signs: Vitus

Vitus

As noted in yesterday's Oakland Food News post, apparently the owner of Vitus has taken the cabaret license, the sign and most of the staff to move to a new, as yet to be determined location. No word on whether the pinball machines are still there.

Oakland Food News

All the news that's fit to nom.
Or imbibe. Or otherwise ingest.

The sudden closure of Remedy Coffee was a surprise to many. I first heard about it on Twitter from @EatDrinkOakland who happened to be there on the last day. The East Bay Express covered it a few days later, but still no word as to why beyond speculation about the usual challenges of a small business.

The space that most recently housed Homespun Bicycle may become home to a new food venture, Humblebee Grocery. Their website is empty, but it sounds promising: "a neighborhood bike-up grocery store offering seasonal fruits and vegetables, organic dairy products, artisanal bread, and vegan snacks." Anyone know anything more?

Speaking of new food, I talked with Sal of Actual Cafe a little while ago about Victory Burger. There was a small problem in the build-out that took a week or so to fix, but overall progress is going well, with an opening later this year still on track. Definitely looking forward to it, as the taste of the vegi option I had at the Oakland Indie Awards was great. And speaking of Actual Cafe, progress is also moving along on plans, permits, etc. for the permanent parklet on Alcatraz. Finally, congratulations to Sal and the crew for being voted best cafe in the East Bay Express.

From the jaw-dropping-amounts-of-money category comes the news from the East Bay Express that Peet's was bought for $974 million dollars. Yes, that's just short of a billion. Peet's went public in 2001, but this will re-privatize them.

East Bay Express food writer Luke Tsai reviewed The Terrace Room which overlooks Lake Merritt. I've been curious about it, but the review can be summed up with the "food isn't amazing, but the view is." Hmph. Sounds kind of like Lake Chalet (which is better than my first visit, but still not great.)

I thought I'd mentioned this before, but didn't see it listed in earlier posts. Oakland's Numi Tea is still going strong at retail, but they closed their Jingletown tea garden for drop-in business. It's still available for special events and retail purchases by appointment. The good news is that they plan to open a new tea garden at another location in Oakland next summer.

Bagel fans are excited about the imminent opening of the Authentic Bagel Company. They're scheduled to open their shop on 2nd at Broadway this Sunday. Their bagels are available in a variety of coffee shops and restaurants, but this will be the first retail space for them.

Speaking of bagels, I went past Cafe Zoë on my way to the Red Cross blood bank, and noticed they were repainting the window signs as Old Brooklyn Bagels and Deli. Can't find a website, but I wonder if they're connected with the Authentic Bagel Company, too? (And wouldn't that be a great name for a bagel shop east of Lake Merritt, which used to be the town of Brooklyn before Oakland annexed it?)

There's still more news on the bagel front, with an article in the East Bay Express about Baron Baking and the science of bagels. I've got some serious bagel tasting to do.

From the in-case-you-missed-it category, K and I checked out Bar César on Piedmont last month. There were a few things we didn't like, but overall, it was "better than pub grub, good beer selection, good service."

There appears to be a replacement for B Restaurant in the works, according to the Old Oakland website. Word is that Borgo Italia, an Italian bistro, will open in late summer.

Last I saw Commonwealth Cafe is still closed after a fire. The other night riding past I saw this sign that photographer Dave Bryan recorded.

The other week I took a picture of the sign at Vitus, the bar, music and pinball joint on Broadway. Apparently that was good timing, because the East Bay Express reports that the owner has taken the cabaret license, the sign and most of the staff. No word on the pinball machines.

I heard both from East Bay Dish and Oakland historian Dennis Evanosky that Everett and Jones BBQ has opened a new location near MacArthur and High Street in the Laurel. Smaller than the JLS location, but same great BBQ.

Also from East Bay Dish is news of a new breakfast and lunch spot uptown, Stag's Lunchette. It will include bagels from Baron Baking mentioned earlier.

