Saw this little beauty on my way to get a fried chicken sandwich. It got me to wondering… if I were going to leave a message for some random stranger to find, just exactly what would I want to say? Hmmm…
What would you say?
Category Archives: north oakland
Celebrating Oakland: Neighborhood Love Today & Lit-Crawl Tonight!
I love Oakland. You do too, right? Here are two fun ways to celebrate your love today…
Love Our Neighborhood Day – 11am to 3pm
The first is North Oakland’s Golden Gate Love Our Neighborhood Day, an Open Streets event that closes off approximately 30 blocks of Oakland and Emeryville streets from car traffic to open them for walking, dancing, bicycling, skateboarding and all-ages fun from 11 am to 3 pm. Nearly a dozen restaurants are participating and food trucks will be on site, as well as roller derby, bicycle tuneups, a healing hub, a park zone, music & dance, arts & crafts, and so much more.
The event is part of an Open Streets Initiative, Oaklavia, produced by Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) to encourage people to play, move, and exercise on safe auto-free streets. It’s a great opportunity to meet your fellow Oaklanders, and get to know local businesses & community resources along the route. Here’s the best map and a list of event activities.
For more info, Oakand Local has a nice writeup about the event and the Golden Gate neighborhood at large: Oakland’s Golden Gate Neighbors Build Community…
Beast Crawl – 5pm to 9pm
Next up is Uptown’s third annual Beast Crawl: a free festival that showcases the literary diversity and talent of performers with deep roots in the East Bay. It takes place across dozens of venues throughout Uptown (map here) which you are encouraged to support with your hard-earned dollars.
The event is structured as three separate 1-hour “legs” and during each leg (5-6, 6:30-7:30, and 8-9) there are nearly a dozen readings to choose from. There’s no way to attend all of them, unless you know how to replicate yourself or time-travel, so check out their list of events to see what interests you most. It should be a ton of fun!
Summer Solstice fun in Oakland, and across the world.
Last night we landed in Greece. Yes, Greece! We flew into Athens around midnight, seeing the merest hint of this 8-million person city, just a smattering of city lights surrounded by a sea of blackness. We arrived at our hotel around one o’clock in the morning while locals were flocking to nearby bars to watch the World Cup game between Greece and Japan, but we were ready to collapse after 24 hours of grueling travel and turned in for a scant four hours of sleep. We rose before the sun in order to catch our transport to the ferry, and while driving to the terminal the sun peeked over the low slung hills as we caught our first real glimpse of the city and the gorgeous blue water surrounding it. Now, as I type this, we are soaring across the Aegean Sea on a ferry the size of the Love Boat, on our way to the island of Naxos. You hate me, right?
We’re here for the marriage of our dear friends who are tying the knot on this mythical Greek island on the eve of the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. Our attendance is mandatory since Tim is serving as the ceremony officiant, responsible for the hefty task of ritualizing their union, just as his friend did for us nearly a year ago. I can’t think of a more wonderful favor to return. We know it will be a truly magical event and feel incredibly blessed to be invited to participate.
It is for this reason, and this reason alone, that I’ll be missing one of my favorite solstice events: the Garden of Memory concert in the Chapel of the Chimes, one of my favorite places in Oakland. The building is one of the most beautiful and historic in Oakland, originating in the early 1900’s and largely redesigned in 1928 by the amazing Oakland-based architect Julia Morgan, one of the first major female architects. The building features a labyrinth-like maze of Moorish and Gothic-inspired rooms, each adorned with unique and ornate stonework, statues, gardens, fountains and mosaics. Needless to say, these rooms make for some amazing acoustics, which is why the chapel and columbarium serve so well as the home for this magical musical experience.
My hope is that some of you will go in my stead, to experience this unique celebration. The concert takes place from 5-9pm this Saturday, June 21st. Parking will be limited so carpooling or public transportation is suggested. You can get a sneak preview on the Garden of Memory website below which includes program and schedule information for this year as well as archives of past years dating back to the first concert in 1996, nearly two decades ago. I also wrote a post about my last visit in 2010 (despite my love for this event, without fail I seem to be out of town on the solstice).
Chapel of the Chimes
4499 Piedmont Avenue
www.gardenofmemory.com
Saturday, June 21st 5-9pm
So I’ll be away from Oakland for a little over a week, but do please stay tuned because I’m planning to get some fun posts up while I’m gone, including several mystery location photos to test how well you really know Oaktown…
The Weekend What-To-Do List: this one goes to eleven!
