Talk of the Point

Neighborhood council’s new newsletter just didn’t jell

The neighborhood council’s effort to adopt a new format for its monthly mailing died a sudden death last Saturday. That’s when would-be editor Fred H. Arm pulled out.

I’ve heard Fred’s side of it. With the board’s encouragement, he had produced an attractive and readable six-page, illustrated first edition in […]

That’s sweet

Pixar’s Oscar-winning director John Lasseter, who once roamed Point streets in search of lunch, misses at least one thing since the company moved to Emeryville: Hidden City Cafe’s apple or pear crisp. It has become a birthday tradition at his house. Last week Hidden City owner Shellie Bourgault, with Rosamaria’s Cafe owner Mike Nova […]

Clearcut revisited

Early last September, landowner Jay Fenton cleared his Stairley Street lot of its 40 or so monterey pines. Just about all had pitch canker disease, he said, and at least a few were also infested with bark beetles–not surprising, since the two maladies are spreading fast.

Fenton said he feared that all would die eventually […]

Baggage car derailed

Tomorrow morning a Union Pacific baggage car, already sitting on a truck trailer, was scheduled to ease past the Plunge and through the tunnel and down to the Golden State Model Railroad Museum–that is, it was until today.

Someone–museum secretary John Edginton is not sure whether it was PG&E or the crane operator–announced at […]

The secret newsletter

Don’t tell anyone, but the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council is developing a new format for its newsletter. Robert Kish, president of the board, confirms that there is such a project under way but refuses to say more.

I suppose the newsletter will run comprehensive articles to provide the kind of background people need to […]

Our Lady of Mercy faces the priest shortage

Our Lady of Mercy, the venerable and cherished Catholic church on West Richmond Avenue, has seen attendance dwindle in recent years. Now the Oakland Archdiocese wants to know: What should happen with this church?

Even with the resurgence following the arrival of Father James Pickett, who has briefly come […]

The talk continues about the new Annie’s polish. The food’s good, people seem to agree, and those lights! Incurable Collector Bill Vallivero says, “It’s so bright and clean I feel like I’m going in for surgery.”

Zoom goes London, zoom Paree

What’s going on here? London and Amsterdam have web cams, those cameras that beam nearly real-time images into browsers. See the nice people on the sidewalk, see the nice trams. Paris has one, too, inside a cafe and in live action. See the nice people turn pages of French newspapers.
When I […]

New Year’s Eve casualty at Hotel Mac

Does something look different in front of Hotel Mac? The tree was knocked over on New Year’s Eve by a Sysco restaurant supply semi, which backed up into it. Owner Griff Brazil seethed. He called Sysco. They promised to take care of it, but he still hasn’t heard what […]

The Point’s farewell to Little Louie’s big guy

Few parties around the Point could rival last night’s going-away bash for Little Louie’s owner Tony Beckerley, who has sold out to rejoin his wife and kids in Ohio. Most of the time the Hotel Mac Banquet Room was full of drinking and eating and lively talk. No […]