We're installing a beautiful recycled glass tile backsplash in the main cafe area! The tile is from our good friends at Ecohome Improvement -- if you haven't been over to their shop and paint bar and neighboring design studio, we recommend you make a trip! They've got green alternatives for many conventional building applications: tile, countertops, flooring, cabinets, no-voc paints (which we're using at the cafe), and much more! Check them out!

Labels: build-out, community, green, sustainability

We've been working on our main counter for Phase One, the world-class espresso bar. At it's core, is a re-used lab table from UC Berkeley Overstock and Surplus Den. We cut off the legs to make in the legal height for ADA access and added casters. We're now adding to that a redwood facade using the salvaged redwood from the old drop ceiling at the Golden Bull. The countertop was fabricated out of stainless-steel by a friend of the Awaken Cafe and the whole thing was put together by other members of this community! Stay tuned for more photos when we get it complete!

Labels: build-out, community, green, salvage, sustainability

There's a great article about our friends at Blue Bottle in the New York Times. It's all about Blue Bottle's new siphon bar and another high end brew machine called Clover.

Labels: coffee, community, world-class

Is this incredible or what? Three cheers to Aryana Farsai, our incredible mosaic artist!

Labels: arts, build-out, community, salvage

Labels: arts, build-out, community, parnters

A friend of mine, Erica Priggen, produced this really great movie and passed it on to me: "The Story of Stuff".

Since we're planning on selling stuff, it's good to look at our role in this system so that we can be responsible for reducing the impact of the stuff we consume and sell. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Labels: community, green, sustainability, www

Aryana Farsai, a talented mosaic artist, is producing two custom pieces for our entryways using 80% reclaimed materials. Click on the photo for a sneak peak!

You can find out more about her and contact her by visiting her blog.

Labels: arts, build-out, community, green

Labels: build-out, community, green, parnters

Thomas Sepe (www.tomsepe.com) and Orion Fredericks are hard at work on the Awaken Cafe signs. There will be two signs, made up of patina'ed ("a complicated process involving heat and chemicals") letters set off against a polished stainless steel backing, all back lit with low voltage LED lighting.

Labels: build-out, community, green, parnters

Just wanted to officially announce to the Awaken Cafe community that Shalene Rose and I were married on October 6, 2007! We had an all green wedding at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Redwood Grove and at the Midtown Ballroom above the Awaken Cafe!

Labels: community, parnters

The Awaken Cafe has joined the SOBO merchants association. SOBO is centered in the 300 block of 17th Street, between Franklin and Webster (and surrounding streets). SOBO is a sweet little tree-lined urban shopping district with fashion, clothing, food, cafes and personal services. We joined the SOBO association to connect with other entrepreneurial businesses in our neighborhood. We share their vision of growing downtown Oakland as a vibrant and fun arts, entertainment and retail district. SOBO also has street fairs in December and July which we are really looking forward to.

www.SOBOshops.com

Labels: affiliations, city of oakland, community

The Awaken Cafe has a coupon in the new East Bay Ecometro Guide. The Ecometro Guide is a resource book for healthy and organic living in the East Bay. The bulk of the book is coupons for green businesses. The Awaken Cafe has a coupon in the guide where you can buy one espresso drink and get another free. The guide costs $20 -- if you shop at green retailers, the book could be a good deal.

Ecometro Guide

Labels: community, green

The Awaken Cafe is proud to recently have become a founding member of the new Green Chamber of Commerce. The Green Chamber of Commerce will:

"Provide tremendous networking opportunities for those developing the next generation of clean and green technology

Work with existing organizations in their efforts to create green, sustainable business models, especially in those areas where such efforts have yet to be undertaken

Extend the influence of firms large and small beyond the reach of geographical localities to the community of environmentalists and green businesses and the general public

Recognize that more and more Americans prefer doing business with green companies and provide exceptional promotional opportunities for members to do so

Greatly strengthen the voice and political influence of progressive firms united to create green public policy."

from www.greenchamberofcommerce.net

Labels: affiliations, community, green

We started construction on the Awaken Cafe's new facade! We're pleased to welcome Anthony Bush of Bush Construction Company to the Awaken Cafe family and are excited to be entering the next stage of this project!

Our neighbors the Jhava House have closed their doors and we're giving some of their equipment a second life at the Awaken Cafe. We got a group of friends together (including Doug Hawkins, Nik Greene, Katy Perrings, and Alex Zendzian) this weekend to move the equipment (which includes some sinks, a refrigerator, shelving, and other small products) down the street into our space!

Labels: build-out, community, green, salvage

We're out to spread the word about the Awaken Cafe and get the Bay Area excited for our opening! I was reading a new magazine and saw an advertisement for a Yelp-like service for sustainable businesses called Sustainelane.com! I created a listing and we'd love for you to review us and let 'em know you're looking forward to the Awaken Cafe!

(You can also add your review on Yelp!)

Labels: coffee, community, spread the word, www

Our Green Architect, Sandy Chan, and husband Ravi recently gave birth to Kaimana Rei Apana-Chan on June 25, 2007. She was four weeks early and is "tiny but otherwise very healthy."

We are overjoyed by the blessing that this baby is and wish her a future full of love, family, community, and many, many hugs!

You can send messages to us and we'll forward them onto Kaimana's parents!

"There is nothing like a newborn baby to renew your spirit - and to buttress your resolve to make the world a better place." - Virginia Kelley

Labels: community

Commenting on a Starbucks advertisement that appeared in the the New York Times, the July/August 2007 issue of Adbusters Magazine asked readers to reflect:

"Imagine a city, in which there is only one kind of coffee shop. One kind of burger place. One supermarket. One pub.

Remember what diversity felt like? The fun of discovering something unexpected, in a place you hadn't been before? Variety and local flavour matter for vibrant, healthy communities. Go ahead, ditch Starbucks -- and enjoy some local culture instead."

Labels: coffee, community, media