Old Biz and More New Biz(Nesses): From the Fish Bowl

Lamorinda Patch eschewed the Wild West after-hours bar fight scene in Walnut Creek (what's going on over there?) and kept it local this weekend, hitting a few hotspots in Lafayette and Moraga and keeping our tax dollar in play on our Patch.

At , the locals were out and about and seemed ready to party, and bar conversation ranged from the state of the economy (in recovery mode? No? Still years to go?) to the recent string of successes by the Saint Mary's men's hoops squad (hey, what else can you safely talk about over a cocktail these days?).

A jazz combo kept things light but attracted the ire of some fans who said the "noise" prevented them from hearing the game so the old "One man's noise..." adage leapt to mind.

At , an amped up music system kept the conversation intimate with bartenders leaning in to catch an order and couples going face to face across their tables to be heard. Maybe that's the idea? My wordsmith companion passed on a drink called The Hemingway and took the barman up on his offer of a J.D. Salinger, but then mysteriously vanished and could not be found the rest of the evening (inside joke).

And, in keeping with an accidental Noise-related theme for the evening, it was back to the for "Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close" and a line to see that movie. We should have known what we were in for when we saw people carrying boxes of tissues and, yes, it was as teary as you've heard and, yes, the child actor star is amazing. There's a September 11th hook to the film people still feeling that horror should be aware of and it can bring a lot back so... be careful. Great movie, though.

And a check of the revealed a couple of new submissions last week with a business card from Glamorous Boutique in Lafayette (1048 Brown Ave.) and the dish on owner Eliza Jambokian -- who apparently is going to make some fashion conscious ladies in town very, very happy. 

Also on the fashion front, but with a very different age demographic in mind, is Tiny Feet -- which caters to the younger set and will make sure they are well shod. They've set up shop in .

That's it for now. If you're starting a business in Lamorinda, be sure to let us know by writing us here.