We’re not sure how it happened, but so many organizations scheduled awesome, inspiring events for this week! Most of them involve trying something new, or something you know you like, but with a new spin on it. This may be even the funnest week Oakland has seen all year. Enjoy!
Friday, July 26
City of Oakland’s Intimate Evening
6 – 11 p.m.
Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court
Come and enjoy American R&B and Soul Singer and recording artist Teedra Moses in a headliner presentation. Teedra brings her New Orleans vocal style that has found success in the top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. She will join an exciting lineup of great artists and bands, including Legends of Soul Tribute, Feral Moon, The Fire Department, Pulse Brasil and Kenneth “Brick” Cooper. This makes the white-attire showcase the event that brings you laughter, great food, rewarding entertainment, and the promise of a memorable evening. Attendees can also learn new dance moves such as salsa, square dancing, line dancing and Chicago Steppin’.
Tickets are $42, and available by calling (510) 238-3052 or visiting www.dunsmuir-hellman.com.
The Sixth Sun Film Screening and Discussion
7 p.m.
EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Boulevard
In one of the better videos made about the Zapatistas, director Saul Landau and cinematographer Haskell Wexler assemble a diverse collection of original and borrowed footage, and tell a great story about the January 1, 1994 Zapatista Uprising. They take viewers from inside the Zapatista villages and camps to the paved streets of Mexico City demonstrations. The film includes several interesting interviews with Bishop Samuel Ruiz, Gloria Benevides (Comandanta Elisa), Zapatista rank and file, and angry anti-Zapatista ranchers. It also includes not-often-seen footage of the first weeks of the Uprising, when the war was in full swing.
A discussion will follow the film, with refreshments served. This event is co-sponsored by the Chiapas Support Committee and a benefit for Zapatista Schools. Admission is $5 – 10 sliding scale, with no one turned away.
For more information, visit www.eastsideartsalliance.com.
Dancing Under the Stars: Bachata Lesson
8:30 – 10 p.m.
Foot of Broadway
It’s back: the incredibly popular dancing event! Kick up your heels and enjoy a free dance lesson provided by the Linden Street Dance Studio. Each week will feature a different type of dance followed by a dance party to practice what was learned.
For more information, call (510) 645-9292.
57th Street Gallery Presents Cavalisa
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph Avenue
Cavalisa is a musical duo comprised of Cava Menzies (piano/vocals) and Lisa Forkish (lead/vocals). Vast is the Sky, their debut album, was released on January 8. Cavalisa’s vision infuses jazz and pop standards with the beauty, style, and flavor of Bossa Nova. The group has been featured at San Francisco Yoshi’s as well as on KPFA Radio.
Admission is $15.00. For more information, or to make reservations, call (510) 654-6974 or visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.
Saturday, July 27
Oakland Heritage Alliance Presents Key Events in the East Bay Hills
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the southwest corner of Moraga Avenue and Thornhill Drive
The route of the Sacramento Northern Railroad created a unique transportation corridor connecting Contra Costa County to Alameda County during a period of rapid growth in the early- to mid-20th century. Explore the route with Stuart Sweidler and learn about the everyday life and major events that shaped the development of the East Bay Hills, including the introduction of electricity, water, parks, roads and bridges, building construction, new agricultural products, education, manufacturing, transportation, and ultimately the preparation and execution of war.
For additional information, contact the OHA office at (510) 763-9218 or via email at info@oaklandheritage.org.
Canning Extravaganza
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
North Oakland
All the same great information and goodness as in “Canning Made Easy,” but with additional information on canning tomatoes. Canning projects with both tomatoes and other fruit will be completed in this class, and there are more goodies to bring home!
The cost of this workshop is $50 – 80, plus a $12 supply fee, due on the day of the class. Click here to register.
Training: Become a Baykeeper Volunteer Pollution Investigator
10:30 a.m. – noon
Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Avenue
Help Baykeeper find out which industrial facilities are polluting San Francisco Bay by volunteering as a Baykeeper 2013 Pollution Investigator. Volunteer Pollution Investigators are a key part of Baykeeper’s “Bay-Safe Industry” campaign.
Baykeeper is making steady progress at getting pollution in the Bay cleaned up, having won legally-binding agreements requiring ten highly-polluting industrial facilities to install controls to protect the Bay from heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Evidence gathered by last year’s volunteers helped win two of these victories, and provided valuable information on a dozen more industrial polluters.
For more information, click here.
Managing Pests in your Garden Safely
noon – 1 p.m.
