Oakland's 146 neighborhoods, in their own words

I was happy to make a small donation and even more happy to hear it is now fully funded!  Stephen Texeira's The Oakland Neighborhood Project is a very cool photographic story telling about Oakland and its vast array of people.  Please click on the links below to find out more! [embed]https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2056607570/the-oakland-neighborhood-project?ref=checkout_share[/embed]

http://www.oaklandphoto.org/

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Camping in Rockridge Anyone?

A few weeks ago I posted pictures of a retro kitchen that was featured this year's Rockridge Kitchen Tour.  That same family is doing something very cool in their backyard! Check out these pics... Diana and Craig are looking to make their oversized level and lush backyard into mod B&B.

This 1956 Airstream trailer is currently being restored and will become part of a Backyard B&B next year!
This 1956 Airstream trailer is currently being restored and will become part of a Backyard B&B next year!
They have also restored this beautiful 1951 Spartanette trailer.
They have also restored this beautiful 1951 Spartanette trailer.

Giving Back

Since 1985 ROOF, Red Oak Opportunity Foundation, has been giving back to our community by collecting contributions from our 4 owners and real estate agents and dispersing the funds to small local non-profits.  It is unbelievable that the small donations many $20 dollars each has accumulated to nearly $1,000,000 over the last few decades. Click here to see our 2011 recipients. Next month ROOF will have our annual Poker Tournament Fundraiser . $100 gets you a night of poker and snacks. If you have a poker face, please come! (Call me for tickets)

If you are a non-profit you can now apply for a grant online, click here. The deadline for grant applications is Nov. 8th, 2012.

To donate to our non-profit, click here.

I am proud to be a ROOF supporter!

 

 

Where have I been?

If you follow The Oakland Berkeley Journal, you find new articles almost weekly. I am a month behind, yikes!  I thought December would be a month for me to catch  up and write fun articles about fantastic dinner recipes and local restaurants, but instead I found real estate to be an extraordinarily busy month.  In addition to helping my clients buy incredible loft space, hillside condos and Redwood Heights properties, my services include helping clients with market analysis for taxes, property separation and more. Every January, I reflect on how the previous year turned out, what I can do better and how can I provide a higher level of service.  Red Oak Realty is a company unlike many in our industry.  We are hyper-local, green, technically savvy, artist, charitable and always looking to improve our service.  Yesterday, was our annual 2012 Kick-Off Breakfast and I was honored to hear nationally acclaimed real estate expert, Nancy Gardner speak and consult about our economic forecast; I love how Nancy speaks with such clarity and truth. (Call me to discuss her predictions)  As tradition, awards were announced and cheer was raised and in the midst of it all, I was awarded Company-Wide Top Producer, an honor that I will cherish always.  I thank you, my clients for your continued support and trust and for my clients to come, please know I will continue to provide service from my heart.

Happy New Year!

Deidre

An Opportunity to Give Back - Fountain to Vessel

Oakland resident Karlya Benjamin has a vision of honoring the past and empowering the future.  She feels that our elderly have so much to tell and who better to listen than our youth.  Additionally, too often our seniors crave visitors.  If you or  your teenager have the desire to reach out and volunteer for a few hours, read a few of the details below and email me at deidrejoyner@gmail.com.

Who: We, a group of parents and teens in a project called, “Honoring the Past, Empowering the Future”

What: We will go to 3 facilities to share and interact with seniors for 1-1½ hours.  There are 2 facilities and two dates so far.

Where: November 21 – 10:30 -11:30 – North Berkeley Senior Center

November 22nd – Center for Elders Independence, Berkeley – 10:00 – 11:00 am

Why: To keep us (especially teens) connected to the elderly and as human beings.    By sharing with each other, we are able to appreciate the elderly as an incredible wealth of knowledge, history and strength.  A lot has happened in the last 80-90 years and they’ve seen it and were a part of it.  In turn, the elderly are able to see the young as possibilities to empower create and shape the world and as vessels to carry forward the knowledge of the past.

Tonight on Piedmont Ave

What:

Amy Perl's (http://www.amyperl.com/) latest photo art work and Craig Erickson's (tmdwblog.blogspot.com) awesome illustrations on wood + resin art work will be on display. Fivetenburger (delicious food!), as well as super cool crafters Hoof and Horn (hoofandhorn.tumblr.com), A Boy Named Coy (aboynamedcoy.com), and Cougar Horse (http://cougarhorse.com/) will be open with their custom clothing designs, and some great artisans' work!

