05.13.08
As promised, your photo of Franklin Square
Yes, I know I’m talking about this incessantly. It’s just so pretty!
05.11.08
Sweet! LuLu Rae Confections on Piedmont Ave.
Apparently, it takes two to pay rent at Tango Gelato’s Piedmont Ave. location. Rockridge’s LuLu Rae Confections has moved in with the purveyor of icy treats, bringing their special sweets. Locally produced goodies include XOX truffles. Get your sugar fixes all under one roof at 4184 Piedmont Ave.
image from lulurae.com
05.08.08
A Better Bag
While reading about the Oakland Indie Award nominees, I came across local artist Jenny Hurth, who makes gorgeous bags out of repurposed vinyl billboard and display materials. This isn’t innovative - lots of young designers are salvaging the colorful material - but Hurth’s bags are some of the classiest you’ll find. She also makes notebooks, portfolios, and (and this one is innovative for sure) door curtains. Check them out at http://www.jennyhurth.com/home-new.html.
05.06.08
Franklin Square: here’s how it happened
Details from the Chron about the lovely Franklin Square re-do. It was a joint effort between the owners and the city. As soon as they get those umbrellas back up, you’ll get your photo.
04.30.08
Remainders and reminders
I’m working on a post about the glory that is chicken and waffles, but it’s been a busy week. And yesterday I stopped by Franklin Square Wine Bar for some nice photos of their new outdoor dining area, but the wind was up, the umbrellas were down, and the people were hiding inside. So much for original art! And so, I leave you with these reminders:
1. Oakland Indie Awards are Friday:
May 2, 2008
5:30pm
Historic Sweet’s Ballroom
$20 online or at the door
Register together with a friend and get a 10% discount
1933 Broadway
2. The aforementioned Franklin Square Wine Bar’s West Coast Wine Tasting happens Sunday, May 4, 2008.
Featuring a tasting of six pinot noirs with an editor from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
6:30 p.m. $25 includes wine and light snacks
2212 Broadway at Franklin
04.25.08
Just a note
It shouldn’t be news to the Tribune staff the Old Oakland is hopping at night, especially since the opening of the Trappist, but there is a nice mention that the Washington Inn’s restaurant is getting revamped. Now can the whole place have a re-do? Turn it into a cute boutique hotel, please!
Under the stars
Tonight, the Chabot Space and Science Center hosts it’s quarterly Lunar Lounge event, with a planetarium show, star-gazing through our telescopes, plus live music by a local band, food and drink, and local art.
Even more fun: It’s the opening for The Wave, a kinetic sculpture by East Bay artist Reuben Margolin, who is into creating cool sculptural waves like no one else. (Also, he builds rickshaws!)The Wave will be on display April 23-June 29.
$15 adults/$10 students
10000 Skyline Blvd.
What’s brewing downtown
According to Living in the O, greenie gallery and espresso bar Awaken Cafe has finally opened its doors, on 14th between Franklin and Broadway.
Also, Ozumo has signs up in the Broadway Grand that say “coming soon,” (which I take to mean sometime in 2008)!
04.24.08
B.A.D. Girls come home
If you’ll recall, the 2007 Bay Area Derby Girls‘ season was disrupted by an overzealous fire marshall and the relocation of bouts to (gasp) San Jose. Now the Oakland Outlaws are back on home turf! See them skate in the first bout of the season against the San Francisco ShEvil Dead at Dry Ice this Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m.
Advance tickets are available online at http://www.bayareaderbygirls.com/events.
image from BAD Girls of Roller Derby on Flickr.com
