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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05.21.08
Posted in GoodEats, GoodLife, Grand Lake, News at 4:20 pm by OaklandGoods
You know I like to dine at new venues before writing them up extensively, so I’ll keep it short: The long-awaited Camino is open. I hear it’s wood-fired heaven.
3917 grand ave
510.547.5035
www.caminorestaurant.com
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05.16.08
Posted in Grand Lake, Downtown, Uptown, News, Old Oakland, Events, Rockridge, Gold Coast, Northgate at 10:06 am by OaklandGoods
According to SF Gate, free Spare the Air days will be few and far between this summer. But June 19 is set for free transit, heat warnings or not.
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Yesterday was Bike to Work Day, but the WOBO party is tonight at Mama Buzz, 2318 Telegraph Ave.
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Imbibe with the elite - The Trappist is hosting a private beer tasting Saturday afternoon. Call 510.238.8900 for reservations.
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Saturday is also the first annual Taste of Rockridge event, from noon-8 p.m. Hit it up for free food and great sales.
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In honor of something called Safe Boating Week, The Lake Merritt Boating Center is giving away rentals and the chance to win free classes on Saturday from 11-5 at 658 Bellevue Ave. Should be a perfect day to be on the water.
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There’s a winemaker’s dinner at Franklin Square, 2212 Broadway, on Sunday featuring Southern cuisine paired with Periscope Cellars wines. Winemaker Brenden Eliason will be on hand to talk about making wine in an old submarine factory (and other things). Call 510.251.0100 for reservations.
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04.08.08
Posted in OaklandGoods, GoodEats, Grand Lake at 9:10 pm by OaklandGoods
If I write about delicious frozen treats, I can will warm weather into existence, right? Last summer, when the weather was perfect, I waited and waited for this little Lake Park storefront to open its doors. And then I waited some more. Some time in the fall it happened, but I was disenchanted and, frankly, too cold for gelato.
But now, ’tis the season to scream for ice cream. (And yes, I’m aware that gelato is different, but you know what I mean). Or rather, ’tis the season for warm weather to be so close you can almost taste it.
At Firenze, I tasted a variety of the offerings before settling on a half strawberry sorbetto, half chai tea gelato cup. It was delicious. And it’s made on site, (unlike Naia and Tango, neither of which are Oakland companies). Soy offerings are also available for the vegan and the lactose intolerant - I sampled some and can vouch for its deliciousness.
If you don’t want to eat in, pints are available to take home. Firenze has one of those customer loyalty cards, too, so buy 10 and get one free. You should be able to do that by the end of summer, right?
gelato firenze
478 lake park ave.
510.414.9997
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03.26.08
Posted in GoodEats, Grand Lake, Events at 7:14 pm by OaklandGoods
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01.30.08
Posted in OaklandGoods, GoodLife, Grand Lake at 5:12 pm by OaklandGoods
In his colorful Grand Avenue shop, Jerry Kuroda has worked for nine years to offer designer window dressings, duvets, shams, and other soft home furnishings. “That pillow place,” as I’ve always called it, is called Queen and the goods are fit for royals.
Choosing from materials including $200 a yard silks and skins, Kuroda custom-makes pillows for every bed and every occasion. He also puts messages and cute phrases on pillows - everything from “Le Petit Prince” to “Life is too short to drink cheap wine.” There’s also the signature pillow adorned with the shop’s crown logo for kings and queens.
For both custom gifts and custom home accessories, Queen offers an array of fun designs and custom colors and fabrics to select from.
queen
3338 grand ave.
510.208.3000
tues - sat
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01.06.08
Posted in GoodEats, Grand Lake at 4:50 pm by OaklandGoods
Clearly I’m no nightlife photographer!
In the former home of a Fast Frame on Lakeshore, the owners of Vine Wine Bar have performed a miraculous transformation, building a posh space with high ceilings, comfy banquettes, and exposed brick where once there was, well, a Fast Frame.
