this rate, one begins to wonder why they didn't demolish the restaurant and start over.

2) The former Pancho's Restaurant at 2788 Castro Valley Boulevard is, after an extended closure, now open as a Korean BBQ and Tofu restaurant. Your Boulevardier had been under the impression, from earlier alcohol license application in the window, that it would reopen as a Mexican restaurant, but it's not the case.

3) In sadder news, work appears to have stopped on the former Carry Outee. The banner heralding Toula's Gyros is now down. Your Boulevardier has not checked whether or not Toula is back to work at Chipotle.

4) The work on Chef's Express in Castro Village is nearing completion. The plywood siding has been removed, and the exterior is very attractive (if a bit out of character for Castro Village). A photo is below. Based on the signage that was on the restaurant when it was boarded up, this place is related to Chef's Experience in Hayward.

Burger King Flag Update

Your Boulevardier did not check the flag at the Castro Valley Burger King on Independence Day, but he did today. The flag now flying is bright and clean and proud. If a reader noticed when it was replaced, please say so in the comments. (You can comment anonymously.)

Clearly Wonderful

Is there anything more goofily charming in Castro Valley than the facade of Allied Glass on Wisteria Street? Your Boulevardier's favorite touch in the chaotic, pseudo-Western storefront: the guy in the logo holding the tiny, three-dimensional pane of glass. (Click the photo for a better view.)

Gemignani "Rocks the Dough"

Your Boulevardier belatedly stumbled upon a news item in SF Weekly about the North Beach Festival, held a few weeks ago in San Francisco. Castro Valley's Tony Gemignani and his dough-tossing acumen were, it seems, a hit at the festival. Story and photos are here.

More Castro Valley Culture

New-style yogurt shops are all the rage these days. One has slowly been taking form in Castro Village; there's one in the new theater complex in downtown Hayward, and another one under construction in the storefront kittycorner to it. It seems that somebody has convinced bankers that indulgences with a hint of healthiness is a business combination that's recession-proof.

And now Your Boulevardier has received a press release announcing the imminent arrival of Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt, which will open on July 3 in the 580 Marketplace (the center with Pyzano's and PW Market).

The press release is big on numbers. The Castro Valley Golden Spoon, it says, is the first shop in an ambitious plan to open 30 outlets in the Bay Area. Golden Spoon offers 50 flavors total, of which 12 are served daily on a rotating basis. (Not 24, as originally posted here.)

A regular frozen yogurt will be free of charge during the Grand Opening days of July 3, 4, and 5, 2009. One does not need a coupon to get the freebie. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Your Boulevardier, by the way, received no compensation for publishing this announcement, nor did he request any.

Postscript: With a little imagination, one can imagine a cooperative arrangement between Golden Spoon and Castro Valley's venerable Golden Tee. (Your Boulevardier just can't bring himself to say "Golfland.")

On The Surface

It's said that every aphorism has a mirror image -- that is, another adage that is equally accepted as truth, but that has the exact opposite meaning. "Look before you leap" has "He who hesitates is lost." "Out of sight, out of mind" has "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." "Beauty is only skin deep" can be matched with "Put your best foot forward."

Regarding this last pithy pairing, several Castro Valley structures are clearly taking the second saying to heart. Your Boulevardier can name four:

1) The Castro Valley Post Office is getting a new floor in its retail area. And given the condition of the carpet, and the fact that children are often left to crawl about on it, this is a good thing.

2) A section of Castro Village is getting a new roof. Specifically, the portion of the center on Santa Maria, just opposite Swiss Delices; the construction vehicles were blocking a lane of traffic today. (This poor little bakery has had a string of construction operations impairing patron access, starting with an underground project immediately in front of the shop during its grand opening week. The proprietress should earn an award for perseverance.)

3) The building housing Worthington Photography and the Ice Creamery has attractive new paint and a sheathing of slate tiles on its facade.

4) The older portion of JD's has been stripped to the studs. A conversation with the contractor revealed that the building will get a coat of stucco to match the in-progress addition on the back of the restaurant. This business, and its customers, should also have their fortitude recognized.

Not The Flag King

Your Boulevardier returned this last Sunday -- Flag Day -- from a week in Boston. Although the weather was unseasonably wet and cold, the trip was full of delights. From bleacher seats in Fenway Park, a Red Sox victory over the Yankees was witnessed. Parts of the Freedom Trail were walked. Seafood was consumed. Several colleges were visited by Fils de Choux. Some time was spent on the water.

