The Solstice Approaches

Time– it passes.  I last posted on my little blog when it was summer, baseball season in full swing.  Now, it is winter, the trees finally shedding their leaves here in Oakland, and a few stars are out tonight between the clouds.  The solstice approaches.  Orion is swaggering across the sky, with his jewelled belt and sword, and Mars is shining low on the horizon.  Our family finished the Festival of Lights this past week, marking each night with candles, blessings, songs and presents for the children.  I sneakily shopped for books, toys– I bought exactly what they wanted.  Ironically, the presents they liked best were the ones I saved for the last night, the ones I bought on impulse, with no request at all– two Harry Potter style wands, which light up; one red, one blue, which make the  most elegant swish sound when you flick.  I guess this teaches me that having a wish granted brings joy– but to be surprised with something completely unexpected– now that’s amore’! 

Last year, I had ambitious plans for this blog– to post an East Bay craft festival guide, local recommendations, and so on.  I am so sorry to disappoint my adoring public!  It’s too late to steer you to Auburn or Sonora, for the ohmygosh delightful Fire on the Mountain Festivals.  But for the last minute, local recommendations, here goes :

Last minute Christmas shopping:  Go straight to Potpourri– the craft store which saves you the trouble of going to festivals.  It is located to the right of the Safeway, at Lincoln shopping plaza, off Highway 13, Redwood exit, Oakland.  You don’t have to go anywhere else, they have everything.  Beautiful ceramics, the most delicate colors and interesting shapes– anyone who drinks coffee or tea can use a handmade mug.  Know anyone with a kitchen, or kids?  Then they need a butter bell, to keep butter soft for morning toast, or a tray, with a hand-painted dove of peace.  Beautiful mirrors and elegant scarves for the fashion conscious.  Chimes and sand timer glasses, for those who just need a moment to calm down.  Well, that covers everyone I know.  After you shop at Potpourri, you can relax and read your book at the little cafe in the shopping center– it is comfy and you wonder how the heck it survives there, but it does.  You can even take home inexpensive Chinese food, from the restaurant next door–so you don’t have to cook after you have exhausted yourself at Potpourri.  If you feel extra crafty, buy epsom salts at Long’s–scent them with perfume essences and put them in a glass or ceramic vase from Potpourri–to give along with a beautiful bar of soap and an exquisite votive candle.

Grand Lake Farmer’s Market:  Go there.  Shop for crafts– it is the only venue for a genuine, customized magic potion for children I have ever encountered. The potion is so lovely- the potion lady will coach your child to hold the bottle to his heart, whisper a wish, and add the fragrance, essences and sparkles which seem most delightful. Then you have a potion guaranteed to banish bad dreams and bring on deep sleep, and the very best of dreams.  This market also offers lavender, and blueberries, all kinds of apples, pears, tangerines, nuts, honey, honey sticks, fruits and vegetables.  There is usually a lovely and kind basket vendor.  Everyone loves  fresh fruit and veggies and nuts.  There.  Your shopping is done.  Load it all into your car, and head to the Grand Lake Theatre for the matinee, then grab a veggie burger at the world’s sweetest little place, the Cafe Mimosa.  The veggie burgers are like nothing you have ever eaten by the name.

 Books– Oh my G-d.  You are in luck.  The very best bookstores are right here in Oakland.  On Grand, go to Walden Pond.  Politically, they are leaning so far to the left, they are about to fall over, but that’s ok– the world is round.  On Piedmont Ave- run, don’t walk, to Spectator Books, next to La Myxx Tea bar.  Spectator has such a lovely selection of remainders and gently handled used books.  They also have an incredible selection of videos and books on tape or cd for your family trips.  We have listened to The Hobbit, and are working our way through Lord of the Rings on cassette.  I replaced our ill-advisedly loaned out copy of Old Yeller, and bought Jumanji– the videotapes run about 5 bucks.  The audio tapes are cheap for what you are getting.  Load yourself up, then have a relaxing chai latte at LaMyxx before you head down the street.  You can take the whole family for an outdoor hot tub in the afternoon.  It is so much fun to get naked and really, really warm at Piedmont Hot Tubs.  It is super clean there, and quiet.  You have to try to stifle the giggles and fun of being naked outside.  It gets really hysterical when there is a low flying helicopter.  You get really clean, and drink free herb tea.  Then, you can walk a few doors down and shop for something used but nice at Dress for Less– although they have sort of ruined it in my view–taking the last, best thrift store and re-making it into an “upscale boutique” (attention board members– used clothing from Target is not “upscale”, and Moms, your primary customer base, want the childrens’ toys and clothing to not disappear.)

If you are a Kaiser member, don’t forget the little health conscious store in the tunnel between Piedmont and Howe– there you can buy sweet- scented, microwaveble heating pads, yoga balls, cookbooks, relaxation cds, books for your favorite child approaching puberty– they will pretend to be embarassed, then lock themselves in the bathroom to study that book for the next three hours. 

OK.  Those are my hints.  Give simply.  Buy locally.  Be good to yourself.  May the light shine over you and in your heart, and guide you through this, the darkest time of the year. 

Shopping While Living

For a long time, I have been wanting to publish an article about shopping– how to keep it local,  how to benefit the community and how to keep it painless.  My last post sort of flowed from that idea– I dearly love taking my children to the Fire on the Mountain craft shows in Auburn and Sonora.  But there are some great small businesses in O akland, and I have made it my habit to shop as locally as possible.  So, here goes– I’m going to start publishing local  shopping recommendations.  Potpourri got us started– here are a couple more for your consideration:

 Some places have an unexpected array of merchandise.  For example, if you go downtown to old Oakland, a couple doors down from Ratto’s Italian grocery store, you find Legogo– it’s a small shop, unassuming on the outside, but on the inside, you can find a few surprises.  They carry Kirkland brand cashmere sweaters; cotton pajamas; undies; Prada handbags;  Waterford crystal goblets; Coach bags; Lalique perfume bottles; Levi’s jeans.  Huge bags of dog food.  Tables; chairs; desks and garden statuary.  Dishes.  Cooking ware.  Sometimes, a washer/dryer combo will show up at a bargain price.  It isn’t Macy’s– lord, it isn’t even Costco, but you can get some fancy stuff without having to brave BART or the downtown SF pickpocket brigades.  Then, you can sit down in Cafe 817 for some refreshment.  You may even sit in the same chair where I saw Bono sitting one morning. (I thought– that guy is sure handsome.  Why does he look so familiar?  He’s smiling at me!  No wait, he’s smiling at everybody.) I was halfway back to the office before I realized who he was.  He was probably waiting for Jerry Brown.  Anyway–

After coffee at 817, you can go next door to Ratto’s and put together gift baskets.  They have a nice little selection of things from Morocco– you can make a boudoir basket of slippers, a leather pouf, and tea glasses on a silver plated tray.  Or the standard pasta, wine cheese and sauce gift basket.  They have spices in bulk, so you can put together glass jars layered with peppercorns and rosebuds, or your own special spice blends.  Or a ravioli making kit.  You can stock up your supply of pesto and pasta sauce- you know it’s as good as you can make at home!  The point is, you can shop for everyone who likes food, and give them something special and unique from a little, woman-owned, family business in downtown Oakland.  And yes, Elena is the great- grand-daughter of the man who founded the store.  Hurray for her, for keeping such a wonderful family business alive.  If you get hungry, I highly recommend the Jenny sandwich– fresh mozzarella, tomato, pesto and onion on crunchy fresh french bread.  Yum.

I’ll give you some more shopping recommendations next time– Lakeshore and Grand Avenue await!

Shalom to us all.