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Around the Town

48 x 48 x 48

Lights, Focus, Action — It’s Alameda on Camera

     It started with the luck of the draw when, in 2008, Charlie Lucke’s good fortune lived up to his name. It was his first year participating in Alameda On Camera. In late February, Lucke went to the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, along with 47 other artists, to draw a number from a box. Each of the 48 numbers, written boldly with a permanent marker on 48 individual sections cut from an Island map, represented a chunk of Alameda.
     “I was lucky and got this great area that included Crab Cove and parts of Webster Street. It was a section of the city that had lots of people and lots to photograph,” says Lucke.
     Same as the 47 other men and women, Lucke — who lives in Hercules — had 48 hours to focus his lens on whatever he chose, as long as it was within his section of the map. Then, like all the others, he had a month to create a body of work, knowing that at least one item would hang at the Frank Bette Center during the month of April.
      “This is a photo-based event, not a photography event. I’m always qualifying that,” says Frank Bette executive director Debra Owen. One artist might transfer selected images of Alameda onto cloth and another might etch images of the city on metal jewelry. Some people work with found objects, and artists have produced collages, photo boxes and journals. “We encourage people to think outside the box,” says Owen. “We love nontraditional work.”
     How the annual Alameda photo happening began dates back to 2004 — the year the Frank Bette Center opened. “In February and through March, we had a lot of people coming to the gallery,” says Owen. “Then April came and we had no traffic. I thought, ‘the honeymoon is over.’ But then I called around and learned that April was a slow month for all the galleries. The next year, I decided we should do something to raise interest. Something creative and fun, so we could enjoy ourselves.”
      She organized a Snapshots of Alameda show, which pulled an audience. Encouraged, she started thinking bigger — and over the next couple of years, what grew into the “Alameda on Camera: 48 Artists, 48 Hours, 48 Map Pieces” evolved. Applications for what has become a wildly popular annual event now come from throughout the Bay Area, with the 48 participants selected by a jury.
     “Watching people and what they produce, you really get to see firsthand that creativity is life,” says Owen. “You see how people come alive when they give vent to their own talent and ingenuity.” And Alameda gets reborn in new ways each year. “When you see what we hang on our walls — the whole panorama of Alameda — it’s all quite amazing,” she says.
     Meanwhile, things pick up at the gallery. “Our normal walk-in traffic of around 20 people a day goes up to 50 through the entire month of April,” says Owen.
     Back to Charlie Lucke. In 2008 he picked a great location to photograph. He had a good time. He got kudos for his work. He was happy with the outcome.
     Then in 2009, the number he pulled from the box took him to the other side of Alameda. “I got Fernside,” he says. “Mostly residential.” And the weather for the 48-hour shoot was miserable. “It always rains,” he says. It also got bone-chillingly cold.
     Undeterred, he made his own luck. Lucke found people having a garage sale and he snapped them; he hung out in open houses to keep dry and got pictures inside.
     He also took a number of shots of the High Street Bridge. One of these showed the bridge at dawn, with the estuary like glass. And “there were amazing reflections,” he says.
     He didn’t do much to the image. “No Photoshop other than to flop it.” And lo and behold, Lucke, creating his own luck, won Best in Show. Whether his luck holds this year remains to be seen.

The Fine Print

     The 2010 Alameda on Camera launch party — during which the 48 juried artists select their piece of the map — is 7 p.m.–9 p.m. Feb. 26.
     The 48-hour challenge — when artists photograph their designated piece of the map — starts as the launch party ends at 9 p.m. The 48-hour period ends 9 p.m. Feb. 28.
     The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2010. Artists must submit three photographs or three images of photo-based artwork. Images do not need to be Alameda-centric, and artists don’t need to live in Alameda to apply. Download an application from the FBC Web site, frankbettecenter.org, or pick up one at the art center, 1601 Paru St., (510) 523-6957.

MEDIA SHELF

New Releases from Alameda Authors

BOOKS

The Alameda Epicure Cookbook, A Collection of Great Alameda Recipes by Gil Michaels (Stellar Media Group Inc., 2009, 61 pp., $15)
     Most cookbooks aren’t literary works, but Gil Michaels’ new recipe collection is. Dozens of recipes are the main attraction, but a colorful cast of kooky family members and oddball locals whose eccentricities introduce each recipe create a loose storyline and add charm to the simple dishes he details. The cheeky cookbook is chockfull of stories about Michaels’ zany relatives (fishmonger Uncle Dante and grouchy Uncle Mingo among them) and history about quirky local foodies (remember Queen Zee and French LePage?) whose tasty culinary creations are now forever immortalized. Who can resist his Kent-smoking, accordion-playing Nonna Kate’s Ragu Bolognese or revered Island food denizen Weezie Mott’s Pasta Casserole with a Danish Twist? For the record, the author, who writes the Alameda Sun’s Alameda Epicure column, swears by both. Sale proceeds go to local charities to honor the late Reza Honarkhah, a famed McGrath’s bartender who died as Michaels finished the book.

In Her Hands, The story of Sculptor Augusta Savage, by Alan Shroeder and illustrated by JaeMe Bereal (Lee & Low Books Inc., 2009, 48 pp., $19.95)
     Alan Schroeder, an Alamedan, is the author of this picture book — illustrated by Oakland resident JaeMe Bereal — about a little known but influential African-American sculptor Augusta Savage (1892–1962). A Green Cove Springs, Fla., native, Savage became an artist, teacher and shaper of the Harlem Renaissance. Young audiences (ages 6 to 11) will appreciate Schroeder’s heartwarming and uplifting story of this woman who leaves home to pursue her dream as well as Bereal’s straightforward earth-toned drawings that show in illustrations Savage’s transformation from a clay pit amateur to a recognized art school sculptor. Schroeder, who has written other books about famous African Americans, confines Savage’s relative obscurity to the afterward, but that is part of the history lesson. Bereal is a fine artist and, like the book’s subject, a sculptor. This is her debut picture book.

— Judith M. Gallman

Treasure Hunt

The Great Paper Chase

     You won’t have to go far to catch these unique and eco-friendly treasures for your home.  Made of recycled magazines, the multi-color platter and vase are hand crafted in Vietnam through the Fair Trade organization. Recycled magazine platter, $22, and vase, $26,  available at Silk Road, 2534 Santa Clara Ave., (510) 749-9941.

  — Karen Granados

It’s Bingo, Baby!

   `  Part stage show, part game show, Three Ring Bingo has crawled out of the church basement and morphed into something that’s kind of hip and fun.
     And heading into Rhythmix Cultural Works definitely feels more like an outing to a club than going to play bingo. Pay your cover, grab a beer or a glass of wine and head upstairs to where the music’s playing. Chat with the person next to you. Scan the crowd of good-looking people. Then, take up your dauber and get ready to mark that bingo card.
     Wait. What?
     “It’s really fun,” says Stephanie Rodriguez, a regular. She was dressed as a Russian nesting doll, because the evening’s theme was Fright Bingo for Halloween. Next to her was a woman dressed as a slot machine.
     “We used to take my mom to play sometimes at church,” says Patti Ward. She says she wore the costume for good luck. “But I only come here now.”
Three Ring Bingo, Rythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave., 2010 dates TBA, $20 at the door, $18 online, includes a free drink, rhythmix.org.

— Mary McInerney

NET FIX blogging bayport alameda

Blog: laurendo.wordpress.com • Nom de blogger: Lauren Do • Blogging since: July 2006 • The back story: “I’m sort of a political junkie,” says Do, who moved to Alameda about a year before she started her blog. She started reading everything she could find about Alameda and was following the contentious local elections in 2006. She doesn’t claim to be a journalist, although she spends hours researching each post, including watching five-hour city council meetings on the local cable channel and meticulously poring over government reports. Her carefully researched and crafted posts can be wonkish, but they serve a purpose. “I’m a blogger,” says Do. “I have opinions.” • Traffic: Do says she doesn’t give out information on how many visitors there are to her blog. Judging from the response of the blogging community in Alameda, she is very well read. • The best part: Alameda Point is probably the most popular topic of discussion on her blog, and it’s literally right in her Bayport backyard. “Until Alameda Point is resolved,” she says, “it is going to always be the biggest issue.”    