And, of course, in Boston one cannot, and does not want to, escape a proud patriotic streak. American flags, bunting, and general red-white-and-blueness are everywhere.

Perhaps that is why, on a walk this morning, Your Boulevarder noticed, and was particularly distressed by, the flag that flies in front of the Burger King on Castro Valley Boulevard. The once-proud banner hangs sadly faded in a tangled tatter. Even if our West Coast patriotism is, in some minds, not up to Bostonian standards, it's a disgrace and a shame.





Your Boulevardier has combed the Burger King website and has found a Consumer Relations phone number: 305-378-3535. (There is no email address.) Should readers feel so compelled, it would be wonderful if several people called this number to encourage Burger King to replace the flag in time for Independence Day.

Rolling Out the Red Roof

Your Boulevardier apologizes for the dry spell; he has been catching up on work, participating in some musical activities, enjoying a bit of leisure time, helping a friend with a garden project, and hosting visitors for the Bay to Breakers. Posts will resume soon, it is hoped.

Meanwhile, three quick items: the El Rancho STEAK House was getting a new coat of red paint on its roof yesterday. Around the corner, Swiss Delices is open, sorta. (When Your Boulevardier had coffee and pastry there last week, the place was clean and freshly painted, but not well lit and its walls were devoid of artwork; also, sandwiches were not yet being served.) And across Redwood Road from Trader Joe's, El Rancho Supermercado (one does not think it is related to the STEAK House, but could be wrong) has a sign in its window reading "El Rancho Taqueria Finally Opening Summer 2009." (It has been hinted at for a long time; it's not known what the hangup has been.)

Sundry Sunday

Your Boulevardier attended the Sunday evening showing of X-Men Origins Wolverine at the Chabot Cinema this evening. Some fifty or more people were in attendance and the movie was exciting and enjoyable. On the walk home, a few bits of information were collected.

First, Your Boulevardier must correct an earlier misstatement regarding next weekend's Rodeo Parade: the pre-parade Pancake Breakfast will be held from 7-10 a.m. at the fire station on San Miguel Avenue. (And Wudas: Your Boulevardier plays the baritone saxophone.)

Second, it was inexplicable but wonderful to see that the Ice Creamery was packed with patrons on Sunday evening at 9:00 p.m.

Third, the new McDonald's at Strobridge Avenue and Castro Valley Boulevard is now open. It is quite a fancy, even stylish, building from the outside -- with one small exception that will be pointed out later. When Your Boulevardier ventures inside, he will give a report on the interior.

Assert Your Independents!

Yes, Your Boulevardier can spell "independence." The headline is a play on words to alert readers that this Friday, May 1, is "Buy Indie Day" -- a day when we are encouraged to patronize our local independent bookseller.

This is an easier task in, say, New York City than it is here in the City of Lite. Still, we have Jordan's in the Village, which also carries scrapbooking supplies and has delightful window displays; and Avalon, which offers new age books.

If you're willing to cross the freeway, Your Boulevardier is partial to The Book Shop in Hayward. And he has information that changes are afoot at the shop.

Related: this Saturday is Free Comic Book Day, and Castro Valley's own Crush Comics is participating. From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., local artist Justin Greenwood will be there.

Apostrophe Wrench

Your Boulevardier hsa walked past it several hundred times, but only recently noticed the very nice hand-painted sign for Sal's Foreign Auto Service on Castro Valley Boulevard.


Note the clever use of a wrench for the apostrophe.

The office for Sal's is in the Quonset hut that was formerly the Bubble Palace coin laundry, if memory serves. (Frère de Boulevardier played for the Bubble Palace Little League team many decades ago.) Sal's service bays are around the corner.

Castro Village Remodel Goes Before MAC

Next Monday, April 27, the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) will hear about the plans to remodel the Castro Village. Plans for the remodel can be viewed at the Village Barbershop.

This will not be the first time the center has undergone renovation, of course. A representative of Crosspoint, the company that manages the property, told the Castro Valley Forum last January that "There will be no major changes to the town-and-country theme of the village. It will still look and feel the same. Our goal is to build upon what we have to create this as the shopping destination in town."

