Notes from the Redwood Bar

Upper Dimond Neighborhood Group on Facebook

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Not too much excitement in February...mostly lying low, working at home, starting some cleanup around the yard now that winter is passing, planning what's next for the garden and future events, doing all we can to save money and resources. We've had some rain, which is good, but we're still severely lacking. Thomas has been fine-tuning his wine cellar hideaway and created some cool hanging lamps made from recycled barolo bottles. That's about it for news around here.

As a work-at-home freelancer, I no longer see people at an office and many of my relationships are conducted mostly online. Without email and such social networking sites as Facebook, I'd have little contact with many of my acquaintances! Anyway, those of you in my neighborhood who are also on Facebook, I just created a neighborhood group called Upper Dimond Neighborhood Group. I think it's a great format for communicating and connecting with neighbors. Please join when you have a moment.

Grand Lake Theatre

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:39:00 +0000

Autumn Leaves

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:53:00 +0000

California seasons being what they are, with the added confusion of global warming and all fall/winter holidays being touted in your face simultaneously, it's easy to forget that it's still actually autumn. Luckily our area is abundant with neighborhoods filled with changing trees that are a splendid reminder of the season. During a long weekend walk we took photos and enjoyed windswept flurries of leaves from liquid amber, red maple and golden ginkgo showering our path.

Thanksgiving

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:15:00 +0000

Our Thanksgiving celebration happened over three days, with Grace arriving the night before, Paul and Rob flying in the next morning, then the rest of the family arriving in the afternoon, including my parents, Linda, Gilbert and Amalia, and Thomas' cousin Jeff. Lots of feasting that lasted through the day after!

Oktoberfest in Dimond District

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:44:00 +0000

This photo of Amalia with the Alpenhorn player pretty much represents all of the German culture present at the Dimond District's first Oktoberfest last Saturday, but it was a lively festival and all in good fun. Anyway, who am I to complain about an excuse for drinking beer in the streets? It was a glorious fall day, fresh after a night of our first rain, and spirits were high.

Starting at the corner of Fruitvale and Macarthur, a two-block section was closed to traffic where the festival was set up. There were plenty of vendors and a rotation of several live bands- I particularly enjoyed the melodious guitar of a local band called That Man Fantastic.

A large beer tent was where most of the action happened. We sampled some excellent brews from Oakland's own Linden Street Brewery, and ended up with souvenir mugs to keep. We also tried delicious, chewy pretzels from La Farine. The sausage vendor ran out of goods so we ended up having a bite at El Jaliciense's truck stand, which served very good carnitas tacos - only $1.50 brought you fresh corn tortillas loaded with tasty meat, salsa, and sides of radish slices, pickled jalapenos and lime. We went back for a second round - these were better than sausages.

I hope this becomes a yearly event. Things are definitely looking up in our neighborhood.

Happy Birthday Fritzi!

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:41:00 +0000

Well, it was actually yesterday...16 years young! Oscar is a year younger. Here's to your continued genki-ness, boys.

First Drizzle

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:28:00 +0000

My dad was over to check out the deck with Thomas, they did some preliminary work before tearing it apart but then it got quite overcast and all work had to stop, and happy hour began. To our excitement, the mist gathered to the point where it became a drizzle...almost rain! We sat at the Redwood Bar under patio umbrellas and enjoyed some vino by candlelight, while chicken roasted in the oven. A magical evening.

Deck Renovation

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:09:00 +0000

Thomas and Dad busy with renovating our back deck these days. We're hoping the rain doesn't begin before they finish (although we need rain desperately)!

Family

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:04:00 +0000

The family came over to celebrate my birthday...a nice casual pizza party, the best! I'm so lucky.

Lunch with Julie

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:17:00 +0000

Julie came over for lunch, giving us a long overdue chance to catch up. It's rare that she gets a day to herself so I felt lucky! I prepared a lemon swordfish pasta that has become a house favorite. So easy but delicious.

Happy Birthday Oscar!

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:01:00 +0000

Linda S. Arrives

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:36:00 +0000

At last, Linda arrived to join Eric and Nathan on vacation! This meant some quality time for us girls. We ate, drank, and shopped, spending a lovely afternoon checking out the Rockridge district. Our outing included all-you-can-eat Indian, researching trends at Rockridge Home and Maison d’Etre, stopping into Bittersweet for a chocolate snack, and trying a refreshing cocktail called a Vodka Nero at Oliveto (it contained pinot grape juice from one of my favorite wineries, Navarro). We ended the day by picking out some deli treats for dinner at Market Hall – salumi, cheese, and a berry galette. During all this, we discussed Linda’s exciting plans for her new business venture (top secret).

