Grand-Lakeshore Retail Survey now online

The Grand-Lakeshore Retail Advisory Group has just launched a community survey to determine what shoppers would like to see in vacant storefronts on Lakeshore, Lake Park, Grand and Santa Clara Avenues. There are also a series of questions that address the overall perception of the shopping district and what kinds of improvements might prove beneficial. The survey will remain open until Labor Day, September 1. To participate in the survey, please log onto the www.glrag.org website. If any further motivation is required, please remember that Trader Joe's and Arizmendi are both here as a direct result of community input. GLRAG hopes to continue that precedent.

While GLRAG is a community-based, all-volunteer effort, it does include Pamela Drake representing the Lakeshore BID and Stu Sweetow (from Audio Visual Consultants) loosely representing the Grand Avenue Business Association. Although I'm much impressed by what the GLRAG membership has accomplished thus far, if it is to reach its full potential, it's going to need additional community representatives over the short and long term. Volunteers are needed to help with distribution of flyers publicizing the survey beginning at the Farmers Market this Saturday. In the longer haul, volunteers are going to be needed to tabulate results and begin reaching out to property owners and prospective tenants based on the survey results. If you'd like to become involved or want more info, email info@glrag.org.

Lakefest 2008

There's a real sense of excitement building as plans for the Lakeshore street festival are being finalized. For details, visit the just-opened Lakefest 2008 website. Especially worthy of note is the inclusion of several musical groups with neighborhood roots on the main stage. Plans for the Community Stage in Splash Pad Park have not yet been finalized but will also likely have a strong neighborhood presence. There's also going to be a Green Living Expo and a large contingent of local arts and crafts vendors. Please do take note that the festival will be heavily dependent on volunteers. If you can help out for at least a two-hour shift, contact Pamela Drake at 834-9198 or by email at pamelad205@sbcglobal.net. Volunteers will be provided with souvenir t-shirts and will be well supplied with snacks.

Farmers Market News

Last month's Oakland Magazine was their annual "Best of Oakland" issue and our own Grand Lake Farmers Market was again voted top honors. The month before the East Bay Express also cited our market as the "Best in Oakland". This is no mean feat given the competition from at least half a dozen other Oakland markets that have their own faithful followings. Congratulations to Jim Fenton, the Market Manager, to the Marin County Farmers Market Association which sponsors the market and to the vendors who help make it such a success.

If you stopped to listen to David Gans play two weeks ago, perhaps you caught the song he wrote that was inspired by shopping at the market. The title, if I remember correctly, is "The Ones that Look the Weirdest Taste the Best". It's really a fun and, at the same time, thoughtful piece. Watch for the CD by the same name that should be available shortly.

In a previous newsletter, I wrote about my crash course in photography. It's been an up and down process and my adventures taking photos on Saturday mornings have been somewhat traumatic. I'm amazed at how many things can (and will) go wrong when one has a wealth of settings to choose from and an almost total lack of necessary expertise. What the heck is ISO to cite just one example? Nevertheless, I'm continuing to take pictures that pass muster--if only barely and posting them in the farmers market Photo Gallery.

The fourth photo down was taken last weekend and is of an extremely personable gentleman named John Evans. Emboldened, perhaps, by the fact that I was carrying a camera with a very big telephoto lens I introduced myself and (tongue in cheek) gave him a hard time for wearing a Yankee's cap in a City of Oakland park. Mr. Evans did not seem amused and taken aback I countered that at least he wasn't a Republican (or so I hoped). Again, Mr. Evans seemed a little perturbed and patiently explained that even Republicans are people. In retrospect, I had to admit that his point of view is certainly in keeping with the open-minded, multicultural community so evident at the Saturday market. In that spirit, I'm naming Mr. Evans our "Shopper of the Month". Next month, I'd like to honor an equally deserving shopper--but hopefully, someone wearing an A's cap.

The second photo posted under vendors is Matt of Phat Matt's BBQ fame who set up at the market for the very first time last Saturday. Matt is an Oakland resident who lives off Keller Avenue. Judging by what I saw and tasted, they should do very, very well. I sampled the marinated Tri-Tip. It was very tender with lots of flavor. I opted, however, for the Pulled Pork lunch which came with rolls, baked beans and potato salad. It too was delicious! Only complaint I had was that it was far too much food. I'm going to lobby for sandwiches or half size plates for those of us with a lesser appetite. Menu also includes Brisket, Ribs and Chicken.

Just to the left of the photo of Mr. Evans is one of a bee collecting nectar in Splash Pad's California Native Plant Bed. I was particularly pleased to see bees there having just read yet another scary article in the San Francisco Chronicle about Colony Collapse Disorder and how it threatened food supplies worldwide. Although no single cause for the disorder has been identified, one likely culprit is the continuing overuse of herbicides and pesticides. It was concerns about the long-terms negative impact of such chemicals that prompted the City of Oakland to ban their use in our parks. Unfortunately, the ban on herbicides and the continued understaffing of the Park's Department has resulted in a proliferation of weeds which provides the perfect segue for the following plea...

Splash Pad Volunteer Work Day, Sunday July 20

As mentioned previously, Splash Pad Park is going to be a major venue for the Lakeshore Street Festival--particularly on Sunday, August 3. Oakland Events is contracting with a maintenance service to steam clean the Plaza and adjacent walkways and we've made a similar commitment for volunteers to weed, prune and rake prior to the event. Work day is scheduled for Sunday, July 20 from 9 to Noon. We'll provide beverages, desserts, fruit and bagels with cream cheese. By popular demand, I've also agreed to dig into my personal stash and offer a genuine Jack Black "NACHO LIBRE" poster to any volunteer who shows up in costume--or for that matter, any volunteer who shows up in work clothes.

In addition to a good turnout on the 20th, I'm in need of a pick-up or the equivalent to transport a table and tools that morning. My 20 year-old Ford van that got ten miles to the gallon is going to the big parking lot in the sky. If you can help out on this score or need more info, please call me at 451-6537.

Grand-Lakeshore Merchant News

Copy Central and Fabmation are moving across the street to the Wachovia Bank Building. John Fabela, who operates Fabmation, is to be congratulated for the new online Lakeshore Directory that provides a virtual reality tour of all the merchants on Lakeshore and Lake Park. In addition, each photo has a link that identifies the tenant and provides a phone number. It's very, very cool!

Public Works Audit

I attended the very first of the community meetings scheduled to allow us, the taxpayers who foot the bills, to talk about the services provided by Oakland's Public Works Department. I was very impressed by what I heard and am optimistic about the quality and thoroughness of the report that will be forthcoming. The last of the community meetings will be Saturday, July 19 from 10 to 11:30 at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Avenue. You can also provide input via an email to the office of City Auditor, Courtney Ruby.

National Night Out

Just in case it's needed, a reminder that National Night Out is Tuesday, August 5. To schedule your own block party, you can register online at Oakland's NNO headquarters. Grand Avenue merchants have their own celebration the same evening that stretches from the Grand Lake Theatre to Safeway scheduled from 6 to 8 pm.

Fire Arts Festival this Weekend

Last year, I gave the Crucible's Annual Fire Arts Festival a huge thumbs-up. On the theory, that a picture (even one I took) is worth a thousand words, here's the equivalent of a three thousand word plug: