Linguini's Loves Kids

A Penchant for Pizza Teaches Life Lessons


Can a ball of pizza dough teach some life lessons? The staff of Linguini's Restaurant thinks so and strives to prove the point by offering field trips to elementary school classes all over town. The objective is to show kids what really goes on inside a restaurant like Linguini's-a 16-year-old culinary institution at 1506/1508 Park St. between Santa Clara Avenue and Webb Street.
    "We want to teach kids that dinner isn't just about sticking something in a microwave or going out and ordering up a pizza," says Tony Dudum. He got the idea for inviting school classes into the restaurant from his cousin, a Walnut Creek restaurateur who had started offering field trips in his restaurant two years ago. "He had great success with the concept, so we decided to give it a shot over here," says Dudum.
    A child's field trip to Linguini's is split in two parts. One part is a tour of Linguini's two restaurants (the pizza and beer side, and the upscale pasta side next door) and a behind-the-scenes look at both kitchens. Then manager Shadi Movafagh and top-notch server Matt Greeley give a quick overview of the restaurant's operations and its history. Movafagh and Greeley also answer important questions like "How many pizzas does Linguini's make a week?" (1,000), "How much cheese do they need for all those pizzas?" (360 pounds) and "Why does it smell funny in here?" (It was late morning and a mild disinfectant had just been used for cleaning.)
    For the other part of the visit, each child lines up at the prep counter with a little ball of pizza dough just large enough to make a personal-size pizza. With help and support from chefs Gerardo Wence and Ben Perez and sous chef Luis Chavez, the kids mush out the dough into suitable crusts. Creativity is encouraged-inspired by the sports memorabilia on the walls, some opt to mold their crust into the outline of a football. Squares and the initials of first names are also common shape choices. After achieving just the right effect with the crusts, the kids get to slosh on the tomato sauce and top it off with cheese. Eight minutes later, it's lunchtime and the whole class sits down to eat banquet-style at two sets of tables laid end-to-end.
    Jack Witherspoon, a Linguini's regular and parent chaperone last year for a fifth-grade class from St. Joseph Elementary School, says the field trip was an eye-opening experience for his daughter, Samantha. Prior to the trip, "The eating part was just a distraction from the video games," says Witherspoon. Since the class visit, Samantha's new appreciation for Linguini's helps her recognize that food doesn't just magically appear while she's away from the table doing other things. "Now I know how the pizza's made and what goes on back there in the kitchen," she says. -Cece Blase

Literary Hot Spot


LITERACY IS KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY. LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND LOVE IT IN THIS FUN and fabulous event for readers and writers at the Alameda Literati Book Faire 2005. This annual literary celebration on the Island supports readers, writers and muses alike in an intellectual gathering for all ages.
    A full day of free writing workshops covering diverse aspects of the craft such as travel, food and wine writing, songwriting, music writing and poetry will be led by panels of experts. Writing workshops will be led by well-known writers such as San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jean Gonick, children's book author Thacher Hurd, several poets laureate, as well as Alamedans and a long list of acclaimed writers.
    In addition, enjoy live performances by various musical guests, a raffle for autographed books, a supportive panel of editors and publishers, open mic readings and dozens of authors and poets. A youth writing contest is also in the works, as well as a room full of authors to meet and kids' and family activities. Even the cool folks from Dave Eggers' 826 Valencia project will be on hand for a free youth writing workshop.
    A 2005 recipient of a San Francisco Foundation Koshland grant, the Alameda Literati Book Faire 2005 will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Albert H. DeWitt O Club, 641 West Red Line Ave. at Alameda Point.
    For more information, including a complete list of this year's Literati contributors and participants, visit www.alamedaliterati.org. -Ashley Burns

Life Saver


    Remember those car signs that say "Baby on Board"? And those window stickers that tell firefighters where the kids' bedrooms are? Now there's something else Alamedans can keep handy to inform paramedics or other emergency workers.
    The Vial of Life is a small plastic pill bottle containing your medical history and information. Store it in your freezer; local emergency workers know where to look to find it. If you're ever hurt or unconscious in your home, emergency workers can find out your allergies and medical conditions in a snap. A Vial of Life magnet that you place on your refrigerator also tells emergency first-responders to look in the freezer for the vial containing your medical information.
    Free vials and the included instruction sheet, magnet and medical history form are available for residents at Alameda's fire stations and administrative facilities, Alameda Hospital and the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter office at Alameda Point.
    For more information, contact Louise Nakada, Alameda Hospital director of community relations, at 814-4362 or Division Chief Doug Clifton, EMS director, at 337-2104. -Julia Park

