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. […]
Ken Katz
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 […]
Armed Robbers Have Neighbors Up In Arms
After three plus years of Covid-mandated Zoom meetings, the Grand Lake Neighbors Crime Prevention Council’s meeting on May 17 was held in-person and hosted by Pastor Jim Hopkins in Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church’s Sanctuary. At the request of Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, the agenda was focused exclusively on crime issues —prompted by three separate […]
Grand Avenue Merchant News – May 2023
by Ken Katz In last month’s article about vacant storefronts in the Grand Lake District, we noted that the Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA) was doing relatively well with only six vacancies. This month, we’re delighted to report that three of those spaces have since been leased, beginning with Brite Cleaners at 3349 Grand. According […]
Grand Avenue Merchant News – April 2023
by Ken Katz Last year, Radbird served as the official stylist for a “Portrait Slam” sponsored by Tamron lenses at the Oakland Aviation Museum and they are even more excited this year to be invited for an encore at a cyberpunk inspired slam on Saturday, May 20 on the USS Hornet in Alameda. Up to […]
Starbucks Closure Adds to a Long List of Vacancies
by Ken Katz As noted in last month’s article detailing the extent to which my East Piedmont Heights residential neighborhood has evolved over the past 120 years, change over time is inevitable. The same applies to the Grand Lake shopping district. Originally, circa 1915, Lakeshore between Lake Park and Mandana was also residential, as evidenced […]