Lake Merritt-Uptown Oakland

02/10/2021

Congratulations, Nelson German! We are looking forward to rooting for you each week.

Be sure to tune in and support one our local chefs who owns alaMar Kitchen & Bar and Sobre Mesa Oakland!!

OMG! We are hella excited for Nelson German representing Oakland aka The Town on Top Chef season 18 starting April 1, 2021!! Let's show our Town support and send Nelson those winning vibes.

Have you been to either alaMar Kitchen & Bar or Sobre Mesa Oakland? If so, what would you recommend to a friend coming to visit?

oaklandchef, #oaklandrestaurant, #oaklandbusiness, #downtownoakland, #supportoaklandlocal, #oakland, #chefcompetition, #topchefcontestant

01/27/2021

How can we make the Bay Area a better place? Share your priorities for the future with @MTCBATA — you could win a $50 gift card. Text "Plan" to (415) 639 5040 #PlanBayArea2050

12/01/2020

Oakland Central

This is exciting news! WiFi in downtown Oakland and West Oakland in the very near future!!!

Wow! This is awesome, downtown Oakland and West Oakland will have free WiFI in the very near future!!

https://oaklandside.org/2020/11/23/oakland-is-rolling-out-free-wi-fi-to-bridge-the-digital-divide/?

09/19/2020

Oakland Central

Happening Live right Now!!!

Join us for an AMP Oakland Livestream Concert featuring Lady Lady Bianca to celebrate Oakland Cocktail Week!

Pick-up a cocktail and a bite to eat from one of the participating bars or restaurants and sit back, relax, and enjoy some great music virtually during Oakland Cocktail Month.
Lady Bianca is a Gospel and R&B vocalist/pianist, artist, and producer with roots in Kansas City, MO. She has performed, recorded, and toured the world with Frank Zappa, Sly Stone, Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker, and Hall of Fame legends Bobby Bland, Willie Dixon, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Koko Taylor, Joe Louis Walker, and dozens more.

This year's Oakland Cocktail Week theme is "Keep it Spirited, Keep it Oakland" as a fundraising effort to help support Oakland's local bars, restaurants, and spirits community!
To donate and support Oakland local bars, restaurants, and spirits community, visit https://www.oaklandcocktailweek.com/donate.

09/18/2020

Tune in this morning around 11:45am on ABC to find out about a plan in place help to increase vibrancy in downtown Oakland with 'Flex Streets' initiative. The initiative is a way to better utilize the streets and sidewalks while continuing to maintain social distancing and safe space for people to gather in downtown Oakland.
https://abc7news.com/watch/?ex_cid=vuemix_HP_live

Tune in this morning around 11:45am on ABC to find out about a plan in place help to increase vibrancy in downtown Oakland with 'Flex Streets' initiative. The initiative is a way to better utilize the streets and sidewalks while continuing to maintain social distancing and safe space for people to gather in downtown Oakland.

https://abc7news.com/watch/?ex_cid=vuemix_HP_live

09/11/2020

Oakland Central

Guess who has a new look and feel? The www.oaklandcentral.com website, that’s who! Stop by to check out the fresh vibe and content and, while you’re there, take a look at the revamped business directory and events page. Show your OAKLAND LOVE and shop local!

Our passion at Oakland Central is to promote and support our independent businesses, especially during these difficult times, but we know they will need even more Town love as we emerge from the disruption created by the pandemic. OC will continue to evolve its approach to meet the needs of our beloved businesses, so keep coming back to see the latest news and happenings in downtown Oakland by signing up on the email list!

Be sure to follow Oakland Central at @oakcental both on Facebook and Instagram.

#oakcental, #oaklandcentral, #downtownoakland, #oakland, #oaklandsmallbusiness, #supportoaklandlocal

Guess who has a new look and feel? The Oakland Central website, that’s who! Stop by to check out the fresh vibe and content and, while you’re there, take a look at the revamped business directory and events page. Show your OAKLAND LOVE and shop local!

