The OneCalifornia Foundation staff continues to search for fun and unique items listed on Oakland Unwrapped!  Here are some of our favorites for the month of July:

Shea Butter Cream from Skincare by Feleciai

This smooth shea butter cream scented with lemon, orange and notes of sweet basil is a must have.  Skincare by Feleciai is all natural and handcrafted with love in Oakland.

Glass Pendant from Bridgland Studios

Check out this beautiful orange, purple, and pink disk from Bridgland Studios.  The color selection is unique with a striking result and the design is gorgeous.

Memberships at Chabot Space & Science Center

Searching for something fun to do this weekend? Visit Chabot Space & Science Center, which hosts events and exhibitions for people of all ages. And don’t forget to visit the observatory-in the afternoon, you can view the sun, moon, or Venus from the telescopes, and at night, your view of the sky is spectacular. Families looking for a fun outdoor adventure should check out the new family/group overnight event, Slumber with the Stars.  Memberships are available at the Center and online.

Find these and other cool items on Oakland Unwrapped!

On Friday, May 14th, Oaklanders celebrated the people and businesses that make the city great at OneCalifornia Foundation’s 4th Annual Oakland Indie Awards.  Hosted in partnership with the East Bay Express, the annual awards program is a celebration of all things Oakland and an opportunity to highlight the positive social and environmental impact of Oakland’s independent businesses and artists. The program was kicked off by keynote speaker Michael Kieschnick, Co-Founder, President and CEO of CREDO Mobile / Working Assets. 

The 2010 Indie Award Winners Are:

Neighborhood Dynamo: Uptown Body and Fender, a woman-owned body shop that focuses on the emotional well-being of its customers and hosts community events and fundraisers free to local non-profits at its stunning body shop in Oakland’s Uptown district.

Newbie: Snap Judgment, the new Oakland-based NPR program and multi-media company that offers a new voice in storytelling, showcasing Oakland’s diversity and telling stories that “drop listeners into another person’s skin”.

Youth Empowerment: Oaklandish, the extremely popular design and screen-printing company that celebrates all-things Oakland through its apparel and supports the city’s youth through innovation award grants.

Pillar: Peerless Coffee, the 86-year-old family-owned specialty coffee company that provides specialty blends to some of the Bay Area’s most esteemed restaurants, offers scholarships to Berkeley students, helps develop the communities that grow their coffee, and was one of the first businesses to be certified green by the Alameda County Green Business program.

Innovator: Natural Home Cleaning Professionals, the eco-friendly co-op that provides healthy worker-owner cleaning employment opportunities for immigrant women in Oakland and the Bay Area.

Ripple Effect: BayVAN and Compound Gallery, the arts organizations that founded the nationally-recognized Plaid Friday, the independent business’ answer to Black Friday that encourages people to do their holiday shopping at local indie businesses.

Greenie: Ryan Duke, an independent industrial designer that creatively re-uses reclaimed materials to build essential products to improve lives including refugees in the U.S. and individuals in developing countries.

Oakland Soul: Joyce Gordon Gallery, the downtown-Oakland based commercial fine art gallery that seeks to open doors and share the perspectives of the Bay Area’s diverse artist population, as well as those of international artists.

Please visit http://www.oaklandindieawards.com/ for more information about the winners and for pictures!

In addition to seeing the winners being announced and awarded, party guests sampled food, wine, chocolate and beer from as many as 30 food producers and restaurants, explored a selection of locally-made items from over 50 artists and retailers, and thanks to the generosity of DJ Mama L, listened to music from Oakland musicians, past and present. 

Thank you to everyone that came out to celebrate with us and we’ll see you at the 5th Annual next year!!

There are so many different and unique stores on Oakland Unwrapped that sometimes it’s hard to know where to start browsing for gifts!  To give you an idea of the great products that are on Oakland Unwrapped, and to get you in the browsing mood, may we suggest some of our favorite Oakland Unwrapped items:

Courier Bag from Haiku–A Courier Bag with Flair

We love this bag because it has lots of space, lots of pockets, and a cozy sleeve to secure a laptop. It doesn’t look like every other messenger bag out there - it’s got a little feminine flair (while still durable and super functional).  They have purses wallets and other bags, too. From Oakland-based Haiku Bags .