It’s a big weekend people. It’s June. It’s Art Murmur. First Friday. AND Open Studios. And though it’s not technically summer yet, it’s going to feel like it this weekend. It’s gonna be hot!
So whether you’re motivated to take in the arts, bask at the beach, dawdle in the garden, or dance till the sun comes up, there’s something here for you. Check it out my list of ten what-to-dos for this weekend. There are some unique events that only occur once per year so if you miss it, you miss it. Till next year of course. I’ve even mapped something outside Oaktown–shock of all shocks–ready for the island mon? This may be the perfect weekend for it… Hope you enjoy.
10 WHAT-TO-DOS
1. Honeydrop Hometown Throwdown at The New Parish
Friday, June 6th – 7:30 pm
The New Parish – 1743 San Pablo Ave., Oakland
Cost: $20
The California Honeydrops, a self-described “party band” with a humble, down-to-earth dedication to exploring the vast spectrum of American roots music—New Orleans second-line, soul, funk, and Americana—will be throwing down at the New Parish Tonight. No doubt this will be a good time at a great little club. Cajun blues band Tri Tip Trio and New Orleans-style brass band MJ’s Brass Boppers will open the show, and the food truck Roderick’s BBQ will be selling Southern food.
2. Art Murmur
Friday, June 6th – Most galleries open till 9pm
I don’t need to tell you about Art Murmur. It’s awesome. Just go. Here’s one of my favorite pics from May’s Murmur… I had an incredible time but never got around to posting about it. Sorry.
3a) Emory Douglas: Artist for the People, Opening Reception And Artist Talk
Friday, June 6th 6-9pm
Joyce Gordon Gallery – 406 14th Street
Emory Douglas is a provocatively political artist. He was the designated Revolutionary Artist and former Minister of Culture of the Black Panther Party, and you’re likely familiar with many of his bold graphic posters and flyers, their stark aggressiveness emblematic of the “insurrectionary atmosphere of the [60’s and 70’s], with urban rebellions igniting from city to city and strikes from campus to campus.” Emory will be on hand for this event which should prove to be a fascinating look into the black history of Oakland.
3b) First Friday Shorts Presents: Youth Radio
Friday, June 6th – 6:00pm
The New Parkway – 474 24th St., Oakland
Cost: FREE
Tonight, Youth Radio will present a showcase of its youth videos, creatively portraying the everyday issues that most affect young Oaklanders today – community violence, relationships, education, and more. Also featured will be live performances by the young artists and a discussion about art, media-making and growing up during the height of Oakland’s major cultural and economic shifts. Don’t miss this provocative conversation with the next generation of Oakland artists, newsmakers, and leaders.
3c) Doomed and Misguided: Reggie Warlock and Chris Micro, Opening Reception
Friday, June 6th – open till 10pm
Loakal – 560 2nd St. (Jack London Square)
You may not have heard of Reggie Warlock and Chris Micro, but you’ve likely seen their character-based graffiti in murals and tags around Oakland. “A battle cry for underground counterculture’s place in fine art, the exhibition will feature new individual and collaborative paintings and a site-specific installation… Filled with neon colors, humor, and a cartoon-like aesthetic, their work celebrates the worlds of graffiti, hip-hop and skateboarding.”
3d) 5th Annual Temescal Art Hop
Friday, June 6th 6pm – 9pm
Temescal
This year’s Art Hop features over 20 participating locations including galleries, shops, and cafes around Telegraph Avenue in North Oakland. 48th St (@ Telegraph) and the Temescal Alleys (@ 49th) will feature food vendors and live music.
Pick up an official Art Hop Map from one of the participating locations and collect stamps to enter a raffle drawing to win one of a slew of cool prizes.
4. Urban Farm Tours
Saturday, June 7th 10am – 4pm, tours at each site start every hour
4 sites in Oakland, 4 in Berkeley
Cost: $5 per site ($3 for kids under 12), pay at the door on the day of the event
NOTE: you must contact/register in advance – email iuh@sparkybeegirl.com at least one hour before the event to receive details and locations.
