Speak Up: Give Oakland businesses a chance!

**I just had to post this on my page. Michael D is dead on with this topic!

It ticks me a bit when I hear people dogging out newly opened bar and restaurant establishments because their service wasn’t “perfect,” or the food was a little off. Let me be the FIRST to say that I don’t think the people of Oakland should have to settle for anything less than first class service and quality, on all fronts. However, can they spare the harsh destructive criticism, especially at these beginning stages? Are they trying to help or hurt?

First people complain that there’s nothing to do in Oakland. Then they say that San Francisco is too cold, too far and too vanilla in comparison. Then they complain about how “people” have the wrong impression of Oakland — that it’s not as bad as the media portrays it. They then rattle on about how ineffective Mayor Dellums is, and how there aren’t any major department stores in Oakland. Blah, blah blah…

Finally, after years of complaining, and due to a number of financial factors and city planning decisions leaning in Oakland’s direction, Oakland gets some love, as developers and bold entrepreneurs descend upon the city with a vigor unseen in many years, if ever. As a result the Oakland faithful are experiencing what some call a renaissance…while a recession has flowed in and through the country for 2 years!

So what’s my beef?  My beef is that I can’t believe that the same folks that have been complaining for so many years are so quick to criticize a new establishment when their first time experience isn’t at the 4 or 5 star level. I’ve heard a lot of positive comments and constructive criticism about the new kids on the block (here and here) as well. But, I’ve also heard more than a few naysayers rip apart an establishment that’s been open for less than a month, or even a week! Ridiculous.

click here to read the entire article and leave a comment . . .

 

And on that note: check out this great review on Pican Restaurant by Diablo Magazine!

Friday Happy Hour @ The Dock

A few weeks ago a wrote a review on Lake Chalet (click here to read). While I had (and actually still have) a so-so opinion about the food, I have a raving review about their bar and dock.

For the past two Fridays, my husband and I have spent our evenings with our buddies on The Dock @ Lake Chalet. We’ve gotten there early enough to snag a great table (its self seating) and watch the sunlight dissolve over Lake Merritt. Last Friday, we ordered a half dozen oysters, a whole crab, caesar salad, and a bucket of caronitas. This time we ordered the shrimp po-boy, clam chowder, ahi tuna ceviche, a bacon burger, with a few rounds of ‘J&C’s (jack & coke – ray’s fav drink). The food is still ‘okay’ for me (the burgers were way to salty — just like the steaks we had). But the view of the lake and the buzzing atmosphere is the main attraction. 

Lake Chalet stays packed all Friday night - there’s a great mix of ages at the bars (the young & fabulous + the old & established frequent here), the service is friendly and efficient, and there are lots of beautiful Oaklandites engaging in fun conversations throughout the entire facility. If you’re looking for a nice trendy spot to start off your weekend? Lake Chalet’s Dock is definitely the place to be!

Top 5 Things to Do This Weekend!

This weekend is all about wine & culture with a little bit of eating & partying to round it all out. Hope to see you around The In-Crowd!

1. TONIGHT @ MoAD!!! — DANCEfirst! – Living the Present

685 Mission Street

6-8pm on the 2nd floor Salon

see. think. dance. + MoAD revive the artist salon to turn up the lights on DANCE.

Local choreographers Jacinta Vlach, Raissa Simpson, and Sheena Johnson present solo work with LIVE accompaniment from their favorite musicians.
The evening wraps up with a discussion + reception to facilitate DIRECT artist/audience exchange.

Each salon in this series highlights a different facet of movement within the AFRICAN aesthetic. Dancers embody the GENERATIONS through Congolese + Coupé Décalé, Gospel + Jazz, Hip-Hop + Kwaito. Inspired by the MUSIC, each dancer exemplifies the body as instrument, inviting the audience on a journey.

www.moadsf.org

 

2. Fall Harvest Event @ Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery

Saturday, October 17th

12:00-1:30pm

3053 Marina Ave, Livermore, CA

www.rmwinery.com

Come celebrate Harvest with Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery! Enjoy a gourmet lunch prepared by Executive Chef Tracy Flores. Learn all about harvest and take a tour of the wineries. Finish up your afternoon with a chair massage under the Eucalyptus trees and visiting an art exhibit by Louis Gray. Advance purchase is required for this event. Lunch is $15 per person; Class and Tour are $5.00. for more information email: events@rmwinery.com

**This is one of my favorite hidden gem wineries in the Bay Area!**

 

3. Dinner @ Lake Chalet’s The Dock **repost**

1520 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA

Open daily. Hours vary. Moderate Pricing.

