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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.")

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.

Wonderful Show at PhotoCentral

Mon ami Kate reminded Your Boulevardier that a show of Bill Owens' photography opens this Friday at PhotoCentral in Hayward. Owens is quite a character and a true original; not only did he make a splash as a photojournalist documenting east bay suburban life the 1960s, but by some accounts he also virtually invented the brewpub in the United States. (Buffalo Bill's in Hayward was founded by Owens in 1983.)

Bill Owens: Five Decades of Photography

A look at the fun, eclectic, unexpected photographic work of a Hayward local and internationally known photographer.

Reception: Friday, April 17, 6:30-9:30 pm
Exhibition Dates: April 17 to June 18, 2009
Gallery Hours: Monday, 5:00-10:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Saturday 12-3 pm and by appointment



Yes, this is a rather blatant bit of advertising for the Castro Valley Boulevardier. But this will be a terrific, even historic, show -- one not to be missed.

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.

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.

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.

India comes to Castro Valley

Your Boulevardier, accompanied by mon petit chou, visited the new restaurant in Castro Village, Aroma Cuisine of India, last Friday night. The food was enjoyed and a good time was had. Your Boulevardier is not a restaurant reviewer, but will attempt to describe the visit.

The restaurant was full of patrons upon our arrival at 7:00 p.m.. We had no reservation, so the host escorted us to the adjacent patio and offered hot, spicy chai tea. Eventually a small table was made available toward the rear of the restaurant. The crowd appeared to be a fairly typical cross-section of Castro Valley restaurant diners: mostly Caucasian, mostly older, not without means. (We noted with pleasure that among our fellow diners were a few same-sex couples.)

The table was small and clean (as was the entire restaurant) and the chairs and lighting were comfortable. Indian art and live plants decorated the room. The piped-in music was the only atmospheric element that seemed a bit off-theme. Dishes ordered included Chicken Tikka Masala (chicken in tomato-curry-yogurt sauce), Dal Tarka (lentil puree), Raita (yogurt condiment), and warm Nan (puffy flatbread). A large Taj Mahal beer (brewed in India) and a small Maharaja beer (brewed in New York, promised as the best beer in the world, and proffered with a money-back guarantee) also were consumed.

The dishes were beautifully prepared, simply presented (on stainless steel platters) and delicious. The service was attentive and friendly. While the meal was not inexpensive ($38.33 including tax but not tip) it was well worth it.

After the meal, mukhwas -- candied seeds, eaten as a digestif -- were offered. These are found in a rack near the cash register. Simply scoop a small bit into your hand with the provided spoon and pop it into your mouth for a pleasant breath-freshener.

Mon petit chou knew much better than Your Boulevardier how to navigate an Indian dining experience, and gratitude is offered for her kind assistance. A tip of the beret goes to Aroma Cuisine of India.

Ups and Downs

Your Boulevardier and the Trusty BoulevarDog took advantage of today's bright, cool Sunday morning to stroll the West End. Some things in Castro Valley are looking up, and other things in Castro Valley appear a bit downtrodden. A brief catalog of observations:

Upside: Some time was spent at Valley Java, which was as bustling and busy as ever. A new railing around the outdoor seating area provided a hitching post to which the Trusty BoulevarDog could be secured while coffee and a blueberry muffin were procured. It's good to see a locally owned independent coffee place busier than the forlorn Starbucks on Stilts at the corner of The Boulevard and Lake Chabot Road.

Downside: Properties along The Boulevard are in need of maintenance, especially vacant ones. The former rental yard on John Drive, the vacant gas station at the corner of Stanton Avenue, and the landscaping in front of Tony & Ted's Liquors all look pretty shabby.

Upside: Work has resumed in earnest at the future Saigon Bistro (next to Valley Inn). A workman was there this morning, in fact. New windows and granite facing on the building's front are in place. The windows were obscured so Your Boulevardier could not see what has been accomplished inside, but he noted construction-related vehicles in front of the shop earlier this week so he assumes that progress is being made.

Downside: What in the world is going on at Carry Outee? The lot looks more like a dumping ground with each passing day.

Upside: The Rowell Ranch Rodeo is coming, and businesses around town are preparing for our anachronistic Western festival with window paintings, posters, and other decor. Your Boulevardier, it should be known, is a fan of horses but not of rodeo, and looks forward each year to the Rodeo Parade. This year it is on May 10, and as always the real entertainment begins at around 9:30 when the Castro Valley Community Band warms up the crowd.

Downside: The Daily Review has apparently decided to distribute its newspaper for free in some neighborhoods on an occasional trial basis. (If there is a pattern, Your Boulevardier cannot detect it.) Sadly, people who are not in the habit of receiving a newspaper at home are also not in the habit of picking them up from their driveways or yards, so dozens -- perhaps hundreds -- of yellowed, pathetic-looking papers are littering our streets and sidewalks.

Upside: a new business has opened next to Knudsen's Ice Creamery: Jazzy Crafts. Your Boulevardier has not yet visited -- the grand opening was just yesterday -- but it's always exciting to see people pouring their entrepreneurial ambitions into our town. Best of wishes to the proprietors.

Downside: Your Boulevardier notes with a sigh that election season appears to be upon us. Oblivious to irony, sign-posters for Dennis Hayashi and Loni Hancock have been busy piggybacking their placards onto the signboards that tout vacant real estate about town. Is this honestly the association that these candidates want?