Sunday is, of course, Easter. That means there are some Easter-y things to do this week. If you like decorating eggs, or even Easter hats, knock yourself out! If not, enjoy films, art and exhibit openings and receptions, music, civic- and earth- minded items, and much more, in relative egglessness, just like you’d expect. Enjoy!
Friday, April 18
Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival
3:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street
This year’s theme EmPOWERment couldn’t be more fitting for the Rose Foundation’s mission of inspiring community action to protect the environment, consumers and public health. Join them for a fun, inspiring, and, dare we say, empowering evening. There will be great films, happy hour, and much more! Visit www.rosefdn.org/filmfest to learn more.
SuperAwesome Sneak Peek and Record Swap
5 – 9 p.m.
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street
Don’t miss this sneak peek of rad new spring exhibitions “SuperAwesome” and “Vinyl,” and check out an authentic record swap. Gain a new perspective on art, identity, and imagination through the works of 15 contemporary artists in the group exhibition “SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot.” Revisit the albums you love, learn about a whole new genre, and spin to your heart’s content in “Vinyl: The Sound and Culture of Records.” Enjoy the time-honored tradition of a record swap, OMCA-style, where collectors, sellers, and vinyl fans alike share and trade albums, stories, and a good time. It all happens during Friday Nights @ OMCA, the Oakland Museum of California‘s popular weekly street party where admission to the Museum is half off for adults, free for ages 18 and under, and food trucks from Off the Grid, DJs, family activities, dancing, and more make for truly Oakland way to start the weekend.
No Doubt: The Murder(s) of Oscar Grant
6:30 – 9:30
EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Boulevard
“Oscar Grant was murdered for the first time on Jan. 1, 2009; he would be murdered by the courts and the media soon thereafter.” Join the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Onyx, and Davey D in a discussion with award winning journalist and author, Thandisizwe Chimurenga in her recently released book, No Doubt: The Murder(s) of Oscar Grant. Chimurenga uses her writing as political activism. In No Doubt, she connects the systematic state-sanctioned violence against young Black males through the case of Oscar Grant’s murder. Food will be provided. For more information, contact mxgmoakland@gmail.com.
Beauty for Ashes: Stories of Redemption
7 – 9 p.m.
Studio One Art Center, 365 45th Street
This is a benefit art show joining the fight against human trafficking and slavery. It will include paintings, sculptures, an interactive art piece, mosaics, music, poetry and more. Studio One hopes people will be able to reflect on others’ stories of redemption as well as their own. There will be a silent auction and other opportunities to support organizations like Banteay Srei and Love Never Fails, which work to fight against human trafficking and slavery here in the Bay Area. For more information, visit tribesites.org/art-show.
57th Street Gallery Presents the Larry Douglas Quartet
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
5701 Telegraph Avenue
With a tone that the dean of American jazz critics, Leonard Feather, described as “velvety and silky,” Larry Douglas has ruled as one of San Francisco’s top trumpet/flugelhorn players for more than three decades. In addition to leading his own electro-acoustic group, the Larry Douglas Alltet, as a member of Johnny Otis and His Orchestra, his playing was featured on four albums including the Grammy-nominated Spirit of the Black Territory Bands. His debut solo album, Dedications, released in 1985, received a great response from fans in Europe and the Eastern Bloc. Admission is $15. For more information or to make reservations (recommended), visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.
Saturday, April 19
KONO Cleanup
9 a.m. – noon
2633 Telegraph Avenue, #107
KONO’s last Neighborhood Cleanup Day was a huge success with over 75 volunteers! Don’t miss out on all the fun! Breakfast is provided. If you are expecting to have a large group of volunteers, please email Shari Godinez in advance.
27th Annual Lakeshore Easter Parade and Derby Decorating Contest
10 a.m.
Lakeshore Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Avenue
Last-minute derby decorating begins at 10 a.m., with the parade at 11. It begins at the church and continues down Lakeshore, where the hats will be judged. Participants may purchase plastic hats/derbies for decorating for $2 from shops where they are displayed in the window. They may use household recycled items to decorate a theme, or any style they like. Easter basket prizes from Lakeshore merchants will be awarded for best hats in categories by age. Then stay at the church for egg decorating, snacks and fun!
