Good morning everyone!

Not sure how I feel about it being dark at 5:30 PM, but cozy season is officially here!

It’s a quieter week for big Alameda events, but still plenty to get excited about.

Bonsai workshops, Cider Fest, zine launches — and if you’re down to cross the bridge, some seriously good food festivals are waiting.

Let’s get into this week!

In this week’s email:

• Featured Events: Coffee Festival & Bonsai Workshop

• Island Spotlight: Bahn Mae Vane in Yelp’s Top 15

• This Week’s Events: Festivals, classes

• Island Updates: Island Bowl, Construction, and $10,000

Community Poll

Featured Events

San Francisco Coffee Festival

San Francisco Coffee Festival | Sat–Sun Nov 8–9 | 9 AM–4:30 PM | $50–$109 📍Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco

The Bay Area’s biggest coffee celebration returns for its 9th year! Taste your way through dozens of local roasters, sip unique brews, snack between sessions, and vibe to live music in a stunning waterfront venue.

What to expect:

• Endless coffee tastings from 100+ top roasters and indie cafes

• Chill music, good vibes, and food trucks outside for refueling

• Panels and demos if you want to nerd out with expert roasters

• Reusable mugs welcome—bring your favorite!

Bonsai Workshop at Faction Brewing

Bonsai Workshop at Faction Brewing | Sat Nov 8 | 12:30–2:30 PM | $85
📍Faction Brewing, 2501 Monarch St, Alameda. Grab a beer and learn the art of bonsai in this hands-on workshop led by Bonsai Bar. You’ll pot, prune, and design your own miniature tree while relaxing at Alameda’s scenic waterfront brewery.

What to expect:

• Guided bonsai class for beginners — no experience needed

• Take home your very own living bonsai tree

• Drinks sold separately — beer, views, and tiny trees

Advertise with us by emailing: alamedapulse@gmail.com

Island Spotlight: Bhan Mae Vane

If you haven’t been to Bhan Mae Vane on Webster Street, now’s the time. This Thai and Laotian restaurant was just named one of Yelp’s Top 15 Places to Eat in the Bay Area for 2025, and locals say it’s well deserved. The space feels warm and lively, and every dish comes out packed with bold, fresh flavor that keeps people coming back.

Here’s what diners love most:
• Papaya Salad – hand-shredded, spicy, and made just right every time.
• Crispy Pork Belly – perfectly crunchy on the outside and tender inside.
• Generous portions – great for sharing or taking home.

This Week’s Events

Food, Drinks, & Entertainment

The Soiled Dove Experience | Fri–Sat Nov 7–8 | 7 PM | $85+
📍The Big Top Tent, 2001 Ferry Point, Alameda – Immersive, circus-style dinner theater from Vau de Vire Society. More Info

Children of Eden Jr. Show | Fri Nov 7 & Sat Nov 8 at 7:30 PM, Sun Nov 9 at 2 PM | $15 (Pulse readers: $10 students/seniors). More info
📍2259 Central Ave, Alameda – Youth musical by ACTC with songs by Stephen Schwartz, performed by local kids in a family-friendly show.

Mini Masterpieces Holiday Gifts Show | Fri Nov 7 | 6–9 PM | Free
📍Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave – Small, affordable art from local Alameda artists. Perfect for holiday gifts. More Info

Stand-Up Comedy at Dragon Rouge Bistro | Thu Nov 6 | 7:30–9:30 PM | $15–$20
📍Dragon Rouge Bistro, 2337 Blanding Ave, Alameda – Weekly comedy night with great food and local laughs. More Info

Live Music with Radio Veloso | Sat Nov 8 | 3–6 PM | Free 📍Park Station, Alameda – Soulful live tunes with Radio Veloso on a Saturday afternoon. More info

John Anthony Wines Holiday Tasting | Wed Nov 12 | 6–9 PM | Price varies 📍Park Station, Alameda – Wine tasting and storytelling event featuring John Anthony Wines. Reservations recommended. More info

Something on the Island coming up we should know about? Let us know!