Opened about a week, they’re not quite up to speed yet, but there’s a lot of potential here. In the lovely room, knowledgeable servers help patrons get up to speed on the wine list and the Enomatic, the wine tasting machine. It’s the silver thing in the picture above, and it’s pretty cool. You buy a $20 card, and then choose a wine from the machine for a taste-sized pour. The cost of that taste is deducted from your card, you sip, and repeat the process all over again. Both reds and whites are available to taste, or you can order a glass from the wine list. The server said the machine allows Vine to open bottles of wine that wouldn’t usually be offered by the glass. Some of the offerings include Oakland’s JC Cellars’ Cuvee Syrah and a Napa Plumpjack Merlot.
I was a bit disappointed to find there were no reds by the glass on offer - just the ones in the machine. I tried to order the sangria, but it wasn’t ready. Still, I had a nice glass of Bonny Doon Albarino and enjoyed the atmosphere. Next time I hope to delve into the tasting machine or try some of the wine cocktails. The Pimosa is a combination of sparkling wine and pear cider and the Vinomohito mixes lime with mint and chablis.
The food offerings were uninspiring - the least expensive thing on the menu is a veggie plate at $10. However, the server said they’re still working on the tapas, so next time I’m hoping to find something a little more interesting that’s within my wine snack budget. I did see one of the $12 cheese plates come out from behind the wine bar, and it was beautiful, piled high with cheeses and bread. Also on the menu is charcuterie and beef carpaccio. Sushi is forthcoming.
In addition to reds, whites, a rose, and sparking offerings, Vine has sakes and dessert wines. It’s a lovely place to sit and chat with a friend, and as I conversed with a pal last week, many people from the neighborhood wandered in to check the place out. Once the food kinks are worked out, this should be a place to enjoy for years to come.
Vine Wine Bar
3343 lakeshore ave.
510.444.8463
www.vinewinebar.net
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12.04.07
Posted in Grand Lake, Montclair, Uptown, Glenview at 5:59 pm by OaklandGoods
Ever feel the need to dress your puggle like a ninja? Now you can. Montclair’s Glamour Paws has finally opened and is now outfitting every the village’s with adorable, one-off sweaters, brightly colored bowls, posh leashes, and the aforementioned doggie martial arts gear. The store also offers custom tags and doggie beds as well as grooming services. From pet carriers to dog paintings, they stock a wide variety of goodies for the upscale animal lover.
And if your feline craves goodies like “CatPuccino,” this is the place to pick up treats. There’s a nice selection of cat toys, too.
glamour paws
2052 mountain blvd.
510.338.0144
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Over on Park Blvd, Wags and Whiskers has also opened. I think that brings the number of new pet-related businesses to… Who can even count anymore? The boutique and pet bakery Pawsture opened at 576 Grand Ave several months ago, and I just noticed Just Pet Me at 2545 Broadway, too. They offer doggie daycare and long-term boarding as well as a pet spa.
pawsture bakery & boutique
576 grand ave
510.832.1430
www.shoppawsture.com
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And now, I declare a moratorium on writing about Oakland’s pet businesses. If you launch one, don’t let me know before March.
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11.05.07
Posted in Grand Lake at 10:23 am by OaklandGoods
Q: What do you get when you cross a Berkeley-based tarot reader and a San Franciscan astrologist?
A: A new Oakland business, of course.
When Barry and Rabbit met, they knew they’d each found a kindred soul, so they began to develop plans for their dream business. Their new retail spot on Grand is the result of the melding of minds and practices.
At their store, The Sacred Well, they stock crystals, candles, books, skulls, daggers, dried sage, witches clothes, jewelry, ouija boards and just about anything else people might need to take care of their spiritual selves. They also stock more than 170 herbs for medicinal and magical purposes. Rabbit, who serves as a priestess at a local coven, can offer guidance in their use.
And the idea isn’t just to sell stuff. Both Rabbit and Barry hope to help guide guests along their personal spiritual journies, which they can do by reading your stars or your cards, or by encouraging you to “om” into a giant cone of amethyst (seriously, I stuck my whole head inside).
the sacred well
536 grand ave.
510.444.9355
www.sacredwell.com
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