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In Memoriam Today's newsletter is bordered in black in memory of the five lives that were tragically cut short this past Saturday. The murder of four Oakland police officers in the line of duty has torn families asunder and left a gaping hole in their hearts. It is an unbearable pain shared by their fellow officers, the Mayor, the City Council and by people from all walks of life here and throughout the United States. It may be difficult for us to similarly mourn for Lovelle Mixon, the young man responsible for this senseless mayhem--particularly since he has also been implicated in a drug-related murder and the rape of a 12 year-old girl. If we can't mourn for Lovelle Mixon, we should at least mourn for all the other young people, the product of dysfunctional families and a dysfunctional society, who are battling rage and experiencing hopelessness. While we'd like to think of this as an isolated event, one image that sticks in my mind is generated by reports that a group of people surrounded the initial murder scene taunting police. What is impossible to fathom is how all this can transpire just over six miles from the park that inspired and anchors this newsletter. It is the venue for a farmers market each Saturday that seems worlds apart. The music, the prepared foods, the produce vendors, the artists and craftspeople and most importantly, the market patrons all reflect the cultural and racial diversity in which Oakland takes such pride. If we have differences, on Saturdays we put them aside. In the best of all worlds, we should be able to transport that magic to all those neighborhoods where, for some, violence and despair are a fact of life or alternatively, bring the afflicted here. Unfortunately, this is not the best of all worlds and solutions are invariably long-term and far too complex. For the present, a healing process has begun with a Vigil Tuesday evening followed by memorial services for the slain officers this Friday at the Oracle Arena beginning at 11:00am. Stub Club Debuts This past week, the Grand Lake Retail Advisory Group's Promotions Committee introduced its very own economic "Stimulus Package". It's designed to put cash back into the pocketbooks of area residents while helping to support locally-owned independent businesses. Aptly titled, "The Grand Lake Stub Club" it allows patrons of the Grand Lake Theatre to use their ticket stubs for valuable discounts from participating merchants. Want an early dinner and then catch the latest flick? You can buy advance tickets and then take advantage of special offers from half a dozen eateries followed by dessert after the movie at "Gelato Firenze" or "L'Amyx". You can, of course, take the opposite tack with the movie followed by dinner or save your ticket stub for use at at any or all of the twenty-five merchants who have thus far signed on as "Stub Club" members. The ticket stubs are valid for seven days. Discounts range from 10 to 20% with some freebies thrown in including a free oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookie from "The Grand Bakery". The Stub Club cards with a list of all participating merchants are being distributed at the theatre and also at the Farmers Market. As an aside, the abrupt closure of the Parkway Cinema comes as a timely reminder of the extent to which the Grand Lake Theatre serves as the anchor and most visible symbol of our Grand Lake neighborhood. Grand-Lakeshore Merchant News As reported last month, the Hallmark shop has closed and remodeling for the new tenant is now proceeding at a feverish pace. I've exchanged emails with Jason Knight (Sway's owner) and their plans will do much to restore the original character of the 1920's era building. The suspended ceiling has already been removed and the brick, structural wall on one side has been exposed. Look for their opening shortly. Further down Lakeshore at 3227A, a southern bistro/barbecue restaurant called "Taste of Joy" has just replaced Cafe Cote D'or. The interior has been tastefully re-decorated and the menu features your standard barbecue fare plus southern specialties. "Taste" is open for lunch and for dinner and for take-out Wednesdays through Sundays. Brian Hill, the owner, is a graduate of the Culinary Academy in San Francisco and has prior experience as the Executive Chef for the Hyatt House in Burlingame and the Omni Hotel in the city. Judging by my own first impressions and the early reviews on Yelp, this is going to be a huge success and a welcome addition to the Grand Lake district. Gelato Firenze has expanded into the space next door and now provides more than adequate indoor seating. Senor Nero's at 3601 Grand has changed hands and is closed for approximately one month to accommodate extensive remodeling. Will provide updates as they become available. Farmers Market Entertainment Calendar
Last Month's Quiz Last month I asked if anyone could match a music schedule with the event at which it occurred. With a little prodding, Victoria Hudson came up with the correct answer--but only because it was she who lined up the headline act--Sean West (then a regular at the Fat Lady) accompanied by rhythm and blues vocalist, Pamela Cannon. The date was September 16, 2000 and the occasion was the Splash Pad Chalk Talks Festival. The event was organized by the Splash Pad Forum as our own build it and they will come "Field of Dreams". The event was a huge success and, as they say, the rest is history. Victoria, by the way, turned down the "Nacho Libre" poster which we offered as a prize saying it didn't fit her decor. Volunteer Opportunities This year's Earth Day Celebration in Oakland will be Saturday, April 18. Although there are projects scheduled throughout the city, the two big ones in the immediate vicinity will be at the Morcom Rose Garden and at Lake Merritt. There's a related, annual event scheduled for Noon the Wednesday before in Frank Ogawa Plaza. The Earth Expo features over 100 local agencies and businesses promoting conservation, recycling and living green. I haven't been in a while, but unless times have changed, look for a lot of neat giveaways. If, for any reason, you can't volunteer for Earth Day, you'll have a second chance on April 25. Gordon Piper whose volunteer efforts are legendary (including the recent re-landscaping of Lakeview School) tells me that a number of projects are in the works cosponsored by Keep Oakland Beautiful and local Rotary Clubs. Splash Pad Newsletter Subscriptions If you have friends, relatives, neighbors or co-workers who may be interested in today's newsletter, please send them this link: http://www.splashpad.org/mostrecent.html. If they choose to do so, they can then subscribe by sending an email to info@splashpad.org. |
