Happy Thursday, everyone!

The biggest street festival of the summer is back. The Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire takes over Park Street this Saturday and Sunday with 250+ artisans, three stages of live music, and a kids zone. Same Saturday, Faction hosts the Rock & Roll Flea Market with 100 vendors and live bands. Pace yourself.

In news, the Oakland Roots want to play their home matches right here in Alameda, and Tuesday was a packed night at City Hall. Plus, Wave 2 of our Summer Giveaway drops today with a $500 Tomo Tea prize on the line.

Let's dive in!

In this week's email:

• Featured Events: the Art & Wine Faire & the Rock & Roll Flea Market

• Alameda News: pro soccer eyes Alameda, a big council night & more

• Restaurant of the Week: Bluefin Sushi

• Community Spotlight: the Plein Air Paintout turns Alameda into an art studio

• This Week's Events: live music, trivia, markets & more

• Houses on the Market: New Alameda Listings

Read time: 8 mins

FEATURED EVENTS

Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire

Sat & Sun, July 25-26 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Free | 📍 Park Street

The 39th annual Art & Wine Faire fills Park Street from Central to Clement all weekend. Over 250 artisans set up with ceramics, paintings, metal art, and photography, plus food vendors, craft beer, and wine. A commemorative glass runs $8, beer $10, wine $12.

This year adds a third stage and an expanded "Local Alameda" area on Central Ave for local makers. The music runs continuously on all three stages, including The Spazmatics' 80s new wave show, ZEBOP! playing Santana, and Long Train Runnin' doing the Doobie Brothers. The kids zone has bungee jumpers, face painting, and puppet shows, and there's free valet bike parking. Full schedule →

Alameda Rock & Roll Flea Market

Sat, July 25 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM | $5, kids 12 & under free | 📍 Faction Brewing.

Faction's tarmac turns into a rock and roll bazaar this Saturday. 100 vendors sell vinyl, vintage clothes, memorabilia, and instruments, with live bands playing all day, including The Pandoras and Th' Losin Streaks, plus food trucks and the taproom pouring the whole time.

It's the same day as the Art & Wine Faire, and that's a feature, not a bug. Do Park Street in the morning, then head to the Point for records and a beer with the San Francisco skyline across the water. Details →

Alameda’s BIGGEST Giveaway Ever

The Pulse Summer Giveaway is fully launched, and it's Alameda's biggest giveaway ever. More than 36 local businesses are in, we've already given away:free donuts for a year from Donut Petit, a $300 3-tier cake, a $500+ spa day, and now we're in Wave 2 right now!

Here is what you can win:

• Free Cake for 1 Year from Whisk Cake Creations!

• $500 Tomo Tea gift card

• $225 Full Nail set with custom art and a spa day pedicure

• $150 Gift card to Blue Drip Co.

• $250 Gift card to Santoro’s Italian Market & Deli

With winners drawn this Sunday around 7 PM. See all the Wave 2 businesses and prizes →

Entering is simple. On any giveaway post on @thealamedapulse, follow us and the featured business, like the post, and tag 2 friends in the comments. Sharing the post to your story earns 5 bonus entries.

If you haven’t entered already, here is the link for one additional entry you can put towards any specific prize!

Alameda News

Pro Soccer Wants to Call Alameda Home

The Oakland Roots and Soul announced they're leaving the Oakland Coliseum after the 2026 season, and they want to play in Alameda next. The clubs plan to turn their training facility on Harbor Bay Parkway, the former Raiders headquarters, into a temporary matchday venue for the next three to five years.

The long-term plan is a new soccer stadium at Howard Terminal on the Oakland Estuary. The first phase would be a 15,000-seat modular stadium, eventually growing into a 25,000-seat enclosed venue. Club president Lindsay Barenz says controlling their own venue is "paramount to the long-term success" of the teams. If the Harbor Bay plan comes together, professional soccer would be played on the island as soon as next year. Read more →

Source: CBS San Francisco

The City Is Talking Lease (and Loans) With the Alameda Theatre

The city went into closed session Tuesday to negotiate the price and terms of a lease and loans for the Alameda Theatre & Cineplex. The historic movie palace at 2317 Central Ave is city-owned, and City Manager Gerry Beaudin is among the negotiators. Nothing has been announced publicly, but "loans" on the agenda means the city is discussing financial support for its marquee downtown cinema.