— Mary McInerney

WHERE IT'S AT

Terrence Brewer’s Alameda Hangs

     Alameda jazz guitarist Terrence Brewer is a real Island treasure: The musician can be found wheeling around town by bike, keeping his carbon footprint small, while making big strides in the Bay Area jazz scene. Brewer’s most recent release, the highly praised Groovin’ Wes (Strong Brew Music, 2009), gave a tip of the hat to guitar-slinging legend Wes Montgomery, which had Billboard raving, “his feel for the groove is unerring.” Brewer plays Jan. 17 at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Half Moon Bay. For tickets, call (650) 726-4143 or go to bachddsoc.org.

Alameda Bicycle  “The folks at Alameda Bicycle are the best! They have been taking care of all of our two-wheeled needs for years now. Whether it’s a triathlon, road race, a leisurely ride to the Encinal Market for groceries or the Alameda Theatre, the guys and girls at Alameda Bicycle have everything we need. Alameda Bicycle has great bikes, the perfect accessories, cool riding gear and a knowledgeable/friendly staff. 1522 Park St., (510) 522-0070, alamedabicycle.com.

Alameda Taqueria  “The best carnitas on the entire Island, IMHO! After almost 10 years of eating at Alameda Taqueria, their closure a few years back sent my world into tailspin. When they reopened I was so thrilled to see a lot of the same familiar faces behind the grill and even more excited that the famous carnitas were just as good as the first day I tried them. Alameda Taqueria is closed on Sunday, so do like Cat and I do: Buy your burrito on Saturday night to enjoy while watching football on Sunday afternoon!” 1513 Park St., (510) 865-9380, alamedataqueria.com.

Mona’s Table  “After 10 years of living and running my music business/studio from the Island’s west side (Haight and Webster), my wife and I were fortunate enough to buy a house near High Street and Encinal. There we discovered Mona’s Table. Owner Mona Personius and her amazing staff provide soups, sandwiches, salads, prepared meals and a great selection of amazing desserts. All of the food is fresh, delicious, and unique, like her curried carrot soup or tilapia fish tacos. 3215-A Encinal Ave., (510) 814-6179, monas-table.com.

Alameda Bike Lanes   “I know it may seem strange at first that one of my favorite hangs are the Alameda bike lanes, but hear me out. One of my earlier faves was Alameda Bicycle, and since we bike around town a lot, Alameda’s nicely paved, wide bike lanes are a great benefit. The bike lanes traverse many of the major thoroughfares, and most are wide enough for two bikes to ride side by side. Plus, they also double as good lanes for running the Island as well. Thanks to my fellow cyclists for sharing the roadways.”

Angela’s Bistro and Bar  “Since the construction of the Alameda Theatre, we have been waiting for Angela’s Bistro to take residence in the major space on the corner. Once Angela’s moved in, it became a great place to gather, eat tasty food, hear wonderful music and hang with friends. My jazz duo performed at Angela’s one Friday night and, since there are very few places to hear jazz on the Island, we had it packed. It was great to see so many of the wonderful friends we’ve gotten to know in our 10-plus years here in this great town. And the lobster raviolis were out of this world!” 2301 Central Ave., (510) 522-5822, angelasbistroandbar.com.

— Kimberly Chun

Car Sharing
Comes to the Island

     Downsizing to one car — or maybe no car — in this time of heightened frugality and environmental awareness? Nice job. But what about the occasional trip to Costco to load up on giant-sized boxes of frozen waffles?
     Now, both City Car Share and Zipcar are offering cars in Alameda. For as little as $6.75 an hour, you can rent a car to take care of those necessary trips. Here’s a comparison.

WHERE?
     City Car Share 2410 Santa Clara Ave., the Bank of America parking lot.

