Living in a Tamale World cuz I am a Tamale Girl

Tina Tamale acquires local mobile push-cart and transporter!

2012-01-05T14:22:00.000-08:00

Oakland, Calif. (January 5, 2012) – Tina Tamale Ramos of La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen has upgraded her mobile pop-up stand to a push-cart & transporter. In the past few years, the Tina Tamale Pop-up Stand has grown from doing just a few special events a year including the OMCA Days of the Dead Community Celebration to weekly events like Bites Off Broadway, Oakland’s first reoccurring food pod.

In December 2011, Ramos found out that a local mobile pushcart and transporter truck was for sale. Looking at this as the ideal way to expand her mobile food vending business, she secured the purchase from Elisabeth August & Corey Stowe of Guerilla Grub.

The Tina Tamale Pop-up Push-cart will now be able to do lunchtime service for just a couple of hours due to the quicker & easier set-up with the ability to serve tamales with magical ingredients like love and lard more often & in more places!

The transporter currently being transformed with amazing art from Joaquin Alejandro Newman & Eduardo Pineda of Forrealism. With a re-vamped menu, Tina Tamale looks forward to the debut her upgraded mobile set-up in February 2012.

The recent passing of the new Oakland mobile food policy allowing for more food pod events (that’s three or more mobile food vendors congregating) has also opened the window for more opportunity. During the press conference for the new policy, Ramos committed to upgrade her set-up, hire more Oaklanders and generate more tax revenue if given more events to vend throughout the year. This expansion is Ramos keeping her word.

Ramos is honored to be partnering on a couple of Tina Tamale launch events with Chef Peter Jackson as well as neighbors, Steve & Marilee Shaffer of Urban Legend Cellars, located in Jack London District. Look for these events and more throughout the month of February. More information about these events can be found on the IndieGoGo campaign here.

Tina Tamale is excited to continue helping our local, living economy grow stronger. Revenue from mobile sales will be used to purchase many ingredients for their authentic Mexican-American food from local, sustainable vendors. Tina Tamale Ramos and crew will continue to live and work in the amazing diverse city of Oakland. Ramos will continue to volunteer time and other resources to local non-profits. Ramos is not only a member of Oakland Grown, a movement supporting independent businesses & artists; she is also a founding member of the Oakland Gown steering committee. Local, indie & community are not just buzzwords to Tina Tamale; it’s a way of life!

More about Tina Tamale:
The Tina Tamale Pop-up Push-cart and catering serves authentic Mexican American foods. Specializing in tamales with both traditional and fillings with a twist, Tina Tamale strives to showcase local foods both identifying with her cultural roots as well being proud of the diverse place Oakland, her hometown, has become over the years. To find out where Tina Tamale will pop-up next: “like us” on Facebook.com/tinatamale, “follow us” on Twitter.com/tinatamale or subscribe to our blog at TinaTamale.com.

More about Tina Tamale Ramos:
Tina "Tamale" Ramos is a third generation co-owner and spokesperson of her family's business, La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen, in operation since 1944. She is also the owner/founder of Tina Tamale Pop-up Push-cart and Catering. Tina is a resident/merchant of Old Oakland as well as an indie business and community advocate. She is currently active with Old Oakland Neighbors, 10,000 Steps Oakland & the Oakland Grown marketing campaign. Online she can be found at TinaTamale.com.

La Borinquena in Old Oakland, and a Tina Tamale podcast :: Grassroutes Travel

2011-12-19T12:23:00.000-08:00

Hola Amig@es,

I was interviewed by the lovely & talented Serena Barlett of Grassroutes Travel and the pod cast just went up! I've know Serena for years now and while her travel sometimes take here away from Oakland, this is the place she loves and calls home.

Serena is truly a local, indie nerd like myself and we're always bumping into each other around town. She is one of the Oakland Grown peeps that is helping portray Oakland by shining a bright spotlight on the people, places and things Oaklanders are doing. She is awesome like that!

She is gearing up to do a series of Oakland food tours and makes a stop here at Tamale World homebase, La Borinquena Mex-icatessen.

Photo by Serena Barlett of Grassroutes Travel, an Oakland grown member

Here's a snippet:
Tina Tamale, as she’s known, is synonymous with La Borinquena, one of the oldest continuously-operating businesses in Oakland, founded by her grandmother Rosa, almost 70 years ago. It’s a “mexicatessen” – a casual cafeteria-style restaurant that, in addition to the daily menu, sells many Mexican staples like handmade tortillas, at least six types of dried peppers, luscious goat’s milk chocolate spread, fresh chicharrones, lard-fried tortilla chips, dried hibiscus, and tamarind pods. If you get there in the morning you’ll see an influx of port workers coming in for their “dinner” after working a long shift while extended family – either blood relatives or employees who have worked here for dozens of years, no discrepancy – cart out that day’s tortillas, so recently made that condensation forms inside the plastic bags...

See the full post and hear the podcast here

Holiday Pop-Up Artisan Market at Urban Legend Cellars

2011-12-13T21:27:00.000-08:00

Looking for that perfect hostess gift? Need last minute inspiration? Or maybe just a delicious nibble and some wine? Drop in for a visit to our holiday pop-up!

We had a great time at The Boucherie Marketplace @ La Borinqueña on December 4th that we're doing it again.

Urban Legend Cellars

621 4th St., Oakland, CA 94607

Sunday, December 18 from 12-4pm

We're hosting:
Tina Tamale
Boucherie Meats
Semita Dulce
The Uncommon Pickle
Urban Preserves
Sajen Jamu
Baia Pasta
and more to come.....

Christmas Past Vintage Finds, Handmade Gifts & Art

2011-12-09T09:56:00.001-08:00

Vintage Finds & Handmade Gifts from Local Sellers & Artists, plus DJs & Food at VAMP, 547 Athol, Oakland

BUY LOCAL, HANDMADE & RECYCLED for yourself, family & friends! BRING CASH!

- Tons of Vintage clothing, accessories, records, and knick knacks from the 1930s - 80s from Rusty Blazenhoff, Tracy Parker, Alexandra Tyler, Denise Campanero, Karen Finlay, Enid Westberg & more...

- Paintings, photos, prints, and mosaics by Momoko Sudo, Luce Lucy, Ken Duffy, and Emily Duffy - see the Vainvan art car!

- Vintage slips for bad girls & pin-up boy beer koozies by femme Cartel’s Femily Oakland

- Recycled bra purses, vintage china & plate jewelry, key jewelry and charms by Sherry Tobin

- Handmade feather and eclectic hats and hairbands from Lisa Aurora for de la lucha

- Handmade clothing for toddlers, and punk, mod and rockabilly clothes such as hoods, tankers and bib shirts for little girls by Terrie Livingston-Lau

- Beautiful plant gifts from Garden Hortica

- Order gifts from Tupperware lady extraordinaire, Karen Finlay

- Tasty tacos, tamales, and Mexican hot chocolate by Tina Tamale. Desserts by Semita Dulce

- DJS spinning vintage vinyl - buy records for yourself and as gifts

----
Contact Paula Wirth of Eat Drink Oakland for details: paulawirth@gmail.com or call VAMP at510.435.3106

#vintage, #art, #oakland, #event, #food, #dj, #records, #gifts, #shoplocal

http://christmaspastsale.eventbrite.com/

Boucherie Marketplace & December Art Murmur

2011-11-10T13:49:00.008-08:00

Boucherie Marketplace at La Borinqueña :: Sun Dec 4 : 12-4pm

It's a Pop-Up Food Feast!

Boucherie Artisanal Meats & Tina Tamale are coming together to bring a fabulous mix of locally made foods that are perfect for holiday gifts or can be enjoyed onsite during the event!

Available for Purchase at the Boucherie Marketplace:

Boucherie - Local, Sustainable Louisiana Style Cured Meats PLUS Gumbo

Tina Tamale - hand-made tamales made with stone ground corn masa, mole salami sandwiches, aguas frescas & Mexican hot chocolate

Andrew Lane Wines

(for on-site consumption only)

Baia Pasta- Organic Pasta (uncooked)

Semita Dulce - Latin Inspired Pastries & breads (to enjoy your purchases with onsite)

The Uncommon Pickle - Pickled Local, Sustainable Fruits and Vegetables

Urban Preserves - fruit butter and pate de fruit

And More TBA...

First Friday at Uptown :: Friday Dec 2 : 6-9pm

Join us for a fabulous first Friday event that is part of Oakland's fabulous Art Murmur. Find the Tina Tamale Pop-Up Stand & Doc's of the Bay on the 25th Street side of Uptown Body & Fender (through the parking lot from the event below!)

This is also a benefit for Women's Cancer Resource Center and they will be hosting a silent auction.

Exhibiting Artists include: Renata Gray, Karin Turner, Alan Leon, Heidi Wykoff, Sandy Der, Carol Tanenbaum, Marion Coleman, Querido Galdo, Margo Rivera-Weiss, Gary Turchin, Helen Krayenhoff, Melanie Cervantes, LaTasha Brown, Melanie Cervantes, Jesus Barraza, Ajuan Mance, Carolina Abolio, Molly Bradley, Gabriela Nuñez, Hilary Powers, Susan Grant, Moriah hart, Lori Solay-Falkwll, Carole Adair and many more.

Artwork includes: photography, watercolor paintings, cards, quilts, magnets, textile postcards, mounted photo blocks, jewelery, felted creations, tea, doggie stuff, ceramics,t-shirts and more.

Live music by Little Spike

Art Murmur Oakland: First Friday Nov 2011 :: Forrealism Exhibition & Firehouse Collective Live Bazaar

2011-10-30T22:24:00.003-07:00

Forrealism Exhibition

Come on out to Oakland's Art Murmur this upcoming First Friday, November 4th from 6-9pm for an evening of amazing artists sharing their work in this incredible space!

Featured artists include:

Raymond Patlan, Joaquin Alejandro Newman, Eduardo Pineda, Patricia Rodriguez, Salvador "El Chamuco" Cortez, Daniel Camacho, Ernesto Hernandez-Olmos, Maria Guzman, Tony Coleman, Sean Levon Nash, Juan Domingo.

For more info visit www.forrealism.com

Firehouse Collective Live Bazaar

Also that night, The Firehouse Art Collective Live Bazaar will be featuring an enticing array of over 30 vendors, a cross section of all local arts, such as painting, culinary, healing, sculpture, jewelry, skin care, antiques, collectibles, and more! The Tina Tamale Pop-Up Stand will be serving up tamales, aguas frescas & more that night too!

Bites Off Broadway Season Finale 2011 & OMCA Days of the Dead Community Celebration

2011-10-19T23:28:00.000-07:00

Bites Off Broadway

Find the Tina Tamale Pop-Up Stand serving up tamales, tacos, posole & Mexican hot chocolate October 21 from 5:30-8:30pm

Pre-order tamales packed To Go with pick-up at BoB!

Click here to order in advance: http://j.mp/BoBTinaTamale Let Tina know before noon Fridays!

Featuring affordable and delicious food from: Go Streatery, Tina Tamale, Nick Wheely Good Breakfast Truck, Boffo Cart, Breads of India, Sam's ChowderMobile and Doc's of the Bay.

Plus music by American Nomad and Mix It Up String Band. Games with Hoop Play. Bring a blanket or chairs.

We've had a BLAST bringing folks out to our weekly community food pod and can't wait for next year!

Look for major changes in Oakland's mobile food policy at December City Council meeting.

What is Bites Off Broadway? A mobile food pod every Friday thru Oct 21, 2011 in front of Studio One - 365 45th Street Produced by Karen Hester (Hesternet Productions) as a way to highlight Oakland's burgeoning mobile food vending scene and revitalize and activate Broadway as a major Oakland boulevard.

Follow Bites Off Broadway online:

Facebook

Twitter

Love & Loss: Días de los Muertos 2011

17th Annual Days of the Dead exhibit explores the stories behind home altars

October 12, 2011 - December 11, 2011

COMMUNITY DAY CELEBRATION

Sunday, October 23 from 12-4:30 pm

Oakland Museum of California

Days of the Dead Community Celebration

featuring ofrendas, music, and dance performances, arts and crafts demonstrations, activities for children, and a variety of food and arts and crafts vendors. Included with Museum admission. Tina Tamale along with Blue Oak Cafe & Flacos are the food vendors.

Bites Off Broadway, Rockridge Out & About, OMCA Day of the Dead Community Celebration

2011-10-05T01:41:00.001-07:00

Bites Off Broadway

Find the Tina Tamale Pop-Up Stand serving up tamales, tacos, posole & Mexican hot chocolate during the following dates: October 7, 14 & 21 from 5:30-8:30pm

NEW Pre-order tamales packed To Go with pick-up at BoB!

Click here to order in advance: http://j.mp/BoBTinaTamale Let Tina know before noon Fridays!

Follow Bites Off Broadway online:

Facebook

Twitter

Rockridge Out and About
Sunday, October 9, 2011, 12-6pm
College Avenue between Alcatraz and Manila Avenue

The Tina Tamale Pop-Up Stand will be dishing out tamales, street tacos & aguas frescas! College Avenue will transform into a street festival focusing on the retail merchants, businesses and services located on College Avenue. Live Music, Chef Stage, Market Hall's Picnic in the Street, Wellness Tent, Kid's Area, Rockridge Merchant/Artisan Marketplace, Gourmet Food & Beverage Booths, Street Entertainment

Find Tina Tamale at the Lawton & College Ave Food Court across from the Oaklandish Harvest Hoedown

Love & Loss: Días de los Muertos 2011

17th Annual Days of the Dead exhibit explores the stories behind home altars

October 12, 2011 - December 11, 2011

COMMUNITY DAY CELEBRATION

Sunday, October 23 from 12-4:30 pm

Oakland Museum of California

Days of the Dead Community Celebration

¡VIVA Mexico! ¡VIVA Carnitas!, Bites Off Broadway (including pre-ordering) plus Rockrige Out & About

2011-09-16T02:34:00.002-07:00

"El Grito" Mexican Independence Weekend Celebration!

We'll be serving
Tina Tamale's Carnitas Street Tacos ($2)

Friday (9a-3:30p) & Saturday (9a-5p) at La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen (582-7th Street)

The Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores") also known as El Grito de la Independencia ("Cry of Independence"), uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato on September 16, 1810 is the event that marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and is the most important national holiday observed in Mexico. Read more: http://j.mp/r2TiOC

Bites Off Broadway

Find the Tina Tamale Pop-Up Stand serving up tamales & tacos during the following dates: September 16 & 23 October 7, 14 & 21 from 5:30-8:30pm

NEW Pre-order tamales packed To Go with pick-up at BoB!

Click here to order in advance: http://j.mp/BoBTinaTamale Let Tina know before noon Fridays!