It was a bit of a surprise when I went past Mullen's Liquor Store on 40th and Broadway and noted that it's now an organic produce store. Quite a switch. I haven't been in to see what their selection and quality is like, but seems like a good change for the area.

Finally, check out Oakland Magazine's 2012 Best of Oakland list for more Oakland and East Bay dining options.

Oakland Artist Creates Glass That Dazzles

The other week I had the opportunity to visit Slow Burn Glass, the West Oakland studio of artist Bryan Goldenberg. He's been blowing glass since 1995, and after graduating from the California College of the Arts in 2002 and with experience around the country and the world, he created the Slow Burn studio in 2006.

I've seen a glass-blowing demonstration before, but it was fairly simple, creating a simple rounded shape from a single color of glass. Byran's unique creations are quite a bit more complicated, and require thoroughly planning things out in advance. Creating them is also a two-person job, with his assistant Dave (who is a glassblower in his own right) deftly holding or blowing the glass while Bryan shapes it.

The process starts with clear glass that's kept molten in a 2000°F furnace, 24 hours a day. After a blob of molten glass (a 'gather') is spooled onto the blowpipe, and ensuring it's free of bubbles, Bryan begins mixing on the color layer. Despite the high heat, the glass is only workable for a couple minutes at a time, then it's back into the 'glory hole' for reheating. Besides planning out things in advance, Bryan is always thinking several moves ahead so Dave can prepare the proper tools for him.

Amazingly, besides computer-controlled furnaces that regulate the temperature, the technology of glass blowing hasn't changed much in 2,000 years. The blowpipes are metal instead of clay, but the tools for shaping the glass are simple metal shears and tweezers, wooden shapes and cork paddles.

Once the basic shape is achieved, the glass is transferred to a solid pole (a 'punty') which allows shaping the top opening of the piece. That done, the completed piece is snapped off the punty and transferred with heavy gloves to the annealing furnace, where the glass is slowly cooled to prevent breaking.

Bryan's work is on view in various galleries around the country, but there's a chance to see it up close and purchase it coming up. It's the 2012 American Craft Council Show at Fort Mason in San Francisco, August 3rd through 5th. With hundreds of the top contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor artists from across the country, it's the largest juried craft show west of the Rockies.

More pictures:


Read more about glassblowing on Wikipedia.

upcoming Oakland events

There's lots going on this week, but the big event is the Ella Baker Center's Throw Down for the Town, a chance to volunteer and help make Oakland a better place.

Dancing Under the Stars - Friday, July 27, 8:30-10pm. No dance lessons this week, just a dance party! (free)

Throw Down for the Town - Saturday, July 28. Ella Baker Center along with a variety of local groups put together Throw Down for the Town. It's an easy opportunity to volunteer for a few hours and help make Oakland better. Followed by an after-party at Snow Park. Read about last year's Throw Down for the Town. (free)

Downtown walking tours - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am. The walking tours program goes through the summer, rotating through the 8 different tours. They're a great way to get out and see Oakland and learn about its people and history. Coming up: Saturday, July 28 - Old Oakland. (free)

Oakland Heritage Alliance walking tours - Saturday and Sunday. Did you miss the Oakland Urban Paths: Montclair walk last week? Want to learn more about Montclair? The OHA has a tour on Saturday, "Montclair Village: Oakland's Early Hill Town". On Sunday, it's Hiddon Haddon Hill. ($10-$15)

Art on 25th Saturday July 28, 4-7pm. Join six galleries in one building for a movable feast of short gallery talks and refreshments!

ongoing events:

Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
OMCA Summer Nights (last Friday of the month)
OHA Walking Tours (Saturdays and Sundays)

looking further ahead:

Art & Soul Festival, Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5. ($5-$10)

Block Party on National Night Out, Tuesday August 7, 7-9pm. (free)

Laurel Street Fair, Saturday, August 11, 11 am-6 pm, MacArthur Blvd. between 35th and 38th Street: Food, music and fun in the Laurel District. (free)

Pedalfest - Saturday, August 18, 11am-8pm. The second annual Pedfalfest at Jack London Square. Last year's Pedalfest was hella fun, for cyclists and non-cyclists alike. (free)

Great Oakland Public Schools Garden Party - Saturday, August 18, 1-4pm. Fundraiser for Great Oakland Public Schools featuring local food, wine and beer.

Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Challenge - Saturday, August 25. The 8th annual Faith Fancher breast cancer 5K walk and fundraiser.

Eat Real Fest - Friday, September 2–Sunday, September 4. (free)

Taste of Temescal, Tuesday, September 18, 6- 8:30 pm. A culinary crawl to scintillate your palates: the Taste of Temescal on Telegraph Avenue between 43th and 51st. ($30)

Red Cross Out for Blood Fun Run - Sunday, September 30, 9am. A fun fundraiser for Northern California Red Cross blood services. Read about last year's fun run. ($25-$30)

10 (or so) Ways to Learn About Oakland History

Oakland has an interesting history, but you may not have learned much about it in school. While there are some great books about Oakland history like Oakland: The Story of a City and the Arcadia series, some of the best ways to learn about history involve going out to see where it happened and hear about the people who made it. Fortunately there are lots of great ways to do that in Oakland.

(On a related note, I'm pleased to report that in the budget that the city council recently passed, the half-time position of the downtown walking tours coordinator was saved, so the future of that program is less cloudy, at least for the next fiscal year. Those tours are just one of the great ways to learn about Oakland history, but they would be sorely missed.)

1. Downtown Walking Tours The city sponsors free walking tours near downtown. They're a great way to learn about Oakland, and feature a series of 8 different tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays:
   
   
   • Old Oakland
   • City Center
   • Uptown to the Lake
   • Preservation Park
   • Chinatown
   • Jack London / Waterfront
   • Churches and Temples
   • New Era, New Politics
   They're all fairly level, easy walks, and they're free.
2. Oakland Heritage Alliance walking tours The Oakland Heritage Alliance gives walking tours on Saturdays and Sundays through the summer. Most of the tours are in various neighborhoods around Oakland, and some focus on a particular theme or person. They usually involve more walking than the downtown tours, and depending on the tour, they may have more hills. They cost $10-$15, with lower prices for children. Some of the walks require advance registration, but most you can show up on the day of. During the winter they offer lectures on various subjects, like the great neon sign lecture in January. Read more about OHA tours and lectures.
3. Oakland Urban Paths walks Oakland Urban Paths is part of Walk Oakland Bike Oakland which works to improve neighborhood quality of life by making walking and biking in Oakland safe, easy, accessible and fun. Oakland Urban Paths focuses on various urban pathways, from historic stairways to unexpected trails through Oakland. The walks involve more walking than OHA or downtown tours, almost always involve hills and stairways, and they're free. Read more about OUP walks.
4. Mountain View Cemetery tours On the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, Mt. View Cemetery offers free tours. The cemetery is full of interesting (albeit dead) people who shaped the history of Oakland and all of California. There are general tours on second Saturdays, and tours focusing on different topics on fourth Saturdays. Read more about Mt. View Cemetery tours.
5. Visit the 5 Historic Houses Oakland is fortunate that five houses of historic interest have been preserved as museums with regular tours. But one of the easiest ways to ease kids (and yourself) into a history visit to one of the houses is to go there for a special event. Camron-Stanford is hosting jazz concerts this summer; the Pardee Home had a Fourth of July picnic and will have a Ghost Investigation in August; Peralta Hacienda has a summer camp for kids. I'm working to organize a bicycle tour of the 5 houses this fall.
   
