by Ken Katz If you shopped the Farmers Market on Saturday, you likely saw the Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA) booth with a gorgeous chalkboard poster as its centerpiece. Kudos to Lorenzo Galvan, an employee at Ikaros, for stepping up to the plate at the last minute and hitting a home run. Thirteen Grand Avenue […]
Remembrances of Oakland’s Past
by Virginia Brown Keyder Born in 1948, I grew up on Valle Vista Avenue, one block from Charlie’s Tobacco Shop. I spent my summers in the Grand Lake Theatre (children could see movies for three Seven-Up bottle caps, or 25 cents). I always bought my candy at Charlie’s and remember well his slightly reddish face […]
The Autumn Lights Festival’s Evolution
Last month’s 12th Annual Autumn Lights Festival (ALF) was once again a huge success — generating tens of thousands of dollars for upgrades and to help support the volunteers who maintain the Gardens at Lake Merritt. Post-pandemic (or nearly so), it was especially gratifying to hear that all three nights sold out and see that […]
Splash Pad Park – October 2023 Update
After two straight months of doom and gloom starting with this article in the August News, we’re quite pleased to share good news. The Grand Crew’s 4th Sunday work day in the California Native garden last weekend had fifteen volunteers — the largest turnout since their Earth Day event in April thanks in large part […]
Grand Avenue Merchant News – October 2023
by Ken Katz We’re thrilled to report that Panorama Framing has scheduled an upcoming art exhibit curated by former owner, Patrick Cheatham. Titled Beavering Away, it will feature the artwork of two Oakland-based artists, KG Greenstein (mosaics and wireworks) and Nancy Mizuno Elliott (works on paper, stickers). The show will run through the end of the […]
Farmers Market Update – October 2023
by Ken Katz Due to an oversight on my part, we failed to give a timely welcome to SunBlaze Ranch, which debuted more than a month ago. The motto of owners Nick and Kremi Petkov is “Together for a healthier, sustainable future,” and this is how they describe their farm: Located in Winters, California, SunBlaze […]
Odds and Ends – October 2023
As reported in the Minutes of the Grand Lake Neighbors October meeting, OPD has assigned two Walking Beat Officers who will be working from Noon to 10:00pm Tuesdays through Fridays One of them — Officer Cooper — will divide his time among the Montclair shopping district, College Avenue, and the Grand Lake district.” While this […]
Lakeshore Avenue Update – October 2023
If you’re not already aware of this, Soroush Ghaderi, the long-time owner of Mama’s Royal Cafe has purchased and is now operating Shakewell. We’re delighted to share his heartfelt message: It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility that I greet you as the new owner of Shakewell. Some of you may […]
Grand Lake Neighbors September 2023 Meeting Minutes
GLN Monthly meeting minutes 9/20/23 Barnett Hall, Lakeshore Baptist Church Attendance: 30, including OPD(3) and City reps(3) NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, October 18, 2023 Questions: Eric Hughes – hughesearthur@gmail.com Crime reports and project status from OPD — Not reported in writing this month. Foot patrol officers are back in the Grand Lake, Tuesday through Friday, noon […]
