For those of you who visit bars in Alameda on a regular basis, the legendary Pop Inn on Park Street is no more. The bar is closed and is under renovation for a new bar to hit the scene. The owner of the Pop Inn also owned Lincoln's Address on Lincoln, which he sold a few years ago and is now the Tiki Lounge. If you have never been to Lincoln's Address, you are lucky to not have experienced the abundance of camaraderie of true alcoholics. I was never a fan of dark, dirty and sad places, but all those factors encompassed Lincoln's Address. Unfortunately, the same issues plagued the Pop Inn as well. On more than a few occasions I have passed the Pop Inn during the breakfast hours and noticed people drinking hard alcohol. If you are having a hard drink for breakfast, it is not a positive sign.
I hope the new bar brings a freshness and lightness to Park Street.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are awesome! They are one of mankind's greatest accomplishments. Hot dogs are pre-cooked, easy to travel with and does not require a fork and knife. Hot dogs in large quantities can be unhealthy for you, but not all hot dogs are made the same. There are plenty of hot dog manufacturers on the market and most of them make inferior products. Hot dogs are the made from leftovers of the fatty parts of a cow or other organs that are not wasted.
Hot dogs in Alameda came, gone, and never go away. The Pampered Pup on Park Street has been around for a long time, it's the only food joint in Alameda specialized in hot dogs. If you ever tasted a hot dog from the Pampered Pup, one has to wonder how it stays in business. The texture of the wiener is tough and when you bite into it, the skin has resistance. You can even hear the snapping of the wiener skin when you bite into it. Unfortunately, there is no flavor of the wiener, all you taste are the condiments on the dog. This indicates to me that the wieners they purchase are poor quality even though the least expensive dog is over $3.
There was a place in Marina Village called Top Dog that sold gourmet hot dogs for a while and eventually went out of business. The gourmet hot dog business plan did not work in Alameda. Gourmet dogs work in other major cities, but for some reason Alamedans do not support it.
Der Wienerschnitzel on Webster and Park are fast food places that sell a lot of hot dogs. The Chili Cheese Dogs are popular items since the chili smothers the taste of the wiener with melted cheese on top. The Corn Dogs are chicken wieners and not beef. I guess they are trying to serve a more healthy food product, but the taste is not the same. The Corn Dog tastes good with the outer corn meal batter, but most people would not be able to tell the difference between a chicken or beef hot dog. This also supports the idea that anything deep fried tastes good. The little mini corn dogs they sell are also chicken wieners.
Culina sells a gourmet deep fried hot dog called the Ripper Dog. The idea of eating a deep fried hot dog is indulgent. Eating hot dogs in general bring on the guilt factor, and then when you add the deep fried aspect to it, it becomes over the top. However, when you bite into the Ripper Dog, it calms all of your guilt sensors and you happily taste the hot dog and the condiments. The dog tastes good and has a satisfying, spiced meat flavor to it. The bun is also a great feature of the hot dog experience. The bun is not wimpy and kept the condiments in place without the bun getting soggy. The Ripper Dog is a bit more expensive compared to the fast food establishments, but it is worth the cost since the product is a higher quality of meat.
Hot dogs in Alameda came, gone, and never go away. The Pampered Pup on Park Street has been around for a long time, it's the only food joint in Alameda specialized in hot dogs. If you ever tasted a hot dog from the Pampered Pup, one has to wonder how it stays in business. The texture of the wiener is tough and when you bite into it, the skin has resistance. You can even hear the snapping of the wiener skin when you bite into it. Unfortunately, there is no flavor of the wiener, all you taste are the condiments on the dog. This indicates to me that the wieners they purchase are poor quality even though the least expensive dog is over $3.
There was a place in Marina Village called Top Dog that sold gourmet hot dogs for a while and eventually went out of business. The gourmet hot dog business plan did not work in Alameda. Gourmet dogs work in other major cities, but for some reason Alamedans do not support it.
