Jazz on the Patio, Sat. August 1, 2009

Farmer Joe’s Marketplace on Fruitvale Avenue is hosting another free live jazz event on their covered patio this Saturday, August 1, 2009 from 2:30 until 4:30pm. The guest artist will be award-winning jazz vocalist and Glenview resident, Adam Blankman. Adam will be accompanied by pianist extraordinaire Dan Zemelman. The performance is free and all ages are welcome. Bring the whole family and enjoy the afternoon.

Free Live Music on the Patio

3rd Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, June 20, 2009, 1 – 4pm
3424 Fruitvale Avenue Oakland California 94602
FREE FOOD ~ LIVE MUSIC ~ FREE RAFFLE
Raffle starts at 4pm. You must be present to win, and no purchase is necessary.

Diana and Joe would like to thank the wonderful community and their employees for another great year at Farmer Joe’s

Free Class on Pet Bonding

Beth Murray, CCH, RSHom (NA), and Homeopath at Creature Comfort Holistic Veterinary Center in Oakland will be offering a free class, “Animals and Us: The Bond is Deeper than We Think.”
Class Location: Paws & Claws 2023 Macarthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94602
Date: Sunday, Feb. 8 at 10:30 a.m.
For more info: (510)336-0105

Lion Dances

January 26, 2009 marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox. Dancers, drummers, and lion will herald in the New Year with a lion dances at both Farmer Joe’s stores. Don’t miss these dynamic celebrations. Join the lion at Farmer Joe’s!

Sunday, February 1, 2009
Ben Shaolin Kung Fu Lion Dancing Group
        Little Joe’s: 10:40 to 10:50am
        Fruitvale store: 11:00 to 11:20am
Please Note: Lion keeps appointments as best he can, but he is dancing many places on Sunday so times are approximate. Please arrive a few minutes early.

Saturday, February 7, 2009
Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut Lion Dancers
        Little Joe’s: between 10am and 12:00noon

Dimond Winter Festival

The 2008 GREAT Pumpkin Contest Winners

First Prize of $50 goes to Daniel who guessed 361 pounds. That was the exact weight of Farmer Joe’s great pumpkin this year. Second prize goes to Sarah who guessed 365 pounds, third prize goes to Heid who guessed 355 pounds. Please drop by the store to collect your prize winnings and congratulations!

Shaan for All and All for Shaan

I popped in the open door of Shaan Indian Cuisine Restaurant on Fruitvale Avenue near Farmer Joe’s this week. The owner was there and said barring any imminent disasters or paperwork mishaps, he plans to open this week. The interior is gorgeous. I know I speak for the neighborhood when I say, “We can’t wait for naan.”

Turkey Time

Farmer Joe’s is currently taking holiday turkey orders for delicious natural free-range and organic turkeys. These birds are large breasted, local birds that have never been frozen. They are fed natural grains and are hormone free. You can pre-order three kinds of free-range turkeys: Diestel, Willie Birds, or Mary’s, and two kinds of organic turkeys: Heidi’s Hens and Heirloom.

Please check with the meat department at either Farmer Joe’s stores for specifics on ordering and pricing per pound. Shop at Joe’s for the best turkey deals for your best holiday meal.

Wild Silver Brite Salmon SPECIAL

Farmer Joe’s is having a Customer Appreciation Special starting TODAY on their Alaskan Wild Silver Brite Salmon. Customers can get the fish whole or halved for $3.88/lb. or fillets at $5.99/lb. at both stores. Customers can buy any quantity of the fillets. Prices are secured through a special deal with the fishermen, and the Customer Appreciation Special will run until supplies are exhausted. Diana and Joe would like to tell the community, “This is our special way of saying thanks to our customers for their friendship and loyalty.”

Dimond Howl-o-ween

Pet Parade & Costume Party

Dogs, kids, and adults are invited to the 5th Annual Dimond Howl-o-ween Pet Parade and Costume Party. Meet in front of Paws & Claws at 6pm and parade through the Dimond District collecting treats from participating store vendors. Then return to Paws & Claws for an outdoor party behind the store with a campfire and spooky games for kids. Dress warmly!

