Home for the Holidays – December 2020

November was a pivotal month giving much of Oakland a burst of homegrown pride as we continue to weather the challenges of 2020. Oakland native Kamala Harris, daughter of two immigrants, is the first South Asian, African American, and female vice-president-elect (that is three firsts!). December’s blog celebrates the beautiful diversity of business owners and businesses right here on Lakeshore. It also shows how to support our beloved local businesses which is more imperative than ever as we enter the holidays in the Purple Tier. Speaking of Holidays, Lakeshore Love Holiday edition is launching and participants may score fabulous prize for themselves while they holiday shop! Check out the new happenings creative gifts, and more.

Celebrating our Beautiful Diversity on Lakeshore

Reflecting that one of Oakland’s own, Kamala Harris, is vice-president-elect, reminds us to recognize the diversity right around us. Marica Lam, the owner of Lin Jia, immigrated from Vietnam as a child and wrote this article detailing her experience in Splashpad News. Mira Patel’s parents immigrated from India and now the family owns Buckingham Wine and Spirits and Adventure Toys. She details their experience in Splashpad here. Phing Yamamoto discusses being the daughter of Cambodian immigrants and running Colonial Donuts in Pink Box Stories. Hipline founders and sisters Gabriela Nassar-Covarelli and Samar Nassar are first-generation Lebanese Peruvian and they discuss their experience and motivation here.

A year ago, The San Francisco Chronicle featured an article Around Lake Merritt, Oakland is quietly finding its culinary soul celebrating the diversity on Lake Park and Lakeshore Avenue. Many see the area of Lake Park Avenue as the “cultural touchstone” for the Grand Lake neighborhood for both new and old culinary businesses. The Vegan Mob, Cana and Wing Stop are all black-owned businesses. We are fortunate to have a great diversity of food with Rico Rico Taco, Chao Thai Cuisine, Holy Land, an expanded new deli at Kosher Foods, and more.

Supporting Home for the Holidays

Thanksgiving weekend is traditionally the gate-way to holiday shopping. For local shopping, we have Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday. The holiday season is usually the “make it or break it” time for retail, and in 2020 the business challenges have hit small, local businesses the hardest. Our local businesses are creatively trying to persevere and serve the community, and as we holiday shop this season, it is imperative to support them so they can be around next year. Luckily, it only takes a stroll down Lakeshore or a glance at our local businesses’ website to be inspired because we have delightful businesses on Lakeshore!

The first three weekends in December, Bardo Lounge and Supper Club will be open Friday 12 pm-5 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am-4 pm with vintage glassware, clothing, jewelry, gifts and cocktail kits. Select items will be up for sale on their website. This is in partnership with Neutral Ground and Muse.

For gift ideas, Bay-Made carries exclusively local products, coffee, teas, chocolate, caramel, herbal gift items, bath and body products and artwork. Urban Indigo has spectacular gifts and gift ideas with elegant jewelry, scarves, aesthetic household items, and an enormous array of tasteful cards (they have one for everyone!). Maribel is a women’s designer casual clothing and accessories consignment boutique that has amazing finds at amazing prices. Across the street, Lakeshore Beauty has a wonderful array of skincare, makeup, and hair accessories. Silver Moon Kids, Adventure Toys, The Gap, and Unleashed have a variety of creative items for the family. Hipline*, Shakewell, Lin Jia, Proposition Chicken, Lakeshore Cafe, The Bar Method Oakland*, and more have Gift Cards. *NOTE: All dance and fitness classes are meeting virtually right now.

While December is just starting, our favorite restaurants are ready to serve and have delectable food for any occasion. Most businesses have gift cards and curbside pickup; here is a list of businesses that are open for holiday and pre-holiday shopping and eating.

Staying Warm Outside

The purple tier mandates that all dining must be outside. Though it is chilly in winter, The Cat House has an outside patio with heat lamps to enjoy their scrumptious hot buttered rum and other meow eats and drinks (patio is closed when it rains). Shakewell’s parklet helps keep the draft out with an almost exclusive table to enjoy your delectable meal. Heart and Dagger’s patio is big and welcoming for different eats and drinks during the week. If it is still too cold, you can also enjoy take-out or delivery from these restaurants.

Holiday Lakeshore Love

Another reason to buy local gifts: Holiday Lakeshore Love .! Show your support (and enter to win!) by shopping at any of these Lakeshore, Lake Park or Rand Ave businesses and submit your coloring page, picture of your purchase and/or your receipts (or screenshots of e-receipts) for a chance to win one of two Grand Prize packets worth $100, or one of over 30 fabulous Lakeshore prizes! Remember, every business on Lakeshore counts as part of your entry! Congratulations to our previous Lakeshore Love Grand Prize winners Paul Yee and Bobby Brenman!

Entries for the drawing can be submitted by using this Lakeshore Love form (you need a gmail account to use the form), or email or postal mail by January 15, 2021. Learn more details and download the coloring page here.

Stay Safe and Be Well

We are unfortunately experiencing a surge in the pandemic which means that we have to follow purple tier guidelines for public health reasons. This means that all dining must be outside and socially distanced and retail stores can fill to 25% capacity. Facemasks are to be worn at all times except when eating or drinking in the designated places at dining establishments. We expect to follow purple tier health orders until at least December 21st. Be well, stay safe, and happy (local) holidays!

Lakeshore Love coloring page by Bay-Made founder and artist Sarahjane Bernhisel