Lake Merritt Trials Garden 666 Bellevue Avenue (behind Lakeside Garden Center)
Want to learn more about what is eating the garden vegetables, what virus killed the tomato plants, or where to find out more about a garden pest problem? Dennis will help participants learn how to identify bugs and manage them in the least toxic manner. Bring leaf and bug samples!
Master Gardener Dennis Brown will discuss aphids, ants, snails, and slugs, as well as other common pests and diseases.
For more information, click here.
UWX: The Annual Urban Wine eXperience
1 – 5 p.m.
Jack London Pavillion, 98 Broadway
The East Bay Vintner’s Alliance Urban Wine eXperience features over 18 local wineries, pouring a variety of whites, rosés, reds and stickies at a single location. Each winery teams up with a local restaurant or food purveyor to create delightful morsels, which are paired beautifully with its wine portfolio. Enjoy the sunshine and dance to live music while sipping on delightful wines.
Tickets are $60 general admission, and $15 designated driver or under 21. For more information, click here.
Make Your Own Beauty Products: Luscious Lotions Revealed
2 – 5 p.m.
North Oakland
Learn how to make luscious lotions using a tried and true homespun method. Participants will explore the instructor’s apothecary, and talk about herbs, oils, and everything else that makes a great lotion. In this class, participants will work with herbs that appeal to the senses: those that visually and aromatically delight. Together they will craft a luscious lotion, an infused herbal oil and a lip balm to take home—and gain the knowledge to make the next batch.
The cost is $35 – 65, plus a $12 supply fee due in cash on the day of the class. Register at iuhoakland.com/calendar.html.
Jan Tiura Photography Sale and Reception at Bay Voyager
3 – 6 p.m.
Bay Voyager office, 423 Water Street
Take an extraordinary look into the world of the working Bay by maritime photographer Jan Tiura, San Francisco’s first woman tugboat driver, who is hosting a photo show and sale at the Bay Voyager headquarters in Jack London Square.
Enjoy locally-crafted beer and cheese, along with the opportunity to purchase unique pieces of San Francisco Bay art at sale prices.
For more information, visit www.bayvoyager.com or www.phototiura.com, or call (510) 542-4200.
Star Stories at Chabot
8:30 – 10 p.m.
Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard
Lie on the grass and look up at the stars this summer! Bring sleeping bags and blankets and come listen to an expert stargazer explain the mythology behind the constellations, stories from the night sky as seen throughout history, and look for planets and other clues to help orient you to the night’s sky.
For more information, visit http://www.chabotspace.org/star-stories.htm.
57th Street Gallery Presents LindaKay Ricketts
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph Avenue
Come out and enjoy the soulful, sultry sounds of one of the Bay Area’s favorite vocalists, LindaKay Ricketts. With roots deep in the music of African-American traditions, Linda’s unique blend of gospel, spirituals, jazz and blues is the perfect compliment to her rich contralto voice. LindaKay has graced the stage in a variety of venues here and abroad, and continues to delight audiences. Count on a wonderfully engaging, entertaining and soul-satisfying experience. Musicians are Glen Pearson, piano; Sly Randolph, drums; Vernon Hall, bass; and Tracy Fitzsimmons, trumpet.
Admission is $15.00. For more information, or to make reservations, call (510) 654-6974 or visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.
Sunday, July 28
Adams Point Perambulation with the Oakland Heritage Alliance
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the corner of Bay Place and Vernon Street in front of the Whole Foods Market
Adams Point’s eclectic residential neighborhood includes Victorian, Craftsman and Prairie style residences, Earl Warren’s house, 20th-century apartment buildings, and Grand Avenue’s playful mosaic trash containers, crafted by artistic locals. This moderately hilly stroll features a Julia Morgan house on Lee Street, a vintage hitching post, and the Bellevue Club.
For additional information, contact the OHA office at (510) 763-9218 or via email at info@oaklandheritage.org.
Movies that Mobilize: Bidder 70
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th Street
Bay Localize is showing the film Bidder 70 at The New Parkway Theater as the kickoff of its film series fundraiser, “Movies that Mobilize,” to catalyze discussion on strategies for the climate justice movement. The film will be followed by a panel discussion highlighting community energy choices and what can be done to stop fracking in California. Bay Localize will also raffle off some amazing prizes courtesy of local generous in-kind sponsors: House Kombucha, Trader Joe’s Lakeshore and Rockridge, and more!