Our passion here at Oakland Central is promoting and supporting our independent business, especially during these difficult times, but we know they will need even more Town love as we emerge from the disruption created by the pandemic. We at OC will continue to evolve our approach to meet the needs of our beloved businesses, so keep coming back to see the latest news and happenings in downtown Oakland!

Be sure to check out the new www.oaklandcentral.com and follow us on our social media channels @oakcental for ongoing updates on happenings in downtown Oakland.

06/24/2020

Oakland Small Biz Week 2020(Virtual)

Day 2 of the Oakland Small Business Week, #SBWOak, is happening right now. Register and join LIVE now! https://oaklandfwd.splashthat.com/

Oakland Small Biz Week 2020(Virtual) - Tuesday, June 23, 2020

06/24/2020

myCovidMD is providing FREE COVID-19 Testing in Oakland TODAY in downtown Oakland on 13th Street at 1300 Broadway from 1pm-5pm.

There will be a DJ on-site and other community-centered surprises!

For more information about COVIDmd visit: https://covidmd.org/

06/08/2020

Mayor Libby Schaaf

It was incredible to see the hundreds of volunteers who came out today to help clean-up #Oakland look good. Thank you Charles Taylor and Charlese Banksnks of The Town Experience!!!

Over 500 volunteers out today cleaning up downtown and supporting our small businesses. This is Oakland 💚 A huge thank you to Uptown Downtown and #TheTownExperience for organizing this incredible event.

06/02/2020

Oakland Black Business Damage Fund organized by Elisse Douglass

Elisse Douglass, one of our board members, organized a GoFundMe to help support the Black-owned businesses affected during the demonstrations and what an incredible response that was received in raising over $45K!

Due to the amount of support that was received, businesses will be able to start applying for funds this evening!!! The funds will start with up to $500 grants per business and will allocate more funds as more money is raised. See link in the comments to apply.
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The GoFundMe project is still accepting donations: click here for more information: https://www.gofundme.com/f/oakland-black-business-damage-fund?utm_source=fb_copy_link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

Oakland Black Business Damage Fund“A riot is the voice of the unheard” - MLKFriends… Elisse Douglass needs your support for Oakland Black Business Damage Fund

06/02/2020

We want to thank all of the volunteers who have come out to help clean our downtown Oakland! Thank you! Thank you!!

Thank you Jana Pastena for keeping the volunteers hydrated and a great big thank you to Charlese Banks of @The Town Experience and Charles Taylor for keeping everything going smoothly.

If you are interested in signing up to volunteer please visit https://downtownoakland.org/ and complete the form for further detailed information.

05/19/2020

East Bay/Oakland Arts Relief Fund Launches - Kenneth Rainin Foundation

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation has partnered with the City of Oakland to launch a relief fund with $625,000 for artists and culture workers living in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Approximately $300,000 of the funds will be made available for Oakland residents. https://krfoundation.org/east-bay-oakland-relief-fund-for-individuals-in-the-arts/.

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation, working with the City of Oakland as well as a host of partner funds, foundations, and individuals, announced today that they have launched a relief fund with $625,000 for artists and culture workers living in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties with at least $300,000 ded...

05/07/2020

Be sure to enter win a $50 gift card to Bar Shiru. They are offering cocktail kits, a Whiskey of the Week special, Japanese whiskeys, spirits, beer, wine, and sake available for Saturday delivery. Orders must be received by Friday at 2pm with deliveries happening on Saturday between 2pm-6pm, Delivery service limited to Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and San Francisco.

Must 21 or over to purchase alcohol.

#supportsmallbusiness, #supportoaklandlocal, #oaklandbars, #oakland, #downtownoakland.

$50 Gift Card Sweepstakes - Day 4 is all about Bar Shiru! Do you still love the sound of vinyl? If so, you will want to head to Bar Shiru located 1611 Telegraph.

