Happy Thursday, everyone!

Big week on the island. Tonight kicks things off right. Salsa dancing at Cinema Grill, a social run with Kindred, and more. Tomorrow night, Malaya Botanicals throws a FREE 7-year anniversary block party on Saratoga Street with vendors, food, and live music. And if you haven’t caught “Anything Goes” at Altarena Playhouse yet, don’t wait. It closes April 26.

On the news front, City Council meets Tuesday night to vote on a contract with incoming city manager Gerry Beaudin. The search is over. And a new restaurant opened on the island that you need to know about.

Also, the Alameda Dinner Club is coming back. If you missed the March dinner, it filled up fast.

Let's dive in!

In this week's email:

Read time: 8 mins

FEATURED EVENTS

Sat, Apr 18 | 12:30-4:30 PM | FREE
Alameda Free Library | 1550 Oak St, Alameda

The Alameda Free Library's annual celebration of children and books brings a free afternoon of kids' activities, performances, and books for families across the island.. Saturday's event runs four hours and needs no registration, so you can just show up and enjoy. It's one of the best free things happening this weekend and a great excuse to spend the afternoon at the library. More Info

Fri, Apr 17 | 5:00-9:00 PM | FREE
Malaya Botanicals | 2350 Saratoga St, Alameda

Seven years ago, Malaya Botanicals opened its doors in the West End and became one of Alameda's most beloved neighborhood spots. This Friday they're celebrating with a full evening market with vendors, live music, good food, and good people. It's free, it's outside, and if you've never made it to that corner of the West End, this is a good night to go. More Info

Being named to Forbes’ 2026 Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list is a testament to your experience, focus, and dedication to your clients’ financial future.

Thank you for the work you do each day and for carrying forward the standard of excellence at our firm.

ALAMEDA NEWS

If you have walked past 2431 Central Ave lately and noticed something different, you were not imagining it. Leña, a new Mexican restaurant rooted in heritage cooking, officially opened at the end of March in the former

Alameda Comedy Club space on Central Avenue. The restaurant describes itself as "Mexican dining rooted in heritage and tradition," with a focus on fire-based cooking and dishes that lean into the flavors of family recipes.

The tagline is "Fire from our heritage," which tells you everything about the direction they are going. This is not a Tex-Mex counter. Think wood-fire technique, traditional preparation, and food that feels personal.

The Comedy Club closed its doors back in November 2024, leaving one of the more recognizable spots on Central Ave empty for a stretch. Leña's April 2 ribbon-cutting marks the full handoff.

Alameda Unified named Katherine Werner, a special education teacher at Encinal Jr. and Sr. High School, its 2026 Teacher of the Year. Werner is the first special education professional to earn the honor in 25 years — and she's only been at AUSD since 2020. She serves as the Special Education Department Chair at Encinal, co-teaches English, Academic Strategies, and Get Reel English, and spent the last school year having her students do informational interviews to explore careers and practice professional communication. Werner will be considered for Alameda County Teacher of the Year this fall.

Source: AUSD

A new ceramics studio just landed at Alameda Point, and the response has been a little wild. Throw Down Ceramics is at 2350 Saratoga St. in the Store House Lofts building, steps from Bluedrip Coffee, Vinyl Wine Bar, and Humble Sea.

The duo behind it, Andrew and Lu, built this place from scratch. Andrew walked away from a high-pressure marketing career, spent six years studio-hopping across the Bay Area learning different wheel-throwing styles and experimenting with glazes. Lu, an Alameda native and art education grad with a background in youth development, brought the teaching side. Together, the pitch is simple: put down your phone and get your hands dirty.

The grand opening party is this Saturday, April 18 from 4 to 8 PM and it is free to attend, so if you have been curious about ceramics, now is your low-stakes chance to check out the space.

Classes run $100 for a one-night wheel workshop and $380 for a six-week wheel course ($350 for hand-building). Most sessions are already sold out.

Last month, over 80 Alamedans showed up to Dinner Club looking to meet new
people.

