News Update
Downtown Hosts Winter Spirits Stroll (Craft Distilleries)
Update: Last Friday evening hundreds of people strolled downtown on a very warm evening during the Spirits Stroll and Love Our Island ArtWalk. All enjoyed premiums sips, delectable bites, live music, and art throughout the district. Thanks to all the sponsors, downtown businesses, and area distillers who participated. A big shout out to our partner Rhythmix Cultural Works. We’re planning our next Whiskey Stroll in early March. Stay tuned!
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Start your holiday celebration with the Downtown Alameda Spirits Stroll!
Handcrafted small-batch spirits and tasty bites await guests as they stroll through the historic district at the Downtown Alameda Spirits Stroll on Friday evening, November 2 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
Guests will have the opportunity to taste a variety of artisanal spirits from Bay Area distilleries paired with small bites at ten unique locations in Downtown Alameda. During the stroll, enjoy the sights and sounds of art installations and live music brought to you by Rhythmix Cultural Works and featuring a variety of local artists. Then complete the evening with a late-night meal or entertainment at one of the participating After-Stroll locations offering specials and discounts.
The “grain to glass” distilleries represented at the event come from different regions of the Bay Area including Hangar 1 from Alameda, Wright & Brown Distilling Co. from neighboring Oakland, and TreeCraft Distillery from Treasure Island. Other artisan distilleries are Seven Stills, Distillery No. 209, Raff Distillerie, Griffo Distillery, Spirit Works Distillery, and Alley 6 Craft Distillery. Each distillery will be providing a taste of a handcrafted small-batch Gin, Vodka, Whiskey or Rye. Read More
Classic Car Show Celebrates 25 Years on Park Street
Check out photos on our FB page. Thanks to everyone who celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Downtown Alameda Classic Car Show with us!
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Celebrate the silver anniversary of the Downtown Alameda Classic Car Show presented by General Auto Parts / NAPA on Saturday, October 13, 2018. Over 400 classic vehicles of all types will be lined up along Park Street, from Encinal Ave to Buena Vista Ave — roadsters, coupes, hot rods, muscle cars, antique trucks, and more. The free one-day event runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm and offers fun for the entire family.
Most cars on display come from the iconic decades of the ’50s and ’60s. There will also be antique roadsters from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s, plus lots of American muscle cars from the ’70s and ‘80s. Car enthusiasts will be able to get a close look at makes and models of all types.
Bring your camera and take a minute to get to know the owners — they love to talk about their cars. Some of them even have some local history:
One of the cars on display will be a rare 1929 Durant Model 60 Deluxe Sport Roadster made in the Oakland factory once located on International Blvd & Durant Ave. (The former factory location is now called Durant Square. Before creating the Durant Motor Company in 1921, Billy Durant created both GM and Chevrolet as separate independent car companies.) Also in the show is a 1939 GMC Stake Bed truck that was featured in the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island and a 1967 Pontiac GTO that was built in the GM plant in Fremont which is now the Tesla factory. Read More
We’re Hiring! Membership & Event Coordinator
We’re looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our team!
The ideal candidate will enjoy being immersed in our collaboration to keep our downtown exciting, friendly, and diverse. This person can creatively imagine and implement promotions and events that invite visitors to the district, foster relationships with our membership, and cultivate good will in the community.
The individual will be knowledgeable about Downtown Alameda, its shops, restaurants, services, and is interested in working with member merchants.
Position Summary:
The Membership & Event Coordinator will be responsible for event planning and implementation, membership relations and database maintenance, promotional activities, bookkeeping, and office management. This is a full-time hourly position with various weekend and evening work.
The position requires initiative, self-direction, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage the details of multiple events and projects. An outgoing personality is a must in being able to work with property and business owners, board members and committees, city officials, community nonprofits, residents, and other stakeholders. Read More
ReThink Disposable Save Dollars and the Environment
About a year after its launch, the ReThink Disposable program is really building momentum — 25 businesses have been certified (18 of them in the downtown district), 13 are in the process of being certified, and 24 more businesses have signed up.
ReThink Disposable helps businesses save thousands of dollars while contributing positively to the environment. The program, developed in partnership with the City of Alameda and funded by the Ocean Protection Council, has a goal of helping 100 businesses switch from disposable foodware to reusable foodware in an effort to reduce the amount of solid waste being added to our landfills.
The ReThink Disposable program recently analyzed the combined accomplishments of five businesses in the program and announced these results:
- 314,499 single-use items reduced annually
- 1,976 pounds of waste prevented annually
- Average annual cost savings to businesses: $1,598
With numbers like these for only five businesses, the numbers will be even more astonishing when the program meets its goal of 100 participating businesses.
Crispian Bakery, Taqueria Viva Mexico, and Habanas Cuban Cuisine are wonderful examples of what can be accomplished by completing the ReThink Disposable certification process. Auditors were able to work with staff to make simple changes that reduced annual waste and also resulted in total cost savings to the businesses. Read More
Oktoberfest Kicks Off In Downtown Alameda
Oktoberfest kicks off in Downtown Alameda with Speisekammer’s annual 3-week celebration! Enjoy German beer, dance, and grilled meat in their beer garden. Dancing with the Golden Gate Bavarian Dance Club, Polkageist, and Bayern Maiden makes this one of the most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations in the Bay Area. There’s also a jump house for kids.
Speisekammer’s Oktoberfest takes place three Sundays in a row at 2424 Lincoln Avenue, from Noon to 6:00pm. Admission is free for all; beer and food are available for purchase.
Featured performances: Read More