The Bancroft Gardens are beautiful. If you're here around Christmas time they have a great display…read moreof lights. It's called Garden D'Lights. It's only open for a few weeks and tickets sell out. If you have a NARM membership they accept it. I had no idea and I paid on my first visit. I figured it's not a Museum so it wouldn't be included, but it is so upgrade your Museum membership to NARM and enjoy this along with other museums. Downtown Walnut Creek is a must go to place if you love to shop and looking for more high end stores. They even have a Dr, Martin, Lululemon, tesla, Bath and Body works, North Face, Apple, Free People, Tiffany's and many more. Just google Broadway plaza shopping map and all the stores will populate. There anchor store is Nordstroms and Macy's. The Nordstrom even had its own cafe. If you are craving Chocolate they have a Sees Candy. For Valentines one year my husband got me a heart necklace at Tiffany's and had it engraved. It's a sentimental piece. Lesher Center for the Arts is a great theater. We've seen some good shows here. Nothing too big as they have limited seating. They have a tribute band for Elton John and another one for the Beatles coming up. They also have musicals and plays here. Model Bakery is a must visit. They make their own English Muffins and they are to die for. We always get a package and bring them home. Our neighbors turned us on to them when they were only in Napa. I was shocked that they opened a shop in Walnut Creek. Google them they are amazing. Northgate High School is a very good school, it's a college prep school, they are a public school, but they breed Ivy League students. The unique thing about his school is only the classroom near the locker back has windows. It's virtually a windowless school. People move to Walnut Creek just to go to this school. The Lindsay wildlife Experience used to let you check out animals such as Guinea pigs and rabbits. Now they just do pet education. You can see many animals there, it's comparable to a mini zoo for small animals. Look them up if you are an animal lover. It's geared to kids. They have summer camps for kids. They have Junior Bee keeping experience for the kids, after school programs and guided hikes. That's just a touch of what there is to offer in Walnut Creek

Review 2 of 3. Time for an update only because I found 3…read morelistings for the City of Walnut Creek?!?! To my wife and daughter; it is a 5 star city. I rate it as a 3 star city. So 4 stars it is. Quality/Quantity - As a kid growing up, this was "yuppie" land. Bart (two stations) made it easy to commute to the "city." And they had affordable housing, especially compared to SF. Still more affordable than SF! Almost 20 square miles. Population of 70k+. If you are following, we ONLY go to the Apple store here. They have the best employees at the Apple Genius bar. Restaurants are a hit and miss. Today's Yelp search took me to many places OUTSIDE of the city?!?! But it was a VERY positive experience; see Habana Express review in Pleasant Hill. Atmosphere - Well, we (my wife and daughter) really only spend our/their time in the downtown shopping area. I really just eat when I am here, at least they let me pick the restaurants; yes for Yelp, lol. I also think the area is congested, but not today. And that they really should have free all day shopping, I mean parking, lol. They are doing me a favor, well not really, as I have to move the car for the family if they exceed 3 hours. In theory, if they leave before 3 hours, it saves me/us $$. Today, we were here for less than 3 hours. Service - Good, as this city caters to a more affluent customer. Walking historic tours available, see website. Price - Above average, as this city caters to a more affluent customer. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1849. 1951 - Broadway Shopping Center, now "Broadway Plaza." No, I am not that old, lol. 1973 - BART opened in Walnut Creek. Grew the population 300% that decade!