Just completing a multi-million dollar rennovation; Lake Chalet is back and better than ever! Enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Merritt while sipping on locally brewed ales from The Beach Chalet. On Friday’s sit out on the dock and enjoy their Crabfest! Crab & brews .  . . . now what could be better than that?

**I will be writing a formal review on The Dock this Friday**

www.thelakechalet.com

 

4. Fillmore’s Cool Black Ball 

Saturday, October 17th

7:00pm – 1:30pm

various venues on Fillmore Street (between Post & Eddy)

www.coolblackball.com

 

The Cool Black Ball is a pre-halloween costume event showcasing the live entertainment section of Fillmore Street. Participants include all restaurants and music venues on Fillmore from Post down to Eddy Street. Dress cool, classy, sexy and hip all black fashions of the 1920s thru 1950′s and experience the entire area!

There will be live swing dance and chicago steppin  in the Fillmore Plaza and several dj, big band, and jazz performances at Bruno’s, Rasellas, Sheba Piano Lounge, and Yoshi’s.

Tickets provides access to live entertainment shows and DJ dance music at both Yoshis and Rasselas starting at 8:30 pm. All other venues and restaurants are open to the public and will be serving special Cool Black Ball menus. 

The Cool Black Ball is a community business effort towards the resurgence of the live entertainment section of Fillmore Street. A portion of the proceeds from Cool Black Ball will go to Ella Hill Hutch Community Center in the Fillmore.

 

5.  See the Art of Richard Mayhew — FREE — On MoAD Target Family Day!!

Target Family Day is downtown San Francisco’s biggest day-long family block party with FREE admission to four leading museums, special art activities for kids and free performances on three stages.

Participating organizations include the Museum of the African Diaspora, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Zeum: San Francisco’s Children’s Museum, and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

Museum of the African Diaspora activities include:
~Tours of our exhibition: The Art of Richard Mayhew
~Screenprinting landscape art projects
~Dance Performances by Jetta Martin and Company
~Jazz improv workshops by the Terrence Brewer Trio
~Performance and jam session with Oaktown Jazz Ensemble

For more information about the event, visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com or call 415-614-3216.

Wednesday Afternoon Jam Session

I am a huge music person. I’m constantly listening to music…. in my car, at work, at the gym, at home while cooking or getting dressed… i cant even think without music playing in the background. I’m such a big music person that I have over 200 albums downloaded on my work computer! (don’t tell my boss….)

Anyways, I wanted to share with you what I’m listening to: Zo & Tigallo - Love the 80′s.

Never mind the jerricurl and blue-blocker sunglasses, the album is a collaboration of Phonte (lead vocal from Foreign Exchange and Little Brother) and Detroit musician and producer Zo!. Together they revisit classic 80′s hits and remix them with a more contemporary and neo-soul approach.

Maybe its because I’m a true 80′s baby but I’ve been grooving all afternoon to “Africa” and “I’m Only Human” on repeat. Check it out when you get the chance.

Here’s the question of the day? What songs get you through your workday? Leave a comment and share with the In-Crowd!

 

Desire’s Illusion

 I’m not a huge poetry fan, but my nephew recently wrote a poem called Desire’s Illusion. It was picked up and published on Teen Ink– a national teen magazine, book series, and website devoted entirely to teenage writing, art, photos and forums.

I’m so proud of him! He’s  a  13 year-old freshman at Serra High School in Los Angeles, a brilliant writer, and an outstanding basketball player.

Here’s his beautiful poem:

Desire’s Illusions

by Dantley Brown aka ‘Yourahypebeast’

Truth or dare in the cemetery,
Kiss and tell behind elementary.
Humming sweet casingles to you by the bay,
I never want to let you down, or let you go it’s better off this way.
Away from reality; belligerence out of our realm.
I hold you close and kiss your lips again.
What we’ve got, has surpassed a “girlfriend”
My beautiful gladiolus flower,
My bright passionate rose.
Baby where we going, we don’t need roads.
Wrapped in blankets so beautiful even the fritillaries gaze upon us with envy.
Our hearts fill of frison and happiness.
Our minds become frisky.
I hold you firm against my heart as we lay to sleep behind the pillory.
Our frailty is broken, and fades into trust.

