Oakland, CA – In the September issue of Diablo Magazine, reporter Ethan Fletcher caught up with Rick Hackett, co-owner with wife Meredith Melville, of Bocanova, Jack London Square’s latest upscale restaurant to open.Tell me a little about the “Pan American cuisine” concept for the restaurant?I wanted to draw inspiration mainly from South America, Latin America, and Mexico, but I wanted to include North America and California, but to heighten the spice level a little bit. Not real spicy, I can’t eat real spicy food, but this is a different kind of spice from these peppers that just give you some heat …

Oakland, CA – Palm trees and ice skating aren’t often mentioned in the same breath.  For the month of October, however, visitors to Jack London Square will see this unusual combination side by side. Throughout the month, Jack London Square will offer ice skating on the Oakland waterfront beneath a grove of swaying palms.  For each skater, Jack London Square will make a contribution to Alameda County Meals on Wheels.“Outdoor skating is a wonderful tradition that gives families a chance to exercise and enjoy the fresh air.  Why should it be limited to just the holiday season?” said Jim Ellis, Managing …

Oakland, CA – A new restaurant, Bocanova, with its unique “Pan-American kitchen” created by Rick Hackett, executive chef at San Francisco’s popular MarketBar, and his wife and front-of-the-house partner, Meredith Melville, opened September 1st. Bringing new life to a 1926-vintage ice warehouse, Bocanova will feature dishes inspired by the cuisines of South, Central, and North America showcasing their Mediterranean roots and featuring great Northern California raw ingredients, many of them sources from small sustainable farms. Specialties might include fried Petrale Sole tacos, Yucatan seafood stew, slow-roasted heirloom beans with chorizo, Sea of Cortez scallops with Brazilian curry sauce, organic rotisserie …

Oakland, CA – Crisp autumn air and the light of the full moon glinting off the waves will set the stage for a night of fun in Jack London Square this October.  In the festive tradition of Italian village fairs, the German holiday market, and the Moroccan bazaar, Jack London Square will host Full Moon Buy Night, a night market held on the evening of October 1st.  Running from 5:30PM to 9:30PM, the event will celebrate all things Oakland.  The market will feature local artisans and merchants selling their wares, accompanied by live music, strolling entertainers, ice skating, and delicious …

Oakland, CA – Better known for his fiction, Jack London was also a newspaperman who took reporting to heights better described as art.  It’s only appropriate that a new gallery celebrating the connections between art and journalism be housed in the Square that bears his name.  art@theOakbook is a gallery space from the creators of the Oakbook magazine.  “Oakland Cooks,” an exhibition documenting Oakland’s kitchens opens at art@theOakbook on Friday August 28th and runs through October.“We’re working to construct more than just buildings here in Jack London Square,” said Jim Ellis, managing principal of Ellis Partners LLC which, along with …

San Francisco, CA – 111 Sutter was opened on March 1, 1927 and stood as one of San Francisco’s first skyscrapers.  Today, this historic landmark has been awarded LEED Silver certification for its efforts to create a green and sustainable building for the new century.111 Sutter has played a unique role in the growth and development of San Francisco as a world-class city and economy.  Some highlights of what the building has seen include:In the 1930s and for decades after, NBC radio created and broadcast radio dramas from the building’s 22nd floor.Legendary San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto kept his law …

Oakland, CA – Due to the overwhelming success of Dancing Under the Stars, Jack London Square will offer an additional four-event series of free outdoor dance classes on select Friday nights through the end of September.  Singles and couples alike can practice their sizzling salsa moves, learn new Latin dances like the Cha Cha, or do the Hustle while listening to disco.  Live bands will add a new level of entertainment to the program, with well-known local favorites such as Edgardo Cambon and Salsa Caliente.Novices and experienced dancers are all welcome to spend the evening dancing outdoors on Oakland’s celebrated …

Oakland, CA – Exciting changes are taking place at the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market that promise to bring a one-of-a-kind experience to Oakland’s Waterfront.  The Sunday market is shifting to a new location in Jack London Square and with the move comes an array of delicious new products, live entertainment, and free workshops that will make for a farmers’ market destination like no other in the Bay Area.The largest of its kind in the East Bay, the Jack London Square Farmers’ market is already a local treasure and was recently voted the Best Farmer’s Market by the readers of …

Palo Alto, CA – Drivers coming down El Camino Real may notice a new look to Town & Country Village.  The aging signs pointing shoppers to the center have been replaced with elegant new marquees.  With a nod to the center’s past, the iconic Town & Country lantern has been upgraded and refurbished.  But the new signs on the exterior only hint at the changes taking place within.  Town and Country’s renaissance continues with a slate of new shops that offer specialty retail and meet the community’s needs.“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to the changes that are reshaping Town …

Berkeley, CA – Clif Bar & Company and Ellis Partners LLC today announced that the makers of all-natural and organic foods and drinks will relocate their company headquarters to Emeryville.  The 15-year, 115,000 square foot lease in Ellis Partners’ EmeryTech development will allow Clif Bar access to significant amenities and a space that accommodates and reinforces the company’s unique culture.“We are honored to be able to accommodate the environmental and employee-friendly requirements of Clif Bar in this iconic Emeryville building,” said Jim Ellis, Managing Principal of Ellis Partners LLC.  “This is refreshingly good news for the local economy and a …