The Laurel is a real mixed bag. I recently moved to this area after having just been…read moreowner-move-in-evicted from where I lived for the previous 8 years in Temescal. It wouldn't surprise me if this is the next area to start seeing increased development and an influx of people seeking less expensive real estate. The main commercial strip of the Laurel District is pretty seedy -- a bunch of awful to mediocre restaurants, dive bars, more beauty salons & clothing boutiques than 2-3 blocks might seem to support. The brightest spots seem to be the hardware store, Anasa yoga studio and Peter's Kettle Corn. The Laurel has no farmer's market. Available grocery stores (two) are a bit overpriced with produce that seems rarely cleaned over and often a bit swampy with a poor selection of organic. The Redwood Safeway is quite possibly the most awful Safeway I have ever visited -- I first went there about 7-8 years ago and was absolutely appalled. Now I'm just annoyed if I have to go in there (like to get ice or something) -- service is bad, produce is poor, and let's face it -- Safeway barely has anything that resembles "food" and nothing local. All of Lincoln Square is going to be undergoing renovation (a subject for another review). The most highly rated coffee shop smells like cleaning products and going in is like going to a private club where you weren't invited (after waiting for a bit -- not looking at my cell phone -- and being ignored as the people behind the counter carried on conversations with others, I left). There are constant reports of people losing cash as they leave ATMs, stories of burglaries at vacant houses and door-kick ins while people are home come up on the neighborhood lists every week. The neighbors are VERY good about paying attention to stray dogs and cats -- but even they are speeding and running red lights between their houses and the freeway. Watch where you walk in the Laurel and Allendale -- no cars stop, even when 2 or more cars approach a 4 way stop (I've seen the drivers act as though it's a de facto round-about). You really do take your life in your hands if you walk anywhere in this neighborhood. Take extra care on 35th Ave/Redwood -- the speed limit is 30 but people usually speed at 50+ Restaurants -- I just can't even get into this subject without sounding completely negative. Of course the Laurel District doesn't have the same caliber of restaurants as Temescal/Rockridge/Piedmont -- yet. What we have is very poor choices almost like being in a food desert: Americanized Chinese food, and a lot of standard American diet choices like greasy pizza, fried chicken, doughnuts and (ugh) hot dogs? In the place of a discount packaged grocery store on MacArthur, a "Planet Fitness" is going in soon. It will be interesting to see if this helps bring up the quality of what is offered on the cluttered, redundant retail strip. Until then -- I'll spend most of my money elsewhere, especially when it comes to dining and groceries.

It is coming along. Great places are starting to pop up. The…read moreLaurel is small but, it packs a punch!

I was in Walnut Creek the week of March 2nd 2025. I had a good experience in Walnut Creek. It's a…read morevery nice place to live and visit. The streets are clean and well maintained. There are very few potholes. The landscaping is very pleasant to look at and water tolerant. There is a lot of high-end shopping in Downtown in the Nordstrom's shopping center. Across from Heather Farms there is another shopping center with Sports Basement and TJ Max which is more budget friendly. There are plenty of restaurants in Walnut Creek. There are some higher end restaurants in downtown plaza area. My favorite Breakfast spot is the Bagel Cafe on the corner of Ygnacio and Oak Grove in the Ace Hardware shopping center. My favorite dinner spot is Fish Grill in the Safeway shopping center also on the corner of Ygnacio and Oak Grove.

Review 3 of 3. Time for an update only because I found 3…read morelistings for the City of Walnut Creek?!?! To my wife and daughter; it is a 5 star city. I rate it as a 3 star city. So 4 stars it is. Quality/Quantity - As a kid growing up, this was "yuppie" land. Bart (two stations) made it easy to commute to the "city." And they had affordable housing, especially compared to SF. Still more affordable than SF! Almost 20 square miles. Population of 70k+. If you are following, we ONLY go to the Apple store here. They have the best employees at the Apple Genius bar. Restaurants are a hit and miss. Today's Yelp search took me to many places OUTSIDE of the city?!?! But it was a VERY positive experience; see Habana Express review in Pleasant Hill. Atmosphere - Well, we (my wife and daughter) really only spend our/their time in the downtown shopping area. I really just eat when I am here, at least they let me pick the restaurants; yes for Yelp, lol. I also think the area is congested, but not today. And that they really should have free all day shopping, I mean parking, lol. They are doing me a favor, well not really, as I have to move the car for the family if they exceed 3 hours. In theory, if they leave before 3 hours, it saves me/us $$. Today, we were here for less than 3 hours. Service - Good, as this city caters to a more affluent customer. Walking historic tours available, see website. Price - Above average, as this city caters to a more affluent customer. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1849. 1951 - Broadway Shopping Center, now "Broadway Plaza." No, I am not that old, lol. 1973 - BART opened in Walnut Creek. Grew the population 300% that decade!