 

He also wrote a piece on Hurricane Katrina that was published as well. Click Here to read it.

New Gap Opening in San Francisco!

I LOVE THE GAP! It’s my absolute favorite store!

Check out their new store on Post Street in SF. Yea, yea .. .. seems like there’s a GAP on every corner downtown. But, you might as well take advantage of this grand opening discount. Its valid until Ocotber 20th!

Click on the image to print and save 25% off your purchase!

The In-Crowd is getting better!

The In-Crowd has been officially up and running for about a month and a half now! Woohoo!!!

I’m definitely still getting adjusting to blogging. Between holidays & birthdays, changing exhibitions, and the fall wedding season; finding time to breathe has been a little difficult at times for me! But things are definitely calming down in my life and with that, I plan to blog like crazy and build up viewership between now and the end of the year.

So with that in mind, here’s what’s new on the administrative side of The In-Crowd:

1. New web address!

• The website is simple: www.BayAreaInCrowd.com! Bookmark it!!!

2. We’re on Twitter!

• follow us on Twitter @bayareaincrowd

3. New Daily Topics!

• Monday – Weekend ReCap
• Tuesday – Fashion Alerts
• Wednesday – Personal Insights
• Thursday – Top 5 Things to Do!
• Friday – ‘mystery’ subject….

4. Holiday Events!

• I absolutely love this time of year! The holidays are among us and so are the holiday parties, charity events, and galas. We’ll be keeping in the loop on all the biggest events happening this season.

5. Contact me!

• want to share an event? suggest a blog topic? just want to connect with me? shoot me an email! samara@bayareaincrowd.com

The Reality of Turning Twenty-Nine. . . .

It’s finally hit me — the sun is waning on what has been the best decade of my life thus far. In general life is great — any day we are privileged to breath air in our lungs and have a heart that beats strong in our chests it’s a true blessing. But celebrating my last year as a 20-something is a big horse pill of reality to swallow. 

Gone are the days of eating whatever I wanted to and my jeans still fit the next day. Now I have to count calories and workout at least 3 times a week just to squeeze into them. . . . Gone are the college days of hanging out to the wee hours of the morning  and then skipping class if I chose to. Now I force myself to turn the TV off and be in the bed by 10:30. Skipping work is totally not an option. . . . Gone are the immature days of blowing my paycheck on a pair of cute boots and living off of $20 in my bank account until the next time I get paid. Now I worry about my credit score rating, save for retirement, and wait to catch boots on sale….Gone are the days of standing in line at the club trying to catch the ‘ladies in free before 10′ special. Now you can’t even pay me to go to a club and if I do, instead of finding me standing outside in a line; you’d find me in VIP sitting down resting my feet….

Life is completely different. It’s actually better! I’m at that perfect age — I’m grown but still a young diva. I’m married, I’m financially responsible (or at least I try really hard to be), and I’m still a size 4size 6. But as I look back at my life, I’m reminded on all the major accomplishments I’ve made. I’m reminded of all the fun times I had falling in love with my husband. All the fun times I sat in the stands at the FAMU games with my friends and cheered the band on. All the nights I stayed up late (or didnt sleep at all) stressing over my classes to get my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The last nine years of my life have been the best!!!

And now here I am, 29….one more year until I hit the gawd-awful 30′s. How am I supposed to top my 20′s? Does this mean I should run out and buy a house, get a dog, and pop out a family? Does this mean I have to start shopping in Ann Taylor and wear Michelle Obama sweaters?

What does it mean to be 30 anyways? **I’m stressing myself out already** Let me stop!

I plan to enjoy my last year as a twenty-nine year old. . . . . . I actually plan to stay 29 forever which is one of the reasons why i named my company, ’29 & Holding’. I’m sure 30 will bring great challenges and joys but I’m not gonna worry about that until next year. So for this last year of my 20′s I’m gonna party and live it up. No, I’m not trying to relive 21 over, but I’m living 29 like a 21-year-old would want to… with money in the bank, a better wardrobe, no tests to study for, and a more sophisticated palate for the finer things in life.

So today as I enjoy my birthday, I am not sad. I’m excited to close out my 20′s with a bang! Now that I’ve hyped myself up;  excuse me as I enjoy this sunset, pour myself a glass of Malbec and swallow this pill called 29. . . .

