Oakland Projects and Business Development (San Francisco, Brea: purchase, theater, under 21)

[Stephen1110]

For some reason, while lookin at the pic, Oakland City Center does look bulky.
However, Emerald Views can offset the decreasing trend of building heights.

So instead of having the "V shaped valley" skyline, it could be a "hill shaped" or "Mountain shaped" skyline.

[lmk1707]

Restaurant Disco Volante coming to 14th & Webster:

Disco Volante coming to Oakland; another food writer to open a restaurant - Paolo Lucchesi

[18Montclair]

Oakland-based Orb Networks in the news...just in time for the holidays

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Orb Networks (www.orb.com) today launched the first Internet TV product that allows consumers to watch thousands of online TV shows from Hulu, ESPN3, Comedy Central and more by bringing it to the home TV for comfortable, big screen viewing. Orb TV is now available for $99, offering a complete home entertainment solution that is easy to set up, and simply controlled through a convenient smartphone app (iPhone, Android, iPad, iPod Touch).

Orb Launches First Internet TV Solution That Allows Consumers to Watch All... -- OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

[18Montclair]

Forbes Magazine Ranks Oakland International Airport No. 4 for Facebook Followers Worldwide
08/16/2010

-- OAK Highest Ranked California Airport --
Oakland, Calif. —Aug. 16, 2010—Recognized as a social media leader in the airport industry, Oakland International Airport (OAK) was ranked No. 4 for Facebook followers worldwide among large international airports with over 4,400 fans, according to Forbes.com. It shows that OAK is ranked No. 4 and is positioned between Singapore Changi International Airport, which was ranked at No. 3, and Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport, ranked at No. 5. No other Bay Area airport was listed in the top rankings.

Oakland International Airport: Press Releases

[18Montclair]

This is excellent.

[LEFT]Construction on condos and apartments had whittled down considerably in the last couple of years.
Now developers, including Lakeshore Partners LLC and Oak Partners LLC, are going before the city’s planning commission soon seeking to tie down construction permits.

“It’s the right time to build,” said Carlos Plazola, head of Terra Linda Development and chair of the Oakland Builders Alliance.

Read more: Dormant Oakland projects waking up | San Francisco Business Times [/LEFT]

[18Montclair]

Lakeshore Avenue Enjoying Business Boom

In addition to the moves by Namaste and Silver Moon, other businesses are expanding or coming onto Lakeshore Avenue. Tea maven Marcia Lam has transformed her L'amyx Tea Bar into Lin Jia Asian Kitchen, where she serves pan Asian recipes inspired by her family's migration from Vietnam to China to California.

A new gourmet burger joint, called The Flip Side, is going in where the old Adams Burger eatery was located. And a specialty mattress store, Sleep and Beyond, also recently opened.

Business owners say the timing and location were right to expand.

Oakland's Lakeshore Avenue enjoying business boom - Inside Bay Area

[jade408]

Looks like I need to head over to Lakeshore. I was puzzled about that L'Amyx location, but I'll definitely head over for some Asian food. The original L'Amyx is a much better space for tea.

There is also a new Ethiopian place that is pretty good on Lakeshore too.

[18Montclair]

Oh, and we have to mention this..a little late but this project is going up right next to where the city wants to build the new A's stadium.

Lawsuits have all been exhausted, NIMBYs Lose this one, Oakland wins.

Oak-to-Ninth Approved

Vice-Mayor Jean Quan and representatives from both Oakland Harbor Partners and the Port of Oakland were also on hand to give remarks and show support for the development plan.

http://oaklandnorth.net/wp-content/t...ONINTH-1.jpg&w
Acting Governor Abel Maldonado authorizes a land swap agreement Tuesday for the project known as Oak to 9th. Vice-Mayor Jean Quan, right, Signature Realty President Michael Ghielmetti and Pamela Kershaw from Port of Oakland look on.

“This is going to be one of the most prestigious and beautiful places to live in the city in the next ten to twenty years,” Quan said, as she discussed the planned mix of residential and commercial development projects the plan calls for in the 64 acres along the water between Oak Street and 9th Avenue. Plans include 3,100 new homes, creation or improvement of 32 acres of public parks, an extension of the Bay Trail, and two new marinas with restaurants and retail.

Today’s ceremonies designated a winner in the controversy. Acting Governor Maldonado’s signature means Oakland Harbor Partners can break ground; the estimated date given today was as soon as 2011. Maldonado’s press release from the news conference says 7,000 construction jobs will be created, along with 1,000 retail jobs once that portion of the development is completed.

Oak to 9th land development project approved – Oakland North : North Oakland News, Food, Art and Events

This is finally getting built and many people are going to be surprised at the size and scope of this project.

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2005/11/30/mn_oaktown.jpg (broken link)
http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2005/11/30/mn_oaktown.jpg (broken link)



http://bayarearc.com/upload/20091015...h%20Towers.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/...964ea145_b.jpg

Here is the link to the project website:
Oak to 9th | Oakland Harbor Partners

[18Montclair]

Fashion designer launches new Oakland boutique
Stella Carakasi dresses women with busy careers like hers
By J.M. Brown
Updated: 11/18/2010 11:37:01 AM PST
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site571/2010/1118/20101118__emon1119boutique~1_GALLERY.JPG (broken link)
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site571/2010/1118/20101118__emon1119boutique~1_GALLERY.JPG (broken link)

Women of a certain age, well, at least anyone over 30, have a new friend in town. Fashion designer Stella Carakasi thinks she knows what you want because she is you.

After 18 years designing under the Berkeley-based Two Star Dog label, the 44-year-old entrepreneur and mother of a 2-year-old daughter is branching out in Oakland, opening the first boutique to carry her name and the full line of her understated, wearable looks.

Located in the heart of Rockridge at 5410 College Ave., the shop carries Carakasi's trademark boiled-wool sweaters and other separates. She also sells jeans and jewelry by fellow designers who, like Carakasi, are looking out for today's busy woman...

Fashion designer launches new Oakland boutique - Inside Bay Area

[18Montclair]

I have GOT to check this place out...Burmese, Sri Lankan, Bhutanese, Tamil etc...we are quite the cosmo bunch aint we?

Refugees find comfort, and safety, at new Oakland store

OAKLAND -- Walking along Eighth Avenue with a friend last week, Bu Reh noticed something he doesn't usually see in the Eastlake neighborhood: the circular letters of the Burmese script.

The words beckoned. They were on a sign, and the sign was on the side of an 85-year-old building at the corner of 8th and Foothill Boulevard.

The message told him Burmese food could be found inside. It said the same thing in Nepali, Hindi, Tamil and Arabic. Reh walked inside, strolled through the aisles and smiled. "It's a good place," said Reh, a 22-year-old Karenni refugee from Myanmar.

The Durga Food Market opened last week, adding to the hundreds of tiny groceries and convenience stores that line street corners throughout Oakland. But for the refugees who work at Durga, and live nearby, this one is not just a store but a haven, a comforting spot in a city that can feel alienating.

"We're starting it small but what we see is a lot of commonality among the Bhutanese, the Nepalis, the Burmese," said Ryan Nathan, a businessman who lent the capital to open the store. "It's a very monumental thing. This is the first grocery store opened by them, for them. And it's the first (in Oakland) to serve Nepali food, Sri Lankan food, Burmese food."

Refugees find comfort food, and safety, at new Oakland store - Inside Bay Area