2014-02-06

Wow, Oakland! You have so much going on this week. It’s kind of an increasing-returns kind of thing: good stuff accumulates around more good stuff. Maybe we should start Meg’s List Bingo: See how many of these you can go to this week. Enjoy!

Friday, February 7

Free Tax Preparation and Health Care Enrollment
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Oakland Main Library Community Room, 125 14th Street

Need tax assistance and help signing up for health care? Join the Department of Human Services Alameda County, Oakland Community Action Partnership, the Oakland Public Library, and United Way of the Bay Area to get help signing up for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, and free tax preparation, for workers who earn $52,000 a year or less. What to bring: photo ID for each person on your tax return, Social Security card/ITIN for each person on your return, W9 forms for all jobs held in 2013, All 1099s, 1098s and any other tax forms, checking and savings account and routing numbers for Direct Deposit, last year’s tax return, childcare provider information, and landlord’s name, address, and phone number for California renter’s credit. For more information, visit AC-OCAP.com.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day
4 – 6 p.m.

Lincoln Recreational  Center, 250 10th Street

It’s time to celebrate the women who have paved the way in sports for our girls! You can go to any Oakland Recreation Center and register, or do so on the web at www.oaklandnet.com/parks. Enter activity code #21839.301.

One West Oakland’s Community Impact, Series Part 2
6 – 8 p.m.

M. Robinson Baker YMCA, 3265 Market Street

One West Oakland invites you to Part 2 of their series looking at the impact and solutions to violence in the community. This event will feature violence education workshops and a performance by the Bay Peace Community Theater group. Everyone is invited, admission is free and childcare is provided.

The Art of AJ Sharkstar
6 – 9 p.m.

Rise Above Gallery, 4770 Telegraph

Join Rise Above Gallery for the opening of this new show, The Art of AJ Sharkstar, featuring colorful, fun graffiti and nature-inspired art and interaction! As always, there will be live screen printing of artist designed t-shirts. Rise Above will also be hosting special guest children’s book author / illustrator J.Otto Seibold, who will be signing copies of his latest book, Lost Sloth, and amusing kids of all ages.

Peace ‘n’ Justice Walk, North Oakland
6 p.m.

Bethany Baptist Parking Lot, 5400 Adeline

Come out and share some warm drinks, meet your neighbors, and learn about a growing call for restorative justice in North Oakland. Join Rev. Leggett of Bethany Baptist Church, Members of St. Columba Church, Memorial Tabernacle Church, Phat Beets Produce, the PLACE for Sustainable Living, Growing Together and many others for this monthly Peace ‘n’ Justice walk in North Oakland. Rev. Leggett will lead the group on an short walk through North Oakland, where we will stop at sites of recent violence or conflict. The purpose of the walk is for neighbors to meet each other, build community and feel safe outside at night in Oakland. We aim to build a multi-faith / class / race neighborhood movement to address violence through community initiated restorative justice work. Free hot drinks will be provided by Phat Beets Produce and neighbors like you. To RSVP for the walk, click here.

“Ebb+Flow 2014″ Mills Dance Alumni Concert
8 – 10 p.m.

Lisser Theater, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Boulevard

The Mills College Dance Alumni Group kicks off its third annual Mills Dance Alumni Concert season with this event. The entirely volunteer-run event celebrates Mills’ community, both past and present, by curating a concert each year. The review committee aims to showcase the diversity in background and artistic vision of Mills dance alumni through the generations, and this year is no exception. “Ebb+Flow 2014″ will present the work of eight choreographers, and will include live music, site-specific dance and works born out of Mills graduate collaborations.

57th Street Gallery Presents the Willis Kirk Quartet
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)

57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph

Willis Kirk is a jazz drummer. During his career, he rubbed shoulders with many of the 20th-century jazz greats, and played countless casuals. In 4th grade, he started taking drum lessons, and by high school had played his first paid gig. After high school, he worked with many groups in Indianapolis, including Wes Montgomery, with whom he played for many years. He says he was stranded a few times on the road during this time, and he recalls working in Kansas City for three weeks when the government closed the club suddenly before he could get paid. Today, Willis continues to play with the David Hardiman All-Star Big Band, as well as the occasional casual gig. Admission is $15. For more information or to make reservations (recommended), visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.

