A pretty great week to stay local
A smart weekly look at the East Bay
through the lens of local life, housing, and development.
What the market is telling us
Mortgage rates are basically holding their ground. The average 30-year fixed was 6.66% on August 27, almost unchanged from 6.65% the week before. Freddie Mac says more inventory and slower price growth in many markets are giving buyers more options, even though borrowing costs remain stubbornly high.
The national new-home market is showing the effect. New single-family home sales fell sharply in July, while the median new-home price dropped to its lowest level in roughly four years. That doesn’t mean our local market suddenly became cheap, but it does reinforce what we’re seeing: buyers have more leverage than they did when inventory was extremely tight.
For sellers, that means pricing correctly from day one matters. Buyers are still buying, but they are much less willing to overlook condition, location or an ambitious asking price.
The local read
The East Bay continues to be a very segmented market.
Walnut Creek’s latest three-month median is just under $1 million, up sharply from a year ago, while Lafayette is down year over year and Martinez is essentially flat. Pleasant Hill, Moraga, Orinda and Concord are all showing modest gains.
That sounds contradictory until you remember how different these markets are. A Rossmoor condo, a downtown Walnut Creek condo and a single-family home in Northgate can all be part of the same citywide statistic while behaving very differently.
The broad takeaway right now: good homes are still selling, but buyers are discriminating heavily between the good ones and everything else.
What I’d actually put on the calendar
Walnut Creek
Ruth Bancroft Garden Storytime
Ruth Bancroft Garden | September 3 & 10 | 9:30–10 AM | Storytime, songs and nature-inspired crafts in the garden; free for members. Garden admission applies for nonmembers.
Toddler Storytime & Play
Walnut Creek Library | September 3 | 10:15–10:45 AM | Songs, stories and movement followed by playtime for young children and caregivers.
Family Storytime
Ygnacio Valley Library | September 3 | 10:15–11:30 AM | Storybooks, songs and early-literacy activities for young children and families. No registration required.
T(w)een Lounge
Ygnacio Valley Library | September 3 | 2:45–4 PM | After-school hangout for tweens and teens with activities, crafts and time to relax with friends.
Walnut Creek Aquanuts: Vegas in the Creek
Clarke Memorial Swim Center | September 3–6 | 8–10 PM nightly | The Aquanuts’ 57th annual Labor Day weekend spectacular combines artistic swimming with lights, costumes, props and a massive theatrical production involving more than 100 athletes, coaches and volunteers.
SPININ’ ADAMS + Inner-State ’80s
Retro Junkie | September 3 | 6 PM–1 AM | Bryan Adams tribute plus a full night of ’80s hit covers.
Trivia & Line Dancing Thursdays
Bourbon Highway | September 3 | 6:30–11:30 PM | Trivia downstairs starting at 6:30, followed by line dancing upstairs at 8. All ages; $10 cover.
ØL Beer Cafe Comedy Night
ØL Beercafe & Bottle Shop | September 3 | 7:30–8:30 PM | Thursday-night comedy downtown.
Adult Swim Fridays
Headlands Brewing | September 4 | 8–11 PM | Adults-only Friday night with DJ G-Roy, music and drink specials. 21+.
Folk Music Jam Session 50+
Walnut Creek Arts + Rec | September 4 | 1:30–3 PM | Casual drop-in folk-music jam for adults 50+.
Daft Punk Tribute Party
Retro Junkie | September 4 | 7 PM–2 AM | Live Daft Punk tribute by Glitterazzi SF with DJs spinning electronic, ’80s, ’90s and Y2K favorites. 21+.
Live Country Music + Line Dancing
Bourbon Highway | September 4 & 5 | 6:30 PM–1 AM | Live country music, line dancing and karaoke downtown.
Shadelands Farmers Market + Ask a Master Gardener
Shadelands Kaiser Parking Lot | September 5 | 9 AM–1 PM | Shop the farmers market and bring gardening questions to UC Master Gardeners for free advice.
Tai Chi: Exploring Five Traditional Styles
Behavioral Fitness | September 5 | 9:30–10:30 AM | Introductory class exploring movements from five traditional Tai Chi styles.