Cards from Volta Press–U N I R O-S-M

Adorable letter press cards to affectionately send a someone special a smile! We love Volta Press for their creative, one of a kind cards, stationary, and invitations. They also have fun items for Dads and Grads!

Crunchy Foods Biscotti di Suzy–Cranberry Almond Biscotti

These biscotti, while still nice and crunchy, are fresher than anything you’ll find in the stores, and come in many yummy flavors.  Cranberry Almond has a nice vanilla cookie flavor without being overly sweet, with pairs nicely with tart cranberries and crunch almonds.  Perfect for your tea, crumbled over ice cream, or right out of the box!

L’Amyx Tea Bar–Organic English Breakfast

If you’re going to have your biscotti, you have to have your tea-and English Breakfast isn’t just for breakfast anymore!  L’Amyx makes the best cup of English Breakfast I have ever had, hands-down.  Enjoy a steaming cup in the morning or afternoon, or brew it and pour it over ice for refreshing homemade iced tea.

Find these and other fun items at Oakland Unwrapped!

There are ways to avoid the mall this holiday season, support local stores and artists, and still buy gifts for everyone no your list.  Oakland Unwrapped, in collaboration with Jack London Square, ProArts, adn Oakland Grown, is putting on a “mall-ternative” shopping event, Holiday Buy Night, on Thursday and Friday, December 10th and 11th, from 5 to 10 PM.  From pet lovers to food lovers, fashionistas to athletes, women, men, children, and everyone in between, Holiday Buy Night promises to have something for everyone on your list.

If you need a shopping break, be sure to check out the music and live entertainment going on throughout the evening.  Have the young ones check out the kids section for games, arts and crafts, and a movie.  And if you get hungry or thirsty, be sure to check out the “food court” at the event.  Restaurants from Jack London Square will be selling food, including Kincaids, Cocina Poblana, Ben and Jerry’s, and others.  Awaken Cafe will provide coffee and hot chocolate and Numi and L’Amyx will provide hot tea to keep you warm and alert while shopping.  There will also be a beer and wine bar, featuring the East Bay Express’ holiday lager!  This is one shopping event you won’t want to miss this December!

Save the date!  Add this event to your Outlook Calendar here.

Interested in volunteering?  See below:

As the holiday season approaches, we all want to show how much we love our family and friends by impressing them with gifts on the top their wish list. Yet, I urge you to resist the temptation of spending outside your means. The easiest way to spend only what you can afford- make a budget and STICK TO IT!

Before you hit the stores plan out what type of gift you would like to get each person on your list. Then comparison shop online for the cheapest options. There are many small businesses in the Bay Area that have amazing deals on locally made products. To view over 160 local stores click here. The more planning you do BEFORE you set out to shop, the more likely you will follow your budget.

Here are a couple tips from nonprofit financial literacy site, www.feedthepig.org:

• Many stores offer one-day or weekend money-saving sales during the month. Plan to shop your favorite stores on these days.
• Don’t be tempted to overspend on last minute purchases. Planning ahead could prevent night-before emergency shopping trips.
• Exchange favors as gifts or make handmade gifts such as baked goods and ornaments. A great online gift-exchange site is www.elfster.com.
• Send e-cards. Savings could be significant depending on the length of your mailing list.
• Pay with cash whenever possible. Interest charges accrued by not paying off your credit bill in January may offset any savings you received.

Oakland Unwrapped would like to introduce you to the latest additions to the online marketplace–just in time for the holidays!

Bird vs. Bird Designs: hand made purses, bags, and magnets from salvaged materials, featuring original artwork

bubbles and boo: hand sewn fabric tote bags and buckets, children’s clothing, and more!

bylee design: a visual communications design studio offering its service as well as original cards, stationary, and more

Celebrity Poodle Jewelry for Humans: fabulous jewelry (for fabulous humans) with a focus on the Glam Rock scene and a bit of the Hip Hop world

Dippity-Doo-Da Dip Mixes: a flavorful mix of herbs and spices to make outstanding dips for your next party

Found Treasures: jewelry, magnets, and mirrors sold by Oakland Artisan Marilyn Bookbinder

katoPop co.Op: unique handmade jewelry and fine art, using upcycled and refurbished materials

Continue to check back to see what other unique Oakland stores have been added to the marketplace!  www.oaklandunwrapped.org

October’s Full Moon Buy Night Shopping Bazaar was such a hit that we’re bringing it back–just in time for your holiday shopping!  On the evenings of December 10th and 11th, Oakland Unwrapped, in collaboration with Jack London Square, ProArts, and Oakland Grown, will be hosting a Holiday Buy Night Shopping Event.  Cozily situated inside a festive market hall with entertainment, activities for the kids, hot cocoa, beer, wine and creative gifts from local businesses and artists - it’s the best mall-ternative you could ask for. More details to come, so keep checking back here!