$5 Donation benefits BadRap
(Bay Area Responsible About Pit Bulls)
Sign up for family portraits by Joyful Dog Designs.

Where: Paws & Claws, 2023 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland
When: Friday, October 31, 2008, 6pm – 9pm
More Info: (510) 336-0105

Blessing of the Animals

Saturday, October 18, 2008
Fruitvale Presbyterian Church
2735 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 530-0915

10:00am
Registration, Coffee, Introductions, & Information

10:30am
Blessings Begin
 
Bring the 2 legged, 4 legged, feather, hooved, and scaled members of your family for a free non-denominational blessing on the church patio! We all love our wonderful animal family members. Have them blessed by Monte McClain, preacher of the Fruitvale Presbyterian Church, for the upcoming year. For additional information and more pictures of last year’s blessings, bounce over to Monte’s blog. Blessing of the Animals is truly an extraordinary event for you and your pets.

Co-Sponsored by Paws & Claws

2023 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 336-0105

Great Pumpkin Contest

The Great Pumpkin Contest is going on now at Farmer Joe’s in the Dimond District. Guess the weight of the huge pumpkin. The person, who guesses closest to the actual weight, wins first prize of $50. The person guessing second closest, wins $25, and third closest guess, wins $10. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Winners revealed after Halloween, and winners need not be present to win. Happy Halloween from your friends at Farmer Joe’s!

Dimond Shopping District is Flourishing

You betcha. The Montclarion published a great article in their real estate section Friday, October 10, 2008. Unfortunately, The Montclarion does not always carry online what they do in print. So, I’m hyperlinking to the author’s web site. Wonderful article, Don. We feel the same way you do!

Oktoberfest in Oakland’s Dimond District

October 4, 2008, 11am until 6pm

Come and join us on MacArthur Boulevard at Fruitvale Avenue for our first annual Oktoberfest. We’re going to celebrate with beer gardens, German food and dance, history tours, food booths, local artisans, a kid’s carnival area, a Green Living and Wellness Expo area and so much more! Don’t miss this extraordinary event. For those interested in making it all happen, we are still looking for volunteers. Please contact Helen Wyman via email or Oakland Event’s web site. For more info on the Dimond District’s Oktoberfest, follow the link.

More Green Bags

Joe’s is restocked on their green bags, the green alternative to shopping bags. Joe’s bags are sturdy and bargain basement priced at $1.49 each. They’re great! We got three the first go round and are going to get a couple more. They’re durable and can withstand loads more than their plastic and paper alternatives.
GO GREEN! GO JOE!

Nama Sushi

NAMA IS OPEN!!! The sushi restaurant is located next to Farmer Joe’s at 3400 Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland’s Dimond District. The grand opening is tomorrow, but the place was packed tonight with neighbors and sushi aficionados at the pre-opening. We sat at a back table, waiting impatiently with our chopsticks for our Dragon, Dream Gina, and House Special rolls. They were DIVINE! Delicious. Superb. Okay, maybe I am going on a bit, but they were wonderfully tasty. Before we finished eating, a line formed out the door. I can see the place becoming a big draw. I can also see a lot of the neighbors inside. I can also see myself eating a lot more of that Dream Gina roll. For more information, roll yourself on over to Monte’s blog.

Laurel Street Festival

Saturday, August 9, 2008 1 – 6 pm
MacArthur Boulevard between 35th and 38th Avenue

Dimond Picnic

Summer, summer, summertime in the Dimond with the Dimond Picnic, where else but in Dimond Park THIS SUNDAY, July 27, 10am – 3pm. The festivities start at 10am sharp with Dennis Evanosky leading his historic tour of the district. This tour is truly amazing. Last year, Dennis presented old black and white photos, discussed such topics as our former beer gardens and turn-around cable cars. Don’t be late and don’t miss it this year. When the tour ends, the food begins. Our food sponsors are our wonderful Farmer Joe’s, Two Star Market, and Peet’s Coffee. It is a picnic with delicious delights for everyone. Dimond Merchants’ Association is sponsoring a raffle, and entertainment abounds. Crafts and games. BELLY DANCING. Need I say more? Woman’s Will is staging a new twist on a classic. Lion’s Pool is sponsoring a free swim. Come one. Come all. For Food. For Fun.