Docent-Led Tour at the Ruth Bancroft Garden
Ruth Bancroft Garden | September 5 | 10–11 AM | Guided tour through the internationally known dry garden and its collection of drought-tolerant plants.
Qigong Eight Brocades
Behavioral Fitness | September 5 | 10:45–11:45 AM | Gentle introductory Qigong class focused on balance, movement and breathing.
Fall Neon Scorpion Hikes
Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center | September 5 & 6 | 7–9 PM | Lindsay Wildlife naturalists lead a two-mile nighttime search for local scorpions glowing under ultraviolet light. Ages 6+. The Sept. 5 hike was nearly full when checked.
The Glass Menagerie
Lesher Center for the Arts | Begins September 6 | Tennessee Williams’ classic launches Center REP’s 2026–27 season, with the first preview on Sunday.
Sunday Sessions
1515 Restaurant & Lounge | September 6 | 3 PM | Sunday-afternoon live music downtown
Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market
Downtown Walnut Creek | September 6 | 9 AM–1 PM | Sunday morning produce, prepared foods and local vendors.
Steak Board SundayFleming’s Prime Steakhouse | September 6 | 4–10 PM | Two-course Sunday steak-board dinner downtown.
FREE Labor Day ParKoncert
Civic Park | September 7 | 6–7 PM | Walnut Creek Concert Band closes out Labor Day with movie and musical soundtracks, marches and a free picnic-friendly concert in the park.
Coffee with a Cop
Walnut Creek | September 8 | 9:30–10:30 AM | A casual morning with Walnut Creek police officers, dispatchers and staff over coffee and conversation. T
Tiny Tuesday: Creepy Crawly Critters
Lindsay Wildlife Experience | September 8 | 10 AM–Noon | Special morning for ages 2–5 with crafts, activities and animal encounters focused on insects, spiders and other creepy-crawlies.
Baby Songs & Play
Walnut Creek Library | September 8 | Noon–12:30 PM | Songs, fingerplays, lap bounces and playtime for babies ages 0–1 and their caregivers.
$3 Servicemen & Industry Tuesdays
Bourbon Highway | September 8 | 6:30–11:30 PM | Tuesday night features food and drink specials, karaoke, a DJ and line dancing. All ages.
2026 Elections – A Changing Landscape
Walnut Creek Library | September 8 | 7–8 PM | The League of Women Voters Diablo Valley joins the Walnut Creek Library Foundation for a free, nonpartisan look at changes in election administration, voting access and election law heading into November.
Free Garden Talk: Cover Crop Magic
Shadelands | September 9 | 10–11:30 AM | Mike Corby presents a free talk on using cover crops between growing seasons to feed and improve garden soil.
All-Ages Storytime
Walnut Creek Library | September 9 | 10:15–10:45 AM | Free stories, songs and movement for young children and families, with playtime afterward.
Wild Wednesday Preschool: Hooting and Hissing
Lindsay Wildlife Experience | September 9 | 10:30–11:30 AM | Preschool workshop exploring why owls hoot, snakes hiss and other animals make the sounds they do. Ages 3–5 with a caregiver.
Kids Movie Matinee: Beauty and the Beast
Walnut Creek Library | September 9 | 4–5:45 PM | Free family screening of Disney’s 1991 Beauty and the Beast.
Music on Main: KC’s Side Hustle
Cypress & Main Street | September 9 | 5:30–8 PM | Free family-friendly live music downtown with KC’s Side Hustle.
Sound Bath at the Ruth Bancroft Garden
Ruth Bancroft Garden | September 9 | 6–7 PM | After-hours sound-bath experience among the garden’s succulents and dry-garden landscape. Ticketed.
Boots & Bingo Wednesdays
Bourbon Highway | September 9 | 6:30–11:30 PM | Music bingo and karaoke downstairs, with swing and line-dancing lessons upstairs.
Love & Light Reiki Circle
Unity of Walnut Creek | September 9 | 7:30–9 PM | Monthly Reiki circle and sound bath led by Reiki Master Teachers Michelle Cicala and Maritza Buckman.
Contra Costa Senior Legal Services 50th Birthday Sock Hop
Boundary Oak | September 9 | 7–9:30 PM | A throwback fundraiser celebrating 50 years of free legal services for Contra Costa seniors.