Your Boulevardier is grateful to his friend Stephanie for loan of the vintage Castro Valley postcard. Readers can click on the photo for a better view.

AMENDMENT: Your Boulevardier belatedly realized that this was a fairly lame post. It contained no insight, observations, or opinions on the situation, just a report. Apologies.

When Crosspoint said it didn't plan to change the village's theme, Your Boulevardier was mighty relieved. The worst thing that could happen, he believes, would be to try to make the Village -- and the town of Castro Valley -- over into something it's not. While local incomes are generally high and public education is generally good, Castro Valley is, it must be said, not upscale. And Your Boulevardier believes that's for the better. Sure, it might be lovely to have an Apple Store or a Sephora in the Village, or a Whole Foods built back where the carwash lies -- the long-term plan for Castro Village calls for some sort of large retailer back there, absorbing some of the vacant properties in the area -- but it's also a delight to have such a collection of small, independent, locally owned, sometimes-funky operations in one place. Homogeneity stifles creativity, Your Boulevardier believes, and creativity is what's needed in an economy like we have today.

So, bring on the remodeled Castro Village! Though it's managed by Crosspoint (a San Francisco firm), the center is still owned by the Nahas family who built it 60 years ago. That's something worth celebrating and supporting.

And, to answer Wudas' question, the postcard has no copyright or other date. The newest cars in the photos are from the mid-1960s.

Special Food Edition

Your Boulevardier, remembering that this is the week when Don Jose's will donate a portion of its profits to the new Castro Valley Library, decided at the last minute to walk downtown and treat himself to a meal this evening. The restaurant was pleasantly busy, with a heartening cross-section of people: individuals, couples, and groups comprised of a variety of ages and races. The bar was lively with folks watching ice hockey. Your Boulevardier chose a salmon salad, which proved exceptionally good, and a large Dos Equis Amber (which Don Jose's has on tap). Not every restaurant can make a solo diner feel comfortable, but this one certainly did; in fact, Your Boulevardier was given a booth, not relegated to an undersized table. He was impressed with the food and service, and left a gratuity reflecting his pleasure.

There is other Castro Valley dining news to report as well.

Progress continues at the future Toula's Gyros, under construction at the former Carry Outee. The building has been stripped of its awnings and outstructures; paper obscures the windows, so whatever work goes on inside remains a mystery. Currently the Pepto Bismol Pink exterior paintjob remains, but certainly that will not last. Your Boulevardier has been schooled on the difference between Gyros and Falafel (thanks, and apologies, to jimigreeko) and looks forward to sampling Toula's fare.

Across the street and down a bit, Knudsen's Ice Creamery sports bright red-and-white signs announcing its fifth anniversary party on Saturday, May 2. Included in the celebration will be free mini-cones, a petting zoo, and face painting. Your Boulevardier is a fan of Knudsen's -- he will mark his birthday there a week from Sunday -- and congratulates proprietors Dave, Kathy, and John on their accomplishment.

And around the corner on Santa Maria Avenue, Your Boulevardier was positively heureux to spot a sign indicating that the former Katy-Lu's Korner would become an outpost of Hayward's outstanding Swiss Delices. This is excellent news for Castro Valley (particularly considering the recent departure of Primrose Bakery from the Village) and perhaps the death knell for Your Boulevardier's trim waistline. Before Swiss Delices' Castro Valley site opens, Your Boulevardier recommends that readers hasten to Main Street in Hayward, purchase some of the incredible baked goods, and offer your encouragement to the proprietors on their expansion.

Independent Coffee on Center Street

In line at Trader Joe's the other day, Your Boulevardier spotted a woman wearing a sweatshirt reading "Coffee Cup Cafe, Castro Valley, California." Having never heard of the establishment, he inquired and learned that it is an independent coffee place at the corner of Center Street and Heyer Avenue. Last Friday he decided to check it out.

It's a cozy, friendly place with an amiable, chatty staff. The coffee is from Peerless -- perhaps not a gourmet roaster, but perfectly acceptable to Your Boulevardier. (He partakes only of brewed coffee, so he cannot comment on the quality of more complicated coffee drinks.) Most of the baked goods are prepared on site each morning; Your Boulevardier had a small, delicate chocolate croissant. The place also has a light lunch menu.

