Happy Thursday, everyone!

A lot of good news this week. Alameda's homeless count dropped 46.8 percent in two years, more than three times the drop across the whole county. Next Thursday, a brand-new weekly farmers market opens on Alameda Avenue in the heart of downtown. And Congress is now requiring Veterans Affairs to explain why it cancelled the $390 million VA clinic that was planned for Alameda Point.

Pride Month kicks off Monday June 1, the Altarena's two-hander 'night, Mother opens at the Altarena on Friday, Faction has a sustainable seafood night Thursday, and Almanac closes the month with actual pro wrestling. Plus our pick for Restaurant of the Week has a line out the door three weeks after opening.

Let's dive in!

In this week's email:

Read time: ~8 mins

FEATURED EVENTS

Fri, May 29 & Sat, May 30 (evenings) | Sun, May 31 (2:00 PM matinee) | $20+

📍 Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St, Alameda

Altarena opens Marsha Norman's Pulitzer-winning two-hander about a mother and a daughter on the last night of the daughter's life, directed by ShawnJ West. Norman won the Pulitzer for this play in 1983 and it has been gut-punching audiences ever since. Two actors, one set, ninety minutes that you will be talking about on the ride home. Altarena is Alameda's oldest community theater and the production team is local. Opening-weekend tickets always go first for two-person plays, so book before Friday. Get tickets

Sat, May 30 | Doors 5:30 PM, bell 6:30 PM | $20 advance, $30 at the door

📍 Almanac Adventureland & Brewery, 651B W Tower Ave, Alameda

Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. The Puppet Masters Dojo brings full-contact puppet wrestling to Almanac's barrel hall, with announcers, an actual bell, and a card of fights you cannot make up. Family-friendly, brewery-adjacent, and one of the most uniquely Alameda nights you will get all year. Bring kids, bring friends, bring someone who needs a story to tell on Monday. Tickets go up at the door, so buy ahead. Get tickets

Did you know Alameda has a summer camp where kids can build a real radio and record their own podcast inside a professional studio?

This happens at CHRS Summer Camps, back at the Radio Central Museum for another summer, and spots are filling up fast.

Two programs available:

Both camps are led by Dana Jae, who runs the Broadcast Electronic Media Arts department at City College of San Francisco and brings decades of experience in recording, live sound, film, and post-production.

Dates & Details:
Dates: June 15-19 and July 27-31, 9 am to 3 pm
Location: Radio Central museum, Alameda
Ages: 6th-10th Grade

Scholarships available. Counselor-in-Training option for older students. All skill levels welcome.

📍 1650 Park St (inside Alameda Marketplace), Alameda

This bakery has been all the rage as of late. We are talking an hour-long wait on the regular, three weeks in.

Bake Sum opened on May 9 inside Alameda Marketplace, taking over the spot Feel Good Bakery held for 21 years, and the line has not slowed down.

Owner Joyce Tang built the brand in Oakland on what she calls Asian Americana pastries, and the New York Times named her signature Croissubi (a croissant stuffed with Spam, seaweed, Parmesan, togarashi, and unagi sauce) one of the 25 best dishes in the country. The only other Bay Area bakery on that list was Tartine.

I went on opening day and made a video about my experience. And it is definitely a must-try if you haven’t been.

Alameda's homeless count dropped 46.8 percent in the last two years, more than three times the drop across all of Alameda County. The new number comes from the 2026 Point-in-Time count, a one-day headcount done by 1,300 volunteers on January 22. The federal government requires this count, and it decides how much homeless services funding the city gets next year. Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft said the drop is the result of programs like the Warming Shelter, Dignity Village, the Day and Night Center, Safe Parking, the Street Engagement Team, and emergency supportive housing. If you see changes on your block, you can reach the Street Engagement Team by calling 311. Read more →

A new Downtown Alameda Farmers Market opens on Alameda Avenue on Thursday, June 4, from 3pm to 7pm, and runs every Thursday through August 6. The Downtown Alameda Business Association is putting it on. It is the Island's first midweek farmers market in the heart of downtown. The Webster Street farmers market still runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The new market is on the same block as the Thursday @ The Avenue evening pop-up. Bring a tote for opening day. Read more →

A bill moving through Congress now requires Veterans Affairs to explain, within 60 days, why it cancelled the $390 million VA clinic that was planned for Alameda Point. The clinic was supposed to serve about 280,000 Bay Area veterans. Veterans Affairs cancelled the project in August 2025, saying the site had PFAS contamination, a type of toxic chemical. The City of Alameda has said Veterans Affairs never officially told them the project was cancelled. Reps. Lateefah Simon, Nancy Pelosi, and Kevin Mullin added the language to the FY2027 military and veterans funding bill. It now goes to the Senate, where Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are pushing it through. Read more →

Free Craft Night with Jenny & Cabbage | Fri, May 29 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Free | 📍 Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch St, Alameda. Friendship bracelet making, supplies provided, no RSVP. A low-key way to start the weekend. More info

Wee Play: Drop-In Playtime | Fri, May 29 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Free | 📍 Alameda Veterans Memorial Building, 2203 Central Ave, Alameda. Indoor open play for toddlers and preschoolers run by ARPD, ideal for the long Friday-morning stretch. More info

Alameda Farmers' Market | Tues & Sat | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Free | 📍 Haight Ave & Webster St, West End, Alameda. Saturday produce, flowers, breakfast to-go from local growers, plus live music in the West End. More info

Alka Joshi Book Signing: The Jaipur Trilogy | Sat, May 30 | 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Free | 📍 Alameda Free Library Main Branch, 1550 Oak St, Alameda. Bestselling author Alka Joshi in conversation with journalist Deepa Fernandes, with a book signing after. Hosted by Friends of the Alameda Free Library. More info

Fish Feeding Viewing at Crab Cove | Wed, June 3 | 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Free | 📍 Crab Cove Visitor Center, 1252 McKay Ave, Alameda. Midweek aquarium feeding for a Wednesday-afternoon kid outing. More info

Heads up: USS Hornet is closed to the public Fri May 29 through Sun May 31 for a private event. Their public programming resumes Monday.