Walnut Creek City Council Candidates at Rossmoor
Rossmoor Fireside Room | September 10 | 4–5 PM | Democrats of Rossmoor hosts City Council candidates Cherise Khaund and Brendan Moran for remarks and audience questions.
Gourmet Gallop
Downtown Walnut Creek | September 10 | 6–8:30 PM | Diablo Ballet’s 15th annual downtown food-and-wine walk features small bites, desserts and wine pairings at restaurants throughout downtown.
Drag Bingo
Barebottle Brewing | September 10 | 7–10 PM | Thursday-night bingo, entertainment, beer and plenty of personality.
World Day of Prayer 2026
Unity of Walnut Creek | September 10 | 7–8 PM | Evening of music, prayer, contemplation and a labyrinth ceremony as part of Unity’s worldwide annual observance.
Walnut Creek Downtown Event Calendar
Bourbon Highway | September 10 | Evening | Thursday night trivia followed by line-dancing lessons and social dancing.
Pleasant Hill
Off the Grid
Pleasant Hill City Hall | September 3 & 10 | 5–9 PM | Weekly Thursday gathering with rotating food trucks, drinks, music and outdoor seating.
Storytime + Stay & Play
Pleasant Hill Library | September 3 & 10 | 11 AM–Noon | Stories, songs and movement for ages 0–5 followed by open play.
Dinosaur Disco Dance Party
Pleasant Hill Library | September 4 | 11 AM–Noon | A little reading and a lot of dancing for young dinosaur fans, best suited for ages 2–5 with a caregiver.
Pleasant Hill Night Market
Chilpancingo Park | September 4 | 5–9 PM | Food, live music, vendors and family activities at Pleasant Hill’s first-Friday Night Market.
Pleasant Hill Farmers’ Market
Pleasant Hill City Hall | September 5 | 9 AM–1 PM | Fresh produce, artisan foods, vendors and Saturday-morning community gathering.
LEGO Builders Club
Pleasant Hill Library | September 5 | 2–4 PM | Free drop-in LEGO building for all ages and abilities.
Naturalist Michael Marchiano: Spiders
Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center | September 6 | 1–2:30 PM | Learn about local tarantulas and other spiders, their life cycles, hunting methods and role in the ecosystem.
Mini Masterpieces: Canvas Art for Teens
Pleasant Hill Library | September 8 | 3–4 PM | Free after-school mini-canvas painting session for middle- and high-school students.
Drop-In Knitting & Sewing
Pleasant Hill Library | September 8 | 6–7:45 PM | Open makerspace session for crafters of different skill levels, with help available for the library sewing machines.
It’s Yoga Kids
Pleasant Hill Library | September 8 | 6:30–7:30 PM | Family-friendly program combining movement, balance, flexibility and mindfulness.
I Heart Toddler Art
Pleasant Hill Library | September 9 | 11 AM–Noon | Storytime and an art activity for toddlers and preschoolers; no registration required.
Pleasant Hill Chamber Business Mixer
Travis Credit Union | September 10 | 5–7 PM | September Chamber mixer open to members and the larger Pleasant Hill business community.
Lamorinda
Storytime Junction: Stay-and-Play
Lafayette Library | September 3 & 10 | 10–11 AM | Storytime is taking a break, so families can drop in for building toys, early-literacy activities, fine-motor play and social time instead.
LEGO Lounge
Moraga Library | September 3 | 4–5 PM | LEGO building, music and creative play for kids and families.
Saint Mary’s Women’s Soccer vs. Columbia
Saint Mary’s Stadium, Moraga | September 3 | 5 PM | The Gaels host Columbia in a Thursday-afternoon home match.
Family Storytime for All Ages
Orinda Library | September 3 | 6–6:30 PM | Outdoor patio storytime with books, songs and early-literacy activities for the whole family.
Mixed Nuts Band: Concert in the Park
Orinda Community Park | September 3 | 6–8 PM | Free outdoor concert with food trucks and classic rock and pop favorites.
Imperfect Circles Discussion Group
Orinda Library | September 3 | 6:30–7:30 PM | Author George Hammond facilitates a monthly conversation exploring human civilization and culture.