How do you enter? Please 'Like" and comment 'Pick Me' on this Facebook post.

You can also enter to win on Instagram with a 'Like' and tagging 3 friends on the $50 gift card sweepstakes post.

One winner will be randomly selected by and announced the following morning after 10am. For details on sweepstakes rules please review the attached document.

One of Bar Shiru's missions is to celebrate the connective power of music and harness that power to build and strengthen community. During this extended closure due to the pandemic, when we can't be together physically, the Bay Area's first hi-fi vinyl listening bar has been keeping the musical spirit alive virtually, posting daily record picks on Instagram and hosting a virtual happy hour every Friday at 4pm on Instagram Live that features two hours of vinyl selections streamed live from Bar Shiru's hi-fi. If you'd like to support Bar Shiru, they have gift cards available at www.barshiru.com. You can stay connected to all the happenings over on their Instagram Bar Shiru

#oakcentral, #oaklandcentral, #oakland, #supportsmallbusiness, #covid19businesssupport, #downtownoaklandbusiness, #downtownoakland,
#giftcardgiveaway. #oaklandbars

05/05/2020

Free Legal, Financial & Marketing Workshops & Classes for Small Businesses — Start Small Think Big

These times are causing everyone to rethink marketing and messaging for business. Start Small Think Big is offering FREE webinars to help small businesses with tips in navigating the waters at this time. Click the link for more information.

https://www.startsmallthinkbig.org/workshops-classes

Start Small Think Big offers classes and workshops to entrepreneurs on a variety of topics related to business success, including financial, legal and marketing. We work with top partners in New York City and the Bay Area to provide informative and powerful events. Join us!

04/28/2020

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Post-Covid Reality: Restaurants Resiliency & Re-Emergence. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Join CBRE Restaurant practice leaders and leading restaurant operators for a discussion about the opportunities and challenges facing restaurateurs as they prepare to reopen and rethink operations to accommodate COVID-19 considerations.

DISCUSSION TOPICS:
Restaurant Economics: Applying PPP Funds to Rent and More
Reopening Hurdles: Supply Chain, Sanitation, Labor, New Expenses
The New Normal: Reconfiguration and Shifts in Service Models
Learning from Experience: What We Are Seeing in China and Europe

Register here: https://cbre.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_O5BbSodBTomxW9M_tzkCxQ

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Post-Covid Reality: Restaurants Resiliency & Re-Emergence. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

04/27/2020

Pandemic Relaunch Toolkit for Restaurants + Bars - Streetsense

A company called StreetSense has created a Relaunch toolkit for restaurants and bars. Visit to download as there is some good information that can be helpful as things begin to shift towards reopening. https://streetsense.com/blog/pandemic-relaunch-toolkit-for-restaurants-bars/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=mailchimp&utm_campaign=ToolkitLaunch&utm_term=042420.

We’ve brought together our best thinking to help solve the current challenges facing the restaurant and hospitality business leveraging decades of work with global, national, and local industry icons. The toolkit contains capital management tactics, operational guidance to relaunch, and resources ...

04/23/2020

Community Kitchens Oakland organized by Maria Alderete

Do you know about the Community Kitchens a project created by Maria Alderete owner of Luka's Taproom & Lounge? They have just halfway to their goal of $50,000 and as we all pull together in community, everyone can assist in them reaching their goal. These funds are to help feed the vulnerable communities and keep restaurant workers employed.

Thank you Maria for launching this project.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/luka039s-community-kitchen…

Luka's has launched a food donation program in response to the Covid-19 crisis. We’re calli… Maria Alderete needs your support for Community Kitchens Oakland

04/23/2020

Are you wearing your face covering? As of Friday, April 17, 2020, the Alameda County is now requiring members of the public and workers to wear face coverings while inside of or waiting in line to enter essential businesses, when seeking healthcare, and when waiting for or riding on public transportation. For the details of the announcement visit http://www.acphd.org/2019-ncov.aspx.

