Last night, The YMCA of the East Bay hosted their 135th Annual Meeting and "You Are the Difference" awards ceremony at the Oakland Marriott. Here Newmark Grubb Knight Frank's Mike Taquino and Strada Investment Group's Scott Stafford noshed on apps before the program began. We just learned that Mike and his team came out with a fully entitled luxury residential development site at 1545 Pine in Nob Hill (more on that opportunity tomorrow).

The YMCA event doubled as a real estate playground, with lots of companies signed on as sponsors (Colliers, Eastdil, Skyline Construction, and The Swig Company, to name a few). Capitalizing on its ongoing volunteerism initiative, the YMCA of the East Bay recognized top-notch volunteers working throughout the region in 2014 with DIFFY awards (pictured, inset) designed by Mario Chiodo. The renowned sculptor, artist, and Oakland native also created Oakland’s Remember Them sculpture. Above, YMCA of the East Bay president and CEO Robert Wilkins provides opening remarks.