michaelD: the bay area buzz report

Bits & Pieces (12.11.09)

OAKLAND—Over in Jack London Square, tonight marks the debut for Encuentro, the new tapas cafe and wine bar from Millennium chef Eric Tucker. 202 Second Street, at Jackson; 510-832-9463, [eat sf]
More - Eater SF: Millennium's Eric Tucker Joins Jack London Square Club Too More...

The big food-centric overhaul of Jack London Square is still slated for 2010, with that mega-market and at least four restaurants (including Daniel Patterson's Bracina) en route, but an anchor of the area, the 33,000 square foot Barnes & Noble, has announced it will be closing in two months: "The Square's developer told KTVU it hopes to find a dining or entertainment-themed business to fit into its new vision of the redeveloped square ... Visitors Monday night said that they think sometimes Jack London Square looks like a ghost town, and that they often go to San Francisco where they can find more variety." [KTVU]

Introducing Boot and Shoe Service—Charlie Hallowell's much-anticipated sequel to his cult favorite Pizzaiolo—soft-opening tomorrow in Oakland's Grand Lake neighborhood. You'll find the place inside an old shoe repair shop—the original "Boot and Shoe Service" sign still marks the spot. Sadly, you can't get your loafers buffed, but you can sample the same masterful wood-fired pie you probably sampled at Pizzaiolo (or during Charlie's tenure at Chez Panisse).[urban daddy] More...

Yet when it comes to the bar, this is no neighborhood restaurant — not by the standards applied elsewhere, at least. Want to enjoy a beer on one of the two patios? Grand Tavern offers two dozen bottles and six taps with styles ranging from Flemish red to German Helles to California IPA. A glass of wine perhaps? Grand Tavern offers 30 by-the-glass choices. Although, if I may be critical for a moment, the value-focused wine list errs on the side of quantity over quality. Perusing the wine list, I was reminded of a line from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" — "Water, water every where, nor any drop to drink." Well, I guess that's critical and pretentious, but you get my point. [oakland tribune] More...

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DO Something: Please HELP during the holidays

Can you spare $5 this holiday season?
(2 cups of coffee? A fast food meal? Half a movie ticket?)

The ACCFB serves 40,000 people every week. 14,000 of those people are kids.

1 in 6 Americans are unsure of where their next meal is coming from.

The Bay Area Buzz Report is proud to announce our partnerships with OaklandSeen, The Nikki Thomas Network, First Fridays, VIPLineup and Facebook Friends Fighting Hunger this holiday season in support of the Alameda County Community Food Bank's (ACCFB) efforts to alleviate hunger in our community. 

We're not trying to break your bank. All we ask is that you make a $5 donation to help feed a local family during the holidays. Emergency food assistance is provided to Alameda County residents in need, including low-income and working poor adults, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, abuse survivors, people living with AIDS, and the homeless. 100% of your donation goes to the food bank.

No amount is too small...$1 $5 $10. We need every dime. Your contribution will be multiplied seven-fold as the potent purchasing power of ACCFB stretches every $1 in donations into $7 worth of distributed food!

Help us help others, and reach our team goals of $1,000 each, worth $7,000 of distributed food!

Can you spare 3 minutes to spare $5 to help feed a family? Donate here today, before you forget > 

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