Estancia Grass-Fed Beef Tasting

Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 12, 1 – 5 pm. Estancia is grilling their grass-fed beef at Farmer Joe’s Marketplace for a free public tasting. Estancia Beef has an exceptional taste, and for good reasons. Their cattle are 100% grass fed, and free range, wandering the pampas, eating lush grasses, never enclosed in fences or feedlots. Estancia beef is naturally exercised and naturally fed. No hormones or growth promoting antibiotics are ever added. For more information visit the Estancia Beef web site, and feel free to speak to their representatives on Saturday at Joe’s. Hope to see you there!

Anniversary Celebration

Let the good times roll. Farmer Joe’s Marketplace is having a repeat performance of their anniversary celebration. It’s their second year, and Farmer Joe’s is inviting the whole neighborhood, their friends, loyal customers, and employees to a free barbeque with live music and a free raffle. Please come join Farmer Joe’s in their celebration as they thank the community and their employees. I got a sneak peak at some of the raffle prizes today. In all honesty I can’t say what is the grand prize. On Saturday, Joe’s will be raffling off a bicycle, an MP3 player, a set of golf clubs, Joe’s gift certificates, and an All-in-One – a printer, copier, scanner. WOW! I also heard some whispering about a 5 star wine tour. Remember, all raffle tickets are FREE. The raffles start at 5pm, and you must be present to win. Don’t miss out on the food and fun this Saturday at Joe’s Marketplace.

Where: Farmer Joe’s Marketplace at 3426 Fruitvale Avenue
When: Saturday, June 21, 2008, 2 – 5pm

Thai Basil Chicken Mango Sausage

Sadly, I have no picture. I bought the Farmer Joe’s Thai Basil Chicken Mango Sausage ($5.99/pound) last night at the big store, right before closing, along with a quarter pound of edamame salad. The sausage fried up quick and delicious, filling my kitchen with a savory aroma. I ate it before I could get the camera out of its bag. It was a beautiful picture too – the sausage, scattered edamame with slices of carrot, a cut orange tomato, olives from Joe’s bar and a few slices of sweet Gorgonzola cheese (COW/ITALIA) from the cheese bunker.  

Art Up

This is the new mural at Farmer Joe’s. I love it. The colors are so vibrant and the subject is our beloved Dimond District. It’s painted on the outside of the store on the patio, along with the other must-see murals.

Around the corner, at the Dimond Café, Rita Sklar’s watercolors are on exhibit. Stop, have a cup of jo, and enjoy the free Wifi. It’s turned on and ready for surfing.

Further down the street at Paws and Claws, the front window has been painted by our local artist Amy Jo Karn. The window has a cat, dog, and rabbit frolicking in the spring grass. For those of you with pets, don’t forget this coming Sunday’s free class at Paws & Claws, Dealing with End of Life Issues. The class will be guided by Dr. Gary Richter, DVM, MS. Follow the hyperlink for details.

Flower Power

Joe’s flower department is bursting with color and variety, with mix and match bouquets for as little as $3.99 and $4.99. Saturday, I stopped in store and bought some gorgeous heather for $3.99 that filled a vase and livened up my dining room. I could not resist snapping a photo of the flower cart today. It was overflowing with spring in the shape of fresh cut irises, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, renuculas, pussy willows, and all sorts of mixed arrangements. Flowers are fresh everyday and so affordable. I love having a bouquet sharing my dining room table while I eat dinner. You will too.

Buzz in the Burg, Dimond District Style

There’s so much buzz going on in the Dimond District of Oakland these days, I hardly know where to start. New stores are opening.

Arabella and Company, at 2006 MacArthur Boulevard, had their grand opening on Friday. It’s a great place to buy unique furnishings and pieces for your home and garden for yourself or as gifts.