Follow Bites Off Broadway online:

Facebook

Twitter

Bites Off Broadway and FiveTen - An Oakland After Pride Fest

2011-08-11T11:30:00.005-07:00

Find Tina Tamale serving up tamales & tacos during Bites Off Broadway every 2nd & 3rd Friday through October 2011.

Follow Bites Off Broadway online:

Facebook

Twitter

We LOVE Oakland and Oakland Pride! We love it sooooooo much that we never want it to end. So we got together to throw a big shindig after Oakland Pride. We call it

FiveTen: An Oakland After Pride Fest

We got a little bit of somethin’, somethin’ for EVERYBODY. We swing open our doors at 6pm to keep the party going all night long! Find Tina Tamale vending tamales & tacos to the masses!

3 Levels, 3 Stages, 8 DJs, 4 Dancefloors, 12 Performers, 15 Vendors, 6 Food Vendors, Art Exhibit, Live Art, All Ages-1st floor

Sept 4, 2011

420 - 14th Street

Oakland, CA

More info: http://www.510oaklandpride.com/

Dishcrawl Does Art in Oakland for First Friday 8/2 with Tina Tamale, Fiveten Burger & more

2011-08-02T01:13:00.000-07:00

Tina Tamale is looking forward to cater at Dischcrawl's East Bay preview during August First Friday in the Uptown District.

Join us in welcoming Dishcrawl, a fresh way to find your food community, as it launches its East Bay Preview. This special preview combines culture and food celebrating the lifestyle of our neighborhood.
Bring a friend, make it a date night – try a taste of everything, while meeting your neighbors and local chefs.

About Dishcrawl

Have you heard of Dishcrawl? It's a new way to discover your food neighborhood! Get to know friends over an exciting night through four restaurants you never knew existed. It's delicious and fun! Price of one ticket reservation includes all food for one dishcrawler (drinks not included).

Get your tickets to dishcrawl here.

Click on the link for the Facebook Event

Nati's Ochentañera (Sweet 80) & LB's 67th B-Day! PLUS Flaming Lotus Girls present: Livin' la Vida Lambada! both Sat 7/30/11

2011-07-12T22:41:00.012-07:00

Save the Date! Saturday 7/30 12pm to 6pm

We love Nati aka Mama Tamale.

We love our customers/friends & family.

We love food & community.

What a better way to celebrate than with a Fabulous Food Fiesta!?

Food specials by the staff of La Borinqueña & Tina Tamale All Day. Beverage Bar with Local Beer, Fresh Fruit Sangria, Farmers' Market Fresa Agua Fresca and more!

Special Guests:

12-6p Cibo per Strata

3-6p The FiveTen Burger Truck

Stay tuned for more details as we confirm!

And later that night...yup, ANOTHER party with tamales!

Flaming Lotus Girls present: Livin' la Vida Lambada!

Awww yeah... Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Please join us for an awesome night of fire art and thumpin' music. This is a benefit for 'Tympani Lambada, the FLG's 2011 Burning Man project.

The Opulent Temple will be setting up their full stage w their iconic DJ booth, massive visual screens, lazers, inflatables, DJ's, and more. Lineup includes:

Dutch

Drew Drop

Billy Casazza

Billy Seal

Jonboy

Mike Butler

JB Vries

Fire art by the Flaming Lotus Girls!

Some of our old favorites

The Photo Boof

Alex Nolan's SOL sound sculpture

The Disgusting Spectacle

The Pop corn Booth

Tina Tamale Girl

Works in progress

Maria Del Camino

Port O Fire

Party is at NIMBY, 8410 Amelia St. Oakland.

A half mile from the Colosseum BART

We have off street parking and a bicycle parking as well

$15 presale http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/186699

$20 door

Tamales at Family Fun Day this 4th of July at Jack London Square

2011-07-02T19:34:00.007-07:00

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Throughout Jack London Square

11am to 4pm

So much to do!

Petting Zoo. Performers from Kinetic Arts: stiltwalkers, jugglers, and face-painters. Clowns and Balloon Artist. Conscious Carnival Games. Hula Hoop Dancing. Children's Art Activities. Magic!

Two Jump Houses. The Amazing Bubble Man! Bike, Canoe, and Kayak Rentals. Enormous Slide. Acrobats. The music of the Big Cat Tolefree Band and the sounds of Eric Bolvin. Plus lots of food and drink. [Sorry, no fireworks.]

Find the Tina Tamale Food Booth at the intersection of Broadway & Water Street next to the Enormous Slide!

Our Menu

Hand-made Tamales with stone ground masa: Traditional Pork, White Meat Chicken, Green Chile & Cheese (vegetarian) plus Potato & Green Bean (vegan)

Cheese Nachos: our delicious lardy tortilla chips smothered in cheese sauce (canola oil chips on request)

Drinks

Aguas Frescas (All Scratch Made): Horchata (Rice Water), Jamaica (Hibiscus Refresher) & Farmers' Market Fresa (Fresh Strawberry)

Mexican Coca-Cola in the bottle: made with cane sugar

See you there!

June 2011 :: Bites on Broadway, Ignite! Expo and other Tamalerific Events TBA!

2011-06-15T23:43:00.008-07:00

So it looks like summertime in Oakland has finally arrived! Long weekends, graduations and Friday special events need those special treats like tasty tamales, nachos made with lardy chips and thirst quenching aguas frescas!

I'm still nailing now the details for many of the special events the Tina Tamale food booth will be at...por please check back for updates.

http://bitesonbroadway.com/

Bites on Broadway (BoB)

(45th & Broadway, next to Oakland Tech HS) ongoing every Friday through Oct 2011

Tina Tamale Food Booth: 6/10 (launch) & 6/17

We will be at select dates for this ongoing food pod in the Temescal/Rockridge area. Mobile food & games for kids of all ages. Kudos to organizer Karen Hester for making a lonely sidestreet on Broadway full of life, food, fun and at the debut...long lines! As I told a friend, "It was good and bad...good: we sold out in just over two hours, bad: we sold out in just over two hours!" My next generation staff and I promise to be quicker and have LOTS more tamales & aguas frescas this coming Friday, June 17th.

The BoB Menu

Tamales: handmade with fresh corn dough, stone ground in house

Traditional Pork

Green Chicken

Potato & Green Bean (vegan)

Green Chile & Cheese (vegetarian)

Nachos : Our famous Lardy Chips smothered in (wait for it) cheese sauce (yup, the stuff that comes in a can)...Why? Because it's delicious! (jalapeños on the side and canola oil chips on request)

Aguas Frescas (drinks):

Jamaica (Hibiscus Refresher)

Horchata (Sweetened Rice Water with cinnamon & milk)

Farmers' Market Fresa (Strawberry)

Photo: Cooking with the Single Guy

+ rideSFO's monthly Block Party Sat 6/4 12-5pm:: Bikes, Tamales & Nachos too!

2011-05-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

+ rideSFO's monthly Block Party ::
Come through to rideSFO and enjoy a Saturday afternoon with live music, street foods, and local bay area vendors.

Get 15% to 40% off at rideSFO!

+ Checkpoint for Oakland Art Ride produced by Rock Paper Scissors

More details soon to come.

+ Live Music Artist ::
- DJ One Six -
[http://djonesix.com/]

- DJ Aebldee -
[http://www.facebook.com/djaebldee]

+ Featuring Artists ::
- Audiopharmacy -
[http://audiopharmacy.com/store-new/]

- Kimlynh E. Chun -
[http://www.kimlynhswork.com/]

+ Street Foods ::
- Takoyaki -
[http://www.facebook.com/takoyaki.sf]

- Feji's -
[http://www.chef-feji.com/]

- Tina Tamale -
[http://www.facebook.com/tinatamale]

+ Featuring Vendors ::
- Ideum Apparel -
[http://www.facebook.com/IduemApparel]

- StarNectar -
[http://www.facebook.com/drinkstarnectar]

- Revolt Screen Printing -
[http://www.facebook.com/vstxdj]

- Meesh Meesh Designs -

- Create in Clay School of Ceramics -
[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Create-In-Clay-School-of-Ceramics/198767913695]

- Team Print Shop -
[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Print-Shop/171712932856953]

- Mass of One -
[http://www.massofone.com/site/]

	Saturday, June 4 · 12:00pm - 5:00pm

	rideSFO's monthly Block Party Saturday, June 4 · 12:00pm - 5:00pm 1724 Mandela Parkway Suite #2 (18th & Mandela) Oakland, CA

If you are interested in participating in this event or future ones, please contact us at events@rideSFO.com

Bike to Work Day Afterparty in Old Oakland 5/12 & 5th Annual Oakland Indie Awards 5/13

2011-05-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

Bike to Work Day Afterparty in Old Oakland

The East Bay's biggest bicycling event is coming up May 12, 2011 and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition is busy with plans to top last year's record-setting event.

Join the festivities at the end of the work day at the afterparty on 8th & Washington in Old Oakland:

·The Muddy Roses (live Americana music)

· Bike Carousel rides with Cyclecide (www.cyclecide.com)

· Tasty eats and treats with tamales and nachos from Tina Tamale of La Borinqueña

· Trumer Pils Beer

· Big Tadoo Puppet Crew

· Parklets Demonstration

RSVP on Facebook here Join us for food, fun, awards, prizes & games! More info: http://www.ebbc.org

Bike to Work Day Afterparty
Thursday May 12, 2011
8th & Washington in Old Oakland
5:30pm-8:30pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5th Annual Oakland Indie Awards

Festivities include Global Comfort Foods: Beloved foods from Oakland's delicious melting pot - what your Korean, Mexican, Japanese, Italian, Thai, American and other moms would make! Tina Tamale will be in the house serving up delicious tamales sprinkled with Mexican Love! We are flattered to be nominated this year in two categories: Oakland Soul & Pillar. Wish us luck! For more info and to purchase tickets: http://indieawards.eventbrite.com/

Oakland Indie Awards
Friday May 13, 2011Kaiser Center
300 Lakeside Drive
6:00pm-10:00pm6:00pm - Awards Ceremony in the Lakeside Theater
6:30pm-10:00pm - Party in the Garden Room

Cinco de Mayo is next Thursday 5/5 :: Need food for your fiesta?

2011-04-29T19:48:00.007-07:00

Need Tamales, Lardy Chips or any other authentic Mexican - American yumminess for Cinco de Mayo next Thursday 5/5? Place your order NOW to guarantee we'll have what you crave!

La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen & Specialty Shop will be open till 5pm that day to get your panza full & happy!

Our traditional pork tamale with gravy & cheese

Call us for orders for today or tomorrow at 510/444.9954 ext 3.

To reach Tina Tamale for a price quote at least 48 hours in advance, please fill out the form found here or call 510/397.TINA (8462). Please allow 24 - 48 hours for a response.

If you are unsure of quantities, the quote will be adjusted by the number of guests and type of meal. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available, so please ask!

Eco-friendly disposable serviceware and drinks (including agua fresca) available at additional charge. Limited delivery within 15miles of our restaurant during businesses hours may be available at an additional charge.

We're vendors at upcoming events:

Bike to Work Day Afterparty in Old Oakland :: Thurs May 12 from 5:30-8:30pm

5th Annual Oakland Indie Awards :: Fri May 13 from 6:00-10:00pm

Oakland Grown Member Mixer and Public Party at SomaR Bar :: Tues 4/26/11

2011-04-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

Alrighty! Next event up is the Oakland Grown Member Mixer and Public Party at SomaR Bar in Uptown. I LOVE Oakland Grown and yes I am biased since I am a member of the steering committee, La Borinqueña is a founding member and I am also the OG content manager. See below for the deets & I hope to see many of you on Tuesday!

Locally yours,

~tina tamale

OaklandGrown.org

Oakland Grown Public Party

(after the member mixer)

8pm - ?

Everyone is welcome! 21+ No Cover

Come meet the Oakland Grown Crew

& mingle with other folks who ♥love♥ Oakland's Indie Businesses & Artists

OG Logo T-shirts & OG memberships will be available for purchase until 9pm.

Separate RSVP on Facebook here

http://on.fb.me/ogsomar

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You're Invited

to an Exclusive Event

Oakland Grown Member Mixer

from 5-8pm

Mingle with other OG Members

No Host Bar

Drinks, snacks, and mingling, plus practical information to help you with marketing and inspirational info to remind you of the power and impact of our movement!!

Special Drink Menu including an Oakland Grown inspired cocktail!

When you arrive at the venue please check in at the Oakland Grown registration table with your ticket.

No event fee for PAID Oakland Grown members.

Want in on this OG member benefit? Join us first! More info here

OG Logo T-shirts & OG memberships will be available for purchase.

8th Annual EndGame Auction :: Sat 4/23

2011-04-22T23:29:00.001-07:00

8th Annual EndGame Auction
Saturday April 23, 2011
921 Washington Street at 10th in Old Oakland
11:00am-3:00pm

La Borinquena will be selling tamales, nachos and burritos right outside from 11am to 3pm. The auction starts at 11am and ends when they run out of games to auction! It includes new and used board games, historical games and card games. Sell your old games! Buy different games! Find nifty out-of-print games you've been looking for! More info: http://www.endgameoakland.com/auction or 510.465.3637

SF’s Fifth Annual A Taste of Tequila & Tamales by the Bay :: Sunday, April 17

2011-04-06T23:24:00.007-07:00

I had quite the week after We LOVE Old Oakland and then at the East Bay Vintner's Wine Passport on Saturday. I had a chance to chat with Gene of the Our Oakland blog and meet tons of folks who love wine & tamales while we catered Periscope Cellars at Linden Street Brewery.

A couple of people asked if we were by any chance going to be at this year's A Taste of Tequila & Tamales at the Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center. We are honored to be participating for the first time, so we're on to this pairing (tamales & tequila) and let's see what festival season has in store for us this year!

Con amor y manteca,

~tina tamale

Experience the flavors of tradition and history at San Francisco’s fifth annual A Taste of Tequila & Tamales by the Bay, an exciting feast for the senses, Sunday, April 17, at the San Francisco Design Center.

From Alquimia, Casa Noble, Crótalo, Don Pilar, El Relingo, Jose Cuervo Tradicional and Mañana to Premium Mezcales, agave’s other liquid treasure, you’ll sample from some of the most exquisite artisanal, hand-crafted tequilas available today. Learn the finer points of tequila tasting. Watch mixologists battle to make the best tequila cocktail in our signature competition, Tequila Rocks!, sponsored this year by Casa Noble Organic Tequila.

Sample tamales from La Borinqueña, The Whole Tortilla, Tres San Francisco: Tequila Lounge & Mexican Kitchen and Cocina Poblana. Enjoy chocolate from The San Francisco Chocolate Boutique , salsa from Don Ramon’s Mexican Restaurant, heirloom beans from Rancho Gordo, specialty spices from Spice of Life, and the flavors of San Francisco’s own, El Huarache Loco.

Feast your eyes on the eco-conscious jewelry of Yessica’s Creations, the unique tile art of Suha Suha, and exquisite award-winning crafts from Mexico by Hand, while the art and coffees from Mamá Art Cafe revitalize you.

This event benefits Benchmark Institute, a nonprofit organization that teaches advocates in non-profits how to use the law to help low-income communities.

If you love tequila and tamales, you don’t want to miss out. Advance tickets $45; after April 11 $50. Purchase tickets online here or call 415/ 695-9296. For more information, visit www.tamalesbythebay.org Follow us on Twitter @tamalesbythebay

4th Annual We LOVE Old Oakland Mixer at Penelope :: March 30, 2011

2011-03-13T14:03:00.010-07:00

Come out to mix & mingle with our Old Oakland community!

Penelope is hosting this year's event and will donate 10% of all food & drink purchases from 5-8pm on Wed March 30, 2011. All ages welcome.

Did you know that Penelope has yummy sandwiches and other tasty nibbles in addition to fabulous beverages, cocktails & beer? Come out for dinner & drinks while socializing with the awesome people that live and/or work or just love it here in Old Oakland!

Old Oakland Neighbors (OON) is a grassroots community group founded in 2006 comprised of residents and business owners. Join us along with folks who work & play in our neighborhood for this annual fundraiser for OON.

We live here.
We work here.
We LOVE it here!
http://OldOaklandNeighbors.org/

We LOVE Old Oakland Mixer

Wed, March 30, 2011
5pm - 8pm
Penelope

Corner 11th & Clay Streets
(next to It's a Grind Coffee)

Oakland, CA

RSVP and invite others on Facebook:
http://on.fb.me/OONPenelope

...with a twist :: Tina Tamale's B-Day Dance Party at Disco Volante! 2/26/11

2011-02-07T02:06:00.014-08:00

Artwork by Paula Wirth

Unifysound Presents

...with a twist

3rd Anniversary of Tina Tamale's 39th B-Day!

Saturday, February 26th
9pm-2am
at Disco Volante (14th & Webster)

LIVE performance by

The Bitter Honeys

DJ Rebecca Watkins

Want to dress up in 60s evening attire/Mad Men style?

Hear live music/DJ?

Drink cocktails in a conducive atmosphere?

This is the dance party you want to be at!

It's Tina's birthday when the clock strikes Midnight!

$10 / $5 before 11pm

RSVP on Facebook here

December 2010: Tamale Orders & Holiday Special Events!

2010-12-05T20:49:00.001-08:00

La Borinqueña's Tamales for Christmas Week Pick-Up

During the holiday season, please order tamales & food in advance! Call or stop by during the first three weeks of December to order for Christmas week pick-up. ** Christmas Eve 12/24 only Pork & Sweet Tamales available

Plan your own celebration at home! Tamales only or make it a full feast. Include sides like rice, beans, lardy chips and salsa. Other entrees available including tacos, enchiladas & mini burritos. Vegetarian and vegan options available.

We recommend placing hot food orders in advance to guarantee availability throughout the year and especially in December. Call us at 510/444.9954 or visit our website for General information, FAQs and our menus at TamaleGirl.com.

Artisan Tamales by the Dozen

Tamale sauces also available
(at additional charge)

Traditional Pork $23.59 dozen
Our original very lean pork tamale made with love & lard

Red Chicken* $23.59 dozen
White meat chicken with mixed vegetables & black olives

Green Chicken* $23.59 dozen
White meat chicken with green tomatillo

Potato & Green Bean Stew* $23.59 dozen
With tomatoes, carrots, onions & garlic. Vegan!

Green Chile & Cheese* $20.59 dozen
Mild green chile with jack cheese. Vegetarian

Sweet* $16.59 dozen
Dessert NOT a savory. Corn dough combined with crushed pineapple, cinnamon, raisins, sugar & a bit of pink food color. Vegetarian

See menus.tamalegirl.com for our full menu

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Compound Gallery & ProfessorSquirrel presents the Holidayland Gift Sale!

Friday, Dec 10th from 6-9pm

Indie shopping event with Tina Tamale of La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen & Specialty Shop in the house, a giant squirrel, a photobooth, ukelele playing elf, and TONS of Oakland made stuff for sale!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Periscope Cellars presents: Holiday Art & Craft Bazaar

Saturday, December 11th
11am-5pm

Come to the daytime event at Periscope Cellars and see what local artists have been up to this season. You will get a chance to see original paintings, prints, jewelry, sculpture and other arts and crafts that will make for that perfect gift to yourself or friends.

TASTE!!!

Wine from Periscope Cellars, Urbano Cellars, and Eden Canyon

Beer from Linden Street Brewery

Food From Tina Tamale

Special Events November 2010: Jefferson Square Park & More!

2010-11-15T18:55:00.005-08:00

Film Screening :: 10,000 Steps Oakland: A Profile of 4 Squares :: Saturday, November 20 6pm-10pm

This evening event, sponsored by 10,000 Steps, a collaborative project about the people and culture of Oakland’s downtown historical parks, will include two inspiring films by Oakland filmmakers. Members of the community, the filmmakers and the 10,000 Steps team will be on hand for a lively discussion!

Doors open at 6pm, screening starts at 7pm at La Borinquena (582 7th St at Jefferson). Delicious movie-friendly snacks will be available for purchase. Bike parking sponsored by Walk Oakland Bike Oakland; technical support provided by the Illuminated Corridor.

For more info about the films: www.10ksteps.org and www.theoakparkstory.com

RSVP on Facebook here

EAT - PLAY - BARK @ Jefferson Square Park! :: Saturday, November 20th, 11-2pm

Earlier in the day at the park kitty corner to La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen & Specialty Shop!

It's a community potluck and party at Jefferson Square Park (7th Street Btwn Jefferson & MLK)!

Help us rededicate Jefferson Square Park and celebrate Oakland's newest dog play area, basketball court and tot lot!

Co-Sponsored by: Councilmember Nancy Nadel, Oakland Parks and Recreation, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency, Old Oakland Neighbors, Oakland Dog Owners Group (ODOG), Garden Hortica, MOCHA, FourSquare EastBay and 10,000 Steps.

Join us for a
- Neighborhood Pot Luck
- Community 4Square Game by FourSquare EastBay
- Basketball Exhibition by Henry Boone & Roy Byrd
- Children's activities
- Plant exchange hosted by Garden Hortica
- Dog Parade coordinated by ODOG (pre-register your pet for free here: eatplaybark-OON.eventbrite.com)

What to Bring:
- Yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your dog
- A food dish to share
- Plants or cuttings to share/swap
- Lawn chairs, if you have them

11am - 2pm
EAT - PLAY - BARK @ Jefferson Square Park!
Saturday, November 20, 2010

Jefferson Square Park

7th Street between Jefferson & MLK

Old Oakland, CA

* in case of rain, date change will be Saturday, December 4 from 11-2pm

RSVP online and invite others by clicking the link of your preferred website!
- Facebook Event listing
- Evite

This is a community and volunteer led event, with in-kind support from the City of Oakland, so please let us know if you're interested in volunteering by emailing info@oldoaklandneighbors.org. We will need help with setup, hosting duties during the event, and cleanup. More details to follow...

LIVE Latin Jazz at It's a Grind

7-10pm Tamale Girl creates awesome tacos too on Latin Jazz Night at 11th & Clay! Stop in for música, beverages and $2 tacos! Here are the dates: November 24, December 8 & December 22. See It's a Grind's Facebook page for more info here.

Special Events October 2010: Days of the Dead, Walk/Bike-in Movie Night & More!

2010-09-28T12:30:00.015-07:00

The Express' Fall Taste Magazine view it here: http://bit.ly/ebxfalltaste2010

So many events this time of year! The La Borinqueña/Tamale Girl Crew hopes you can join us for one or more awesome going-ons. Check back here for more details or better yet "like" us on Facebook facebook.com/tinatamale and facebook.com/tamalegirl

Don't forget LB does party and holiday food orders since it is after all Tamale Season! Find our menus at menus.tamalegirl.com

Event titles link to corresponding facebook event listing, please RSVP so we know you're coming!

Locally yours,

~tina tamale

The EVENTS:

Oct 29 & 30

La Borinquena's Days of the Dead Celebration

Chicken en mole, tamales including de dulce and champurrado on the menu both Friday & Saturday! Read more about DOD food traditions here.

LIVE Latin Jazz at It's a Grind

7-10pm Tamale Girl creates awesome tacos too on Latin Jazz Night at 11th & Clay! Stop in for música, beverages and $2 tacos! Here are the dates: October 13, October 27, November 10, November 24, December 8 & December 22. See It's a Grind's Facebook page for more info here.

Past Events
Oct 2

10-7pm Engame's 9th Anniversary Party

There will be dice, fezzes, prizes, special guests and the Tamale Girl booth will be selling tamales, burritos and refreshments for lunch from 11:30-3:30pm!

Oct 16

12-7pm Old Oakland Beer Festival

Pacific Coast Brewing Company Presents The Old Oakland Beer Festival at the Intersection of Washington & 9th Streets Oakland, CA

Featuring 20+ breweries including a selection of California's Finest Anniversary Ales! Live Music, food from local restaurants, live art, a parklet, 3 blocks of family friendly activities, and free bike parking. **FREE ADMISSION**

Over 10 Local Confirmed Anniversary Ales On Tap!
Live Music By: Damon and the Heathens (others TBD)
9 Confirmed Participating Restaurants including Tamale Girl / La Borinquena

5-7pm Pop Muerto Artist Talk with Joaquin Alejandro Newman of Forrealism

Photo by Paula Wirth

Days of the Dead are right around the corner! Stop by outside of our shop to meet and discuss the Forrealism art exhibition with the artist.

7-10pm WOBO Bike-in Movie Night :: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Walkers and bikers!

Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) presents a FREE showing of E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial at La Borinqueña in Downtown Oakland on Saturday, October 16. We'll have Tina Tamale's tamales, Linden St. Brewery flowing, and as always, free popcorn from WOBO. And did I mention, the movie is free?

La Borinqueña will have a delicious art & movie friendly menu available including tamales, nachos and quesadillas as well as aguas frescas and Mexican Coca-Cola.

The flick starts at 7, but there will be an exhibition from a local artist from 5-7pm outside the venue. More information to come!

Come celebrate our new warm and cozy indoor location, complete with improved transit and walking accessibility.

Oct 23

12-4:30pm Oakland Museum of CA presents VIVO: Days of the Dead Community Celebration

VIVO: Days of the Dead 2010

Dias de los Muertos

October 6 - December 5, 2010

Curated by Jaime Cortez

OMCA’s annual Dìas de los Muertos Celebration has been one of the Bay Area’s most popular community events for 16 years, drawing thousands of participants annually to mark the traditional Meso-American celebrations and give them a contemporary artistic twist.

On October 23 from 12 noon to 4:30 pm, the public will celebrate Dias de los Muertos included in regular OMCA admission beginning with a ritual in front of OMCA’s Oak Street Entrance. Following the ceremonia, visitors will enter the Gardens invited by the sounds of music and conversation, the smells of food and burning copal incense.

Throughout the day there will be food and drinks including the Tamale Girl food booth, demonstrations and sale of arts and crafts at a mercado, music and dance, and countless activities for visitors of all ages, as well as access to the exhibition and galleries.

Join La Borinqueña at Eat Real Festival 2010 :: Jack London Square :: Sat 8/28 & Sun 8/29

2010-08-25T22:36:00.016-07:00

Find us in the La Borinqueña akaTamale Girl booth during Eat Real Festival the last Sat & Sun of August 2010 for Craft Collaborations in the Urban Homesteding Zone near the fountain in Jack London Square. Map here.

Tamales With La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen, Llano Seco Rancho and Queso Salazar
Three family food crafters come together to focus their collective talents in the form of the perfect tamale. With generations of practice behind La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen’s fresh corn masa, Llano Seco Rancho’s organic, humanely-raised pork and Queso Salazar’s traditional queso fresco, it’s a tour de force in tastiness.

We'll have two delicious varieties of tamales available including:

Organic Llano Seco Rancho Pork with red chile

Queso Salazar's Queso Fresco with fire roasted Anaheim green chiles (vegetarian)

As a third generation Tamale Girl, I'm excited to be collaborating with two family owned companies for this event. All three companies have a legacy going back decades!

66 + 55 + 149 = 270

Collectively, that is how many years La Borinqueña, Queso Salazar & Llano Seco Rancho families have been creating our foodstuffs! Click on the links to read more about our indie business histories. I'm proud to be keeping such company and you will taste the love and care in these awesome tamales.

Stop by say hola, get a tamale and meet Chayito, La Borinqueña's main tamale assembler. She and I will also be hosting Make your own Tamales at the DIY Foods workshop, Saturday 8/28 at 1pm.

See more photos on La Borinqueña's Facebook page here.

Chayito in La Borinqueña's Tamale Room

Hope to see you at this amazing celebration of yummy things to eat & drink, artisan food crafts and the stories behind it all on the waterfront in Oakland!

Tamale Girl at Eat Real Festival 2010
NEW craft collaborations section
Dates & Hours
Saturday 8/28 & Sunday 8/29
10:30AM - 5PM
Jack London Square, Oakland

From the Eat Real Newsletter:

A few days from today the good times will roll. Tamales packed with queso fresco, burgers, crazy good dogs, tacos of all tipos, curries and chaat, everything delicious and everything under $5. Beer, popsicles, and ice cream to keep the heat at bay, spicy noodles and chili to bring it on.

Adding to the delicious mix of 80+ authentic street food vendors, we've put together craft collaborations where local foodmakers (coffee roasters, cheesemakers, jammers, pork magicians, and more) serve their products with style. Eat Real is your portal to food skills in 2010, with everything you need to know to feed yourself good food in the urban jungle. Get ready for goats & chickens on site, hands-on workshops on jamming, curdling and all sorts of fermentation, butchery competitions, noodle pulling demos, and more.

More info about the entire event here

Oakland Grown Day at the Raiders :: Opening Day 9/19/10

2010-08-10T18:02:00.063-07:00

Get your tickets for Oakland Grown Day at the Raiders on September 19, 2010 for Raiders vs. Rams Want to sit in the OG section that day? Order tickets for section 131 or 231 on Opening Day.

Oakland Grown and The Oakland Raiders have teamed up in 2010 to offer tickets to all Raider home games through a special fundraising opportunity. *Oakland Grown is a non-profit (tax exempt) organization.


Photo by Paula Wirth ~ More Photos from our first OG Mixer

For more information about available games, pricing, seating locations, and how to support this fundraiser, please contact Tina ‘Tamale’ Ramos with Oakland Grown at 510/839.3854 or email oaklandgrown@omlf.org subject line "Raiders".

Click here to download ticket order form, fill it out, and fax it in. Payment can be made by filling out the credit card info or you can mail a check or pay on-line here and scroll down to the blue “Donate” button and enter the correct amount for the number of tickets you are ordering. We will arrange for you to receive your tickets.

Option 1:

Oakland Grown Day @ The Raiders - Sept 19
We are hosting an Oakland Grown Day at the Raiders on Sunday, September 19, 2010.
We encourage everyone to come party with us that day. Game starts at 1:05pm. Oakland Raiders vs. St Louis Rams. Order section 131 or 231 to sit in the OG seats!

Option 2: Get Discounted Tickets for ANY Home Game Through OG

We can sell discounted tickets to ANY Raiders game. Anyone who purchases tickets through us not only saves money, but also helps raise funds to support Oakland Grown.

Photo by Paula Wirth ~ Oakland Legend Player Linebacker Jeff Barnes with the OG Crew

Limited Edition Silver & Black Oakland Grown T-shirts also available in both uni-sex and woman's cut for $20 each. Join us to celebrate Oakland Independent Businesses & Artists while enjoying the Raiders play opening day!

Oakland Grown is a movement celebrating and supporting Oakland's locally-owned, independent businesses and artists. It's about making your hard-earned money go further here at home, creating a sustainable economy, and helping to preserve the unique Oakland you love. Individuals, businesses, artists and organizations can all join the movement. Step out of the box. Be Oakland Grown.

Old Oakland Neighbors' 4th Annual National Night Out Potluck Party :: Tuesday, August 3 from 6:30 - 8:30pm

2010-08-01T23:36:00.007-07:00

This coming Tuesday is National Night Out, America's Night Out against crime. It's not too late to register a National Night Out this Tues 8/3 in your neighborhood. Go to the City of Oakland National Night Out website for more info here.

Join us in Old Oakland, see the Facebook event listing here.

See my interview on CBS 5 Early Edition News about NNO here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The best crime prevention tool ever invented is a good neighbor...
So come meet and reconnect with your neighbors!

Old Oakland Neighbors (OON)
is pleased to host a National Night Out
...Block Party and Potluck at
Lafayette Square Park

Meet Your Neighbors * Share Food
Join in the Festivities

Play Horseshoes * Learn more about the self guided walking tour "Walking the Invisible City" with 10K Steps Oakland

What to Bring:
* Yourself, your family, and your neighbors *
*A food dish to share*
* Lawn chairs, if you have them *
* Your own plate and fork (environmental option only) *

Questions or to Volunteer to help with the event:
oonsocialevents@gmail.com

http://www.oldoaklandneighbors.org/
Founded in 2006, Old Oakland Neighbors is a volunteer-based community group comprised of folks who live and/or work in Old Oakland. We invite area residents, businesses, and Old Oakland neighbors to join our grassroots community group.

http://www2.oaklandnet.com/nno
National Night Out is the nation's night out against crime. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, residents are encouraged to join with their neighbors to have a neighborhood block party to build neighborhood spirit and unity - which is the first defense against crime.

La Borinqueña's 66th Birthday Fiesta during Oaklavía :: Sunday 6/27/10

2010-06-14T08:51:00.011-07:00

La Borinqueña is Oakland’s longest continuously family-owned and operated retail Mexican food store

Date: Sunday, June 27, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Location: La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen
Address: 582 7th Street btwn Jefferson & Clay
City: Oakland, CA
RSVP on La Borinqueña's Facebook Event Listing

Celebrating 66 years of business in Oakland, La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen invites the public to a huge birthday fiesta from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 27, 2010. The fiesta honors the legacy started in 1944 by family matriarch and business founder Mama Rosa Lopez. “It’s a party not only to celebrate our business but also our community,” says Tina “Tamale” Ramos, third generation owner. La Borinqueña’s fiesta coincides with the Oaklavía street festival which will transform downtown Oakland, through temporary traffic closures, into a recreation zone with car-free city streets. By enjoying these two events revelers will celebrate the spirit of comunidad y familia.

Since opening its doors in 1944, La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen and its family owners have witnessed great changes including the transformation of this Old Oakland neighborhood. The one constant has been the restaurants wonderful customers, friendly staff and supportive neighbors. The fiesta will encourage everyone to come together to eat, drink, dance and enjoy each others company. Visit with Nati Ramos, Tina Tamale and special guests as well as live music by The Bomba y Plena Workshop from Noon to 1:30 p.m.

At 11:45 a.m., a special Proclamation presentation by Carletta Starks of Oakland Councilmember Nancy Nadel’s office will honor La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen and recognize the restaurant’s longevity and ongoing contributions to the Old Oakland neighborhood and Oakland. Special guest speakers will also take the microphone.

Community information tables will add an informative element to the festivities. Learn more about the Oakland Grown movement supporting Independent businesses & artists. Meet the founders of 10,000 Steps Oakland who are developing the walking tour: “Walking the Invisible City.” Shop with Oakland jewelry artist Gabrielle Lessard of Mangosteen. Listen to an artist talk by Oakland-based Joaquin Alejandro Newman of Forrealism whose work is currently on display in the restaurant. Sports fans can purchase tickets for Old Oakland Neighbors Day at the Raiders on September 19, 2010, when the Silver and Black attack the St. Louis Rams and greet Raiderettes.

Brunch items including chorizo and eggs, huevos rancheros as well as the full lunch menu with sangria and aguas frescas will be available for purchase during the event. For further information, contact Tina Tamale Ramos (510) 839-3854 or tina@tinatamale.com.

Tamale Girl's Calender of Events: So much exciting stuff going on!

2010-05-26T21:56:00.023-07:00

Hola kids,

Tamale World has tons of stuff going on so I PROMISE to keep these updates coming in the following weeks. Find Tamale Girl dishing out delicious tamales at the following events:

30th Anniversary United States Gay Open Tennis Tournament
Friday, May 28, 2010

Tamale Girl will be the food vendor at Day 1 located at Canada College Tennis Courts in Redwood City. Purchase saucy tamales, nachos, farmers' market fresh strawberry agua fresca. More info here

15th Annual Fairyland Gala
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Children’s Fairyland is an extra-magical place after dark, and we’ll fill it with fantasy and merriment. Among the treats we’ve planned are amazing performers, delicious food, our popular silent auction, and many special surprises! Feel free to come in costume! Income from our Gala helps us continue to provide a safe, sweet place for children to create, imagine, play and learn. Tamale Girl will be serving 3 types of tamales including pork, Erin's potato & green bean, sweet plus chorizo beans, chips & salsa. 21+ Tickets available here

La Borinqueña's 66th Birthday Fiesta (during Oaklavía Street festival)
Sunday, June 27, 2010 10am - 2pm

Yes, you read correctly...It's Tamale Girl's 66th Birthday Party! Save the Date! Join us during Oaklavía when 7th Street will be closed to traffic on Sunday, June 27 for a H U G E Fiesta celebrating the legacy started by Mama Rosa in 1944 here in Old Oakland. Visit with Nati and her family with food & drink specials, live music, community groups like Old Oakland Neighbors, Oakland Grown, 10,000 Steps Oakland plus Oakland art & other family friendly activities! More info and RSVP on Facebook here Read more about Oaklavía (pronounced Oak-la-vee-ya) here

LB at Twilight
Ongoing every Friday 5-9pm
returning First Friday, June 4, 2010

The Twilight crew is taking a short hiatus for Memorial Day weekend but will return in full force for First Friday. Join us for our special menu, beautiful art, farmers' market fresh fruit sangria & agua fresca, music and especially board games co-sponsored by Endgame, Old Oakland's full service retail analog game store. Want to learn a new game? Nou, Twilight's Minister of Cool, will walk you through and get you playing in no time! For more info and updates "Like" us on Facebook here

Hope to see you soon!

Besos y abrazos,

~tina tamale

La Borinqueña / LB at Twilight Calendar of Events for May 2010:

2010-04-24T10:06:00.003-07:00

• Saturday, May 1 LB Daytime Special Event: Jane’s Walk – Old Oakland
Walk through what was once the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad!
10:00am - 1:00pm
Begins at Ratto's and Ends at La Borinquena which also includes more about Jane Jacobs and who she has inspired, walkers can purchase copies of the just-released book “What We See: Advancing the Observations of Jane Jacobs”. Co-editor of the book, Lynne Elizabeth, will be joining the Walk and signing books at LB.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113275242039796&ref=mf

• Wednesday, May 5 LB at Twilight Special Event: Cinco de Mayo Fiesta 5-9pm
Join us to commemorate the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862! Negra Modelo Draft & Bacon Hot Dog Specials $3 each

• Friday, May 7 First Friday Art Reception 5-9pm featuring paintings by Joaquín Alejandro Newman of Forrealism: A Vision of the Future of Indigenous Art. Co-founded at the turn of the Century by fellow mixed indian artists Joaquín Alejandro Newman, Sean Levon Nash and Jason Barnes, this movement seeks to deconstruct racial barriers in order to construct cultural bridges toward a greater indigenous consciousness. Chocolate tasting provided by the Oakland Chocolate Company providing high quality, delicious chocolates while also serving as a model, worker-owned cooperative whose farmer members in the Parish of St. Mary, Jamaica, are linked to the candy makers in Oakland.

• Saturday, May 8 LB at Twilight Special Event: Fair Trade Shopping with Mangosteen
5-9pm
Get a last minute gift for Mother's Day or buy something nice for yourself! Mangosteen will be presenting handicrafts from Fair Trade certified providers and survivors of human trafficking at a special one-night sale event. http://www.mangosteenoakland.com/

• Friday May 14 4th Annual Oakland Indie Awards Party at Jack London Square
5:30-9pm
Join La Borinqueña along with over 20 different Oakland restaurants, local beer, wine, tea, coffee, and chocolate, DJ spinning Oakland music, cool products from Oakland Unwrapped stores, and more! Buy Tickets: http://indieawards.eventbrite.com/ LB at Twilight open from 5-9pm that night too!

There is always time for Happy Hour!

2009-12-09T08:51:00.002-08:00

Doesn't matter how heavy the workload, what the weather's like or if I have friends in tow or not, there is always time for Happy Hour!I tend to head for the spots that also have food generally small plates to nibble on with my adult beverage of choice. While the time range on these vary quite a bit, I tend to show up between 5-6pm to score a seat and hang out for awhile. Here are my neighborhood haunts.

Penelope at the corner of 11th & Clay on the border between Old & Downtown Oakland, Tung & Johnny always have a list of specials at the end of the bar. Creative original cocktails and bar bites.

2022 Restaurant & Bar (formally know as AVE) 2022 Telegraph Ave on the backside of the Paramount Theater Stop by and say hello to Gairy, Robert or Mesfin and partake in some drink and small plate specials.

Levende at 8th & Washington in Old Oakland This one ends at 6pm so don't be late! Many of the regular appetizers show up in bar bite sizes and the beer special is pretty good.

Look for a more detailed, comprehensive list on OaklandGrown.org in January 2010. Want to share your favorite Happy Hour spot with Oakland Grown? Shoot me an email at oaklandgrown@omlf.com with the bar/restaurant name, address and why you like it there!

“Like Abuelita Used to Make” Mexican Champurrado

2009-11-12T00:13:00.006-08:00

Photo by Nou Phabmixay

My first food demo at La Borinqueña took place at Days of the Dead Fiesta - Oct 31, 2009. Gracias to everyone that attended! I promise to have more demos in the weeks and months ahead.

“Like Abuelita Used to Make”
Tina Tamale Ramos
Mexican Champurrado (Chocolate Atole)
Serves: 4 - 5

What you need:

1/2 cup fresh stone ground La Borinqueña masa (corn dough)
or 1/2 cup masa flour (masa harina) mixed with a 1/4 cup warm water to blend
2 1/4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups water
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 disk Mexican Chocolate
White sugar to taste

How to make it happen:

Place the water and the masa in a bowl and break up with your hand until there are no lumps. Transfer to a medium sized saucepan.

Add the milk, chocolate. Bring the mixture to a simmer, using a whisk until the chocolate is melted and well-blended. Add sugar to taste. Strain the mixture through a medium sieve and serve hot, in mugs.

Jefferson Square Park: The Heart of a Community Reborn

2009-10-30T22:06:00.007-08:00

I am a Lover of all things Oakland. The people, places, history and especially community. As an ambassador of the park stewardship program 10,000 Steps, I will be participating in the Oakland Museum community altar exhibit at the Fruitvale Dia de los Muertos Festival “Celebrating the Spirit of Community” this Sunday, November 1, 2009. There will be one large altar and 20+ community altars. For more information about the festival go here. Please stop by De La Fuente Plaza and International Blvd (location of altars)! This is the text for the altar I am coordinating.

Old Oakland Community Footsteps
10,000 Steps / Tina 'Tamale' Ramos
is dedicated to commemorate the people and places that have formed our community over the decades and generations.

This altar is a map of the Old Oakland community with landmarks including Jefferson and Lafayette Square Park, La Borinqueña and images we pass on a daily basis. Every step taken is following the steps of those who came before us. This altar is a visual journal of our collective experiences.

Jefferson Square Park:
The Heart of a Community Reborn

Once upon a time, many, many years ago this park was just brimming with children and adults from the neighborhood…

Gustavo Loza remembers the park during the 1960s being the place to hang out.” The recreation center used to be open 10am – 10pm and all you had to do was leave a valuable for a ball - a sweater, an ID, your wallet, anything of value - and they gave you a ball to play with, to play basketball or volleyball or tennis against the wall or a bat and glove. The rec center gave the park life. “It was not unusual for at least four different types of pick-up games to go on at any given time in this park. Old Saint Mary's School directly across the street used this park as an extended playground. The recreation center also provided home economics classes such as cooking and sewing to anyone.

Bernadino Briones grew up in this neighborhood. “En el verano nos juntabamos (la mayoria eramos latinos) y haciamos un equipo de softball y jugabamos contra otros equipos locales. De vez en cuando tambien jugamos futbol y basketball. Tengo muy buenos recuerdos de el Jefferson Park. ” “ During the summer we would gather. Most of us were Latino and would form a softball team and we would play against the other local teams. Occasionally, we would also play soccer or basketball. I have very fond memories of Jefferson Park.”

Historically, Jefferson Square Park is technically part of West Oakland. However, everything changed with freeway construction and other projects beginning in the 1960s. It is now part of a community referred to as Historic Old Oakland with borders that run from 6th to 14th Street and Broadway to Castro Street. Old Oakland was the original Downtown (1860s), the location of the first City Hall, and a thriving residential and commercial district for decades. The Jefferson Square Park Recreation Center, built in 1958, was the heart of this community until the late 1960s.

Boone: “I started coming here in 1948 to play basketball and met people here, when they had people living around here! When they wanted to build the freeway and the police station, they knocked them people out.” In 2009, Boone is still here and has been looked up to as a role model by many in the neighborhood, whether it was cooking up fish sandwiches in the recreation center kitchen back in the day, teaching basketball tricks or replacing the basketball nets (sometimes out of his own pocket).

