Alamo vs. Lafay/Orinda??? (Walnut Creek, Danville: houses, established neighborhood, theatre)

[Squeaky]

We're moving to the East Bay from the east coast and are looking at houses in the three cities above. What is the "local reputation" of Alamo vs. Laf/Orinda? I can see that Laf/Orin have older more established neighborhoods and that Alamo has the newer homes due to more undeveloped land, but I'm not sure of the people who live in these areas due to not visiting these areas yet. Can anyone provide insight? Thanks much!!!!

[Tallysmom]

Alamo is old money. It's also between Danville, which is nouveau riche, and being developed well and Walnut Creek which is the financial center of the area. The weather is warmer there. There's an old fashioned charm to Alamo -- there are old fashioned feed stores there, horses... but because it's sandwiched in between two very quickly growing areas it sort of feel left behind...

Lafayette and Orinda are cooler temp wise, Orinda, more so -- you still get heat, but it tempers well at night due to the marine layer push we get. Lafayette and Orinda are also wealthy.

Lafayette has been very busy updating their downtown area -- and it's quite attractive. There's a great cash only coffee shop called The Squirrels -- great fluffy omelets and fresh fruit that's always good. Every year Cotton Patch, a local quilt shop, throws a big Quilt Show (I love Cotton Patch). And there's also a small Community Theatre there. And although we've never eaten there, there is supposed to be a great pizza/Italian place with an outdoor cafe section that is wonderful at night. At the end of Lafayette there is a wonderful historical cemetary that is still being used.

Orinda has been split in 2 by the freeway. So there's a very small "downtown" and then there's Orinda Village area, with shopping and a community center. I would hazard a guess there's more money in Orinda... but frankly, Orinda feels more like a bedroom community than a town to me.

Can you tell I like Lafayette?

As far as the people -- I'm guessing here -- from working in a bank at Walnut Creek for 8 years, with an office in Orinda -- Alamo is probably more conservative than liberal, Orinda is more liberal than conservative and Lafayette is more in between.

[Squeaky]

Thank you! This is such great information! I appreciate it - thanks for taking the time to write! Interested to hear other thoughts too.