Atlas Obscura Presents Toyota Joyrides in the Bay Area with Aleksandra Zee Atlas Obscura Presents Toyota Joyrides in the Bay Area with Aleksandra Zee

in the Bay Area

Woodworker Aleksandra Zee's Joyride

Aleksandra Zee is something of an alchemist. With an almost magic touch, the Oakland-based woodworker transforms rough wood planks into stylish mosaics, stunning walls and handcrafted works of art. With the creative demands of her work, Aleksandra is constantly refueling on inspiration and the goal of this joyride around her beloved Bay Area in a Toyota Corolla is just that – to charge her artistic drive. Aleksandra works in desert-tinged tones of wood to create her art which has been featured in Dwell, Esquire and C Magazine and in stores like Pottery Barn and Urban Outfitters. Her Oakland workshop is housed in a warehouse that’s nondescript at first glance. Step inside, though, and the place is pulsing with energy emanating from the many shops of fellow creatives housed in the building. Aleksandra’s shop is particularly bright, a sun-strewn wonderland of golden wood, tools, projects in-process and a few displayed copies of the woodworking guide she penned, The Way of the Woodshop. She lovingly built the cheerful studio herself. The doors, tables and shelves are mostly her own handiwork.

I love Oakland for its beautiful diversity, its community that loves so fiercely, and I am honored to be a part of the artist community in Oakland.

Originally from Orange County, California, Aleksandra grew up with a sense of creative wanderlust which led her to study art at Azusa Pacific University, near Los Angeles. It wasn’t until after college, while working on displays at the clothing and homeware store Anthropologie in San Francisco, that her creative spark truly ignited. It was her first time working with wood and she felt a connection immediately. “It was like I’m home,” she recalled. “I need to work with wood.” After a few years in San Francisco, Aleksandra discovered the joy of life across the bay in Oakland. At first it was just Oakland’s affordability and space that attracted her. But soon she found she treasured so much more about the East Bay city. “I love Oakland for its beautiful diversity, its community that loves so fiercely, and I am honored to be a part of the artist community in Oakland,” Aleksandra said proudly. “There are so many incredible creatives that live and work out here and I am endlessly inspired every day by them.”

Joyride Map

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

7867 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

Named after former Mills College President Dr. Aurelia Henry Reindhart, this hidden wonder is minutes from downtown Oakland. Once the site of logging camps, it is now a magnificent, lush park populated by hikers, dogs and joggers shaded from the sun by towering 150-foot coastal redwoods.

The BackYard

104 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607

This popular Mexican eatery near the Oakland waterfront is dedicated to family, friends and fun. Guests love the agave-driven cocktail menu, seasonal food and funky style. The building is made from repurposed shipping containers. Adding to the appeal of this pet-friendly restaurant is the large outdoor patio which feels as friendly and welcoming as a family member’s porch.

MacBeath Hardwood

930 Ashby Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710

Founded by local entrepreneur Kingsley Edwin MacBeath, this Bay Area staple has been around since 1954. An outgrowth of Bay Area’s rich logging tradition, MacBeath sells a wide variety of ethically sourced lumber, plywood and veneer. If you’re in search of an environmentally conscious wood supplier but can’t make it to one of their three locations, you’re in luck. They sell their materials online and you’re just a click away from one of the biggest selections of hardwood in the United States.

Saffron + Poe

11 Locust Ave. Mill Valley, CA 94941

Both an interior design studio and stand-alone shop, Mill Valley’s Saffron + Poe was cofounded by friends Fiona Bronte Burr and Johanna Vente Anderson. The duo partners with creators from across the globe to ethically source fair-trade furniture and housewares. Everything in the store is crafted with traditional, handmade techniques and exudes the Saffron + Poe earthy, minimalist vibe.

Muir Beach

200 Pacific Way Muir Beach, CA 94965

Off the beaten path, in the western part of Marin County, is Muir Beach. To get there, beachgoers must traverse a 450-foot-long bridge which extends from the parking lot to the sandy shore. Though the water is usually too chilly for a dip, there are hiking trails to enjoy and bonfires to light year-round. During the fall, the redwoods in neighboring Redwood Creek Lagoon are covered in monarch butterflies, adding a sense of enchantment to an already magical place.