Roy "Zazu" Byrd: “Boone, he’s one hell of a ball player. Being a little kid, I idolized him. If you could beat him, you could go anywhere. He made basketball seem fun and that’s the way the game should be played. He taught me a lot and that’s how I made it to the Harlem Globetrotters. I consider Boone to be a legend of this park; some of the things he did on the basketball court were amazing to me. He started coming to this park in his 20s; now he’s in his 80s, and he still comes every day to play ball. Boone was like the protector, the controller. He kept us all in line so there was no fighting, no shooting, no drugs, none of that stuff in the park.”

Natividad "Nati" Ramos, was born in this neighborhood in her family's home on 4th and Castro in 1931. She talks about the old neighborhood, primarily inhabited by Latinos then, as though it was a long lost friend. Nati has a map in her head in which she remembers where every family's home was located before it was torn down and the freeway overpasses were built in their place. When asked about the park, she remembers, “the young boys playing since it was not proper for young ladies back then to run around. I never played there!”

Christina “Tina Tamale” Ramos: “Nati is my mother and growing up hearing her stories about the neighborhood and from those who played in this park made me long for a similar sense of community. In the late Sixties, the Evil City Planners began the demolition of fifty residential blocks in this neighborhood in order to build the Cypress freeway, Bart tracks and Acorn housing development. Our community was destroyed over the course of not so many years. During the Seventies, I remember playing there as a little girl, having picnics on the grassy field and going to art class that included snacks at the center. But then the children left or rather those of us still around, grew up. The park became obsolete, the young ones were gone. The area became a haven for "adults" including the homeless, drug dealers/users and other assorted characters in the Eighties and Nineties.

It broke my heart.

I bought a home here in 2000 and have worked at La Borinqueña even longer. My siblings and I spent time in this park as children and I’m excited to see the neighborhood enjoy this green open space again. A new century especially the last few years have brought great changes, a community is once again forming. The City of Oakland and many of the new transplants are remembering/discovering that there is a park taking up a whole city block right on the edge of Old Oakland.”

Rosemary Escobar remembers visiting the rec center with the Latin American Library Bookmobile back in 1968. She found out that many Mexican ladies were taking English classes at a nearby church. Rosemary would translate simple children’s books from English to Spanish for adults to borrow. The ladies would ask her, “No me cobras?” “Aren’t you going to charge me?” and she would respond, “No, los prestamos” “No, we loan them.” They were amazed that they could take the books home and then return them to any library.

Photographs of the park from this era were very hard to come by. Community members from those days mentioned repeatedly that cameras and film were expensive and generally reserved for special occasions. Fortunately, a few snapshots of people enjoying the park surfaced. We appreciate those who shared their stories and photographs with us. Some of these quotes came from participants of the Oakland Museum: The Latino History Project including Rosemary Escobar and Jose Arrendondo. Many of the young men and boys who spent a considerable part of their daily lives in this park during the 1940s and 1950s are no longer with us to share their memories, but they will not be forgotten.

Eminent domain by the City of Oakland caused the destruction of the residential community (50 blocks) in West Oakland in the late 1960s and early 1970s. None of the concrete overpasses surrounding this park existed until 1972. This, in turn, was the beginning of the decline of many of the commercial areas of interest and of the Jefferson Park Recreation Center since much of the residential community was lost. The rec center programs dwindled and the center officially closed in mid- 1970s. The building is fenced off, abandoned since it’s seismically unsafe.

There was the restoration of some of the old Victorian buildings saved in the late 1970s that remained empty for years. The 1980s and 1990s proved to be a difficult economic time for this area. The late 1990s saw a resurgence of residents in the form of nearby condominium developments. In 2006, a grassroots community group, Old Oakland Neighbors, was founded to unite residents, merchants, and other stakeholders who are committed to connecting, celebrating, and caring for Old Oakland. 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 ongoing 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.

Now in 2009, we have redevelopment on the horizon. A dog park will be replacing the rec center for Spring 2010 as a testament that the heart of a community can be reborn and appreciated by those living, working, and visiting in the neighborhood. This will be a park teeming with energy and vibrant with people of all ages enjoying the outdoors in the middle of an urban area.

One day soon, Jefferson Square Park, will get its Happily Ever After.

10,000 Steps Exhibit: A Profile of 4 Squares

2009-09-09T10:31:00.026-07:00

I want you to take a moment, and think back to a happy childhood memory that took place in a park. Running in the grass, playing on a swing and maybe having a picnic or snack with family and friends. If you were lucky, you got to walk to this park. What did the streets look like? Maybe the buildings surrounding the park housed businesses and neighbors you got to visit from time to time. Now as an adult, perhaps you drive or walk by this park and smile while remembering what it was like to be carefree and young.

Photo: Jose Arrendondo (his sister Virginia)

Imagine having those thoughts and feelings while standing in an art gallery just a stone throw away from City Hall. Yup, that's what happen to me yesterday. It was thoughtful, touching and kinda surreal to have so many memories staring back at me. It was the first official day of the 10,000 Steps Exhibit: A Profile of 4 Squares at the Pro Arts Gallery in Frank Ogawa Plaza that will run from September 8 to October 9, 2009. The 10,000 Steps project is something I hold near and dear to me. The lovely husband and wife team of Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas also know as Marksearch brought me into their fold after approaching Old Oakland Neighbors to partner on the work they are doing.

Side 2 Jefferson Park Exhibit Marker

Side 1 Jefferson Park Exhibit Marker

In the very beginning, I did question why these folks from North Oakland wanted to pay attention to the Historic Square Parks, two of which are in Old Oakland, Jefferson and Lafayette. With one eyebrow raised, I listened as they explained about wanting to research these urban open green spaces, record oral histories and what changes the communities around the parks have experience over the decades. This would all lead up to the creation of a walking tour of the parks and recording the journey of the project itself along the way. Since I enjoy writing about my community and it's history online, a writer from Oakland Magazine contacted me about 10,000 Steps. This produced the article in the Sept/Oct 09 issue called Minding Our Inheritance, which is a great lead in for this new exhibit.

Everyone who was involved with the 10,000 Steps Exhibit

So back to the exhibit. Sue and I had been collaborating on research for a community marker for Jefferson Square Park that is going into redevelopment soon. A little history about the Recreation Center that was built in 1948. The Rec Center was extremely active with young people and adults. Sporting equipment was loaned out and there were various art and cooking classes. The Latin American bookmobile made regular stops there and there was an occasional fiesta. Most of the activity came to an end with the destruction of our community with the building of the freeway in the late 1960s and the Rec Center was closed in the mid-1970s when it was deemed seismically unsafe. The park redevelopment will tear down the condemned building and it will be replaced with a dog park by Summer 2010. Members of Old Oakland Neighbors are excited to have community area revamped for everyone’s use and many have committed to volunteering for the upkeep necessary for the park to be clean and safe.

Photo: Rosemary Escobar

Sue mentioned that our research would also be used for an art exhibit about the parks. I have visited many exhibits over the years but I guess it was just not sinking in that my park, Jefferson Square Park, was going to be showcased at a gallery I really like. It also got me out talking to my friends and neighbors even more. My fellow board member of Old Oakland Neighbors, Tiffany Eng, a third generation Old Oaklander who's grandfather used to run for public office back in the day provided images as well as OON co-chair, Hoang Banh. Old friends and La Borinqueña customers, Rosemary Escobar and Jose Arrendondo shared photos and stories as well. There is video footage too including my buddy Roy Byrd, former Harlem Globetrotter, who learned his tricks from Henry Boone, who has been playing pick up games of basketball in Jefferson Square Park since 1948.

Photo: The Eng family

There will also be a series of special events including walking tours with Annalee Allen, longtime historic column writer for the Oakland Tribune and Serena Bartlett, creator of the GrassRoutes Travel book series. Oh, yours truly will also being doing a cooking demo at the gallery too. This will all lead up to a huge first Friday reception on October 2. If you aren't able to attend any of the special events, please stop by and view the exhibit during regular business hours. All the details will be a the end of this post.

Photo: Ted Dang

Overall, my favorite part of this exhibit is seeing photos in black & white and sepia next to modern color images of what the neighborhoods look like today. While I looked at the exhibit with my longtime friend Lupe and pro art staff Vicky, I shared my memories as well as the history shared by those who remember father back than me and I have been fortunate to spend time with over the years. They commented on how much I know and have to share. But see, we all have this capacity. To share the people, places and things that touch each one of us from when we can barely remember up until today. Take some time to share your stories with the young ones coming up and ask to hear stories from the older generations too. If you need ideas how to do this, please visit this exhibit. History is art. Art is sharing. It's connecting a little piece of everyone it touches. These connections are how we build a community.

09.08.09 - 10.09.09: A PROFILE OF 4 SQUARES

Please join us in celebrating the completion of 10,000 Steps' first phase of green art stewardship with downtown Oakland's historic parks and surrounding communities!

This multimedia exhibit, at Pro Arts at the Oakland Art Gallery includes a wide range of exciting events, including guided walking tours and in-gallery interactive community-led demonstrations.

Events:

09.17.09: 6-8PM Artists Reception

09.18.09: 12 - 1:30PM Tai Chi Class

An all-levels class taught at the gallery by Lincoln Rec Center's Mr. Wong FREE

09.19.09: 11- 1PM Oakland's Historic Town Squares

Oakland Heritage Alliance walking tour guided by Annalee Allen Meet at the corner of 9th & Jackson Streets Fee: $15

10.02.09: 12 - 1:30PM Mexican Lunch Con Poco Dinero

Cooking demo in the gallery by Tina Tamale, third generation co-owner of Old Oakland's La Borinqueña Restaurant FREE

10.02.09: 5:30 - 7PM Interactive Neighborhood Ecotour

Tour led by Serena Bartlett, green travel expert and creator of GrassRoutes Travel. Meet at The Pardee House, 672 11th Street FREE

10.02.09: 6 - 9PM First Friday Reception

Regular Gallery Hours: Tues - Fri 11- 6pm Sat 11- 4pm FREE

Save a bag & support 10,000 Steps at the same time!
All September, Whole Foods Markets in Oakland will donate a nickel to 10,000 Steps every time you bring your own shopping bag. Refreshments for all events provided by Whole Foods Market.

Oakland Magazine will be handing out the Sept/Oct 09 issue at the 9.17 & 10.2 receptions.

Let us know what event(s) you will be attending by responding to the evite here.

Old Oakland Neighbors 3rd Annual National Night Out 8/4/09

2009-08-04T07:54:00.018-07:00

You are invited to come out to celebrate our community and view the BEFORE Jefferson Square Park is transformed into a new dog park for next year at OON's 3rd Annual National Night Out party TODAY!

I am very proud to have highlighted Old Oakland Neighbors as a community representative for National Night Out in an Oakland Trib article as well as appearing on the Univision Ch14 talk show in Spanish, Encuentro en la Bahía, that aired this past weekend.

Photo by Silvia San Miguel "View from Univision Studio SF 41st Floor"

This interview was really exciting to do. Silvia San Miguel and I along with Oakland Neighborhood Services Coordinator (NSC) Arlette Flores-Medina went to the SF Univision studio to tape our interview a couple of weeks ago. It aired this past weekend. Fortunately, I was able to find a friend to record the program and I will post it when I get it. We were given the questions ahead of time. So in the meantime, here are the questions and my answers in English y en Español. Muchas gracias to Silvia for translating for me and for appearing on the show. Silvia helped calm my nerves. I speak Spanglish so doing an entire interview with no editing and in one take completely in Español, well I needed some help. A chica needs a cheat sheet sometimes!

What is National Night Out?

It’s a celebration of community when neighbors get together to share social time and have fun. It's also a great time to interact with public service members including police, firefighters and park rangers so everyone including our children can build a friendly relationship and community spirit.

¿De que se trata la Noche Nacional de Oakland?

Es una celebración de la comunidad donde los vecinos se reúnen para socializar y divertirse. Es también una buena oportunidad para interactuar con los miembros del servicio publico, incluyendo la policía y bomberos, de esa manera todos, incluyendo los niños pueden crear una relación de amistad y un espíritu comunitario.

What has your experience been?

The grassroots community group in my area called Old Oakland Neighbors is organizing our 3rd annual National Night Out in one of our parks. It has given all neighbors including homeowners, apartment and condo dwellers as well as business owners the chance to get to know each other in a casual festive atmosphere. I look forward to planning the party every year.

¿Cuál ha sido su experiencia?

El grupo comunitario de mi area que se llama Vecinos del Viejo Oakland (Old Oakland Neighbors) esta organizando su tercera Noche Nacional en uno de nuestros parques. Le ha dado a todos los vecinos incluyendo a los propietarios de casas, apartamentos, condominios asi como dueños de negocios la oportunidad de conocerse en un ambiente casual y festivo.

Why is it important to organize a National Night Out?

It’s important for members of a community to know each other and be friendly. For neighbors to be comfortable with each other and secure that there are eyes and ears around watching out for everyone. When neighbors know each other, neighborhoods are safer.

¿Por qué es importante organizar una Noche Nacional?

Es importante que los miembros de la comunidad se conozcan y se pueda crear una amistad. Para que los vecinos se sientan bien unos con otros y tengan la seguridad de que todos se cuidan unos a otros. Cuando los vecinos se conocen entre si hay menos crimen.

What has the public response been in Old Oakland?

Old Oakland Neighbors typically has 100 adults and children attend. Everyone brings food to share including our local co-housing development’s weekly common meal to the event. Last year there were 400 National Night Out block parties in Oakland alone.

¿Cuál ha sido la respuesta de la gente?

Cerca de 100 adultos y niños del ‘Old Oakland’ se reúnen. Todos traen comida para compartir. El año pasado hubo 400 fiestas solo en Oakland.

When is National Night Out?

Nacional Night Out is always the first Tuesday of August.

¿Cuándo se llevara a cabo esta Noche Nacional este año?

Siempre es el primer martes de Agosto.

What do you need to do to have a party?

(Registration closed for 2009)
Register your party online at http://www.oaklandnet.com/nno2009.html, or contact Brenda Ivey with the Oakland Police Department at 238-3091. The deadline to register is 5:00 pm on Monday, July 27th. Register early to receive a visit from city staff.

¿Hay que inscribirse o algo?

Para registrar su fiesta de la Noche Nacional pueden ir a la pagina del internet http://www.oaklandnet.com/nno2009.html, o llamar a Brenda Ivey del Departamento de la Policia al 238-3091. La fecha limite para registrarse es el lunes 27 de julio. Si se registran temprano pueden recibir la visita del un funcionario de la Ciudad.

What do you need to do to organize a National Night Out?

Talk to your neighbors, agree on what everyone is bringing and send out invitations.

¿Qué hay que hacer para organizar una fiesta esa Noche Nacional?

