Crab Cove Regional Park, a jewel in the City of Alameda Crab Cove, a regional park which is adjacent to a City Park and a State Beach is my favorite place in Alameda.  The park staff hosts tons of activities for the whole family throughout the year.    Crab Cove Visitor Center at Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda celebrated 37 years in 2016. Since 1979, Crab Cove has developed a link between people of Alameda with the marine and shoreline life, as well as Alameda history. The Visitors Center has a 800-gallon aquarium system, and uses interactive stations for all age groups “to view microscopic animals, build a crab from the inside out, or get a lug worm's view of the mudflats.”    Since it is a park, there are nature activities geared to the young and and the young at heart.  Acco... 06/30/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on June 24 and 25, 2016  The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, June 24 and Tuesday, June 28  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.  Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food trucks will be at South Shore on Saturday, June 25, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the South Shore Center parking lot near Petco.  Henry H. Meyers' OfficeThe Meyer’s House and Garden will be open on Saturday, June 25 at 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The gorgeous colonial revival was built in 1897 for the prominent Alameda architect, Henr... 06/24/2016

 Alameda Development and Architecture in the 1880’s Alameda is rife with architectural heritage with more than 10,000 building built before 1940.  Until 1973 many stately Victorians and other charming architectural styles were demolished and replace by apartments.  In 1973 Measure A was passed which stopped the wholesale destruction of these treasures.  These homes have been also been protected by the City of Alameda Historical Advisory Board.  The buildings that Alameda is known for are called Victorians because they were built during her reign.  Victorians are known for their ornate style characterized by spindles, brackets and scroll work.  Alameda is not only the home of marvelous Victorians but boast many other styles such as craftsman, bungalows, art deco and storybooks homes. Jud... 06/21/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on June 18 and 19, 2016  The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, June 18 and Tuesday, June 21  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.   Return of the Terns on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The Least Tern is an endangered and protected species in California. You will be able to view the tiny nesting terns close up aboard a bus.  Call for reservations at 1-888-327-2757 option 2 and meet at Crab Cove.  Registration for adults and children over 8 is $9. The Island Jam festival is back on Webst... 06/17/2016

Pinot’s Palette Alameda CA Hosts Support Orlando Event My good long time friend (childhood) Sean Gabriel and his wife Peri own the Pinot’s Palette in Alameda CA and they are hosting a special event to support the victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting last weekend. The event is Titled “Rainbow Daybreak” and it will be held on Saturday June 25, 2016 from 1 PM until 4 PM. The amount of $20 per seat of the proceeds will be donated to Pulse Victims Fund.  Below is a further description of the event I copied from their web site. Sean had Emailed me and asked if I could do what I could to pass the word along about this benefit event. My family supports Orlando and certainly all the folks directly or indirectly affected by this mass murder and carnage caused by a lunatic terrorist.    Rainbow D... 06/17/2016

 The 50th Annual Sand Castle Contest in Alameda  The Sand Castle and Sculpture Contest at Robert Crown Memorial State Beach is back for its 50th year.  Registration for the event starts at 9:00 am, judging at 12 Noon with awards presented at 1:00 pm.     Sand Castle builders can enter in one of three categories:  Kids ages 12 years and under, entrants who are 13 years and over and family groups.   In the past, entrants have used stones, shells and seaweed found on the beach to create their sculptures.  Flower pots and milk cartons can also be used.     The contest is sponsored by the Bayview Women’s Club, the East Bay Regional Park District, Alameda Youth Committee and the Alameda Recreation and Park District. Please call 510.747.7529 for more information. The Park is located at the cor... 06/10/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on June 10, 11 and 12, 2016  Music, family fun and a gorgeous sun set over San Francisco Bay will be featured at the annual “Concerts at the Cove” on June 10, 5:30 to 7:30, featuring the Unauthorized Rolling Stones rock band.  Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic dinner or enjoy freshly prepared street tacos from Calafia Taqueria and a variety of sausages from Café Jolie. Crab Cove is located at 1252 McKay Avenue in Alameda.The Sand Castle and Sculpture Contest at Robert Crown Memorial State Beach is back for its 50th year on Saturday, June 11.  Registration for the event starts at 9:00 am, judging at 12 Noon with awards presented at 1:00 pm. Sand Castle builders can enter in one of three categories:  Kids ages 12 years and under, entrants who are 13 year... 06/10/2016

