Waverley between University and Hamilton

Five Ten Gifts

A fun and funky boutique and gift shop, Five Ten Gifts at 510 Waverley.

Palo Alto Sport Shop & Toy World at 526 Waverley

More info at: http://www.toyandsport.com

Prolific Oven Bakery & Coffeehouse at 550 Waverley

For more info: http://www.prolificoven.com

Congdon & Crome Stationers & Office Furniture at 552 Waverley

Hong Kong cuisine at Tai Pan, 560 Waverley

More info at: http://www.taipanpaloalto.com

Cafe Renzo

Our favorite restaurant that we patronize the most is Cafe Renzo at 473 University Ave.

Cafe Renzo at night

For more info: http://caferenzo.net

Joya Restaurant

Joya Restaurant at 339 University has been called contemporary Nuevo Latino. It specializes in terrific tapas dishes.

Joya restaurant and lounge.

For more info: http://www.joyarestaurant.com/

2 Restaurants that always seem to be empty

O Sushi House at 403 University Ave.

 It is a large space and one never sees more than two or three customers. Use to be the site of Taxi's Hamburgers.

Round Table Pizza at 263 University

There are a lot of pizza places and Italian restaurants that serve pizza on and near University Avenue. They all seem to be popular, busy, and full of customers except this place.

University Cafe

University Cafe at 271 University Ave.

Good place to meet friends or people watch.

Sessions Opens

Santa Cruz retailer, SESSIONS, has opened an apparel store at 435 University. It specializes in action sports clothes for snowboarding and skateboarding.

Sessions at 435 University Ave.

More info at: http://www.sessions.com/

New coat of paint

The pedestrian tunnels under the CalTrain tracks on University Avenue got a new coat of paint.

Walkway under the CalTrain tracks

Food Fallout

Two eating establishments have recently closed a couple doors apart on University Ave. Gone are Han's Korean Bistro and Michael's Gelato & Cafe.

Han's Korean Bistro gone at 452 University

For Lease at 440 University. Was Michael's Gelato & Cafe

This makes for a retail dead spot along with the closed Border's Books and vacated old Apple store location at the intersection of University Avenue and Kipling Street.

More Furniture on University

Furniture stores on University Avenue:

Design Within Reach at University and Kipling

Design Within Reach at 447 University Ave

 More info at: http://www.dwr.com

The Modern Living at 524 University Ave.

More info at: http://www.modernlivingtoday.com

Interior shot of Restoration Hardware at 281 University.

For more info: http://www.restorationhardware.com

The new West Elm at 180 University Ave.

More info at: http://www.westelm.com/

Hamburgers and Flowers

Workshop Burgers Bar & Grill and Mills Florist

Mills the Florist has been in business since 1903. They are the oldest florist in Palo Alto.
More info at: http://www.millsflorist.com

Verizon Wireless store

Verizon Wireless 

Before the building was a cell phone store, it was Domus, a kitchen and gift store. And before that it was Stacey's Bookstore.

For more info: http://www.verizonwireless.com

Are you hungry? One building, three eateries

Sushi Tomo, Haagen-Dazs and Subway all in the row.

LiveGreene closing store

Closing before the end of November.

The store is moving to live in the internet and in a new showroom space. The space was previously a bead shop.
More info at: http://www.livegreene.com/

Two new furniture stores open in downtown

Looking in the front door of West Elm

West Elm along with Pottery Barn is owned by Williams-Sonoma.

For more info: http://www.westelm.com

Inhabiture Furniture at the corner of Hamilton and Ramona.

For more info: http://inhabiture.com/furniture-store

Palo Alto Bike Racks

Bike Arc is a modular bike park system.

Bike Arc headquarters at 116 University.

Bike arc at University and Cowper

More info at: http://www.bikearc.com/

Pasta Q ? closed

Pasta ? closed at the end of October

The word is that it will reopen with the same owners but new name and menu. There is still a Pasta ? in Mountain View on Castro St.

California Shoe and Luggage Repair

Our favorite shoe and luggage repair store is located at 556 Emerson St., near Bell's Books. We have always had fantastic service.

We've had our shoes resoled and our travel luggage repaired here.

Bell's Books

Bell's Books is a wonderful store to shop in. It is one of the last remaining book stores in Palo Alto. It has an amazing selection of new and rare books. Family owned since 1935. Located a half-block off University Avenue at 536 Emerson Street.

Interior shot of Bell's Books

Window display of Wizard of Oz.

For more info: http://www.bellsbooks.com/

Giants Sweep the World Series

Let the merchandising begin. Get your World Series Champion T-shirts.

Ready to offer your Giants' jerseys, T-shirts and paraphernalia.

The New Apple Store Opens

The new Apple Store opened on a beautiful Saturday morning (10/27/12)

The Apple Store Saturday night.

Film crew recording the opening

Your blogger, Ed, checking it out

Closed sign on old store location

For more info: http://www.apple.com/retail/paloalto/

Halloween Ready??

Empire Vintage Clothing at 443 Waverley has a fun selection of clothes

More info at: http://empirevintageclothing.com

Frankenstein double feature at the Stanford Theater

More info at: http://www.stanfordtheatre.org

Elinor Cogswell Plaza Renovation

Cogswell Plaza is getting a face lift. Located on Lytton Ave (one block from University Ave) between Ramona and Bryant streets. 

Cogswell Plaza is named in honor of Elinor Cogswell, editor of the Palo Alto Times from 1938 to 1954.

La Boulange Breakfast

Just a couple people out for an early Monday morning breakfast at La Boulange Bakery.

For more info: http://laboulangebakery.com
La Boulange Bakery was bought by Starbucks back in June.

New Apple store under construction

The construction of the new Apple store has been kept tightly under wraps. But I think I see an illuminated Apple logo behind the curtain.

More info at: http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/18/apple-store-palo-alto/#s:340-university-apple-store-rendering

Artist rendering of new Apple store in Palo Alto, site of the old Z Gallerie and way before that of Liddicoat's Grocery.

UPDATE: A little bit more has been unveiled.

Form-fitting curtain on new Apple store.

Lavanda closes, Campo Pizzeria coming

Lavanda Restaurant and Wine Bar has closed. 

Signs in the windows say it will reopen as Campo Pizzeria.

For more info: http://www.campopizzeria.com

West Elm opening soon

Getting ready to open soon (Oct. 17th, 2012) the is furniture retailer West Elm.

The location was previously an Ann Taylor apparel store and before that the Magnolia Audio Video electronics store.

West Elm along with Pottery Barn is owned by Williams-Sonoma.

For more info: http://www.westelm.com

Thyme to Eat Persian Bistro

Restaurant change: Thyme to Eat Persian Bistro replaces 

the Indian restaurant Hyderabad House.

Thyme to Eat is run by the former owner of Robaii Falafel and Persian restaurant that was on the corner of Hamilton and Cowper.

Flor opens

The new modular carpet store, Flor. I love their designs and colors.

For more info: http://www.flor.com