09.05.08
Posted in GoodLife, Downtown, Events, OaklandArts, HarriOak at 9:38 am by OaklandGoods
Working backward, Tomorrow (Saturday Sept. 9), from 12-4, Mignonne is having a storewide sale and green potluck. Local restaurants including Sweet Adeline and Tamarindo will be serving tasty nibbles and everything in the place is 25% off.
Mignonne is at 1000 Jefferson St.
When I was a kid, one of my favorite summer weekend activities was taking my allowance quarters and riding around my neighborhood in search of garage sales. Multi-family sales were the best, followed by estate sales. In my Oakland neighborhood, the First Christian Church has semi-annual rummage sales with all kinds of useful and fun stuff available. Pop by Saturday, Sept. 6, from 9-3, for this weekend’s sale. 111 Fairmount Ave. Incidentally, the church also rents space to nonprofit organizations, if you know someone who’s looking…
Also, the Art Murmur is tonight. Study the map carefully - they update it often.
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08.27.08
Posted in GoodEats, GoodLife, Jack London Square at 9:18 am by OaklandGoods
One of the perks of writing about Oakland is that I get to go to great events. Last night, I attended the opening party for Miss Pearl’s Jam House in Jack London Square. The drinks were flowing, the island music was lively, and all in attendance were upbeat about the future of the “new” Jack London, with Miss Pearl’s as an anchor. Celeb chef Joey Altman, who revamped the recipes from the original Miss Pearl’s for this new venture, the developer from Ellis Partners, and the CEO of Joie de Vivre hotels, which recently renovated the Waterfront.
With a palm grove in front, seashells on the walls, and a treasure-filled bar, there are no remnants of Jack’s Bistro, the former tenant in this space. A parking lot outside has been transformed into green space and the large restaurant is tiered in a way that allows it to feel intimate and offers the view of the channel to most patrons. At first, I came in the back way through the hotel, but I immediately went outside and reentered through the front, passing beneath the big, neon red Miss Pearl’s sign, to get a feel for what it’s like to arrive at this resortlike haven.
The food was as impressive as the space. I sampled black-eyed pea fritters, mango gazpacho (amazing!), jicama salad, spicy shrimp and crab cakes, and steak with grits and fried onions. The surprise standout of the night was a side dish of black beans (really), which everyone at my table was impressed with.The desserts, which I barely had room for, were also tasty - I couldn’t stop eating the tres leches cake and the tapioca parfait with mangoes and strawberries was heartily endorsed by a local pastry chef and dessert consultant, who ate three.
As my friend and I left dinner, we walked and talked about what a coup it would be to finally revive Jack London. I left dinner with a sense that good things are happening and that maybe the current developer can pull this off (here’s a suggestion - how about a trolley to BART? Street performers? Stores open late?). And if not, there’s some fantastic new food and great atmosphere in the square.
Miss Pearl’s is located at 1 Broadway.
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08.23.08
Posted in OaklandGoods at 8:16 pm by OaklandGoods
Oakblogger Leah Hennen’s guest post on Decor8 today has a slew of recommendations for people unfamiliar with our fair city (and it is fair, have you seen the weather today?). Also, for shopaholics, her post has the best of what to buy from local artisans and in our shops. Check it out!
From top right: Atomic Garden, Entrez, Mignonne, FIVEten Studio, Industrielle - Oakland shopping photos from Decor8.
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08.22.08
Posted in OaklandGoods, GoodEats, Grand Lake, Neighborhood at 5:12 am by OaklandGoods
After several months and a missed attempt (I met a friend for dinner at Camino on a Tuesday. They are not open Tuesdays), I finally got to Camino for dinner.
It was better than anticipated. First, the open, brick-walled space is comfortable and spacious. Family-style tables are welcoming and rustic, and the giant brick oven on the back wall warms the room with its light.
