Know you want to get something super fun and original for a friend, family or co-worker, but not sure exactly what they want? You can’t go wrong with a gift card from Entrez! Open House. Your card recipient will be psyched to wander around this Oakland wonderland, finding gorgeous housewares, and clever accessories from brands like Alessi, Koziol, and Oakland’s Jenny Hurth. There are items that fit every budget, and the cards are available online in $20, $50, and $100 denominations.

Super cute accent pillows in a variety of colors from Industrielle, the hot urban chic boutique and gallery on Grand near Broadway. Pillows are by local designer Joom! Available for $35 on the Industrielle website.

One of our favorites, and a great gift for Oakland-lovers, this guide is perfect for people who want to travel sustainably, and those who love to explore the true soul of cities, not just the typical tourist spots. The first in the sustainable travel series by GrassRoutes Travel. Available for $16.95 on the Oakland Pride store and in lots of local stores around the city.

We announced Fwrap as one of our newest marketplace members last week, and we can’t let a holiday gift list go by without another mention of these clever eco-friendly gift wrap ideas. Save trees and time by tucking gifts into this beautiful fabric wrap instead of paper! Available on the Fwrap website!

Want your environmental values to follow you on vacation? Local travel writer and entrepreneur Serena Bartlett, author of Oakland: the Soul of the City, will share tips on low-impact travel and ways to support the communities you visit.  Wed., December 12, 2007. 6 - 7:30 p.m. Oakland Public Library, Main Branch. 125 – 14th Street. 1st Floor. AMHL Reading Room.

 Sound familiar? We featured this fabulous Oakland company last year and are proud to announce that they have joined Oakland Unwrapped Marketplace.

Make your gift giving eco-conscious. Fwrap offers an alternative to buying gift wrap that your gift recipient just ends up throwing away. Instead, these clever and beautifully-designed wraps are meant to be re-used for other gifts and storage. These elegant wraps also make wrapping much easier - no more cutting and taping! They come in several sizes and colors and each one includes a gift tag. Also check out their book covers and notebook covers. Fwraps have been featured in SF Chronicle (yesterday!) and Oakland Magazine, and they are all the rage with Sierra Clubbers. Buy them online at fwraps.com.

This is the 22nd year for the Holiday, Kwanzaa & Christmas Gift show, presented by the African-American Business Exchange. Come celebrate family and community while finding unique gifts sold by African American and other vendors! $5 Admission. Dec. 8th and 9th. 11am - 8pm. Oakland Marriott Convention Center, 10th & Broadway. www.kwanzaagiftshow.com

Oakland Unwrapped! is very proud to sell the new EcoMetro Guide. It’s a special East Bay green coupon book, business directory, and source of inspiration. Topics and products include:

- Local, seasonal, organic food and restaurants
- Green home building and remodeling products
- Bikes, transit, hybrid cars and biofuels
- Eco fashion and Fair Trade gifts
- Recycling and buying recycled products

You’ll save hundreds of dollars while exploring local businesses with a community or environmental benefit. Find coupons for B Restaurant and Bar, the Food Mill, Chabot Space and Science Center, the Oakland Museum, Amtrak, California Canoe and Kayak, Montano Velo, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Oakland, and many more!

Memberships to local organizations are a fantastic way to be more locally involved, and they are a great way to explore something new! There is a lot going on in Oakland and memberships to suit everyone. Check out our selection below:

The Oakland Museum of California has memberships ranging from $35 (students, educators and seniors), Individual ($40) to Donor Forum/Curators Forum/California Collectors Circle ($1000). Memberships are good for a year and include exhibits, family programs, lectures, community events, etc. Upcoming exhibits for 2007 include 100 Families Oakland: Art & Social Change, an exhibit to “Celebrate the power of families, the creative spirit of Oakland, and the potential of art to connect families and communities.” It is easy to join, you can join online, by phone, fax, mail or in person. Details on their website: http://www.museumca.org/member/index.html

The Oakland Zoo has memberships from $40 (students, seniors), $50 (Individual Adults), $80 (Family Plan) to $1000 (Giving Circle). The zoo is open daily from 10-4 and is home to more than 440 native and exotic animals. The Oakland zoo is, hands down, the very best place in Oakland to see a Red Knee Tarantula from Mexico, Flying Fox from Malaya and African Crowned Crane, all in one day! The Oakland Zoo is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1922. 9777 Golf Links Rd Oakland, CA www.oaklandzoo.org

Chabot Space and Science Center has a range of memberships, $20 Student, Senior, Teacher $50 Individual (includes one guest admission year-round) $80 Family (good for 2 adults and up to 4 children in the same household). This center is focused on astronomy and the space science. It has hands-on exhibits, an observatory and planetarium, all in a natural park setting. 10000 Skyline Blvd Oakland 510-226-7300 www.chabotspace.org

Museum of Children’s Art, MOCHA, is a not-for-profit arts education and youth development agency committeed to ensuring that the arts are a fundamental part of the lives of all children. Gallery admission is always free but memberships include discounts on classes, free shirts or bookbags, newsletters, head’s up on upcoming activities and other goodies. Memberships range from educator and student membership ($40), individual and family membership ($60 year). 538 Ninth Street between Washington & Clay 510.465.8770 www.mocha.org

