Due to a family thing I'll be in the wc area during the game tomorrow. I'm not too familiar with the area so curious if anyone has any recommendations on decent places to catch the game…

I was thinking of heading to Arties since that's close to where I'll be but not sure if that's the move

Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

NWBear90 said:

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Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

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Much appreciated!

I've only been inside once but Stadium pub has tons of large TVs.
Main St.
I'm sure that'd be the place to go!

If you don't like the crowd for some reason there are other options in walking distance, one of which I now see as permanently closed: Crogans Walnut Creek - what happened??

What's this Dan's Irish Sports bar catty corner to Stadium?
Masses has TVs and pool tables, too big, I didn't like the ambiance. But I did watch an important soccer game there once when the channel was something I didn't get. Like BeIn channel, something like that.

Lemme know what you thought of Stadium Pub for a Cal game. It's surrounded by nice restaurants, fyi. Good walking around area.

Does Tiki Tommy's have sports TVs on?

NWBear90 said:

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Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

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Artie's??
Oh, he's by Treat and Bancroft.
No, dude… I've driven by that place for decades. I wouldn't go in there.

I don't know who you'll be with and what you're wanting to do for the day, but that's just a bar attached to local shopping.

If you don't know Walnut Creek, do yourself a favor and get in the car and go walk around the downtown area. Park at the big Broadway Plaza lot, just pay, and walk to stadium pub, window shopping all along the way. There's too much, you'll be exhausted from the eateries and stores, you won't care about the Cal game anymore.

Walnut Creek's transformation from when I was a kid to what it is now is amazing. No, that's going too far - there is no Ferris wheel or riverwalk. It's "remarkable". And I'm remarking!

There's also the Broadway Pointe parking garage closer, if you just want to walk 2 blocks down Main Street.

Or, stretch those legs and walk down on the Contra Costa Regional canal trail, hang a left on the Iron Horse trail. 2.5 miles, very enjoyable!!
Then Uber back after your beers. Walk and talk before the game, window shop and/or dinner after. Great day plan!

Depends on who you're with of course, but that's be the ticket. Walk the trail! Get those steps in!

NWBear90 said:

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Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

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Had to look it up.
Never been in there but recognize it's one of the new places at Ygnacio and Oak Grove.
I'll have to peek in next time I'm there.

Rocco's Pizza across the way has TVs on but that's more background to the eating. Lots of families in and out here.

Both are surburban strip malls, whereas downtown has its own full scene.

Plus, the trail walk is great. Look in backyards, people watch on the trail.
Do it, man. Do it!

Just had to reply to you specifically so it lights up and catches your eyes. Hadn't done that before.

concordtom said:

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Does Tiki Tommy's have sports TVs on?

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No. It is now a real tiki bar. (Rather than a sports bar with some tiki decorations.)

concordtom said:

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NWBear90 said:

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Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

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Had to look it up.
Never been in there but recognize it's one of the new places at Ygnacio and Oak Grove.
I'll have to peek in next time I'm there.

Rocco's Pizza across the way has TVs on but that's more background to the eating. Lots of families in and out here.

Both are surburban strip malls, whereas downtown has its own full scene.

Plus, the trail walk is great. Look in backyards, people watch on the trail.
Do it, man. Do it!

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sounds like a post from a peeping Tom. Walnut Creek has a "full scene" lol. I grew up there. Drive 20 minutes or jump on BART and go to many of the watering holes on Telegraph or the Kingfish

cal83dls79 said:

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concordtom said:

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NWBear90 said:

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Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

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Had to look it up.
Never been in there but recognize it's one of the new places at Ygnacio and Oak Grove.
I'll have to peek in next time I'm there.

Rocco's Pizza across the way has TVs on but that's more background to the eating. Lots of families in and out here.

Both are surburban strip malls, whereas downtown has its own full scene.

Plus, the trail walk is great. Look in backyards, people watch on the trail.
Do it, man. Do it!

