Things to do in Alameda

Things to Do in Alameda:   Trade your single use plastic bag for a stylish, durable grocery bag on Saturday, December 1 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the parking lot behind City Hall at 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.  The Public Works department is sponsoring the exchange to help with the Alameda County ban on single use bags which begins on January 1, 2013.


Things to Do in Alameda:  City of Alameda’s Hometown Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 1, 2012 Noon to 5:30 pm when the tree will be lit at City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue in Alameda.  There will a synthetic skating rink and free holiday games & craftsfor the Kids from Noon to 3:00pm at the City Hall Parking Lot.  You can pre-register for specific skating times at Alameda Recreation and Parks Department or by calling 510-747-7529.

Things to Do in Alameda:  The Little Ice Rink was a big hit last year.  Well it is back now at Alameda’s South Shore Center adjacent to Petco on the southeast side of the South Shore Center off Park Street. Hours are Monday through Thursday, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  The Little Ice Rink will be open through January 21, 2012.

Things to do in Alameda: West Coast Accordion Babes Revue:  Presenting “Cabaret, Accordions and French Rock” on Saturday, December 1 at 8:00

Things to do in Alameda:  The Alamedas Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 4 morning from 9am to 1pm, rain or shine.  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits and vegetables.  The market is at Webster Street and Haight Avenue.

Things to do in Alameda:  Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid will be back with more food trucks on December 1, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the South Shore Center parking lot near Petco.  Eight to ten trucks will including Curry Up Now, Fins on the Roof, Hapa SF, Hiyaa, House of Siam, Mayo & Mustard, Pacific Puffs, The Chairman and We Sushi.  Count me in.  Yummy.

Things to do in Alameda:  Alameda Point Antiques Faire on Sunday, December 2 from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm.  You will have great time people watching, buying cools things, and enjoying great food. Entry fee is $10 before 7:30 am, $5 after 9:00 am. If you haven’t been to the Alameda Point Antiques Faire you are missing a great event.   Anything you ever wanted or didn’t want is at the Faire.  This is a great people watching event.  Walking always makes me hungry.  Luckily, there are wonderful gourmet food and drink trucks.  The weather should be beautiful so try and arrive early, doors open at 6 am.  We usually arrive around 9 am when entry is easy and parking is not too bad. There is so much to see and so little time. Since a rain storm is predicted, you should check the Antiques Faire website to be sure it is open.

Things to Do in Alameda:  3 O’Clock Jump, a swing and jazz band will perform at a free benefit holiday concert for Alameda’s Toys for Tots on Sunday, December 2 at 2:00 pm at The Alameda Naval Base Theater at 2751 Todd Street, Alameda Point, Alameda.  Just bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. Doors open at 1:15 pm.


Mark your calendars for these great events:  

The popUp Gallery’s Opening Reception of  “Every_Body” will feature the works of eleven artists on Friday , December 7, 2012 at 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  The popUp Gallery is located at Autobody Fine Art at 1517 Park Street in Alameda.


Things to Do in Alamedais all about events for the whole family to enjoy in Alameda.  I write about Things to do in Alameda every Friday, so if you like what you see here, please come back for more or visit me on Facebook at Living In Alameda and 101 Things to do in Alameda.

Snap Shot of Alameda real estate market - November 19 to November 26, 2012


This is a snapshot of the Alameda real estate market activity November 19 to November 26, 2012:

New homes on the market...........................................................5
Price changes...............................................................................2
Homes that sold.........................................................................10
Pending activity - all not just last week.......................................111
All properties currently on the market...........................................30
Condos currently on the market...................................................11
Townhouses currently on the market.............................................5
Distressed properties:
Bank Owned properties.................................................................5
Short Sales...................................................................................3
Average days on the market........................................................13
(including distressed properties)
Average sales price of single family homes.........................$540,866

The snapshot of the Alameda market shows that the number of new homes
on the market last week is down a bit from the previous week’s statistics. Pending activity has decreased from the previous week.  

Average sales price has decreased this week from $540,866 the previous week to the current week’s sales price of $510,524.  A snapshot of the Alameda real estate market does not show a true picture of the market trend.  More time is needed to determine trends.

Prices have climbed but there are still good values in Alameda.
This is still a good time to be looking for a home since interest
rates are very low in 3% - 3.5% range.  The low inventory may be the
only impediment to finding a home.  However, new homes have continually
come on the market this summer.  Buyers need to have an agent who
watches the market frequently and knows what is available now.

My snap shot of the Alameda real estate market reports are important and provide valuable information over the long run.  But, if you want to know your property’s current market value, or what you should offer on a particular property, you need a Comparative Market Analysis which will comparelike properties; apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

Looking for a home in the Alameda? I have lived in Alameda for nearly 40 years. I know the market and can help you buy a home in Alameda.  I can send an email to you every day of any new activity on the market.  Call or text me at 510-504-5612. Follow me on my Facebook pages Living in Alameda and 101 Things to Do in Alameda.

New Disaster Services Workers Sworn in in Alameda

New Disaster Service Workers (DSW) were sworn in on Tuesday, November 19, at Alameda.   Each DSW had completed 5 weeks of classes. The classes included  Personal Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation, Disaster Medical, Fire Suppression/Hazardous Materials, Disaster Search Techniques, Basic Incident Command System(ICS) and a Completion Exercise.

Captain Sharon Oliver, of the Alameda Fire Department swore the DSW graduates in.  She welcomed them to CERT and expressed her appreciation for their willingness to participate in the Alameda CERT program.  Following a disaster, CERT volunteers will be providing aid and assistance within the limits of their training to reduce the disaster's impact on their community.