The comings and goings were observed for an hour or so. An ebbing stream of what appeared to be regulars mostly purchased beverages for takeout, though a few folks settled in at the dozen or so small tables. (A few outdoor tables were also available for warmer days.) A TV tuned to a morning news program played in one corner; promptly at 9:00 a.m. the television was switched off and soft jazz music was played. A batch of toys in another corner attracted youngsters, and a few shelves of books -- for borrowing and reading, it is assumed -- sat by the register.

The site is close to three schools -- Creekside and Canyon Middle Schools and Vannoy Elementary -- so the neighborhood traffic in the area is considerable. The proprietor of the shop said she had experienced some problems with school kids and now limits them in the shop to three at a time. The proprietor also shared that the shop had been in business for four years, but had lost some momentum when the exterior of the building was remodeled. Both interior and exterior are quite charming now.

Your Boulevardier will be sure to stop in again when his walks take him to this corner of town.

Of Mice and Gyros (and Miscellany)

The former Daughtrey's Department Store (which is also a former billiards hall, and is annually the Spirit Party Supply) is now a store specializing in Disney merchandise. Your Boulevardier walked past (alas, not into) the store this evening and noticed that the parking lot on the side was full. Was there not a similar store at Southland not so long ago? One wonders if, like the aforementioned Spirit store, the Disney store is a transient use of the building. Its signs are just banners hung from the exterior walls, lending to the air of temporariness. The building has been in limbo for some time, though in 2007 there was some talk of refurbishment.

It's also noted that the former Carry Outee is now fenced off and has a banner announcing that Toula's Gyros is coming to the site. Your Boulevardier misses the falafel that were served at Haim's Cafe (and also that served at Kampus Korner at CSUEB), and hopes this new place will offer this Middle Eastern dish.

Two doors down, the Daughtrey's children's store has reappeared; it closed in Castro Village but has reappeared in one of the tiny business cottages on the north side of the Boulevard between Worley's and El Rancho STEAK House.

Also of note in the dining world: the former Tam's Kitchen has been re-branded as King Kong. One imagines that the portion sizes are colossal.

Your Boulevardier does not know what to make of all of these comings and goings. The amount of churn definitely seems to be on the upswing. It's a strange and difficult time to start a business, though some say this is the best time to do so because of the leverage available with suppliers, landlords, and employees.

Question for Wudas, and for everyone

Regular reader and frequent commenter Wudas wrote in response to the item on Hutch's Car Wash:

Perhaps some letter to the new owner will make him aware of the issues. And I'm certain he is unaware of the power of the blog. That could mean doom to Hutch's.

Your Boulevardier suspects that your mention of "the power of the blog" and "doom" are delivered with tongue firmly planted in cheek. But he is curious: do you think that this sort of post, in which Your Boulevardier complains about a perceived problem, is inappropriate for this forum? And further, do you believe that this blog has any actual, measurable power to sway public opinion?

Your Boulevardier is skeptical. He believes that people looking for reviews and opinions on commercial establishements will turn to services such as Yelp that aggregate the brainpower of many. (That is why Your Boulevardier often provides links to that service, if a business does not have a website of its own.)

Any and all thoughts on this topic are appreciated. And this provides a good opportunity for Your Boulevardier to thank all readers for your attention, whether or not you choose to comment. (A three-year-old study found that about 90% of blog readers never comment; by extrapolation, that could mean as many as a few hundred of you are out there, but frankly that's doubtful.)

Animal Signs

Your Boulevardier noticed on Sunday that the Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital on Redwood Road has installed a wonderful new sign. The fellow who installed the sign was engaged in conversation this past Sunday and he told the story.

The sign was created by a sculptor named Doug Stuart who lives in Napa County. The design was agreed upon long ago, and in lieu of the finished three-dimensional sign the design sketch was blown up and installed as a flat sign. Of late the paint on that former sign has been failing; Your Boulevardier photographed it for an item that never ran:



Now that the finished sign is in place, a planter will be built around its base and the thermometer will be calibrated. (On Sunday, the instrument on the south (sunny) side read 90 degrees, while that on the shady side read 70 degrees; the latter was more accurate.) The handsome clock itself is battery powered and automatically corrects itself for daylight savings time, leap seconds, and other temporal anomalies. (Your Boulevardier used this opportunity to learn the difference between Atomic Clocks and Radio Clocks; the clock in this sign is a radio clock.)