Hable con sus vecinos, pongase deacuerdo en quien va a traer para comer, haga folletos para invitar a todos.

Additional event details for today's Old Oakland Neighbors National Night Out are above. I hope you can join us. This event is open to residents, business owners, folks who work in our neighborhood and anyone who loves Old Oakland.

Bring something tasty to share. Don't forget your chairs and blankets for seating. Raffle prizes from Washington Inn, It's a Grind, La Borinqueña and a treat basket from Madison Park Financial (the new owners of 901 Jefferson.) OON Logo T-shirts will also be available at the event. Make a $5 donation and get a free shirt! (limited sizes and quantities available)

Come out and spend time with your neighbors!

Questions or to volunteer: oonsocialevents@gmail.com or call 510/839.3854

Locally yours,

~tina tamale
OON Social Coordinator

PS Don't live/work in Old Oakland? Check out Nancy Nadel's District 3 list of parties here: http://www.oaklandnet.com/Nadel/PDFs/CC372809List.pdf The other City Council members have listings on their respective websites for other districts. There are 420 registered parties happening in Oakland this evening!

The Birth of "Tamales to Die For" aka Tina Tamale Calavera

2009-08-02T08:38:00.014-07:00

Yo soy Mexicana Americana. Yup, I'm an American Latina. I'm proud to be a citizen of these United States of America, yet mi cultura, my culture is firmly planted in the history and art of my ancestors. Mamí has been telling me stories about mi familia for as long as I can remember and this is why I have become a storyteller myself.

I'm explaining this so you will better understand the picture I'm so fond of using as my profile image, Tina Tamale Calavera aka Tamales to Die For aka Dead Tina (but mamí hates when I call it that and I always get scolded.) This image is a story in and of itself that I'm going to tell to you now.

Photo "Grandma Rosa at the first La Borinqueña"

Mamí was born right here in West Oakland but her familia was originally from Jalisco, Mexico. Grandma Rosa grew up in a little pueblo, Atemajac de Brizuela, and never had a birthday cake. The first time I heard that, I was shocked...no birthday cake? I love birthday cake and usually have 2 or 3 during my birthday month so the mere though of no cake on the day of your birth, very hard for me to swallow. Turns out Grandma Rosa was born on Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead and instead of cake she always got a Pan de Muerto Monito with his panza (tummy) filled with raisins for her birthday. OK, so now I'm feeling at least there was a baked treat involved but his Day of the Dead business was not familiar to me.

Pan de Muerto Monito

Lots of times, the more obscure holidays don't make it to America until someone "rediscovers" it. My immediate family didn't celebrate Day of Dead but I had heard of some celebrations and I was set out to find out what they where all about. Internet research, asking the mujeres that are on staff at La Borinqueña and then finding out that there has been an ongoing yearly exhibit at the Oakland Museum made me feel like a cultural archaeologist of sorts. You will hear me talk about this often, since I'm one of the younger members of my extended family, I have a lot of dead people in my life. Building a Day of the Dead altar at La Borinqueña every year and serving the food associated with the holiday like pan de muerto, chicken in mole, sweet tamales and atole made me feel closer to Grandma Rosa. Mamí finds this very interesting since my grandmother passed away before I was born and I never met her yet I feel very connected to her all the same.

Photo by Sue Richardson "Cheesy Tina"

This connection made me want to do something a little taboo. My friend Sue Richardson had taken a photograph of me to use in a promotion that I really liked, let's call this picture Cheesy Tina. But, what I really wanted was this to be made into an old school Día de los Muertos painting, the only problem was that according to my Latin culture only people who have passed on in life can be depicted as a calavera. Amazingly, I was able to find an Latino artist that is Americano too. He warned that not everyone was going to get it and that some folks might also find it disturbing. But he was open to being commissioned to do the painting and was excited to do it.

Photo by Sue Mark (10,000 Steps) "Tina x 2 at current La Borinqueña"

So this is how Tina Tamale Calavera was "born" and has become an image that I am strongly attached to and love. Joaquin Newman, the artist, was correct that some folks don't understand and are "weirded out" by it. He gave a hearty chuckle when I put the "Tamales to Die For" under it to make it more socially acceptable. Unfortunately, I don't get the opportunity to give the explanation as I've detailed here very often. If you didn't already know this story, I'm happy I got to share it with you now. Tina Tamale Calvera is literally a snapshot of who I am celebrating history, food and my personality the moment you look at this image and appreciate the artistry.

Artwork by Joaquin Newman Graphic by Renee Esquivil

November 2009 is going to be different since the Oakland Museum will be closed for renovations with no events including a Muertos Celebration till next year and the Fruitvale Día de los Muerots Festival was also canceled essentially leaving Oakland without a large scale celebration. Perhaps La Borinqueña will step up to the plate and put on a celebration? Stay tuned for more details...

To read my Oakbook article about my painting and Día de los Muertos go here.

My Internet Home

2009-07-31T20:00:00.005-07:00

Hola everyone,

It's been awhile since I've posted here on my blog. Life has a funny way of taking unexpected twists and turns. I've been spending a lot of time of Facebook but really want to call Tamale World home.

So, my dear niece Renee set up a fan page on Facebook that will update from this blog. If we are already friends on my personal Facebook profile and you want to receive updates from my new page, just click the title of this post and then click "Become a Fan" at the top of the page.

Remember that TinaTamale.com is where I post EVERYTHING including articles I've written, the groups/committees that I'm passionate about (like Old Oakland Neighbors, Oakland Grown and 10,000 Steps), how to find me on LinkedIn and on other websites that I roam.

Mi Casa es su Casa...Welcome to my Home!

~tina tamale

Tina Tamale is BALLE Bound!

2009-05-19T06:47:00.009-07:00

Well kids,

It's that time of year, the rare time that I leave my beloved Old Oakland to learn more about Being Local! Yes, apparently I need to go somewhere else to do that!

I am very fortunate to be attending this year's Business Alliance of Local Living Economies (BALLE) Annual conference. Last year, many of you remember that I went to Boston, this time it's closer in Denver, Colorado.

I know it will be an action packed week of knowledge and networking with other community minded, sustainable folks. All business is having it's issues with our economy being what it is this year. Indie business is doing what needs to be done by banding together and seeing what is possible now and in the future.

My friends and colleagues are still riding the high of this year's Oakland Indie Awards. We're taking that energy and spirit with us tomorrow to share. I'll still be posting on Facebook over the rest of the week. Join me there to follow along.

Stop by and visit the lovely crew of mujeres at La B while I'm gone now through Saturday. Don't forget Brunch & Botanas is every Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Oh, we will be closed on Monday for the holiday and return on Tuesday.

See you all next week!

Locally yours,

~tina tamale

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta 2009

2009-04-30T00:07:00.003-07:00

It's Fiesta time Saturday, May 2 and every Saturday thereafter as we introduce our NEW brunch menu and drink specials!

Try our delicious breakfast burrito, huevos rancheros or chorizo & egg plate along with some savory botanas (tasty little snacks) as well as our full regular menu. Drink specials include: sparkling mimosas, full bodied sangria and ice cold cerveza for $4 each.

Trio Serenata de los Hermanos Ahumada playing LIVE from 12pm-2pm!

Vegetarian and non-alcoholic options available. Family friendly event. See our full menus at menus.tamalegirl.com

We support local produce/vendors, compost and are an Oakland based indie biz.

2nd Annual We Love Old Oakland

2009-03-18T06:00:00.003-08:00

We are one day away from our 2nd annual community celebration We Love Old Oakland. As co-chair and social coordinator, I am always excited and touched by the community support given by our neighbors and friends!

Hope to see you at the event and here are the deets:

Please join Old Oakland Neighbors in a Community Celebration!

Meet our neighbors as well as our community partners:
10,000 Steps http://10000stepsoakland.org/
Oakland Grown http://shopoakland.com/oaklandgrown
League of Women Voters of Oakland http://www.lwvoakland.org/

Entertainment, Delicious food, Stimulating Conversation, and more in support of Old Oakland!

Hear music from Oakland based artists.

Performance by: Sue Richardson, spoken word artist

Thursday, March 19, 2009
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Washington Inn
495-10th Street at Washington (across from the Convention Center)
Oakland, CA

Tickets: $10 each (sold at the door)
includes appetizers, door prizes, music & conversation

No Host Bar / Cash Beverages
All Ages Welcome ~ Family Friendly

Buy your tickets today!

The OON logo t-shirts have also arrived. Logo by a Market Square resident, screen printed in West Oakland on a organic natural cotton, undyed American made t-shirt...show your neighborhood pride at a low, special event price!

OON will appreciate if you forward this invite to anyone you think would be interested!

Want to volunteer or have questions? Are you a local merchant and want to donate a door prize or nibbles? Please email oldoakland@sbcglobal.net

Old Oakland Neighbors sprung from the momentum of those who gathered in summer 2006 to work with Neighborhood Services Division, Oakland Police Department, Public Works Agency, and Office of Parks of Recreation to address crime and nuisance issues. We are a grassroots community group that welcomes residents, business owners and other concerned individuals in our neighborhood. We meet regularly to address many different types of issues and as well as to have FUN. Please visit our website at: http://OldOaklandNeighbors.org for more information or to join.

Oakland’s Dilemma

2009-01-14T13:40:00.003-08:00

I’ve always been a post traumatic stress syndrome kind of a chica. I’m cool, level headed and keep it together until a few days later. The events that have unfolded in the last 13 days have been unjust, surreal and have made me frustrated for so many different reasons and on so many different levels. My nerves and thoughts on what is happening here in Oakland have not had a chance to rest, let alone settle down.

What happened in the chaotic moments in the early morning hours of January 1, 2009 on the train platform at the Fruitvale Bart station has changed my fair city. The untimely death of a young man from what I can tell with no justified cause has affected so many lives in a ripple effect that will not just go away nor should it. I am at a loss as to why this case has been mishandled by the very people who need to keep the public safe.

Public Safety in Oakland is a topic I can write about from an entirely different angle. I participated in a panel on November 5, 2008 as the merchant representative to review resumes and give recommendations to Mayor Dellums as to who should be our next Public Safety Director. A position that still remains unfilled and whose leadership we could have used in this New Year. It’s interesting to note that most of the panel’s discussions revolved around concerns for how this leader would interact with the constituents, use community policing to reduce crime in commercial districts and how natural disaster services could be better coordinated. The subject of man-made disasters did not come up.

One week ago today, that was exactly what we had on our hands. Bart officials treated the killing of an unarmed person like it was any other officer related shooting. No investigation, no public apologies, the officer involved had not even been interviewed. People with feelings regarding the incident had nothing and then the officer responsible resigned. The frustration and anger felt by many was justified. Yet, to see a planned peaceful protest erupt into violence was really surprising. Splinter groups with agendas not related to the situation came out to cause destruction to small business owners, buildings and vehicles having no involvement or blame. Many of the residents of DTO had to find a safe way home and many were left unable to do so for hours. An ugly mess solving nothing and only proving that violence is not the answer to anything.

The City of Oakland, Oakland Police Department, merchants and the residents of Oakland were then pulled in. Many of us are fiercely protective of our city and our lives deeply affected by this loss of life. Justice still has not been served and is moving very slowly. The former police officer who is responsible for this has finally been arrested in Nevada. The protests scheduled today will hopefully be peaceful and constructive. It’s time for all of us to settle down and do the work of building a community that cares abut everyone in our city. Oakland needs to be a place where living, working or passing through does not have a dark and ominous reputation. We need our officials to step forward and lead us in this journey. We live in very uncertain times with our economy, politics and our personal lives in varying states of chaos.

My post-traumatic stress syndrome may not get to kick in anytime soon and perhaps that’s for the best. I have no time to fall apart emotionally, there too much work to be done. It is my hope that the citizens of Oakland will regroup, pull together and make this a safe place for everyone. Those hired and appointed to protect and to serve us must be accountable and we need to demand that. My request to you is to pay attention and get involved. There are neighborhood groups, merchant associations, non-profits seeking volunteers and small indie businesses who need your support. Be part of the solution, together we can make this happen.

I'm ready for a resolution!

2009-01-06T22:00:00.006-08:00

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Tamale Season 2008 is over and done. This brings me to my resolution for 2009, to write more here.

Aside from my usual community updates, events, rant & raves, I'm planning on writing a business review every now and then. Occasionally, I'll describe my adventures in marketing and politics here in Oakland. I'll also continue writing my nostalgic and historically correct small business profiles at TheOakBook.com and update the list on the right side of this page.

Locally yours,

Tina Tamale

Tamale Season is in Full Swing

2008-12-12T12:44:00.006-08:00

Hola Everyone,

Tamale Season is in Full swing and I'm already up to my eyeballs with tamales! Some of these tamales could be yours. There is still time to place your food and tamale pre-order for Christmas week pick up with no problem! Renee made up a easy to read condensed menu or go to menus.tamalegirl.com for our full menu.

Want to know more about Tamale Season? I wrote a Yelp review a couple of years ago giving the full story here.

Give us a CALL at 510/444.9954 ext 3 to place your order and get your confirmation number! We prefer to actually speak to our customers to give more personalized service since email just isn't the same. Please call no later than December 17 to place your order.

Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo,
from mi familia to yours...

Locally yours,

Tina Tamale

The world has changed today.

2008-11-04T23:28:00.007-08:00

I don't usually do this, write from an emotional standpoint but tonight history was made. I have been on the brink of tears for the last few hours, filled with pride.

I witnessed a Change that will affect us not for a moment but for years to come. I have always been an advocate of HOPE, cautiously optimistic that a Change would occur that would allow us to return to a state of truth and dignity. We have now elected a President that is the epitome of class and strength.

President-Elect Obama comes from a background of determination that anyone can be successful if you work hard enough. I appreciate that as a person, a small business owner, a woman and as a person of color but most of all as an American. I have no illusion that the road ahead with be smooth. It will be difficult at best but we will work together.

His campaign was truly grassroots, working class people making themselves heard.

We have spoken.

Our voices will not be quieted.

Opportunity is ours.

¡Sí, Se Puede!

Yes, We Can.

Evolution of a Sacred Space: Días de los Muertos 2008

2008-10-22T22:26:00.007-07:00

Our traveling food booth, Tamale Girl, will be making it's next appearance this Saturday 10/25 at the Oakland Museum's annual Days of the Dead Celebration. To read more about this amazing holiday, what it means to me and my artist friend Joaquin please check out my latest OakBook profile, Skeleton Story

Photo by Eduardo Pineda

PCB 20th Anniversary

2008-10-16T17:42:00.004-07:00

Old Oakland History and parties...two of my favorite things.

Oakland Events is coordinating a Birthday Beer Bash Block Partay! Say that really fast 10 times!

Pacific Coast Brewing Company is Celebrating 20 Years in my Beloved Old Oakland. There will be live bands, a special edition beer, appetizer specials and of course Birthday Cake!

