What do you think about urban green space?

I'm actually an ambassador of 10,000 Steps and love, love, LOVE talking about them! Old Oakland Neighbors is partnering with the project for special events in our two historic square parks, Jefferson and Lafayette in our neighborhood. I've been interviewed by them for the oral history segment of the project. I'm actively finding La Borinquena customers with memories and photos of the parks for Sue and Bruce to interview.

It's been a hectic week so I'm gonna do some cut n' pasting since Sue did a great job writing her event up...You'll hear more from me later!

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10,000 Steps, an interactive community-based project designed to increase awareness of historic parks in downtown Oakland, invites you to share your story at one of their upcoming greening events. On Friday, August 1, First Friday, 10,000 Steps will act as stewards of Frank Ogawa Plaza in the vicinity of the Oakland Art Gallery (Kahn's Alley near City Hall) from 5-8PM.

Equipped with a multifunctional workcart made from re-used materials, 10,000 Steps will invite passers-by to engage in park maintenance as well as story-telling: tell them why urban green space is important to you. Your stories will be added to their website, www.10000stepsoakland.org, an-ever growing record of Oaklanders' relationships to the parks.

10,000 Steps is a unique collaboration between marksearch (Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas), an independent artistic cultural research team, and the Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation. In this two-year stewardship project, the artists are working with neighbors and community groups that surround four historic parks in downtown Oakland – Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln and Madison Square Parks – to beautify and draw attention to green urban public space.

The team has co-hosted many park greening events in and around the parks: clean-ups, picnics, and community gardening. Future events include the creation of butterfly gardens in Madison and Lincoln Square Parks as well as a youth bench-building project at the Lincoln Rec Center. Check out the 10,000 Steps schedule (in the ‘about’ section) at www.10000stepsoakland.org . 10,000 Steps will culminate in a series of permanently marked self-guided walking tours in downtown Oakland that will lead people to these parks.

This project is generously supported by the Creative Work Fund, Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation and local community groups and businesses.

For more information, contact Sue Mark or Bruce Douglas at marksearch@sbcglobal.net, or Kathy Raymond, Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation, 510-465-1850.

marksearch || cultural researchers
marksearch@sbcglobal.net
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www.10000stepsoakland.org
www.calabamapeddlers.org
www.weridersoakland.blogspot.com

Oakland Local First Marketplace during TNL

Have you heard about the bi-monthy FREE live concert series in Old Oakland? We are already leading up to Session 5 in the series that takes place every 1st & 3rd Thursday at 9th & Washington Street. There is a stage and beverage tent and on the other side of the street is what is near and dear to me as a supporter of indie business.

Happening at the same time as Thursday Night Live is the Oakland Local First Marketplace co-sponsored by Oakland Events & Old Oakland Neighbors(OON). I am currently the co-chair & social coordinator for OON and the vendor coordinator for this unique Marketplace. The Marketplace will give locally owned businesses and local artists a venue to sell their wares to an eager audience, while at the same time promoting and educating Oaklanders about the importance of shopping locally. The Marketplace is a collaboration of Old Oakland businesses and restaurants, Oakland Artisans and local non-profits all working together to create a healthy
local living economy.

Do you know of a local indie biz or artisan that would like to participate? The vendor application is located here:
http://oaklandevents.net/docs/vendor_aps/va_thurs_old_oak.pdf

Are you a Lover of Oakland and eager to check out this new scene in the heart of Old Oakland? Stop by and say !Hola!, you'll find me staffing the Tamale Girl food booth at every date remaining including next August 7 from 5:30 - 9pm. Check out the other cool vendors and show some serious support for Oakland.

BTW, my Tamale Girl booth will also be at next weekends LakeFest '08 on Lakeshore Ave August 2 & 3 along with 79 other vendors, live music and a kiddie carnival.

Hope to see you soon!

TT

Dear Blogger,

I'm so sorry I've been neglectful. I PROMISE to write more often. Maybe not as long of a post but more often. So much has been going on in Tamale World. For now, I'll make a list:

~ Business Alliance of Local Living Economies (BALLE livingeconomies.org)
~ Thursday Night Live / Oakland Local First Marketplace every 1st & 3rd Thursday June through October 2008 (oaklandevents.net)
~ Oakland Merchants' Leadership Forum (OMLF.org)
~ 10,000 Steps (10000stepsoakland.org)
~ Old Oakland Neighbors (oldoaklandneighbors.org)

I'll be back to fill in the details over the coming weeks...

Tina Tamale