Der Wienerschnitzel on Webster and Park are fast food places that sell a lot of hot dogs. The Chili Cheese Dogs are popular items since the chili smothers the taste of the wiener with melted cheese on top. The Corn Dogs are chicken wieners and not beef. I guess they are trying to serve a more healthy food product, but the taste is not the same. The Corn Dog tastes good with the outer corn meal batter, but most people would not be able to tell the difference between a chicken or beef hot dog. This also supports the idea that anything deep fried tastes good. The little mini corn dogs they sell are also chicken wieners.
Culina sells a gourmet deep fried hot dog called the Ripper Dog. The idea of eating a deep fried hot dog is indulgent. Eating hot dogs in general bring on the guilt factor, and then when you add the deep fried aspect to it, it becomes over the top. However, when you bite into the Ripper Dog, it calms all of your guilt sensors and you happily taste the hot dog and the condiments. The dog tastes good and has a satisfying, spiced meat flavor to it. The bun is also a great feature of the hot dog experience. The bun is not wimpy and kept the condiments in place without the bun getting soggy. The Ripper Dog is a bit more expensive compared to the fast food establishments, but it is worth the cost since the product is a higher quality of meat.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Park Street Art & Wine Faire
Today was the first day of the Park Street Art and Wine Street Faire. The weather was cooperative and turned out to be a warm and sunny day. This year celebrates 25 years of the Art and Wine Faire which is a great accomplishment for the small town of Alameda. I've been attending the event for close to a decade and enjoy attending every year.
The food vendors are basically the same players who participate in the street faires in San Francisco every weekend. As I walked around today from Lincoln to Encinal along Park, the food choices available were pretty much bad for you. A majority of the food was deep fried or there were plates of food being served with a lot of grease. Nonetheless, gallons of wine and beer were flowing like a river. People loved the idea of walking around with a beer in hand, shopping, eating and talking.
Even though the street faire is about the wine and art, I believe the live music was by far the best part of the event. The musicians showed real talent and skill. The bands performed cover songs, but they were good and sounded very similar to the original recordings. Whereas the art vendors who showcased their work was mediocre. The end products did not reflect real talent or creative ingenuity. I think someone forgot to tell the artists that we are in a recession and that customers don't want flattened wine bottles hanged on their walls. The level of art was disappointing. I guess after a few beers, any art looks awesome.
Overall, it was a good day had by all. I even think the dogs appreciated going out and meeting other furry friends.
The food vendors are basically the same players who participate in the street faires in San Francisco every weekend. As I walked around today from Lincoln to Encinal along Park, the food choices available were pretty much bad for you. A majority of the food was deep fried or there were plates of food being served with a lot of grease. Nonetheless, gallons of wine and beer were flowing like a river. People loved the idea of walking around with a beer in hand, shopping, eating and talking.
Even though the street faire is about the wine and art, I believe the live music was by far the best part of the event. The musicians showed real talent and skill. The bands performed cover songs, but they were good and sounded very similar to the original recordings. Whereas the art vendors who showcased their work was mediocre. The end products did not reflect real talent or creative ingenuity. I think someone forgot to tell the artists that we are in a recession and that customers don't want flattened wine bottles hanged on their walls. The level of art was disappointing. I guess after a few beers, any art looks awesome.
Overall, it was a good day had by all. I even think the dogs appreciated going out and meeting other furry friends.
Cafe Envy
A new cafe on Webster Street has opened for business. The name of the establishment is Wescafe. I believe the space was a former television repair shop where it appeared worn and tattered. Thank goodness a new owner has come in and made the space inviting and comfortable. Wescafe offers hot breakfasts, coffee, hot chocolate, muffins, cookies, cupcakes, tea and sandwiches. Another great feature of the new spot is the outdoor patio in the back. On a warm day, the patio is a great place to eat, relax and enjoy the surroundings. The patio has beautiful flowers and it's a great, clean environment. Wescafe is definitely welcomed to the West End since Tillie's is closed for business.
