Tour Wooden Window and Learn about Window Restoration and Replacement and the Green Movement
The Oakland Heritage Alliance is offering people a unique opportunity to learn all about wooden windows -their care, restoration and construction – on Thursday March 12th. Please join us when Bill Essert, president and CEO of Wooden Window, will offer a special tour of his company and discuss “Why the Green Movement is Good for Restoration.” Wooden Window is an Oakland company that specializes in constructing and restoring wooden windows and doors.

Attendees will have a chance to meet “Betsey” -a 10-ton, 16 by 25-foot computerized woodworking machine and learn about how new technology is changing the nature of doors and windows, as well as their restoration and fabrication. Bill will also offer some predictions on how the Green Movement will impact home improvement and window restoration projects. People will have the opportunity to ask specific questions about window care and restoration.

The lecture and tour starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at Wooden Window, 849 29th Street (1/2 block off San Pablo). Parking is available. Admission is $8 for OHA members and $10 for the general public.

But then the community spoke up.  The same community who has supported Whole Foods AND Ashby Florist for all of these years.  The same community who is loyal, considerate, and had a lot to say about this. 

The latest news from March 5th said that Whole Foods didn’t realize what a treasure Ashby Florist was.  ARE YOU SERIOUS???  Why else would a florist be able to stay in business so long?  And in this economy?  Give me a break, Whole Foods.  Well, it looks like the community won.  It may take us some time to recover, but at least Whole Foods saw the error in their ways.

Only in Berkeley.

This morning the crew from Federal Oakland Associates did a presentation about the future of the Oakland Army Base which is located at the southwest corner of the Bay Bridge and the 880/80 freeway intersection. 

While it isn’t yet approved, these guys have some grand plans for the “Grand Gateway.”  Should the City of Oakland accept their approval (which they believe the city will make their decision in the next 60 to 90 days), development will begin on the largest outlet/business/retail space in Oakland in decades.  Artist Commons, the Oakland Film Center, a wholesale produce mart, large, big-box retail sites (just think- Target or Lowes!), a new cineplex (ok, do we SERIOUSLY need ANOTHER movie theater?  I guess Oakland needs their own fancy-schmancy place to sell $4.00 candy bars), a state-of-the-art destination hotel, office space, statue gardens, and more.  In addition the proposed development would include a shuttle going to-and-from BART (like the Emery Go-Round in Emeryville?), a possible ferry landing, and a transit center near the Bay Bridge.  They are even talking about putting BART underground to this area.  I have one word for that: DREAMERS.  They can’t even get BART around the bay. 

Of course this is a great way to provide some much-needed tax revenue for the city of Oakland, and of course this will provide jobs, which are needed.  But WHAT ABOUT THE TRAFFIC???  The traffic on the 80 corridor coming from Berkeley is already treacherous.  Sometimes it takes me 20 minutes to go 3 miles.  I brought this question up to the panel and they said that they had a traffic expert on board, but from the looks of it they were only focusing on the freeway stretch once you have passed through the maze.  Not that this section should be downplayed, but if they don’t focus on the Berkeley/Emeryville side, they won’t be getting my business.

Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great idea, and one that I hope will be approved.  But please please please, no more freeway congestion!

Need more info?  Check out http://www.business2oakland.com/main/oaklandarmybase.htm.

Go Oaktown!

But I did see something worth mentioning: 2705 Mathews in West Berkeley. This 1 bedroom Craftsman bungalow is located on a wonderful tree-lined street in Berkeley’s Left Bank. It has been remodeled with nice touches, has a sweet back yard, and original charm and details. Close to shopping, restaurants, and the new West Berkeley Bowl (http://juicyrealestate.blogspot.com/2008/11/hooray-new-berkeley-bowl-is-on-its-way.html), I think this great condo-alternative is priced close to where it should be, $439,000.

Great things are happening on Solano Avenue. Despite these trying economic times, there are some businesses that are managing to hang on, and others that have decided to brave the rapids.

Rendez-Vous Cafe Bistro touts itself as “delicious affordable french cuisine.” Affordable indeed. It hasn’t been opened long, but I have driven by several times at night and the place is packed.

Here is the COOL part…there is outside seating! WHAT??? you say? Yes, you heard me. This is a rarity on Solano Ave.- only a couple of places have outdoor seating.

Check them out http://www.rendezvouscafebistro.com/

(sing to the tune of the Calomine Lotion jingle)

“Icky, sticky, drippy, crusty…oh I see that shiny stuff-y!” (end song)

You know what I am talking about, right? Huh? CREOSOTE! That black stuff that sticks to the inside of your chimney. The stuff that, when you open your flue, sometimes trickles down in a fine, powdery substance.

Did you know that it was flamable? I didn’t.

In comes The Irish Sweep. I figured I would get down and dirty with Sally, the knower of all-things-chimney, and the owner.

Sally said there are some easy things that you can do to help maintain your chimney to keep it in good, running order. To watch a cleaning in action, and to hear some of Sally’s important tips, click on the video link above. And to contact Sally and her crew of amazing workers, visit http://www.theirishsweep.com/.

Everywhere you turn, it’s green this, green that. I feel like my skin is turning green! But just how green are the products you are using?

I recently met with Becky Hatt, an Interior Designer with HAUS, an interior design and architecture firm which specializes in green building. “Companies are starting to capitalize on all of the hype surrounding the green movement,” said Becky, “just how green are some of the products these companies are producing and what are their environmental practices? Perhaps the material is green, but was child labor used to manufacture it?”

“Bamboo, which is probably the most popular green material on the market, is readily available and is completely renewable. Just be sure the manufacturer didn’t chop down another forest to grow their bamboo.”

The industry has coined this “greenwashing.”

When I sat down with Becky, she showed me some of the newest green options available in flooring, many of which are completely affordable. You can hear what Becky had to say by clicking below:

Becky has these tips on how you can avoid becoming greenwashed:

1. Look for wood floors with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certification.

2. Bamboo is not the only solution: there is an amazing array of wood materials from sustainable sources.

3. Working with a professional who can really assess your needs, whether it is a designer or one of the great local environmental building centers, can help you achieve a great, sustainable solution.

You can reach Becky at:

Becky Hatt
haus
architecture + interiors
http://www.haus-design.us/