   • Camron-Stanford House The last of the magnificent Victorians next to Lake Merritt, the first residents were the Camrons in 1876. Later residents included Josiah Stanford, brother of Leland Stanford of university and The Big Four fame, and David Hewes (the 'fifth member' of the Big Four). Camron-Stanford House served for many years as the Oakland Public Museum.
   • Pardee Home - The Pardee Home was built in the 1860s by Enoch Pardee, gold rush immigrant, and later mayor of Oakland. More famous was his son, George Pardee, who was governor of California in 1906 when San Francisco was ravaged by an earthquake. Later he helped wrest the Oakland waterfront from the Southern Pacific Railroad and founded the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).
   • Peralta Hacienda - The Peralta Hacienda Historical Park includes the Peralta Hacienda, a large Italianate home dating back to 1870 which belonged to Antonio Peralta, son of Luis Peralta. The grounds also include the sites of the earlier adobe houses, the first of which was built in 1820 by Luis Peralta to establish his claim on the land grant from Spain.
   • Dunsmuir-Hellman House Dunsmuir-Hellman is an impressive 37-room mansion built in 1899. Equally impressive are the 50 acre landscaped grounds, with a carriage house, gardens, and more. It was built by Alexander Dunsmuir as a wedding present for his new bride, Josephine. Tragically, he fell ill and died on their honeymoon; she lived there a scant two years before dying.
   • Cohen-Bray house This stately home in East Oakland was built in the 1880s by Julia Moses and Watson Bray for their daughter, Emma, upon her marriage to attorney Alfred Cohen, on February 28, 1884. Remarkably, descendants of the family still live in the home and help with the preservation.
6. Oakland History Room at main library The Oakland History Room houses a variety of collections of photos, maps, postcards, sports programs, and other items, as well as materials helpful for those doing genealogical research or trying to find out the history of their home. I used it when researching the history of the Oakland Scenic Tour signs. The History Room also has regular shows of historical photos and other items, such as the recent Lost Amusement Parks of the East Bay which included Idora Park in Oakland.
7. African American Museum and Library of Oakland The AAMLO has several amazing collections, including oral histories and a variety of artifacts, plus an extensive set of materials on microfilm. The second floor is a museum with displays that are changed over time. When you go, be sure to check out the remarkable mural above the stairs.
8. Oakland Museum of California The OMCA has extensive collections from Oakland and California history. Besides ongoing displays, they put together special exhibits like the current 1968 exhibit. And they hold a variety of special events, like the Summer Nights series, which includes half-price admission after 5pm and a festive atmosphere.
9. 10,000 Steps Project 10,000 Steps is a combination of permanent sidewalk markers and accompanying oral histories. It's focused on 4 of the original downtown Oakland parks, covering Old Oakland, Downtown and Chinatown. Read more about 10,000 Steps.
10. Once Upon A Time, Happily Ever After Project The Once Upon A Time project is named for the saying at the gate of Children's Fairyland. Like 10,000 Steps, it has an oral history component, but is focused around Lake Merritt. The project is about 50% complete. Read more about Once Upon A Time, Happily Ever After project.

That list doesn't even include the numerous books about Oakland history, the Society for Industrial Archaeology (which organized the Bay Bridge tour), the Alameda County Historical Society, the USS Potomac, or various blogs that feature Oakland history. Those will have to wait for another post. As it is, I cheated by counting the 5 historic houses as one item, but they're each worthy of attention.

Oakland Urban Paths: Montclair

There was a great turnout for the Oakland Urban Paths walk in Montclair last Saturday, which focused on the history of the Sacramento Northern Railway, the highway that wasn't built, and the stairs of Thornhill.

Chris Kidd and I co-lead the walk, and were joined by 40 people and half a dozen dogs. We met near the park in Montclair Village, and started by viewing the two large concrete walls nearby on Mountain Boulevard. Many residents don't realize those are left from the days when the Sacramento Northern Railway ran behind the village and a railroad bridge passed over Mountain Boulevard.