A couple of doors down, New to You, children’s boutique opened at 2010 MacArthur Boulevard. They offer new and gently used children’s clothes, toys, accessories, and furniture.

Further up the street near Coolidge Avenue at 2710 MacArthur Boulevard, Lipstick had a hopping red carpet opening from 7 – 11pm Friday night. It was an extravaganza. Lipstick carries hip fashions for the ladies.

The next new store is technically in the Laurel District, but I’m claiming them because they’re so cool. It’s the Oakland Acupuncture Project at 3576 Laurel Avenue. They offer acupuncture at a very reasonable rated sliding scale.

I’m putting Dimond Café in the new store section because they have literally reinvented themselves. Located at 3430 Fruitvale Avenue, they used to sell primarily donuts and coffee. They now offer coffee, pasties, a café atmosphere, and WiFi.

I’ve also heard another location to get WiFi in the burg is at the Dimond Library located at 3565 Fruitvale Avenue. My sources tell me you can hook onto their WiFi for free.

Besides all these actual openings, a rumor is floating that our beloved Los Comales might be opening up a second Mexican restaurant in the Laurel District. YEAH! There ain’t no better carne asada quesadilla anywhere, than there. Keep your fingers crossed on that one.

New stores aren’t the only happenings in the Dimond. New classes!

Our pals at Paws & Claws are offering a class Sunday, March 30, 2008 5 – 6:15pm on Dealing with End of Life Issues. This free class is offered at Paws & Claws, 2023 MacArthur Boulevard. The speaker is Dr. Gary Richter, D.V.M., M.S. For those of us with pets, this is an important class to attend. We all want to recognize and do what’s best for our four legged friends at the appropriate time. Dr. Richter is going to talk about these delicate issues during this important class.

And let’s give a big “Hooray” for Loka Yoga located at 2701 MacArthur Boulevard. Wonderful Alice has added a children’s yoga class, ages 6 – 9, Wednesdays 4 – 5pm. She has also changed the time of one class and added another to accommodate our 9 to 5ers. She now offers a Tuesday night class levels 1 – 3, from 7:30 – 9:00pm. She added another level 1 – 3 class, Thursday nights from 7:30 – 9:00pm. Her Yoga Sutras class has been moved to the last Friday of the month with an hour of open practice starting at 6pm.

The next class I’m mentioning is not new, nor is it in the Dimond, but I’m claiming this one too because it’s so much fun. It’s the Aqua Maids, water aerobics class in the outdoor pool at Mills College. The class is most Sundays at 9am.

If you’re not into an organized water class, don’t forget you can swim laps throughout the year at the Dimond Park’s heated pool. The pool is located at 3860 Hanly Road.

New stores, new classes – what more could you ask for? More events!

During the month of April, Rita Sklar’s original paintings, entitled “Diversity in Play,” can be seen at the Dimond Library, La Farine (3411 Fruitvale Avenue), Café Diem, and Dimond Café (3430 Fruitvale Avenue). Two receptions will be held to meet the artist. The first will be at Café Diem, Friday, April 18th from 3 – 6:00pm. The second will be at Dimond Café, Wednesday, April 23 from 4 – 6:00pm.

And last but not least, we might be getting an Oktoberfest in the Dimond. YAH!! I can only wish. The rumor mill says some streets will be closed for beer, schnitzel, sauerkraut, and lederhosen. Wooo Hoooo. Polka, baby. It’ll be a huge undertaking, but the rumor mill also says Helen Wyman is thinking about tackling the project. I have my fingers doublely crossed. Helen heads up the Laurel World Music Festival and the Montclair Jazz and Wine Festival every year. She’s the right man, er woman, for the job.

Fresh Flowers Every Day

The cold and blowing rain got ya down? Need a little springtime and need it right now? Try the fresh flowers from Farmer Joe’s. The flower cart is to the right as you walk through the main entrance of the Dimond store. It overflows with a large selection of blossoms such as irises, hyacinths, roses, spider mums, lilies, sprigs of flowering peach, and numerous mixed arrangements. Need a vase? Joe’s carries those too, located on the flower cart in small, medium and large sizes. If you’re thinking more along the lines of gardening, the organic herbs and starter flowering plants are available near the entrance of the store. The herbs are a bargain at $2.19 each. Buy a dozen and get one free.

