The sense of duty about things we really ought to do is instilled in us early. Go to school. Help your brother put his shoes on. Eat your peas. This week’s calendar is dominated by meetings and things that we know give us a sense of community pride when we do them — and then there are a few more festive things, too. Think of them as the treats we get when we finish our civic engagement peas. Enjoy!
Friday, March 14
Community Peace ‘n’ Justice Walk, North Oakland
6 p.m.
Meet in the Bethany Baptist Parking Lot, 5400 Adeline
Join The North Oakland Restorative Justice Council (Rev. Leggett of Bethany Baptist Church, Members of St. Columba Church, Memorial Tabernacle Church, Healers Not Jailers, Bay Area Youth Empowerment Project, Phat Beets Produce, the PLACE for Sustainable Living, Growing Together, the youth from Bay Peace, and many others for this peace ‘n’ justice walk in North Oakland. 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.
57th Street Gallery Presents Takezo and Friends
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
5701 Telegraph Avenue
Yoshinobu Takeda, a.k.a. Takezo, was born in Kagawa, Japan, and grew up in Kyoto. Takezo began singing in bands and composing music at the age of 12. Among his earliest influences were American movie soundtracks, The Beatles, and Otis Redding. His instincts brought him to the Bay Area in 1985 to pursue his ongoing career in music. Musicians are Takezo, vocals/guitar; Chris Burns, piano; Karl Sevaried, bass; and special guest Larry Vann, drums. Admission is $15. For more information or to make reservations (recommended), visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.
Saturday, March 15
Learn, Lead, Lift (LLL) Emergency Preparedness Training
3 p.m.
West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street
In February and March, the Oakland Public Library will be hosting emergency preparedness classes. The Oakland Fire Department’s Emergency Management Services Division has established the Learn, Lead, Lift (LLL) Emergency Preparedness Program, a “whole-community preparedness” program that simplifies the steps needed to prepare yourself and your community using everyday items as tools for preparedness. This training can be a stand-alone training or a primer for the CORE Program, if residents wish to take a more rigorous emergency preparedness training program. For more information, contact Genevieve Pastor-Cohen, Senior Emergency Planning Coordinator, at (510) 238-2326.
Heed the Octopus
6 p.m.
817 East 24th Street
The Octopus Literary Salon is back for the Ides of March! Join in the fun, food, and entertainment! Admission is $5, including one Tecate, with plenty of other selections, including a plate of corned beef, kale caesar, and soda bread for $10; $4 draft pints of Guinness, and $5 glasses of wine. The program is as follows:
7 p.m.: A short play, dramatic selections regarding prophecy, coming full circle, sacrifice, and unheeded warnings.
8 p.m.: shawn shine
9 p.m.: Comedienne Yayne Abeba
10 p.m.: Dum Spiro Spero
Moonlight Kayaking
6 – 9 p.m.
California Canoe & Kayak, 409 Water Street
Moonlight paddling is enchanting! The water is calm and glassy on the Oakland Estuary and the city lights add to the ambiance. Enjoy a leisurely pace as the sun sets and the moon rises, illuminating a delightful evening. Stay warm and dry in a cozy sea kayak, too. Introduce a friend to moonlight kayaking by paddling together in a stable double kayak. Register here.
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir’s Annual Spring Musical
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison Street
Every year, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir presents their Annual Free Spring Musical as a platform for Bay Area gospel musicians to come together to celebrate our roots through spirituals and traditional gospel music. This year, OIGC is proud to welcome special guest Calvin B. Rhone, a world-renowned gospel singer and songwriter, and host Nona Brown, who was recently elected to the Board of Governors for the San Francisco chapter of The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS). Admission is free.
Wake the Dead at Utunes Coffee House
8 – 10 p.m.
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th Street
Wake the Dead is the world’s first Celtic all-star Grateful Dead jam band. After 11 years of solid success blending Celtic traditional music and the songs of the Grateful Dead, this hot Northern California septet now embraces the entire Summer of Love, delighting Deadheads, folkies, rockers, and adventurous music lovers alike around the world. Tickets are available here.
57th Street Gallery Presents The Joel Fleisher Quintet
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
5701 Telegraph Avenue
Joel Fleisher has been singing all his life, and is delightedly unable to say what kind of music he most loves, both as a listener and a performer. Having just retired from teaching, Joel rediscovered his joy in singing jazz and has launched himself on the next great segment of his life as a solo jazz vocalist. Recent performances have included the lounge at Yoshi’s, San Francisco and the Berkeley City Club. When you hear Joel you’ll be glad he found his way home! Musicians are Joel Fleisher, vocals; Keith Saunders, piano; Roger Glenn, sax/flute/vibes; Ken Okada, bass; Leon Joyce, Jr., drums; and Butch Haynes, congas. Admission is $15. For more information or to make reservations (recommended), visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.
Sunday, March 16
Honoring Baba Chokwe Lumumba
3 – 6 p.m.
EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Boulevard
The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement sends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Baba Chokwe Lumumba. For over forty years, Baba Chokwe was a torchbearer for freedom and liberation, and a beacon for building a Black nation. Please join the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement in commemorating the Life and Legacy of Baba Chokwe Lumumba. Please wear white or African garments, and bring an item for the altar.