     Zipcar Parking garage adjacent to the South Shore Beach & Tennis Club Leasing Office on Shorepoint Court.

HOW MUCH?
     City Car Share About $6.75 an hour, the average “blended rate” is based on time used and mileage. Gas and insurance are included in the cost. There’s also a membership fee – it’s a co-op – of about $45 per month.

      Zipcar $7 an hour, gas and insurance included. Plus, there’s a $50 annual fee and a $25 one-time application fee.


WHAT KIND OF CAR?
     City Car Share It’s a purple Scion xB. Open it with your electronic member’s key.

      Zipcar It’s a Toyota Prius named Paker. At Zipcar, they name the cars.

HOW DO I ARRANGE FOR THE CAR?
     City Car Share After you become a member, you can book the car online or by phone, 24/7.

     Zipcar After you become a member, you can book the car online or by phone, 24/7.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
     City Car Share City Car Share reserves the right to charge your credit card an extra security deposit of up to $1,000 if it determines that your usage behavior or payment history exceeds a reasonable risk level.

     Zipcar Get in an accident? You pay a $500 deductible. Oh, and return it to the same spot when you’re done.

SOMETHING COOL
     City Car Share From midnight to 8 a.m., the hourly rate drops significantly —  to zero if you have an upgraded plan, which requires more of a monthly fee.

      Zipcar Your Zipcard unlocks the car at the reserved time. Just walk at the car and wave it at the windshield and it should unlock the car. Really. The keys are hidden in a secret spot inside the car.
 

— Mary McInerney

Walk the Walk
When Mom Needs A Night Out

     Forget the traditional Tupperware and quilting party of yesteryear. Today, modern moms are finding ways to recharge their batteries while connecting with friends. When it’s time to plan your next night out with the gals, follow these rules, and check out these fun activities.

Rule #1: Eat, Drink and be Merry
     Owner and new mom Wendy Shay understands the importance of a good night out with the gals! Her restaurant, Shay’s Café, 2711 Encinal Ave., (510) 748-0423, hosts regular events for the Alameda Women in Business Network at which attendees sample complimentary food, wine and beer while trying services or products from women-owned businesses in Alameda.
     Multi-tasking moms will have fun preparing meals with friends at Dream Dinners, 2307 Blanding Ave., Ste F, (510) 337-1105. Select menus ahead of time, and Dream Dinners will have ingredients, professional preparation stations and everything else needed to create and freeze dinners for the family.

Rule #2: Pamper Thyself
     What could be more fun than an evening of self-indulgence? Sumbody, 1350 Park St., (510) 523-2639, holds private parties that offer moms facials, massages and makeovers as well as personal shopping from the store’s extensive product offerings. Outside food and drinks are allowed for private parties.
     When a “Mom’s Night In” sounds more relaxing, gather the gals and have these services come to your house. Conscious Skin & Body Care, (510) 551-8834, consciousskinandbody.com, offers mini-facials, moisturizing hand treatments and detoxifying foot baths; Raelene Redman Massage, (510) 495-4777, offers customizable massage treatments; Chefk2, (415) 370-3052, chefk2.com, provides hands-on cooking parties; and Herbs and Spices Catering, (510) 748-0423, herbsandspiceschef.com, can cater your in-house parties.

Rule #3: Build a Strong Body, Strong Mind
     Find your inner goddess and connect with your sensuality by dropping in Belly Dance class on Wednesday nights, or try a sexy hula hoop dance class on Monday nights at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave., (510) 865-5060.
     For the thrill-seeking moms, rock-climbing parties at Bladium Sports and Fitness Club, 800 W. Tower Ave., (510) 814-4999. Groups of 15 or more receive instructions and an hour of rock climbing on the 35-foot climbing wall. End the evening with food and drinks at the club’s bar and café.

