Happy Thursday, everyone!

Big news for Bay Farm Island this week. The city just locked in a $2.64 million state grant to move forward with sea level rise protection along the northern shoreline. If you live on Bay Farm, this one matters.

The City Council also approved updates to Alameda's rent control rules on Tuesday, with new protections for tenants displaced by illegal evictions. We've got the details below.

On the fun side, Fleetwood Macrame is taking over the Historic Theatre tomorrow night, the USS Hornet is hosting a free STEM Day for Alameda kids on Sunday, and there's speed dating at Alameda Brewing if you're looking to meet someone new.

Let’s dive in!

In this week's email:

Read time: 8 mins

FEATURED EVENTS

Friday, April 10 | 7:30 PM | $30-$75

📍Alameda Theatre & Cineplex, 2317 Central Ave, Alameda

The Bay Area's most popular Fleetwood Mac tribute band is bringing the hits to the Historic Theatre. The venue is the 1932 Art Deco movie palace designed by Timothy Pflueger, so the setting alone is worth the trip. General admission rockers are $30, luxury recliners are $35, and VIP ($75) gets you front-row seating, a speakeasy happy hour, mezzanine buffet, and an on-stage photo. Audience participation is encouraged. Get Tickets

Sunday, April 12 | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Free for Alameda Youth

📍USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum, Alameda Point

If you have kids 18 or under, this is a no-brainer. The USS Hornet is opening its doors for free to all Alameda youth (bring proof of residency). The day is packed with hands-on STEM stations: coding robots, hydraulic builds, catapults you design and test yourself, math puzzles, and depressurization chambers to see physics in action. The highlight is the Ultimate Egg Drop Contest at 1 PM on the flight deck. Build your design at home and bring it ready to go. The winner gets a free STEAM Overnight experience for a family of four. Sponsored by the Hearst Foundations. Pre-Register

ALAMEDA NEWS

The City Council accepted a $2.64 million grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy to advance Phase 3 of the Bay Farm Island Adaptation Project. The money will fund community engagement, design work, environmental review, and permitting for a levee, nature-based shoreline protection, an updated pump station, and drainage improvements along Bay Farm's northern shoreline, including raising grades along Island Drive.

This is one of the biggest single investments in climate resilience Alameda has seen. The grant was part of a broader $54 million coastal resilience package the state announced in February. If you live on Bay Farm, this project is designed to protect your neighborhood from rising water levels in the years ahead.

Source: California State Coastal Conservancy | City of Alameda

At Tuesday's meeting, the City Council approved amendments to Alameda's Rent Control Ordinance. The biggest change: tenants displaced by an illegal eviction now have the right to return to their unit at the same rent and get reimbursed for moving costs.

Other updates include clarifying that permanent relocation payments only apply when displacement exceeds seven days. Short-term relocation assistance still covers shorter disruptions like repairs. The amendments also codify documentation requirements for temporary rent reductions, full compliance standards before landlords can raise rents, and policies for single-room occupancy units and disability accommodations.

If you rent in Alameda, it is worth knowing what changed. If you own rental property, the same thing.

Source: City of Alameda Rent Program | April 7 Council Agenda

Spinning Bones on Park Street is known for one thing: slow-roasted meats with bold, California-meets-Pacific flavors. It also has a Michelin Bib Gourmand (2022 and 2023), which is Michelin's way of saying the food is excellent and you are not paying $200 for it.

Chef Mike Yakura opened the restaurant in 2019 after living in Alameda for a decade. He is a Top Chef alum (seasons 1 and 2) who also co-owns Dobbs Ferry in San Francisco's Hayes Valley. But he wanted something closer to home. "I wanted to live and work in the same place," he said. "I'm gonna feed the people I know." He and co-founder Danny Sterling built Spinning Bones around that idea.

The concept is a California rotisserie with Hawaiian and Japanese accents. Whole chickens, pork ribs, flank beef, and sausages spin on spits over high heat, basting in their own juices. The koji chicken is the star. The peppered flank beef is a close second. The sides are just as good, like Napa slaw with pickled red kraut and creamy sesame dressing.

The vibe is casual. You can bring the kids. You can bring a date. The menu also has shareable appetizers, salads with house-made vegan dressings, and enough vegetarian sides that nobody gets left out. 4.6 stars on OpenTable from 350+ reviews.

📍 1205 Park St, Alameda | spinningbones.com

"That last week before a check comes, what I get here can make the difference between three days of food and seven."

That is a real quote from an Alameda Food Bank shopper. Another one: "The guy at the door always has a joke ready. He makes you feel like Trader Joe's picked you up at the register."

The Food Bank started in 1977 in a church closet, serving 35 people a month. Today they serve more than 1,700 families every week. Their new facility at 677 W. Ranger Ave runs as an Island Community Market where families walk through and choose their own groceries, like a real store. Curbside pickup is also available.

Need food? Open Monday and Friday (10am to 4pm) and Wednesday (10am to 7pm). Walk in or book online. Bring a photo ID and recent mail with your Alameda address.

Want to help? Volunteer shifts run Mon, Tue, Wed, and Fri (2-3 hours). Must be 16+. Sign up at alamedafoodbank.org/volunteer.

Want to donate? Every $1 buys $7 of food. 85% of funding comes from individual donors. Visit alamedafoodbank.org to give or learn about their Capital Campaign.