Insiders
Lafayette Library | September 4 | 11 AM–Noon | Monthly program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities featuring activities, library resources and opportunities to connect.
Saint Mary’s Men’s Soccer vs. Marist
Saint Mary’s Stadium, Moraga | September 4 | 5 PM | Friday home match for the Gaels.
Dracula
Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheatre | September 4 | Evening | Orinda Starlight Village Players presents a multimedia adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Orinda Farmers’ Market
Orinda Community Center | September 5 | 9 AM–1 PM | Saturday market along Orinda Way with produce and local vendors.
World Studio Craft Series: Maasai Concentric Circle Necklaces
Moraga Library | September 5 | 10–11 AM | Learn about Maasai art and symbolism while creating a beaded concentric-circle necklace. Registration required.
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm: Disney Restoration Series
Orinda Theatre | September 5 | 1 PM | Special presentation of the restored 1938 Shirley Temple classic.
Lamorinda Arts Council Events
Art Gallery at the Orinda Library | September 5 | 2:30–4:30 PM | Free artist reception celebrating the gallery’s September exhibition and featured local artists.
Dracula
Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheatre | September 5 | Evening | Orinda Starlight Village Players presents a multimedia adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Saint Mary’s Women’s Soccer vs. Northern Arizona
Saint Mary’s Stadium, Moraga | September 6 | 1 PM | Sunday-afternoon home soccer at Saint Mary’s.
Live Music Sundays
Headlands Brewing, Lafayette | September 6 | 1–4 PM | Free Sunday-afternoon live music in the beer garden.
Talib Kweli + OvrKast
Siesta Valley Bowl, Orinda | September 6 | Evening | Brooklyn hip-hop legend Talib Kweli takes the outdoor stage with Oakland’s OvrKast.
Labor Day at Headlands
Headlands Brewing, Lafayette | September 7 | Noon–8 PM | The Lafayette beer garden will be open for Labor Day.
Saint Mary’s Men’s Soccer vs. Air Force
Saint Mary’s Stadium, Moraga | September 7 | 1 PM | Labor Day home match for the Gaels.
Monthly Film Series: Frankenweenie
Orinda Theatre | September 7 | 6:30 PM | Special screening of Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie.
Wide Screen Road Show
Orinda Theatre | September 8 | 11 AM | Big-screen classic cinema hosted at the historic Orinda Theatre.
Read to a Dog
Lafayette Library | September 8 | 3–4 PM | Kids ages 6+ can practice reading one-on-one with certified therapy dogs. Registration required.
Preschool Storytime
Orinda Library | September 8 | 3:30–4 PM | Stories, songs and movement geared toward children ages 3–5.
English Learners Conversation Group
Orinda Library | September 8 | 4:30–5:30 PM | Relaxed drop-in conversation practice for English learners of all levels.
Tai Chi
Lafayette Library | September 8 | 6–7 PM | Free weekly introduction to Tai Chi focused on balance, movement and reducing stress.
Toddler Storytime
Orinda Library | September 9 | 10 & 10:30 AM | Two short sessions of stories and songs for ages 1–3 and caregivers.
Moraga Library Storytime
Moraga Library | September 9 | 10:30–11 AM | Stories, songs and movement for babies and toddlers, with older siblings welcome.
Sing Me a Storytime
Lafayette Library | September 9 | 10:30–11 AM | Stories, songs, fingerplays and movement for young children of all abilities.
Lafayette Library Events
Lafayette Library | September 9 | 6–7 PM | Free weekly guided meditation focused on mindfulness, concentration and stress reduction.
September Moraga Book Club
Moraga Library | September 10 | 1–2 PM | Monthly adult discussion featuring Mick Herron’s Clown Town.
Thursday Nights in Orinda: Starlight Village Players
Orinda Community Park | September 10 | Evening | Orinda’s Thursday-night series shifts from music to live theater with the Starlight Village Players.
Dracula
Orinda Community Center Park Amphitheatre | September 10 | Evening | Orinda Starlight Village Players presents its multimedia adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This performance is pay-what-you-can.