Here's the live band lineup:
6-7pm I am Empire
7:30-8:30 The Vinyl trees
9-10pm Kevin Cadogan(former founding member of Third Eye Blind)

I'll be hanging with a fine bunch of Yelpers aka the EB DYL Crew.
Everyone is invited.
Admission is free to the block party.
They're charging for food & drink, duh.

9th & Washington
6pm to 10pm
Be there or be square!

The East Bay Express: 30 Years of Easy Bay History

2008-10-16T01:51:00.009-07:00

This just came out on Wednesday and I LOVE it. It's in the latest edition of the The East Bay Express.

A H U G E Gracias to Sarah Hammill, the writer who did our historical write up. She truly understood the legacy that my grandmother, mother and now my sister, her daughter and I work so hard to continue to move forward. The entire issue looks great and it's going to take me some time to get through all the articles. Most of you already know that I'm a Oakland history nerd and this kind of stuff makes me...tingly.

Odd...I know.

Here it is:
From Mama Rosa's Kitchen to Yours (La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen)

Did I already mention that I really love it?

The OakBook

2008-10-13T12:15:00.005-07:00

Busy, busy, BUSY...We all are but I do have stuff I need to write about and I will get to it soon!

Until then, here's the last couple of profiles that I wrote for the OakBook online magazine.

The Sole of Old Oakland about my neighbor, The Shoe Spot.

A new FAVE, Vice Chocolates at the Jack London Farmers' Market.
Just Give In

Taste for Art

2008-10-03T06:35:00.007-07:00

Do you like Art?
Live Music?
Good Food?
Beer & Wine?
Supporting a local Food Bank?
Supporting local Artists?
Have a free Friday night (tonight)?

Then this is where you want to be! Join me (La Borinquena/Tamale Girl) and a slew of other food and drink purveyors for this event taking place in Emeryville sponsored by The East Bay Express.

I've gotten to know lots of the folks involved in the Oakland/East Bay community through the work I do with the Oakland Merchants' Leadership Forum and Old Oakland Neighbors. I cannot stress enough to EVERYONE how important it is to reach out and get to know the people around you. That working together to help one another however big or small can make a difference.

Volunteer for a project that means something to you, attend a community meeting, support a cause by attending events. Yes, in this case donating a can of food and/or making a contribution to a fun event that supports two things that mean so much to me: food for families and art to feed the soul.

Not wanting to sour this ideal and optimistic view I have on how to make a difference, I feel the need to say this. This is to the people who talk B I G and don't act. To the people who always say, "I'm too busy." Or "Will I really make a difference?" Or the folks who have the time and the energy to complain but won't make the time to do something about whatever they are unhappy/disturbed/uneasy about.

Get involved.
Support what matters to you.
Be part of the conversation to find solutions.
Talk to folks you think you have nothing in common with, you may be shocked over what you do have in common.

Help build community especially where you live and work.
Support local businesses and artists.
You can make a difference.
Make change happen.

So, back to my regularly scheduled blog post. Stop by tonight, have a drink, some tasty nibbles, meet some folks who support the same causes.

See how easy this is? Get out and do SOMETHING. If I don't see you later, I'll see you around. There is a great cause around every corner and if you are still reading I know we'll cross paths sooner or later.

I have a feeling I'll see you sooner...

Event Details, click below:

The East Bay Express presents a food, music, and art-centered fundraiser for Pro Arts Gallery and Alameda County Food Bank on Friday, October 3, 6-10pm at 5749 Doyle St., Between Stanford Ave. and Powell St., Emeryville, CA

Directions:
There is ample parking behind the warehouse, or take Emeryville's FREE bus service (the Emery-Go-Round) by jumping on the Hollis South bus at the MacArthur BART station and jumping off at Standford Ave/Horton intersection. The Warehouse is a couple short blocks to the East from that stop on Doyle Street between Stanford and Powell. Buses run approx. every 15 minutes, and stop running at 10pm. http://www.emerygoround.com/

Fall Festivals produced by Oakland Events

2008-09-20T12:59:00.007-07:00

Things have been busy in Tamale World, lots to do so little time. I almost wish for a longer day, maybe 34 hours instead of 24 hours to get it all done.

Many of you already know that I am very community and small business minded and I LOVE doing events that allow for my different passions to overlap. Oakland Events is a new event production company founded by Helen Wyman. She has years of experience working in some of Oakland shopping districts helping merchants. She started her full scale event production company to take outdoor festivals and special events to a new level. Helen's goal is to produce local, sustainable events to highlight all facets of Oakland commerce but especially the small independent business and artist.

Why do I know so much about this company? Helen and I are both members of the marketing committee for the Oakland Merchants' Leadership Forum (OMLF). I also created my restaurant's food booth, Tamale Girl, to primarily participate in Oakland Events' productions. The full disclaimer, my Partner in Crime and Volunteering, Consuelo Jacobs, is the Director of Operations and Exhibitor Coordinator for this company as well as a member of the OMLF marketing committee too.

There are still a couple of outdoor events produced by OE in the weeks ahead. Instead of selling food, I'm going to be coordinating a voter registration booth since the deadline for California is October 20, 2008 for the Presidential election. Want to volunteer to staff at my booth? Drop me line at tamaleworld@gmail.com.

Here's some cut n' pastes for the Oakland Events website for more info!

Out & About in Rockridge Street Festival
Sunday, September 28th 11am to 6pm
College Avenue, between Claremont & Manilla

The annual Rockridge Out & About festival, held on College Avenue, highlights local businesses as well as live music and dance, alternative health exhibitors, artisan and community booths, cooking demonstrations and food booths presented by Rockridge restaurants.

Five stages will feature well-known Bay Area musicians and performers including a DJ / Dance Stage and Rockridge Runway Fashion with attire selected by local boutiques, plus a Chef Stage featuring the district’s top chefs, art installations and Tots’ Town with rides, games, prizes and more will make this a great family day.

Take BART to Rockridge! The station is only steps from the festival -
Sunday, Sept. 28 11 a.m. – 6 pm.

Oakland’s first annual Oktoberfest in Dimond
Saturday October 4th from 11-6pm
Fruitvale Avenue and Macarthur Boulevard

Although Oakland’s Dimond District is a diverse and progressive neighborhood, it is steeped in German history. Around 1900, the area was largely a German community where social and community life centered on the beer gardens in the area. Though the beer gardens are gone, the community spirit they fostered still remains.

Oktoberfest will feature traditional German beer gardens, German food and dance, gourmet food booths, historical tours, performances by local artists on two stages, artisans, a kids’ carnival area, a green living and wellness expo, and much more. Attendees will quaff, sip, drink, tipple, imbibe, dance, sing, and eat, as well as learn about the historical connection between Oakland and its earlier German residents.
Click Here to visit event website (www.oaklandoktoberfest.com)

Change Comes Quickly

2008-09-09T17:52:00.003-07:00

I had concerns about the next small business I wrote my latest OakBook online magazine profile for but I'm glad I took the time to investigate! I have mixed feeling about franchises but I am discovering that the independently owned and operate units are really like indie small businesses more than I realized. Lots of times it depends on the personality and character of the owner to make any businesses successful. To read about the newest business in my neighborhood go here Change Comes Quickly.

I've also made a list of the small business profiles I've been writing for OakBook right below my profile on the right column of this page. I'd love some feedback and even suggestions for other cool businesses to write about. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment for me.

We're becoming a Slow Food Nation

2008-09-04T01:16:00.017-07:00

I'm finally recovered from my long weekend. When others decide to go relax and rest somewhere, I feel the need to explore and work. See, my partner in Crime and Volunteering aka Consuelo and I don't know how to be still. This is how we found ourselves volunteering with the farmers at the Civic Center Slow Food Nation event last Sunday. Nope, it wasn't the Pavilion with the expensive punch card for tasty treats but a bustling organic market, slow food court and urban garden filled with amazing people and their equally amazing goods. Consuelo and I arrived via Bart, checked in, signed our waivers and tied on our aprons to get to work.

I'm giggling as I write this since Consuelo chose to go to the Straus Creamery booth and was basically sentenced to hard labor. She was instructed to fetch yogurt and milk samples from the refrigerated semi-truck that equaled a short hike to and climb into the truck each of the three times she was sent (correction, she informs me it was more like 12 times!). I was given to Paul of Hain Walnuts where I packed and sold organic walnuts for a few hours. Consuelo would text me to tell me what she was doing and didn't believe me when I told her my duties. She later showed up at my booth after I sent my farmer on a break after he discovered that I had grocery and market booth experience and could run his gig on my own. Consuelo was munching on a delicious Muffaletta sandwich with green olive tapenade and salami from the "slow on the go" food court. We wound up buying a second one later because it was so good.

Back to the nuts...I appreciated that my farmer and I chatted about our respective businesses while we worked. Paul told me the history of his farm and details about his walnuts. He went organic years ago when his walnut orchard was in dire straits and he figured what did he have to lose. Turns out that the little town a few miles away from Hollister has a Mediterranean climate and responds well to no pesticides. His walnuts are sweet with no bitter aftertaste from last season. The best way to store nuts if you aren't going got eat them right away is to refrigerate for a few months or freeze for up to nine months in an airtight container in either case. This year's crop are still on the trees and will be harvested in early November '08. Paul also raises free range chickens and eggs on his farm and I might just need to leave Oakland one day to visit. He has also promised to send his mother-in-law's flour tortilla recipe that uses walnuts too.

The end of the day approached quickly and Consuelo and I managed to scarf a bowl of the organic Three Twins ice cream that always had a line next to my walnut booth. We also shared a all beef Let's Be Frank hot dog with grilled onions, dijon mustard and ketchup and Consuelo thought that was just the best name ever for a hot dog company. We helped break down a few more farmer booths including a raw honey booth and some of the most delicious organic peaches from Los Angeles. See this was some of the best slow food from all over the country as far away from New York but we here in the Bay Area and California had a strong presence at this event.

What I took away from this day was how important it is to support farmers doing the right thing. This isn't just about the buzzwords of 2008 like slow, green and sustainable. This goes beyond organic, local and eco-friendly. I'm always talking about the history of my family and how things and the world used to be. We NEED to return to the days before pollution, chemicals and other engineered creations that nature never intended became the norm. We NEED to become more healthy as individuals, families, communities, countries and the world. Here's the most important part of all. This NEEDS to happen on all levels so safe, affordable, great tasting food is accessible to EVERYONE regardless to who or where you are from anywhere from rural to urban, wealthy to economically depressed and every spot in between.

Join me.

Montclair Jazz & Wine Festival

2008-08-29T13:42:00.007-07:00

La Borinqueña has entered the wonderful world of festival food sales! Some of you have already seen me and the crew at some recent street festivals in our Tamale Girl booth. I chose to do these events for two reasons: 1. to promote our restaurant and delicious tamales 2. be the prototype for how a small business might be able to participate in special events without a huge financial investment.

I've been asked many times why the food at festivals is always the same. You can almost always find: kettle corn, chicken on a stick, garlic fries, frozen treats, hot dogs, etc. Turns out many of these food booths are professional food concession stands that travel and only do festivals. They don't have a restaurant, are rarely local and do lots of fried food. They have the equivalent of a outdoor commercial kitchen and sanitation is often but not always questionable. They almost always have long lines since their menus are extensive and just a notch down from too expensive.

I decided that our restaurant was going to try a new marketing approach and not spend hundreds on advertising that wasn't really effective. Following in the steps of my father aka Tony Tamale, I was going to take my tamales to the people and let them try them first. Then, coming out to La Borinqueña on the edge of Old Oakland didn't seen so far away. It's been an interesting experience putting our booth together and meeting new folks while spreading tamale love during our new adventure.

Here are the details for our upcoming gig:

Next date for our booth is just around the corner, Pete Escovedo’s Latin Jazz Orchestra headlines the 6th annual Montclair Village Jazz and Wine Festival on Sunday, September 7 on LaSalle Avenue and Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with more than 20 premium Northern California wineries pouring tastings starting at 1 p.m. Bring the whole family: the younger set will enjoy rides and games at Kids Town; music lovers will hear from saxophonist Vincent Herring, Brass Monkeys Brass Band, singer Clairdee and organist/pianist David K. Mathews; arts and crafts aficionados can check out wares from 40 vendors; wellness and green champions will get plenty of inspiration in the Wellness-Eco Village; and food vendors will be ready to tantalize your palette.

Admission is free, valet bike parking is free, wine tasting packages are $30 for one, $50 per couple.

For more details, and to print a $5 discount coupon for wine tasting, visit www.MontclairJazzAndWine.org.

Stop by and say ¡Hola!

The People & Places in my Neighborhood

2008-08-23T15:39:00.013-07:00

I feel like writing about Old Oakland for a bit. This is something I'm asked often, "Where is Old Oakland?" Well, it's technically part of West Oakland and sometimes called Downtown Oakland. It's borders run from 6th to 11th Street and Broadway to Martin Luther King Way (Grove).*History Nerd Alert* Old Oakland was formally the original Downtown (1860s) and the location of the first City Hall (we're on our third) and was a thriving commercial district for decades. Eminent domain by the City or really, the destruction of the residential community (50 blocks) in West Oakland in the late 1960s and early 1970s caused the decline of many of the commercial areas of interest. Slowly, Swan's Department store, many other businesses and then Housewives Market came to an end in Old Oakland. There was the restoration of the old Victorians around 8th and Washington in the late 1970s that remained empty for years and the 1980s and 1990s proved to be a difficult time for the area. As much as I love my beloved Old Oakland, as a teenager I wasn't allowed to walk around these parts, it was a haven for criminals and drug addicts alike and when the dark and frightening image of Downtown/West Oakland first reared it's ugly head.

My mother, Nati Ramos, was literally born in this neighborhood. The midwife helped my grandmother give birth at the family home on 4th and Castro in 1931. Mami talks about the old neighborhood as though it's a long lost friend and our business was located down the street on 7th and Castro. She has a map in her head where she remembers where every family's home was located before it was torn down and the freeway overpasses where built in their place. She talks longingly of how she grew up during the Depression yet no one realized their family was poor since everyone worked hard and took care of each other simply because that was the right thing to do. My family chose to keep our business, La Borinqueña, in this area at our present location on 7th and Jefferson but remembers telling people to simply park outside and run in to buy their tamales, tortillas and pan dulce and NOT wander the neighborhood since it really was scary. The Loma Prieta earthquake and then the storm El Niño truly kept us on our toes as small business owners and wondering what kind of disaster, natural or created, was going to hit us next.