I think it's time they moved back to California already! we could do this every week...

Sunday Lunch with Scott and Patrick

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:10:00 +0000

When we have a date set with Scott and Patrick, we prepare ourselves for an extended meal with plenty of wine and non-stop laughs. We love these guys! They arrived with smiles and a wine box filled with fresh veggies and dahlias from their garden. The weather was perfect for dining outside, and we put away a magnum of bubbly in no time. This was followed by a divine menu prepared by Thomas: chilled curried cauliflower soup drizzled with cream; arugula, cucumber and pear salad garnished with shaved parmiggiano; pasta with just-made pesto; cheese; and a baked berry dessert with whipped cream. We were so stuffed at the end of our four-hour extravaganza that we passed out in the hammock as soon as the guys left.

Eric and Nathan on Vacation

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:17:00 +0000

We’ve had Thomas’ best friend Eric and his son Nathan come in from Pittsburgh to spend a few days of summer vacation with us. The great thing about having a kid visit is it gives you permission to do even more fun stuff, like play at the beach, watch cartoons for half the day, invent new games, and eat stacks of pancakes. We even squeezed in a taco party, a trip to Jack London Square, and more! Many of our activities centered around food, of course – we’re trying our best to convince Nathan that it’s possible to be a gourmand even with a dairy-free diet, but it’s best to cultivate these tastes early. The fun continues when the boys return next weekend after visiting family in the bay area, and Linda (Eric’s wife/Nathan’s mom) flies in to join us for a couple of days.

Photos: pancakes for breakfast; backgammon; sushi, Chinese take-out, and "Surf's Up"; playing horse shoes at the taco party; market at Point Reyes Stn; Drake's Beach; happy hour at the Redwood Bar; grape juice and burgers

Oakland Zoo

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:12:00 +0000

As kids, the Oakland Zoo was one of our favorite places to go on the weekends. My sister and I loved the baby zoo where animals could be hand fed and the giant old tortoise lived (which kids mercilessly rode in the old days), and where a goat once tried to eat my dress. There is a fun, old fashioned little amusement park with the same sky ride that we looked forward to at the end of each visit (Linda nearly lost her shoes during one ride), and to this day you can buy cotton candy and ride the train or merry-go-round.

On our recent family visit, which brought up a lot of good nostalgia, it also struck me how beautifully the landscaping has matured at this zoo. If you’re into tropical foliage the way I am, it’s worth a visit just for a stroll among lush greenery, several kinds of bamboo, different varieties of canna, and many exotic, bizarre plants I couldn’t identify. There are pleasant pathways for strolling, some stunning views of the bay from the upper areas, and a meadow to picnic on. Amalia decided that the best parts of the visit were the zebras and her raspberry frozen yogurt bar.

During the summer, the zoo is open for extended hours, and organizes various events such as the overnight Family Sundown Safaris on select nights.

Pre-Burgundy vs. Nebbiolo

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:34:00 +0000

The evening before the big wine showdown, Jeff was generous enough to come over and lend a hand with preparations – he helped Thomas figure out logistics with seating, setting up for the pre-tasting soccer game to be watched on TV, etc.

Our basil is thriving so Thomas decided it was a good time for pesto. Jeff and Thomas have been frequenting Farina in the city in an attempt to analyze their pesto, which, they claim, is hands-down the best ever. (Honestly, though, I think the numerous times they went back for the sake of “research” was just an excuse to deepen the bonds of their bromance through mutual pesto-love.)

They attempted to recreate Farina’s pesto, and I think it was exceptional. Thomas claimed it wasn’t quite perfect, but agreed it was damned good. You can find their pesto recipe here. The crisp, fruity Afix Riesling that Jeff brought was a wonderful match (love the label).

Dad's Day

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:13:00 +0000

We celebrated Father’s Day with a visit to the nearby Potomac Waterworks’ exquisite private garden, which was having an open studio day, then had a burger feast at our place. Some mini-croquet was played, and of course, Amalia won.

I have many things to thank my dad for, including some of my eclectic tastes. Through example he taught me how to appreciate such wonderful things as ethnic music, spaghetti westerns, British comedy, books, Japanese brush painting, sashimi, beer, science fiction, and a fascination for the macabre and the supernatural. But the single most important trait I inherited from him is the fine art of doing nothing. This is an increasingly rare but important skill that few people are able to carry off for more than a few minutes at a time without going berserk or giving in to restless leg syndrome. I can think of only two other acquaintances capable of possibly outdoing me in the area of slacking and staring off at the horizon. But my father is the master of vegetating and having stare-downs with the walls, and doing nothing other than just being. I believe he might have the power to slow down time if he wanted.