Concord
Storytime at Concord Library
Concord Library | September 3 & 10 | 10:30–11:30 AM | Stories, songs and movement designed to build language, early-literacy and social skills.
Music & Market
Todos Santos Plaza | September 3 | Market 4–8 PM; concert at 6:30 PM | Concord’s weekly downtown combination of farmers market and free live music.
Emergency Preparedness Fair
Todos Santos Plaza | September 3 | 5–8 PM | Meet local emergency agencies and learn how to prepare your household for earthquakes, wildfire and other disasters.
Styx & Chicago: The Windy Cities Tour
Toyota Pavilion at Concord | September 4 | 7 PM | Two classic-rock heavyweights share the bill for one night at the Pavilion.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Concord | Through September 7 | Labor Day weekend | Last chance for a summer water-park day before the holiday weekend wraps up.
Vinnie’s Open Mic Night
Vinnie’s Bar & Grill | September 7 | Evening | Weekly open mic featuring local musicians and performers.
Concord Farmers’ Market
Todos Santos Plaza | September 8 | 9 AM–2 PM | Tuesday downtown farmers market with produce, prepared foods and local vendors.
Teen Advisory Group
Concord Library | September 8 | 4–5 PM | Teens help shape library programs and projects, meet other teens and earn volunteer experience.
Country Night at Vinnie’s
Vinnie’s Bar & Grill | September 8 | Evening | Country music, dancing and line-dancing lessons downtown.
Side Gate Trivia Night
Side Gate Brewery | September 9 | Evening | Weekly Geeks Who Drink team trivia with beer, food and prizes.
Read to a Dog
Concord Library | September 10 | 4–5 PM | Children can build reading confidence during individual sessions with gentle Joybound therapy dogs.
Music & Market
Todos Santos Plaza | September 10 | 4–8 PM | Another free Thursday night of live music alongside the downtown farmers market.
Next Stop Comedy
Luna Restaurant | September 10 | 8 PM | Touring stand-up comedy comes to downtown Concord for a Thursday-night show.
Martinez
City of Martinez Events Calendar
Martinez | September 4 | 3:30–7 PM | Diablo Athletic League cross-country practice meet.
Aire Libre Weekends
Escobar Street | September 4–6 | Friday 5–10 PM; Saturday 10 AM–10 PM; Sunday 10 AM–7 PM | Downtown street space opens up for outdoor dining, drinks and gathering all weekend.
First Fridays
Downtown Main Street | September 4 | 6–9 PM | Monthly downtown celebration of art, music and community.
Friday & Saturday Night Out at Nu-Rays
Nu-Rays | September 4 & 5 | 6–10 PM | Recurring downtown weekend street gathering.
Surf Monster
Del Cielo Brewing | September 4 | 6:30–9:30 PM | High-energy surf rock with reverb-heavy guitar, driving drums and plenty of beach-party energy.
Duo Gadjo
Roxx on Main | September 4 | 7–9 PM | Friday-night live music with French café, jazz and gypsy influences.
Martinez Library Storytime
Martinez Library | September 5 | 10–10:30 AM | Stories, songs and fingerplays followed by Stay & Play for young children and families.
The Dream Tellers
Del Cielo Brewing | September 5 | 6:30–9:30 PM | ’70s-inspired rock, harmonies and sing-along favorites.
Roxx on Main Music Events
Roxx on Main | September 5 | 7–9 PM | Singer-songwriter Maisley Wim mixes original music with R&B, pop, rock and country covers.
Downtown Martinez Farmers’ Market
Main Street | September 6 | 9 AM–1 PM | Sunday morning market with produce, prepared foods and local vendors.
Save-A-Life Sunday: Concert for Suicide Prevention
Martinez Event Center | September 6 | 2 PM | Community concert fundraiser bringing local songwriters together in support of suicide-prevention efforts.
Trivia Night
Del Cielo Brewing | September 8 | 6:30–8:30 PM | Tuesday-night team trivia at the Martinez taproom.
Teja Gerken & Doug Young: Wednesday Night Listening Room
Luigi’s Downtown Martinez | September 9 | 6:30 PM | Intimate acoustic guitar performance as part of the Watch Your Tone listening-room series.
