Find Community and More at Bay Station

Find Community and More at Bay Station

PHOTO BY PAT MAZZERA

Sneakerheads, hula dancers, doulas, and more unite on Lincoln Avenue.

If Bay Station seems quiet, spend some time in this historic neighborhood and discover what the businesses have to offer. You may be surprised to find stellar deli sandwiches, top-of-the-line maternity and children’s consignment clothes, a sneakerhead community, acupuncture and women’s health workshops, hula dance lessons, and more. The name references when rails, trains, and streetcars transported thousands across the Island each day and a train depot — Bay Station — was built.

 

Shop

Sneakerheads rejoice: PRSTG has recently expanded. Dae Jin and fellow co-owners opened this shrine to collectible sneakers in October 2012 in a shared space with Juan’s Barber Shop. PRSTG has taken over the entire space, and the walls are lined with rare, out-of-stock, limited-run, new, and covetable sneaks in a wide range of sizes. Nike and Jordans abound, but the sneaker brands span the spectrum. There’s a total community here built around a love for sneaks. Pricing ranges from 30 bucks to thousands of dollars. 1201A Lincoln Ave., 510-227-5386, Alameda, PRSTGshop.comInstagram.com.

Mommy’s Trading Post is a one-stop parent shop for all your kid-related needs. The cozy boutique carries new and consignment clothes and toys. But it’s nursing and maternity wear that really sets Mommy’s apart. You can find duds not only for your infants, babies, toddlers, and kiddos, but also for yourself. The clothes (for mamas and kids) are 100 percent used (there are some new nursing tanks and bras) and most of the toys are used. The store consigns bigger gear like strollers, jumpers, and bassinets. 1205 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, 510-263-8143, MommysTradingPost.com

Let Alameda Advertising and Recognition Inc. handle your promotional needs. This welcoming local shop is ready to take up your branding projects. For over 25 years, Dave McCarver and Dennis Jameson have provided small business owners, CEOs of large companies, nonprofits, parents, schools, leagues, and everyone in between with branded goods. 1110 Lincoln St., Alameda, 510-865-6666, AlamedaAdvertising.com

 

Play

Acupuncture, herbal healing, and women’s health go hand in hand at Good Witch Wellness & Apothecary. Wander in for the handcrafted tinctures, seasonal elixirs, teas, bitters, and honeys made by owner Tiffinie McEntire Tang, LAc, MS, TCM. The acupuncture clinic focuses on women’s health, particularly fertility, pregnancy, and postnatal care. Good Witch Wellness & Apothecary also creates community. Every third Thursday, it hosts Alameda Birthkeepers for a Meet the Doula night, and it also schedules birthing classes with Evaly Long of Island Midwife. On Sunday, April 22, there will be a talk about detoxifying your body and your home. 1128 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, 510-337-4663, GoodWitch.co

Get into the island rhythm with Island Hawaiian Studios, home of Hālau Makana, Alameda’s only Polynesian dance company. The dance studio is a welcoming space where people of all ages can learn hula, Tahitian Mehura, and ‘Ote’a, and even ukulele. There is group or private instruction, with age-specific classes for keiki (children), teens, and adults. Students also learn about the culture, history, language, music, costumes, and arts from the Polynesian islands. Join the kanikapila every third Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Island Hawaiian Studios 1122 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, 415-652-2629, HalauMakana.com

Get fit, focused, and make friends at Intensity Martial Arts. The community-oriented martial arts school specializes in Taekwondo for students ages 4 and up. Age-appropriate classes create a safe environment for learning self-defense and discipline. Adult and advanced students also have access to heart-pumping kickboxing classes. For busy parents, there’s an after-school martial arts program. 1209 Lincoln Ave., 510-545-3303, IntensityMartialArts.com

 

Eat

Treat yourself with a stop by the Market Spot Meat & Deli and Gourmet. This new butcher, barbecue, and sandwich spot is inside the Market Spot. Deli master Ole Contreras opened in late 2017 and the deli features heartbreakingly good sandwiches and fresh cuts of fish, free range chicken, beef, and veal. If you’re hungry, a crowd favorite is the marinated hot and sweet skirt steak barbecue sandwich. 1200 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, 510-769-4838.

Open from breakfast to (early) dinner, Sampaguita Fil-Am Cuisine provides your Filipino food fix on the Island. Enjoy traditional items like chicken adobo, longganisa (spiced pork sausage), and tocilog (cured pork, fried egg, and fried rice). The setting is simple with booth seating and buffet cafeteria-style service. 1216 Lincoln Ave., 510-865-2931.

No Bay Station visit is complete without a stop at Forbidden Island. The dim red lighting and tropical decor create an irresistible lost-in-time vibe that will have you whiling away the hours. Forbidden Island specializes in traditional tiki drinks and classic cocktails, with a robust premium rum selection and isn’t afraid to set your drink on fire. 1304 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, 510-749-0332, ForbiddenIslandAlameda.com

Faces of the East Bay