07.15.08
Posted in OaklandGoods, GoodLife, Grand Lake, The Temescal, Downtown, News, Old Oakland, Events at 9:47 pm by OaklandGoods
Dear friends,
Has it really been two weeks since I last posted..? Ah, well. It’s symptomatic of my hectic life. I’ve got a new job with a crazy commute, which leaves me a lot less time for exploring the newest, best bits of Oakland.
To that end, are there any fellow bloggers out there who would like to contribute to OaklandGoods on a semi-regular basis? I’d love to have a collaborator and to make this a site that’s consistently being updated. If you’re interested, please email me at jessica@oaklandgoods.com with a link to your blog or writing.
For example, I’ve been meaning to write about the Thursday Night Live concerts from the awesome Oakland Events, Marc 49 wine bar, and the current Bastille Day sale that’s on at Mignonne.
The new Marc 49 Wine Bar in Temescal
I also got an appeal for letters of support for Neldam’s. The owner’s taking them to a meeting with the mayor. If you love coconut cake, speak up!
Finally, I just bought a gorgeous shirt from Oaklandish. The signature tree image is great, but there are some really great designs available right now, so check out what’s for sale at their online store (free shipping!) or at the Grand Lake Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
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07.01.08
Posted in DoGooder, Grand Lake at 5:09 pm by OaklandGoods
I had a sighting of our former mayor yesterday. He was hopping into a car at the corner of 27th and Harrison, and a little put off that I was staring at him. I was staring because I was considering begging him to call the current mayor and offer him some help/advice/anything. Oh well.
I was on my way to take part in one of my favorite activities: walking around Lake Merritt. Recently, my walks have been tainted by a broken sprinkler at the corner of the sculpture beach. It’s been dribbling rivulets of water onto the walking path for at least six weeks and driving me nuts. I pointed it out once to a parks employee and she said she’d look into it. That was a month ago. So today, I went online and filled out this handy form. I also called and reported the problem the Public Works Call Center at 510.615.5566. The woman at the call center seemed very concerned about the wasted water. I’ll let you know if the sprinkler gets fixed!
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06.26.08
Posted in The Temescal, Events at 1:22 pm by OaklandGoods
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.
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06.25.08
Posted in GoodEats, GoodLife, The Temescal, Downtown, News, Old Oakland, Events at 10:46 am by OaklandGoods
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.
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06.20.08
Posted in GoodEats, GoodLife, The Temescal, Downtown, Jack London Square at 3:52 pm by OaklandGoods
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
http://www.screamsorbet.com
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06.15.08
Posted in Uncategorized, GoodEats, Downtown, Old Oakland, Events at 10:28 am by OaklandGoods
Dad’s first beer is free at the Trappist (if you buy one for yourself), 2 p.m.-midnight. 460 8th St.
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06.13.08
Posted in OaklandGoods, Events, Rockridge, Neighborhood at 9:13 am by OaklandGoods
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
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06.12.08
Posted in GoodEats, Jack London Square at 12:52 pm by OaklandGoods
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
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06.04.08
Posted in Downtown, Old Oakland, Events, OaklandArts, HarriOak at 12:25 pm by OaklandGoods
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.
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05.23.08
Posted in GoodLife, Piedmont Ave., Jack London Square, Rockridge, East Oakland at 7:07 pm by OaklandGoods
image from Science of Drink
OaklandGoods will be taking a week off to sip mai tais on the beach. You can also get a good islandy feeling by heading to the following places:
*Jamaica - Tropix restaurant has Red Stripe, fried plantains with black bean dip, and the best cornbread in town. (Also, it is not a juice bar. I lived near it for about a year before I realized they serve food.) The back patio, covered in greenery, is one of my favorites on a hot night. 3814 Piedmont Ave. 510.653.2444.
*Thailand - Old Weang Ping Village is a hidden haven. Just east of Mills College, they’re only open for dinner, sometimes sporadically. The food is good - order the sticky rice - but it’s the atmosphere you’re after: a unique combination of lush and funky. If you’re not nearby, it’s worth calling in advance to make sure they’re open. 6217 MacArthur Blvd. 510.430.8771.
*Generic Islandy Atmosphere - The Kona Club, or as I like to call it, The King’s Kona, serves up big fruity drinks in bowls. And who can resist a full menu of tiki drinks? The real reason to come, though, is to see what’s under the hula skirt of the lifesize, hip swiveling doll. 4401 Piedmont Ave. 510.654.7100. For an alternate good Tiki time, try the Conga Lounge, which is supposed to be great, but I’m embarassed to say I’ve never been there.
*The Water - Pop down to Jack London Square and get your butt on a boat. The East Bay Ferry goes to Angel Island, San Francisco, and even to At&T Park on game nights. It’s fun and the fresh air on your face feels great.
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