 Concerts at the Cove 2016Music, family fun and a gorgeous sun set over San Francisco Bay will be featured at the annual “Concerts at the Cove” on June 10, 5:30 to 7:30, staring the Unauthorized Rolling Stones rock band.Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic dinner or enjoy freshly prepared street tacos from Calafia Taqueria and a variety of sausages from Café Jolie. The Rotary Club of Alameda has teamed up with local wineries R & B Cellars, Rock Wall Wine Company, Rosenblum Cellars, and JC Cellars to offer the best local wines. Faction Brewing will be pouring their A Town Pale Ale, and Drake’s Brewing Company will offer a special beer created for the Regional Parks Foundation. Please no outside alcoholic beverages. There is also plenty to do for kids with face painting and the Par... 06/09/2016

 Alameda Theatre Family Summer Movie Series  Every summer the Alameda Theatre presents its Family Summer Movie Series for kids’ summer entertainment. This summer the series will feature 10 kid favorite movies: Ice Age 2 - The Meltdown - June 14 - 15Shaun the Sheep - June 21 - 22Home - June 28 - 29Alvin and the Chipmunks - Road Chip - July 5 - 6Minions - July 12 - 13The Peanuts Movie - July 19 - 20Sponge Bob - Sponge Out of Water - July 26 - 27Norm of the North - August 2 -3Hotel Transylvania 2 - August 9 - 10Goosebumps - August 16 - 17 You can purchase tickets for the 10 Family Movies for $10.00 at any of the sponsors or at the Theatre.  Individual movie tickets are available at the box office for $2.00 each on the day of the show.  Adults must be accompanied by children.  Please arrive... 06/09/2016

Victorian homes abound in Alameda Walking our dogs around in our neighborhood in the island city of Alameda CA is such a joy. I always marvel at the wonderful examples of Victorian-era homes, many of which are on Alameda's Historical Building Study List. According to Alameda Magazine "There are about 3,000 Victorian-era homes in Alameda, one of every 25 people who live here."  Just recently, I started taking pictures --- not always easy trying to get my dogs to sit still while I whip out my iphone to take a shot.  There are so many beautiful Victorians in our town, and happily, many of them are just a short walk away from where we live.I remembered that many years ago, a software application came with my PHD ("push here, dummy") digital camera that enabled me to play with the photos to ... 06/08/2016

 Karma: the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.   Ten years ago...I listed a home that attracted a married couple who wanted a larger home. They came through my open house. I showed them the house a second time and I pointed out many of the upgrades that set the house apart from the other homes in that development. I spent a lot of time with them, talking them through the process involved in buying a house starting with getting preapproved.   They seemed to like what I had to say, and asked if I would represent them in buying the house. I agreed to help. We discussed the price and terms of the agreement.  Just as they were about to sign the offer....The woman's sister,  a realtor in another city, interve... 06/08/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on June 4 and 5, 2016  Alameda Walks at Harbor Bay Business Parkway on Saturday June 4 at 9:00 am.  We will meet at the Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal Parking lot, 299 Adelphian Way.  The walk will explore the scenic views of San Francisco Bay and you will learn about the expansion of the Harbor Bay Business Parkway.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about VF Outdoors, Peets, Donsuemor, etc.   The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, June 4 and Tuesday, June 7  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shin... 06/03/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on May 28 and 29, 2016  The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, May 28 and Tuesday, May 31  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.  Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food trucks will be at South Shore on Saturday, May 28, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the South Shore Center parking lot near Petco.  The Meyer’s House and Garden will be open on Saturday, February 28 at 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The gorgeous colonial revival was built in 1897 for the prominent Alameda architect, Henry H. Meyers.  Mr. Meyer... 05/27/2016

