Grand-Lakeshore Retail Survey Update
Thus far, six hundred and eighty-five people have shared their ideas for improving the Grand-Lakeshore shopping district. If you haven't already filled out the survey, it's available on the GLRAG home page until Midnight, Monday September 1. Also, if you have friends and neighbors who might be interested in participating, please pass the word. Finally, watch for a summary of the results to be posted online in the next few weeks.
Haute Couture on Lakeshore!!!
Shirley's Designs at 3405 Lakeshore is hosting a "Trunk Show" featuring Bill Blass's Fall 2008 Collection through September 12. The collection can also be viewed at a Labor Day Fashion Show and Brunch at Mezze's on Monday from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. For fashion show reservations, contact Veda Ambeau at 510 836-3062.
My interest piqued by the banner hanging above the entrance, I stopped in earlier today and had a long, interesting conversation with Veda. I reminded her that shortly after she opened her shop nine years ago, I came in a bit desperate since I was beginning to pack for my 40th high school reunion and found a very prominent moth hole in my suit's lapel--which she expertly re-stitched.
Veda then gave me a quick tour of the premises and pointed out the improvements she's made in the intervening years--transforming an empty shell into a cozy, yet elegant display space with a large alterations facility in the rear. She also pointed out the jewelry case in the front window which is turning into something of an incubator for independent jewelry designers. Currently featured is Amy MacClain Designs.
Around the corner on Santa Clara (just past the H & R Block office), check out Micio Mambo, a boutique that's been open for some nine months. Micio Mambo offers shoes, accessories, jewelry, skin care products and cosmetics--all of which are leather-free and cruelty-free for the environmentally aware consumer.
Back on Lakeshore, watch for the Grand Opening of Rose Quartz, the new jewelry store moving into the See's Candy space in the next couple of weeks. At Oakland Kosher Foods, they've stripped the walls back to bare studs on one side and are making progress towards re-opening. Next door at Papyrus, all the smoke-damaged merchandise has been removed and re-stocking should begin soon.
Farmers Market News
The Marin County Farmers Market Board has just approved funding to pay Our Lady of Lourdes for use of their parking lot to accommodate parking for the Farmers Market vendors on Saturdays. Once this is instituted, 30-40 vehicles including some oversized trucks should be moved freeing up parking spaces for shoppers. Parking and traffic will, however, remain extremely challenging and, if at all possible, shoppers are urged to leave their cars at home.
The free shuttle service provided by Lakefest has actually sparked some initial discussions about the feasibility of providing such a service on Saturdays. We'd love to get some feedback on this question. If a free, regularly scheduled shuttle served the surrounding neighborhoods, would you be willing to use it?
David Gans is scheduled to perform at the Farmers Market on September 13. Although he is still awaiting delivery of his latest CD, insist on his playing the title track: "The Ones that Look the Weirdest Taste the Best". Here's one of David's photos of a tomato that helped inspire the lyrics.
Speaking of photos, I've posted a few new ones on our Farmers Market Gallery. None are on a par with David's tomato, but I was really glad that I had the camera with me when the sound of drums announced the annual "Sistahs Steppin in Pride" parade. Personally, of the photos I took last week, I'm most partial to the one near the bottom of the page showing Jimbo Trout amidst a sea of happy shoppers with a Cache Creek Resort billboard in the background. On a bright and sunny Saturday morning with juicy, ripe fruit in a rainbow of colors awaiting, I didn't notice anyone rushing off to gas up their car and head east.
As long as we're on the subject of fruit, here's this week's Trivia Question: When Carl Reiner asked the 2000 year-old man to what he attributed his longevity, Mel Brooks answered "nectarines" and I'm beginning to suspect that he's right. For any young folks out there who aren't familiar with the "2000 Year-Old Man", here's a two-minute excerpt courtesy of You-Tube.
Homeless Update
We've got good and not so good news to report on the homeless front. The latter concerns Alfred, who had the distinction of being about the only person who ventured into Splash Pad Park in the years immediately preceding its renovation. Alfred did more than venture into the park, he actually camped out there more or less permanently. When the park construction began, he moved a couple of hundred feet and set up camp under the freeway alongside MacArthur Blvd. Thanks to a host of dedicated professionals, for the first time in more than ten years, Alfred now has a roof over his head and when I saw him at the Farmers Market last Saturday, he said he liked his room, his fellow tenants and appreciated the quiet. Some of the many individuals who made this possible include David Waggoner, a first year attorney working with the Homeless Action Center; Kathy McCarthy, a long-time social worker at St. Mary's Center and the HOST program.
The not good news is that Alfred was only one of at least three or four other long-term homeless individuals in our commercial district. Of the others, Norman, who hangs out on the Mandana Green, is of particular concern due to his appearance and behavior and also because of fears that his health is rapidly deteriorating. For the record, the underlying problem stems from legislation that was passed forty years ago when Ronald Reagan was California's Governor. Current law mandates that individuals can not be held against their will unless they pose a danger to themselves or to others. Twice, within the last several months, he has been taken in for observation and released within 24 hours. It's hard to be optimistic in this case, but behind the scenes, a lot of people are looking for ways to help.
Free Plant Exchange, Saturday, October 4
Odette Pollar, my neighbor at 3811 Lakeshore has just announced plans for her semi-annual free plant exchange from Noon to 4 PM on October 4. This has quickly turned into a neighborhood tradition that may quickly outgrow Odette's yard. Visit the Plant Exchange web site for more information or phone Odette at 866-8482 or email plantexchange@hotmail.com.
Love Your Parks Day, September 27
The Oakland Parks Coalition is looking for additional volunteers to assist with their annual survey of Oakland parks and recreation facilities on September 27. The day's events begin with breakfast being served at the Lakeside Garden Center at 8:30 AM. Teams will then fan out throughout the city to assess maintenance. For more information, visit the Love Your Parks OPC web page.
News in Brief
Grand Avenue resident, Michelle Simon, just sent us an invitation to the Next Level on September 16 to hear her discuss her first book, "Appetite for Profit, How the Food Industry Undermines our Health". For more information about Michelle's efforts to fight unhealthy eating habits, visit her web site or read her Daily Kos blog.
Oakland's annual 3-day long Art & Soul Festival begins tomorrow.
Next workday for Hayden Foell's freeway landscaping project is Saturday, September 6 from 9 AM until Noon. Although there's still more ivy to removed, first of the succulents will be planted. Volunteers meet at the chain link gate at the corner of Lake Park and Lakeshore.
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.