Top 5 Things to Do this Weekend!

Another busy week has flown by and its time to plan for the weekend. I actually have to work this weekend (fall wedding season has officially started!) but I’m trying my best to make it out to these events… Hope to see you there!

1. TONIGHT — Full Moon, Buy Night EventOakland Waterfront Night Bazaar

October 1, 2009

5:30-9:30pm  @ Jack London Square

Affordable & eco-friendly gifts, accessories, clothing,
housewares, sporting goods, books, and more
from local boutiques and artists.

Farm fresh produce, artisan foods, plants, and flowers

Every purchase from an Oakland Unwrapped vendor supports Oakland communities!

 

2. Dinner @ Bocanova Restaurant

55 Webster Street, Oakland (Jack London Square)

http://www.bocanova.com/

Prices: Moderate

When the vibrant flavors and savory ingredients of Central and South America, the aromatic flavors and ancient inspirations of the Mediterranean, and the best and freshest sustainably grown and raised foodstuffs of the Bay Area meet and mix and marry in Bocanova’s innovative kitchen—that’s Pan-American cuisine.

**My good buddy, Michael D has raved about this place so, it’s definitely a spot I want to check out on Friday night.

 

 

3. Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance CompanyPerforms @ YBCA!

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts — 701 Mission Street, SF

October 1st – 3rd

Ticket Price: $20-30

www.ybca.org

In celebration of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company’s 25th anniversary and te bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, YBCA presents the West Coast premiere of Fondly Do We Hope … Fervently Do We Pray. Blending video, live music, movement and theater, Fondly Do We Hope navigates the ambiguous space where art, biography and history collide, profoundly expanding the palette of modern dance. In this thought-provoking new work, Jones—recipient of the 2007 Tony Award for Spring Awakening and recognized worldwide as a cultural trailblazer—considers Lincoln’s legacy and unrealized vision for the reconstruction of America, exposing that great distance between what is and what could have been.

**bay area connection?? Bill T Jones is the brother of the fabulous quadruple-threat, Rhodessa Jones. She’s the co-artistic director of Cultural Odyssey, actress, diva (one of my role models), and the founder of the Madea Project. If you dont know who she is, then you’re not in the In-Crowd. . . .

 

 

 4. Sunday in the Redwoods – Outdoor Concert Series

Woodminster Amphitheater (Joaquin Miller Park @ 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland)

FREE!!! (parking is $4)

http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/Sundays/

This Sunday, enjoy the smooth sounds of  Jon Jang, Marcus Shelby, and Fuzology

Bring the family, a picnic basket full of food and wine, and a pair shades. The views from this theater coupled with the sounds of jazz make this the perfect outing for the family. And did we mention it’s free?

 

5. Cookout at the House **my personal pick**

My birthday is around the corner. And since I’m only turning 29; it’s not really one of those ‘do backflips and call the paps’ kinda birthdays — we’ll save that for the big ’29 & Holding’ party next year. So, I’ve decided to invite a few folks over to celebrate. I’ve ordered a fabulous marble cake from Soraya @ Cakes & Cobblers, and will fire up the grill and have an Oktoberfest-themed meal. Nothing too lavish … just good friends laughing, eating, and of course, lots of vino….

hey, its my party. i can be as silly as I wanna be!!!

If you’re up to not really being out & about this weekend; this is the perfect idea for you. Fire up the grill, invite your buddies over, and just relax and enjoy yourself. Plus, its football season…who wants to be out that much on a Sunday when the Raiders are playing!!!!

Don’t Mean to Brag, Don’t Mean to Boast…

Well, actually I do!

I had the priviledge of attending the best Historical Black College in the world, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. The experiences I had, the lessons I learned, and the frienships I made are invaluable and have left a lasting impact on my life.

As with any college, its all about the football games. But for HBCU’s it’s really all about the band and halftime — after that, half the stadium clears and goes home to get dressed for the afterparty!

So back to trying not to brag or boast. . . . .

Last weekend was one of FAMU’s biggest games of the season- The Atlanta Football Classic against Tennessee State University.  Of course, FAMU won for the eighth year in a row (31-12)! But where FAMU really put TSU to shame was during halftime. The world famous FAMU Marching 100 showed out and I am so proud of them!!!!

In All The World, There’s Only ONE!!!