ALAMEDA PARKS - THE MINI PARKS   ALAMEDA PARKS - THE MINI PARKS  Alameda has many parks including some mini parks.  Edison Park, Scout Park and Towata Park are a few of the mini parks.  These parks are less than 2.3 acres in size but each serves an unique purpose.     EDISON PARK   EDISON PARK is not a regular city park since it is a school playground that is staffed by recreation leaders when school is not in session.  It was opened in 1935 and is about 2.3 acres which includes the park and playground.   SCOUT PARK   SCOUT PARK This park is adjacent to busy Otis Drive, the South Shore lagoon and the South Shore shopping center  The park is the smallest park with 0.5 acres and is a quiet oasis in a busy area.  The park opened in 1981 primarily due to the efforts of Dr. Robert French, ... 09/24/2011

SPEISEKAMMER OCTOBERFEST 2011 IN ALAMEDA     SPEISEKAMMER OCTOBERFEST 2011 IN ALAMEDA  September 25, 2011 is the next date for Speisekammer's Octoberfest.    Speisekammer is located at 2424 Lincoln Avenue in Alameda.  Besides drinking beer the restaurant will have live music, tanzen, grilled meat and a jumpy house.  The Golden Gate Bavarian Dance Club will be performing.   Speisekammer is know for great German cuisine.  Some say it is like being in a vintage German tavern.  The restaurant features cozy dining rooms, an outdoor beer garden and a bar serving specialty German brews.  Speisekammer’s new "Recession Menu" is designed to entice diners to take a night out, with the restaurant’s most popular dishes available in half sizes.    The Speisekammer is located just steps from Park Str... 09/23/2011

  ALAMEDA MARKET REPORT BAY FARM TOWNHOUSES   ALAMEDA MARKET REPORT BAY FARM TOWNHOUSES  Construction on the townhouses on Bay Farm Island were begun in 1969.  There were three distinct developments.  Casitas townhouse were the first built circa 1969.  Casitas units have seven models.  Model A is a two bedroom one bath single level unit approximately 964 square feet. The largest model is Model G which is a four bedroom 2.5 bath unit with approximately 1628 square feet of living space. Islandia townhouses were completed circa 1971.  There are seven models of Islandia townhouses range in size from the smallest Model A to the largest Model M.  Model A is a two bedroom two bath unit approximately 1250 square feet. Model G-4 is a four bedroom 2.5 bath unit approximately 1680 square feet. The... 09/22/2011

AAARGH! I’m a senior citizen! What do you mean by senior citizen?  Dictionary.com defines senior citizen as “an elderly or aged person, especially who is retired or whose principal source of support is a pension or Social Security benefits.” Well...if I’m not retired and not on social security, may I be excused from being called a senior citizen? Today, the term “senior” has several connotations. If you want to shop at Ross Dress For Less, seniors who are at least 55 years old get their 10% discount every Tuesday. At Elephant Bar, you have to be 60 years old to qualify for their Seniors Program good for 20% off food purchases.   Or, if you are at least 50 years old, log on to SeniorsDiscounts.com and “find the gold in the gold years.” Turning 50 is not the end of the world, folks! Here'... 09/21/2011

LUXURY HOMES IN ALAMEDA   Bryan Robertson recently wrote a blog titled What is a High End House?  Bryan got me thinking about what a luxury home in Alameda is.  Homes have sold for $2 Million+ in Alameda, but not for a while.  Currently, we are experiencing a resurgence of luxury homes.  The new listings are in the Gold Coast, an excellent and much sought after residential neighborhood of Alameda.   The Gold Coast has always been a premier location in Alameda.  San Franciscans had grand summer homes in the Gold Coast in late 1800s and early 1900s.  At that time, there were lush oak woodlands, warmer weather than San Francisco and a fine beach nearby.  When the 1906 earthquake destroyed their homes in the City, many moved to Alameda permanently.   *******   715 Grand Street  A lovely Dut... 09/21/2011

The Willows at 2101 Shoreline, Alameda  CA The Willows is one of my favorite condominium complexes in Alameda. It’s not the newest, not the flashiest….but it has so many amenities that one can describe living there as like being in a resort. The address describes it appropriately: it’s on SHOREline. Cross the street, and you’re on the beach. Built in 1974, there are 201 units most of which are town-house style where the living areas are on one level, and the bedrooms are on another.  Most of the units have two bedrooms, with a sprinkling of 3-bedroom and 1-bedroom units.   What makes The Willows special? Perhaps what I like best about The Willows, besides the fact that it’s across the beach is that it has a fabulous courtyard with lush fauna and flora. The courtyard even has a “running ... 09/20/2011

