As we enter the classical “Dog Days” of summer this week with some of the country still in drought conditions, why would we list anything else that might be dry? Because at this time of year in Oakland, you can swing by a farmer’s market on the way to something dry and still bring something juicy to it — besides yourself, of course. Enjoy!
Friday, July 19
Free Cottage Food Law Workshop
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The Sound Room, 2147 Broadway
This is the first of a two-part series of workshops on cottage foods. Come find out:
The basics of the new Cottage Food Law
What products may be made and where they may be sold
What permits are required and how to apply for one
What the food safety considerations are
About marketing, budgeting and pricing
Please RSVP to Jennifer Sowerwine, U. C. Berkeley, at jsowerwi@berkeley.edu or (510) 207-2692.
Moonlight Hike at Chabot
6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard
Hike through the redwoods in twilight and moonlight on a moderate 4- to 5-mile hike. After the hike, stay and view the night sky through Chabot’s telescopes (weather permitting) or tour the Telescope Makers’ Workshop. The hike will take place rain or shine.
For reservations, click here.
Birthday Bash at A PLACE for Sustainable Living
7 p.m. – midnight
1121 64th Street
The band Mount Saint Elias played a HoeDown Hootenanny a few months back and brought down the house. This event is a celebration of Tatyana’s (of Mount Saint Elias) birthday and just like her, it’s going to be wild! Cob-oven pizza, dancing and a bonfire are all in the offing, and there will be lots of other music and bands besides. Admission is $5 – 15, sliding scale.
For more information, email info@aplaceforsustainableliving.org.
Dancing Under the Stars: “West Coast Swing” Lesson
8:30 – 10 p.m.
Foot of Broadway, Jack London Square
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 Eric Tillman
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
5701 Telegraph Avenue
Eric Tillman (E.T.) is from Chicago, where he began playing keyboards professionally — first with local Jazz, Blues, and Latin bands, then touring with acts like The Dells and The Impressions. His experiences have provided excellent on-the-job training for fronting his own band. His playing arrangements turn a trio into an orchestra, and his dynamic and charismatic performance turns a jam session into a jazz festival. His group, E.T. and the Organic ReMix, is a must-hear band. Admission is $15, with reservations recommended.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.57thstreetgallery.com/.
Saturday, July 20
Pedalfest
All day
Jack London Square
Pedalfest rolls into Jack London Square to celebrate all things cycling at the Bay Area’s premier bicycle festival. This free annual event will pack the waterfront with more than 20,000 biking enthusiasts enjoying bicycle-themed entertainment, food and exhibits including:
Cycling daredevils performing in a 30-foot banked wooden Whiskeydrome
Eye-popping two-wheeled stunts by pro riders Mike Steidley and Chris Clark
Rock the Bike’s pedal-powered stage, featuring live music
TGC Actions Sport/BMX Stunt Team performances
Oaklandish’s kids’ bicycle parade
U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame vintage bikes
Brompton Bike Folding Contest
Bicycle rodeo for children
Pedal-powered food
Pedal-powered rides by Cyclecide
A dazzling collection of new, vintage and handmade bikes
Bike Stand demo stage by Bay Area Bikes
Bike trivia dunk tank
Bicycle vendors, artisans and more
Pedalfest Pig Roast by Lungomare (reserve now at http://pedalfestpigroast.eventbrite.com/)
Selection of beers available from New Belgium Brewing Company, with all proceeds going to support the advocacy work of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition
For additional information and/or to volunteer, visit www.pedalfestjacklondon.com.
Oakland Heritage Alliance Tour: Seventh Street and the Prescotts
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
West Oakland BART Station, 7th and Chester Streets at the blue poles
Only scattered scraps remain of a business district that once rivaled downtown. Travelers, railroad workers, and a world of diverse neighborhood residents gave West Seventh Street a distinctive character pulsing with entertainment, commerce, and vice. The West Oakland Specific Plan identifies Seventh Street as an “opportunity area.” We will consider prospects for rehabilitation, infill, and commemoration as we explore the traces of Seventh Street and dip into the adjoining Prescott and South Prescott neighborhoods whose downtown it was. A level walk.
For information about Oakland Heritage Alliance and its events, please call the OHA office at (510) 763-9218, email info@oaklandheritage.org, or visit www.oaklandheritage.org.
