AT THE SCENE | I’m taking a lunch break in La Salsa. The people who arrived early were smart as the crowds have definitely thickened in the last couple of hours. Most of the people I’ve interviewed are out looking for the right gift verses trying to load up on deals. Michelle Bock flew in from New York City last night and was in Broadway Plaza by 9 a.m. today. New York has great shopping, “but there’s nothing like shopping in Broadway Plaza,” she told me. She found good deals on boots at Cole Hahn and a handbag at Nordstrom (those are gifts for herself).

Bock was walking around with both arms loaded with about five shopping bags each and was wearing stilettos! I’m not that brave. I’m wearing some sporty maryjanes. If you plan on coming down the Broadway Plaza, where comfortable shoes in case you have to park far away. The sun is out, but the air is crisp and chilly, so definitely bring a jacket.

Stores and sidewalks are starting to get crowded, but there’s still some breathing room and time for those who want to browse and find the perfect gift. Walnut Creek shopping does not cater to the bargain shoppers, but many of the retailers around here are promoting sales and discounts. And, don’t forget Bombay Company is going out of business and has marked down merchandise 40 to 50 percent off.

Happy shopping! My next stop is Sunvalley Shopping Center in Concord!

AT THE SCENE | It’s almost 10:30 a.m. and instead of enjoying a homemade omelet in my apartment, I am downtown Walnut Creek drinking a latte to prepare for the biggest shopping day of the year!

The Saturday before Christmas is traditionally the busiest day of the year for retailers. Lots of people have heard it’s the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. That day is significant as the official kickoff to the holiday season and is a major shopping event, but today is the Superbowl of Shopping.

So far, I would say right now is a great time to come to Broadway Plaza. It’s sunny, there’s plenty of parking (one garage has 500 spots available) and the crowds are still thin. We’ll see how long this lasts before the frenzy begins.

AT THE SCENE | My dear shoppers, you shouldn’t be reading this right now because you should be at a store shopping! I have a confession to make, I haven’t slept all night. I started my Black Friday at the Great Mall in Milpitas, where I did indeed encounter madness. The parking lots and walkways were packed. Lines stretched out doors, several dozen people deep. I waited an hour to make a purchase at Off Fifth, but boy, it was worth it! I got a pair of Seven for All Mankind jeans for $89.99. What a bargain!

Now I find myself in Concord’s Sunvalley Mall, where a lot of stores aren’t even open yet, but shoppers are out and about. The line in Starbucks is ridiculous! I’ll have to get my much needed latte elsewhere. So far, most of the shopping bags I’ve seen say Sears or JCPenney, which have been open for a few hours now.

I have mostly been reporting for my articles, but I will be taking advantage of some of today’s great deals like a $70 trench at Bebe (it’s on hold right now). My next stop: a coffee shop where I can get in and out in five minutes!

AT THE SCENE | After climbing six very steep blocks up California Street in San Francisco to make it to Shecky’s Girls Night Out, I arrived thinking, “this better be good.” And it was.

The event was like shopping on steroids: loud music, bright lights, chatty women everywhere, waiters making the rounds offering free (yes, I said free) drinks. It was like an homage to shopping: women’s shopping. The event was set-up like a fair with vendors exhibiting their wares including clothes, make-up, beauty products, handbags, exercise programs and adult products (the fashionable woman is a multi-tasker).

The best thing about the soiree was the energy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many giddy and well-dressed shoppers in one place. Everyone walked around like, “I’m fabulous and I know how to shop!” I guess that’s a result of the $10 cover fee ($30 with the goodie bag).

If you missed the Girls Night Out, fret not. Just check out Shecky’s Web site and indulge your inner shopping diva.

AT THE SCENE | Shecky’s, a Web site dedicated to living fabulously, is hosting a Girls Night Out shopping event in San Francisco until 10 p.m. tonight. I’m not quite sure what the event is exactly, but I’m going to check it out and I’ll let you know. Apparently the event is sold out, but no worries. I’ll bring the scoop and maybe some freebies back for you, dear readers!