Saturday, February 8

Three Corners Neighborhood Group Saturday Neighborhood Cleanup
9 – 10 a.m.

The corner of 66th and San Pablo

It’s the second Saturday of the month: time for a Saturday Neighborhood cleanup! Join neighbors to walk the block and pick up the trash that’s accumulated. Bring a pair of gloves and a trash bag and meet up. It’s a great way to meet neighbors and make things cleaner, too! For more information, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThreeCornersNeighborhoodgroup/cal.

Class: “Start Your Own Indi Business”
9 – 11 a.m.

Piedmont Yarn & Apparel, 4171 Piedmont Avenue, Suite 102

Learn how to turn your hobby into an actual income-producing business! We’ll cover how to file the necessary tax and business papers, determine which expenses can be deducted, keep track of expenses including travel and rent expenses, and touch a bit on venues to sell the finished products. Bring notebook, pen, and all your questions. The fee for this class is $20. For more information, visit www.piedmontyarn.com.

ZooKids: “Carnivores, Herbivores, & Me”
9:30 a.m. – noon

Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road

What do you like for dinner? Did you know some animals eat only meat, some only plants, and some eat everything? Learn how specially adapted carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores are for their unique diets. Registration information is available here.

OACC Lunar New Year Celebrations
11 a.m.

Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street, Suite 290

As we enter the Year of the Horse, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) prepares to welcome the new year in style with its 10th annual Lunar New Year Festival! This year’s celebration will feature a daytime program that is free and open to the public, as well as an evening benefit concert. Details on purchasing tickets for the evening benefit concert can be found at oacclny2014.eventbrite.com. This year’s programs will feature performances from talented local artists like Seibi Lee, Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto, Cynthia Lin, and much more! The daytime program will feature arts and crafts booths and artist workshops, while the evening program includes a reception hour in addition to the benefit concert.

VAMP’s Vintage Mart

Noon – 6 p.m.

331 19th Street

Every second Saturday, VAMP welcomes fellow vintage vendors to come down to the shop and set up a pop-up mini flea market. Typically, they welcome 3-5 vendors each month. You can find all sorts of amazing treasures and will be treated to either live music or guest DJs entertaining visitors throughout the afternoon. On occasion, we’ve also had free coffee provided by our friends at Highwire Cofffee! Click here for more information.

90-Second Newbery Film Festival
Noon – 1:15 p.m.

Oakland Public Library, Rockridge Branch, 5366 College Avenue

The third annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is coming to Oakland, with a presentation of very short films made by book lovers of all ages. The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is the culmination of a video contest in which filmmakers of any age make movies that tell the entire story of a Newbery Medal-winning book in 90 seconds or less. (The Newbery Medal is recognized as the most prestigious award in children’s literature.) The festival features amateur films that are well-made and often endearing in unexpected ways. James Kennedy, founder and organizer of the film festival, says, “It turns out that any book, no matter how worthy and somber, becomes pleasingly ludicrous when compressed into 90 seconds.” The Rockridge Branch screening will feature a special co-host: author Jennifer Holm, creator of Babymouse, Squish, and of three Newbery Honor-winning novels: Turtle in Paradise, Penny from Heaven, and Our Only May Amelia.

Valentine’s Day Craft Fair
Noon – 5 p.m.

The Grease Diner, 6604 San Pablo Avenue

This craft fair will consist of about a dozen local artists and companies selling their work. With options ranging from a few dollars to more pricey items, this craft fair definitely offers a variety in choosing great gifts for Valentine’s Day. Some things to look forward to are: chocolate, hand-made cards, hand-bound sketchbooks, soaps, screen-printed apparel, fine art prints, jewelry, food, and much more — including some sexy surprises. Everything is handmade, and everything is locally made. For more information, visit www.thegreasediner.com.