Here's what some of them said:

"This was SO much fun! I was a little nervous at first, but once we sat down
and started chatting the nerves went away. 10/10 would recommend for meeting
new people." - Alex S.

"I would normally never interact with strangers, but I genuinely enjoyed the
dinner and conversations. I will try it again." - Nathaniel M.

"What a great night, no pressure just conversation." - Julie T.

The next Alameda Dinner Club is Wednesday, April 22nd at 7 PM. You take a quick personality quiz, get matched with 5 strangers based on age, interests,
and budget, and meet at a local Alameda restaurant. After dinner, everyone heads to a local bar for the after-party.

Only 22 slots left. Seats are $20 right now and that goes up to $25 after Saturday.

Click the button below to take the quiz and save your seat!

This Week’s Events

Alameda's Spring Shindig | Sat, Apr 18 | Time TBD | Free. Alameda Point Gym, 1101 W Redline Ave. Earth Day activities, crafts, interactive games, and family fun. More Info

Women of Alameda's History Exhibit | Through Sat, Apr 19 | Free. Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave. Last chance to see this exhibit highlighting the careers and lives of notable women who shaped Alameda, from hospital founder Kate Creedon to comedienne Phyllis Diller. More Info

Sound Meditation with Dr. Suzie | Fri, Apr 17 | 7:00 PM | 📍 Breathing Room Alameda, 1708 Lincoln Ave. A guided sound meditation using crystal bowls, gongs, and resonant instruments. A chance to decompress and reset before the weekend. More Info

Flight Lessons: A Folk Opera by Deborah Crooks | Fri, Apr 17 | 7:00 PM | 📍 Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda. A folk opera telling the true story of Peregrine Falcons and humans coexisting at Oakland’s Fruitvale Bridge. Intimate evening of original music and storytelling. More Info

Mio Flores SalSazz Thursdays | Thu, Apr 16 | 7:00-9:30 PM | Free | 📍 Cinema Grill, 2301 Central Ave, Alameda. Latin salsa night every Thursday inside Cinema Grill. Great vibes, no cover. More Info

Salsa Dance Party with Viento y Marea | Tues, Apr 21 | 6:00-9:00 PM | Free | 📍 Park Station, 1200 Park St, Alameda. Live music, dancing, and Havana Social Club vibes. 30 beers on tap, food by Southie. No cover.

DJ Just Delicious | Fri, Apr 17 | 9:00 PM | Free | 📍 Fireside Lounge, Alameda. 90s and 2000s pop and dance hits all night. No cover, 21+. More Info

She Shreds Music Festival | Sat, Apr 18 | 2:00-8:00 PM | Free, all ages | 📍 Webster Park, West Alameda. A free outdoor music festival celebrating female and non-binary musicians with multiple bands performing garage, rock, and alternative. More Info

Pink Flawed (Pink Floyd tribute) + The Apprehenchmen | Sat, Apr 18 | 7:00-11:30 PM | cover | 📍 Fireside Lounge, Alameda. Pink Floyd tribute band headlines a rock double bill. 21+. More Info

Jazz Jam at Park Station | Wed, Apr 22 | 6:00-8:00 PM | 📍 Park Street, Alameda. Weekly jazz jam session. Drop in, listen, or bring your instrument. More Info

Singer/Songwriter Open Mic at Fireside Lounge | Wed, Apr 22 | 8:00-11:00 PM | Free | 📍 Fireside Lounge, Alameda. Weekly open mic for original songs and covers. All levels welcome.