HOA Experience at Yerba Buena Lofts - Executive Summary…read more A bathroom renovation at 855 Folsom Street highlighted several challenges with the HOA approval process, construction coordination, and building infrastructure. The project involved a standard, non-structural bathroom remodel. However, the HOA approval process extended over three months, characterized by delays and limited clarity around requirements and timelines, making project planning more difficult than expected. During construction, on-site coordination and communication with building management were limited, and interactions with front desk staff were, at times, not consistently professional, affecting the overall working environment. The experience also revealed infrastructure constraints, including the lack of individual unit water shut-off valves, which can complicate maintenance and impact other units during plumbing work. Additional observations included suboptimal original bathroom layouts and noticeable sound transmission between floors. Overall, the experience raised concerns about HOA responsiveness, communication efficiency, and certain building system limitations. Prospective owners and owners may wish to carefully evaluate renovation procedures, infrastructure constraints, and expected levels of HOA support before undertaking similar projects.

I've lived in Yerba Buena Lofts (YBL) for six months now and so far, I'm loving it!…read more YBL is a condominium building in the heart of San Francisco, right in the Yerba Buena District of SoMa. The complex was designed by famed architect Stanley Saitowitz and finished construction in 2002. It has received dozens of accolades from architecture experts around the world. There are 200 units in the building and 89 layouts - there's only two of most layout designs, and four of a few. Personally, I looked at quite a few, but it wasn't until I found mine that I fell in love. Every design offers something different. All have balconies and some (on the fifth floor) have huge 500 square foot patios! All have very open floor plans, but some have enclosed bedrooms in addition to the loft. Some have spiral staircases, others have a straight staircase. The top floor units all have skylights and slightly higher ceilings. The ground floor units have front and back entrances and are zoned for live/work. Most units have at least one parking space deeded to them, which also offers a safe place to lock your bike. My unit still has the original appliances - the GE Profile series. It's unbelievable to me that are still working perfectly after 16 years - they must have been the best quality available at the time. In fact, most of the units I looked at have original finishes - which is to say, nothing breaks! It's incredibly how high the quality of everything is - appliances, fans, faucets, sinks, bathrooms, flooring, lighting, etc. One thing I think all the units have in common (as far as I can tell) is being incredibly sound proof. I've never heard any of my neighbors, and as far as I know, they've never heard me (phew!). The people in the building are awesome. My neighbors are all friendly and considerate. I've become close friends with several already. Phyllis and her team take great care of us at the front desk. They not only keep us safe, but they brighten up our day! I've never been in a building that has such consistently friendly and upbeat front desk staff. Of course, they also take care of packages, mail, and a lot more! Diane is the building manager, and she does a great job keeping everything running smoothly. I don't know the maintenance or cleaning staff's names yet, but I also appreciate their work and friendly smiles. The elected HOA also seems quite strong. In my diligence of YBL and many comparable buildings, YBL had the most clean financials, no assessments, and plenty in reserves. There's a lot of construction in the neighborhood now, but that's going to pay off big time in 2 years or so (2020-2022). The 4th Street muni will have a stop right on the corner, which will offer direct access up to BART, financial district, and China Town, or down to Caltrain, Dogpatch, AT&T Park, or the new Warriors Stadium. The location can't be beat: -- Safe, walkable neighborhood -- Yerba Buena park 2 blocks away -- Metreon (mall + movie theater) 2 blocks away -- Westfield Mall 2 blocks away -- Whole Foods Market 1 block away -- Zero Zero, Oola, Jamber, Subway, Mr. East, Vitality Bowls, Contraband Coffee and more across the street, and dozens more restaurants within walking distance including Marlowe, Benu, Cockscomb, CoinOp, Chipotle, etc -- Several hotels nearby, including Virgin Hotel, with a beautiful rooftop bar (opening soon) Transportation couldn't be closer: -- BART 2 blocks away -- CalTrain 3 blocks away -- MUNI at the corner (completing 2019) -- 80/101 South onramp 1 block away -- 80 Bay Bridge onramp 2 blocks away -- 280 South onramp 3 blocks away I could go on and on! So glad to be living here - I hope you'll join me!