CaKe

I think of myself as a bit of a cake connoisseur, mainly because there’s nothing I like better than cake. I spend a good deal of my waking hours thinking about cake, what is the best cake, and where I can get it. Needless to say, I am possessed by the beautiful cakes in Farmer Joe’s bakery section. Every time I shop, I spend time staring at them, reviewing the taste sensations of ones I have eaten and determining my next purchase.

Today, I treated myself to Douce France’s Opera Cake. I am going to give you the best advice you will probably receive all year. Drop what you are doing. Go straight to Farmer Joe’s. Give the clerk the $2.99 plus tax for this cake. Do it now. This is an unbelievable dessert.

The Opera Cake is pictured second from the left, but the picture hardly does it justice. The taste is incredible, very French pastry, not too rich. This dessert, with its exquisite, light and airy mix of delicious chocolate and not-too-sweet cake, knocked me out. It is an elegant dish with coffee, after a pasta dinner, or perhaps you will do what I did. Get a Joe’s roasted chicken, some Asiago from the deli, and top a wonderful meal with a perfect ending.

Lion Dance

The lion danced at both stores today. Gongs and a brilliant golden drum resonated throughout Farmer Joe’s, accompanying his performance. The beautiful creature paraded through the stores, heralding in the Chinese New Year.

He promised to bring luck to the community while warding off evil spirits. He took a brief turn toward the beautiful cakes. I was worried for a split second he was going to munch on them, but he headed out the door and snacked on some lettuce swinging from the entrance. Organic, no doubt.

Cocktail Grapefruit

Do you like grapefruit, but don’t like the bite? Try Cocktail Grapefruit. This fruit is extra sweet, juicy, and unique. It’s not actually a grapefruit at all, but a cross between a Frua Mandarin orange and a Pummelo. The flavor is similar to a grapefruit’s but much sweeter and less acidic. For a special drink, try the Cocktail Grapefruit Cocktail, fresh squeezed Cocktail Grapefruit juice, over ice with a shot of vodka. Of course, I think I just negated all the healthy aspects of the fruit, but what the heck. It sure is tasty. Cocktail grapefruits are on sale at Joe’s, while they last, 69¢ each.

Attention Animal Lovers

Dimond’s beloved pet store, Paws & Claws is hosting a fabulous free class on Homeopathy for Animal Emergencies, Saturday, January 19, 2008 4 – 5:15pm at their store. Beth Murray will teach the class. Beth, CCH, RSHom (NA), is certified in classical homeopathy and a registered member of the North American Society of Homeopaths. She consults at Creature Comfort Holistic Veterinary Clinic, the Oakland Zoo, and Back to Life Wellness Center in Alameda for the human population. For more information, please click through to the hyperlinks provided. For all us animal lovers, this class is a must, and it’s FREE, provided in joint partnership by Paws & Claws and Beth.

More Loka Yoga

Alice is expanding! YAH! More yoga classes for everyone. I’m working on wrapping my mind (and body) around the child’s pose, so I’m thrilled Alice is opening up another beginners’ session, Sunday mornings 9 – 10:30am. Here’s the new schedule. Alice has also started a Yoga Sutras class on Thursday nights 7 – 8:30pm. Come and join us. I’m a novice Yoga-ite and I’m having a blast. We concentrate on our breath, our poses, some chanting, and Alice is hilarious. I’m not sure you’re supposed to say that about Yoga teachers. Oh, and the music at Loka Yoga is great too. Plus, afterward I come out feeling all put together in a responsible meditative sort of way, kind of like ice cream for the soul.

DIA Calendar

The Dimond Improvement Association’s calendar is on sale at Farmer Joe’s for $12. This full sized 8 ½ x 11 inch calendar contains historical black and white photos for each month, along with information about daily events in the Dimond and neighboring districts. My favorite photo is from the month of September, a 1908 Fruitvale Avenue streetcar.

