Towne Crier #19
We've had some new folks moving into the building and old friends moving out.
ALAN and BECKY CAUDILL have moved into #208. Welcome!
MARY WILCOX moved from #207. So long.
PATTI BEADLES got lucky in Las Vegas, and how many times have you heard of that happening. It was more than luck - it was skill and experience. Patti knows more than a little about Poker and she backed the right guy last May for the World Series of Poker - GREG RAYMER. Her share was more than a year's salary for some.
BURNING MAN
It's that time of year again for the Annual Burning Man festivities in the Nevada desert. Making the trek again this year are ANDREW and BARBARA JOHNSTONE of #303 and newlyweds TRES FONTAINE and JACK ALLEN of #105. Andy left Friday, Barb goes up next week, and the honeymooners leave this weekend, taking with them their rickshaw. The two couples will be in different camps.
NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD DAY - JACK LONDON DISTRICT STYLE - SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2004
WENDY TINSLEY of #405 is one of the ringleaders in the Jack London District Association's local celebration of National Neighborhood Day Sunday 12 September 2004. There are several activities planned.
Jack London District Sidewalk Sale 9am-12 noon, on Third Street between Alice and Jackson. $5 for participant to cover newspaper advertising costs. Setup at 8am. RSVP to 510/893-4100 or rsvp@jackondondistrict.org.
Outdoor Farmers' Market at Jack London Square 10am-2pm.
Jack London District Bar-B-Que 12:30pm-2:30pm on Harrison Street between Second and Third Streets - Egg House Building.
All of these activities are presented by the about-to-be formed Jack London District Association. It is working towards obtaining 501(c)3 non-profit status. It's 'Birth' will be celebrated on Neighborhood Day. Read all about it at www.jacklondondistrict.org. JOANNA ADLER of Jack London Mail is the major mover and shaker, and Wendy Tinsley is helping draft by-laws.
NEW TWILIGHT FARMERS' MARKET IN JACK LONDON SQUARE
A new Tuesday Twilight Farmer's Market will be open throughout the summer, until Daylight Savings Time takes effect, i.e. now through Tuesday 26 October 2004. It is open from 4pm to 8pm, and is run by the same folks who run the Sunday Farmer's Market in Jack London Square. It's great timing for those who are out of town on Sunday mornings.
CHANGES IN JACK LONDON SQUARE
Jack London Square will lose three restaurants between now and the end of the year, with no known replacements.
Leases are expiring at the end of the year in the big Oakland Tribune building owned by Jack London Square Partners, known as 66 Franklin. This means the immediate loss of two eateries.
El Torito has already closed its doors, as of last Sunday. Just when the Jack London Gals Night Out group discovered it. The next closest El Torito is at the San Leandro Marina, on the water. The Manager said plans are for shops and stores to go into the building by the end of the year.
The Spaghetti Factory will be closing down between now and the end of the year. Its corporate offices are still working on the actual date, and plans to move somewhere else in the area are undecided. The restaurant owns the beautiful beveled glass doors and windows and what the restaurant doesn't take will be auctioned off. And for those who have noticed the crack in left front door: it was caused when a hinge came loose and someone opened the door too hard. But never fear, the door is being repaired.
Jack London Square Partners is committed to refurbishing and restoring the Franklin building, but it all depends on the feasibility of retrofitting. Their building permit gives them the right to tear down if necessary, and rebuild. Fingers crossed this won't happen. There are some lovely concrete archways underneath the metal siding and it's hoped they will be restored to their original condition. There are some letters, such as 'W' and 'A' and possibly they spell out Warehouse.
The entire third floor of 66 Franklin is for lease - a space with 31,555 square feet. And next door to Hahn's eatery, renovation has already begun with scaffolding in place.
Jack London Partners and the Port of Oakland have applied to the BCDC (San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission) for a permit to develop 960,000 square foot of area in Jack London Square. Among the plans are public access areas including a new Jack London Plaza, East Green and other improvements.
It's my understanding that we have the BCDC to thank for the lovely shoreline pathways along the Jack London Square Marina area.
TGIF is closing down this fall; its last day is Monday 25 October 2004 and it will not be relocating in the area. The Port of Oakland bought its lease.
A new women's fashion store, Kendalls of New York, is opening in September. It is in the short section between California Kayak and Cafe di Bartelo - between the Cafe and Hat Generation. And for those who want something special to wear to the next costume party thrown by TRES FONTAINE and JACK ALLEN, check out the special hat section in the back of Hat Generation.
Next door to TGIF's is a new store, The Taste of Asia, which just opened. It replaced the Scotland Gifts store.
Down the street from us, in the next block on Fourth Street, Design Within Reach, has moved out after two years. It's moved its inventory to its Berkeley store, and they recently had a closing down sale.
Down at the other end of our neighborhood, in Sierra Lofts, a new Subway Shop is going in.
FALL BOAT SHOW 11-18 September 2004
The annual Fall Boat Show is coming to Jack London Square Marina area from Saturday 11 September through Sunday 18 September 2004. This usually means the Artisans and Farmer's Market moves further on down towards the Ferry.
BIG BOAT
For those who don't want to wait for two weeks to look at a boat, walk down now to Jack London Square by the Ferry dock and watch a BIG boat being loaded by one of the Jack London container cranes.
ANNUAL CHINATOWN STREETFEST 28-29 August 2004
This weekend is another Chinatown Street fest, from 10am-6pm both days. There will be street closures in Oakland Chinatown, a few blocks from here. Affected streets include Franklin between Seventh and Eleventh, and on Eighth and Ninth between Broadway and Harrison. They are expecting upwards of 100,000 folks, so be prepared. One of the highlights this year is a new Traveling Mural, which will be painted by folks at the fair. After this weekend, it will travel to various local Chinese places in area.
PARAMOUNT MOVIES
There are two shows left in the current series. Friday night is 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, with KIRK DOUGLAS, PETER LORRE, PAUL LUKAS, and JAMES MASON. The live organ music starts at 7:30pm with JIM RIGGS at the Mighty Wurlitzer, followed by a newsreel, cartoon, trailers of coming attractions and Deco-Win.
Keeping with a political theme, the last movie is The Candidate with ROBERT REDFORD on Friday 17 September 2004.
The Oakland Paramount is the lovingly restored art deco movie palace on Broadway in Downtown Oakland. It's a nice walk on a summer's eve.
OLD OAKLAND OUTDOOR MOVIES
The next movie at the Old Oakland Outdoor Theater is 'Singing In The Rain' with FRED ASTAIRE, GENE KELLY and DEBBIE REYNOLDS on Friday 17 September 2004. I think it's Clay Street which is shut down between Eighth and Ninth, with outdoor seating for the al fresco showing.
MORE STREETS AND ROADS
The City repaved some streets in our neighborhood and ground up some others in preparation for repaving...but that work hasn't yet been done.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONSTRUCTION
Demolition has begun on the Miller Building at Second and Jackson, making way for 71 condo units. More demolition is scheduled for November at Second and Madison, for 100 more condo units. And next year another 91 condo units are supposed to go in at 300 Harrison. And perhaps yet another 91 units built by Pulte Homes are to go in across the street from our front door, in the Wheelink building.
WEATHER FORECAST
It should be warm and wonderful weather all weekend. Enjoy!
Lynne
