When we opened Oakland Yard six years ago, we envisioned a ‘wine shop and community junction.’ The wine shop concept is easy to understand, but I’m not sure we knew what we meant by the ‘junction’ part, aside from the fact that we wanted Oakland Yard to be a meeting place for both friends and strangers. Our first few years, we sold wine, made friends, threw parties, and hosted events, and the junction was happening, until March of 2020, when we were rudely rendered asunder. As you well know, it’s been fits and starts from there. One year ago yesterday, facing a viral surge, we again suspended service at the Oakland Yard tasting bar, and didn’t resume tasting flights for a full six months. Now we’re back in the swing of things, and it finally feels like a rebirth of sorts.

A few weeks ago, I was behind the bar at Oakland Yard, and our neighbor, Sam, came by to pick up a can or two of Roses’ Taproom beer, as he’s wont to do after a day of screen printing at Rise Above Graphics on Webster Street. As we made the transaction, Sam spotted some of his work on a tote bag slung across a fellow customer’s shoulder. The bag was from Crossman Meats, an east bay charcuterie producer, and featured what appeared to be dancing hot dogs. Sam said proudly, “I printed that bag.” The customer smiled and said, “It’s my favorite bag.” This episode made me happy for so many reasons: that Sam comes to us on the regular for beer made here in the neighborhood - one local business supporting another local business supporting another local business; that Robin from Crossman Meats went to Rise Above for his printing needs, rather than some big printer in another state or country; and that Oakland Yard is a place where one can meet people who’ve already had a positive effect on their lives.

The pandemic years have been hard on so many of our local small businesses, and I’ve taken to spending money more deliberately than I used to. When I buy tofu at Joodooboo, I’m sharing what I’ve earned with my friend Steve; when we get booze and housewares from Umamimart, we’re helping support Yoko and Kayoko; and when we go for tacos from Oscar and Jake, we feel good about it too, because it keeps our community vibrant and prosperous, and because these business owners are lovely humans, who value people over money, respect their environment, and take good care of their workers. Thanks to all of you who spend thoughtfully, helping to create the world we want to live in with our purchasing power. Some of us have more than others, but we all hold this power, and it’s up to each of us to use it wisely.

We’ll be OPEN this Saturday from 11 to 6 and CLOSED on Sunday the 25th. May you enjoy these last days of 2022, and join us for a Thursday Night Flight or Christmas Eve Day Tasting!

TONIGHT... THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS: California Cabernet Sauvignons and Loire Valley Sauvignon Blancs. Flights $15 from 5-9pm and full menu of wines by the glass available too!

SATURDAY, December 24th: FLIGHTS for your FEAST - taste 4 of our highly recommended, most gastronomic, holiday wines. Flights $15 from 2-6pm and wines by the glass.

Cheers,

Max