What's Happened to Hutch's?

Your Boulevardier has been taking his vehicle to Hutch's Quik Lube and Car Wash off and on for decades. Of late he has just used the Quik Lube and let the free carwash certificates pile up in the glove compartment, but today he decided to go the whole nine yards.

The oil change was fine, but the car wash was not.

First, the worker greeted Your Boulevardier as "boss." Why this annoys, one cannot precisely say -- but it does. Perhaps it seems vaguely reverse-classist; I'm a customer, yes, but I'm not the boss. Then began a hard-sell of an upgraded carwash. Your Boulevardier drives a pickup truck, and the vehicle does not require an upgraded anything. After the employee finally agreed to just provide the service that was included with the oil change, the vehicle was left in the vacuum bay.

Eventually the pickup came out the wash and was driven to a spot in the bright sun -- and left there. Nobody dried the car for at least ten minutes; by then, why bother? When the wiping was done (sloppily) and the Armor All was applied to the tires (again sloppily) the employee waved a towel and shouted "truck!" She then proceeded to show off her bloody knuckle to Your Boulevardier; why, it is not clear.

Upon entering the vehicle, Your Boulevardier found that the vacuum job was mediocre at best. It's freely admitted that this vehicle is not easy to vacuum, but a little more care to get crumbs and dog hair from between the seats would have been easy and paid big dividends. There was even dirt remaining under the floor mats.

One other thing to note: Hutch's used to provide a postpaid comment card, coupons for future visits, and a rewash guarantee with all washes. No longer. Perhaps they really don't want to know how they did and don't want their customers to return. It can be arranged.

It pains Your Boulevardier to post a curmudgeonly gripe like this on the blog, but it was not a good experience at Hutch's today.

Echo of the Arts

Your Boulevardier passed the under-construction McDonald's on a walk this blustery morning. Construction is moving apace, though the structure looks nothing like what one might think a McDonald's should look like. In fact, from one angle the new structure looked vaguely familiar.


A walk down the Boulevard and up Redwood Road confirmed (somewhat) Your Boulevardier's suspicion: the gentle arc over the McDonald's facade is not unlike that over the Castro Valley Center for the Arts.

It must actually be said that the McDonald's arc is more stylish. It's gently asymmetrical and airy, while that of the Center for the Arts is plain and heavy. Still, the resemblance is notable.


On the rest of his walk, Your Boulevardier noted a number of other recent buildings with similar arcs, including the remodeled Safeway and the new Taco Bell, both of which are on Redwood Road. (Those buildings' arcs are much less prominent in the designs than the previous two mentioned above.) And, of course, the Wachovia (née World Savings) building is a favorite, but much older, example.

Chronicle Snubs Chabot

Today's San Francisco Chronicle ran an article about the best movie houses in the Bay Area. Sadly lacking from that list is Castro Valley's own Chabot Cinema. So in response to the Big City Snub, Your Boulevardier would like to provide a baker's dozen of reasons the Chabot is wonderful.

1) It's the only single-screen first-run movie theater in the East Bay.
2) Terrific Tuesdays: all tickets just $4.
3) Summer midnight movies.
4) Because it's a single-screen theater, there aren't a bunch of bored-looking folks loitering in the lobby.
5) Several reasonable dining options in the neighborhood.
6) Neon, glorious neon!
7) Food-scrap recycling bins.
8) Reasonable walking distance from BART.
9) New, comfortable seats.
10) Outrageous legroom in the balcony.
11) Movie club gives you free popcorn.
12) No-service-charge online tickets.
13) In-seat concession service (supposedly; Your Boulevardier has not tried this).

If you haven't been to the Chabot recently, please go soon. We, the citizens of Castro Valley, must keep our hometown movie theater alive!

Baker's Square Out, Shari's In

Your Boulevardier notes a news item in the Daily Review saying that the Baker's Square restaurant in Castro Village will become a Shari's. Having not heard of the latter, he did some homework. It's a chain of 100 or so restaurants, headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon but owned by a private investment company out of New York. It will be open 24 hours a day and seems to have a menu not unlike that of Baker's Square -- eggy breakfasts, skillet dinners, salads, pies. Reviews on Yelp range from 2.5 to 4.5 stars. Service seems to be an ongoing challenge. It will be interesting to see how the new establishment does in our town.