  — Karen Granados

ALAMEDIA

Period-Inspired Stencils

     When Lisa Klofkorn couldn’t afford the very pricey Bradury & Bradbury wallpaper she loved and coveted for her 1887 Victorian almost a decade ago, she created her own stencils so she could mimic the pattern. She soon parlayed her new-found talent into a sideline, Fly on the Wall Design, and what started as a home improvement project has turned into a pursuit that keeps her busy using the stencils she designs on walls, ceilings, friezes and more unusual surfaces.
     “I even stenciled the inside of my car,” she says. And she just might do the outside, too.
     Her well-lit Park Avenue basement studio has umpteen drawers of neatly organized flat files holding her Art Deco–styled designs that are inhabited by complex patterns, mermaids, insects, snakes, griffins, flowers, musical instruments and the like. Klofkorn works as a graphic designer/illustrator at the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science, and she is a former scientific illustrator, so it’s only natural that flora and fauna inspire her designs.
     Klofkorn often starts with a drawing and transfers that to her computer where she refines it and plays around with size. She’ll hand-cut stencils from Mylar with an X-Acto knife or send them to a professional laser cutter, depending. Then comes the hard part: execution.
     Likening stenciling to wallpapering, Klofkorn has tricks for keeping the stencil straight, compensating for irregularities and getting the paint just so. “I’ve gotten better, but I am not an expert,” she says of her technique, which appears flawless.
     The University of Michigan School of Art & Design grad has no shortage of design ideas. The only holdup is determining which motif to execute, prompting Klofkorn to ponder, “Where would I use it? What would it be used on?”
Learn more at FlyontheWallDesign.com.
 

— Judith M. Gallman

Crab Feeds
Are King Around Here

     Within a span of seven days, you can attend four crab feeds within walking or a short driving distance from your home in Alameda.
     At Saint Joseph Notre Dame High School, plans are in full swing for the annual crab feed on Feb. 6, 2010. A 29-year tradition, it’s the school’s biggest social event of the year, drawing more than 400 people and raising about $50,000 for the athletics program. On the same day, Bishop O’Dowd High School, in Oakland, is also hosting a crab feed.
     A week earlier, on Jan. 30, there’s a crab feed at Saint Philip Neri School in Alameda. There’s also one that evening at St. Elizabeth High School, just across the Fruitvale Bridge.
     Whew. There sure are a lot of crab feeds going on around here.
     The East Bay is crawling with the (cooked) critters. From November to March, if you don’t get an invitation to a crab feed, you might be missing something. With tickets ranging around $50 per person, the events are big fund-raisers for the schools, because they usually include auctions and raffles, too. But that doesn’t distract the hardcore crab feed fans.
     Stephen Lee, 27, who attended SJND’s Crab Feed in 2009 and plans to attend this year, is only half kidding when he says he wants to set up a Web site ranking the different crab feeds.
     “I mean, it’s just kind of a selfish reason,” he says. “I just like eating Dungeness crab. If I could get invited to a bunch of crab feeds and eat crab and rank them, it would be a great thing.”
     What makes a great crab feed? “Lots of good crab,” say Lee, “and it’s got to be all you can eat.”

— Mary McInerney

Take 5 With Barbara Mooney

Tip-top Trader

      Retired caterer and owner of Daisy’s on Park Street, the talented Barbara Mooney gives us some fresh reasons why she loves living in Alameda.

1    Altarena Playhouse
This gem of a theater was my first connection to Alameda. Growing up, my grandma and her friend used to regularly take me to the Altarena Playhouse. I loved it then and still do. The layout, the great plays, the way children are included, the people on the board … all make it the special Alameda place that it is.

2    Thompsen’s Garden Center
Every time I go here I feel inspired and hopeful. I love sitting at this nursery and taking in all the beauty. Iris and John, the owners, couldn’t be more helpful and knowledgeable. I have gotten wonderful tips from them about so many things (even outside of gardening!) that I really appreciate. And since I can’t keep anything alive, I’ll always be their best customer.

3    Alameda Youth Soccer Club
For nine years my boys have participated in the Alameda soccer program, and it has been a wonderful experience for our whole family. I love being on the sidelines with my friends watching our children play with children from all over Alameda. It’s a wonderful place to bridge public and private school kids. I also think the coaches are fantastic, and the board members are the true unsung heroes.

