What's Happening

Visit local shops and restaurants for everything Mom loves and treat her to something special. With plenty of options in Downtown Alameda, you’re certain to find something for that special Mom in your life. Plus, downtown businesses make it easy by offering in-store shopping, take-out, delivery, gift certificates, and virtual experiences.

Looking for last-minute inspiration? We’ve found some special happenings and gift ideas for you:

Pick Out a Gift for Mom:

Bead Inspirations – Bead Inspirations is your source for making adorable jewelry for Mom, yourself, or anyone else. To honor Mothers & Nurturers — spend $35 or more on products or gift certificates and receive a free necklace.

Central Florist – Central Florist has flowers for Mother’s Day that will suit any style. Wish her a Happy Mother’s Day with a beautiful bouquet of flowers!

Daisy’s – Give tailored gifts and make happy memories with your loved ones that will last a lifetime. Let us take the work out of searching for those perfect pieces.

Farmstead Cheeses & Wine – Farmstead’s dedicated staff can make it easy to choose the right cheese and wine. Pick up some creamy cheeses, a pâté, some salume, a bottle of rosé or three, or a bottle of Champagne.

Magpie & Thorn – Mother’s Day Preview Sale with an assortment of unusual and strange plants. (May 1, May 2, and May 8)

MGH Discovered Art – Original, vintage art by undiscovered artists. MGH is having a Super Sale just in time for Mother’s Day… 100 @ $100. Sale ends Saturday.

Park Street Wine Cellars – Dedicated to the discovery and enjoyment of the world’s most unique and affordable biodynamic superstar wines. Share a toast to Mom with a nice burgundy wine that comes from vines that have been pampered with care.

To Herb With Love – To Herb With Love is brimming with wonderful accessories. All of our soaps, bathbombs, and essential oils are handmade and customizable with over 300 fragrance options to choose from.

Take Mom Out or Eat at Home:

Alley & Vine – In addition to our regular Brunch and Dinner menus, we will offer a special menu for Mom. And if you prefer to celebrate at home, our menus are available for takeout & delivery too!

C’era Una Volta – Plan ahead for Mother’s Day and order from C’era Una Volta. All 3-Course Dinners will include Baci Perugina Italian Chocolates for your special mother.

Cinema Grill – Mother’s Day Dinner and Brunch Specials are happening Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Order for dine-in or pick-up.

Karibu Wine Lounge –  Give a toast to mom! Ladies get $5 glasses of Wachira Sparking White on Friday night. You can also shop for Mother’s Day specials online at wachirawines.com (use code MOM2021 to get a bottle of Wachira Sparking and Wachira Muscat for $39.99).

Linguini’s – Come celebrate Mother’s Day with us. Enjoy our Mother’s Day special — pick your favorites from our 4-course menu.

Pappo – Treat Mom to something special… start with our delicious Brunch or plan a nice Dinner with the family. Make a reservation for outdoor seating in the “parklet” or order your meal to go.

Share Your Favorite Finds:

This is just a sample list from the 100+ restaurants and shops located in Downtown Alameda. Share your favorite finds on social media and tag us with #DowntownAlameda

It’s time for another scavenger hunt! Have fun doing this season’s outdoor socially-distanced Spring Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Alameda. Colorful spring decals have been placed in some of the window displays. Stroll the downtown sidewalks to find the items needed to create a colorful Spring basket.

Click to print this Coloring Page for kids to join the hunt! Each of the items to be found is pictured on the page.

Do the scavenger hunt in one day or take your time while visiting the fabulous businesses located in Alameda’s downtown district.

Prizes! Find all 8 items for a chance to win one of ten $25 gift cards to a favorite downtown business. Submit your completed entry form no later than Sunday, April 11.

Special Offers! Businesses are extending the fun by offering treats, contests, and special discounts during the downtown scavenger hunt. Step into shops and restaurants for these springtime happenings.

Get all the details here: www.DowntownAlameda.com/SpringStroll

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and worth celebrating all weekend. If you’re looking to make dinner plans or need to buy a unique and special gift, it’s not too late. Downtown Alameda has everything you need to curate the perfect Valentine’s Day experience.

Downtown businesses are Open With Care, providing convenient and safe options from in-person shopping and online opportunities, to curbside pickup, outdoor dining, and local delivery. Show your love for local businesses and your special person.

Something Sweet… Grab a bouquet of cupcakes or other treat to celebrate Valentines Day. Sweet hearts for your sweetheart are available at favorite stops like Crispian Bakery, Feel Good Bakery, Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, and Tucker’s Ice Cream. 

Gifts and Bouquets… There’s no excuse to go home empty-handed when a number of florists and gift shops can be found in Downtown Alameda. Unique gifts can be found at local shops like Bead Inspirations, Daisy’s, and Sumbody. You can also pick out gifts and beautiful flower arrangement at Central Florist and South Shore Florist. And for the man in your life, Bonne Vie has a terrific selection of quality cigars (and beers too!).

Dining On the Patio… Valentine’s Day may look a little different this year but downtown restaurants are able to offer a variety of outdoor seating options. Check for patio seating at Alley & Vine, American Oak, Asena, Cinema Grill, Spinning Bones, The Park Street Tavern, and more.

Dinner & Wine at Home… In the mood for a quiet evening at home? Downtown restaurants are making it easy to share a special meal. Take advantage of pick-up or delivery options from restaurants like Angela’s, East End, Hobnob, Pappo, and Wine & Waffles. And don’t forget the bubbles… Alameda Cellars, Bonne Vie, CRAFT Beer & Wine, Farmstead Cheeses & Wines, Park Street Wine Cellars, and The Preacher’s Daughter all offer a wonderful selection of sparkling wines.

Indoor Fun with the Family… For after-dinner fun with the family, set aside space for a puzzle or game. D20 Games carries top-rated family games and two-player games. You’ll also find a large selection of games and puzzles at Toy Safari.

Pictured above: Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, American Oak, Bonne Vie, Tucker’s Ice Cream, Toy Safari, Sumbody, The Park Street Tavern, Alley & Vine

Update: Alameda Restaurant Week returns March 5 – April 3, 2022! View current info: alamedarestaurantweek.com

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Alameda Restaurant Week is back for a 4th year! Join us January 21-31, 2021 for a week of sweet, savory, and safe local dining! 

This restaurant week may be the most important one yet as the restaurants weather through the second wave of shutdowns. You can support Downtown Alameda’s dining scene by ordering signature food & drink items from these participating restaurants during Alameda Restaurant Week:

Alley & Vine, American Oak, Asena, Cinema Grill, Dragon Rouge, East End, Hang Ten Boiler, Hobnob, Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, La Penca Azul, Lola’s Chicken Shack, Poke Koma, Sidestreet Pho, Speisekammer, Spinning Bones, The Park Street Tavern, The Preacher’s Daughter, The Star on Park, Toomie’s Thai, and Town Tavern

See Alameda Restaurant Week’s article in the San Francisco Chronicle!

Whatever you’re eating this restaurant week, be it a wood-fired pizza from East End or a rotisserie platter from Spinning Bones, you can’t go wrong.

Ordering directly from restaurants rather than third-party apps allows your purchase to go directly to the restaurants. And think about ordering a little extra with your main dish — that dessert or specialty cocktail.

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