Gondola's Return to Lake Merritt
Looking for a romantic evening close by? Head to Lake Merritt and take a gondola ride!

Today's Oakland Tribune has an article on the return of the gondolas. Gondolas Servizio left Oakland last year for the warmer winter climate of Florida, but they're back at Lake Merritt through October! For reservations call (866) 737-8494 or check out the Gondola Servizio website. I just checked out the website and it doesn't have cost info that I could easily find, so I made a reservation thinking I could cancel it online - I just wanted to know the rates. Unfortunately, you can't cancel the reservation online. Hopefully they'll get my email. Rates start at $45 for a half-hour for a couple ($10 extra for each extra person), and they have a 55-minute cruise for $75. The phone number refers you to the website, so don't make a reservation unless you're ready to take a cruise!
Posted 7/31/2006

Cost Plus Offers Friendly Neighborhood Discount
Cost Plus World Market is offering a Friendly Neighborhood Discount through August 30, 2006. The 10% discount coupon is available on the community shelf at Jack London Mail, located at 248 Third Street (at Alice). Stop by and pick up a coupon today! (The coupon is only good at the Oakland store.)
Posted 7/26/2006

Flexcar to Show Off Cars at National Night Out
You already know about National Night Out (FREE ICE CREAM!) on August 1st, right? (7pm-9pm, 229 Harrison at Third Street, rsvp to nightout@jlda.org)

Well, representatives from Flexcar will be showing off their cars, providing information, and answering questions. If you haven't seen the cars down at Jack London Square next to the Wells Fargo ATM, I urge you to check them out! Local resident, Simon Waddington, signed up and took the Civic Hybrid out this past Saturday and loved it! At $9 per hour, it's CHEAP! The rate includes unlimited miles, gas, insurance, and maintenance. You pay an annual fee of $50. Find out more about Flexcar by checking out their website.
Posted 7/25/2006

Write to the Editor
I have received no letters to the editor this month! Does no one have anything to say about what's going on in the local news? Or are you all just too hot to write in? Go ahead, take a minute and speak your mind. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and we'd like to hear yours. (send email to editor@jacklondonnews.com) You do need to put your name, although unless you say you want it printed, we will put "anonymous". I have to have explicit approval from the writer before I can print a letter.

By the way, are you also conserving energy the best you can? Wait until after 8pm to run the dishwasher or wash the clothes! No air conditioning? Head to JLAC or California Canoe and Kayak and get out on the water and cool off!
Posted 7/24/2006

National Night Out (free) ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Here's your chance to meet others in the neighborhood while enjoying some FREE ice cream!

Jack London District Association (JLDA) will host National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 from 7pm-9pm at 229 Harrison (at Third Street). This FREE Ice Cream Social is your chance to meet your neighbors, no strings attached. You do NOT need to be a member/supporter of JLDA to participate, but if you want to sign up, JLDA could use more support from the area.

National Night Out is a nationwide campaign to bring more crime and drug prevention awareness to communities. Quite a few Oakland neighborhoods are participating this year!

Please RSVP so that JLDA can provide enough ice cream! RSVP to nightout@jlda.org.
Posted 7/17/2006

Fire Arts Festival was Fabulous!
TheDude got some great photos from The Crucible's Sixth Annual Fire Arts Festival, and more great photos from the event can be found on Flickr - search for "Fire Arts Festival Oakland" and then click on "most recent". Amazing that such an event exists, and hope that it continues to entertain for many years to come.

If someone from The Crucible catches this, please pass on the need for more trash cans throughout the arena as well as video screens so that those who can't get seats in the grandstands can see what's going on on-stage. Thanks!
Posted 7/17/2006

Senator Barbara Boxer Moving to the Neighborhood
According to the Oakland Tribune, Senator Boxer is moving to the neighborhood. Welcome to the neighborhood, Senator! No Noah's Bagels, but plenty of other great places to get coffee and a bagel or pastry.

Oakland Trivia: Senator Boxer's son, Douglas Boxer, is a Planning Commissioner here in Oakland.
Posted 7/13/2006

Another Murder in the District
This time at the corner of 2nd & Washington Streets.... here's the link to the Oakland Tribune article. This one happened around 2am on July 4th. The night of July 3rd was a loud one from midnight to 3am - this on the day before July 4. Last night there were fireworks going off until at least 4am this morning... so much for OPD's crackdown!

In other news, be on the look out for the next print edition of Jack London News. It will hit cafe's and other local retailers Friday (7/7) afternoon. This issue is a whopping 8-pages of information... and if you would like to help distribute the paper or write for it, we are always looking for volunteers. Just send an email to editor@jacklondonnews.com.
Posted 7/05/2006