Alameda: Meyers House and Garden Museum; things to do

880 South

Meyers House and Garden Museum 

2021 Alameda Ave., (510) 521-1233. Open 4th Sat of month; tour 1-4pm, last tour starts at 3pm. $5 cash.

exterior of Meyers House and Garden Museum in Alameda, California

 

Designed as his family home by architect Henry H. Meyers and built by his father Jacob Meyers in 1897, the construction cost to build the two-story Meyers House then was $4,000. Now a house museum, it is an example of the Colonial Revival style that was popular around the turn of the century. The house was considered an upper middle-class residence at that time, and rooms are small, as was usual then.

Located on a long, tree-lined residential street, the Meyers House is now one of the largest estates in Alameda. It is situated on three city lots, and includes a three-car garage, a carriage house, and an architectural studio. It is a City of Alameda Landmark and a designated Historical Monument.

bedroom at Meyers House and Garden Museum in Alameda, California

docent Jay Marlette at Meyers House and Garden Museum in Alameda, California

 

Though some of the furniture is original to the house, most of the furnishings are from other historic Alameda residences. A lovely collection of oriental carpets is displayed throughout. A “gout chair” with a footrest to raise and soothe a sore toe is of particular interest in the front room. An upstairs bedroom holds a marbled-walnut bedframe (original) as well as his and hers chairs covered in dark horsehair, and another bedroom displays dolls and a hand-painted magic lantern. (Director Francis Ford Coppola collects magic lanterns and displays his extensive collection at his Inglenook winery in Rutherford.) Hand-cut floral wallpaper strikingly covers part of the ceiling in a bathroom.

kitchen at Meyers House and Garden Museum in Alameda, California

"gout chair" at Meyers House and Garden Museum in Alameda, California

bathroom with handcut floral decor on ceiling at Meyers House and Garden Museum
in Alameda, California

 

In the basement--reached via a narrow, winding back staircase--a display of lovely vintage clothing includes some pieces worn by family members. And in the carriage house you’ll find a lovely collection of pastels--many featuring the local salt-water marshes--by Alameda-born artist Edwin Siegfried (1889-1955). A three-car garage built in 1917 features the original tongue-and-groove redwood ceiling and displays an elaborately painted Sicilian pony cart shipped home during a trip to Sicily. Attached to the back of the garage, an adobe mission-style architect’s studio designed by daughter Mildred in 1935 features file cabinets built into the walls among its many charms.

dressy capelet displayed at Meyers House and Garden Museum
in Alameda, California

Edwin Siegfried pastels displayed at Meyers House and Garden Museum
in Alameda, California

docent Virgil Silver at Meyers House and Garden Museum in Alameda, California

The garden invites strolling and includes the original fencing and pergola, some well-tended roses, and a very large redwood tree grown from a seedling brought home by the family from a trip to Santa Cruz.

 

red rose blooms in garden at Meyers House and Garden Museum in Alameda, California

Docents are stationed throughout the house so that you can walk through at your own pace. It is a good idea to arrive for your visit soon after the house opens to allow plenty of time to peruse the exhibits. Allow about an hour and a half. No one is admitted after 3 p.m., and it closes at 4 p.m.

Henry Meyers, and his wife Bertha, were born in the U.S., and all three of their children were born in Alameda. All three daughters attended U.C. Berkeley. Mildred was an architect, Edith was a pediatrician, and Jeanette managed the family properties. None married, and all lived in the house until they died. The three Meyers sisters bequeathed the house and grounds to the City of Alameda for use as a house museum and a passive park. Overseen by the Alameda Museum, the house is also available for private group tours. 

More things to do in Alameda.

Things to do in nearby Oakland.

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images copyright 2024 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Alameda: USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum; things to do

880 South

USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum 

707 W. Hornet Ave., Pier 3, Alameda Point, Alameda. Thur-M 10-5.  $25, 65+ $15, 7-17 $10.  Tours +$12.  

exterior of USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum in Alameda, California

Stretching the length of three football fields and reaching 11 stories high, this immense vessel served as an aircraft carrier from 1943 to 1970. She is now a National Historic Landmark and known as the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum. The oil-fired Hornet was known as the “Grey Ghost” during World War II and could outrun anything. She holds an unequaled combat record for destroying enemy aircraft and sinking enemy ships. She survived 59 air attacks without getting hit, and she was the primary recovery vessel for the Apollo 11 and 12 moon missions in 1969. Nowadays, vets lead fascinating tours, and a dynamite view of San Francisco is enjoyed from the flight deck. Great photo ops abound.

On Living Ship Day (the third Saturday of the month) the radar tower turns, the loud-speakers spit out messages, and the extraordinarily fast airplane elevator carries fighter planes up and down from the hold to the deck. You can sign-up for an overnight, but be aware that the vessel is reputed to be haunted by the ghosts of still restless airmen. Big Band Dance programs are sometimes scheduled

USS Hornet at sea

More things to do in Alameda.

Things to do in nearby Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images courtesy of venue

Greater East Bay

Nostalgic Ice Cream Parlors in the East Bay

You'll have to take a long trip to eat this ice cream sundae at
Miyahara in Taichung, Taiwan. 
But you can get something almost as good closer to home.  