Party for the Planet
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road
Celebrate Earth Day with the Oakland Zoo with a party for the planet. Explore a wide variety of hands-on “earth stations,” visit with local environmental organizations, get your face painted, observe beautiful animals and enjoy a day of education and fun. Marvel at a show by Trapeze Arts of West Oakland. Play with the gigantic earth ball. See live animal presentations. When people and animals learn to live together sustainably, it is a true party for the planet.
The Great Egg Hunt
Noon – 3 p.m. (gates open at 11 a.m.)
Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court
Families, friends, neighbors and loved ones are invited to celebrate with the Easter Bunny and a day full of fun and adventure! The Great Egg Hunt is separated by age groups so everyone can play and enjoy. Bring picnic baskets and be entertained with dancing bunnies, children’s clown stilt-walkers, games, face painting, and arts and crafts. Additional highlights and attractions include: mansion tours, kids’ cafe, gift shop, pet adoption, and a petting zoo. Adult admission is $5, ages 4 to adult are $3, and ages 3 and under are free. For additional information, call (510) 615-5555 or visit www.dunsmuir-hellman.com.
Portrait Painting Class
1 – 4 p.m.
Rock Paper Scissors Collective, 2278 Telegraph Avenue
In this free three-hour workshop, participants will be working with live models while using oil paints and brushes. With a limited color palette, they’ll be walked through the basic steps of painting a portrait. By the end of this workshop, they’ll learn the basics of painting a traditional-style portrait with instructor Chris Newhard, a local professional artist–and go home with their own newly-created art pieces. All materials will be provided. Seating is limited. First come, first served. Register here.
Think Outside The Boss: How to Create a Worker-Owned Business
1 – 5 p.m.
EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Boulevard
The goal of Think Outside the Boss is to help community members start and maintain worker-owned businesses, and to understand the relationships between cooperatives, employment and community wealth-building. It is hosted by both the Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC), and the Green Collar Communities of the East Bay Community Law Center. Attorneys, law students, and experienced cooperative professionals will give short presentations on legal issues, governance structures, fundraising, and more — including resources and information on:
what worker-owned businesses are and the advantage of forming one,
how to run your business democratically,
how to spread ownership and control across a group of people,
the tax and accounting issues in a cooperative,
how to raise money from your collective, your community, and even the bank,
laws about how to treat your workers
Food and drink will be provided at the end of the training. For more information, contact jehinger@ebclc.org.
Photography Workshop
2 – 4 p.m.
Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street
Check out OACC’s workshop on documentary photography in support of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s “A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America” online visual exhibition, set for May 2014. Photographers Bruce Akizuki, Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik, Chuong Hoang Chung, and Julie Thi Underhill will present slides of their documentary photography and discuss their work. The workshop is moderated by Eddie Wong of the “A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America” exhibition. He will answer questions about the project and upload media to the Smithsonian Flickr group. The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information about the project, visit http://SmithsonianAPA.org/life2014.pdf.
ODOG Victory Celebration
2 – 4 p.m.
Estuary Park, 5 Embarcardero
The Oakland City Council unanimously approved a change to city law to allow people with dogs in a number of parks. ODOG has been working with the Mayor and Parks and Recreation for a long time to get this done, and we finally made it! So many of you have helped bring this to a reality: volunteering, sending emails, calling, going to hundreds of meetings, and just supporting us in general. We wanted to thank you! There will be refreshments, informational handouts, playing puppies, and a few special guests, including Friends of Oakland Animal Services (please bring a donation if you can). Council President Pat Kernighan cautioned that, should any parks become problematic with people letting dogs off-leash in an on-leash area (particularly Lakeside Park), that City Council could revisit this new ordinance. So, please: respect the rules, clean up after your dog, spread the word, and bring extra bags for people who may have forgotten. Estuary Park is now off-leash, and has parking located right next to the park.
“Blood on the Fields” 10th Anniversary, Featuring Oakland Artist Milton 510
4 – 6 p.m.
AAMLO, 659 14th Street
At this artist talk and PowerPoint presentation, fine artist Milton Bowens talks about his creative process and the history incorporated into his body of work. Says Bowens, “The objective of art is to give life to reality. If you take the time and look very, very hard, you will find the truth. I paint America as I see it, not as I dream it, and every time I paint America’s portrait, I lose a friend. History and truth have never seen eye to eye.”
Glow-in-the-Dark Egg Hunt
5 – 8 p.m.
Mosswood Park, 3612 Webster Street
Join Oakland Parks and Recreation for crafts, music, food, family games and more! Crafts at 5 p.m., outdoor activities at 6 p.m., and egg hunt at 7:30. Parents must be present. Bring flashlight and blanket.