Inspired by the season, my cousin Kate and I shared a succulent heirloom tomato salad with fresh chick peas and a tangy yogurt dressing. I’d never had a fresh chick pea and I was delighted by their green color and springtime flavor. The rehydrated variety will never taste the same.
We also shared the chicken with corn pudding (good, but chicken) and a moist, flaky albacore entree. The tuna was the standout - perfectly cooked, flavorful, and served with pleasantly complementary stuffed squash and tomato confit. It was so good we almost got in a fork war over the last bite. We did not… but only because Camino is a decorous kind of place.
To accompany the meal, I had the Sazerac-like armagnac and absinthe cocktail. I would tell you what it was called, but Camino’s cocktails are unnamed. It was syrupy and bright, and matched the food well. The originator of Camino’s cocktails was written up in San Francisco Magazine recently, so I expected the drinks to be fabulous and was not disappointed. I’m looking forward to heading back to the bar some night soon to try more of the cocktails.
Photo borrowed from sanfranmag.com’s Best Chef story, interior of Camino
Camino
3917 Grand Ave.
call for reservations: 510.547.5035
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08.20.08
Posted in OaklandGoods, GoodLife at 9:43 pm by OaklandGoods
Hi friends! I broke my blog code just in time for my byline and blog website to appear in TuttiFoodie, an Oakland-based-but-national e-newsletter about all things delicious. Check out today’s TuttiFoodie if you’re unfamiliar with the site, and if you’d like to reach me, email jessica@oaklandgoods.com until comments are fixed.
image from tuttifoodie article about eggbeater
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08.19.08
Posted in GoodEats at 3:59 pm by OaklandGoods
Another walk past the guardian angels (and associated news vans) over the weekend reminded me of all the delicious delivery options we have in our city. I don’t recommend being cowed by fear, but if you’re feeling apprehensive (or even just lazy), check the the list of rainy day restaurants I posted over the winter. Oh, and add to that Piedmont Grocery, which will deliver goods for a small fee.
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08.16.08
Posted in Grand Lake, News, Gold Coast at 11:08 pm by OaklandGoods
You may have noticed, as I did, that the Lake Merritt Boat House and Docks is looking more like an actual boat house than the shell of a building these days. The retrofitting and renovation that has been going on since, well, forever, is nearing completion. Soon, it will house a shiny new 350-seat restaurant as well as more boats!
Can’t wait? The annual Oaklandish Radio Regatta is Sunday, August 17, 12-5, at the Lake Merritt sailboat house.
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08.13.08
Posted in The Temescal, Events, OaklandArts at 5:11 am by OaklandGoods
In one of the inspiring responses to my post about frustration with Oakland’s public safety situation, a reader mentioned the Temescal Street Cinema. I mentioned it earlier in the summer, but here’s a picture of the event. I hope it’s back next year!
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08.10.08
Posted in News at 1:14 am by OaklandGoods
Lake Merritt photo from Flickr
A little restoration of the faith: The offending sprinkler has been fixed!
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08.08.08
Posted in Grand Lake, News at 9:12 pm by OaklandGoods
So, I’m sitting in Cafe Di Bartolo (a shout out to free-wifi-purveyors everywhere) and NBC news walks in to interview the owner about crime. How many times have you been burgled, robbed etc..? It got me thinking. I believe that part of the reason I’ve been lax in my blogging is that my enthusiasm for Oakland boosterism is flagging. When great stores have to move because they’re broken into repeatedly and when diners are afraid to go out at night, what kind of a city are we living in?
It’s depressing. And I’m depressed. So cheer me up - what renews your Oakland energy?
Vegan soul food notes to come… soon. Thanks for sticking this one out with me.
___
Update 08/10./08: By the time I left Di Bartolo, ABC’s truck and another news van were camped out in front of the Grand Lake, waiting for the evening’s Guardian Angel patrol. Crazy!
Also, please read the comments on this post - and thanks to everyone who left notes about what they love about Oakland.
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