In his newsletter a few weeks ago, Daniel compared Oakland Yard to a record shop, with an ever-changing assortment of delights, old and new, carefully curated for a variety of tastes. A good bookstore also shares many of these qualities. We all deal in standard formats with endless variation, and while digital technology has rendered concrete books and records unnecessary, many of us continue to read and listen to them. There used to be more record shops, bookstores, and wine merchants, before America fully embraced Amazon. Independent small retail businesses are now quaint - unusual and old-fashioned.

I enjoy being in a space surrounded by goods for sale, organized, displayed, and variously labeled, feeling the weight of an LP in my hand, or the textured cover of a newly printed hardcover, in the company of others who value these things too. A good retail shop has friendly and well informed clerks who, if you consult them often enough, will learn your tastes and help you find what you may not even know you were looking for. These specialists often have esoteric knowledge and may be quirky, sly, or humorous. I prefer friendly clerks to algorithms.

For these reasons, and many more, I was terribly sad to hear that on July 30th, our local East Bay Booksellers suffered a fire that completely destroyed their store on College Avenue. It makes me a little teary to consider the stacks of smoldering books where I often browsed so happily. Gilman Street Brewing has stepped up to host several of the bookstore’s upcoming scheduled events and a GoFundMe account has been established for donations. If you too love a good local bookstore, and value a vibrant small business community, please share some support with our friends at East Bay Booksellers!

TONIGHT: Thursday Night Flights: White wines from Oregon and Reds from Spain
2023 Breanne Day Vin de Days White
2023 Ovum Big Salt White
2021 Kelley Fox Nerthus Skin-Fermented White
2018 Viñedos del Jorco Las Cabañuelas Cebreros
2021 Linaje del Pago Rojo Carmin Tenerife Listan Negro 2018 Viña Olartia Crianza Rioja
Flights $15 from 5-9 and wines by the glass until close!

SATURDAY POP UP - ED'S BREAD at OAKLAND YARD!!!
Ed's Breads will be offerings the following at this Saturday's pop-up:
Artisan breads (full/half loaf): sourdough wheat-rye, sourdough flaxseed-wheat, sourdough black sesame togarashi as well as sweet and savory pastries: ginger scone, savory turnover (mushroom|greens|goat cheese) and chocolate chip cookies! Roll up - you will be as excited as we were after we sampled these delights... Ed's Bread Pop Up Saturday August 17th from 1-4pm

Also this SATURDAY 8/17: Rosé Flights - Four more dry and delicious 2023 French pink wines
2023 Lelièvre Gris Pique-Nique Côtes de Toul Rosé
2023 Domaine Thomas-Labaille Sancerre Rosé
2023 Domaine Philippe Gilbert Menetou-Salon Rosé
2023 Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé
Flights $20 from 2-6 and wines by the glass until 9pm

See you in the shop,
Max