Business Exchange Night

Your Boulevardier took advantage of the sunshine this morning and walked into downtown. The streets had been scrubbed clean by the rain (with the exception of the cigarette butts in front of Fura, about which other commenters on this blog have rightfully complained).

Among the things noticed: a poster for Business Exchange Night, sponsored by the Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce and slated for Thursday, February 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Transfiguration Parish. Your Boulevardier would like to attend, but he has a prior commitment; if any readers go, please post a report in the comments.

Put a Fork In It

Your Boulevardier is amused by the signs hawking the lunch special at Tam's Kitchen on Castro Valley Boulevard. Why, you ask? Because knives and forks are used to secure the posterboard to its stake. (But the question is raised: wouldn't chopsticks be more appropriate?)

The food at Tam's Kitchen has not been sampled by Your Boulevardier, but Yelpers' opinions are mixed about it.

More Chinese Food Coming to CV

A stroll through Castro Village today revealed that Chef's Express will open in the former Peking Garden site. From the logo, Your Boulevardier surmises that this will be a branch of the Chef's Experience China Bistro (Yelp link) on Foothill Boulevard in Hayward.

It's a near-certainty that the Wilson Ave Guy will want to chime in on this breaking news due to his careful tracking of the Asian Cuisine scene in Castro Valley.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

When Kris Noceda interviewed Your Boulevardier for his flattering article in The Daily Review, he started with a few general statements: "You blog about Castro Valley, you have a dog, you drink a lot of coffee ..."

The third comment took Your Boulevardier back at first, but he must admit that it is so. Coffee spots do hold a certain appeal, and make regular appearances in these pages. They're good spots to people-watch, and they hold sentimental value: The Trusty BoulevarDog was a regular habitue of Java Bob's when Hanna Carbone owned it, and her photo was taped up next to the cash register. Your Boulevardier remet Mon Petit Chou at Peet's a little over a year ago. An April 2007 post on the topic of unleashed dogs that garnered a bit of debate began with a visit to Valley Java.

But one digresses. Coffee is on the mind today because Your Boulevardier saw yet another article about the effects of coffee on the human body.

If your cup of joe starts talking to you, chances are you're a caffeine addict. People who drink a lot of coffee or other caffeinated beverages are more likely to report hearing voices or having out-of-body experiences than those who go easy on the strong stuff, according to a new study.

Perhaps the colorful characters Your Boulevardier encounters on the streets of the City of Lite are merely hallucinations.

Lady in Green

Your Boulevardier chatted ever so briefly with a charming young woman in front of Liberty Tax Service on Castro Valley Boulevard yesterday afternoon. She's a tax preparer by trade but had been drafted by her employer to don Lady Liberty's green robes and headdress and wave at passing vehicles. In lieu of a flaming torch, she held a festive red cup from Starbucks.

Wearing a big smile, she told Your Boulevardier: "I didn't expect so many people to smile and honk!"

A photo was surreptitiously snapped later on the walk, from the far side of the street. Kindly forgive the poor quality of the image.

That Seeping Feeling

The strange little building at 2659 Castro Valley Boulevard has long mystified Your Boulevardier. For a while it seemed to be a construction firm that built decks and fences of plastic, but as of late it seems to just be another un- or under-utilized business shack. (Castro Valley has many, a fact that will be documented someday when time permits.)

Yesterday on a stroll along the West End, it was noticed that the ground on either side of the building seems to be oozing water. It's not known if there's a broken pipe underground, or if the water is simply natural percolation or seepage from the hill to the site's south. But regardless of the source, it looks somewhat unsafe for the structure -- and the sidewalk, with a bit of algae building up, is becoming slippery. Below are two views of the property, from the east and west respectively.


Is there a geologist in the house? Can anyone tell what's going on here?

Neon Delight

The Chabot Theater is one of the true treasures of Castro Valley. In order to support our local movie house, Your Boulevardier endeavors to see all films that show there -- even when they don't exactly pique his interest. The prices are good, and the staff is friendly. Parking is a problem until one learns about the Bank of America lot behind Jack in the Box. (Of course, it's best to walk to the show.)

Inside, the theater is a funky mix of old and new, with plenty of good seating (particularly so for the first row of the balcony), a serviceable but tiny snack bar, and odd-sized bathrooms (one urinal in the men's room seems to run 24 hours a day). The real joy at the Chabot is outside, though, where its refurbished neon marquee beckons. Your Boulevardier shot this brief video of the sign on January 6, 2009.