4     Feel Good Bakery
I adore everything about this bakery and am in awe of how they can bake so superbly in that little kitchen. It’s a place I can always pop in and get delicious desserts or bread. Everyone in my family loves the mini baguettes, which my daughter calls “bread in a crouton – all in one.” The staff is fantastic, too! This bakery definitely feels good.

5     Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire
I find the most amazing things in the world at this fair and love seeing everyone else’s excitement over their finds. We are so very lucky to have such a first-class flea market in Alameda. The vendors, the treasures, the friendly shoppers and the great food make the first Sunday of every month a real treat for me. If I get there at 6:30 a.m., I’m sad that I’m late. 

— Gina Jaber

Fahrvergnügen

     Jeff Murphy, 37, collects vintage VWs, and his collection of vans, bugs and Things is parked along the 2000 block of San Jose Avenue. Often, you’ll see him tooling around the Island, driving “whatever’s running at the moment,” as he says.

Wow. Why VWs?
     I got my first VW when I was 15, and I’ve only owned old VWs since then. I really like old cars, and I really like VWs. I almost got a Subaru station wagon a little while ago, but I just couldn’t do it. I like VWs. They’re kind of old and funky.

How many VWs do you have?
     I have owned 40 over the years, and right now I have seven.

How often do you drive them?
     Well, everyday. I’m working as a plumber for Stanford University, so I take the blue-paneled VW bus there. With no traffic, it takes me 45 minutes. The cars run fine if you maintain and keep them up. I do the basic stuff, and I pay someone else to rebuild the engines.

What’s your oldest VW?
     It was a 1951 bug, known as the split-window bug, because the back window is actually two windows. It’s a pretty valuable and rare car. This guy in Hawaii wanted it, so I sold it. I don’t do this intentionally for the money, because when you’re rebuilding them, you get kind of attached.

Is there anything else you collect?
     That’s funny that you ask. I also collect 10-foot vintage wooden surfboards. I have 30 of those. Also, old Vespa scooters. And I have a collection of old gas pumps from the 1940s.

— Mary McInerney

By the Numbers

16.95
The cost in dollars of the book Look Great, Live Green, Choosing Beauty Solutions That Are Planet-Safe and Budget-Smart by Deborah Burnes, co-founder of Sumbody, the all-natural skincare company with a store in Alameda. The publisher of the book is Alameda-based Hunter House Publications.