04/20/2020

Small Business Grants Guide

Tech giant Facebook has pledged $15 million in cash grants and ad credits to support small businesses in the Bay Area. Funds from the Small Business Grants Program can be used to keep your workforce on payroll, help with rent, cover operational costs, and – in case of the ad credits – connect with customers. Eligibility requirements are:
• Be a for-profit company
• Have between 2 and 50 employees
• Have been in business for more a year
• Have experienced challenges from COVID-19

The application period for the San Francisco Bay Area opens on April 20. In preparation for applying, check out their application guide.https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants/application-guide

Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses. Learn more.

04/10/2020

It is great to see how the community is coming together to help those in need. Thank you @chefnel4 and May German owners of alaMar Kitchen & Bar and the newly opened Sobre Mesa Oakland are offering FREE INDUSTRY MEAL LAUNCHES to feed 300 displaced restaurant workers every Wednesday-Sunday, 4-6pm for the month of April. Be prepared to show your paystub. Pull up in your vehicle for contactless curbside pickup or walk-ups are also welcome. All cars: enter the queue from Grand Ave and Webster St.
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#SpreadTheWord #industrymeals

Here are the Downtown Uptown CBD we are proud to assist with planning and logistics for safe pick up!

‼️FREE INDUSTRY MEALS‼️
We are here for you, Oakland!
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Starting Wednesday April 8th in partnership with @makersmark and @leeinitiative @chefedwardlee, @chefnel4 and @dcpatterson we will turn @alamaroakland into a relief center for restaurant workers who have been laid-off or have had a significant reduction in hours and/or pay. We are offering help for those in dire need of food and household supplies. On Wednesdays through Sundays, we will pack hundreds of to-go meals as funding allows. Alamar remains open to the public for takeout/delivery service.
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Details of the Restaurant Workers Relief Program are below:
• Meal pick up address: alaMar Kitchen at 100 Grand Ave in Oakland
• Beginning Wednesday, April 8th Meals will be distributed by contactless curbside pickup: Wednesdays through Sundays as funding allows 4pm - 6pm first come first served. Please pull up in your car on Valdez St. Walk ups are also welcome.
• Everyone must show some identifying paperwork to prove recent employment at a restaurant. A paystub will suffice in most cases.
• There will be staff on hand to organize and hand out meals but no one is allowed entry into the restaurant.
• We ask everyone to be patient should there be long lines.
• Depending on demand, we will be offering 250 to 300 dinners a night, first come first serve.
• We will not be handing out disposable cutlery
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In order to keep this program running for the next 4-5 weeks, we are relying on inkind donations for produce, meat, to go containers/bags, gloves, household items like toilet paper, diapers, toiletries, etc. Please DM /email us if you can help. Shout out to Imperfect Foods The Chefs' Warehouse US Foods MrEspresso_shop for their kind donations #jointhemovement
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To support this program through monetary donations, go to LEEInitiative.org and click on Oakland
#chefselevatingchefs #goodfoodforgood #LEEInitiative
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#PLEASESHARE

04/08/2020

Mayor Schaaf and Partners Open Drive Through Test Site for Direct…

Mayor Libby Schaaf has announced drive-thru testing for direct service providers. Read the press release for details: https://bit.ly/2x63Ou4. Services providers listed below:
Healthcare providers, including all those who work in a hospital, clinic or community health center
Grocery stores, foodservice and food banks
Homeless service providers, including shelter and outreach workers
Funeral home providers
Childcare facilities
Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, and children

Also, be sure to tune in tomorrow for the Mayor's weekly Virtual Town Hall Zoom call 6pm - 8pm. Watch live on
Twitter: @libbyschaaf
Facebook: Mayor Libby Schaaf

The official website of the City of Oakland. Find out about meetings, request City services through OAK 311, or contact the Mayor and City Council.