The same closed session covered lease talks for Building 43 at Alameda Point with Scolari's Restaurant, Inc. and Chopper Guys. Closed sessions don't produce public outcomes right away, but the topics on the table are public record, and we'll be watching what comes out. The agenda →

Source: City of Alameda council agenda, July 21

Tuesday Was a Big Night at City Hall

Council was set to vote Tuesday on $2.37 million to keep the free water shuttle running through June 2028. Private partners are covering the biggest share, about $1.57 million, alongside a $730,000 county grant. The same agenda had $760,000 in grants for a West End bike share pilot and a citywide ban on parking in bike lanes, with a new fine schedule attached.

The November ballot was up for its final shape the same night. That includes the final passage vote on the $300 million infrastructure bond, which needs four of five councilmembers to pass, and the charter measure asking voters whether to eliminate the elected City Auditor and Treasurer offices. The city hadn't posted results as we hit send. We'll share the outcomes on @thealamedapulse. The agenda →

Source: City of Alameda, Legistar

Quick Hits:

• Election season is officially open. The nomination period for the November 3 election opened July 13. On the ballot: the Mayor's seat and two council seats. The city posts candidate updates as filings come in. Details →

• Alameda Brewing won gold. Their Burma Ale, a hop-free ale brewed with chamomile and lemongrass, took the gold medal in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship. The results →

• AC Transit has a service-cut scenario mapped for Alameda routes. The city's Transportation Commission was briefed Wednesday on AC Transit's contingency plan, including a service reduction matrix specific to Alameda lines. No decisions yet, but it's the earliest public look at which island routes could shrink. The agenda →

Restaurant of the Week: Bluefin Sushi Thai

Bluefin has been holding down the corner next to Encinal Market since 2012. The small, family-run spot at 3211 Encinal Ave runs two menus at once, Japanese and Thai, with more than 60 items to work through. Inside it's dark wood and izakaya vibes, more date night than takeout counter.

The signature rolls are the draw. The lobster tempura roll and the hamachi jalapeno are the ones regulars talk about, and the Thai side holds its own with tom yum goong and chicken satay. Sushi boats feed groups of two to six if you're going big. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Bluefin Sushi & Thai →

This Week's Events

Markets & Pop-Ups

Downtown Farmers Market | Thu, July 23 | 3:00 - 7:00 PM | Free | 📍 Alameda Ave at Park St. Evening market in the parklet, through Aug 6. Details →

Farmers Market | Sat, July 25 & Tue, July 28 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Free | 📍 Haight Ave & Webster St. Produce, flowers, and local vendors, twice a week. Details →

Pleasure Reading at The Rake | Sun, July 26 | 2:00 - 6:00 PM | Free | 📍 The Rake at Admiral Maltings. Pleasure Reading is an Alameda-based pop-up romance bookstore, and they are setting up shop with books and gifts for the afternoon. Grab a beer, browse the shelves, and find your next swoony read. Details →

Workshops & Crafts

Terrarium Workshop | Sun, July 26 | 11:30 AM | Ticketed | 📍 Bullseye Glass. Build a glass terrarium and take it home. Tickets →

Adult & Teen Learn-to-Ride Workshop | Sun, July 26 | 10:00 AM | Free | 📍 Alameda Waterfront Park. Never learned to ride a bike? This is the judgment-free fix. Register →

Live Music

Mio Flores SalSazz Trio | Thu, July 23 | 7:30 - 10:30 PM | 📍 Cinema Grill. Thursday salsa and Latin jazz residency. Details →

ILL-Eagles | Fri, July 24 | 8:00 PM | From $30 | 📍 Cinema Grill. Eagles tribute takes over the big theater for the night. Details →

Larrie Noble's Phree Thinkers | Fri & Sat, July 24-25 | 7:30 - 10:15 PM | 📍 Cinema Grill. Pop, soul, and R&B covers, two nights running. Details →

