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FeedBest of the East Bay - Shops & Services
Whether you need a tailor, a bike, a collar for fido, or anything in between, Best of the East Bay has you covered.
 | ► Pet Shop | ► Memory Protector |
▼ Pet Shop
Reader Pick
Any good celebrity pitchman will refuse to endorse a product he doesn’t use. Murphy, the eight-year-old golden retriever for whom Murphy’s Paw is named, stands by this principle.
Among the things Murphy would sit, speak, or beg for are the Wacky Walker Leash, which stretches when a canine pulls, and the Knotty Dog, a rope toy filled with salmon and sweet potato treats. Of course, Murphy’s true love is treats, and he insists that the store carries his favorites: rabbit jerky and beef hooves.
Not that it’s all work and no play. When he isn’t working, you can find Murphy sniffing his furry friends at the shop’s Bark and Brew, a monthly gathering with beer and wine that will have dogs and owners alike wagging their tails.
410 Main St., Pleasanton, (925) 600-8925, murphyspaw.com. —Sarah Abfalter
▼ Home Design
Reader Pick
Want your house to be the talk of the town? Head to Danville Interior Design Gallery for courses on topics from painting to holiday decorations. Or drop by the showroom to check out the collection of upholstery, window treatments, and home accessories. If you’re not a DIY decorator, the staff—six women with more than 50 years of combined experience—will take on the legwork and create a truly enviable look.
300 Sycamore Valley Rd. W., Danville, (925) 838-8040, dressthehome.com. —S.A.
▼ Speedy ER Visit
Editor Pick
When I slashed my thumb with a potato peeler recently, the bleeding wouldn’t stop. I dreaded going to the ER, assuming I’d spend hours waiting while those with more severe ailments (understandably) went ahead. But, that’s not what happened at the newly expanded ER at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Wanting to cut down on backups and improve customer service, John Muir has changed its process for evaluating patients—including identifying those who are easiest to treat and attending to them quickly. As soon as I registered, a triage nurse took me to an exam room. Within an hour, I was bandaged and out the door.
1601 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, (925) 939-3000, johnmuirhealth.com. —Martha Ross
▼ Tailor
Reader Pick
Olga Willmann and Olga Butenko of Olgas Atelie can tackle just about any fashion dilemma, offering alterations for men, women, and children, and specializing in designer reproductions (such as a stunning re-creation of silk Marc Jacobs pants we saw on our last visit). Says Willmann, “We work to make sure every woman feels like a model when she leaves our shop.”
91 Gregory Ln., Ste. 1, Pleasant Hill, (925) 825-2327. —S.A.
▼ Shoe Repair
Voter's Voice
“I have been going to Nick's Boot & Shoe Repair since perhaps the day he opened. I was a customer of his father’s shoe repair in Walnut Creek, starting in 1968, when Nick was hardly able to see over the counter. Nick is an artist with shoes, boots, belts, and anything leather. I would not even think of going anywhere else.” -Kathy Elgaaen, Alamo
▼ Memory Protector
Editor Pick
It’s a modern-day mom’s worst nightmare: The computer crashes, taking with it hundreds of digital photos of your kids’ birthday parties and school performances. Thankfully, the computer wizards at the Data Rescue Center—whose software is used by U.S. military and intelligence agencies—can retrieve lost data on hard drives, memory cards, and even smart phones. The process begins with a free consultation, and if your data can be recovered (95 percent can), it is returned, and your drive is recycled. Pricing is steep ($350–$750), but the service is priceless.
307 Ray St., Pleasanton, (877) 501-4949, thedatarescuecenter.com. —LeeAnne Jones
▼ Chocolate Shop
Reader Pick
One step through the door of Danville Chocolates will make any chocoholic think she’s gone to heaven. The brightly colored interior and friendly staff are nearly as inviting as the rows of dangerously delicious treats. The shop carries all the classic flavors, with some surprises, such as the to-die-for white chocolate raspberry bark. Don’t forget to try the Mt. Diablo truffle, a smooth blend of milk and dark chocolates lightly dusted with cocoa powder.
175 E. Prospect Ave., Danville, (925) 314-0001, danvillechocolates.com. —S.A.
▼ Way to Avoid Embarrassment at Your Wedding
Editor Pick
My first contact with Linden Street Dance Studio involved a panicked call in search of dance lessons for me and my fiancée a few months before our wedding. Unlike me, the staff maintained its cool, calmly helping set up a series of lessons that fit into our wedding-saturated schedules. That was typical of our experience at Linden, where between the welcoming environment (including free snacks and drinks), flexible scheduling, and even some free group lessons, the customer comes first. That’s a beautiful thing when you have more important things to worry about—like table linen colors.
130 Linden St., Oakland, (510) 444-3404, lindendance.com. —Ethan Fletcher
▼ Bike Shop
Reader Pick
After 34 years in the biz, Livermore Cyclery has built a great reputation and a great inventory. Whether you’re a serious cycler or a weekend cruiser, there’s a bike here for you: road bikes from top brands Trek and Specialized, a large selection of colorful Nirve cruisers, BMX bikes, and recumbent bikes. And don’t forget about the shop’s repair services or its inventory of accessories, plus the latest in GPS software and mounts to keep you safe on the trails.
2752 First St., Livermore, (925) 455-8090, livermorecyclery.com. —Sarah Abfalter
▼ More Reader Picks
► Antique Shop
Past Perfect, 1463 Newell Ave., Walnut Creek, (925) 932-5020, pastperfectdecor.com.
► Candy Store
Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, 3591 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (925) 299-9866, powellsss.com.
► Car Wash
Lafayette Car Wash & Detail Center, 3319 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, (925) 283-1190, lafayettecarwash.com.
► Computer Repair
Tri-Valley PC Medic, Ken Cook, (925) 485-9040, trivalleypcmedic.com.
► Florist
East Bay Flower Company, 206 Sycamore Valley Rd. W., Danville, (925) 837-3418, eastbayflowercompany.com.
► Furniture store
Elegant Clutter, 702 Sycamore Valley Rd. W., Danville, (925) 837-1001, elegantclutter.com.
► Gift Shop
David M. Brian, 1129 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, (925) 947-1991, davidmbrian.com.
► Handyman Services
Rick's Tooltime, Danville, (866) 824-0004.
► Hardware Store
Ace, various East Bay locations, acehardware.com.
► Independent Auto Repair
Precision Auto Repair, 164-A Wyoming St., Pleasanton, (925) 462-7440, precisionautorepair.com.
► Indie Book Store
Rakestraw Books, 522 Hartz Ave., Danville, (925) 837-7337, rakestrawbooks.com.
► Kitchen Shop
Kitchen Table, 1373 Locust St., Walnut Creek, (925) 937-8888.
► Landscaper
Mork Bros. Landscaping, Martinez, (925) 372-7137
► Party/DJ service
Denon & Doyle Disc Jockey Company, 2245 Morello Ave., Ste. B, Pleasant Hill, (925) 944-5021, djay.com.
► Pet Lodging
Club K-9, 10671 Crow Canyon Rd., Castro Valley, (510) 247-9600, clubk9.com.
► Plant Nursery
Navlet’s, various East Bay locations, navletsgardens.com.
► Shoe Repair
Nick’s Boot & Shoe Repair, 3104-E Crow Canyon Pl., San Ramon, (925) 866-0774, nicksbootandshoerepair.com.
► Wedding Planner
Barbara Llewellyn, 434 25th St., Oakland, (510) 832-1967, barbarallewellyn.com.
