Cool and Kool
With the unseasonably hot weather of last week, Alamedans sought relief in a number of ways.
For me, I spent a lot of time in my HC’s (human companion’s) wine cellar. It’s in the basement of an old Victorian with a concrete slab floor. Very cool. We also took the opportunity to enjoy the kool vibe of the very dog-friendly Forbidden Island outdoor dining area. We don’t get too many opportunities to wear our matching German Shepherd Hawaiian shirts, so HC made sure we got out.
Alameda has many java houses that folks can choose from to get their morning jolt, and one of the coolest and koolest has got to be Julie’s Coffee and Tea. Their garden area has lots of shade but is still nice and bright. Of course, it’s dog-friendly.
Many Alamedans went over to Crab Cove and took refuge in the groves of trees and enjoyed the slight offshore breeze. This suburban wilderness was a nice change from my normal sidewalk walking routine, but it didn’t last very long.
The shoreline squirrel population was more than I could handle, and people were starting to stare. We had to leave before someone reported me to the authorities.
Just down the street from Crab Cove is Crown Beach. Not much shade there so you need to be a sun worshiper and not wearing a fur coat. In fact, the East Bay Regional Park District doesn’t even allow dogs on the beach. What’s up with that?
If you are in Harbor Bay, there is a great park right on the water with lots of shady trees making this a wonderful place to escape the heat. Shoreline Park is at the end of Aughinbaugh Way with plenty of street parking. Just watch out for the Canada Goose poop.
What was a bit unusual about this week’s heat wave was that it did not cool off in the evening, making it ideal for checking out some of Alameda’s kool locations for outdoor dining. Redwood Square has Alley and Vine with tables under an arbor, and Tomatina has a great outdoor seating area that can accommodate families with strollers and canines. Their garlic knots are to die for.
If you’re on the west end, the Pizzeria Pappo parklet is a nice option, as is the courtyard dining area of 1400. If you time your visit just right, you can enjoy live music.
There was a lot more to cover, but I will save those items for my next report. However, I will include one sighting I made this week that was different. I found this rock near the sidewalk on Alameda Avenue. It only stayed around for two days and then disappeared. Has anyone seen this rock?
I’ve started working on my costume for Halloween. Have you ?
Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda
Mouf and his human companion can be reached via [email protected]. Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/. All photos and videos by Jeff Cambra.