📍 677 W. Ranger Ave, Alameda | (510) 523-5850 | alamedafoodbank.org

This Week’s Events

Free Alameda Youth STEM Day at USS Hornet | Sun, Apr 12 | 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Free for Alameda youth. USS Hornet Museum, Alameda Point. Hands-on STEM stations, coding robots, catapults, and the Ultimate Egg Drop Contest at 1 PM. Bring proof of Alameda residency. Pre-Register

For the Love of the Cake | Sat, Apr 11 | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Ticketed. Alameda Elks Lodge. A brand new charity fundraiser featuring a cake potluck competition benefiting local nonprofits. Get Tickets

Alameda Farmers' Market | Tue, Apr 14 & Sat, Apr 11 | 9am-1pm | Free. Haight Ave & Webster St, Alameda. Fresh produce, prepared food, and artisan vendors. More Info

Garden Play Date | Sat, Apr 11 | Time TBD | Free. Alameda Free Library. Outdoor play and garden exploration for little ones. More Info

Science Lab: DIY Battery | Sun, Apr 12 | Time TBD | Free. Alameda Free Library. Hands-on science experiments exploring chemical energy by making a battery from common materials. More Info

Fleetwood Macrame | Fri, Apr 10 | 7:30 PM | $30-$75. Historic Alameda Theatre, 2317 Central Ave. The Bay Area's top Fleetwood Mac tribute. Rockers ($30), recliners ($35), VIP ($75). Get Tickets

Live @ the Library: Mads Tolling | Sat, Apr 11 | 7:00 PM | ~$50. Alameda Free Library. Two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist who's played with Chick Corea, Kenny Barron, and Bob Weir & Wolf Bros. Get Tickets

Mio Flores Latin Salsa Band | Thu, Apr 9 | 7:30-10:15 PM | $5 cover or 1 drink min. Cinema Grill, 2301 Central Ave. Live Latin salsa inside the historic Alameda Theatre. Weekly Thursday residency. More Info

Karaoke Night at Hobnob | Fri, Apr 10 | 9pm | Free. Hobnob, 1313 Park St. Weekly karaoke every Friday night. More Info

Jazz Jam Hosted by Caesar's Empire | Wed, Apr 15 | 6-8pm | Free. Park Station Alameda. Weekly jazz jam open to musicians and listeners. More Info

Singer/Songwriter Open Mic | Wed, Apr 15 | 8-11pm | Free. The Fireside Lounge, 1453 Webster St. Sign-ups at 7:30pm. More Info

Anything Goes | Fri, Apr 10 & Sat, Apr 11, 8pm / Sun, Apr 12, 2pm | See website for tickets. Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St. The Tony Award-winning musical about a madcap group of passengers aboard a luxury liner. Running through April 26. More Info

Alameda Comedy Club | Thu-Sat weekly | 2431 Central Ave. The Bay Area's top-rated comedy club. Thursday nights: Bay Area comedy. Friday & Saturday: headliner shows. Sunday at noon: Drag Yourself to Brunch. Check the website for this week's lineup. More Info

Mastick Spring Multimedia Art Exhibit | Ongoing through spring | Mon-Fri 8:30a-3p, Sat 9a-2p | Free. Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave. The 24th exhibit showcasing 159 original pieces by 88 Mastick artists. More Info

Speed Dating Night at Alameda Brewing | Fri, Apr 10 | 6:30 PM (ages 50-69) & 8:15 PM (ages 29-49) | See website for pricing. Alameda Brewing, 1716 Park St. Skip the apps. Meet 5-12 local singles over mini-dates while enjoying craft beer. More Info

Trivia Tuesday at Alameda Brewing | Tue, Apr 14 | 7-9pm | Free. Alameda Brewing, 1716 Park St. Weekly trivia in the taproom. More Info

Trivia Night at Fireside Lounge | Tue, Apr 14 | 7:30pm | Free. Fireside Lounge, 1453 Webster St. Weekly trivia competition with prizes. More Info

Trivia Night at Almanac Brewery | Thu, Apr 9 | 7-9pm | Free. Almanac Beer Co., Alameda Point. Pub trivia on 2nd and 4th Thursdays. More Info

Trivia Night at McGee's | Wed, Apr 15 | 6:30pm | Free. McGee's Bar & Grill, 1645 Park St. Weekly trivia at one of Alameda's OG spots. More Info

Kindred Running Social Run | Thu, Apr 9 | 6:30-7:30pm | Free. Park Station Alameda. Easy-paced group run followed by a casual hang. All levels welcome. More Info

Saturday Long Run | Sat, Apr 11 | 8am | Free. Kindred Running, 1436 Webster St. 5K or 10K at conversational pace. More Info

Community Walk | Wed, Apr 15 | 9am | Free. Kindred Running, 1436 Webster St. Easygoing midweek walk for all paces. More Info

Flight Lessons: A Folk Opera by Deborah Crooks | Fri, Apr 17 | 7:00 PM | Ticketed. Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave. Based on the true story of the Peregrine Falcons living at the convergence of wild and urban habitats on Oakland's Fruitvale Bridge. More Info

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

Faction Brewing Spring Market | Sat, Apr 25 | 1:00 PM | Free. Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch St. Local vendors, handmade goods, food trucks, and craft beer on the waterfront. More Info

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— For Frankie