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 […]
Ken Katz
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 […]
Grand Avenue Merchant News – September 2023
by Ken Katz The Barbary launched a soft-opening a week ago in the space vacated by The Libertine. On Monday evening, we stopped by to introduce ourselves to the owners, Narges Gardizi and her sister, Nala Gardizi. Between them, they have two decades of experience as bartenders at Trader Vic’s. The revamped interior is gorgeous […]
Farmers Market Update – September 2023
by Ken Katz We’re starting out this month’s Farmers Market Update with what has to be the best market video we’ve seen yet. It was posted online by Jose Meza on July 8. In an August 2022 article, we reported on the debut of the Incubator Booth at three Agricultural Institute of Marin farmers markets. […]
Splash Pad Park: A Victim of Circumstance — Part Two
In case you missed my lengthy screed last month about understaffing in the Public Works Department and Oakland’s over-reliance on volunteers, all 2,230 words of it is available on this link. My follow-up this month is far briefer but just as bleak with the exception of the Lake Merritt Weed Warriors as reported by Jennie […]
Grand Avenue Merchant News – August 2023
by Ken Katz There were two big events on Grand Avenue this month beginning with an Art Walk on July 20 that was organized primarily by Tracey Williams from Urban University with a big assist from Jason Canepa from Radbird who designed the poster. Originally, seven shops were scheduled to participate: Megadeluxe, 8am Style, Radbird, […]
Splash Pad Park: A Victim of Circumstance
by Ken Katz As I’ve mentioned several times previously, I’m planning to retire at the end of the year. So, unless someone steps up to the plate (which would be wonderful!), the December issue of the Splash Pad News will be our last. What I haven’t mentioned is that I also plan to give up […]
Grand Avenue Merchant News – July 2023
by Ken Katz Last October’s Art Walk on Grand Avenue was a big success and this year’s rendition on July 20 promises to top it. The guided tour will start at Megadeluxe at 6:00pm followed by 8am Style. Next up will be Radbird, Alyce on Grand, Urban Furniture and Boutique, Brother and Sisters Flower Shop, […]
Grand Avenue Merchant News – June 2023
by Ken Katz The future of the Grand Avenue business district is continuing to look brighter than ever with folks starting to turn out for special events in pre-pandemic numbers. To cite one example, last Tuesday I popped into the Alley to order their Special Steak Dinner––pricier than it used to be, but still a […]