ALAMEDAMADE


    RHONA MITCHELL IS A DESIGNER IN TWO MEDIA: GRAPHICS AND JEWELRY. BOTH ARE CREATIVE ENDEAVORS, BUT THE JEWELS BRING OUT HER true personality. Her nature- and imagination-inspired pieces are adorned with handpicked semi-precious stones. Each earring set or necklace is a unique creation.
    When her husband was diagnosed with cancer in 2003, Mitchell wanted to be home to help him as much as possible. Soon Mitchell realized they needed some extra money to compensate for her decrease in hours. She had always had an interest in creating jewelry, and had dabbled in the field for family and friends. Their feedback was so encouraging that she decided to shop her work around. A friend was currently displaying artwork at Au Lait coffee shop on Encinal Avenue, so Mitchell asked her favorite coffee supplier to show her work in a case near the register. By 2004, Mitchell's pieces started selling. The café's proximity to her home provided an ideal situation for monitoring sales and caring for her husband.
    Mitchell next shopped her jewelry on Park Street, finding a home at Park Place. Establishing another sales spot on the Island, Mitchell decided to keep her styles different at the two locations. Her jewelry ranges from chandelier and pearl hoop earrings to large pendant necklaces.
    Regular customers who love Rona Designs have commissioned the artist for custom-made jewelry to match specific outfits. Mitchell likes to work in a defined color scheme, and enjoys creating a piece that pleases the customer. She also likes to restring or rebuild outdated pieces for customers who cannot part with favorite stones. "I am always creating and have passion about this art," she says.
    Rona Designs at Au Lait, 3215 Encinal Ave. Suite D, (510) 864-7672, and at Park Place, 1347 Park St. Suite A, (510) 749-0065. Contact Rona Designs: ronadesign03@aol.com, (510) 851-1403, www.ronadesign.com. -Erin Rech

Calendar Girls


    BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES BECOME A THING OF THE PAST WITH A PERPETUAL CALENDAR FROM GIRLS INC. OF THE ISLAND CITY. This catch-all for important dates and events raises funds for the organization's youth programs in Alameda.
    Each month features a drawing or painting by winners of the 40th anniversary "Strong, Smart and Bold Girls" art contest. Each winner's interpretation of the contest theme is expressed differently, but the message is the same: Girls and women are strong, smart and bold in everything they do.
    The calendars cost $15, including tax, and can be purchased at Girls Inc. of the Island City, 1724 Santa Clara Ave. Or stop by one of the following retailers to pick up your one-stop-spot for event-planning: The Wolf and the Hare, Island Eyecare, Books, Inc., Daisy's, the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, Art and Soul, Urban Forest and Alameda Art Center. -Erin Rech

Fun on Film


    Who says we have a theater issue? Inspired by last year's overwhelming success, the Alameda International Film Festival is marching through its second annual fun-fest, through Nov. 11. According to founder Geoff Alman, AIFF is showing short films at Central Cinema, Lucky 13's outdoor patio, Speisekammer's outdoor biergarten and the Auctions By The Bay Theater.
    The festival is screening more than 100 independent films from around the globe. Offerings include Jeanette Copperwaite's documentary, Coney Island of the West, about Neptune Beach, Randy Butterfield's short film, Silent Fox and the Henhouse, and Alan Ransil's shortie, Infrared. Films by Alamedans and many others are on the menu at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursdays at Central Cinema, with special kid-friendly showings 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
    The final show and awards presentation takes place Friday, Nov. 11, at the Auctions By The Bay Theater, 2700 Saratoga St. at Alameda Point. Tickets to all shows are $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Call for tickets, 740-0220, Ext. 114, or purchase at each venue.
    More info about the festival, films and venues is available online at www.alamedafilmfest.com. -Julia Park