I'm ready for a resolution!

¡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

PCB 20th Anniversary

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!

Fall Festivals produced by Oakland Events

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)

The Sunny Side of the Bay

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!

Oakland Local First Marketplace during TNL

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

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

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

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

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

Hope to see you soon!

TT