“Wine & Canvas” Painting Workshop
6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard

Unleash your creative side! Chabot is hosting “Wine and Canvas,” a painting class with cocktails. Use the beautiful Chabot setting in the redwood forest with some of the best views in the Bay Area of the night sky as inspiration to create your own masterpiece. An artist will instruct you step-by-step to re-create a featured space-inspired painting. At the end of the event, you’ll take home a work of art that you created. They provide the aprons, easels, paints, artist instruction and 16×20 gallery-wrapped canvas that you get to take home and hang on your wall! No experience necessary! Click here for tickets.

Nerd Nite at Chabot
7 – 10 p.m.

Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard

This month, Chabot is hosting the nerds and exploring exoplanets and asteroids. Renowned UC Berkeley Astronomy Professor Geoff Marcy shares the latest research on exoplanets, and staff astronomer Ben Burress explores the odds of asteroids colliding with Earth and the potential impact. Have fun competing against fellow nerds in the Super Nerdy Scavenger Hunt Challenge. Afterwards, stay and view the stars through one of Chabot’s historic telescopes, or keep the fun going and watch the Pink Floyd LASERIUM laser light show at 10:15 p.m. Click here for more information.

SKIN celebrates Black History Month
8 p.m.

Venue Oakland, 420 14th Street

Join us as we gather in peace to celebrate Black History Month and the love that binds us all together. Our destination will be a place where we all are children of a goddess called music, dancing wildly to the rhythm of life. This event features Carlos Mena in one of the three rooms of music, along with DJ Cecil, Nina Sol, Diaztek and Son of Son; live performance by Sistahs of the Drum; live art and exhibit by Eesuu Orundide; artisan vendor Brass, Bone & Honey; and Afro-Cuban Salsa instruction by Sean Foster. Tickets for this 21+ event are available at http://skintones.eventbrite.com.

Elevate Oakland’s 1st Annual Benefit Concert
8 p.m.

The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Avenue

Sheila E. presents Michael Franti and friends, Judith Hill, Ozomatli, Goapele and Orianthi in a benefit for Elevate Oakland’s programming, which will bring music and arts education to Oakland schools. Their ultimate goal is to provide special programming, thereby decreasing the drop-out rate and enabling graduates to build effective life skills, meet their personal and academic goals, and be prepared to lead successful and thriving lives. Tickets are available here.

57th Street Gallery Presents The Bryant Bolling Quintet
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)

57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph

This is an evening of creative Jazz mixed with spoken-word poetry, celebrating the African-American experience of love, culture and family. Musicians are Bryant B. Bolling, vocals; Alexander Smith, bass; Larry Douglas, trumpet/mallet kat; Michael Spencer, drums; and Zakiyyah G.G. Capehart Bolling, poet/storyteller. Admission is $15. For more information or to make reservations (recommended), visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.

Sunday, February 9

Family Concert: Sing Along
Noon – 12:45 p.m.

Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street, Suite 290

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s innovative, admission-free Family Concert series presents its second program of the 2013-2014 season. These 45-minute programs, designed for young listeners as well as adults learning about classical music, are the cornerstone of the SFCO’s educational programming, and have been greeted with capacity crowds and enthusiastic responses from our audiences all season. Sing Along marks our fourth collaboration with the wonderful young singers of the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir. This program will feature songs about animals — old favorites plus a few new ones too. Noted soprano Shawnette Sulker will also perform, bringing her charm and a few classical arias (about animals, of course) to our stage. Visual delights and audience participation make these fun-loving concerts a joy for all ages!

Breaking Away Screening at the New Parkway: Benefit for Ride for a Reason 2014
Noon – 3 p.m.