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sounds like a post from a peeping Tom. Walnut Creek has a "full scene" lol. I grew up there. Drive 20 minutes or jump on BART and go to many of the watering holes on Telegraph or the Kingfish

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Well, yeah. Full scene as compared to the prior strip mall options that were suggested!!

On second thought, if he's saying he has to be in Walnut Creek due to a family thing, sounds like he just wants to escape and watch the game on his own, escape the family thing. In that case, maybe Hess or Rocco's is the ticket.
Downtown WC scene is for with friends.

And come on, the trail is a decent walk. Better than streets with cars by a mile!

cal83dls79 said:

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concordtom said:

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NWBear90 said:

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Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

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Had to look it up.
Never been in there but recognize it's one of the new places at Ygnacio and Oak Grove.
I'll have to peek in next time I'm there.

Rocco's Pizza across the way has TVs on but that's more background to the eating. Lots of families in and out here.

Both are surburban strip malls, whereas downtown has its own full scene.

Plus, the trail walk is great. Look in backyards, people watch on the trail.
Do it, man. Do it!

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sounds like a post from a peeping Tom. Walnut Creek has a "full scene" lol. I grew up there. Drive 20 minutes or jump on BART and go to many of the watering holes on Telegraph or the Kingfish

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Exactly get out of that suburban s$ithole where the game is an afterthought and into the life!

Anarchistbear said:

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cal83dls79 said:

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concordtom said:

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NWBear90 said:

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Maybe Mike Hess Brewing? Arties has that depressing professional drinker vibe, Hess could be a big step up.

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Had to look it up.
Never been in there but recognize it's one of the new places at Ygnacio and Oak Grove.
I'll have to peek in next time I'm there.

Rocco's Pizza across the way has TVs on but that's more background to the eating. Lots of families in and out here.

Both are surburban strip malls, whereas downtown has its own full scene.

Plus, the trail walk is great. Look in backyards, people watch on the trail.
Do it, man. Do it!

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sounds like a post from a peeping Tom. Walnut Creek has a "full scene" lol. I grew up there. Drive 20 minutes or jump on BART and go to many of the watering holes on Telegraph or the Kingfish

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Exactly get out of that suburban s$ithole where the game is an afterthought and into the life!

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Except that he specifically stated "where in Walnut Creek?"
And he started with Artie's.

Thanks y'all! I am thinking stadium pub will be the best bet - appreciate the recs!

Go bears

golden beers said:

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Thanks y'all! I am thinking stadium pub will be the best bet - appreciate the recs!

Go bears

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Good choice.
You'll be very happy there!

Signed,

Walnut Creek native
Las Lomas High, 1978

DiabloWags said:

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golden beers said:

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Thanks y'all! I am thinking stadium pub will be the best bet - appreciate the recs!

Go bears

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Good choice.
You'll be very happy there!

Signed,

Walnut Creek native
Las Lomas High, 1978

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Was Lori actually "cool", or is that just her name?
Welcome back.

Crogans has been closed for years.

The old Broadway Plaza is now over-the-top glitzy. I prefer the 'old' downtown including Stadium Pub area. Very walkable, and last I've seen no open drug markets.

CaliCraft Brewing is also super popular, haven't been yet. Do they have TVs? Same for The Greenery.

Blackhawk Grill bar in Danville is comfortable with good food and drinks

Pete's Brass Rail have TVs?

movielover said:

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Crogans has been closed for years.

The old Broadway Plaza is now over-the-top glitzy. I prefer the 'old' downtown including Stadium Pub area. Very walkable, and last I've seen no open drug markets.

CaliCraft Brewing is also super popular, haven't been yet. Do they have TVs? Same for The Greenery.

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As a native, I dont have a problem with the "new" Broadway Plaza.

It's become high-end.
Keeps the rif-raf out.

Outside of downtown Walnut Creek and heading out Ygnacio Valley Road you have the following:

The Greenery at Diablo Hills Golf Club has a ton of TV's and was remodeled recently.
It's big and spacious and has tons of parking not too mention a great view of Mt. Diablo. Also looks out over Heather Farms pool.