Photos: Fumi and Michael Gibbons; Thomas and Dad at the grill; Gilbert, Dad, Mom and Amalia play croquet; burger; Amalia and Thomas overboard

Happy Hour Cat

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:40:00 +0000

When 5:30 rolls around, Fritzi hunts me down (I’m usually in front of my laptop), plants himself nearby and begins meowing with growing insistence. I used to think he just wanted attention or food, but I finally figured out he’s become so used to my stepping out to the bar for happy hour at day’s end that it’s become part of his ritual as well. Once I perch myself out there with drink and snack in hand, he usually paces for a bit and scopes out the territory from both ends of the bar, then plants himself in the middle and takes in the view of his domain with me. He’s become such a reliable happy hour alarm clock that I try and reward him with a treat, too. Lately Oscar has been joining us with more regularity.

Liz and Chloe

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:52:00 +0000

Mother/daughter duo Liz and Chloe came by for some barbecue. Although she’s originally an Oaktown girl like myself, Chloe actually lives in Bogotá, Colombia, where she is a professor of cultural studies – she was in town for a short vacation to see her mom, who lives down the street from us. We met Liz when Thomas (who is always eager to barter with neighbors) knocked on her door one day and asked for some of the horsetail reeds which proliferate outside her home, and offered wine in exchange. Liz was thrilled to rid herself of some reeds for vino, and so we became friends. Both ladies are smart, funny, quit-witted, and great party guests. Chloe and I are both film nerds and share a fondness for both Kurosawa and Adam Sandler, so we always have a lot to chat about.

For this particular dinner, Thomas tried out our built-in fireplace/grill out back, which came with the house. It was our first use of it, and with some anxiety and fire extinguisher at the ready, I kept waiting for the old plum tree behind the chimney to burst into flames. But all went well, and our steak was excellent.

Photos: Liza, Thomas and Chloe; Thomas tries out the old grill

The Roberts Family

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:18:00 +0000

A few words must be said about our neighbor Bill Roberts and his family. In our three and a half years of living in this house, Bill has become a rare friend and inspiration to us. At 83, he possesses boundless energy, gumption, good humor and optimism. He is a survivor of the great depression, WW2, a heart attack, cancer, and most of his large family of many siblings. He’s always willing to lend a hand when Thomas needs help on a construction project, or if we need garden or home maintenance advice. He’s taught us the kind of lessons on resourcefulness that only old timers can offer. He can cut down a tree, build an elevator, fly a plane, grow tomatoes, read a novel in one sitting, hem up a pair of pants, bake an excellent chocolate cake, out-party anyone, and also make a kick-ass Bloody Mary.

During Memorial Day weekend, Bill invited us over for southern style barbecued ribs, thick, richly sauced, meaty slabs, which he served with big baked potatoes and beer. This is a good spot to talk about Bill’s daughter Marian and son Tom, who live with him on his meticulously kept, one-acre property. To spend an evening with the Roberts means to be endlessly entertained by anecdotes, jokes, corny puns, a wide knowledge of current events and pop culture references, and a vast recollection of interesting historical facts, because between the three of these sharp wits nothing ever seems to be forgotten. Also, no matter how obscure or bizarre the topic of discussion might become, Tom will rush off to some mysterious archive in a back room and within a minute or two, emerge with a book or item relevant to the conversation. This has happened so many times that we’re certain they must keep a vast underground warehouse storing thousands of alphabetically organized souvenirs, toy collections, manuscripts, fashion accessories, art pieces, and found objects from nature. For example, on this particular day of the barbecue, the conversation turned to armadillos. I talked about how I had just watched Andrew Zimmern on his Bizarre Foods show trek over to Bolivia to try some local delicacies such as armadillo. Tom disappeared to the back room, then returned in a flash, proudly displaying a purse made out of an armadillo hide, prompting our surprise and much laughter. A hideous little accessory, yet I couldn’t stop examining it.

Photos: Thomas and Bill at the grill; barbecue; armadillo purse with Tom and Marian in bkg.

Deb and Blake - Engaged!

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:03:00 +0000

One of my oldest friends of many years, Deborah, got engaged to her boyfriend Blake, the day before the two came over for dinner….they arrived and surprised us with the news, so the evening turned into an impromptu engagement party. No words can describe my happiness for those two! They’re a great match, balancing each other well with their combined individuality, creativity, and positive energy. And Deb is one of the most good-hearted people you’ll ever meet. I’m not the most traditional person out there, but I think two people making this kind of commitment is always cause for celebration. It’s such an act of optimism and hope. A toast to you both for many bliss-filled years together!

A note on what this super-talented couple does for a living: Deb works in the marketing division for Premium Port Wines as her day job, but has been studying horticulture and landscape design for a few years now. Blake is a filmmaker, writer and artist.