Another pleasant cafe across town on Encinal Avenue is Shay's Cafe. Shay's has a completely different vibe inside the space. The food counter is light and bright and showcases the open kitchen. The dining side of the room is dark blue in color and a bit somber if you ask me. The space is large and seats plenty of customers, but the color brings down the lightness of enjoying food. There is a kid's corner in the far right side of the room which is a great idea so Mom and Dad can sit and read the paper. The owners (husband and wife team) are pro-active business people and participated in the 4th of July Alameda Parade with a cool banner, kids and parents. The signature dishes are the East Coast inspired sandwiches. The weak points are the desserts. I am very happy that Shay's Cafe moved in since the previous business, Muffins, Muffins and More lost complete control of quality assurance of the food products.
Dependent upon what side of town you are at, you can't go wrong with either one of these cafes. If you are ambitious, you can ride your bike and go to both and check it out yourself.
Another pleasant cafe across town on Encinal Avenue is Shay's Cafe. Shay's has a completely different vibe inside the space. The food counter is light and bright and showcases the open kitchen. The dining side of the room is dark blue in color and a bit somber if you ask me. The space is large and seats plenty of customers, but the color brings down the lightness of enjoying food. There is a kid's corner in the far right side of the room which is a great idea so Mom and Dad can sit and read the paper. The owners (husband and wife team) are pro-active business people and participated in the 4th of July Alameda Parade with a cool banner, kids and parents. The signature dishes are the East Coast inspired sandwiches. The weak points are the desserts. I am very happy that Shay's Cafe moved in since the previous business, Muffins, Muffins and More lost complete control of quality assurance of the food products.
Dependent upon what side of town you are at, you can't go wrong with either one of these cafes. If you are ambitious, you can ride your bike and go to both and check it out yourself.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Frozen Yogurt Phenonmenon
For some reason there is an explosion of frozen yogurt joints all around Park Street. Frozen yogurt has been around for a few decades and I don't understand the sudden supply of yogurt stores. This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode where a particular yogurt joint suddenly becomes popular because the owner proclaims the frozen yogurt is fat-free. Customers can't get enough and wait long lines for the dessert. Jerry gains weight from the yogurt and smuggles the yogurt to a food laboratory where it tests positive for fat. The yogurt shop is then forced to hang a sign that states the yogurt is not fat-free, and the business goes bust.
The places around Park Street are Tuttimelon, a new place under construction on Santa Clara, and Yogofina recently opened at Park and Encinal. Yogofina is a cute and colorful space with friendly interiors. It's a small and cozy room, but does not hold a lot of customers, especially on warm days.
I wonder how long the frozen yogurt trend will last? The yogurt joints may have a chance just as long Tucker's doesn't get into the yogurt business.
The places around Park Street are Tuttimelon, a new place under construction on Santa Clara, and Yogofina recently opened at Park and Encinal. Yogofina is a cute and colorful space with friendly interiors. It's a small and cozy room, but does not hold a lot of customers, especially on warm days.
I wonder how long the frozen yogurt trend will last? The yogurt joints may have a chance just as long Tucker's doesn't get into the yogurt business.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Another Victim of the Economy
The Dock Cafe and Tiny's Candy Store is no longer in business on Webster Street. Tiny's lasted for a few good years before the husband and wife team decided to expand into the space next door. Who would have known that a tiny, hole in the wall candy store would create enough business for expansion? Unfortunately when the couple thought they had enough regular clientele to expand, the Dock Cafe did not work.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Ghost Town Alameda
A few hours after the Fourth of July Parade was over, Downtown Alameda was a ghost town. I brought out-of-towners to Park Street after the parade and a majority of the retail stores were closed. A few bars and restaurants were open, but the town appeared to be shut down. I was surprised to see many closed stores and businesses on a Saturday, where hundreds of people were walking around at one time. The Downtown, Park Street tour lasted less than thirty-minutes.
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