Pom Juice

Pomegranate juice is definitely the “it” drink in health circles. It’s no wonder. Not only is the pom, higher in antioxidants than its cousin the blueberry, but recent scientific studies suggest the pomegranate may be helpful in fighting certain types of cancer. Preliminary tests also show the beautiful fruit may boost that old heart muscle and help it with the day to day business of providing cardiac blood flow.

I’m all over the pom juice at Farmer Joe’s. I buy the 32-ounce freshly squeezed mini jug for $7.99. You can find it in the iced bar to the right as you walk in the front door, past the flowers and veges. You know the place. It’s the same area you see me standing with the sample Joe’s tortilla chips and big load of freshly made guacamole stuffed in my mouth. I love that fresh bar. Everything in the ice is made daily. 

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

There’s still some great looking Evergreens at Farmer Joe’s for all you Christmas minded folks. We got a small one today for about $15. We put the twinkly lights on it and some silvery icicles. I hope Santa can squeak some gifts under it.

Dimond Winter Festival

Saturday, December 8, 2007, 10:00am – 3:00pm
Fruitvale Presbyterian Church

Ice Cream

I scream. You scream. We all scream for Farmer Joe’s ice cream. $4.19/quart. Right now, I’m stuck on the seasonal flavor, pumpkin. Yum! The strawberry and peppermint are flying off the shelves too. There are 13 delicious flavors in all at a great price.

7th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Join us this Sunday, November 18, 2007, for the 7th annual community Thanksgiving dinner. A scrumptious turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, will be served from 4:00 – 5:30pm at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church, located at 2735 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland 94602. For more information, please call (510) 530-0915 or visit Fruitvale Presbyterian Church online. We’ll see ya there!

The Great Pumpkin Contest Winners for 2007

The Great Pumpkin weighed in at whopping 468 pounds. First prize, $50, was awarded to Kathleen R. with the closest guess of 467 pounds. Second closest guess was 465 pounds and received $25. Third prize, $10, went to three lucky people, each guessing 463 pounds.

Howl-o-weening

Howl-o-ween came to Farmer Joe’s on Saturday. Our group of costumed adults, dogs and children started at Paws and Claws and worked our way down to the store, where Diana Tam greeted us with sacks of goodies. Okay, yeah, I yelled “trick or treat” with the kids so I could get some candy. My favorite item in my bag was an iced pumpkin cookie. Delicious. A little Dachshund thought the cookie looked yummy too. The small dog jumped up and snagged one from a child. I laughed at the hungry dog until I saw how disappointed the kid was. Diana quickly replaced her cookie, and this time the kid held it out of the dog’s reach.

This year’s Howl-o-ween was better than ever. People and dogs wore some fabulous costumes. I was really torn which were my favorites. I liked the pugs that were ticks, and the Chihuahua/Chinese Crested mix that was a fairy. The little girl who was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz was adorable. Her mother was the wicked witch. One of my favorite dogs showed up wearing a Cinderella costume. The dog’s human said, “My dog is so embarrassed wearing that costume.” Later in the evening at the Howl-o-ween bonfire at Paws and Claws, the dog strolled by us with a big grin on her face and no costume. The dog had removed the costume herself. Embarrassed, indeed. We took a flashlight and looked around but we could never find the pup’s outfit.

Loka Yoga

Loka Yoga is opening up Saturday, October 20, 2007, at 2071 MacArthur Boulevard in the Dimond District in Oakland. Loka Yoga’s open house starts at 4:30pm with 108 Sun Salutations. I don’t know what that means. I think it’s some yoga speak, and since I don’t speak yoga, I’m coming to the other part of the open house that says “Tea and Cookie Open House at 6:30pm.” I darn well know what “tea and cookie” means.

Like everyone in the neighborhood, I’m excited about our very own yoga studio opening up. Alice, the yoga master – and forgive me Alice if I am using the wrong term – transformed a shell of a building into a beautiful place for us to work on our bodies and spirits. I have never tried Yoga but I see, by the schedule, Alice is offering a beginner’s class Wednesday night. She is also offering classes to accommodate all skill levels. I hope to see everyone there!