2001
The year Burnes launched Sumbody skincare.

60
In billions of dollars, the amount the beauty industry in America is estimated to make in a year.

8
How many personal-care products an average American uses daily.

138
How many ingredients of those personal-care products are expected to enter an average American’s body every day.

913
In millions of dollars, the amount Clorox paid for Burt’s Bees.

300
Also in millions of dollars, how much Estée Lauder paid for Aveda.

100
Again in millions of dollars, the purchase price of Tom’s of Maine by Colgate-Palmolive.

1.4
In billions of dollars, what L’Oreal paid for The Body Shop.

— Judith M. Gallman

Stop Feeding the Bandits

     Where is the Office of Homeland Security when you need it? At this moment, Alameda’s men, women, children and domestic house pets are under threat from aggressive enemies spreading diseases, mauling people and pets and causing thousands of dollars in damage to property. Perhaps most disturbing, they are being aided and abetted by locals. Perhaps your neighbor. Perhaps you.
     Raccoons, skunks, opossums, ground squirrels: They have a strong case that they were here first, making us the enemy. Where humans and critters meet in developed areas there are often issues, but these animals pose special problems. Able to keep their population level in nature, extra food supplied by humans sends their population skyrocketing in the absence of natural predators.
     How are they fed? Sometimes on purpose by folks with a fondness for furry bandits, but often it’s inadvertent: cat food left outside, bird food falling off feeders, garbage bins with easily accessible goodies. “The more you feed them, the more their population skyrockets,” says Daniel Wilson, community relations coordinator for Alameda County Vector Control. “There is enough food for them out there in nature, but when humans feed them they become dependent.”
    Wilson says that while service calls to the office about rodents are down, complaints about wildlife are up and are now greater than those for rats and mice.
     When the population spikes, so does the danger to humans and pets. Food left for cute bandit-faced raccoons often ends up in the stomachs of skunks that, in addition to being stinky, are second only to bats in spreading rabies to humans in California. Ground squirrels burrow Swiss-cheese like holes on the shoreline, causing erosion. The same food that attracts raccoons is also tasty to mice, rats and opossums.
     Those cute raccoons create latrines that can rot roofs, costing thousands of dollars in repairs. Feces can carry Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm, a serious — and often fatal — disease that causes neurological damage in humans and animals. Raccoons have also been known to attack humans and dogs. Under law, dogs involved in fights with raccoons are quarantined — 30 days if their vaccinations are up to date, up to six months if they aren’t. Raccoons, as with skunks, opossums, ground squirrels, rats and mice, carry a variety of other diseases.
      Feeding wildlife in urban areas isn’t illegal. Should it be?
     “I’d hate to have a law that says you can’t feed a bird,” says Wilson. “But we have a real problem.”
     What can you do to help? Feed cats and dogs inside. Make sure bird food doesn’t fall on the ground. Keep garbage bins secured.
     In addition to public information pamphlets, Alameda County Vector Control offers free home visits to advise on what may be triggering problems at your house or over your neighbor’s fence. Information is also available at the agency’s Web site, acvcsd.org.

— Elisa Williams

SECRET EATS

John Couacaud at AcquaCotta

     Seasons come and go, as reliable as the sun’s trajectory across the sky, but AcquaCotta chef John Couacaud likes to throw a little bit of the unexpected into the path of predictability. “The menu still changes every day, which I feel keeps me alive and awake,” says the personable Couacaud, who recently moved from Alameda to Berkeley. “It may be frustrating for some people — they can’t always get the thing they had last time. Part of that is seasonality, and part of that is my own feelings about menus.
     “I feel like a menu that’s carved in stone is incredibly boring. Both from a cooking standpoint I need something to keep me interested in what I’m doing, but also as a diner myself, I want to know a place does something good — and then does something else.” So this winter Couacuad has introduced more braised meat into AcquaCotta’s lineup including pot roast and veal shank. And when he isn’t in the kitchen at AcquaCotta you might find him out in the sun at one of his Alameda food secrets, though he says, “I gotta point out that there are no secrets in Alameda! Everything I know about, everyone will know about.”

WesCafe
“The first new one for me is WesCafe, which opened in July just a few doors down. Their patio in back is really great  — well-done sandwiches that are worth eating, and there aren’t too many places in town where you can sit in back and out of the wind and in the sun.” 1536 Webster St., (510) 522-7200, thewescafe.com.

Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden
“I like getting soft-boiled eggs at Julie’s. Where else can you get soft-boiled eggs except from your mom? It’s $1.75 per egg. You get an eggcup and teaspoon — knock the top off and scoop it out. It’s a lot like being in Germany.” 1223 Park St.,  (510) 865-2385, juliestea.com.

Farmstead Cheeses & Wines
“The cheese selection at Farmstead is truly amazing — even for a solid foodie. They’re always going to have at least a half dozen cheeses you’ve never heard of, and you get a taste of any of them, which is really nice. I’ve yet to meet a cheese I don’t love — another thing that makes Farmstead so cool.” 1650 Park St., (510) 864-9463, farmsteadcheesesandwines.com.

Pappo
“For dining alone, I like to go Pappo and sit at the little bar in the back of the room.” Pappo, 2320 Central Ave., (510) 337-9100, papporestaurant.com.

The New Zealander
“The New Zealander makes the best burger in town.” 1400 Webster St., (510) 769-8555, the-newzealander.com.

AcquaCotta, 1544 Webster St., Alameda. (510) 523-2220, www.acquacotta.net

— Kimberly Chun