Anything Goes at Altarena Playhouse | Fri, Apr 17 & Sat, Apr 18 at 8pm | Sun, Apr 19 at 2pm | Tickets required | 📍 1409 High St, Alameda. Cole Porter’s classic, tap dancing, showstopping numbers, and perfectly timed farce. Final full weekend before closing April 26. More Info

Comedy Night at Cinema Grill | Wed, Apr 22 | 7:00 PM | 📍 Cinema Grill, 2301 Central Ave, Alameda. Stand-up comedy on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays. More Info

Art of the African Diaspora Exhibit | Through Sat, Apr 18 | 📍 Studio 23 Gallery, 2309 B Encinal Ave, Alameda. The 3rd Annual Art of the African Diaspora exhibit closes this Saturday. A celebration of Black art and culture on the island. More Info

Alameda on Camera Photo Exhibit | Ongoing | 📍 Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St, Alameda. The 20th annual exhibit features photo-based artists who had just 48 hours to capture their assigned section of the island. More Info

90s Karaoke Theme Night at Hobnob | Fri, Apr 17 | 9:00 PM | 📍 Hobnob, Alameda. Come in costume (Britney? Spice Girls? Coolio?) and pick your favorite 90s songs. Weekly karaoke with a theme this week. More Info

Santa Teresa Rum Takeover at Forbidden Island | Sat, Apr 18 | 2:00-5:00 PM | 📍 Forbidden Island, 1304 Lincoln Ave, Alameda. Santa Teresa Rum takes over the bar for an afternoon of rum tastings and craft cocktails at Alameda’s beloved tiki lounge. More Info

Trivia at Alameda Brewing | Tue, Apr 21 | ~7:00 PM | Free | 📍 Alameda Brewing Company, Alameda. Weekly Tuesday trivia, bring a team and grab a pint. More Info

Trivia at Fireside Lounge | Tue, Apr 21 | ~7:00 PM | Free | 📍 Fireside Lounge, Alameda. More Info

Trivia Night at Almanac Brewery | Tue, Apr 21 | 7-9pm | Free. Almanac Beer Co., Alameda Point. Weekly pub trivia. Marley G’s pizza and Scolari’s food trucks on site. More Info

McGee’s Trivia Night | Wed, Apr 22 | ~7:00 PM | Free | 📍 McGee’s, Alameda. Weekly Wednesday trivia. A local staple. More Info

Sea Plane Lagoon Kayak Tour | Sat, Apr 18 | ~$65📍 Encinal Boat Ramp, Alameda. A 1.5-hour guided kayak tour of the Seaplane Lagoon with views of Navy ships, marine life, and Alameda’s waterfront. No experience needed.More Info

Boats Without Barriers Regatta | Sun, Apr 19 | 8:00 AM-2:00 PM | Free to spectate | 📍 Jack London Aquatic Center, Oakland. Inclusive regatta with adaptive, LGBTQ+, and community rowing. 1,000m and 500m races on the Oakland waterfront. More Info

Kindred Running Saturday Long Run | Sat, Apr 18 | 8:00 AM | Free | 📍 Kindred Running, Alameda. Weekly long run, all paces, great community. More Info

Kindred Running Spring Demo Run | Sat, Apr 25 | 8:00 AM check-in, 8:30 AM start | Free | 📍 1436 Webster St, Alameda. 3-mile social run or 1.5-mile walk, all paces welcome. Test the latest ASICS road shoes including the new Superblast 3. More Info

Faction Brewing Spring Market | Sat, Apr 25 | 1:00 PM | Free | 📍 Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch St, Alameda. A spring market at one of Alameda’s best waterfront breweries with local makers, vendors, and cold beer on the bay. More Info

F/A-18C Hornet Unveiling at USS Hornet Museum | Sat, Apr 26 | 📍 USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda. A new F/A-18C joins the flight deck with a ceremony honoring the docents who led the fundraising effort. More Info

In Living Colors: West Alameda Arts + Culture Festival | Sun, Apr 26 | 12:00 PM | Free | 📍 Radium Runway, West Alameda. A free outdoor community arts and culture festival featuring local makers and performers. More Info

Bay Photo 50th Anniversary Gala | Fri, Apr 24 | 2:30 PM | 📍 Bay Photo, 650 W Tower Ave, Alameda. Alameda’s Bay Photo Lab celebrates 50 years in business. An island institution marking half a century. More Info

HOUSES ON THE MARKET

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