When:

TONIGHT - Thursday, June 16

Time:

6:30ish - 10 pm

Where:

Amy Perl Photography Studio and Dana and Reed from Cougar Horse Boutique

4456 Piedmont Ave (near the Oakland Cemetery)

 

It should be a fun time!

This is in conjunction with Piedmont Avenue's first monthly THIRD THURSDAY ART WALK.

Some of Amy Perl's work:

 

 

Out and About the East Bay - Mark Your Calendars

Friday, February 25 & March 18th at 8 PMOakland East Bay Symphony The Planets and Stars Michael Morgan, Conductor w/ Bryan Nies, Assistant Conductor (2/25)
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway, Oakland
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
Saturday, February 26 at 5:30 PM
Ragga Muffins Festival
Featuring:  Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration and much more!
The Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Oakland Speakers Series
Featuring Arianna Huffington Paramount Theatre
The Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway, Oakland
8 PM (Doors open at 7 PM)
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
Saturday, March 12th
GETT OFF: MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO does PRINCE With MARTIN LUTHER: Covers the Beatles
The New Parish
579 18th St., Oakland Doors 8:30 / Show 9:30 / $25 ADV
http://www.thenewparish.com/
Sunday, March 13th at 7:00pm
TheaterFunk: "Life Is A Stage... and We Funk With It!"
135 12th Street, Oakland
Oasis Restaurant & Bar
Saturday, March 19th at 7:30 PM
Flogging Molly @ the Fox Theater
The Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
Saturday, March 26th
Oakland Festival Twilight 5K Run
Come to Jack London Square and participate in the Oakland Running Festival’s Twilight 5K Race! To register, please go to www.oaklandmarathon.com. All runners will receive a T-shirt, gift bag and beverage voucher. Whether you come out for the run or come out to support your running friends and family, enjoy live music and the beautiful waterfront. Make dinner reservations at your favorite Jack London Square restaurant now.
March 26th & 27th
Oakland Running Festival
Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
Registration is now open! www.oaklandmarathon.com
March 26th & 27th at 8 PM
B.B. King
The Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
April 13th
10 AM – 2 PM
Earth Expo Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
www.oaklandearthexpo.org
April 14-17th
Beginning at 10 AM Strictly Sail Pacific and Pacific Boat Expo Jack London Square, Oakland www.sailamerica.com

Can you make the cut? So You Think You Can Dance hits Oakland.

One of my favorite reality television shows is, So You Think You Can Dance.  I grew up in the dance studio.  From the early 1970's I was always at Everybody's Creative Art Center turned City Center Dance Theater after school.  To my mother's disappointment, I quit dancing when I turned 20 and I often regret it as well.  What I love about this show is that it showcases all forms of dance, from hip-hop to ballroom, contemporary and many more.  I was so excited when my friend Karlya called me this morning to tell me that auditions were being held at the Paramount Theater on Broadway.  After dropping my children off at school I headed downtown to see the dancers line up.  I am glad to see that Oakland was selected to be an audition city.

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Mark your Calendar - Oakland Events

Oakland is full of life, savor what this city has to offer.  Below are just a few events in the coming weeks. Original piece of art by Oakland local, Pam Consear

O Zone at OMCA:  Incredible!  | Friday October 8th, 5:00 - 9:00 pm. Learn about the making of the film with behind-the-scenes stories from Pixar artists who helped make it!  For more information click here.

Oaktoberfest!  Saturday October 9th, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Come enjoy beer, music and food in the Dimond district of Oakland.  Red Oak Realty is a proud sponsor and will have a booth!  I will be there from 12:00-2:30 pm to answer any real estate questions you might have.  Come and say hello! For more information click here!

Sundays in the Redwoods, Sunday October 10th, 2 pm at the Woodminister Amphitheatre.  George Duke, Stabe Wilson and Ray McCoy will close out this annual 4 Sunday series. For more information click here!

15th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival on Sunday October 24, 2010 from 10:00 am to 5:00 am. The festival will be held between 33rd Ave. and 37th Ave. on East 12th St., as well as in the Fruitvale Village.  For more information click here!