Your Boulevardier is not alone in loving the Chabot. Yelpers give it 4.5 stars. Interesting historical information and links can be found in the comments at Cinema Treasures. And a photo of the marquee can be found here (part of pbo31's Flikr photostream that includes several other lovely Castro Valley shots).

Carry Outee ... of Business

As foretold by a commenter not long ago, Carry Outee -- the tiny Chinese takeout place on Castro Valley Boulevard -- closed with the end of 2008. Your Boulevardier only ate food from there once; fact is, he couldn't get past the name, which for some unknown reason evokes the 1970s-era MAD Magazines with which he grew up. But it's clear that the place had a devoted following.

It's in one of three shack-sized businesses all on one large lot on the north side of the Boulevard, just west of El Rancho Steak House. Two are now vacant; Your Boulevardier noted a gentleman on the phone in the third, looking busy, but those buildings do not seem to attract long-term tenants. An electric-bike shop and a trading card company have come and gone in the last few years, along with others that can't be recalled today.

If the climate for commercial real estate were different, Your Boulevardier would suspect that the three shacks would be demolished and one larger structure erected. But the timing for such a move would be poor, and the newish building just to the west of the three shacks -- which has housed a title company, an Indian clothing store, and now a tax-preparation business, along with a Sylvan Learning Center -- testifies to the fact that finding and retaining tenants is not easy these days.

Don Dons His Gay Apparel

A few days back, Your Boulevardier noted that Don, the fiberglass horse in front of Rowell's Saddlery, was looking quite festive in a quilted red satin jacket. But as of Monday of this week, he had doffed the coat and switched to a bridle of red garland. Your Boulevardier suspects this is because the ongoing rain would damage the coat and make it unsalable.



Readers, remember that you can always click on a photo for a larger view.

Night Passages

In the summer, beginning a stroll downtown at 6:30 p.m. is nothing special. But as the calendar nears the Winter Solstice, and when a cold front approaches from the north, it can take on the feel of an expedition.

Such was the case when Your Boulevardier decided to walk into town this evening. He bundled up -- a long-sleeved thermal shirt, a light-but-warm windproof jacket, gloves, and a beret -- and sallied forth.

The cold seemed to slow things down. Cars were scarce and generally polite at intersections. Christmas lights twinkled gently. Most of the few persons who were out on foot were bundled up with hats and coats -- and many were walking their dogs. (Your Boulevardier will be walking his into town again soon; she's well on the mend.) Even the fiberglass horse that stands guard outside of Rowell's Saddlery was wearing a coat -- in his case, a festive quilted satin number. (Your Boulevardier calls the cheval immobile "Don," after Don Castro. He does not believe that anyone else does.)

The parking lot in Castro Village was full, yet the few businesses that were open seemed, for the most part, to be empty. (It seems generally that the retailers in Castro Village don't stay open in the evenings, but the restaurants do.) It was noted that two establishments were busy: Don Jose's was bustling with full tables, and almost all lanes in Castro Village Bowl were in use. Green-and-red holiday messages were displayed on the screens over the alleys.

After a brief stop at the grocery for unsalted butter, Your Boulevardier returned home to bake some Madeleines using this recipe. The cookies taste good but are unsightly. More experimentation is needed.

Postscript to Wudas: a photo of the recuperating BoulevarDog -- also known now as the Spleenless Wonder -- has been snapped and will be posted soon. She is not exposing the five-inch scar on her underbelly in the photo, but perhaps that's for the best.

The Marble-Clad Marvel

Your Boulevardier loves to look at buildings. He has traveled to some great cities in his day, and viewed some fine architecture. The structures in humble Castro Valley may not measure up to those in, say, Chicago or Paris or New York or Florence, but many of them have a certain charm. Your Boulevardier admires a sense of scale, a whiff of whimsy, a hint of history, a dash of detail in a building.

One Castro Valley building that many people pass but precious few probably notice is the marble-clad structure that houses Fura Bodyworks. It was, if memory serves, a lawyer's office for quite some time; today, piercings and tattoos are given -- apparently with some skill. Your Boulevardier sports neither piercings nor tattoos, and he has never set foot in the place. However, this does not detract from his respect for the building itself. (And he does acknowledge the entrepreneurial zeal and local loyalty of Fura's proprietor, Mel Speed.)