 Alameda Museum Presents Pinball Art from the ‘30s to the 50s  The monthly Alameda Museum Lecture series will feature “Pinball Art from the ‘30s to the ‘50s,” Thursday, May 26 at 7:00 pm.  Michael Scheiss of the Pacific Pinball Museum will show some early pinball art including a rare glimpse into a forgotten world of once illegal gambling machines.  During Prohibition thousands of pre-flipper machines were banned and destroyed.  Because of this, few have survived.  Thanks to the efforts of collectors and historians, we are see these forgotten cultural art pieces.  All lectures on are on Thursday evenings, when the Museum opens at 6:30 pm and lectures begin at 7:00 pm.  Admission is free to museum members and non -members pay $10.  The Alameda Museum is located at 2324 Alameda Avenue in ... 05/26/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22, 2016 Waterways Walk                                                                         SPECIAL ALAMEDA WALKOn May 21, Alameda Walks group will meet at 9:00 am at the small park on the grass behing Pet Food Express, 2661 Blanding Avenue, Ste F, next to the Fruitvale Bridge.  The walk will circle the Estuary from the Fruitvale to the Park Street Bridge and back.  EBRPD staff will talk about local wildlife including the endangered peregrine falcons that nest nearby and tides, sea level rise nad climate change.  The walk is a prelude to a colloborative program with Rhythmix Cultural Center on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm. The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 22  ... 05/20/2016

 Libraries Outside    Libraries Outside is a project of the Alameda Free Library in partnership with the National Park Service, East Bay Regional Park District and the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department. The goal is to provide access to information and materials to help get Alamedan’s outside and into the wonderful parks that surround us here in the Bay Area.  COSETTE RATLIFFThe Libraries Outside project began in August, 2015 in Alameda to encourage people to get out to the many parks in Alameda County, according to Cosette Ratliff, Head Librarian.   In an effort to enhance Libraries Outside trips, the Library offers backpacks which people can check out and which contain binoculars, a variety of pocket field guides, first aid kits and fliers about Junior Ranger programs and other P... 05/13/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15, 2016Alameda Walks at Bay Farm Lagoon & Egret Nesting Colony                     Meet on Saturday, May 15 at 9:00 am at the Harbor Bay Community Center parking lot, 3195 Mecartney Road.  The walk will begin with exploratatin of the Egret colonial nesting site on the lagoon then we will meander through the lagoons at Harbor Bay to the Bay front.  The walk will be one hour. The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 17  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Haight Avenue at Webster Street and is open rain or shine.  Alamed... 05/13/2016

 Things to do in Alameda on Saturday, May 7, 2016 Here are some great places for you to take Mom for a mother’s day treat. Happy Mother’s day to all Mothers every where.International Migratory Bird Day Walk  on Saturday, May 7 at 8:30 to 11:00 am.    View a large variety of migratory birds along the shoreline.  Beginners welcome, meet at Crab Cove Visitors Center at 1252 McKay Avenue in Alameda.  For more information please call 510-544-3187.Gold Coast Architecture, Saturday, May 5 at 9 am.  Meet at Franklin Park, 1432 San Antonio Avenue in front of the recreation building. This walk will cover Gold Coast architecture with special note of Julia Morgan’s designed homes and more.  Dennis Evanosky and Eric Kos will lead this walk.   Note:  walk lasts 1 hour 15 minutes The Alameda’s Farmer’... 05/06/2016

 Alameda Walks – 2016 Schedule  The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department sponsors Alameda Walks,  a program started in 2003.  The program was initially a collaboration of the Alameda Recreation and Park Department, Pedestrian Friendly Alameda and Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth & Families.  According to Patrick Russi, Recreation Supervisor, Alameda Recreation & Parks,  the goal was to get people out of their homes on Saturday mornings for a little exercise and a chance learn a little about the city of Alameda.  Patrick also notes that while ARPD loves the furry pets, they prefer that they wait for you at home. Alameda Walks are held the first 2 Saturdays of each month from May to August.  The walks are usually an hour long and are easy unless otherwise noted.  Some are arch... 05/04/2016

  The Alameda Museums 2016 Lecture Series began on March 24th. This is a 16 year tradition of lectures which has been a way for the Museum to educate Alamedans about their city’s history.   The Alameda Museum was founded as the Historical Society 66 years ago.  The Museum’s mission is to collect, conserve and exhibit the City of Alameda’s history.   And also to educate Alamedans and visitors with fabulous lectures, gorgeous art exhibits and to provide special group tours during non-business hours. RICHARD RUTTER April 28, 2016.     Alameda architect Richard RutterFollowing the clippers, came a unique American type of deep water ship which was without a doubt, the highest development of the square rigged sailing vessel.  Main built, yhis type combined great speed, maneuverability, cargo ... 04/28/2016