Save the date!  Add this event to your Outlook Calendar here.

The Crucible is hosting its annual Holiday Gifty Art Sale and Open House during the weekend of December 12th and 13th.  Here is a great opportunity to support local artists and community arts education while shopping for unique holiday gifts for everyone on your list!  Local artists selling clothing and accessories, jewelry, gifts and more (including some of our very own Oakland Unwrapped vendors) will be present.  The days also feature snacks, glass blowing demonstrations, a visit from Santa, and more!  You won’t want to miss this!  Get more details at the Crucible’s website.

Oakland Unwrapped would like to introduce you to the latest additions to our online marketplace:

Baby Girl Designs: fine artwork by Jeanette Madden on notecards, journals, gift bags and boxes, and more.

By Nieves: all natural handmade body care products made with essential oils.

CC Star: original and custom-made handmade cuffs and snap bracelets, coin purses and pouches made from vintage neckties.

East Bay Express eDeals: gift certificates to local stores, including bath & body, food & drink, books, music, and more, sold at 25% off the certificate face value.

Envirodryz: low-tech, eco-friendly clotheslines.

Ezme Designs: funky, unique, and custom-made ceramic bowls, mugs, and dishes.

Kristine Online: unique and fun collectible toys, dolls, and gifts.

Looks Good From The Front: handmade hair accessories and birdcage veils.

Pushcart Design: a graphic design studio that creates politically and geographically influenced t-shirts and posters.

Sarah Swell Jewelry: nature-inspiried handcrafted fine jewelry.

Steppen Simply: necklaces and earrings to make you look and feel “simply” beautiful in any outfit for any occasion at any time.

YB Timepieces: high-quality fashion watches.

More stores are being added all the time, so keep checking www.oaklandunwrapped.org for more fun and unique Oakland-based businesses!

Locally grown food and produce is a rising movement in the United States, particularly in urban areas. Many urban dwellers are participating by trying their hand at growing their own vegetables. This not only helps the environment, but can help cut down on our food cost. And those of us living in the San Francisco Bay Area are lucky enough to have plants grow year-round. But many urban dwellers have such small yards–or no yards at all–that they have no space in which to grow a garden.  But Vertical Home Gardens, a brand-new Oakland-based garden products company, has come up with a solution to allow suburban and urban gardeners alike can grow vegetables, herbs, flower, and more in a space that only takes up a couple of square feet.

Vertical Home Gardens, LLC is a garden products company that designs, manufactures, markets, and sells vertical gardening solutions. The team behind Vertical Home Gardens has developed the Phytopod^TM and the Phytopod Field^TM gardening products for individuals, schools, and businesses who would like to garden but lack sufficient space to do so. A Phytopod fits nicely on a balcony or patio and can grow up to 20 square feet of produce!

The Phytopod^TM comes in three different heights, all with an 18 inch diameter, to accommodate its customers’ needs; even the largest Phytopod^TM is only 3 feet tall. All Phytopods are made from eco-friendly, recycled, or re-used materials and have a built-in internal watering system, allowing plants to grow on every surface of the Phytopod^TM.

Vertical Home Gardens is also reaching out to their urban community, particularly schools. They have started a “Grow, Eat, Recycle!” School Garden Package, which is designed to teach students how to compost cafeteria food scraps, then use the compost to grow a vertical garden of vegetables and herbs to be eaten in the cafeteria. The package, combined with the vertical garden, is perfect for urban schools with little space for traditional gardening but that still want their students to learn where their food comes from.

Make sure to check out this Oakland-based business on Oakland Unwrapped for more information: http://oaklandunwrapped.org/verticalgardens.