Back when we signed our lease for Oakland Yard, I could still read small print without the help of glasses. Barry Obama was president, and my cousin Billy, a scientist at UCLA, was the only person in my family who knew what a coronavirus was. In those days, we sometimes canceled reservations, memberships, or plans, but not people, and the news was never fake, though often unpleasant or inaccurate. Cocaine was still relatively safe, and a California cannabis purchase required a medical card. Fidel Castro, George Michael, and Leonard Cohen were all still on this side of the dirt, Daniel and Glenny were childless, and Arlot was a wee pup, unknown to us, and new to the world.

During the fall of 2016, when we opened Oakland Yard, teen punks would crowd into 1-2-3-4 Go Records for weekly all-ages hardcore shows. Catherine and her crew of creative misfits served the neighborhood coffee at SubRosa, while Sam, MacKay, and their lovable pitbull, El Chapo, presided over Manifesto Bicycles. This was before Roses’ Taproom, Temescal Brewery, Tacos Oscar, and States Coffee x Bread, before the slow streets, before the tragic Ghost Ship fire.

Oakland has changed a lot in six years, and so have we all. Pandemics and politics have pushed us apart and pulled us closer together. It feels like an eternity, and it feels like only yesterday, and we are so very happy to still be serving the neighborhood, so thankful you have made us a part of your lives, and proud of the fun, supportive, and positive space we’ve worked together to build and maintain. It’s been a real joy to return to the shop after being away, to be so warmly welcomed by so many of you, and I look forward to celebrating all we’ve been through together, all we’re doing right now, and all we have to look forward to, at our 6th Anniversary Party and Artisan Market behind the shop THIS SATURDAY from 12 to 5.

But first...TONIGHT 11/10: THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS - French reds and Italian whites
2019 Dom & Terre Corps à Corps Corbieres
2020 Clusel Roch Les Traboules Gamay
2021 Domaine de l’Hortus Le Loup dans la Bergerie2020 Scarbolo Friulano
2020 Conte d'Attimis Casali Maniago Ribolla Gialla
2020 Cave des Onze Petite Arvine
$15 flights from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm!

Cheers,

Max