  KIDZ LOVE SOCCER IN ALAMEDA   KIDZ LOVE SOCCER IN ALAMEDA " Kidz Love Soccer" has introduced kids to soccer for many years all over the country.  Kidz 3.5 to 10 years can learn about the world's most popular sport from professional coaches licensed in the "Kidz Love Soccer" method.  Classes include age appropriate activities in a non competitive, recreational format: Skill demonstrations Fun games Instructional scrimmages Kids need to bring shin guards and a water bottle to each session. MOMMY/DADDY & ME SOCCER is a program for tiny tots age 2 to 3.5 years.  All sessions require preregistration.  Visit the Alameda Recreation and Parks website to sign up.  Classes start September 24, 2011.   Alameda is a wonderful island community.  If you would like more information about Alameda plea... 09/20/2011

  ALAMEDA MARKET REPORT - THE EAST END   ALAMEDA MARKET REPORT - THE EAST END, which includes the Fernside District, has good schools, tree lined streets and charming houses where many buyers are looking for homes to buy.  Homes in the East End are a mix of lovely Victorians, Craftsman, Mediterranean, bungalows and Tudor homes.     A HIGH STREET VICTORIAN   EAST END MEDITERRANEAN MONTHLY SUPPLY OF INVENTORY The current August 2011 Monthly Supply of Inventory is down by 38% from August 2010.   The monthly supply of inventory indicates the number of months it may take for the current inventory of real estate to be depleted at the present rate of sales.  The absorption rate, or monthly supply of inventory according to the graph shown is 3 months. This figure indicated that at this time a s... 09/19/2011

  SPEACHLESS SUNDAY     SPEACHLESS SUNDAY:  I was taking photos of houses when I saw this Pheobe flitting around an oak tree looking for lunch.  This beautiful bird  has a distinctive pee wee song.  It is pretty common in Alameda, usually phoebes are found near water, but since we are an Island, they aren't far from water.  One can see these birds all year long.   Alameda is a wonderful island community.  If you would like more information about Alameda please call or text me at 510-504-5612   Contact me for a free Market Report on Alameda real estate   09/18/2011

ALAMEDA LEGACY HOME TOUR     ALAMEDA LEGACY HOME TOUR is a self guided tour of the interiors and gardens of seven historic homes that preserve the past included the oldest home in Alameda.   The 2011 Alameda Legacy Home Tour will take place on Sunday, Sept. 25th from 11 am to 5 pm.  The seven homes on the tour are in central and east Alameda.   Spend a day seeing the splendid interiors of historic homes, and strolling through neighborhoods rich in architectural heritage.   The tour is self-guided.  Pick up the Legacy Guidebook and visit the homes at your own pace, in any order you choose.  Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of Alameda's many parks or the beach. Or make reservations at one of our many fine local restaurants.   The Legacy Tour is perfect if you want to bike the tour!  ... 09/18/2011

  ALAMEDA NEIGHBORHOODS - THE FERNSIDE       ALAMEDA NEIGHBORHOODS - THE FERNSIDE  A. A. Cohen a railroad baron built his home in Alameda in an area he called "Fernside" in the 1870's   Cohen made millions selling his San Francisco, Alameda & Hayward Railroad to the Big Four railroad barons (Hopkins, Stanford, Crocker and Huntington). His home cost $300,000 a huge amount for the time.  In the "Ultimate Victorians", Elinor Richey described the Cohen's home as, "the most splendid of all Italian villas in the East Bay."   The beautiful home was destroyed by a fire in 1987.  The family remained in the Fernside area until the death of the Mrs. Cohen in 1925.  The children subdivided the estate and sold land to developers.  The developers created homes with their own distinctive personalities... 09/17/2011

  ALAMEDA WALKS - ALAMEDA POINT   ALAMEDA WALKS - ALAMEDA POINT The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department sponsors ALAMEDA WALKS a program started in 2003.  According to Patrick Russi, Recreation Supervisor, the goal of Alameda Walks was to get people out of their homes on Saturday mornings for a little exercise and a chance to learn a little about the city of Alameda. Alameda Walks - Alameda Point walk group will meet at the the Alameda Point gate  on September 17 at 9am.  Dennis Evanosky and Eric Kos will be the leaders. Alameda Point is the name given to the lands of the former Naval Air Station Alameda in the City of Alameda. Alameda Point consists of 1,560 acres  of land at the western end of the island. Most of the land was reclaimed from the San Francisco Bay.   PACIFIC BORAX W... 09/16/2011

  Alameda Foreclosure Report   Alameda is a lovely island community just minutes from San Francisco with stately Victorian homes and a small town feeling.  Alameda has good schools, wonderful views of the Bay and lots of fun things to do.  But even Alameda has been negatively effected by the current real estate market. BALLENA BAY - SOUTH OF ALAMEDA POINT   Foreclosures in Alameda have not been as prevalent as they are in other nearby cities.  And there are not as many properties for sale which are REO properties.  But I feel that will change in the near future.  Because of Bank of America's precarious financial situation and the substantial ghost inventory of foreclosed properties,  there will be more foreclosed properties reaching the market in Alameda soon.     According to Foreclosu... 09/14/2011

