Sometimes I do NOT hella love Oakland

What an Oakland day: Got in my car to take Ruby to school this morning and discovered someone had been napping there (Door must've been unlocked. Should I be grateful they didn't break glass to break in? Should I be glad to provide temporary shelter for someone in need?).  

Thru the day I'm realizing more things they took with them when they left, including:

- Ruby's favorite jacket and art supplies in a bag from Grandma (steal from me, but don't steal from my daughter!)

- the shoebox donation that was supposed to go to a poor child overseas but I missed the deadline so I left it in my car to return (should I be glad it went to someone presumably poor and local?)

- my file of special orders for shop customers. (Classic: very important to me, totally useless to a thief. Hoping I'm wrong about this one and it turns up somehow, it just doesn't make any sense.) 

I know these are just things, and I will be fine, but still feel a little BITTER. It's not right to have your things taken from you like that. But then a lot of things are not right, like why some have so little and others have so much. What is the take-home? Lock your doors? Don't leave stuff in your car? Or leave them unlocked and welcome the needy? Maybe leave them some food in there for next time? 

Oh, and then I went to the shop and someone shoplifted two pairs of shoes, I think right before my very eyes and I couldn't do anything about it. BUMMER. Or, helping a needier person??

How do you deal with this and other less lovely aspects of our fair city?

Temescal Dish: Burma Superstar

Burma Superstar opened up to a crowd of excited fans, which Express writer Anneli Rufus could do without. She also doesn't like the acoustics. But read her raves about the food, calling Burmese food "the next big thing." I haven't eaten there yet. Is it really worth the hype?

Burma Superstar
4721 Telegraph Ave.
Tues.-Thurs. and Sun. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. /5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. /5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Beware of Tow Trucks

Temescal Plaza has a parking lot that generally makes it pretty convenient to shop in Temescal. HOWEVER, they are now enforcing the TWO HOUR TIME LIMIT. Meaning, they are chalking and towing every two hours until 6pm, and towing any cars left overnight. I should know, it happened to me!

So if you think your business in in our little Temescal district is going to take more than two hours, please find street parking. It'll be easier than going to the tow yard off 106th Ave. and paying them $300+ to release your car. By the way, please don't get mad at the towing company guys, they're just doing their jobs.

As you know, in RETAIL, one day you're in, and the next day you're out.

The best reality TV showcases talented people with big dreams putting everything on the line to achieve them. We want to be inspired, because some of us really do have it all on the line, don't we? On Project Runway, designers watch their outfits walk before the judges, then wait to hear their fate: Am I IN or OUT? 

Small retailers like me, in the worst economic meltdown in recent history, certainly can relate. We're hustling to squeeze a maximum return for of our limited time and extremely limited money. This summer three more local kids boutique have gone under, bringing my count to NINE of our small indie kids stores out of business in the past year (see my 6/5 post for #1-6):

7) Bellies & Babies, on College Ave. in Rockridge (and Danville)
8) Lora's Closet, on College Ave. in Elmwood
9) Babyalula, on Piedmont Ave.

These nine were IN (some for many years), yet now they are OUT, but not because of Project Runway judge Heidi Klum. The real judges here are the consumers: this means you and me! We all vote with our dollars every day. Which retailers would you like to vote IN? Besides spending money at these places (see Project 350), don't forget to tell your friends.

Ruby's Garden is extemely grateful for the encouragement we've received from our customers; you really are the reason we do the work. But now, more than ever, we could use your word-of-mouth power! Please Yelp us, every review helps! Please join our Facebook Fan Page and invite your friends! We want to be in this for the long haul. You can help.