Realty Syndicate building

We walked through Montclair Village to view a building that was originally for the Realty Syndicate, the real estate and transit business owned by F.M. "Borax" Smith and Frank Havens. The headquarters of the Realty Syndicate was at 1440 Broadway, an impressive building that is still there, and currently houses Oaklandish and other businesses.

Then it was a short but steep climb up to the railroad trail. This wide, level trail follows the old Sacramento Northern Railway right of way, which makes it ideal for walking and biking—it's part of my bike route home. My grandfather worked for the Sacramento Northern, so it has a personal connection for me as well. Along the trail there are various interpretive signs about local history installed by Eagle scout Daniel Levy.

Sacramento Northern Railway display

Originally, the Sacramento Northern was primarily for passengers, but later carried mostly freight. Conspiracy theorists will be pleased to note there really was a conspiracy by GM, Firestone, Standard Oil and other companies that helped lead to the demise of electric streetcars and interurban railways around the U.S. But the Sacramento Northern also faced increasing competition from shorter, less steep railroad routes. Passenger service on this part of the route ended in 1941, the final electric train on the SN was in 1965, and the last vestiges of the SN were folded into the Union Pacific in 1983. However, this history of the Sacramento Northern and even some of the rolling stock lives on at the Western Railway Museum in Suisun.

A little further up the trail, we learned about the freeway that was never built. CalTrans bought up land in Shepherd Canyon with the plan of building highway 77. It was to be an extension of Park Blvd., and would run up the canyon and connect highway 13 with Contra Costa county (much as highway 24 does just two miles north). Fortunately, community activists argued against the plan, and the area was preserved. In 1972, assembly member Ken Meade officially protected the area with AB561. After the downfall of the freeway plan, the Shepherd Canyon Corridor Plan was shaped by volunteers, and now guides the preservation of the canyon.

stairs up to Gaspar

We doubled back and took some stairs up the hill to Gaspar Drive. Like many of the stairs in Oakland, they're unmarked, and it's very easy to walk past them even if you're looking for them. We traversed our way along Gaspar and Colton and Diaz Place, a short cul-de-sac, then went down some more unmarked stairs to Cabot and then back down to Mountain Blvd.

From there, Chris took the lead, and we headed up Thornhill Drive along the upper reaches of Temescal Creek. Geographically, we'd crossed over from the Sausal Creek watershed which goes through East Oakland, to the Temescal Creek watershed which goes through Oakland and meets the bay in Emeryville. Yet another way of looking at the question of where is East Oakland?

steep stairs!

We took a short break at a coffee shop on Thornhill. After serving the sudden flood of customers, the owner came out to learn more about the OUP walk and to greet some of the two- and four-legged participants. Then it was time for some serious stair climbing. While the stairs we'd climbed near the railroad trail were concrete, the stairs off Thornhill are mostly wood. In part because the hillside is steeper in places, and the wooden stairs can more easily match that.

Some of the stairs in this part of the walk I'd found while test-walking routes for Secret Stairs of the East Bay. We didn't climb all the way to the top, but we pointed out an even steeper set of stairs that continued up the hill. While most of us then headed back down towards Thornhill, a few intrepid souls continued on up the stairs. That's dedication!

All in all, another great walk. Thanks to everyone who turned out for it. Special thanks to Chris Kidd for co-leading the walk; Bob and Myra Redman for helping test the walk route; and Myra Redman and Katarina Stenstedt for taking pictures during the walk.

More pictures:


More reading:
The books mentioned during the walk are:

Secret Stairs of the East Bay

Oakland Hills

Sacramento Northern Railway

Links to more reading:

• Daniel Levy's Sacramento Northern page
• Friends of the Montclair RR Trail
• Western Railroad Museum
• Sacramento Northern on Wikipedia
• a brief history of the Sacramento Northern

View our route on Google Maps.

upcoming Oakland events

Awide variety of interesting activities going on. Let me know in the comments if there's other interesting stuff going on.