The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th Street

Enjoy the classic 1970s bike movie Breaking Away at the New Parkway theater in Oakland while helping to support the Ride for a Reason Oakland public schools fundraiser. R4R is an annual bike ride to Sacramento to advocate for public education, and raise essential funds for school enrichment programs in Oakland. Last year, 150 riders pedaled from Oakland to the steps of the State Capitol to protest the massive cuts in funding for education. Passage of Proposition 30 will help our schools, but additional resources are needed after decades of disinvestment. Parents, teachers, students, and community members are riding again to raise funds and public awareness in this cause. Many elective classes and enrichment programs depend entirely on community fundraising. Our support remains critical. California once had the best schools in the nation. Working together we can restore public education in California. This year the funds we raise will be split evenly between six public schools, Claremont Middle, Edna Brewer Middle, Emerson Elementary, Oakland International High, Oakland Technical High and Westlake Middle. To learn more, contribute, or join as a rider or volunteer, visit rideforareason.dojiggy.com.

Build A Seed-Starting Table with Chuck Millar
Noon – 3 p.m.

Pollinate Farm and Garden, 2727 Fruitvale Avenue

The right growing conditions are crucial to starting healthy seedlings indoors. In this workshop, participants will learn what conditions seedlings need to flourish. Then each participant will complete construction, and take home a tabletop seed-starting table big enough for to hold two flats of plants. The seed-starting table is designed for easy disassembly and storage when not in use. Each participant will need to bring a drill (cordless model preferred), Phillips screwdriver bits and 1/8″, 1/4″ and 5/16″ drill bits. Note: Light fixture options will vary and are not included with the completed table. We will discuss the range of options available during the class. Details and registration online.

Lunar New Year Celebration and Other Asian Traditions
Noon – 4:30 p.m.

Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street

Don’t miss an annual favorite, as the Oakland Museum of California rings in the Year of the Horse with a fortune-filled event for the whole family. Elements of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Tibetan and other Asian cultures will be featured in the daylong celebration, including an array of traditions in dance, music, crafts, food, family-friendly activities, and more. The celebration kicks off with a traditional Chinese lion dance. A Shanghai-born juggler and acrobat will present a plate-spinning show, and students from UC Berkeley will perform Korean pop dances. Japanese ikebana artists will create gorgeous flower arrangements, and the Dharma Realm Chinese Orchestra will play traditional music. Jiten Daiko will perform a rousing taiko drumming performance, and Duniya Dance and Drum Company will perform a bhangra dance. In honor of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, festival-goers can learn from an artist how to make prayer flags. Visitors will learn the art of bojagi (Korean wrapping cloths), and learn how to create Japanese dolls. Story time is always popular, featuring writer Oliver Chin and Storyteller Megumi, as is the magic performance, this year by The Magic of Chin-Chin. Visitors can adorn themselves festively with henna art and the face-painting station with Chinese opera singers. The celebration will close with a fiery dragon dance! Treat the family and discover the diversity of Asian New Year traditions practiced across the globe!

Monday, February 10

Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board Meeting
6 – 8 p.m.

Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza

For additional information, call (510) 238-3941 or visit http://www.oaklandheritage.org. It is recommended to confirm the date and location at: www.oaklandnet.com.

Tuesday, February 11

Brad Lancaster: Turning Drains Into Sponges and Water Scarcity Into Water Abundance
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue

Brad Lancaster shares eight universal principles of water harvesting along with simple strategies that turn water scarcity into water abundance and floods into opportunity. They empower you to create integrated water-sustainable landscape plans at home and throughout your community. This presentation will focus on large projects and how to recreate our cities with fewer storm drains by reestablishing watersheds. Register online.

Oakland City Council Committee Meetings
times listed below

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 (such as this one) usually 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 here. For more information, click here or call (510) 238-7370.

10:30 a.m. – noon: Public Works Committee

noon – 2 p.m.: Finance & Management Committee

2 – 4 p.m.: Community & Economic Development Committee

4 – 5:30 p.m.: Life Enrichment Committee

5:30 p.m.: Public Safety Committee

F. M. Smith Park Advisory Council Meeting
6:30 – 8 p.m.

F. M. Smith Park, 1969 Park Boulevard

Have questions or want more information? Contact Lisa at lisamhire@yahoo.com or Center Director Lois Gomes at lgomes@oaklandnet.com, or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/15X_NCPC/cal.

Jenny Offill discusses and signs Dept. of Speculation
7 p.m.

Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue

Dept. of Speculation is the story of “the wife” told primarily through journal entries and letters exchanged between husband and wife. Concise but rambling, experimental but accessible, these snapshots paint the story of a woman struggling through the woes of marriage and parenting, of losing and finding herself. In a breath, “the wife” will discuss Rilke and yoga pants, Russian cosmonauts and the thought experiments of the Stoics, blending self-reflection and obscure, off-beat facts into a compelling rumination on love, relationships, art, and identity. Jenny Offill is the author of the novel Last Things, which was chosen as a Notable Book of the Year by The New York Times and was a finalist for the L.A. Times First Book Award. She is the coeditor, with Elissa Schappell, of two anthologies of essays, The Friend Who Got Away and Money Changes Everything. Her children’s books include 17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore, 11 Experiments That Failed, and Sparky. She teaches in the writing programs at Queens University, Brooklyn College, and Columbia University.

Wednesday, February 12

OMCA Community Nature Journal Club
Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street

Join naturalist, educator, and artist John Muir Laws in this free monthly workshop. Each session highlights a new aspect of journal keeping such as drawing flowers, making quick landscape studies, sketching birds, noticing important scientific details, or nature poetry. Enjoy a diverse community of artists and naturalists of all levels, and connect to nature through art. All ages are welcome. No experience necessary. Museum admission is not required. For additional information on workshop topics and schedule of all journal club workshops, visit johnmuirlaws.com.

AC Transit Board of Directors Meetings
times listed below

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.: Operations Committee Meeting

3:30 p.m.: External Affairs Committee Meeting

6 p.m.: Board of Directors Meeting

For more information, visit http://www2.actransit.org/main.wu.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
4:30 p.m.

Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission reports and makes recommendations to the Oakland City Council on Office of Parks and Recreation policies. It consists of 11 seats, appointed by the Mayor and Council to represent the citizens of Oakland. The public is welcome to attend the Commission’s monthly meetings, which are held on the second Wednesday of every month except for August. Please call the Director’s office, (510) 238-7532, to confirm meetings in case of cancellation or change of venue. For more information, click here.

Oakland Board of Education General Meeting
5 – 7 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.

Manzanita 18Y NCPC Meeting
6:45 – 8:15 p.m.

Salvation Army, 2794 Garden Street

For more information, please contact NSC Edith Guillen at (510) 238-7159 or eguillen@oaklandnet.com.

Thursday, February 13

Oakland City Council Rules & 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 here. For more information, click here or call (510) 238-7370.

Temescal NCPC Meeting
7 – 8:30 p.m.

Faith Presbyterian Church, 49th and Webster

Everyone is welcome at the monthly Steering Committee meetings of the Temescal Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council. For more information, please visit the website below, or email temescalfamilies@yahoogroups.com. For more information, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TemescalNeighborhood.

Rockridge NCPC Meeting
7 – 9 p.m.

Rockridge Library, 5366 College Avenue

The Greater Rockridge Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council was officially established in April 2002 to respond to the newly reorganized Community Policing Program of the City of Oakland Police Department. It combines beats 12Y and 13X under a single NCPC and operates under its own by-laws. Monthly steering committee meetings consist of officers, committee chairpersons and volunteers, a Neighborhood Services Coordinator (NSC) from OPD, and our Problem-Solving Officer (PSO): a specifically-designated OPD patrol officer. Any resident community member who wishes to attend regularly and participate in meetings is also welcome to join. For more information, please visit the website below, or email chair@rockridgencpc.com. For more information, visit http://www.rockridgencpc.com.

Rickey Vincent: Party Music: The Inside Story of Black Panthers’ Band
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street

This is a Pacific Radio tribute to Rickey Vincent, scholar, educator, KPFA 94.1FM radio host, and author. Since earning a Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies at U.C. Berkeley, Vincent has lectured on Black music history, the cultural politics of Hip Hop and issues of African-American Culture and Globalization. His first book is Funk: The Music, the People and the Rhythm of The One. His new book is Party Music: The Inside Story of the Black Panthers’ Band and How Black Power Transformed Soul Music. Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door.

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