Photos: the happy couple; Deb shows off her gorgeous Art Deco ring against Fritzi's fur; Fritzi passes out after too much partying; vegetarian feast (and many libations) in the cellar

Greek Circle Dancing

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:38:00 +0000

What could be more joy-inducing than dancing ourselves into dizzy abandon the way we used to as kids? Try dancing round and round to live music, on a bright, beautiful day, with complete strangers and loved ones, with total disregard to how silly you look. The annual Greek Festival held on the grounds of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral provides this sort of wonderful opportunity to those of us who are not dancers, nor even Greek. Nobody seemed to mind, however, that my feet had no idea what they were doing. I think I was in the spirit of the moment, as were Linda and Amalia, and that was fine. For a moment I could believe the blue Mediterranean was right out there at the bottom of our ancient hills, and we were one big family celebrating a happy event. In between dancing I enjoyed some excellent spanakopita with a cold Greek beer.

Photos: Linda and Amalia kick up their heels; Greek singer gets into the groove; with Dad, Linda and Amalia screaming in delight

Dinner Party with Grace and Werner

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:45:00 +0000

In honor of Klausi’s brief visit, we had two more family members come in from out of town, so in celebration we had a wonderful al fresco dinner party that stretched out through the balmy evening. Grace, Thomas’ “favorite stepmother” as he calls her, drove in from Pacific Grove – she always elevates a gathering with her charm and humor. Werner, Thomas’ tough-as-nails (but big-hearted) uncle, came by motorcycle all the way from Nevada just to join us for the party. For dinner: perfect pan-roasted potatoes, lentil salad, and a grill of mixed fresh fish – ahi tuna, ono and mahi mahi.

Photos: Grace and Werner sample some taters; fish for dinner; Werner takes off on his bike

Klausi in Town

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:23:00 +0000

Thomas' brother Klausi, who lives in beautiful Vienna with his wife Sabine and kids Lea and Frederic, had a bit of business in our part of the world, so he was good enough to extend his trip a few extra days and make a long weekend out of it. We were lucky with the weather and had an action-packed time as we made the most of his few days here. We sampled vino in the cellar, had beers at the Redwood Bar, had a little party with Grace and Werner, enjoyed bubbly with friends at the SF Ferry Bldg., went to a Giants game where we had killer seats and Klausi sort of caught a ball, ate tacos on International Blvd., listened to Klausi play piano and sing, enjoyed a Red Boy pizza with a movie at home ("Beowulf" - weird in a bad way - don't recommend it). The boys were able to squeeze in several games of backgammon in between, and we even made it out to Jack London Square for lunch and a gander at London's transported old cabin. I think we helped Klaus take his mind off the demands of work and daily life - but I know he missed the family!

Photos: at El Huarache Azteca; Klausi with Fritzi at the Redwood Bar; backgammon break; Jack London's cabin

Mother's Day at the Rose Garden

akigibbons@yahoo.com (Aki) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:09:00 +0000

Our Mother’s Day celebration is usually held in conjunction with a birthday feast for both my mom and Thomas – a triple reason to be happy. This year, before celebrating with lunch, the family visited the Morcom Rose Garden in Oakland. It was a sparkling day, and the roses were at their peak – every variety was bursting with eye-dazzling, fragrant blooms. I always loved the glamorous names given to roses such as “Judy Garland” or “Princess de Monaco”. It was a difficult decision, but I voted as my favorite a deep yellow rose called “Celebrity” – the intense apricot-dessert wine scent blew me away. Thomas and I were so captivated and inspired by this beautiful, well-kept little rose-scented retreat, that we discussed adding more roses to our own garden.

Formerly known as the Morcom Amphitheater of Roses, the garden was developed in 1932 and still retains a retro, romantic elegance. There are numerous walkways and paths, a cascading fountain, and pond (which Amalia loved). It’s a lovely spot for a wedding, or for taking a quiet break with a book on one of their benches. I also hold a personal fondness for this place because I used to live up the street, in a big old house with some very good friends. The rose garden became sort of a back yard for us.

We had a late lunch at our place, and we tried a Sicilian Fish Stew recipe that was simple and delicious. (Gilbert, who can’t abide seafood, dined on an assortment of excellent sausages from Berkeley Bowl, washed down with German beer.) Linda spoiled us once again with her incomparable baking – this time she brought two desserts, a delectable pound cake with pink frosting (at Amalia’s insistence, because she helped bake), and a luscious, picture-perfect fruit tart.

Photos: Amalia and Mom stop to smell the roses; Rose Garden cascading fountain; fish stew; la familia; Linda's fruit tart.