Children’s books are on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda. The shop, located on Webster Street, is open by appointment only.
Children’s books are on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda. The shop, located on Webster Street, is open by appointment only.
Photo: Laura MortonA lion statue is on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
A lion statue is on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonAssistant bookseller Samm Fricke shows off her favorite book in the inventory at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
Assistant bookseller Samm Fricke shows off her favorite book in the inventory at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonAssistant bookseller Samm Fricke shows off her favorite book in the inventory at Tavistock Books. The shop is open by appointment only.
Assistant bookseller Samm Fricke shows off her favorite book in the inventory at Tavistock Books. The shop is open by appointment only.
Photo: Laura MortonMatilda, a dog belonging to the owner of Tavistock Books, relaxes in the store.
Matilda, a dog belonging to the owner of Tavistock Books, relaxes in the store.
Photo: Laura MortonMatilda, a dog belonging to the owner of Tavistock Books, relaxes in the store in Alameda.
Matilda, a dog belonging to the owner of Tavistock Books, relaxes in the store in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonBooks are on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
Books are on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonBooks on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
Books on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonRare books are on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda. The bookstore has a special focus on Charles Dickens.
Rare books are on display at Tavistock Books in Alameda. The bookstore has a special focus on Charles Dickens.
Photo: Laura MortonBooks are seen on display at Tavistock Books. The shop, located on Webster Street, is open by appointment only.
Books are seen on display at Tavistock Books. The shop, located on Webster Street, is open by appointment only.
Photo: Laura MortonChildren's books are on display at Tavistock Books.
Children's books are on display at Tavistock Books.
Photo: Laura MortonVic Zoschak Jr., the owner of Tavistock Books, works on taking inventory at the store in Alameda.
Vic Zoschak Jr., the owner of Tavistock Books, works on taking inventory at the store in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonCo-owner of PRSTG Joseph Njokuobi III arranges sneakers on display at the shop, which specializes in vintage and hard-to-find styles in addition to apparel.
Co-owner of PRSTG Joseph Njokuobi III arranges sneakers on display at the shop, which specializes in vintage and hard-to-find styles in addition to apparel.
Photo: Laura MortonSneakers are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker shop located on Lincoln Avenue in Alameda that specializes in vintage and hard-to-find styles in addition to apparel.
Sneakers are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker shop located on Lincoln Avenue in Alameda that specializes in vintage and hard-to-find styles in addition to apparel.
Photo: Laura MortonSneakers and apparel are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker store in Alameda.
Sneakers and apparel are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker store in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonSneakers are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker store in Alameda.
Sneakers are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker store in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonBrand name sneakers including Adidas, Asics, Air Jordan, New Balance, Nike and Under Armour are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker store in Alameda.
Brand name sneakers including Adidas, Asics, Air Jordan, New Balance, Nike and Under Armour are on display at PRSTG, a sneaker store in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonJoseph Njokuobi III, a co-owner of PRSTG, puts back a sneaker on display at the store in Alameda.
Joseph Njokuobi III, a co-owner of PRSTG, puts back a sneaker on display at the store in Alameda.
Photo: Laura MortonShop ’til you drop. It’s even more fun when you’re browsing one-of-a-kind finds like artistic jeans handmade with antique sewing machines or a vodka made with real Bay Area fog. So grab your wallet and get going to Alameda.
Shaabi Denim
One of downtown’s newer shops, opened in 2015, the clothing store offers handmade pieces crafted of sturdy fabrics including denim, chambray, canvas, corduroy and leather.
All items are sewn on vintage industrial machines, since the equipment was specially made for working with the heavy duty, high quality traditional American work wear of earlier decades. Patterns are handmade, buttons are attached by hand, rivets are hand punched and pressed and apparel is produced in limited batches in the shop’s small work studio.
Owners Ihssan and Kerry Abukhalaf say they find inspiration from classic American clothing — nostalgic jeans, for example — but add signature accents and their own designs, too. Ihssan is the lead sewing master, while Kerry specializes in leatherwork. As for the name, shaabi means “of the common people” in Arabic, and is also the term for bazaars and markets in the Middle East.
