Grand-Lakeshore Business News
Two new businesses have opened on Lakeshore in just the past couple of weeks. Rose Quartz did a marvelous job transforming the See's Candies space. It seems much larger and now has marble tiled floors and bright colors. In addition to hand-crafted jewelry, they feature a nice line of hats at moderate prices and other accessories as well. And last Saturday, Kimistry opened just a few doors down from Arizmendi featuring a very nice collection of what I would describe as women's casual clothing. Please stop in and take a look and introduce yourself to the owners, Kimberly and Jason.
Also on Lakeshore, Mezze has just added a Saturday and Sunday brunch available from 9:00AM to 2:30PM on Saturdays and 10:00AM to 2:30PM on Sundays.
Farmers Market News
There's lots going on at the market including some new and returning vendors. For starters, it's the season for Irises as demonstrated by the return of Cadd's Iris Beehive Garden which has been operating up in Petaluma since 1984. . They have a wonderful selection of Iris bulbs in a wide range of colors including black.
Peggy and Helen from Kassenhoff Growers have also returned to the fold with their usual variety of vegetable seedlings and quality perennials which should be available through Thanksgiving.
Two weeks ago, Patrick's Famous White Sweet Potato Pie debuted at the Grand Lake Market. Patrick is from Pleasanton and he's managed to turn a personal passion based on his mother's pie recipe into a viable business.
I've just posted new Farmers Market photos on our Splash Pad Farmers Market gallery including photos of Patrick (Sweet Potato Pie) Caldwell and Anna Cadd. If you agree that my photo quality has improved, credit my official designation as the "Unofficial Photographer" for my Grand-daughter's second birthday two weekends back. There's nothing like a horde of two year-olds on a sugar high to sharpen one's eye and reflexes.
This is my personal favorite from this newest batch of photos. At one end of the market, I glimpsed this lady with an incredible Hawaiian bag that looked a bit like a hula skirt and she was using it as her shopping bag. If you look closely you can see carrot tops sticking out over the edge. Feeling a bit like a stalker, I followed her down the aisle and caught up with her in the Western Sun Floral booth. When I tried to introduce myself, I think she momentarily assumed I was trying to pick her up and looked around somewhat desperately for her husband. Once I explained my purpose, however, she was quite cooperative.
Here's the kicker! I've written repeatedly about the number of people who come to our market from as far as Richmond, Castro Valley and San Francisco. This couple was from Scotland and they seemed to be having a grand time.
One other photo of a woman in a weddding dress urging a no vote on Proposition 8 is also worthy of note. Although it's not strictly speaking a Farmers Market photo since it was taken in front of the Grand Lake Theatre, it is for me emblematic of the wonderful, cultural and political diversity so evident at the market and throughout our much maligned, but still fair city.
As an aside, have you taken note of how the pro-Israeli demonstrators typically occupy one corner and the "Women in Black" the other--but they switch off from week to week? I'm guessing that whoever gets there first "plants their flag" and claims the preferred territory. Sometime soon, I'd love to see them all meet somewhere in the middle and shake hands or better yet, share hugs and, yes, I do mean that metaphorically as well.
Video Recommendation
In our last Newsletter, I provided a link to a Mel Brooks video. Here's a truly fantastic one documenting an African wildlife encounter that you'll love if you haven't seen it previously. It's over 8 minutes long, but I promise it's time well-spent.
Free Plant Exchange Reminder
As reported last month, Odette Pollar is organizing the third of her free plant exchanges from Noon to 4 PM on October 4. Over 200 people participated last year and the quanity and quality of plants available was quite impressive. Visit the Plant Exchange web site for more information or phone Odette at 866-8482 or email plantexchange@hotmail.com.
Freeway Landscaping Work Day Saturday, October 11
The first succulents have been planted on the slope adjacent to the corner of Lakeshore and Lake Park and the next work day will be on the 11th starting at 2:30. Work will be preceded by lunch served at Splash Pad Park just as the Farmers Market is ending. If you'd like to join other volunteers for lunch and a chance to socialize, plan on meeting in the area directly across the street from B of A at 2:00. Trader Joe's will contribute hamburgers and/or hot dogs and beverages while fresh fruit and desserts will be provided by Eric at Paramount Bakery, J & J Ramos and Eddie from EGB Farms. Organizers need to know how much food to prepare, so please reserve a "spot at the table" by phoning Hayden Foell at 919-0816.
Splash Pad Entertainment Calendar
It's getting late and my eyelids are drooping--so here's a list of upcoming entertainment without the links we usually provide. Time permitting, I'll update the online calendar in the next week or so.
September 27: Quake City Jug Band and Eddie Williams.
October 4: Marquis Melody and Fred McCarty.
October 11: That Man Fantastic and Harry Best.
October 18: David McGee Jazz Group and Vic Moraga.
October 25: Keena Webster (of Talking Wood) and the Growieser Band.
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.
