What's Happening
Baby Cafe – Beef Stew Rice Cube
Downtown Alameda is ever-changing when it comes to dining, learning, playing, relaxing, or working. Discover great food & drink establishments, charming shops, friendly services, and fun things to do in Downtown Alameda!
New Downtown Businesses:
AirLoom Deluxe, 2322 Santa Clara Ave
* Sneakers, streetwear, and vintage clothing.
Baby Cafe, 2321 Santa Clara Ave
* Hong Kong style cafe… delightfulness without boundaries.
Project Burger, 2319 Central Ave
* Gourmet burgers, sandwiches, and tacos.
Romano Welch Architects, 1428 Park Street, Suite #C
* Architecture + Planning + Interiors.
New Associate Members:
Angela Klein Architect, 2622 Lincoln Ave
* Residential and small commercial architecture and interior design.
Beacon Business Bank, 1442 Webster Street
* High-quality financial solutions and personalized relationship-based service.
Clean Sidewalks+, service in Alameda
* Pressure and power washing services.
Fast Imaging, 835 Marina Village Pkwy
* High resolution printing at competitive prices. Design work available.
Golden West Betterway Uniforms, service in Alameda
* Delivering quality floor mats, uniforms, and linens — rent or buy direct.
Togo’s Sandwiches, 1929 Broadway
* Creating real, honest-to-goodness sandwiches.
New Location:
Hang Ten Boiler, 2315 Santa Clara Ave
In the Works: (more…)
First day of school is nearly upon us but with the time left this summer you can still enjoy some summer fun on the island. Here’s a list of family activities that can be found in Downtown Alameda:
Tabletop Gaming
D20 Games is a dad-run place for tabletop gaming. The shop features regular kid-friendly events for players of Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, and other strategy games. “Two-Headed Giants” is a great way for parents and kids to play Magic as a team. Cost is $20/person and includes game packs. D20 Games, 2311 Santa Clara Ave
Sewing Fun
Children have fun acquiring new skills. The Sewing Room hosts classes and workshops year-round. The “Machine Basics Sewing Class” is perfect for those who have never used a machine ($50 fee). Sewing patterns and kits are also available for purchase in the shop for take-home projects. The Sewing Room, 2434 Webb Ave
Classic Video Gaming
Kids and their parents will have fun trying their hand at over 500 playable classic video arcade games from the 1980’s and 1990’s – all set to unlimited play! Some all-time favorites include Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Mario Bros., Paperboy, and Asteroids. Unlimited play is $5 for one hour or $10 for all-day admission. High Scores, 1414 Park Street
Art Lab and Play Gallery
Twirl is a daily play gallery for kids. Younger children can take a ride on the tike track, climb through the treehouse, or build a fort in the construction zone. Older kids can create things with play-dough experiments, wood and glass painting, or paper cutting activities. Drop-in admission for unlimited one-day play is $12/child. Twirl also offers Kid Art Evenings on Friday nights. Twirl, 1424 Park Street (more…)
Look for this summer’s East Bay Express “Best of the East Bay 2018” issue in local newsstands. This year’s results include plenty of old favorites as well as some first-time winners. These Downtown Alameda businesses are among the winners. Congratulations to all!
High Scores is deemed the Best Place to Relive Your ’80s Childhood. The arcade is chock-full of nostalgia, classic jams on the jukebox, and good old-fashioned low-tech fun.- The artists at Lucky 13 Tattoos are known for crafting quality tattoos in a welcoming atmosphere and have deservedly earned the reputation as Best Tattoo Parlor.
- Twirl is noted as a favorite for Best Indoor Play Space for Kids. Twirl has created a community hub where groups not only play, create, and explore but share experiences and build friendships!
- With comfy seats and in-theater dining and drinking, the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex offers the Best Luxury Theater Experience in the Bay Area.
- Burma Superstar is hands down the Best Burmese Restaurant in the Bay Area to experience Burmese homestyle cooking and their award winning tea leaf salad. We think the Alameda location is one of the best.
- Peet’s Coffee at the corner of Park Street & Central Ave is one of many locations serving the Best Coffee throughout the Bay Area.
- It’s not enough just to sell bikes. Alameda Bicycle also wants to make sure that the people who buy them use them and enjoy them. This makes them one of Best Bike Shops.
- You’ll find La Penca Azul serving delicious Mexican food and margaritas every day of the week. It’s no surprise that they are considered one of the Best Mexican Restaurants in the East Bay.
View all the results here: www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/BestOf
Enjoy the summer sun and experience island fun at one of Alameda’s biggest and best events! The 34th Annual Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire will be loaded with art & craft vendors, mouth-watering festival foods, local craft beer and wine, live music on three stages, and two kids’ areas with games and carnival rides. Festival-goers will also enjoy a stroll in Alameda’s historic downtown district where many of the unique shops, restaurants, and services will be offering specials throughout the weekend.
When you combine our lovely weather, live music, refreshing libations, games and rides, and your favorite fair food all wrapped up in Alameda’s beautiful island surroundings, you have a must-attend event. The 34th Annual Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire has something for everyone and is FREE to attend. The fun happens July 28 & 29 from 10:00am to 6:00pm each day.
Each day offers nonstop live entertainment. Swingtown is coming all the way from Florida to perform a tribute to Steve Miller & Peter Frampton on Saturday starting at 1:00pm. Some of the Bay Area’s best tribute bands will also be here to get the crowds dancing in front of the stages. (view music schedule)
Thanks to Coconut Cay SkyJuice, the new acoustic Alameda Stage will be bursting with local music programmed by Alameda guitarist Jim Parodi. Catch performances by Alameda amatuer and professional musicians including solo artists Drew Harrison, Michael Barrett, and Paul Manousos, and bands Flunch and Wicked Lobstah. (more…)
Celebrate National Ice Cream Day in Downtown Alameda on Sunday, July 15.
National Ice Cream Day and National Ice Cream Month was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on July 9, 1984: “Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert and snack food.” (Presidential Proclamation 5219)
Although the proclamation was intended to be for one specific day, the celebration continues each year on the third Sunday of July.
It’s worth the trip to celebrate National Ice Cream Day in Downtown Alameda. The city’s oldest operating ice cream shop, Tucker’s Super-Creamed Ice Cream, started in 1941 using family recipes. Over the years, this favorite gathering place has been joined in Downtown Alameda by a variety of frozen yogurt and boba tea places.
Find frozen treats and milk teas at these downtown locations:
Ice Cream & Yogurt
Tucker’s Ice Cream, 1349 Park Street
Tuttimelon, 2402 Central Ave
Yogofina, 1335 Park Street
Milk Teas & Smoothies
i-Tea, 1606 Park Street
T4, 1431A Park Street
Tapioca Express, 2306 Encinal Avenue #B
The Beanery, 1650 Park Street
The Local, 1333 Park Street
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