Raw and selvedge denim is a particularly favorite fabric for the Abukhalafs, sourced from American and Japan. Raw is coveted for the stiffness and non-faded character of the thick jean material, while selvedge is treasured since its shuttle loom production creates tightly woven jean strips that resist fraying or curling.
Surprisingly, prices remain reasonable. A gorgeous raw denim tote bag is silkscreened and leather trimmed, for example, but runs only $89.
Micaela Greg
Sisters Marie and Karen Potesta specialize in knitwear that’s impossibly silky soft, handmade from Italian yarns and alpaca yarns crafted by local knitters and seamstresses. But first, the magic begins in their Alameda studio, where they sketch, evaluate materials, create swatches and experiment with colors and accents until they find the perfect design.
For clothing, the look is often loose and lounge-y but entirely elegant. The delectable Cropped Fisherman Pullover is particularly sumptuous, as a hip skimming cozy alpaca/wool sweater with a funnel neck and dropped sleeves fancied up with a lightweight rib stitch ($365).
Kids’ wear adorable yet sophisticated. Wiggle shorts, sweatpants, pullovers, onesies, tanks, cardigans and berets are modern with their sleek style yet still unstructured, and delightful in bold colors with elaborate geometric patterns.
PRSTG
You don’t mess with the sneaker crowd. As in, fans of brand name sneakers who collect the kicks like they were works of art. For the past six years, aficionados have flocked to this “Prestige” store on Lincoln Avenue, where nearly every inch of space beckons with fancy sneakers like Adidas, Asics, Air Jordan, New Balance, Nike and Under Armour.
Most shoes are brand new, others are rare collectibles snatched up by the store’s team of experts. And naturally, most don’t come cheap. Ponder the Under Armour Curry Back 2 Back Pack, a high-top beauty in white, black and yellow graffiti pattern for $600.
Tavistock Books
Charles Dickens would be so proud. This collection of first editions and rare books specializes in the English writer and social critic of the Victorian era.
A sense of humor thrives, too. Witness the cheeky comic strip book, penned in 1845 by Rodolphe Topffer, and proudly presented as a first edition piece on olive green diaper cloth stamped in gilt on its upper board with lemon yellow endpapers. The title is a delightful mouthful: “The Veritable History Of Mr. Bachelor Butterfly; Showing How it was Diversified by Many Changes, For After Being Married in the Belly of a Whale He Narrowly Escaped Bigamy, and Became the Step-Father of Eight Hopeful Children.” It can be yours for an entirely reasonable $1,750.
Hangar 1
The distillery and tasting room in the decommissioned Alameda Naval Air Station isn’t new, but now there’s a new vodka that’s just joined the original quaff first launched in 2002.
It’s worth a visit to the old World War II aircraft hangar where the stuff is made, to score a bottle of the new of Hangar 1 Fog Point Vodka. The drink is crafted by head distiller Caley Shoemaker and made with honest-to-goodness fog. OK, it’s fog water, actually, captured with special equipment at foggy places like San Francisco’s 977-foot tall Sutro Tower and at Sweet Farm on the ocean in Half Moon Bay.
The unique sipper is then distilled with Napa-made Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier, lending hints of pear, citrus and honeysuckle. A guided tasting of five different vodkas, including the 2018 Fog Point, is offered for $55, or you can buy a bottle of the good stuff for $134.
If you go
Shaabi Denim: 1516 Oak St., Suite 320, Alameda, (510) 864-1965, www.shaabi.me. Visits by
appointment only.
Micaela Greg: 1202A Lincoln Ave., Alameda, (415) 290-6666, www.micaelagreg.com.
PRSTG: 1201A Lincoln Ave., Alameda, (510) 227-5386, www.prstgshop.com.
Tavistock Books: 1503 Webster St., Alameda, (510) 814-0480, www.tavbooks.com. Visits by
appointment only.
Hangar 1: 2505 Monarch St., Alameda, (510) 871-4950, www.hangarone.com.
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