Celebrate Redwood Heights and the art work of Pam Consear! Wednesday October 25th from 6-8 pm at 3595 Monterey Blvd in Redwood Heights. (art gala, open house and refreshments.)

Boo at the Zoo! Saturday October 30th from 10 am - 3 pm. Come celebrate halloween with the children in your life at Oakland's zoo.  Click here for more information.

Bay Area Dine Out! Tuesday November 9th dine out for Meals on Wheels.  80 local restaurants are participating in this event. For more information click here!

Redwood Heights, Worth a Second Look!

Students, parents, neighbors and artists pitch in to create this gorgeous mosaic at Redwood Heights Elementary School.

Wow, this week my son Miles is graduating from Redwood Heights Elementary School! Ten years ago, when my husband and I purchased our home in this neighborhood, I was so excited that my children would be attending my former school. I have been a Redwood Heights parent for the last nine years, kindergarten - 5th grade for both my daughter, Nia and son, Miles. I love my neighborhood, very down to earth, yet full of life.  Recently Redwood Heights home prices took a slight dip in price, making this a great time to consider a move to this neighborhood.

This charming neighborhood, with a neighborhood association established in 1944, is the perfect place to purchase a home. From storybook Tudors to mid-century ranch homes and prices currently ranging between $550,000 - $750,000, this neighborhood is full of value. Redwood Heights residences like myself appreciate this satisfying community with Redwood Heights Elementary School and Recreation Center at the heart. I really enjoy the social nature of the neighborhood -  it is common that folks wave to me as I am driving or walking during my daily chores.

Above you will see the newest addition to Redwood Heights Elementary, our retaining walls are now studded with a handcrafted mosaic mural the vision of neighbors and artists, Claudia Goodman - Hough and Pam Consear.

This summer enjoy the outdoors as the recreation center with “Movies in the Park” at dusk on select Fridays.  Grab a sweater and a lawn chair and head over to 3883 Aliso Ave.

June 25 - The Wizard of Oz

July 9 - The Princess Bride

July 24 - Bolt

Redwood Heights Oaktown Scavenger Hunt Winners 2010

Residents participate in an annual Oaktown Scavenger Hunt put on by parents of Redwood Heights Elementary, just one of many community events hosted by Redwood Heights Elementary School parents.

 

Visit Oakland’s Own Great Wall

Every first Friday of the month, with the next screening on June 4th, the Great Wall of Oakland presents a curated screening of video art and films from artists in Europe, Canada and the United States. A series of 100-foot by 100-foot moving images are projected onto the back wall of 2201 Broadway.  The Wall faces West Grand Avenue between Broadway and Valley Street, next door to Luka’s Taproom and Lounge in Oakland’s Uptown district.  Don’t miss this dramatic cutting edge motion art!  Click here for more information. GWall

It All Happens in Oakland!

Save the date!  On April 29 The Oakland Zoo will host a screening of the movie “Return to the Wild, a Modern Tale of Wolf and Man.”  The reception begins at 6:30 in the Marian Zimmer Auditorium at the Oakland Zoo with the screening beginning at 7pm.  The film is appropriate for children 12 and older and the cost is a sliding scale of $10-$20.  Get the details at www.oaklandzoo.org. Pack a lawn chair, dress warm and head on up to Redwood Heights Recreation Center this Friday, April 30 to see the Pixar movie “Up.”  Snacks are available from 6:30 to 8:30 for $4.00 with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund for summer day camp and after school Rockets.  The movie begins at dusk, approx. 8pm.  Call 510.482.7827 for a list of all the Friday night movies through July.

Oakland Museum of California is newly remodeled!  Saturday, May 1, celebrate the transformed museum with 31 hours of continuous free programs and events.  Festivities begin at 11am with a Native American Ohlone blessing, and of course the continued discovery of the story of California.  For more info visit museumca.org.

"The Promise" by Lorrie Fink

Stop by L’Amyx Tea Bar, 3437 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, on May 7 from 5-7 pm and enjoy a complimentary beverage and reception launching a solo exhibition of the recent paintings of Lorrie Fink, oils inspired by the organic forms found in nature and the cycles of life.  This Washington D.C. raised artist has been the Bay Area since 1974, with her first solo exhibit at EBMUD Gallery in 2008.

For images or further information about this exhibit, please contact: Lorrie Fink, (510) 326-1990; e-mail: lorrie@lorriefink.com, web site: http://www.lorriefink.com.