Literary Karaoke
7 p.m.
Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue
We’ve all enjoyed (or endured, depending on your perspective) musical karaoke. Warbling, heart-felt renditions of “I Will Always Love You” and hand-held “Islands in the Stream” duets — all fueled by a bit of enthusiasm, encouragement and, well, more often than not, alcohol. Literary Karaoke is not so different, minus the warbling. Bring something from home or grab a book off one of our shelves, read one or two pages from it, and perhaps just as important, listen to everybody else do the same. All we ask is that it not be something you wrote. There are plenty of places to do that. We’re a little different at Diesel, so you’d expect us to do things a bit differently too.
57th Street Gallery Presents the Ray Obiedo Group
8:30 – 11 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.)
5701 Telegraph Avenue
Smooth jazz guitarist Ray Obiedo was born and raised in Richmond, California. At the outset of his career, Obiedo regularly shifted between jazz and R&B, working with a variety of artists and leading the fusion unit Kick, as well as the rock outfit Rhythmus 21. Obiedo has made several solo albums over the last 25 years, including Sticks and Stones, which reached the Top Ten on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts. Admission is $15. For more information or to make reservations (recommended), visit www.57thStreetGallery.com.
Tuesday, April 22
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 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
East Oakland Neighbor Night
5 – 8 p.m.
Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Boulevard
Celebrate East Oakland art, culture and history, and get to know your neighbors! Food and fun for all ages, with childcare and Spanish translation available. RSVP to www.eobhc.com.
Reception for Walking the Bay Trail: A Photo Journal
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 3
With more than two dozen vibrant images, Walking the Bay Trail: A Photo Journal will be on display at Oakland City Hall now through May 15. Mayor Jean Quan will welcome guests to the reception. Featured photojournalist and avid San Francisco Bay Trail trekker Kurt Schwabe will be on hand to describe his historic walk on more than 300 miles of the San Francisco Bay Trail in 30 days. Attendees of this free public event are invited to enjoy the photography exhibit on City Hall’s third floor before or after the event. The photographic exhibit celebrates the 25th anniversary of the kick-off of the Bay Trail Project. For more information on the exhibit, visit http://mtc.ca.gov/about_mtc/art_gallery/schwabe/2014.htm.
Wednesday, April 23
Getting EveryoneOn: Creating an Inclusive Digital Society
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 4
EveryoneOn is a nonprofit organization working to close the digital divide. Through partnerships with leading Internet service providers and hardware providers, they make low-cost computers and high-speed Internet services for as low as $10 a month available to all unconnected U.S. residents. This workshop will teach community leaders about the available low-cost Internet options and how they can get their constituents online. Click here for details.
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.: Planning Committee
3:30 p.m.: Finance and Audit Committee
6 p.m.: Board of Directors
For more information, visit actransit.org.
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 bex.ousd.k12.ca.us.
10Y NCPC Monthly Potluck and Meeting
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church, 4025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
Come at 6:30 for a casual potluck, or at 7 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.
Burbank Millsbrae NCPC, Beat 29X Meeting
6:30 – 8:30
Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church, 3200 62nd Avenue
This meeting recurs on the fourth Wednesday of every other month. For more information, please contact Chair Nancy Sidebotham at (510) 635-2678, or NSC (Neighborhood Services Coordinator) Araina Richards at (510) 238-7619.
Thursday, April 24
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 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.
SwapFest 2014
8 – 10 p.m.
The MilkBar 851 81st Avenue, #223
SwapFest is a collaboration between three east bay venues: Temescal Art Center (TAC), the MilkBar and Subterranean Arthouse. It’s also an experiment in curation, as these three East Bay performance spaces come together to share their venues, their programming and their communities. On this opening night, the MilkBar will host a program curated by Daria Kaufman of Subterranean Arthouse, meanwhile TAC will be represented in a U-Haul-installation parked outside. The U-Haul will feature “TAC Salutes Frank Moore,” an audio installation to honor the life and work of legendary performance artist Frank Moore, who produced work at TAC for over 10 years. The performing artists on Thursday’s program are Bay Area choreographers Amy Lewis with Sonsheree Giles and Janet Das, and Alma Esperanza Cunningham. Amy, Sonsheree, and Janet will be performing to the Bach Cello Suites.
To list an event for April 25 – May 1, email the details to meg@oaklandlocal.com by noon on Tuesday, April 22.