Alameda Art & Wine Faire 2010

It’s been a long time since I was able to take any kind of trip with my family lately. So, we decided to make a trip out to Sacramento for the California State Fair. As we headed to our destination, we took a little detour to Alameda. I lived in Alameda for 15 years and I always went to the annual Art & Wine Faire (free admission). Usually each city has some kind of street fair. Somehow, though, this one is special.

First of all, one annual ‘must-have’ is from the kabob stand near Central Avenue. I have been getting lunch from here for years. Even after I lived in the Netherlands and then moved back, Tae remembered me always coming to his family’s stand. Now he is married to his wife Raquel and I come with my husband and daughter. Funny how things change as time goes on. You HAVE to try their chicken, pork, and beef combos as these are fantastic. Add to that chow mein, rice, and a scrumptious, giant eggroll drizzled with honey and you have a delicious meal to feed the family!

For some reason, I can always find things I like for this fair. Perhaps it’s because so many booths here feature handmade items. Last year I found these really great hair clips and my daughter got a small ladybug Pillow Pet before they got popular. This year my daughter found a teal asian wood umbrella and I got some bags from LuvPaws which is my new favorite company since their items are so adorable (review and giveaway will come soon). Some may also like the idea that you can drink wine and beer openly as you walk down Park Street as you shop.

To make our visit even better, we got a great parking spot only 1/2 a block away. Did I mention that even the parking was free since it was Sunday and we didn’t have to put any money in the meter? Alameda may be a small city but it’s got a great summer street fair. So make sure to plan to visit next year. In the meantime, you can always eat at our favorite sushi restaurant, Sushi House.