The Taphouse at Boundary Oaks Golf Club off Valley Vista Road off Oak Grove Road has also been remodeled. They've got indoor / outdoor seating and a decent amount of craft beers and pub food.

Rocco's Pizza in the Encina Valley Shopping Center at the corner of Ygnacio Valley and Oak Grove Road. Full restaurant as well as a separate Sports Bar that is very long and includes a "Club Room" for teams. Rocco is good people. A huge supporter of all of the nearby high schools. Ygnacio Valley, Northgate, De LaSalle, Carondelet, etc.

Also nearby is Calicraft off Mitchell Drive and Oak Grove Road just past ARF.
It's owned by Cal alum Blaine Landberg. They have a number of TV sets and one big one in the main room.

Very popular on the weekends indoors and outdoors. Lots of families, kids, dogs, etc. taking advantage of the outdoor picnic table seating. Has an Oktoberfest "vibe" to it. Complete with food trucks.
Monday has Happy Hour.
The staff is very helpful.

Northgate High alum Mike Hess Brewing is in the new nearby shopping center at the corner of Oak Grove Rd and Ygnacio. Indoor and outdoor seating, but TV viewing is limited compared to other establishments and it is not a sports bar in any way, shape, or form.

golden beers said:

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Thanks y'all! I am thinking stadium pub will be the best bet - appreciate the recs!

Go bears

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And so?
How was it?

This event in 2016 shuttered Crogan's. It had been getting rowdy there and this was the straw that broke the camel's back:

Man arrested for fatal shooting outside Crogan's Sports Bar & Grill in Walnut Creek - ABC7 San Francisco


https://abc7news.com/man-arrested-for-fatal-shooting-outside-crogans-sports-bar--grill-in-walnut-creek/1488808/

At the time I heard OG and young guy got into it at Crogan's. Young guy felt disrespected and waited for OG to exit Crogan's at 1:30 am and shot OG in back 3 times on the sidewalk in front of numerous witnesses.
In 2018 triggerman got convicted and sentenced to 16 years.

*When I first moved to Walnut Creek in 1982, the only place where girls hung out were Crogan's and WPLJ's by the car wash on N Main.
I think Stadium Pub is a good recommendation.

In the 80s there was also Abernathys.

Was Boundry Oaks restaurant big in the 80s or 90s? I never went.

The old Pinkys had history, and I should have gone to CC Ole's more (Concord). The Cantina was fun on Tuesday. Johnny Methany pushed a bad location next to the high school, and my understanding is that when the Pittsburg / Antioch crowd started patronizing the place, police pulled over a lot of cars and the NAACP sued. I'm told he just missed getting the spot Masses nabbed on North Main.

movielover said:

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In the 80s there was also Abernathys.

Was Boundry Oaks restaurant big in the 80s or 90s? I never went.

The old Pinkys had history, and I should have gone to CC Ole's more (Concord). The Cantina was fun on Tuesday. Johnny Methany pushed a bad location next to the high school, and my understanding is that when the Pittsburg / Antioch crowd started patronizing the place, police pulled over a lot of cars and the NAACP sued. I'm told he just missed getting the spot Masses nabbed on North Main.

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Are you talking about the old comedy club by LLHS?
I remember an article about when that closed down. Been many years now.

bearister said:

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This event in 2016 shuttered Crogan's. It had been getting rowdy there and this was the straw that broke the camel's back:

Man arrested for fatal shooting outside Crogan's Sports Bar & Grill in Walnut Creek - ABC7 San Francisco


https://abc7news.com/man-arrested-for-fatal-shooting-outside-crogans-sports-bar--grill-in-walnut-creek/1488808/

At the time I heard OG and young guy got into it at Crogan's. Young guy felt disrespected and waited for OG to exit Crogan's at 1:30 am and shot OG in back 3 times on the sidewalk in front of numerous witnesses.
In 2018 triggerman got convicted and sentenced to 16 years.