Mio Flores SalSazz Trio (Latin Salsa) | Thu, May 28 | 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM | Free with one-item purchase | 📍 Cinema Grill, 2305 Central Ave, Alameda. The weekly Latin salsa night, hot horns and all. More info

Joyce Grant & Company | Fri, May 29 | 7:30 PM - 10:15 PM | Free with one-item purchase | 📍 Cinema Grill, 2305 Central Ave, Alameda. Live music to kick off the last weekend of May. More info

Girlz Talk | Sat, May 30 | 7:30 PM - 10:15 PM | Free with one-item purchase | 📍 Cinema Grill, 2305 Central Ave, Alameda. Saturday night band, easy walk-up vibe in the back room. More info

Los Alegres Callejeros | Sun, May 31 | 3:30 PM - 6:30 PM | Free with one-item purchase | 📍 Cinema Grill, 2305 Central Ave, Alameda. A Colombian and Latin American band closing the month with cumbia and vallenato. More info

Karaoke at Hobnob | Fri, May 29 | 9:00 PM | Free | 📍 Hobnob, 1517 Park St, Alameda. The Island's go-to Friday night sing-along. More info

Jazz Jam with Caesar Young & Caesar's Empire | Wed, June 3 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Free | 📍 Park Station Beer Garden, 1200 Park St, Alameda. The weekly jazz jam, pro and semi-pro musicians sit in with the house band. More info

Magickal Market: Spring Witch Gala | Fri, May 29 | 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Free | 📍 Feathered Outlaw, 1506 Webster St, Alameda. Feathered Outlaw's monthly Webster Street market goes full spring with mystical vendors, late-night shopping, intuitive readings, music, and mocktails. Family and pet friendly. Spring Witch Gala theme, so dress for it. More info

Karaoke with KJ Melemel | Wed, June 3 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Free with one-item purchase | 📍 Cinema Grill, 2305 Central Ave, Alameda. First-and-third-Wednesday karaoke, easier mic time than weekend slots. More info

"Artists of the African Diaspora" Gallery Exhibit | Now through Jun 26 | Free | 📍 Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda. The group show in the K Gallery is still up, free to walk through. More info

Trivia Tuesday | Tue, June 2 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Free | 📍 Alameda Brewing, 1716 Park St, Alameda. The taproom's weekly trivia, one of the busiest nights in the East Bay. More info

Trivia at Fireside | Tue, June 2 | 7:30 PM | Free | 📍 Fireside Lounge, 1453 Webster St, Alameda. Live trivia with Kirkland at the woman-owned Webster Street lounge. More info

Singer/Songwriter Open Mic | Wed, June 3 | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Free | 📍 Fireside Lounge, 1453 Webster St, Alameda. Bring an instrument, bring your ears, sign-ups at the door. More info

Ocean Hoptimism: From Water to Plate | Thu, May 28 | 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Ticketed | 📍 Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch St, Alameda. Chef Laurence Jossel of Nopa Fish on sustainable seafood, paired with a tasting tied to brewery spent grain becoming fish feed. Get tickets

Mindful Energetic Flow Yoga | Thu, May 28 | 5:30 PM | Drop-in | 📍 Svastha Yoga, 647 Pacific Ave, Alameda. Vinyasa-influenced flow to reset before the long weekend. More info

PiYo (Pilates and Yoga) | Sat, May 30 | 8:30 AM | Drop-in | 📍 Svastha Yoga, 647 Pacific Ave, Alameda. Saturday-morning hybrid Pilates and yoga, popular with the 40-plus regulars. More info

Kindred Running Saturday Long Run | Sat, May 30 | 8:00 AM | Free | 📍 Kindred Running Co., 1518 Park St, Alameda. The longer Saturday group run. Paces fan out, so every level is welcome. More info

Kindred Running Wednesday Community Walk | Wed, June 3 | 9:00 AM | Free | 📍 Kindred Running Co., 1518 Park St, Alameda. The slower midweek walk built for new movers and stroller families. More info

Unity Festival: Arts & Culture of Africa and Beyond | Sat, Jun 13 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Free | 📍 Chochenyo Park, Alameda. Community celebration of African and diaspora art, music, food, and culture. More info

Downtown Alameda Rock & Roll Beer Stroll | Sat, Jun 13 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM | $34-$66 | 📍 Downtown Alameda (Park Street). Sip-and-stroll beer tasting through Park Street businesses, paired with bites and live music. Get tickets

Forbidden Island 20th Anniversary Party | Sun, Jun 14 | 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM | $30 | 📍 Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge, 1304 Lincoln Ave, Alameda. Hawaiian live music by Haopinaka, a 45s DJ set, a rum tasting, a pig roast, and tiki vendors marking twenty years. More info

57th Annual Sand Castle & Sand Sculpture Contest | Sat, Jun 20 | Registration 9:00-11:00 AM, awards 1:00 PM | Free | 📍 Crown Memorial State Beach, 1252 McKay Ave, Alameda. The Island's beloved summer tradition with kid, teen, and family categories. One of the biggest free events of the summer. More info

HOUSES ON THE MARKET

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