By this time, I had returned to working full time at our business and I was really questioning what I had gotten myself into. I decided I wanted to be part of this neighborhood and see if the potential of a real community existed. I longed to know what my mami remembered and if a different version could happen again. Before the condo buildings making up the "New" Old Oakland were built and pushed property taxes upward, I moved in at the end of 2000. My entire family including my own mother though I had lost my mind and questioned why I would want to live here. "CRAZY", they would all say to my face and I didn't care. The change was near, the renaissance promised decades ago by City planners and I wanted to see it for myself. Even the police in their patrol cars wondered what I was doing roaming these parts, alone most of the time, and followed me until they realized this neighborhood was both work and home. They would watch me skip up the steps, put the key in my house door and wave once I headed inside. I knew the change was here when I mentioned where home was and the question changed from, "Why do you live there?" to "How cool, that's where you live?"

But see, in order to know where I'm going, I need to remember where I've been. Even more important, recognize those who have traveled in time along with me. I know most of my life has existed in a very small radius but it's seeing the people, the places and sharing all of this with my neighbors and friends that has instilled pride in me for Oakland that is priceless and will always be mine. From time to time, I will write about what I remember and hopefully what it is now. Sometimes I'll do this here on my blog and other times in a different forum. Yesterday, my second small business profile for the OakBook online magazine came out. The small mom and pop shops, the underdogs, the folks doing what they do best and most of the time with little fanfare and barely a blip on a radar is who I identify with and what I plan on writing about. To read my article about Ray and his crew at Taylor's Sausage in my neighborhood (below) please click A Lost Art in Old Oakland

The Sunny Side of the Bay

2008-08-20T09:17:00.007-07:00

Here, there and everywhere has been what I've been up too in the last couple of weeks. So, I will do a summary of the cool places and events I've been checking out.

~ Silence the Violence with the Oakland A's 8/13 co-sponsored by the Ella Baker Center, the Oakland Athletics, the City of Oakland & Oakland Office of the Mayor Josie Camacho asked if I knew of any young people to invite to this event. I managed to attend the Resource Job Fair prior to the game and loved the vibe. Lots of young Oaklanders checking out the scene that also included free hot dogs, music, a raffle and the opportunity to rub elbows with Mayor Dellums himself. This was the first time I had seen him in person since he was elected to office and got to see the electricity and media attention that swarms around him from the moment his presence is detected. This is not a dig at him but more of a observation...all Oakland constituents NEED access to our leaders from the Mayor's Office and all the way down to the grassroots level. Seeing the co-mingling of the Mayor and the regular kids made my heart happy, I'm looking forward to seeing more. The other highlights of my night were the thirteen year old boys I had in tow with me at the game. The A's played the Tampa Bay Rays, apparently it had been awhile since I've paid attention and didn't realize Tampa has a team now! Gustavo, the son of one of my employees, had a blast with some of his buddies. They all play and have a passion for the game I hadn't heard from young ones in awhile and they gave a running practically professional commentary of the game. They thanked me more than a handful of times during and after for the tickets and I'll be sure to include them in more activities when possible. This was the whole point to the Silence the Violence theme of the night, to give our young people the chance to be in positive environments that many of us take for granted.

~ 3rd Annual Lake Merritt Radio Regatta 8/17 sponsored by Oaklandish I'm still scratching my head, somehow this was my first Oaklandish event. I chatted with Angela from Oaklandish about why these events are so important, showcasing what Oakland has to offer all the time to everyone. In this case, the Oakland Sailboat House was swarming with people enjoying the sun, taking boat rides, checking out the chair art silent auction, listening to the DJ's spin some tunes and sipping and munching on complimentary refreshments. Carey from Linden Street Brewery was poring his famous Common Lager with a smile and there was tons of fresh fruit and sandwiches to go along with the drinks. It was awesome to hear that Oaklandish and the food & drink folks all sponsored this event. That means the snacks, drinks and boat ride I took in were part of the event, meaning complimentary! I then bought a Sunny Side of the Bay t-shirt from the funky Oaklandish merchandise van to round out my experience. Good times I tell you! I'll leave you with a few of my nerdy Oakland facts before I sign off. Did you know that Lake Merritt is man made and not only that, not really a lake at all? It's really a tidal lagoon with both salt and fresh water with small fish and shrimp. It's 15 feet at it deepest and the home for the Gondola Servicio and boat rentals at the Lake Merritt Boating Center. I can now say I've been on Lake Merritt and I'm looking forward to more Oalandish adventures!

In other news, many of you have happened by the Oakland Local First Marketplace during the Thursday Night Live concert series in my beloved Old Oakland. Well, Old Oakland Neighbors and Oakland Events were the sponsors, yes I said that in the past tense. The other organizers and I were hoping for a cool spot to show off the amazing wares of our local independent small business and art community. Unfortunately, this ongoing concert series was not the best the fit and the Marketplace has been put on hold indefinitely. Don't worry, you will see the Marketplace in a different version sometime very soon. Oakland Events has plenty going on in terms of other special event and street fairs and more info can be found here and you know I will keep you in the loop!

Meeting with the Office of the Mayor

2008-08-08T23:57:00.010-07:00

It's been quite a week for me in terms of doing promotion for La Borinquena and local indie business. LakeFest '08 last weekend, National Night Out on Tuesday, Thursday Night Live/Oakland Local First Marketplace on Thursday and we are doing the wedding food for a regular customer this Saturday. I thought all of that was going to keep me busy enough but something came up a few days ago.

In May 2008, two Old Oakland Neighbors' board members and I participated in the City of Oakland's Neighborhood Summit '08 at Laney College. Our group was chosen to represent the newer community group in the workshop, "How to build a strong community." There I meet Jose Dorado, a member of the Maxwell Park NCPC. I got a call from him on Tuesday asking if I would be interested in meeting with Oakland Mayor Dellums as part of a group of Latino merchants to discuss crime prevention.

Meeting with the Mayor? Sure, why not? I had a phone conversation with Jose outlining my concerns and a plan of action to tell Mayor Dellums what commitments we NEED from him in order to become a thriving and safe business community. I mentioned that I am proud of being Latina but my main focus is not that of being a person of color but as an independent business owner and an advocate of building stronger communities that benefit everyone. My two demands from the Mayor's office: support for community policing including foot patrols and attention given to our small business commercial districts to keep the economic impact here in Oakland.

Unfortunately, a mere 30 minutes before our confirmed meeting time, we were informed that Major Dellums would not be attending the meeting with our group himself. Was I surprised? NOT AT ALL. We did meet with Arnold Perkins, Marisol Lopez and Josie Camacho from the Office of the Mayor to discuss what our group felt are the shortcomings of the promises not kept we are most concerned about and demanding change. It was a two hour meeting that flew by as issues mainly regarding the problems the youth of Oakland are experiencing and how that directly affects business districts.

How successful was this meeting? Too soon to tell and hopefully we will have a follow up with Mayor Dellums in the near future. We know that the Mayor is an elusive politician and we need to see him out and about conducting his day to day life side by side with his constituents. His appearance should not be a photo op but a regular occurrence. Marisol Lopez, his executive assistant, at least a couple of times during our meeting became defensive when we questioned where the Mayor is and why many of his campaign promises had not been fulfilled. Ms. Lopez felt that this Mayor has been effective in a way our previous Mayor had not even though we don't see him. It is my hope that his actions now will change my mind. That the work of so many volunteers on all the committees I am a part of and those that I am just now getting to know will have the full support of our City's government soon.

I just won't hold my breath.

2nd Annual OON National Night Out

2008-08-05T06:45:00.005-07:00

GG, Sweet Bratty Niece and I survived LakeFest '08. That was an interesting new event with lots of vendors (80+) and we found being a food booth an eyeopener. Now rested up after working 30 hours over this weekend's two day event, it time to move on to the next event!

National Night Out is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year and Old Oakland Neighbors (OON) is excited to host our 2nd annual community celebration at Lafayette Square Park. The yearly event is sponsored by the local police department and is officially called "the nation's night out against crime." Statistics show that when neighbors know each other, crime goes down. We had a 100+ attendees last year and hope to meet many more new neighbors and friends this year.

Old Oakland Neighbors is a grassroots community group that welcomes everyone that lives, works or just loves it here. As the co-chair and social coordinator for this group, I cordially invite you to attend our celebration. It's a potluck, bring a dish to share. OON will provide drinks, games and some raffle prizes. Come out and join us!

evite link here

My Cock-a-Doodle Article in the OakBook online

2008-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Alex from OakBook stops by my shop every now and again to talk Oakland and drop off OakBooks for my customers. I mentioned that it would be cool to write for his publication sometime and he breaks down the deets for me. I sometimes find myself awake at really odd times and writing stuff has been a way for me to express myself in a different forum. If you know me in real life, well, it's no secret that I talk too much!

So, here Ladies and Gentleman, for your reading pleasure, my first official online article for a magazine! I heart Blanca's french toast but those empanadas de camarones are muy delicioso too.

The Rooster at Midnight

Who knows where this might go?

LakeFest '08

2008-08-01T06:44:00.004-07:00

OK Kids, Tamale Girl, our NEW food booth is going to be at the H U G E debut of Oakland Event's first 2 day festival. OE is a brand new events planning company started by the chica with the energy that does not quit, Helen Wyman. Helen's vision of helping Oaklanders have positive, creative and sustainable festivals and events makes me even prouder to be part of the Oakland Local First posse.

Yes, this is completely biased on my part since I work side by side with her and a handful of other amazing local folks on both OE events and also on the Oakland Merchants' Leadership Forum marketing committee. My partner in Crime and Volunteering, Consuelo Jacobs, is also part of this group doing the think local thing and is the vendor coordinator this weekend at LakeFest '08.

If you want to check out a part of our posse in action this weekend and have a great time seeing what this district of Oaktown has to offer, STOP BY. If I wasn't working the Tamale Girl booth, I so would participate in the affordable wine packages available that include a commemorative LakeFest wine glass you get to keep.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Tina Tamale

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From http://www.oaklandish.org/EVENTS/events.html
Lakeshore Avenue will turn into a pedestrian zone to host an art and
wine festival featuring live music, arts and crafts booths, local
vendors, a Green Living Expo, a carnival for kids, wine tasting, food
booths and more. August 2 and 3 (Saturday and Sunday), from 11am-6pm
on Lakeshore between Lake Park and Mandana. Admission is FREE!

What do you think about urban green space?

2008-07-31T23:51:00.003-07:00

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!

_________________________________________________________________________________-

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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
www.10000stepsoakland.org
www.calabamapeddlers.org
www.weridersoakland.blogspot.com

Oakland Local First Marketplace during TNL

2008-07-28T18:18:00.004-07:00

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,

2008-07-27T22:29:00.006-07:00

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

The Indies are Coming + Cinco de Mayo Mania!!

2008-05-02T08:07:00.005-07:00

Wow, lots to do! It's funny that I told myself, "Write blog posts whenever possible!" and ummm my brain would blip and forget. My Yelp reviews are up to date but not so much the rest. So here for your reading pleasure, a quick update on Tamale World...

2nd Annual Oakland Indies
The event celebrates all things Oakland and awards Oakland's independent businesses & artists who were nominated by community members for their impact on the community.

I'll be with Old Oakland Neighbors at a information table at this evening's event from 5:30-8pm at Sweet's Ballroom. OON will be sharing the table with 10,000 Steps, a project involving four parks in our district and the Oakland Merchant Leadership Forum.

Awards are given in cool categories such as: Newbie, Greenie, Neighborhood Dynamo, & Innovator! Check out the Yelp Event listing here: Http://www.yelp.com/events/oakland-2nd-annual-oakland-indie-awards

Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo
Have you planned your fiesta yet? Monday is right around the corner. Cinco de Mayo is a wonderful American holiday when you have the opportunity to gather your amigos for food and drink to celebrate the Mexican victory against the French during the Battle of Puebla that took place in 1862 http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm It is rarely celebrated outside the Publa region in Mexico but very popular here in the US in areas with a concentrated Mexican population to celebrate culture, history and delicious treats! If you need help planning, take a look at our menus here (menus.tamalegirl.com) and give us a call. Pick out what you like and we'll help you with the quantities. Don't forget our famous lardy chips and maybe some papel picado and pinatas to decorate!

OK kids, I'm off to work, it's gonna be a loooong day. Maybe I'll see you tonight at Sweet's Ballroom!

Sleep is Good

2008-03-25T21:37:00.002-08:00

I must go to bed. Repeat. I must go to bed. Repeat. Sleep is good. Repeat. Sleep is good. I must go to bed. Repeat. I must go to bed.

I must be up bright eyed and bushy tailed for the Oakland Merchant Leadership Forum panel where I'll talk about my low and no cost marketing online. Did I mention that I can be there no later than 8:30am.

I must go to bed. Repeat. I must go to bed. Repeat. Sleep is good. Repeat. Sleep is good. I must go to bed. Repeat. I must go to bed.

Buenas Noches, it's mimis for me.

It's Been 15 minutes, 12 Hours and 17 Days

2008-03-15T12:21:00.004-08:00

Since I turned 39 for the first time! I've been trying to catch my breath but there is just so much to do. The past few months have been action backed: tamale season, holidays, the Yelp Holiday Party, the stomach flu, the OON fundraiser, Old Oakland Neighbors in general, my birthday week celebrations, oh yeah, work at La Borinquena. I just got tired writing that sentence!

Next up...catching up on my day job, planning the first floor remodel at my house, the 2nd Annual Indie Awards and the stack of paperwork piling up in my personal life. Ha ha ha ha...I wrote that out so I will be forced to deal with it! But, those of you that know me in real life are aware that I LOVE to start crazy projects with a moment's notice. MY FAVORITE. I need a break. So, I'm taking the next 24 hours as a time out. As my sweetie Stevie would say, I'm just "chillaxing" the day away...No cell phone, no text, no email, limit the TV, pretend like it's 1988...ah, the olden days...

but to pull it off in 2008 , I'll just set everything to

DO NOT DISTURB

The Eve of My 39th Birthday

2008-02-26T22:39:00.002-08:00

The fundraiser was a success and my actual birthday is just over an hour away. I sit here on my bed and wonder...39 huh? I think about the scene in When Sally Met Harry when Meg Ryan's character is bawling over a break-up and says "And I'm going to be 40!" and then Billy Crystal asks, "When?" she responds "Someday" with a shrug and a nose full of snot.

Well, 39 is NOT 40 but my "Someday" is arriving soon since I've decided that I will be 39 FOREVER. Hopefully my wrinkles will creep up slowly and I will remain young at heart for a looong time. On that note, I may go to sleep early and just wake up a year older...

I'll be back tomorrow when I'm older and wiser...

Isn't he just adorable?!

2008-02-17T19:34:00.002-08:00

Today is a very special day, my Best Chica Yania had her beautiful baby boy! His name is Eann Joeseph and his mom was just glowing! Chica Susan and I made the trek out to San Jose both last night and today to meet the little man. He wasn't in much of a hurry to arrive, his mom was at the hospital since Saturday morning but he really wanted to make it a special double birthday party! Yania's mom here from Panama also calls February 17 her birthday and little Eann was the best gift ever!

Feliz Cumpleanos them both!