East Bay Mini-Maker Faire Kick-off and Town Hall
6 – 9 p.m.
1960 Mandela Parkway
Take advantage of the opportunity to tour West Oakland’s largest maker space! Learn about Oakland Makers, a new local association of industrial artists, technologists, manufacturers, and educators.
For more information, visit http://ebmakerfaire.wordpress.com/.
57th Street Gallery Presents The Pyramids
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
5701 Telegraph Avenue
Nearly 40 years since the founding of the group in 1972, The Pyramids have reunited and toured Europe during November and December 2010, and most recently the summer of 2011, mesmerizing audiences at various clubs and festivals in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and The Netherlands with a new sound and a new band configuration featuring Idris Ackamoor, Kenneth Nash, Kimathi Asante, Bradie Speller, and Kash Killion. Admission is $15, with reservations recommended.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.57thstreetgallery.com/.
Sunday, July 21
Oakland Heritage Alliance Walk: Dimond
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Adobe Boy Scout Hut in Dimond Park
This walk introduces the characters who shaped the district’s early history. Participants will meet, among others, the Dimond, Hopkins, and Rhoda families. They’ll also learn about the German community with their Altenheim on the heights and beer gardens below. This 3-hour walk includes a stroll along Sausal Creek, as well as stories about the district’s horse-drawn streetcars and the resort that the neighbors sent packing.
For information about Oakland Heritage Alliance and its events, please call the OHA office at (510) 763-9218, email info@oaklandheritage.org, or visit www.oaklandheritage.org.
Oakland Museum of California’s Bike Tour: Oakland on Two Wheels
10 a.m.
OMCA, 1000 Oak Street
An annual summer favorite is back, with OMCA’s popular bike tours! Explore Oakland and its environs with the Museum’s bike-tripping docents on the third Sunday of the month. Discover the incredible history of Oakland on two wheels during this leisurely two-hour ride through downtown Oakland. The tour highlights local history, architecture, and community stories. Bring your bicycle, helmet, repair kit, and adventurous spirit! Participants must be 12 or older.
Please RSVP to docentcenter@museumca.org or (510) 318-8470.
Bay Area Seasonal Herb Walk Series: Redwood Regional Park
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Redwood Regional Park
From the mist-shrouded sea cliffs to the sun-baked arid expanse of its easternmost regions, the San Francisco Bay area provides chances to view large varieties of botanical specimens, all within a relatively small geographical range. Join in and discover the diverse array of both edible and medicinal plants found growing within these contrasting, yet closely interconnected, micro-climates together. Historical and modern medicinal applications will be covered, along with any edible and/or utilitarian potential. Tips on basic plant identification will be offered, with an emphasis on how to differentiate poisonous look-alike plants from their beneficial counterparts. Plant family characteristics will be discussed as well.
Make sure to bring: water, lunch, notebook, hat and/or sunscreen, rain gear, and a camera. The cost is $60, with discounts available for multiple classes. Register at www.regenerativedesign.org/herb-walk-series.
Summer Garden Party
noon – 4 p.m.
Kaiser Rooftop Garden, 300 Lakeside Avenue
Come enjoy a fun-filled summer garden party with Karine Brighten Events! It’s time to whip out your favorite sundress because we are ready to beat the summer heat in style. This is the afternoon to do some shopping, get yourself pampered, enjoy complimentary refreshments (iced teas, flavored waters, lemonades), and music — all in a beautiful outdoor garden setting.
Tickets include:
Hors d’oeuvres and other refreshments
Live music
Exclusive discounts and special offers from vendors
Swag bag (for the first 25 people to purchase a ticket)
Chances to win some great prizes
Tickets are $25 in advance at http://purplepass.com/garden, and $30 at the door.
Tuesday, July 23
Oakland City Council Committee Meetings
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. 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. Most of the Committees of the City Council meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month (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/.
10:30 a.m.: Public Works Committee
12 p.m.: Finance and Management Committee
2 p.m.: Community and Economic Development Committee
4 p.m.: Life Enrichment Committee
5:30 p.m.: Public Safety Committee
For more information, visit http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/CityCouncil/ or call (510) 238-7370.
Screening and Discussion of Edible City: Grow the Revolution
7 p.m.