         These vintage spots have been around for a long time.  How many have you visited?  Which flavors are your favorites?


since 1894: 

Fentons Creamery  

4226 Piedmont Ave., Oakland.
          Enormous portions of housemade 12% to 14% butterfat ice cream is the name of the game at this well-established ice cream parlor.  More.
Most popular items/flavors:  classic sundae; Swiss Miss chocolate


since 1950:

Loard’s Ice Cream  

2825 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.
          Loard’s has branches all over the East Bay, but this is the original shop.  More.
Most popular flavors:  fresh strawberry, fresh mango, pralines with crème


since 1941: 

Tucker’s Ice Cream  

1349 Park St., Alameda.
          More than 33 flavors of ice cream, sorbets, and sherbets are available at this one-off ice cream shop.  Fresh fudge, waffle cones, and ice-cream cakes are made fresh daily.  A rear patio with a sheltering jacaranda tree and a fountain is open in good weather.  More.
Most popular flavor:  cho cho


since 1900:

Meadowlark Dairy  

57 W. Neal St., Pleasanton.                   
          California’s first certified dairy, this old-time drive-thru dairy has modernized into a drive-thru convenience store, but the reason most cars come here is to get a cone to go filled with the spectacular soft-serve ice cream.  More.
Most popular flavors:  orange

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Alameda: Pacific Pinball Museum; things to do

880 South

Pacific Pinball Museum 

1510 Webster St./Haight Ave., 3 mi. from downtown, (510) 205-6959.  Tu-Thur 2-9pm, F 2pm-mid, Sat 11am-mid, Sun 11-9; closed M.  $15, under 17 $7.50.  No pets.

gallery at Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda, California

This non-profit, hands-on Pacific Pinball Museum attracts a variety of people.  Many like to view exhibits and learn more about these intriguing machines, but most also want to play.  Fortunately, admission includes unlimited play on more than 100 of the colorful machines that are spread through a warren of rooms.  Three jukeboxes are also on free play.  It can get noisy.





I toured the museum with founder Michael Schiess, and what a trip it was!  Here’s what I learned.  Though the idea of pinball started in France with rolling a ball up a hill, pinball machines are mostly an American thing.  The first pinball patent in the U.S. was in 1869.  The first coin-operated pinball machine, the Whiffle, came along in 1931.  The World’s Fair Jigsaw is the all-time best seller at almost 80,000; runner up is the newer “Adams Family,” at about 24,000.  When Oakland banned pinball in the 1930s as gambling, many of the machines found their way to Alameda where rules were more lax.  Flippers were added to the machines in 1947, and artwork became more important in the 1960s.  Between the 1950s and 1970s, pinball machines actually made more money than movies!

Captain Fantastic machine at Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda, California

The machines are still evolving, with TV screens added in 2000 and a “CSI” model added in 2008.  The museum’s collection now is at around 1,000, and the 900 that are warehoused are rotated in and out so you never know for sure what you will see.


More things to do in Alameda.

Things to do in nearby Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images and video ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Alameda: Ole’s Waffle Shop; restaurant review

880 South 

Ole’s Waffle Shop  

1507 Park St./Santa Clara Ave., downtown, (510) 522-8108.  B-L-D daily; $.  No reservations.

Ole's Waffle Shop in Alameda, California

Always packed, this old-fashioned diner has comfy booths and a long counter with swivel chairs.

deep-fried broasted chicken at Ole's Waffle Shop in Alameda, California

Breakfast is served all day--biscuits and gravy are on the menu--but many folks come to Ole's Waffle Shop for the burgers, steaks, and deep-fried broasted chicken.  Jell-O, tapioca pudding, and fresh-squeezed OJ made by a machine that sits in the dining room are also available.  But be careful!  Order dessert with your meal.  I was disappointed early on a Sunday night to be told they were completely out of pie.



More things to do in Alameda.

Things to do in nearby Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Alameda: St. George Spirits; things to do

880 South 

St. George Spirits  

2601 Monarch St., 4 mi. from downtown, (510) 769-1601.  Tasting on the hour, W-Sat 12-6, Sun 12-4; $15.  Tour+tasting W, Thur, & F at 5:30, Sat at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6, Sun at 1, 2, 3, & 4; $20.  Reservations advised.

exterior of St. George Spirits in Alameda, California

Located way out there, through a residential area and then past a plethora of boarded-up buildings on the former Alameda Naval Air Station, the St. George Spirits distillery operates inside a huge repurposed hangar.  The tour is a must and prepares you for your tasting.

interior of St. George Spirits in Alameda, California

You’ll find out how copper stills work and learn that 30 pounds of pears is used in just one bottle of pear brandy!  I heard way more than I could drink in and digest.

absinthe ingredients at St. George Spirits in Alameda, California

I was most interested by the story about absinthe, which just became legal in the U.S. in 2007.  In fact, St. George Spirits was the first American company since 1912 to produce and sell absinthe in the U.S.

celebrity shark Bruce from "Deep Blue Sea" movie at St. George Spirits in Alameda, California

I also enjoyed meeting the celebrity shark Bruce, who ate Samuel L. Jackson and LL Cool J in the “Deep Blue Sea” movie.

tasting room at St. George Spirits in Alameda, California

After, we tasted five items, including Dry Rye Gin, a gin-whiskey love child; Terroir Gin, which tastes like a forest; and the celebrated olive-oil green Absinthe Verte, which is poured over ice and tastes of licorice.  Suffice it to say that you can get hammered even on the tiny tastes that are poured.  Drink the water provided.


More things to do in Alameda.

Things to do in nearby Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2014 Carole Terwilliger Meyers