OVERALL I have to say Belmont is quite nice with affluent houses on hills, small town feel stores,…read moreand friendly people. I parked in a residential street and a guy watering his front yard pointed out that I had left my lights on. A complete stranger yet looking out for a fellow person. Located next to San Carlos and very near Redwood Shores. DRIVING Be sure to turn your wheels appropriately depending which way you're parked on the hill. Watch out for deer crossing. If you're lucky which I have been lately you will see a whole family of deer crossing the street or grazing alongside the road. 101 and 280 can be used to get to Belmont. WEATHER not as hot as South Bay but definitely not as cold as San Francisco.

Belmont is a beautiful little city tucked away beside San Mateo. I lived here with my grandparents…read morewhile attending community college before transferring to Cal. My favorite thing about Belmont is it's trail system. Throughout Belmont Heights and the surrounding neighborhoods is a sprawling trail system that goes around water dog lake and beyond. it's always a lovely place to hike/stroll or bring friends. Another good hike in Belmont is the watershed. The San Francisco Watershed provides beautiful hikes with views of crystal springs reservoir all on an internationally known cross country course. It's truly magical to go for runs or hikes here, especially in the crisp belmont mornings! Belmont is a fairly affluent city that is mostly quiet and very safe. It has close-knit neighbors and organizations and good eats! I love exploring new little places in the surrounding area. I hope i can afford to live in Belmont myself some day. It really is that great!

Saint Francis Wood is a historic neighborhood with tree lined streets, detached homes, and walking…read moredistance to West Portal. A rare change of scenary in a dense city, and for all the space you get, prices seem sane by San Francisco standards. Found a nice remodeled home needing just a few fixups. I'm sold! All seems very nice, until you need to touch any part of your house exterior, all of which requires HOA approval and written permission from 5 of your neighbors. Want to replace that broken window? Wait up to a month to attend an "architecture committee" review. Sit and wait until it's your turn in the hours long session. An unelected old boys club will grill you on why you chose what you did instead of what they think looks nice. Oh by the way, they only want all wood windows from high end brands, and you better have material samples in hand. Want to repaint your house? Submit paint samples. Paint a sample on your house exterior so your neighbors can see before seeking their approval. Find a painter willing to put up with this. Want to change your frontyard plants? No worries, draw up a detailed plan, and the committee of men who I wouldn't even trust to water my plants will tell you what you should plant instead. A major remodel? Ha! You better ask a board member to recommend you a contractor they know, if you know what I mean. I heard the process goes a lot more smoothly then. I felt like I paid millions of dollars to live in a condo with a stiffling HOA. I could not be happier to have finally freed myself from this nonsense.

St. Francis Wood Is one of San Francisco's oldest neighborhoods with beautiful fountains, parks and…read morelandscaping. When purchasing in SFW you receive the information on the St Francis Wood homeowners association and the CC and Rs that go along with the properties. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and participate in the homeowners association. People take pride in their properties in this neighborhood and there are simple design guidelines that are very similar to San Francisco's that you are required to follow. It is very easy and quick to work with the HOA and as a group their hard work is much appreciated by the neighbors.

The narrow park around two sides of the canal is located in the Mission Bay Area. It's peaceful and…read morechill during the day, convenient to walk around, although there's homeless people hanging out.

I hope my pictures show how much we appreciate the beauty of the park and channel, despite the…read moreuntrained, unleashed, doodles and retrievers lol those are ironically the only breed/ mixes who lunge, chase, and bark at us. The parks are gorgeous; the landscaping crew does an amazing job, and there have been less off leash dogs accosting us recently.

Full size baseball diamond with lights for night time play, various rooms for daily dance and…read moreaerobic classes, and my personal favorite, 4 lit tennis courts also ready for night time play. After most of the world goes home to dinner after dark, all I have to do is to go inside the community center to ask them to turn on the lights. It guarantees that I have a court to myself because nobody plays tennis at night around here! There...I let the secret out, but I don't think there are many tennis players in Millbrae now that summer is over anyway.

Great venue. Huge space that you can turn into any dream party/ celebration you want! Staff was…read morevery friendly and helpful from choosing the place all the way through our party. They kept checking in with my through the party to see if I needed anything. I even tried to announce something to the huge group and the staff realized I was having a hard time, so they found a mic for me so everyone could hear. I would recommend having a party here to anyone!