Healthy Living Festival for Seniors - Thursday, July 19, 8am-2pm. The event will include 70 educational and resource booths promoting healthy living and successful aging, health screenings, Tai Chi, Zumba, and folklorico dancers. Read more at the Oakland Tribune.

Dancing Under the Stars - Friday, July 20, 8:30-10pm. Free dance lessons followed by a dance party. This week's dance: the electric slide! (free)

10,000 Steps: A Profile of Four Squares - Friday, July 20, 8pm. See the film about the 10,000 Steps Project at Swan's Co-Housing. Relax with your neighbors as you enjoy the award-winning local urban exploration film. (free)

Fairyland for Grownups - Friday, July 20, 7-10pm. A chance for grownups to visit Fairyland, with music, food trucks galore, and fun. ($15 - pre-sale only)

theater by Lower Bottom Playaz: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - July 13,14,15 and 20,21,22. Theater season at the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement begins this weekend! In-house troupe The Lower Bottom Playaz will celebrate their 11th season at the Sister Thea Bowmen Memorial outdoor theater. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" by August Wilson.

Downtown Walking Tours - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am. The walking tours program goes through the summer, rotating through the 8 different tours. They're a great way to get out and see Oakland and learn about its people and history. Coming up: Saturday, July 21 - Churches and Temples. (free)

Oakland Jazz Festival - Saturday, July 21. All-day musical extravaganza at the Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate includes headliners such as KEM, Eric Benet, Wayne Wallace, Ledisi and the San Francisco-based jazz-funk-soul quartet, Times 4. Pack a lawn chair and a picnic or enjoy dishes from one of the many food and drink vendors. ($70)

Peace Bicycle Ride - Saturday, July 21, 5pm. Bikes 4 Life holds the annual peace bicycle ride from Lake Merritt to West Oakland. Read more at the Oakland Tribune. (free)

East Bay SPCA Adoptathon - Sunday, July 22, 10am-3pm. Come find a new four-legged (or two-winged) friend amongst cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and reptiles. There will also be crafts for kids, vendors with pet products, and more. Along side the JLS Farmers Market (free)

DIY Day at JLS Farmers Market - Sunday, July 22, 9am-2pm. Learn screen printing, composting, gardening and more. Read more at Oakland Local. (free)

looking further ahead:

Throw Down for the Town - Saturday, July 28. Volunteer to make Oakland better. Organized by the Ella Baker Center.

Community Arts Festival - Sunday, July 29. Art show at Mosswood Park. Music, snacks, art and more. Contact HellaCity@rocketmail.com if you'd like to participate.

Art & Soul Festival, Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5. ($5-$10)

Block Party on National Night Out, Tuesday August 7, 7-9pm. (free)

Laurel Street Fair, Saturday, August 11, 11 am-6 pm, MacArthur Blvd. between 35th and 38th Street: Food, music and fun in the Laurel District. (free)

Pedalfest - Saturday, August 18, 11am-8pm. The second annual Pedfalfest at Jack London Square. Last year's Pedalfest was hella fun, for cyclists and non-cyclists alike. (free)

Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Challenge - Saturday, August 25. The 8th annual Faith Fancher breast cancer 5K walk and fundraiser.

Eat Real Fest - Friday, September 2–Sunday, September 4. (free)

Taste of Temescal, Tuesday, September 18, 6- 8:30 pm. A culinary crawl to scintillate your palates: the Taste of Temescal on Telegraph Avenue between 43th and 51st. ($30)

ongoing events:

Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
OMCA Summer Nights (last Friday of the month)
OHA Walking Tours (Saturdays and Sundays)

10,000 Steps: A Profile of Four Squares

I've written about the 10,000 Steps project before when Oakland Urban Paths hooked up with the project artists to learn about it during a walk. The 10,000 Steps project explores Oakland's historic parks and marks points of interest around downtown Oakland. There's an accompanying audio tour, with interviews of different people in the neighborhoods and explanations by local historians.