Monday, March 17
Laurel District Association Board Meeting
7:30
Happy Garden Restaurant, 4112 MacArthur Boulevard
This meeting presents the public with the opportunity to find out what vision the Board has in mind for the future of the Laurel’s commercial corridor. Additionally, any questions about the current topics of interest in the neighborhood, such as the Maxx Value situation, can be addressed. For more information, email laureldistrictassociation@gmail.com.
Tuesday, March 18
Oakland City Council and Oakland Redevelopment Agency Meeting
5:30 p.m.
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 here. For more information, click here or call (510) 238-7370.
Wednesday, March 19
Fruitvale Unity NCPC Monthly Meeting
6:30 – 8 p.m.
San Antonio Senior Center, 3301 East 12th Street, Suite 201
Join this monthly community meeting to share strategies to resolve community issues and concerns. An agenda is posted by the Fruitvale Unity Council on the day of the event. For more information, email steinwaytna@yahoogroups.com.
Allendale Park NCPC Meeting
7 p.m.
Allendale Recreation Center, 3711 Suter Street
For more information about this organization’s meetings, or to get on its mailing list, email allendale_ncpc@yahoogroups.com.
Restoration for the Birds and the Bees
7 – 9 p.m.
Dimond Branch Library, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue
Local biologist Martha Berthelsen will give an introduction to the birds and the bees of riparian areas in the East Bay, and discuss recent research on how we can provide them with good habitats. Dimond Canyon hikers may have noticed Martha’s field study along Sausal Creek a few years ago. Come learn about what she found here and in other local watersheds. All are welcome!
Golden Gate NCPC 10X Monthly Meeting
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Golden Gate Recreation Center, 1075 62nd Street
This monthly meeting of the Golden Gate Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council recurs on the third Wednesday of each month, except for December. For more information, or to get in touch with the organization, visit groups.yahoo.com/group/NCPC-10X/cal.
Thursday, March 20
Oakland City Council 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 here. For more information, click here or call (510) 238-7370.
Oakland Food Policy Council Meeting
5 – 7:30 p.m.
1000 Broadway, 5th Floor, Room A or B
The mission of the Oakland Food Policy Council (OFPC) is to establish an equitable and sustainable food system in Oakland. It strives to: ensure access to healthy, affordable food within walking distance of every Oakland resident; bring underserved neighborhoods to the food policy table and increase “food literacy” among Oakland residents; put food, hunger, and food systems on the City of Oakland’s agenda and contribute to the national dialog on food policy; and turn the Oakland food system into an engine for local economic development and involve local and regional agricultural communities.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting
5:30 p.m.
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 4
Oakland’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) committee was chartered in 1995 to advise the City on the design of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and related issues. Meetings are held at City Hall the third Thursday of the month. Members of the public are welcome to attend all or part of any BPAC meeting. For more information, visit oaklandpw.com/Page124.aspx.
Adams Point Neighborhood Group March Madness Fundraiser
6 – 8 p.m.
389 Grand Avenue
Raffle items include a $50 gift card for Whole Foods, a $60 gift card for the Side Bar, a free cut and color at Gregg’s Grand Salon, lunch for two at Bacheesos, 4 passes to Children’s Fairyland, and a gift certificate to the Spice Shop, and much more! Proceeds are used to improve and beautify the neighborhood. For more information, email adamspointneighborhood@gmail.com.
OSD Advisory Committee Meeting
6:30 p.m.
Hunter Hall, Paul Robeson Administrative Building, 1025 2nd Avenue
Representative parents, staff, students and community members make up the District Advisory Committee (DAC). The DAC provides a community perspective to the Board of Education and the District leadership on important educational issues. They also assure the District and individual schools are in compliance with state accountability laws. Each school appoints a representative to the DAC.
Melrose High Hopes NCPC Beat 27X Meeting
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Horace Mann School, 5222 Ygnacio
The NCPC is the main organizing group for the neighborhood. The Steering Committee, which is the NCPC leadership team, makes decisions about monthly meeting agendas and major events (e.g., speakers, priorities for OPD, elections, and projects like the Thanksgiving Food Drive, Annual Block Party, Courtland Creek Rejuvenation Project, Support for our Neighborhood School, Redevelopment on Foothill, and the like). The monthly meetings at Horace Mann School are a great opportunity to let the designated City Council Member and Community Policing Officers know about neighborhood concerns and engage them in helping the neighborhood. Visit ncpcbeat27x.org for updated agenda items, general information, or to get on the mailing list for future meetings.
Pickin’ on the Potomac
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
The Presidential Yacht Potomac, 540 Water Street
Join the Potomac for a night of stompin’ good bluegrass sounds by the Kathy Kallick Band, one of the best Bluegrass groups in the Bay Area. Beer, wine and soda are available for sale, accompanied by complimentary appetizers. Tours of the ship are offered prior to the concert, starting at 6 p.m. All proceeds go to the Potomac Educational Programs. Tickets are available at www.ticketweb.com.
To list an event for March 21 – 27, send the details to meg@oaklandlocal.com by noon on Tuesday, March 18.