The DSW were now eligible to join Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT).  There are 4 Districts in Alameda which coincide with Alameda Fire Districts.  The new DSW will primarily aid in disaster events, but they are not included in the day to day emergency response activities typically associated with law enforcement, fire service or emergency medical service.

Alameda is a lovely community with good schools, pristine sand beaches, an historic movie theater, great stores, coffee shops and restaurants. I write about events, businesses, restaurants and items of interest to Alamedans. If you like what you see here, please come back for more or visit me on my Facebook page  Living In Alameda and  101 Things to Do in Alameda.

The City of Alameda to transfer ownership of the Meyers House to The Alameda Museum

If the transfer of the Meyers House is approved by the City the Alameda Museum would assume full responsibility for annual maintenance and for capital improvements the House may need.  The Museum would continue to operate the House as a museum.

City Manager John Russo said the city doesn’t intend to ask the Alameda Museum to compensate the city for the property.  Since Russo was hired as City Manager in 2011 he has worked to put nonprofits in charge of city assets.  

The City is facing fiscal problems and since the bond Measure C was voted down last spring the City is finding that it must tighten its belt.  The City Council deleted a $25,000 subsidy to maintain the Meyers House in 2008.  But the City continues to subsidized the $38,700 yearly rent.  

The Colonial Revival home was built for the Meyers Family in 1887 based on H. M. Meyers’ plans.  H. M. Meyers was a noted local architect whose works includes the Posey Tube, and many Veterans Halls in the county.  His last surviving daughter, Jeanette B. Meyers gave the house to the city in 1996.  The City gets between $17,000 and $20,000 a year from the Meyers’ estate to help  maintain the house.

The City Council will make the final decision early next year.

Alameda is a lovely community with good schools, pristine sand beaches, an historic movie theater, great stores, coffee shops and restaurants. I write about events, businesses, restaurants and items of interest to Alamedans. If you like what you see here, please come back for more or visit me on my Facebook page  Living In Alameda and  101 Things to Do in Alameda.

The Lost Airports of Alameda


“The Lost Airports of Alameda” will be the subject discussed by the Alameda Sun publishers, Dennis Evanosky and Eric Kos on Wednesday, November 21 at 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street in Alameda.  

Most Alamedans know that we were once host to the Alameda Naval Air Station, but the City also boasted five airfields in its history way before the Navy showed up.  “Biplanes once took off and landed at an abandoned race track at the north end of Sherman and Bay Streets.”

Their program is free to the public.  My suggestion to you is to arrive early.  This popular duo is always entertaining and they have a huge following.  You will be regaled with wonderful stories and learn something about Alameda’s rich history.

Alameda is a lovely community with good schools, pristine sand beaches, an historic movie theater, great stores, coffee shops and restaurants. I write about events, businesses, restaurants and items of interest to Alamedans. If you like what you see here, please come back for more or visit me on my Facebook page  Living In Alameda and  101 Things to Do in Alameda.

Christ Church Invites all to Thanksgiving dinner

If you are alone this Thanksgiving or are not able to provide dinner for your family, Christ Church is offering you, your family and friends a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.   Dinner will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.  The festive dinner is free and open to all.  

Christ Church is located at 1700 Santa Clara Avenue in Alameda.  Please call the Church at 510-523-7200 for more information.

ALAMEDA COMMUNITY EVENTS

ALAMEDA COMMUNITY EVENTS  June 25 promises to be a day full of fun events in Alameda.

On July 25th the Alameda Rotary Club will sponsor the Great Alameda Race at Rockwall Winery at Alameda Point starting at 2PM.  This Alameda Community Events will help the Alameda Rotary Club's Community Grants Program, the World Community Services Project and the Polio Plus Program.  The Eradicate Polio Worldwide program, in which Rotary International is an important contributor in the effort to eradicate polio throughout the World

During the last 10 years the Alameda Rotary Club has donated over $250,000 to many Alameda Community groups which have helped the youth programs, Senior programs and those who have special needs.

Another Alameda Community Events on July 25, is the The Alameda Framer's Market on Webster Street will be open from 9am  to 1pm. The produce is fresh, seasonal and delicious. I stock up on produce to last for weeks.  The market is a fun place to be and I usually see people who I haven't see in ages.

Gallagher & Lindsey, Realtors, my real estate office, offers another Alameda Community Events.  Gallagher and Lindsey will be hosting an Art Show & Reception Saturday, June 25, 2-4pm.  Three artists will be featured, Ginnie Chabre, Jeff Cullen and Markus Lui.  There will be a live watercolor demonstration by Markus Lui at 3pm. There have been a number of live demonstration by artists using many types of media at our office.  In the past, the artists have shared their motivations, feeling about their art and what inspired them to work in the medium they use. It is marvelous to hear from these very talented artists. 

Lavish hors d'oeuvres from Tomatina's and refreshments will be offered.

Another Alameda Community Events features Cuban Music and Latin Dance at Rhythmix Cultural Works on Saturday, June 25.  The LaTiDo Quartet will be spotlighted.  They specialize in Latin danceable traditional music from Cuban to New York Salsa, to Cha Cha Cha, to Mombo and other Latin beats.  The concert will be held at 8pm at The Rhythmix Center on 2513 Blanding Avenue in Alameda.

From the Great Alameda Race to Art Show and Reception to the Alameda's Farmers Market to lively Latin music, there is something for everyone at these Alameda Community Events.