Aleksandra, her husband Antrom, who is a musician and artist, and their golden retriever Lady stepped out of her shop and into a clear, sunny morning. Once Lady was safely in the roomy backseat of the Toyota Corolla, Aleksandra pointed the sedan toward Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park which is only a few miles from her downtown Oakland workshop. Aleksandra and Antrom make this short pilgrimage most mornings. A brisk walk in the park is an important part of their morning routine, serving to center them. The trio was excited – Lady most of all – to hop out of the car and onto the trail. The park, with its winding paths and towering trees, is home to the East Bay’s largest collection of redwoods. “Being out in nature is my main inspiration,” Aleksandra said as Antrom and she walked hand in hand. “And there’s something about just having my feet hitting a trail, being on the dirt. I feel like it grounds me and it brings me home to myself.”

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

While a normal morning might take her back to her workshop, today Aleksandra and Antrom drove to the BackYard to refuel and relax after their chilly morning walk. The BackYard is a colorful Mexican restaurant around the corner from Aleksandra’s workshop that was built with an eye toward sustainability. The building’s made of repurposed shipping containers. The couple sat adorably close, clearly finding joy in each other and the fare. They dug into the restaurant’s signature Ultimate Quesadilla, which comes with a brothy soup for dipping, as she detailed her love for this little eatery. “Outdoor seating, bring your pups, margaritas flowing all the time. It’s just happy. The food is delicious.”

The BackYard

Belly full, Aleksandra focused on finding the perfect wood for her next project and drove the Corolla to Berkeley’s MacBeath Hardwood. With dusty counters and vintage-looking tools displayed, walking into MacBeath feels like stepping into the past. That old school feel isn’t just a vibe. MacBeath is the real deal. The specialty hardwood supplier has been servicing the Bay Area with sustainably sourced wood since 1954. Aleksandra scanned MacBeath’s inventory with her expert eye. “They have anything you can think of and the most glorious selection.” She enthusiastically added, “I feel like a kid in a candy store.” Aleksandra frequently crafts her art from MacBeath-sourced redwood, oak and pine.

MacBeath Hardwood

This part of California produces some of the best large-game fish you can get your hands on. They’re big, beautiful fish that require some know-how to take apart and cook them. I learned how to do all of that on the sportfishing docks here,” he said, pointing to the slips at Sun Harbor Marina. “I remember once seeing someone weigh an 800-pound marlin.”

After loading her new planks of wood into the backseat of the Toyota Corolla, she headed to Saffron + Poe, a design studio and shop situated on a quaint street in Mill Valley. Saffron + Poe owners Fiona Bronte Burr and Johanna Vente Anderson cultivate relationships with creators from around the world who handcraft furniture, housewares and linens. Many of the goods are exclusive to the shop and all exude Saffron + Poe’s simple, sophisticated aesthetic. The store’s name teases just how desirable their wares are, referencing two of the most coveted goods in 18th century international trade – the spice saffron and “poe” which is Burmese for silk. Fiona and Johanna share Aleksandra’s love for golden tones, layered textures and elegant lines which is why they turned to her to commission a custom cash wrap – the desk where customers pay for purchases. Aleksandra’s proud of what she delivered and she has every right to be. It’s a perfectly smooth desk front of whitewashed light wood, pieced together in an almost hypnotizing diamond mosaic.

Saffron + Poe

Aleksandra and the Corolla then rolled to a stop at her final destination of the day – another walk with Antrom and Lady, this one at Muir Beach in Marin County, a cozy cove and lagoon framed by towering cliffs. Lady bounded out of the car as quickly as possible, found a large stick in the sand and was soon playing with other equally excited dogs. Aleksandra watched Lady’s unbridled joy for a silent moment while leaning into Antrom. Then, she explained her love of this secluded beach. “Northern California beaches have this very wild, wild, magical energy,” she said just as Lady galloped back to the couple for a head pat. “I know that what I’m making in the studio is a reflection of the beauty that I'm taking in and this is one of the most beautiful places in the world.” Together Aleksandra and Antrom loaded a reluctant Lady back into the Toyota Corolla and set off for a gold-tinged sunset drive home through the green mountains of Marin County.

Muir Beach

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Being out in nature is my main inspiration.

I know that what I’m making in the studio is a reflection of the beauty that I'm taking in and this is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

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