About Bidder 70: On December 19, 2008 Tim DeChristopher disrupted a highly-disputed Utah BLM oil and gas lease auction, effectively safeguarding thousands of acres of pristine Utah land that were slated for oil and gas leases. Not content merely to protest outside, Tim entered the auction hall and registered as bidder #70. He outbid industry giants on land parcels (which, starting at $2 an acre, were adjacent to national treasures like Canyonlands National Park), winning 22,000 acres of land worth $1.7 million before the auction was halted.
Admission is free for Bay Localize and LCEA members and children under 5 years of age, $10 per person general, $6 for students, and $3 for children ages 6 – 17.
For more information, visit www.baylocalize.org/movies%20that%20mobilize.
Brats, Beer & Blues: A Benefit for Youth UpRising
1 – 5 p.m.
Linden Street Brewery, 95 Linden Street
Youth UpRising (YU) envisions a healthy and economically robust East Oakland powered by the leadership of youth and young adults, as well as improvements in systems and environments that impact them. Its primary focus is building a systems-change and community economic development platform that supports and strengthens its personal transformation work.
This “Oktoberfest in July” features live blues by Rick Baskin and friends!
For more information, click here.
North Oakland Community Voices Forum
2:30 – 6 p.m.
Bethany Baptist Church, 5400 Adeline Street
Sponsored by Bethany Baptist Church and Phat Beets Produce, this event features a free community meal (meat and veggie options), workshops, a community time bank (with Cowrie Village), community justice resource fair, community digital storytelling and a community safety forum.
Bring 3 big ideas on how to make North Oakland a healthier, safer space that is community-led.
There will be digital storytelling stations set up to capture the historic and new voices of North Oakland. Please come to the forum and share your story as we work to paint a picture of how to move forward as a community and build on the legacy of those that made this community what it is today.
For more information, contact max@phatbeetsproduce.org.
OACC Trivia Night
5 p.m.
Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street
OACC will be hosting Trivia Night featuring questions about your favorite movies, music, books, sports, foods, and more! Some of the questions will be centered around the API community, so study up to win prizes and bragging rights! Rick Quan will MC, and prizes will be awarded. Admission is $20, or $15 for OACC Century Club Supporters.
For more information, visit oacc.cc.
Tuesday, July 30
Oakland City Council and Oakland Redevelopment Agency Meeting
5:30
City Council Chambers, Third Floor, Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza
The City Council is the governing body of the City of Oakland, and consists of eight members who are elected directly by the citizens of Oakland: one representative from each of seven districts, and one at-large representative. The Council sets goals and priorities for the City, as well as approving the City budget, adopting ordinances to help the City serve its citizens, and appointing members to various boards and commissions. The City Council meets 2 – 3 times per month, on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays. A downloadable agenda is available at: http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/calendar/.
For more information, visit http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityCouncil/ or call (510) 238-7370.
Wednesday, July 31
“Cops & Kids” Ice Cream Wednesday
2 – 4 p.m.
DeFremery Park
Come for free ice cream cones, floats and lots of sprinkles! This event is sponsored by the Oakland Police Activities League (PAL) and The Oakland Police Foundation, with special thanks to Nestle Dreyer’s Ice Cream.
For more information, visit http://oaklandpal.org/.
Special Planetarium Show at Chabot
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard
One year ago, Chabot’s teen Galaxy Explorers embarked on an international exchange with their teen partners at the Hong Kong Space Museum to develop and produce joint planetarium shows. The project, funded by the American Alliance of Museums and the U.S. State Department, culminates in a celebratory reception and presentation of the Galaxy Explorers’ productions in Chabot’s full-dome planetarium.
There is no charge to attend, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Contact Melissa Russo at mrusso@chabotspace.org or (510) 336-7379, and leave your name and the number guests in your party.
Thursday, August 1
Rules and Legislation Committee Meeting
10:45 a.m.
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 1
The Rules and Legislation Committee usually meets at this time (although it is recommended to confirm the day and time, as this is subject to change). A downloadable agenda is available at: http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/calendar/.
For more information, visit http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityCouncil/ or call (510) 238-7370.
Longfellow Community Association Meeting
7 p.m.
NOOCS (North Oakland Charter School), 1000 42nd Street
This public meeting consists of residents of the Longfellow community working together to enhance its beautiful, dynamic, and diverse community, and nurture a friendly, safe and attractive neighborhood that everyone can be proud of. Committees include Transportation and Land Use, which deals with such issues as traffic calming and speed bumps, and the Neighborhood Safety Committee, which addresses the creation of Neighborhood Watch groups.
For more information, please email longfellowcommunityassociation@gmail.com or visit http://longfellowcommunityassociation.org/.