06.26.08
Stop the Presses!
DeLauer’s Super Newsstand appears to be safe… for now.
In the Temescal Tonight
Temescal Street Cenema tonight is showing the documentary Girls Rock! about Girls Rock Camp, where tweens learn to jam. Bring a chair and tuck in for free popcorn and a screening. 8:30 p.m. at the Bank of the West building, 49th and Telegraph. The free showings will continue on Thursdays through July 17 at the same time. Bike and art events precede almost every screening. Check the movie schedule for more.
Also on that corner, there’s news that wine bar Marc 49 opens tonight at 6:30. If you pass by and see something cool, take a picture and send it over.
06.25.08
The good, the bad, and the party
Good news: Some Oakland businesses are thriving: I popped into now-veteran Tamarindo the other evening for drinks with a friend and ended up weaving through waiting people to stumble out full of poblano chiles and handmade corn tortillas. The new Mixing Bowl, which took the place of the Temescal Cafe, seems to be going gangbusters, too.
Bad News: DeLauer’s is closing. After a hundred and one years, the 24-hour newsstand at Broadway and 13th will close its doors because of flagging business. This comes immediately on the heels of the Cody’s closure yesterday in Berkeley, which just makes me sad. Anyone have news of the current status of Neldams?
Party News: In comparison to the city’s venerable businesses, Mignonne is a relative newbie. It’s celebrating its second birthday Thursday from 5-9 p.m. with a d.j., a raffle, and a huge sale. 1000 Jefferson St. BART: 12th St Oakland.
06.20.08
I scream. You scream. We eat Scream.
No, it’s not ice cream. It’s not even gelato. Scream is the East Bay’s latest frozen delight - and it’s sorbet. Before I go into the delicious, bursting-with-fruit flavors, I need to acknowledge that Scream isn’t technically made in Oakland. However, it’s made on Oakland’s edge, and it’s carried at our farmers markets. On a hot day like today, that’s good enough for me! In fact, Scream’s sorbet makers Nate and Ari buy their fruit and other ingredients at local farmers markets, then process it into the yummy sorbets they bring back to the markets to sell. It’s full circle.
Last weekend I had the good fortune to sample, um, all of Scream’s weekly flavors (they have six each time). I was bowled over by how real they tasted. There’s some indication in the deep colors of the sorbet, but you really have to try it to understand just how much taste can be packed into each tiny spoonful. My favorite was the cherry lime, which was pleasantly tart. I also enjoyed the novelty of the carrot-ginger flavor, which is made without water, so it’s very dense.
Vegans and the lactose averse will love the nut-based flavors, which are rich and fulfilling. In fact, most of the flavors are vegan. Beth, part of the Scream crew, told me that there will be more nut flavors as summer ebbs. For now, grab some strawberry-rhubarb and eat it before it melts!
Find Scream this at Friday’s Old Oakland farmers market or Sunday’s Jack London or Temescal farmers markets.
photos snagged with Beth’s permission from Scream’s flickr stream
06.15.08
Happy Father’s Day
Dad’s first beer is free at the Trappist (if you buy one for yourself), 2 p.m.-midnight. 460 8th St.
06.13.08
Public Service Announcement: Vote!
You have three days left to cast your votes for Best of the East Bay. (And you may vote for me. That would be okay.)
Step on it! Sample Shoe Sale Today
A tipster tells us that Oakland’s own Twenty Two Shoes is having a sample sale today. Drop by for deep discounts on locally designed, Italian made footwear.
5256 College Ave.
510.594.2201
image from twentytwoshoes.com
06.12.08
Chicken & Waffles
A while back, I promised you a post about the amazing delight that is chicken and waffles (but then my friend Mark totally failed to send me the pictures he took of our amazing meal).
For those who are not in the know, chicken and waffles is just what it professes to be - fried chicken and fresh waffles. It sounds pretty good, right? But does it deserve its cult-like following? Probably.
The combination of crispy, savory chicken with syrupy waffles makes for a delightful combination of both interesting textures and salty sweet. My powers of description aren’t really at their best right now, but suffice it to say that the result is delicious.
I ended up eating Oakland’s House of Chicken and Waffles after one of my housemates became obsessed with trying the dish. She rallied about ten people to come over from San Francisco (and you know how hard it is to get people to cross the bridge!) and we headed down to Jack London Square to try this culinary delight. The hype was worth it. HCW is a former Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, and while I’m not sure how and when the transition to family-owned business was made, I’m not sure I really care. The current incarnation is friendly and personal, family run and decorated with murals and quilts.
And the food was great, too. After all the hype, and after spending a half hour on the Web site considering my order in advance, I was a little worried my meal wouldn’t live up to expectations. But it totally did. But the last bite of chicken, I was happily stuffed and pleased to have had the opportunity to try something new.
House of Chicken and Waffles
444 Embarcadero W.
866.421.1482
*Check the Web site for coupons and special offers.*
image from House of Chicken and Waffles
06.04.08
That Time of the Month: First Friday and on Through the Weekend
June’s First Friday is the beginning of a weekend of open studios for Pro Arts members. In their honor, uptown’s Industrielle gallery opening features five Oakland artists. In Old Oakland, Mignonne also has local artists Friday night, and this weekend kicks off new Sunday hours.
Saturday and Sunday there will be studios open all over town. More than 400 artists will participate througout the East Bay. Check out more information here. Friend of OaklandGoods Jemal Diamond will have his work on display in HarriOak. See the flier below for details.
Open studios continue next weekend.
06.01.08
Happy First Birthday to Issues
Go now! I just returned to an inbox full of messages, one of which said Issues, the best newsstand this side of Chicago, is having a birthday party starting at 3 p.m. Prizes will be raffled off! Beer will be drink! 20 Glen Ave. at Piedmont.