AT THE SCENE | Would you wait an hour in the check out line for groceries? Most people would say no, but the shoppers who flocked to today’s grand opening of the new WinCo Foods in Pittsburg. I saw hundreds of people in lines that snaked all the way to the back of the expansive store.

They talked on cellphones, clipped coupons or just stared blankly at the person ahead of them. I commend those shoppers for their patience, but an hour or more to check out?!! That’s like Disneyland!

The things I hear most about WinCo are that it has rock-bottom prices and a wide selection of bulk foods ranging from chocolate chips to dry pasta. Today, the store offered some specials like $5 pinatas, 18 cents for a pound of bananas and Betty Crocker cake mixes for 68 cents. But as one shopper told me, the savings add up with each product. I saw a number of people with two carts full. Amazing!

Here are maps with both Bay Area locations in Pittsburg and Brentwood.

Be sure to check out tomorrow’s paper for the full story!

AT THE SCENE | I visited the new aerie shop in Sunvalley and was surprised at how much I liked it. (check my previous post for more info on aerie). The store is neat and organized with white shelving and dark hardwood floors (nice touch for a store that caters to teens and college students!).

aerie has given pajamas and intimates the young, cool treatment: bright colors, cute prints and comfortable designs. The bra and undie section offers lots of variety minus the awkward, oversexedness of other intimates shops.

Second, the prices are not rock bottom, but not over the top, either. Sturdy hoodies were marked at $40. Thick fleece pants are $35. Babydoll T’s with shiny stripes ring up at $25. Panties are 4 for $20.

But, of course, as any smart shopper should do, I made my way to the clearance section. There I found a pair of deep purple and white polka-dot pajama pants. They were priced on sale for $19.99, but rang up at $11.95! What a deal!

If that wasn’t enough the light my shopping fire, the cashier asked me to pick out a ribbon to tie my shopping bag. Completely unnecessary, but kind of nice. Later on I opened the bag and found a stuffed, scented bird inside. It’s perfect for adding some freshness to a clothing or sock drawer. It’s nice details like that make retailers memorable and keep shoppers wanting to come back. Bravo, aerie!

An overview shot of Draeger’s in San Mateo.

AT THE SCENE | I can’t even count how many times in the last year someone has said to me: “You’ve never been to Draeger’s? You have to go to Draeger’s!” And to my surprise, I do agree, Draeger’s is a different kind of grocery store.

The retailer will open it’s fourth location and first East Bay store tomorrow in Blackhawk Plaza, so I decided to visit the one in San Mateo. You can check out my full story in tomorrow’s paper.

Yes, it’s expensive, as good food is these days, but Draeger’s gives grocery shopping a luxury treatment I wasn’t expecting. Shiny floors, elegant signs and logos, bright lights, imported stuff everywhere — it’s like shopping at Nordstrom!

I have to admit, if I wasn’t the poor journalist that I am, I would love to shop at Draeger’s. Unlike Whole Foods, where everything feels earthy and natural, Draeger’s feels like a string of pearls or a seat in first class. Even if you can’t spend a lot there, it’s nice to at least walk around.

Deborah Cruz stops to chat while shopping at the new Lucky Store in Pleasant Hill.

AT THE SCENE | So Lucky Stores have comeback to the Bay Area after an eight-year hiatus (read about it in today’s Times) and although some shoppers loved the chain back in the day, what matters now is how Lucky measures up in today’s competitive grocery industry.

I interviewed Deborah Cruz (see photo above) yesterday about her experiences with Lucky. The store reminds her of growing up in San Leandro and shopping there as a kid. To see the name resurface makes her feel nostalgic and curious enough to visit some of the new stores, but how much she’ll spend is another matter.

She was impressed by the 89 cents per pound pork roast and the store looked clean and well-organized, she said. But, she did notice some meat with green along the edges. “I didn’t buy it,” she said.

Cruz, who lives in Concord, told me if she had her way, WinCo Foods would open a store nearby. She says she likes that stores selection of bulk items and rock bottom prices. The closest location to her right now is in Brentwood.

For now, Lucky is a shorter trip. “Hopefully Lucky can keep the good reputation,” Cruz said. “And, the prices will stay within reach.”