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Uhuru Furniture
Category:
Retail Shopping
3742 Grand Ave
Oakland,
California 94610
(510) 763-3342
Okay, almost all. I am sitting at my $30 corner computer desk with the ergonomic keyboard shelf,...
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Okay, almost all. I am sitting at my $30 corner computer desk with the ergonomic keyboard shelf, next to my $25 Uhuru sofa, near a coffee table from my ex-roommate that I think was also from the store, with my $20 little armchair right outside, looking at my $15 bookshelf.
They have great furniture there, and a neat breakfast food booth at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market. They also have fun books and kitschy household things. And you can learn all about the former Black Panther of your choice when you walk in, because there are always flyers about one who's a political prisoner or one who is coming to speak soon or what-have-you. Plus, if you buy something big, they'll deliver it pretty cheap!
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Rockridge Kids
Category:
Children's Clothing
5511 College Ave
Oakland,
California 94618
(510) 601-5437
My little cousin goes to this place and he says he enjoys it which I believe. He meet new friends...
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My little cousin goes to this place and he says he enjoys it which I believe. He meet new friends and he is more nice to people around and is not shy anymore. Its an ecellenct place to let the kids go since it has many places to play and the staff is really cool. I recommended my other family member and they also enjoy it alot too. You should all join if you live around it. Decent pricing too.
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Chic
Category:
Women's Clothing
5414 College Ave
Oakland,
California 94618
I think this is one of the most amazing clothing stores in the bay area. The product is...
More 2 years ago
I think this is one of the most amazing clothing stores in the bay area. The product is exceptional & so high quality. You can find the most unique items and feel confident that you are truly getting something special and individual. The owner clearly takes pride in her work and her boutique. The customer services is wonderful and the overall experience is amazing. I wish there were more boutiques like this. It makes shopping a pleasure!
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Knitting Basket
Category:
Sewing & Yarn Supplies
2054 Mountain Blvd
Oakland,
California 94611
(510) 339-6295
I stopped by this yarn store because I was in the area and I wasn't impressed enough to want to...
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I stopped by this yarn store because I was in the area and I wasn't impressed enough to want to come back. For one, they have the organizational scheme I hate -- sorting yarn by color. To me that says they are not serving a serious knitting and crocheting clientele, but people who are interested in the fad or making endless scarves and shawls. It's not worth making the trip until you are already in the area.
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It’s hard to know where to take your computer when you’re in a desperate situation. Whom to trust?...
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It’s hard to know where to take your computer when you’re in a desperate situation. Whom to trust? I took a chance one day a few years ago, and took my PC to General Computer. I wasn’t disappointed. They evaluate your computer first, to see if what you want can be done, then they give an estimate, which they adhere to. Hourly rate is $65 per hour in the shop; it varies for house calls. They only work on Windows machines. They have an arrangement to have Macs repaired by a guy who picks them up, takes them to his shop and brings them back. Unfortunately, I can no longer recommend that guy; his work has gotten spotty.
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I like Walden Pond Books. And I pity them for their name-resemblance to that crappy tiny mall...
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I like Walden Pond Books. And I pity them for their name-resemblance to that crappy tiny mall chain. People often call them Waldenbooks by accident. Their only resemblance is that technically they are both bookstores. But where Waldenbooks is basically one room of bestsellers, crap pulp fiction, and children's book series, Walden Pond has everything.
They have the equivalent of several rooms, although the only space separated by a door is the children's playhouse. The children's books are wonderful - they have the best selection of Native American kids' books that I've seen outside of the Piedmont or Dimond branch libraries, a great display of all kinds of favorites, a hefty selection of new and used novels, plenty of toys, and nonfiction arranged in a way that kids actually find interesting.
The science-fiction selection is vast and cheap, which is the best combo for that genre. There is a women's section and a gay and lesbian section, good books on food and people who love food, another vast literature section, and the best magazine selection I've seen - not for its size but for its choices. I haven't heard of a lot of their magazines, and I generally find that I want to read them all. Plus, the bookstore does what a good indie bookstore should, which is to advertise and host lots of local events, often political ones. Their new books lean heavily toward the leftist intellectual - just walking through reading the titles is an education in itself. All in all, it's a wonderful and relaxing place to spend an afternoon.
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Whenever I think about this location, I think about their last Harry Potter launch party. I didn't...
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Whenever I think about this location, I think about their last Harry Potter launch party. I didn't go, but I hear they had bat-shaped cookies. How can you say no to bat-shaped cookies?
Not to mention intense dedication to local zines, magazines, and newspapers; a community journal where people can share the best book they've read recently; and a discount when you've bought $100 or so from them. The store is cozy, with a warm little kids' nook and regular readings. It has everything that makes independent local bookstores better than chains!
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Spasso Coffeehouse
Category:
Cafes
6021 College Ave
Oakland,
California 94618
(510) 428-1818
Spasso Coffee Shop in Oakland is a nice little coffee shop. The atmosphere is better than some...
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Spasso Coffee Shop in Oakland is a nice little coffee shop. The atmosphere is better than some coffee shops I've been to. Mostly there are a lot of people clicking away on the computers and listening to their i-pods, but it's friendly and light. The day I was there, they had the front and back doors open on a cold day. This was not great b/c my coffee got cold in an instant. So, that wasn't my favorite experience. I'm also a lover of good mochas, and theirs was OK. Not the best.
One of the BEST things about Spasso, is that they're the only coffee shop that I've been to in the area that actually gives you real coffee mugs as opposed to pint glasses...very east coast feeling.
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Walden Pond is one of the reasons living in the Lake Merritt area is so nice. Compared to many of...
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Walden Pond is one of the reasons living in the Lake Merritt area is so nice. Compared to many of the used/new bookstores in the area, it is rather large and they have a nice depth of selection. They staff is smart and very helpful, often steering you toward cheaper used items over list-price new items. The used selection is especially impressive, featuring a number of interesting and random books. Sometimes the store can be a bit difficult to navigate, especially distinguishing new from used, but you can always ask for help. Frequent buyer plan available.
AC Transit lines #57, 12, and NL Transbay.
PROS: Knowledgeable staff
CONS: Metered parking
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I used to live down at 13th and Jackson, and De Lauers was my paradise. I could walk down there...
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I used to live down at 13th and Jackson, and De Lauers was my paradise. I could walk down there any time and get whatever candy I wanted, even hard-to-find stuff like Sunkist Fruit Gems and Uno. Even better, they have an awesome book section that always had a Terry Pratchett book I hadn't read yet. And comics! And all the magazines you can imagine! Oh, the wonders... the wonders I saw....
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