GOOD TIME FAIRE IN ALAMEDA     GOOD TIME FAIRE IN ALAMEDA  St Philip Neri and St. Albert the Great churches are joining forces to present their Good Time Faire on September 17, from 11am to 4pm at 1335 High Street in Alameda. The Faire will feature a Homestead expo with: Bee Keeping Backyard Chickens Dan's Produce Stand Home Gardening Jam Contest  and Tasting Beer Making Arts and Crafts Hair Braiding Raintree Photo Booth Face Painting   Come and join the festivities for delicious food and drinks, prizes, games, a raffle, live music and a petting zoo. 09/13/2011

  ALAMEDA PARKS - SHORELINE PARK     ALAMEDA PARKS - SHORELINE PARK  Harbor Bay Isle Associates donated the parkland to the city in 1977.  It is the largest and narrowest park with 31.83 acres. It is used primarily by skaters, joggers, walkers and bicyclists.  The park has spectacular views of the Bay, San Francisco and the Bay Bridge.        Salt marsh, lawn and trees are the primary vegetation of the park.  It is part of the San Francisco Bay Trail linked by a systems of paths to Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline on San Leandro Bay.     The Park varies in width from 35 to 200 feet.  The Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal bisects the park.  North of the terminal the park gives way to grassy meadows and asphalt paths.  South of the terminal the Park follows the shore to the 1000 ft. con... 09/12/2011

ALAMEDA STARLIGHT MOVIE IN THE PARK     ALAMEDA STARLIGHT MOVIE IN THE PARK - TOY STORY 3.  The Alameda Recreation and Park Department will hold the Alameda Starlight Movie in the Park - Toy Story 3 on Friday, September 16, 2011 at Leydecker Field, 3225 Mecartney Road, Bay Farm Island in Alameda.       Enjoy the family movie,Toy Story 3, under the stars at Leydecker Park. Box dinners are available for $5 if pre-ordered a week before the show. Pre-show festivities begin at 7:30 p.m., movie begins at 8:15 p.m. Leydecker Park, 3225 Mecartney Raod Bay Farm Island, Alameda, (510) 747-4700, www.cityofalamedaca.gov     Alameda Starlight Movie in the Park - Toy Story 3 is the last movie of the summer series.  The park opens at 6:30 pm for picnics.  Bring blankets and chairs and warm clothes fo... 09/11/2011

If you're a child of the 50s and the 60s, and you enjoyed the movie American Graffiti, then you may want to come and relive some of the good old happy days at Park Street's 18th Classic Car Show in Alameda Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. During the show, you will see over 400 show cars. And if you decide you'd like to ride your bike to the show, there will be valet bicycle parking. Tons of fun things to do, great food and drink, charming shops. Come see us! For more information, see http//www.ShopParkStreet.com/carshow.html  Classics *** Hot rods *** Antique Muscle Cars *** Roadsters *** Vintage Classic Fire Trucks, too 09/10/2011

  PATRIOTS DAY 9-11 AT THE ALAMEDA ELKS   PATRIOTS DAY 9-11 AT THE ALAMEDA ELKS  Alameda Elks Lodge 1015 is sponsoring a blood drive in honor of the 9-11.       According to Blood Drive Chair Ted Hommert "Our goal is to collect seventy-five pints during our September 11th Patriot's Day Blood Drive."   The drive is co-sponsored by Blood Centers of the Pacific.  The monthly Facility Breakfast will be held in conjunction with the blood drive starting at 8:30AM.  The Facility Breakfast is held the second Sunday each month.   Rich Ghera, past Alameda President and current Veteran's Committee Chair noted, "We are encouraging all veterans, family of veterans, fire and police department personnel and their families to participate in this 9/11 Patriot's Day Blood Drive". This drive is open to ev... 09/10/2011

ALAMEDA WEBSTER STREET JAM FESTIVAL   ALAMEDA WEBSTER STREET JAM FESTIVAL  It's time for the annual Alameda Webster Street Jam Festival.  On September 10 and 11th from 10am to 6pm the Jam and International Food Festival will be held on Webster Street in Alameda. Music -The two stages, one at Lincoln and one at Central will include 21 different music performances highlighting local Alameda musicians. Saturday night, September 10, from 5:30 – 7:30 the feature act will be THE WHO 2 (an excellent Who cover band.) Food - International food will be provided by twenty-three food vendors .     Vendors and Artists - Jewelry, henna artistry, face painting, hand made items and clothing will be offered at the Jam Festival The Kids Area, sponsored by the Bladium, will be at the lot at the corner of... 09/10/2011

Alameda CA Market Report SOLD PROPERTIES Following are the reports for the most recent 12-month period for the total residential homes sold in the city of Alameda, CA. These sales are a combination of detached single family homes, condos, townhouses and duets. Monthly Supply of Inventory The inventory is very low at this time, and is 25% less than where we were this time a year ago. AS of end of August, we have just 3 months of inventory. The blue line represents average days on market (DOM). As we approach Fall, we expect the number of homes for sale to drop even more. So there will be fewer homes for buyers to choose from. Will this start a buying frenzy?       Sold properties As we approach the period where there are fewer homes for sale, the number of propertes sold has also taken a... 09/08/2011