Pitch-A-Friend LGBTQIA+ Night
Del Cielo Brewing | September 9 | 6:30–8:30 PM | Friends take the mic and make presentations pitching their favorite eligible singles in a Pride in Martinez edition of the popular event.
Studio 55 Martinez Calendar
Studio 55 Martinez | September 10 | 12:30–4 PM | Alternating-Thursday figure-drawing session at the downtown fine-art studio.
Downtown Martinez Car Show
Main Street | September 10 | 6–8 PM | Free Thursday-evening car show downtown.
Soft Pretzel Making Workshop
Five Suns Brewing | September 10 | 6:30–8 PM | Hands-on workshop making soft pretzels from spent-grain dough, with tips for beer cheese and mustard pairings.
Meetings that matter
Walnut Creek
Design Review Commission | September 2 | 6 PM
Planning Commission | September 10 | 6 PM
The Planning Commission is the main Walnut Creek land-use meeting in this issue’s window. Walnut Creek’s regular schedule puts Planning on the second and fourth Thursdays.
Pleasant Hill
Architectural Review Commission | September 3 | 5 PM
Zoning Administrator | September 10 | 5 PM
Both are worth watching for new development, design and entitlement items.
Lamorinda
Lafayette Planning Commission | September 8 | 7 PM
Lafayette Transportation & Circulation Commission | September 8 | 7 PM
Lafayette Parks, Trails & Recreation Commission | September 9 | 7 PM
Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission | September 10 | 4 PM
Lafayette Environmental Task Force | September 10 | 7 PM
The Sept. 8 Planning and Transportation meetings are the ones I’d watch most closely for land-use and mobility issues.
Concord
City Council | September 8 | 6:30 PM
Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee | September 9 | 6 PM
Council is the main civic meeting this week, with the bike/ped committee worth watching for mobility items.
Martinez
Planning Commission | September 8 | 7 PM
Cemetery Commission | September 10 | 6 PM
Planning is the main land-use meeting to watch this week.
The scoreboard
Latest available local snapshot, three months ending June 2026:
Walnut Creek, including Rossmoor: $997,457 median sale price | 287 homes sold | 18 days on market | +19.1% YoY
Pleasant Hill: $948,484 | 105 homes sold | 14 days | +5.4% YoY
Lamorinda
Lafayette: $1,998,912 | 85 homes sold | 18 days | -8.1% YoY
Moraga: $1,780,281 | 57 homes sold | 14 days | +4.7% YoY
Orinda: $2,012,905 | 68 homes sold | 12 days | +4.4% YoYConcord: $799,565 | 299 homes sold | 17 days | +3.8% YoY
Martinez: $804,562 | 110 homes sold | 16 days | -1.0% YoY
One reminder: citywide medians can jump around depending on the mix of homes that happened to sell. They’re useful for taking the temperature of a market, but not for determining what an individual home is worth.
5 Star Sold Properties
102 Providence Pl
5 beds | 4 baths | 3,338 sqft
$2,348,000
1655 N California Blvd #156
3 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,673 sqft
$1,100,000
1874 Bonanza St, #10
2 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,448 sqft
$1,050,000
24 Jocelyn Pl
3 beds | 3 baths | 1,899 sqft
$1,410,000
1655 N California Blvd Apt 351
2 beds | 1 bath | 1,400 sqft
$965,000
5 Star Pending Properties
4 beds | 3 baths | 2,416 sqft
$1,600,000
3 beds | 1 bath | 959 sqft
$579,000
5 Star Just Listed Property
One smart add-on
Apparently Walnut Creek has a new nickname, and not everyone is thrilled about it.
KRON4 came to town to investigate “The Nut”, the nickname that’s been popping up on social media and, increasingly, on hats and shirts around downtown. Even Mayor Kevin Wilk weighed in after noticing the trend around town.
Some people love it. Some would very much like us to remain Walnut Creek.
I’m mostly enjoying the fact that this has somehow become a local controversy.
The Creek? Dub C? The Nut?
I’ll let you decide.
If there’s an East Bay neighborhood, project, local issue, event, or market question you want me to cover in a future edition, hit reply and send it my way.
– Brendan