Local Love – Pleasanton
I’ve been working more and more with/for Thriving Ink these past few months, which is largely the reason for my neglect of this site. But my hope is that my work on their blog and this blog will be symbiotically inspirational. For instance, Thriving Ink’s involvement with the shop local movement got me thinking about my favorite local spots and indie businesses in Pleasanton…
Can you get any more classic Pleasanton than this soft-serve drive-through dairy downtown? I mean, it’s been there since 1968. My sister worked there for a while in high school—as do 50% of people who grow up in Pleasanton—and I kind of want to steal one of her old Dairy shirts…
A somewhat new bakery owned by a friend or a friend of my mom’s. Everything’s made fresh daily. The muffins are amazing. Oh, and she serves Peet’s coffee.
More a crucifix-on-the-wall kind of place than a hole-in-the-wall ind of place, this is the source of the best quesadilla in the world.
I just discovered this little Indian grocery store. Their Roma and Heirloom tomatoes are amazingly cheap, and it has a lot of rarer veggies are often used in Asian cooking. Also, Russian yogurt, aka sour cream. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it with honey.
The original owner Nancy, who opened the salon over 35 years ago, still works there part-time. In fact, the salon’s second owner Jimmy still works there part-time. I worked there 5 years ago, then went to college 400 miles away, and still have yet to get my hair cut anywhere else. That says something. The stylists are truly a family, and they’re all really good at what they do. This plug may be shameless, but only because it’s all true.
Thursday nights. $1.50 tacos. $3.50 well Margaritas and Coronas. My parents introduced me to this.
I know this is by no means a conclusive list. The food favorites go on forever…
You. Me. Sushine Saloon. Sounds about right.
If you want a dairy shirt, I have three in my closet.