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.

WineSmarts makes learning about wine as much fun as it is to sip. This elegant game of question and answer cards is a great gift for novices and experts. Perfect complement to a bottle of Cabernet. Available for $10 on the Entrez! Open House website.

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

This week’s online buy is from Industrielle, the newest addition to the Oakland Unwrapped! Marketplace. You may remember that we reviewed this ultracool urban boutique and gallery when it first opened just over a year ago. Now they’re online, and they are starting to add products to the site, like these super sexy Boy Shorts ($15) from Oakland designer Evo Noche. Check out the current exhibits, plus housewares, clothing fine art and more for sale online and in the store at 33 Grand Ave. (510) 271-0633. http://www.industriellegallery.com

We are excited to report that the Franklin Square Wine Bar just opened in Downtown Oakland. The bar has a huge and varied selection of wines and cheeses, and they serve lunch, too! Jessica at OaklandGoods.com is a fan of the grilled artichoke and gruyere panini. Franklin Square is being managed by folks from Luka’s and is located just across the street. Yelpers are giving it good reviews, too. This is the perfect pit stop for those who will be shopping downtown at the boutiques and galleries this weekend, including Industrielle! 2212 Broadway, Downtown Oakland.

Oakland Unwrapped! is thrilled to be hosting the 2nd Annual Oakland Indie Awards, which will celebrate Oakland’s socially and environmentally-responsible independent businesses and artists. We had so much fun with you last year and we can’t wait to do it again on May 2, 2008.

If all goes as planned, we will be hosting the Indie Awards at the new Awaken Café. Awaken Café is a coffee and tea house, community center, and art gallery that’s just about to open in downtown Oakland (where the Golden Bull was). After dark, it will be a beer and wine bar which with cutting edge music and live performances. Sustainably renovated, and community-planned, this Café is going to be an amazing addition to downtown. Check out their site to be an early investor – and get paid back in coffee!

Wish your little guy had a playmate while you’re at work all day? Pride and Pedigree offers just the solution - doggie daycare. You can take him in the morning and pick him up in the evening, knowing that he had lots of personal attention, healthy meals, small play groups, and naps. Owner Kelli Danielsen has an impressive background (more…)

Rock Paper Scissors Collective is a volunteer-run community arts space with a great gallery, shop, arts lab, and zine library in the Uptown District. Step into the bright space to find fun silkscreened tees, unique handmade clothing, wallets, jewelery, bags, and more. Many items are made of re-used materials, like plastic/foil juice snack bags, bike inner tubes, and even sailboat sails.

While you’re there you can read an independently-published zine in their Zine Library, listen to independently-produced music at their listening station, and take a class! Check out their site to find out about their rotating gallery exhibits (which open every First Friday of the month) and other events. They also offer monthly classes in DJ’ing, screenprinting, bike maintenance, and other fun topics! Part of Art Murmur’s First Friday artwalk.

Rock Paper Scissors Collective: 2278 Telegraph Ave. 510-238-9171. Open 11-7pm everyday except Tuesday, http://rpscollective.com/new.html

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.

Thanks to the Ronn Guidi Foundation for the Performing Arts and Chevron corporation, you can see the Nutcracker again this year — its 34th season — at the Paramount Theatre. The performance will include members of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, led by conductor Michael Morgan. Delight your friends and family by taking them to experience this timeless classic in our beautiful Oakland theatre. Fri, Dec 22 at 8pm, Sat, Dec 23 at 2 & 8 pm, Sun. Dec 24 at 11am. Tickets range from $15 - $50, and are available by calling the Paramount (510) 625-8497 and via Ticketmaster at 510-465-6400 or www.ticketmaster.com.

We hosted a table at the new Oakland’s Own section of the Art and Soul festival on Labor Day weekend. Oakland Unwrapped! helped the City’s Marketing and Cultural Arts Department find some of Oakland’s exciting food and wine producers. As visitors sipped wine and tea and noshed on chocolates, barbecue sauce and organic nut butters, they told us how excited they were about Oakland Unwrapped! and the ability to support their community through our site. We had a blast and met a lot of wonderful people that support our cause.

Weds. October 25, 7:30 to 5:30
Oakland Marriott
Are you making time to plan for your business? Taking Care of Business is a conference hosted by Women’s Initiative for Self Employment open to local entrepreneurs who want to create strategies for business success. Expect to walk away with a wealth of ideas that you will want to quickly implement for your business. Hear from high energy speakers who will inspire you and help you approach business success from many angles. Get face-to-face time with influential business women.
Enroll today online - CLICK HERE or call 415.641.3469 with any questions. Conference admission including two meals is $100.

Seen. Unseen.
by Zahava Sherez
Sculpture in Clay, Bronze, Stone
New clay and mixed media sculpture
State Office Building Atrium
1515 Clay Street - Atrium
September 18 - October 27, 2006

If you haven’t checked out the funky fresh galleries and eateries in this area of downtown Oakland yet, you might be getting out of touch. Luckily, Oakland Art Murmur’s First Friday’s are your chance to get caught up quickly. First Friday of the month, 7–10 pm. oaklandartmurmur.com

Over 20 galleries in the downtown area keep their galleries open from 5-8pm on the third Thursday of each month. Art, music and food in downtown Oakland! Check it out!

Need legal help? Lome Aseron is an Oakland attorney who helps entrepreneurs reduce the legal risks of running a business through incorporation, employment law, and contract preparation and negotiation services. An entrepreneur at heart, Lome is committed to the success of Oakland-based businesses and has represented retailers and professionals throughout the city.
Lome A. Aseron, Esq.
Tribune Tower, 19th Floor
510.348.0101
lome@aseronlaw.com

Saturday, May 13
BusinessWoman’s Expo
Bay Area BusinessWoman’s Expo offers entrepreneurs, small business owners, professionals, nonprofit leaders, business partners, and readers Critical Conversations designed to expand your knowledge base and build resource connections leading to greater success and fulfillment.
Oakland Marriott
8:30 am
http://www.babwnews.com/expo/

May 15 - June 28
Blues Masters Paintings, Mixed Media, Drawings
Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery
State of California Office Building
1515 Clay Street-Atrium
Monday - Friday, 10am – 5pm
Free

Thursday, May 18, 2006
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights “Solutions Salon”
6pm - 9pm
James Irvine Conference Center
Solution Salons will bring together grassroots human rights activists, socially responsible business leaders, government officials, formerly incarcerated people and dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists to find solutions for our community. Includes speakers such as Paul Hawkins.

Thursday, May 18, 2006
Third Thursdays
Over 20 galleries in the downtown area keep their galleries open from 5-8pm on the third Thursday of each month. You can view exhibitions, attend artists’ lectures and demonstrations, participate in receptions and other special cultural events. You can also listen to live music and dine at some of Oakland’s hot new restaurants.