Fleeting Trance | Sat, July 25 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Free | 📍 Hobnob. Happy hour into a live dinner set downtown. Details →

The Sonic Highway | Sun, July 26 | 12:30 - 4:15 PM | Free | 📍 Dashe Cellars. Rock and soul covers on the bay-view patio. Reserve →

Shows & Entertainment

Ocean Hoptimism: Blue Forests | Thu, July 23 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM | 📍 Faction Brewing. Kelp forest film night with the filmmaker, beer in hand. Details →

Meyers House Tour | Sat, July 25 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM | $5 | 📍 Meyers House Museum. Tour the 1897 Colonial Revival estate. Details →

Games, Drinks & Vibes

Open Mic | Wed, July 29 | 7:30 PM | 📍 Fireside Lounge. Singer-songwriter open mic, all levels. Details →

Profs & Pints: How Beer Shaped Civilization | Wed, July 29 | 6:00 - 8:30 PM | Ticketed | 📍 Faction Brewing. A UC Davis brewing scientist on 10,000 years of beer. Tickets →

Noche de Espanol | Thu, July 23 | 6:30 PM | Free | 📍 Nido's Backyard. Spanish conversation night with games and good vibes. Details →

Trivia Night | Tue, July 28 | 6:30 PM | 📍 Almanac Adventureland. Weekly Tuesday trivia in the beer garden. Details →

Trivia Night | Tue, July 28 | 7:00 PM | Free | 📍 Alameda Brewing. Weekly taproom trivia with Head Games. Details →

Trivia Night | Tue, July 28 | 7:30 PM | 📍 Fireside Lounge. Tuesday night trivia on Webster. Details →

Trivia Night | Wed, July 29 | 6:30 PM | 📍 McGee's Bar & Grill. Wednesday trivia via Sunset Trivia, no cover. Details →

Family & Kids

Starlight Movies in the Park: Back to the Future | Fri, July 24 | 6:30 PM, movie at dark | Free | 📍 Alameda Point Multi-Purpose Field. Pre-show games and crafts, then the DeLorean. Details →

Malinky Music | Sun, July 26 | 12:30 PM | Free | 📍 Main Library. Bilingual Spanish-English music series finale. Details →

Toddler Plus Storytime | Tue, July 28 | 10:30 AM | Free | 📍 Main Library. Toddler storytime with activities after. Details →

Teddy Bear Picnic | Wed, July 29 | 10:30 AM | Free | 📍 Alameda Free Library. Bring a snack, a blanket, and a bear. Details →

Baby & Me Storytime | Wed, July 29 | 10:30 AM | Free | 📍 West End Library. Songs and stories for babies and caregivers. Details →

Get Active & Give Back

Kindred Social Run | Thu, July 23 | 6:30 PM | Free | 📍 Kindred Running Club. Three easy post-work miles from Park Station. Details →

Kindred Long Run | Sat, July 25 | 8:00 AM | Free | 📍 Kindred Running Club. 5K or 10K options at a conversational pace. Details →

Kindred Community Walk | Wed, July 29 | 9:00 AM | Free | 📍 Kindred Running Club. Midweek morning walk, all paces welcome. Details →

Volunteer Workday | Sun, July 26 | 10:00 AM | Free | 📍 REAP Climate Center. A morning of hands-in-the-dirt volunteering at the Point. Sign up →

Sound Meditation | Fri, July 24 | 7:00 PM | 📍 Breathing Room. A Friday evening sound bath to close out the week. Details →

Later This Month

Craft Night with ARPD | Thu, July 30 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Free | 📍 Alameda Brewing. Family-friendly craft night, supplies provided. Details →

Wilson Brooks & Friends | Fri, July 31 | 7:30 - 10:15 PM | 📍 Cinema Grill. Live band closes out July at the grill. Details →

Water Shuttle 2nd Birthday | Fri, July 31 | Midday | Free | 📍 Oakland-Alameda Water Shuttle. The free estuary crossing turns two, with a small dockside celebration. Details →

Got something happening in Alameda? Submit it here → and we'll consider it for an upcoming issue.

HOUSES ON THE MARKET

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