A couple enjoys a romantic gondola ride on Lake Merritt, contemplating a French wine for their wedding. As residents of East Oakland, they discover the Dolce Vita Gondola, a business that has operated for 25 years. Founded by Angelino Sandri and April Quinn, the gondola originally came from Venice and provides a unique perspective of Lake Merritt. The current owners, Gyorgy and Leah Vass, who also love Oakland, acquired the gondola service in 2019, continuing its legacy for locals and visitors.
We floated on Lake Merritt, a blanket draped over us, and my fiancé popped a bottle of a French red wine we were contemplating serving at our wedding.
We are both East Oakland kids. His family goes back four generations and I'm first-gen.
There is one Oakland activity that has been around for a quarter-century that neither of us had ever tried - a ride around Lake Merritt aboard the Dolce Vita Gondola.
The gondola that currently cruises across Lake Merritt was built in Venice and shipped to Oakland.
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