Have you wanted to check out Novella Carpenter’s Ghost Town Farm? Well, now’s your chance! Her plot, as well as 3 others in Oaktown and 4 more in Berkeley, will be featured on the Institute of Urban Homesteading’s Annual Tour. If you want to learn out how to implement low-water food-production systems or even set up a goat dairy operation in your backyard, this is your chance to hear from the experts. The largest farm on the tour is Full Harvest Urban Farm in East Oakland, spread across 3 lots comprising nearly 27,000 square feet. It’s a super sized full service farm with 25 chickens and 8 ducks for both meat and egg production, 3 kinder dual-purpose goats, dispersed orchard and vegetable plots and a potbelly pig!
Ghost Town Farm is the setting and inspiration for Novella’s well known memoir, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. It’s an amazing story of the little farm she’s set up on a empty lot in West Oakland, not far from my old loft (I wrote a post about my first visit here). The other two Oakland farms are Kansas Street Farm in East Oakland, a small food farm with free-range chickens and rain catchment on a rental property, and Lower Bottom Strange Grange in West Oakland, with ducks, bees, aquaponics also on rental property.
5. 48th Annual Sand Castle & Sand Sculpture Contest
Saturday, June 7th Registration 9-11am, Judging starts at 12noon, Awards Ceremony at 1pm
Robert Crown Memorial State Beach – Westline Drive & Otis Drive, ALAMEDA
Cost: FREE
It’s going to be 80 degrees on Saturday… what a perfect day to hit the beach! But to participate in this event you’ve gotta get up pretty early. For those who plan to tear it up tonight, it may be more realistic to stroll by midday… you’re sure to be astounded by the fantastic creations whipped up in just a few hours. It’s amazing. And oh so temporary.
photo courtesy of Alameda Journal blog
6. East Bay Open Studios (weekend 1)
June 7th & 8th 11am – 6pm
Multiple Cities throughout the East Bay
What can I say? Open Studios is hosted each year by Pro Arts. They’re an institution and this year they’re celebrating their 40th anniversary! How fabulous is that? Four decades of community building, pushing boundaries, and supporting the artists of the greater East Bay. This weekend (and next) is an incredible opportunity to see a seemingly limitless smorgasbord of art in super intimate settings. I think my favorite part of Open Studios is getting to see each artist’s workspace… so different from seeing pieces displaced to a pristine gallery.
This year over 400 artist studios are included during the two weekends of self-guided touring. Media include book art, ceramics, conceptual, digital, drawing, furniture, glass, installation, jewelry, metal, mixed media, mosaic, painting, paper, pastel, photography, print-making, sculpture, textiles, watercolors, and wood! You’ll need the directory and maps to guide yourself. If you don’t already have one, you can download the East Bay Open Studios Directory here.
7. 38th Annual Redwood Heights Block Sale
Saturday, June 7th 9am – 3pm
Enter sale at Redwood Rd & Jordan Rd. Sale continues on Bennett, Guido, Norton & Retig.
This is the mother of all garage sales. My girlfriend is participating and will be selling off gorgeous mid-century furniture, dining items, barware, and more. With over 20 families participating, you’ll also find tons of kid and baby stuff, kitchen items, books and lots more all at great prices. Tons of treasures in an easy three or four block area. Sale wraps around Jordan Park (AKA Avenue Terrace Park) so the kids will have something to look forward to after you are done shopping.
8. Shapeshifters Cinema
Sunday, June 8th, doors 7:30, show 8-9pm
Temescal Art Center – 511 48th St (@ Telegraph)
Cost: FREE
“Shapeshifters Cinema is a monthly expanded cinema series featuring experimental filmmakers and video artists presenting moving image work live with accompaniment from musicians and sound artists. Dovetailing off recent programming at the Exploratorium, Shapeshifters is excited to present the work of pioneering light artists Dennis Keefe and (the late) Glenn McKay who are two of the artists responsible for creating the famous psychedelic light shows of the 1960s. Working together under the name of the Headlights Light Show, Keefe and McKay performed at many west coast venues, including the Fillmore, and also toured extensively with the Jefferson Airplane. The highlight of the program will be a live light art performance by Dennis Keefe with collaborators Jim Baldocchi and Lori Varga and musical accompaniment by Chris Musgrave (Lumerians) and Sarah R. Brady.”
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Ok everyone, I know what you’re saying to yourself… that only looks like 8, and she promised 10. But I think if you’ll look back… you’ll see I did some pretty tricky stuff with #3. This one actually goes to eleven. Have a great weekend y’all!
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