Alameda, CA (PRWEB) November 18, 2011

Held during the last two weekends of October, the festival was sponsored by leading national real estate investment and acquisition firm Jamestown, the owner of Alameda South Shore Center, in partnership with ARPD, Spirit Halloween retail store and Peter’s Kettle Corn.

“Together we were able to create an event that appealed to a cross-section of the community, from toddlers to teens to adults, and increased the visibility of our retail tenants, many of whom reported a growth in sales as compared to last Halloween,” said Michael Phillips, Managing Director for Jamestown.

Highlights of the festival included:

ARPD Teen Haunted House – A main attraction was the spine-tingling, 8th Annual Teen Haunted House, which relocated to Alameda South Shore Center this year. Decorated and staffed by local middle and high school students, the haunted house raised nearly $1,400 to support ARPD’s teen programs, with twice as many visitors coming through each evening as compared to previous years. ARPD also received discounts and donated resources from Alameda South Shore Center retailers including Spirit Halloween.

Peter’s Kettle Corn was onsite popping fresh kettle corn, also supporting ARPD. “With help from ARPD and Alameda South Shore Center, we are happy to report we raised a total of $1,350, with 50 percent of the proceeds going back to ARPD. We are already looking forward to the next opportunity to give back to our community,” said Peter’s Kettle Corn owners Peter and John Ngu.

Halloween Fashions – Spirit Halloween, which leased 12,535 square feet of space at the center through November, was another significant contributor to the festival’s success. Spirit co-sponsored the Costume Fashion Show, which featured 13 local models in the latest Halloween fashions and attracted more than 200 attendees. Make-up was provided by Alana Dill and henna tattoos by Lena Tooney. “Our partnership with Alameda South Shore Center was a success on so many levels. Most importantly, we felt part of a true community, and were so pleased to join Jamestown and other local organizations in supporting the ARPD Haunted House and its youth programs,” said Tonia Farinha, Director of Stores, West Coast, for Spirit.

Costume Contest – A total of 120 contestants competed in the Costume Contest, also co-sponsored by Spirit Halloween. Sixteen prizes and giveaways were awarded in eight categories, from toddlers to teens, couples and families. Trick-or-treat bags provided by Alameda South Shore Center were filled with Halloween candy, crayons, merchant promotions, and Spirit coloring books. China Gourmet, Great Clips, Chipotle, Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers, Bladium Sports Fitness, European Wax Center, Dress Barn, See’s Candy, Fruits Chocolate, Bon Voyage and Panera Breads donated contest prizes.

Pumpkin Patches – One hundred and twenty-five third graders from Alameda’s Washington, Franklin, Bay Farm, and Paden elementary schools participated in the Decorate South Shore Center Pumpkin Patch program. The carved and decorated pumpkins were featured in window displays and around Center Court Stage. Beverly’s, Office Max and Trader Joes sponsored discounted arts crafts supplies.

Merchant participants in the Halloween Harvest Festival included Chipotle, Fruits Chocolate, Panera Breads, Bon Voyage, See’s Candy, Great Clips, China Gourmet, Beverly’s, PetCo, OfficeMax, European Wax Center, and Dressbarn. Other vendors included Bladium Sports Fitness Club, Mr. Shap’s Balloon Artist, the Little Psychic Shop, Party Hoops and Abbey Party Rentals, among others.

Jamestown

Founded in 1983 with headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. and Cologne, Germany and offices in New York City, San Francisco, Ca. and Washington, D.C., Jamestown is a leader in acquisitions and value added management. Over 28 years, Jamestown has generated approximately $8 billion in strategic investments. The company is focused across the risk spectrum with core, core-plus and opportunistic funds in two primary markets: 24-hour cities and Sunbelt territories with strong demographic growth. For more information, visit www.jamestownproperties.com.

Alameda South Shore Center

Alameda South Shore Center is an established, 594,000-square-foot open-air outdoor mall located in the Bay Area community of Alameda, Calif. The only major shopping mall on the 23-square-mile island, the recently renovated property is home to a variety of national retail stores and restaurants, including Kohl’s, Safeway, Trader Joe’s, TJ Maxx, Starbucks, Ross, Old Navy, Petco, Payless Shoe Source, Bed Bath Beyond, Sushi House, Applebee’s, Lens Crafters and The Children’s Place. The center has maintained its prominence as a thriving retail destination for more than 50 years. For more information, visit www.alamedasouthshorecenter.com.

