Aloha Alameda

 

 

Shoot through the Webster Street Tube and enter Alameda, an East Bay island with a unique vibe. After passing through neighborhoods packed with retro charm, you’ll find beautiful beaches, chic new restaurants and bars, and a sumptuously renovated big-screen movie theater.

10am: Start with breakfast at Ole’s Waffle Shop, a diner that’s been on Park Street since 1927. The waffles are worth waiting for. Or, have a cup of fresh-roasted joe at The Beanery in the Alameda Marketplace, a new hot spot for the food-obsessed.Ole's Waffle Shop, 1507 Park St., (510) 522-8108; The Beanery and Alameda Marketplace, 1650 Park St., www.alamedamarketplace.com.

WEB EXTRA: The first Sunday of every month is the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire. More than 800 vendors offer all varieties of antiques: from fine furniture to ktoschkes and doo-dads. The location, at the former Alameda Naval Air Station, offers stuffing views of the Bay, and is a lovely place to spend a Sunday morning. www.antiquesbythebay.net.

11:30am: Stroll along Crown Memorial State Beach or swim in the Bay. The shallow water stays relatively warm during summer months. For weather updates, visit the East Bay Parks website. Crown Memorial State Beach, Eighth St. and Otis Dr., (510) 521-7090, www.ebparks.org/parks/crown_beach.

 

WEB EXTRA: 1:30 p.m.: Chase the green fairy at St. George’s Spirits. This acclaimed distiller recently introduced absinthe to its selection of top shelf vodka, whiskey, and liquers. Free tours every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., tasting room open Wednesday-Saturday noon to 7 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m. 601 Monarch St. at Alameda Point, 510.769.1601. www.stgeorgespirits.com.

3pm: Indulge in a chocolate-dipped cone at a Park Street classic—Tucker’s Ice Cream, an old-fashioned ice creamery with handmade goodies. 1349 Park St., (510) 522-4960, www.tuckersicecream.com.

WEB EXTRA: Do some shopping on Park Street. Diablo’s fashion editor, Carolyn Rovner, recommends M Zoe Couture, a small boutique with big name designers like Nicole Miller and Laundry. 1424 Park St., (510) 814-6950.

4pm: On Sundays, shoot pinball at Lucky Ju Ju, a blast-from-the-past arcade and art gallery filled with machines from the 1960s and ’70s. Open Fridays and Saturdays 6 p.m.–midnight, Sundays 4–8 p.m., 713 Santa Clara Ave., (510) 205-9793, www.ujuju.com.

5:30pm: Grab a bite to eat at Pappo, a bistro serving California and Mediterranean cuisine. Try something off the small plates Movie Menu—like the lamb and beef kefta sliders, with cucumber, goat cheese, and harissa sauce.
2320 Central Ave., (510) 337-9100, www.papporestaurant.com.

WEB EXTRA: For bigger burgers, Burgermeister was scheduled to open in late July, right next door to the Alameda Theater. This extension of the San Francisco burger chain offers Niman Ranch beef and a lively atmosphere. www.burgermeistersf.com.

7pm: Take in a movie at the Alameda Theatre. This 1932 neighborhood cinema has been spectacularly renovated and reopened this summer. It boasts one of the biggest screens in the Bay Area. 2317 Central Ave., (510) 769-3456, www.alamedatheatres.com.