Council member Pat Kernighan reports today that Out of the Closet has withdrawn its pursuit of the GapKids space on Lakeshore Avenue. She invites the community to a public meeting on Sunday, March 2, at 2 PM, to discuss creation of a long-term plan for the neighborhood commercial areas in District 2.

Tile expert Riley Doty and historian Joe Taylor will discuss the new Golden Age of California tile this Thursday (Valentine’s Day) at 7:30 PM at Chapel of the Chimes. The lecture—open to the public—is part of Oakland Heritage Alliance’s Thursday Lecture Series.

Oakland Heritage Alliance seeks nominations for its 2008 Partners in Preservation Awards to honor those whose work and efforts have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in historic preservation. Nominations must be postmarked by April 21. Awards will be given on May 8.

Though she reversed the City of Oakland’s approval of the Oak-to-Ninth project, Judge Lee did not grant the Ninth Avenue Terminal’s wish. Hope lives on, however.

Responding to a pair of environmental lawsuits filed by local activists, Alameda County Superior Court judge Jo-Lynne Lee ordered the City of Oakland to undo its approval of the controversial Oak-to-Ninth Project.