Category — office

Our humble central district is perhaps more peaceful and more quiet than it has been recently, yet more loudly buzzing with positive energy and new attractions.

The year is starting strong for investors in downtown’s older commercial buildings, as the San Francisco Business Time reports. Several office buildings have traded hands recently as busineses seeking space are taking advantage of good deals. This will hopefully presage continued strong employment growth downtown, as the City and private businesses work to make the area safer and more vibrant.

But even as things are looking up, it’s the last weekend of lovely downtown furniture and housewares shop Entrez Open House (1645 Telegraph), which is closing after five years as an anchor of Uptown. Though the shop closes after Sunday, there will be a final farewell party on Feb 26th.

Though cool stores can close, others can appear or change, and nearby sex retailer Feelmore510 (1703 Telegraph) is celebrating its anniversary this Sunday with a party at the newly-renovated Hibiscus (1745 San Pablo), which now boasts a “dance wing.” Get the details on Facebook.

As part of a statewide series, Laney College hosts a celebration of black choreographers this weekend, with performances and lectures. See ticketing site for details.

La Borinquena’s Tina Tamale hosts a Tamales y Vino party at Urban Legend Cellars (621 4th St) tonight. Tickets and information are here.

Old Oakland’s Sticks + Stones Gallery (815 Broadway) is holding a reception this evening from 5:30 to 8:30, entitled War, Women, Whiskey and More. The gallery is showing the works of Sean Dietrich, best known as a live painter.

The Art Murmur’s Saturday Stroll of mellow gallery exhibitions is now every Saturday, not just the first. Running from 1-5pm, a highlights is the Slate Gallery (473 25th St), and others listed on OaklandArtMurmur.org.

Enjoy this unseasonably warm weather with a weekend in more peaceful downtown! See you in Uptown!

This morning bicycle, pedestrian, transit and business advocates celebrated the installation of 18.1 miles of City-wide bike infrastructure, including long-awaited lanes on Franklin and Webster Streets, connecting downtown’s neighborhoods. Full disclosure: I am a Board Member of Walk Oakland Bike Oakland, which sponsored the press conference in partnership with the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. By the time you read this the lanes will have been fully painted – get out and enjoy them!

While Old Oakland’s Pop Up Hood is going strong, and inspiring entrepreneurs throughout Oakland despite the poor economy, Uptown is getting in on the holiday shopping action with a temporary gift fair this weekend at the Betti Ono Gallery (1804 Telegraph) across the street from the Fox Theater. The holiday shopping extravaganza with local artisans and manufacturers kicks off tonight with a party from 7 to 10pm, and continues all weekend from 11am-5pm in conjunction with the Uptown Stroll, when local bars, restaurants and shops (including EntreZ and Feelmore510) offer holiday discounts. And in the spirit of the season, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Covenant House, an organization that works with homeless youth.

There are other great opportunities to contribute downtown. Tonight, The Uptown Nightclub (1928 Telegraph Ave) will waive its cover charge for a donation of a new, unwrapped toy to the Mayor’s Toy Drive. If you come downtown for business, consider bringing canned food to donate to the Alameda County Food Bank, which has donation drop-offs in the lobbies of most office buildings. The Food Bank can stretch your dollars further because of bulk purchasing, so also consider making a cash donation, which you can do online at www.accfb.org.

Happy holidays!