Boys and Girls Club of Oakland: “Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland provides safe places for over 2500 boys and girls ages, 6 to 17. Their mission is to develop our community’s youth into positive contributors to society. Open after school and on Saturdays, the club “brings structure to the lives of children who desperately need it.” Members receive help with math, english and computers, take field trips, play games, make crafts and participate in performances. Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland owns and operates three Clubhouses in Oakland. Fees range from $12-$25 depending on the club. There are clubhouses in East Oakland, Central East Oakland and West Oakland. Check out their website for addresses and hours of each clubhouse: http://www.bgcoakland.org/

East Bay Regional Park District - Do you know someone who loves the outdoors? What about a membership to the East Bay Regional Park District! Prices range from $40 (seniors, students, educators), $50 (regular) or $95 (family). Benefits include day pass parking, free swimming, subscription to park newsletters, one annual dog pass, and various other discounts and benefits. With 65 regional parks, recreation areas, wilderness, shorelines, preserves and land bank areas including 1,150 miles of trails within parklands, it is time to explore! Memberships can be purchased by mail, at visitor kiosks, or at the parks administrative headquarters. Information online at http://www.ebparks.org/volunter/member.htm

Clever and stylish are the best words to describe the collection of home accessories, gifts, and furniture at this wonderful new shop at 17th and Telegraph. Entrez! Open House is the PERFECT store to usher in the Renaissance in Oakland’s uptown. Owner Marie Deleris brings her chic style to the corner, and much energy to the community.

Entrez! offers a wide range of items for the home, including candles, wine pumps, table linens, pillows, home fragrances, greeting cards, tables, chairs, and lots more. Even the office supplies are stylish. Designers carried in the store include local Oakland designers such as Chunks Candles and sitcom furniture, classic European companies such as Alessi and Koziol, and just plain fun companies like Knock Knock.

Marie is also very involved with the community, hosting pumpkin carving contests and french conversation nights, donating raffle items to good causes, and much more!

To top it off…Marie will gift wrap your items into a masterpiece (check the one in the photo)!

1645 Telegraph Avenue, (510) 268 9101. Holiday hours through December: Mon-Fri: 10 to 8; Weekends: 16th, 17th & 23rd: 12 to 5; Sunday 24th: 9 to 2. The store will be closed on Christmas day.

In August 4, 2006, the doors opened to Oakland’s newest treasure in home décor and artistic expression: Industrielle. This urban space in the heart of the Uptown Gallery District is a tribute to all things art. Colorful original paintings, ceramic cupcake holders, punk-inspired clothing, books, notecards, candles, blow-up dolls(!) and so much more await you. Eye catching window displays and progressive French provincial ambiance provide a warm welcome.

Owner Dana Taylor is a native Oaklander and an artist in her own right. Her line of greeting cards, distributed by A Little Piece of Art ®, has been carried by Barney’s New York, Barney’s Tokyo, and in boutiques throughout the country. Don’t forget to check out Dana’s own artwork on the walls while you’re there.

While Industrielle’s focus is local artists, Dana also attempts to include merchandise that will benefit under-developed or struggling markets/countries, as well as items with a social purpose. For example clocks from New Orleans to help rejuvenate the Louisiana economy, Tooksie candles from South Africa, and “statement clothing” from Downtown Democracy out of Brooklyn, New York. Plans for the store also include an artist studio in the rear, where Dana will offer art classes to children and the local public. 33 Grand Ave., Open Tues.- Fri., 10am to 6pm, Sat 11am to 4pm.

Piedmont Avenue Merchants offer a variety of events for the holidays, including free tea, wine, egg nog, open houses, discounts and more! Check out the complete list here (PDF).

Music You Didn’t Know You Loved
Free

Ever wish you knew what other bands sound like your favorite band? Ever wish you could simply type in the name of the song and have the computer create a custom-made radio station which sounded just like your song? Wish no more. A project of the Music Genome project, Pandora does this for FREE and it’s going to change your life. You will be amazed at how well it works and how many new artists you’ll learn about. Log on to Pandora.com and say hello to your new life! And of course, Pandora is based in Oakland!

by Erika Mailman
$14.95
Of course, I’m a bit of an Oakland nerd, so I couldn’t wait to pick a copy of Oakland’s Neighborhoods. I was happy I did. Through the book, Erica Mailman and contributors celebrate not only Oakland the place, but also the people. The stories, poems, facts and photographs touch on all of the complexities of Oakland: race relations, family memories, Lake Merritt, the sounds and smells of daily life in the city, and the stories behind some of our city’s most interesting buildings. You’ll also learn the history behind the neighborhoods, how and when they were annexed, and who originally settled there. It playfully bounces between past and present, prose and poetry as it moves from chapter to chapter, keeping it fresh and keeping readers on our toes. Pick it up at one of Oakland’s independent bookstores!

Book Signing for Grub: Ideas for an Urban, Organic Kitchen

Meet two dynamic, inspiring activist authors and grab a signed copy of Grub! According to reviews, authors Anna Lappe and Bryant Terry will enlighten us in the ways to live healthier and more ethically by consciously choosing our foods, our cooking methods, and our company. Sounds perfect to us! We love the idea of taking the “eat, drink and be merry” concept to a wholistic new level. Read a blurb about the book in this month’s Oakland Magazine (pdf).

April 10
Diesel Books
5433 College Ave.
7:30pm
www.eatgrub.org