The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th Street
Edible City: Grow the Revolution is a fun, fast-paced, feature-length documentary journey through the local Good Food movement that’s taking root in the San Francisco Bay Area, across the nation and around the world. Edible City introduces a diverse cast of extraordinary and eccentric characters who are challenging the paradigm of our broken food system. The movie digs deep into their unique perspectives and transformative work from edible education to grassroots activism, to building local economies finding hopeful solutions, to monumental problems. Admission is $8.
For more information, visit http://ediblecitythemovie.com.
Wednesday, July 24
“Cops & Kids” Ice Cream Wednesday
2 – 4 p.m.
Mosswood 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, click here.
AC Transit Board of Directors and Committee Meetings
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, 1600 Franklin Street, 10th Floor
The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District is the third-largest public bus system in California, serving 13 cities and adjacent unincorporated areas in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. AC Transit has been serving the East Bay since 1960, taking over from the Key System and its predecessors, which carried passengers via buses, horse-drawn rail, electric streetcars, and ferries over the previous 100 years. AC Transit’s mission is to provide safe, convenient, courteous, and reliable transit service.
3 p.m.: Planning Committee
3:30 p.m.: Finance and Audit Committee
6 p.m.: Board of Directors
For more information, visit http://www2.actransit.org/main.wu.
Oakland Board of Education General Meeting
5 – 9 p.m.
Paul Robeson Building, 1025 2nd Avenue, Board Room
The Governing Board, commonly called the Board of Education, is the elected policy-making body of the public education system within the City of Oakland. The Governing Board’s primary responsibility is to ensure that every student served by the District is well-educated and demonstrates high academic achievement.
For more information, visit http://bex.ousd.k12.ca.us/.
10Y NCPC Monthly Potluck and Meeting
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Santa Fe Elementary, 915 54th Street
Come at 6:30 for a casual potluck, or at 7:00 p.m. for the meeting, or both. This event repeats on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Contact NSC (Neighborhood Services Coordinator) Paul Brekke-Miesner at (510) 238-3102, or PSO (Problem-Solving Officer) Trode for additional information, or call (510) 750-4557.
Beat 10Y’s Yahoo! Group is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oakland10y/.
Thursday, July 25
Leveraging Influence and Motivating Others
7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Robert Half International, 1999 Harrison Street, 11th Floor
Managers have incredible influence: their strengths energize and empower, while their shortcomings hinder a productive team. Discover your strengths and areas of opportunity in a safe environment. Learning from a new and successful model, participants will come away being able to:
Apply effective communication techniques for adapting to staff, peers and bosses with different (and difficult) styles
Identify, optimize and leverage your strengths
Develop action plans for influencing, decision-making and motivating others
Take away an invaluable interaction guide and action plan
This workshop, good for 1.5 General Recertification Credits, is $35, or free to NCHRA members. To register, click here.
Oakland City Council Rules and Legislation Committee
10:45 a.m.
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 1
The Rules and Legislation Committee usually meets Thursdays 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.
OACC Lunch and Learn with Author Svetlana Kim
noon – 1 p.m.
Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street
This is a brown-bag lunch (that is, bring your own) with the author of White Pearl and I: A Memoir of a Political Refugee. The cost is $5, or free to OACC Century Club supporters. With book, the cost is $17, or $12 to OACC Century Club supporters.
For more information, visit http://oacc.cc/.
Reconstructing Narrative Workshop at A PLACE for Sustainable Living
6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
1121 64th Street
What are the stories that we live inside? What significance do our names carry and what do they tell us about our souls’ purposes here in this lifetime? How do we access our inner artist-creators and truly become the authors of our lives? These questions form the basis for a new course, “Reconstructing Narrative.” Drawing on the work of Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way) and Joseph Campbell (“Personal Myth,” Hero with a Thousand Faces), we will explore the inner realms of psyche, conditioning and spirit, toward the generation of creative writing pieces that deepen self-knowledge and cultivate personal empowerment. The cost of this workshop $20 – 40, sliding scale, with no one turned away for lack of funds.
For more information, visit http://aplaceforsustainableliving.org/.
Waterfront Flicks: Brave
8:30 p.m.
Jack London Market Lawn
Enjoy free outdoor movies on the beautiful waterfront. Grab dinner at any Jack London Square restaurant or pack a picnic. Movies begin at sundown, but the fun begins earlier with trivia questions and prizes. New Belgium beer sales benefit the East Bay Bike Coalition.
For more information, visit www.jacklondonsquare.com.