Alameda

The City of Alameda is located on a 23-square-mile island adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area. The community, home to the 270-acre Harbor Bay Business Park, Alameda College, 205-acre mixed use development Marina Village, is linked to nearby Oakland via three bridges and a tunnel system, and is served by bus and ferry lines for public transportation. Famous for its tree-lined streets and Victorian homes, Alameda was named one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People” by America’s Promise Alliance in 2010. For more information on Alameda, visit www.cityofalamedaca.gov.

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Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/18/prweb8976862.DTL

The Summer Beats Concert Series at Alameda South Shore Center, the open-air retail destination on Alameda Island, CA is underway, attracting thousands of attendees since its July 2nd kick-off. Sponsored by real estate investment and management firm Jamestown, the concert series is part of a full program of free, family-friendly events to be held at the center this summer.

Taking place every Saturday through Labor Day, Summer Beats showcases many of the area’s most popular bands, with musical styles ranging from Alternative Rock to Zydeco.

Upcoming events certain to generate a high level of excitement and engagement include “Motown Dine Around,” featuring the classic sounds of Big City Revue and discounts offered by participating Alameda South Shore Center restaurants; “Flight Night,” an evening of wine tasting and music, with the Bay Area’s own Edgardo Candela; and “Summer Breeze Connection,” featuring beach activities including windsurfing and a charity paddle boat race, followed by the music of Fishbear.

“We think Alameda South Shore Center, with its picturesque setting along the San Francisco Bay, is the perfect venue for summer fun,” said Michael Phillips, Managing Director for Jamestown. “Also, equally important to providing entertainment, the Summer Beats Concert Series offers an opportunity to give back to the Alameda Island community.”

Benefiting the Alameda Education Foundation

One of the most highly anticipated programs of the Summer Beats lineup is the Young Songwriters Workshop Concert. Benefiting the Alameda Education Foundation (AEF), the program provides an extraordinary opportunity for young talent to collaborate with notable Bay Area musicians such as Grammy-award winner Calvin Kealooa, Preston Turner of Pure Ecstasy, and drummer D.C. Carter. On Saturday, August 27th, the aspiring songwriters and veteran musicians and will perform their collaborative work live. The free event kicks off AEF’s “Instrument Drop-Off Drive.” Last year, enough guitars were collected during the drive to start a musical program at Wood Middle School.

In addition, during all concerts, Alameda South Shore Center will serve as a drop-off point for the Alameda Education Foundation’s School Supply Drive, which helps hundreds of Alameda’s students in need. Peter’s Kettle Corn will have their tasty treats available for sale as a fundraiser to support the education foundation.

Poets Share the Stage

Summer Site Write poets selected by Alameda’s Poet Laureate Mary Rudge will also take to the stage throughout the summer-long series. Poetry enthusiasts, who toured Alameda South Shore Center and wrote about how the center inspired them, will read their work during concert intermissions. Poems will also be posted throughout the retail property and on the center’s Facebook page.

Summer Beats Concerts are held on Saturdays between 5 and 7 pm. The remaining lineup for 2001 includes the following performances:

Motown Dine Around

Saturday, July 16

Big City Revue (Motown)

Flight Night

Saturday, July 23

Edgardo Candela (Latin Jazz)

Summer Breeze Connection

Saturday, July 30

Fishbear (World Rock)

Blues Bazaar

Saturday, August 6

Papa’s Garage (Blues)

A-Town Hip Hop

Saturday, August 13

Bop City Pacific

GLEE Weekend

Saturday, August 20

Bay Area Girls (Glee Cover Band)    

Young Songwriters Workshop Concert

Saturday, August 27

DC Carter Project 7

Labor Day Weekend

Saturday, September 3

Rip Tides: 2pm – 4pm

Busta Groove: 5pm – 7pm

Jamestown acquired the 594,000-square-foot Bay Area outdoor mall (formerly known as Alameda Towne Centre) in January 2011. Capitalizing on the $85 million redevelopment effort the center’s previous owners initiated in 2002, Jamestown will continue to invest in Alameda South Shore Center’s image and infrastructure, with a primary focus on creating an enhanced customer experience for center guests.

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/15/prweb8647966.DTL