But back to the building. In a sense, it is a modern skyscraper writ small. Tiny, even. Vertical stripes of black-and-green marble, alternating with dark windows suspended in bright steel frames, forms a pleasing rhythm not unlike that evoked by Mies van der Rohe in his best mid-20th-century creations.

Not-so-close examination shows that this building is, underneath its stone cladding, simply a construction of cinderblocks. (Everyone who has driven through the Jack-in-the-Box drive-through knows this, in spite of efforts to disguise the fact with greenery.) But the facade the building presents to the street is all style, and even a bit of modernist glamour.

Monday Morning Meanderings

Basking in his newfound fame, Your Boulevardier took to the streets this morning sans chien. (She will come home this afternoon.) The usual haunts were visited: Peet's, where a skeleton crew scrambled to keep up with orders; and the Post Office, where a line of impatient patrons stretched out the door at 9:30 a.m. and parking had begun to get, shall we say, creative.

Around town, a few bits of weekend randomness were noticed. The corner of the curved awning at XOTek Windows (at the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard at Nunes Avenue) had, apparently, been struck by a tall vehicle; stucco lay in chunks on the sidewalk below, and scrapes were visible in the fascia. Across the street, the large concrete refuse container by the Blockbuster Video bus stop had been pushed from its moorings to a random location. (For what it is worth, the container on Redwood Road in front of Safeway, near to Peet's, was shoved from its appointed spot months ago and has never been relocated.)

Your Boulevardier walked up Castro Valley Boulevard, then turned north on Lake Chabot Road a piece. He noticed that the former professional office buildings across from Eden Hospital are being deconstructed from the inside out. While Sazio's Italian Restaurant, Sushi-Ya, and Theadora's Salon seem to cling to existence (though Yelp describes Sushi-Ya as closed), the establishments surrounding them are vacant and stripped to the studs, while the exterior remains largely unaffected. (Gutted like a fish, a sushi-eater might say.) A peek along the culvert behind the buildings finds that the structures' innards have, for now, been tossed out back; from the street, the parking lot looks clean and tidy. This demolition strategy confuses Your Boulevardier, since the debris will need to be hauled back through the buildings before it can be trucked away -- unless, of course, the buildings themselves will be demolished, in which case heavy equipment can be used to scoop up everything. But if that's the case, why bother with the interior demolition in the first place? Why not do as was done at McDonald's -- simply crush the buildings and pick the valuables out of the rubble?

Before and After

Today -- the so-called Black Friday (or Buy Nothing Day, in some circles) -- was a workday for Your Boulevardier. However, he took a post-labor saunter into downtown to run an errand. One would be hard-pressed to describe Castro Valley as "bustling," but folks were out and about on foot and seemed to be of good cheer, generally. Traffic flowed freely. Holiday decorations are up in some shop windows -- a special tip of the beret goes to Deja Blue Salon, whose window looks particularly sparkly and charming after dark. Restaurants had a few patrons as early as 5:30 p.m. Haircutters in the Village Barber Shop sat in their own chairs, looking bored. The reincarnation of Daughtrey's, in the process of closing, was almost empty. The Beneficial Finance storefront by Safeway was closed for good.

By contrast, Your Boulevardier had done almost the same walk at almost the same time on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. As he crossed 580 on the pedestrian overpass, the eastbound lanes were jammed solid as far as could be seen in both directions. Restaurants in Castro Village were absolutely empty, but parking lots throughout town were jammed -- particularly those at the grocery stores, logically enough. The Village Barber Shop was in full swing, with all chairs in operation and all waiting seats taken. Peet's was a veritable mob scene.

It's no great stretch to draw some conclusions from these observations. Perhaps spurred by dropping gas prices, many people were driving out of town for Thanksgiving. Others were meeting friends for coffee after work, and yet others were getting their grooming in order before seeing their extended families. Folks were buying groceries, but were not dining out; perhaps, given the meal that awaited on Thursday, it seemed appropriate to stay home and have a light salad for dinner. The contracting national economy was starting to touch businesses here in town.

As the evenings grow chillier and the days continue to shorten -- and as the economy continues to cool -- it will be interesting to see how our town reacts and copes.