*When I first moved to Walnut Creek in 1982, the only place where girls hung out were Crogan's and WPLJ's by the car wash on N Main.
I think Stadium Pub is a good recommendation.

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Thx for the refresher. That shooting at crogans was discussed here at the time.

I heard WPLJ's was a gay bar???
I used to live at The Keys in the 90's and walked by there all the time en route to bart.

Does anyone remember when the car wash was a roller skating rink in the 70's??

~ perhaps America's last great '70s freeform rock & jazz station, commercial free, is in greater Walnut Creek - Diablo Valley

https://www.kvhs.com/

Black Diamond Brewing on the corner of North Main and Parkside had some really good beer and amazing Bands playing on the weekends. It opened in 1994 and given its proximity to 680 was easily accessible for out-of-towners. Sadly it had to close down after about 12 years because ownership became aware of the waitresses and hostesses banging the bar manager for shifts and a sexual harassment suit was only a matter of time. The ambiance was kind of weird, because the building was essentially a large auto dealer showroom with a massive staircase that went up to a second floor lounge area. The Brewery wound up moving out to Bates Avenue in Concord alongside Highway 4, where it was just a Brewery / Tap Room.

One of my favorite "gems" back in the early 80's was Mountain Jacks at the corner of Mt. Diablo and Pleasant Hill Road (it later became the Hungry Hunter and is now a condo development) next to Highway 24. They had a small Tiki Hut stage inside with live music on Tuesday nights that was simply off the charts.

Speaking of sax players, the Russo Brothers and Mark Russo of YellowJackets fame would play there with some Tower of Power buddies and it was incredble!

Here's Russo playing a solo at Yoshi's some 32 years later:

The John Metheny bar on N Main was Johnny Love's (I think Metheny was an owner of Big Art's on Durant in 1970's).
The comedy club was The Punchline on Botelho Dr. (Closed in 1995).

- which of you musical cats might throw down for 'best going greater CC rock band', with or without a Cal Berkeley alumn bandleader

Sorry to have missed this thread last week, one other place I haven't seen mentioned is Rotator Taproom.

Very strong tap list and they usually have a good to great food pop up, Pinky's delivery for free and welcome other food delivery…oh, and a 4-5(?) big TVs with a large projector.

91Cal said:

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Sorry to have missed this thread last week, one other place I haven't seen mentioned is Rotator Taproom.

Very strong tap list and they usually have a good to great food pop up, Pinky's delivery for free and welcome other food delivery…oh, and a 4-5(?) big TVs with a large projector.

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Good Call on Rotator!






And Pinky's is just around the corner.
Owned by Las Lomas alum from the Class of 1986, Dan Lily.
Dan is good people!

WPLJs wasn't a gay bar, it was a hit or miss place. There was a wall to the left as you entered, apparently the owner in the 80s / 90s had his own private party pad behind there and Raiders memorabilia. It was later opened up. Sunday nights an older crowd showed up and packed the place.

Today it's been reborn as RetroJunkie and looks to be a great success. The front parking lot is now filled with picnic tables, stage, heater lamps, food trucks, and giant video screen? Colorful. They'll have acts outside and inside, it appears a lot going on.

The gay bar is next to 7 / 11, near the Keys.

concordtom said:

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golden beers said:

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Thanks y'all! I am thinking stadium pub will be the best bet - appreciate the recs!

Go bears

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And so?
How was it?

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haha sorry to keep you waiting - i had a great time given the circumstances with the family matter! we got the nachos and the green beans to eat with a few beers. all in all, it was a great day, so i really appreciated the recommendation.

can't wait for next week against auburn, hope to see some of yall there!

Glad you agree!

Did they still have the Pinky's menu at Rotator? They used to have a menu at each table whereby you could order directly from Pinky's and Pinky's would deliver directly to your table at Rotator.

Maybe you missed 3rd eye blind at lower Blake's , Greg Kihn in lower Sproul with Oski or rhe B-52's or the Dead Kennedy''s and jello Biafra?
Oh and a weird band at the Gilman …Green something