I’ve been pondering this issue for a while, and I think it’s time to turn it out for feedback. Those of you who know me personally know that I’m no luddite. I like technology – I think it’s really useful. However, I think that we often immerse ourselves in it to our detriment. And so, [...]

First, and most exciting (to me, anyway):   The City of Oakland Redevelopment Agency has been talking about installing pedestrian-level streetlights on San Pablo for some time now. The project is officially underway, and a crew came out late last week and marked off their locations (photo). Ground will break this week on the project. [...]

More salvage hunting, and another great score – a lot of 24 oak library chairs. These things are probably 50 years old, really comfortable, and solidly built. I figure if they survived this long in a library, they can sustain a few more years in a cafe. It’s hard to tell from these shots how [...]

 I’ve been spending the past few days looking through salvage yards for interesting materials to make stuff from. I need tabletops, countertops, benches, material to face the bar in, chairs, stools, lighting, on and on…I got hold of a free three-compartment dishwashing sink over the weekend (thanks to Kim for turning me on to it, [...]

I posted signs on the Cafe windows just about a week ago. Since then, I’ve been really surprised at the outpouring of interest and support I’ve received. I’m getting multiple emails every day from folks in the neighborhood, offering help of various kinds, looking for work, or just cheering me on. I have to say [...]

Exterior view of cafe, with lighting, awnings, and signage locations. Looks pretty cool, I think. Sal [note: Older posts here (pre-April 2012) are copies of the originals at our old blog at blogspot. We won't be taking the old site down, but we won't be updating it either. We copied the posts to this new site so [...]

I happened to get a note this morning from a friend (thanks, Sue!) who owns a deli in Walnut Creek, hipping me to a restaurant going out of business in her neighborhood, and selling off all their equipment. Today only. For two hours. In five minutes. So, taking the moment by the horns, as it [...]

I spent some time yesterday & today inside the Cafe space. A couple builders who will be bidding on various parts of the project came by. I taped off positions walls/countertops/equipment and furniture on the floor to try to get a better feel for how the space will work. No major issues. I also took [...]

[note: Older posts here (pre-April 2012) are copies of the originals at our old blog at blogspot. We won't be taking the old site down, but we won't be updating it either. We copied the posts to this new site so that users can see highlights from our past while we continue to evolve and [...]