Towne Crier #30
NEW NEIGHBORS
We have three new neighbors. Welcome!
MEGHAN CONNOLLY bought #303 in December from Reynolds & Brown, who put the unit up for sale after BARBARA, ANDREW and URSULA JOHNSTONE moved to their new home near Dunsmuir House in East Oakland. R&B no longer owns any residential units in the building, just the two commercial units on the front porch.
Meghan is the Director of Client Relations for Sponsorship Strategies in Novato.
MARK STEPHAN bought #406 in December from SEAN DONNELL and TONY JONES, who moved with Tony's son to Atlanta.
Mark works at People Soft/Intel in San Ramon. He also is a photographer - Mark Stephan Photography.
Meghan and Mark moved into a day apart last month and live/work in their units.
Earlier in the fall, KEN TONY bought #100. Ken has an online motorcycle business in his unit, but lives elsewhere.
TOWNE CRIER #30
PHOTOGRAPHY
if you haven't already seen JIM PIRE's stunning photograph of downtown Oakland on the second floor right opposite the elevator, check it out. It's been up for the last month or so, and is an 'experiment' in updating our hallways.
Jim considers himself an amateur photographer, but his work belies that claim. For other samples of his work, check out our FSL website - fourthstreetlofts.com. Recently, Jim was one of many neighbors who took the Ninth Street Pier Tour conducted by neighbor, GARY KNECT. Jim's photos are at http://thedude.com/images/Ninth_Ave_Terminal_Bldg/
For other photos of the Ninth Street Pier Tour, check out photos by SIMON WADDINGTON, who lives in nearby Tower Lofts http://www.flickr.com/photos/waddy/sets/1505310/
NEIGHBORHOOD/DEVELOPER/CITY MEETING
The next meeting with the neighborhood, City of Oakland and representatives of the four Construction Projects will be Thursday 19 January 2006 at Covenant House, 200 Harrison Street, Oakland. This is the building which used to be owned by Mayor Jerry Brown. The meeting is one place to air our concerns regarding the construction and how it impacts on our lives, such as Saturday construction.
If you have a complaint about the neighborhood construction, the person to call is DON SMITH from the City of Oakland at 510/453-8576, a 24/7 number.
Pulte Homes across the street from our front door is moving right along with eight stories already constructed. Pulte has a Sales Office right down the street, where Design Within Reach used to be. It has a model unit on display.
Signature Homes around the corner is moving at a slower pace, but nonetheless is already four stories tall. Its Sales Office is in Jack London Square, across from Tony Roma's.
MINGLES CABARET HEARING
The Cabaret License revocation hearing for Mingles has been rescheduled to Wednesday 11 January 2006 at 7pm in Room 2 of City Hall, One Frank Ogawa Plaza. Oakland 94612. Mingles is located on Embarcadero at Webster, in Jack London Square.
This is a public hearing and is more informal than court proceedings, those who give testimony will be under oath. Written statements can be submitted to BARBARA KILEY, Administrative Hearing Officer, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland 94612.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMINGS AND GOINGS
JOANNA ADLER of Jack London Mail just celebrated her third year in business. Her establishment is around the corner from us, on Third and Alice. Among the many things she handles in her business, Joanna recycles Styrofoam, so now you have a place to take all the packing from those holiday boxes.
It looks as though eventually there will be tenants in the two empty storefronts next to Jack London Mail. According to the two fellows I chatted up in there last fall, one shop will sell watches, and the other will be a boutique with clothing and art, among other things. There doesn't seem to be much urgency in opening up. They have been working on the shops since last summer.
Down in Jack London Square, across from Barnes & Noble, The Hat Generation is closing down. The few remaining items are on sale now. The shop has been in the Square for a few years.
Next door to the Hat place, the recently opened dress shop has already come and gone.
Ironworks - across the street from Cost Plus and formerly called Whales & Friends - is really closing down. It is in the final throes of selling off its merchandise. The store, W&F, has another location in Alameda at 2060 Lincoln, near Willow, in Alameda.
TV COVERAGE
WENDY TINSLEY of the fourth floor starred in the commercial for Cuckoo's Nest, shown this summer on Cable TV. "Flavors come alive at the Cuckoo's Nest." Wendy is the president of Jack London District Association, whose website is www.jacklondondistrict.org.
Also on TV this summer - Heinhold's Last Chance Saloon. It was profiled on KPIX Evening Magazine. Last Chance is located down in Jack London Square across from El Pescatore restaurant. The Saloon was built in 1880, opened in 1883, and has been continuously in operation ever since. The saloon was built from the remains of a ship, and the ship's carpenter helped build it. Everything in the saloon is original, except the chairs. JACK LONDON hung out there a lot, and wrote about it in his book "John Barleycorn" - mentioned the Saloon 14 times. And according to JOHN HAGAR on the third floor, it is dog-friendly, even carrying dog biscuits.
Speaking of dog biscuits, Cuckoo's Nest also has been known to feed dog biscuits to polite canines who visit the To Go Window.
OAKLAND MUSEUM EXHIBITS
The Oakland Museum is within walking distance, at 1000 Oak Street, Oakland CA 94607, corner of Oak and Tenth Streets. 510/238-2200.
Currently, one exhibit through 22 January 2006 is BASEBALL AS AMERICA. It is part of a four-year, ten-city national tour organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The exhibit will have extended viewing hours: Wednesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-8pm, Sundays 12 noon-6pm, and the First Friday of each month 10am-9pm. With it are other baseball related exhibitions.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Lynne Huntting
Loft #103