Come stroll Lakeshore Avenue in the 25^th Annual Easter Parade and Derby Decorating Contest and attend the 4^th Annual Spring Festival at the Lakeshore Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore, on Saturday, April 7^th, starting at 10 AM. Ken Pitts Martial Arts kids will demonstrate their skills as we gather for the parade at 11.

Yes, neighbors, for 25 years kids have been decorating their derby hats (you can buy them at shops on Lakeshore or use your own chapeau-Silver Moon Kids, 3233 Lakeshore, Adventure Toys, 3291 Lakeshore, Izek’s Salon, 3319 Lakeshore, Greetings, 3417 Lakeshore, Silver Lining Jewelry, 3340 Lakeshore, or George’s Cleaners, 3310 Lakeshore) with scraps of fabric, geegaws (no clear definition for these) toys, drawings, and what-nots and then parade them up and down the Avenue back to the church where prizes will be awarded to the best hats based on age categories from toddler to 12 (girls and boys).

Every child will go home with an Easter basket full of small gifts and candy from the merchants of the Lakeshore Avenue Business Improvement District.

Volunteers and parents will be set up at the church by 10 AM for last minute derby (hat) decorating before the Easter Bunny leads the stroll down the Avenue where the judging will take place. If it rains, and the last three Saturdays have been rainy, we will parade and give the prizes inside the church. But if it only rains lightly, bring your umbrellas. The merchants and shoppers really enjoy seeing the kids celebrating the season.

After the parade and contest, families can stay and decorate eggs and eat corndogs. They’re deep-fried on the spot so they have to be good for you, right? Our favorite face-painter, Jessica Gates, will be on hand and her wonderful artistic endeavor is free thanks to the Lakeshore BID-kids will start lining up by noon. Don’t forget your camera, these painted, chocolatey faces will grow up or get washed too soon.

This year will be different from so many previous years as our emcee of past years is missing. Hunter McCreary, who presided over our Avenue for many years as the owner of the Dime and Dollar Store, wore his trademark top hat with bunny ears and gave out the prize baskets in a way that respected the kids while making the grown-ups laugh into their sleeves. He died suddenly last fall so we’ll have to carry on in his memory somehow.

Who among you will wear a top hat with bunny ears and regale our little crowd with his (her) commentary on the kid-created chapeaux of Lakeshore Avenue? Please join us Saturday by 11 AM at the church to find out.

Come Celebrate the Holiday Season on Lakeshore Avenue

Free Carriage Rides, Santa Visits and Merchant Specials

Free Face Painting, too.

Friday Evening, December 16th from 5 to 7 PM &

Saturday Afternoon, December 17th from 3 to 5 PM

Lakeshore & LakePark Avenues

Brought to you by the Lakeshore Avenue Business Improvement District-

Contact Pamela Drake, 510-593-3721, or see www.LakeshoreOakland.com.

Hunter McCreary on Lakeshore, Easter, 2011

This obituary appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. If you don’t remember the old Dime & Dollar, Hunter’s iconic shop, then you may remember him as the gentleman who gave out the prizes at the Easter Parade while sharing his wonderful sense of humor and fun with all of us. No child who visited the Dime & Dollar at Halloween will ever forget it!

R. Hunter McCreary III Hunter McCreary died unexpectedly on September 22. He was a lifelong resident of Piedmont. He graduated from Piedmont High School in 1955 and Cal in 1959. Age 73. Hunter was a Buyer for the Emporium, the manager of American Draperies’ retail outlets, and owner of Dime & Dollar on Lakeshore in Oakland. He was a co-founder and producer of Piedmont Light 0pera Theater (PLOT). Hunter is survived by his wife of 51 years Susan (Lankenau) McCreary, his son Robert IV, his daughter Catey, his son-in-law Darell Breedlove, his stepgrandson James Breedlove, his granddaughter Abigail Grace Breedlove, and his loyal beagle Peanut, as well as Susan’s mother, sister, brother-in-law, six nieces and nephews and six grandnieces and -nephews. A celebration of Hunter’s life will be held at Piedmont Community Church, 400 Highland Avenue, Piedmont, on Saturday, October 29, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to any of the following organizations: PUSD (with note: Music/Performing Arts/Hunter McCreary), 800 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont 94611 Attn: Jan D’Annunzio; Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland 94610; Piedmont Council, Boy Scouts of America, 10 Highland Way, Piedmont 94611; UC Regents-Cal Band, 72 Cesar Chavez Student Center, MC 4280, Berkeley 94705-4280 (GO BEARS!); or a charity of your choice.

Photot by Helen Harrison

The Lakeshore Annual Children’s Halloween Parade & Harvest Festival:

WHEN: Saturday, October 29^th,10 AM to 2 PM.

WHERE: Crafts at the Lakeshore Baptist Church, 3534  Lakeshore,  10 AM through 2 PM.

WHAT: Costume parade at 11-starting from the Church-Trick or Treating on Lakeshore and Lakepark Avenues until 2 PM & refreshments/crafts provided by the Lakeshore Baptist Church.

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WHO: All children and families welcome!

COST: FREE, Treat Bags & mini pumpkins furnished by the Lakeshore BID and Free Face Painting by Jessica!

Photo by H. Harrison

Photo by H. Harrison

INFO: See The Lakeshore Business Improvement District on Facebook to vote for your favorite Halloween or Fall window on the Avenues. Check-www.LakeshoreOakland.com.

Find treats at shops which display the Lakeshore Halloween poster with the black cat!

3344 Lakeshore Ave

510-452-3344

Women’s wearables, open everyday.

our temporary parklet design, courtesy Jeffrey Lim of Garden Hortica

PARK(ing) Day is an annual, worldwide event that invites citizens everywhere to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good. It will take place on September 16th (or 17th) in 30 countries.

Lakeshore will set up a temporary parklet on Saturday, September 17th, across from the bulb-out near Arizmendi in preparation for a permanent parklet to be constructed in front of the bakery for all Lakeshore Avenue visitors’ use.

This parklet will not use up any metered spaces but will benefit visitors and shoppers who wish to sit outside and visit with friends and neighbors will experiencing our Lakeshore ambiance.

Please sign up to volunteer on that day. Call Pamela at 593-3721 or email Pamela@lakeshoreOakland.com.

yogofina.com

Hours-11 am to 9:30 pm

(510)836-9646

Coming April 23rd-

The 24^th Annual Lakeshore Easter Parade, Derby Decorating Contest & Spring Fair

Kids from toddler to 12 can get their plastic derbies from Lakeshore merchants who display the derbies in their store windows, decorate them with household items, then meet at the Lakeshore Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore, by 11 AM on Saturday, April 23^rd to parade down Lakeshore Avenue led by the Easter Bunny.

After the parade, the judges will award exciting prizes-Easter baskets from Lakeshore merchants-to kids in various age categories. Then everyone can stay for the Spring Festival at the Church including prizes, Easter egg dying, face painting, and snacks for free.

Please purchase your derby (hat) from a Lakeshore merchant who displays them for $2. Children should decorate their hats (with minimal assistance from mom or dad) from recycled objects found at home. There will be some “derbies” and decorating “stuff” available at the Church at 10 AM for procrastinators. This event is sponsored by the Lakeshore Business Improvement District and the Lakeshore Baptist Church for the children of Oakland.

The 24th Annual Lakeshore Easter Parade & Derby Decorating Contest
whats will be judged

Check out photos from the 2009 event.

interior of the cafe

Café open on Saturday mornings
and preparing for longer hours plus the full restaurant and nightclub. Take out lunch and dinners available now. Full bar and live music coming soon.