Community, Classes, & Activities

Island Bowl 2025 | Fri Nov 7 | 2:30 PM (game) & 7 PM (livestream) | Free / $11.50 online/ $10 at the door
📍Thompson Field & Alameda Theatre, Alameda
AHS vs. EHS hits 70 years. Watch live at the field or catch the first-ever theatre livestream. $10 tickets benefit both schools' booster clubs. Doors open at 6:30 PM. More info

ALAMEDUH Zine Launch Party | Thu Nov 6 | 5–8 PM | Free
📍Too Many Mercantile, 2021 Alaska Packer Place (near Faction Brewing) – Celebrate the launch of Alameda’s own hyper-local zine with live music, local art, raffles, and a mini pop-up market featuring island makers. Hosted by ALAMEDUH and created by Corinne Avganim Wilk. More Info

4Vets Golf Tournament | Tue Nov 11 | 8 AM–2 PM | Free
📍Mif Albright Par 3, Corica Park – Veterans team up with youth golfers for a fun day on the course with prizes, lunch, and community spirit. More Info

Sketching Alameda + Afternoon Tea | Sat Nov 8 | 1–4 PM | Price varies
📍Julie's Coffee & Tea Garden, 1223 Park St, Alameda – Outdoor sketching meetup with tea, hosted by FanLuArt. All levels welcome. More Info

BFI Youth Art Club | Thu Nov 6 | 3:30–5 PM | Free
📍Bay Farm Island Library, Alameda – Monthly art club for 4th–8th graders. This session features a hands-on workshop to sew your own stuffed creation. More info

Scavenger Hunt Overnight | Fri Nov 7 | 7 PM–7:30 AM | $70
📍USS Hornet, 707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda – Overnight youth adventure aboard the historic “Grey Ghost” with a scavenger hunt through the ship. Ages 5+. More Info

Free Outdoor Yoga - Unwind By The Bay | Fridays, 4:30 - 5:15 PM | Free
📍 Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal, Alameda, California. RSVP

Pickleball Beginner Social | Thu Nov 6 | 6–7 PM |
📍2525 Monarch St, Alameda – The Hub Sports Club. More info

Alameda & Beyond

OMCA First Friday Block Party | Fri Nov 7 | 5–9 PM | $10 📍Oakland Museum of California – Art, food trucks, music, and community hangout at this monthly evening event. More info

San Francisco Street Food Festival | Sat–Sun, Nov 8–9 | Sat 11 AM–8 PM, Sun 11 AM–6 PM | $12–$22 GA 📍China Basin Park, Mission Rock – A two-day celebration of La Cocina’s top chefs serving global street food. More info

SF Cider Fest | Sun Nov 9 | 12–5 PM | $25+ 📍District Six, San Francisco – Outdoor cider tasting event with food vendors, games, and live entertainment. More info

Berkeley Sunday Streets | Sun Nov 9 | 11 AM–4 PM | Free 📍Shattuck Ave, Berkeley – Streets go car-free for a family-friendly open street event with music, activities, and local vendors. More info

Sunday Salsa Social | Sun Nov 9 | 3–6 PM | $10 📍The New Parish, Oakland – Weekly dance party with salsa lessons and social dancing in a casual venue. More info

Island Updates

Island Bowl returns this Friday — who's taking the crown?
Alameda’s biggest high school football rivalry is back as the Hornets and Jets face off this Friday, Nov 7, at 2:30 PM. Last year, AHS dominated 42–7 and took the series lead for the first time in decades. With bragging rights on the line, all eyes are on Thompson Field for Island Bowl 2025. Get Tickets

Pacific Ave is getting a safety makeover. The City of Alameda has started construction on its first Neighborhood Greenway along Pacific Avenue, adding speed humps, a mini traffic circle, and safer crosswalks between Oak and Lafayette Streets. It’s a pilot project designed to calm traffic and make it easier to walk and bike. Expect weekday construction, occasional detours, and limited parking through mid-November. If all goes well, more greenways could come to streets like Versailles and San Jose next. Read More

Alameda’s library just scored a $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation. The donation honors our original 1903 Carnegie Library and celebrates public libraries as pillars of free access and community learning. Alameda is one of just 126 cities in California with a Carnegie Library still standing. The funds will support local programs across all three branches. Read More