Sue Mark

Artists Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas researched Oakland history, interviewed people, and spent countless hours designing and placing fifty sidewalk markers around 4 of the 5 remaining parks from the 1800s. While 2 of the original 7 parks are gone, many of the historical points of interest are still around, and the husband and wife team captured stories of people who know and lived the history of those areas.

A short film was made about the project, 10,000 Steps: A Portrait of Four Squares. On Friday, July 20th at 8pm, there will be a showing of the award-winning film, along with a question and answer period with Sue Mark and Bruce Douglas after the showing. The free event will be held at Swan's Cohousing in Old Oakland, and you can register for it here.

The event is also a fundraiser for their next project, Mãos dos Sete Ofícios (Hands That Do All), which will take them to Portugal. As with their earlier projects, they'll be putting people's stories and history into an unusual format, in this case hand portraits of craftsmen, farmers and those who still work with their hands.

Bruce Douglas

Read more about 10,000 Steps and the artists on Grass Routes Travel and listen to a podcast interview with Sue Mark. Serena talks with her about art, history, food security and more. And come see the film on Friday evening!

scenes from Bites off Broadway

Tonight was another Bites off Broadway. I hadn't been in a while, so it was fun to see how it's grown and prospered. Although the weather was foggy and cool, there was a circus, which brought out tons of wide-eyed youngsters who were enthralled by the action. After a brief show by the enthusiastic kids of the Prescott Circus, Circus Bella took to the ring. If you missed them, or you want to see more, they'll be at the Dimond Neighborhood Picnic on Sunday.

More pictures:

upcoming Oakland events

Another fun-filled week in Oakland. On Saturday, I'll be co-leading a walk for Oakland Urban Paths, "Monclair Stairs". Let me know in the comments if there's other interesting stuff going on.

Waterfront Flicks - Thursday, July 12, at dark. The monthly waterfront flicks are back, with We Bought A Zoo on July 12. Bring your own stadium seating, and enjoy a movie under the stars! Come early and play trivia games. Food from Miss Pearl's, beverages and free bike parking available from EBBC. (free)

Fiddler on the Woof - Thursday, July 12, 6pm. Unique evening under the stars for dogs and the people who love them at Woodminster Amphitheater, Joaquin Miller Park. Enjoy a pre-performance picnic and silly party with your pup and then see the traditional Fiddler On the Roof in Full Dress Rehearsal at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. Dogs are welcome at the picnic space.Tickets at www.odogparks.org Adults $25 Kids $20 to help build a user friendly gate system at the dog park/ parking lot interface.

theater by Lower Bottom Playaz: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - July 13,14,15 and 20,21,22. Theater season at the Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement begins this weekend! In-house troupe The Lower Bottom Playaz will celebrate their 11th season at the Sister Thea Bowmen Memorial outdoor theater. "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" by August Wilson.

Montclair Stairs with OUP - Saturday, July 14, 10am. Join Oakland Urban Paths for our July walk in the Montclair and Thornhill neighborhoods of the Oakland Hills. Learn about the old Sacramento Northern railroad line & the scuttled plans for the Shepherd Canyon Freeway (Route 77). Travel along the upper reaches of the Temescal Creek watershed. Walk the all-wooden stairways of the Thornhill Canyon neighborhood. (free)

Downtown Walking Tours - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am. The walking tours program goes through the summer, rotating through the 8 different tours. They're a great way to get out and see Oakland and learn about its people and history. Coming up: Saturday, July 14 - City Center. (free)

Mural Unveiling - Saturday, July 14, 10am-3pm. Mural unveiling by the Community Rejuvenation Project and People’s Grocery. Featuring DJ Basta, live performance by CRP artists, garden planting and community clean-up. Read more at Oakland Local. (free)

OPR Open House at Lake Merritt - Saturday, July 14, 11am-3pm. The Oakland Parks and Recs department is holding a free open house at Lake Merritt, with garden demonstrations, live music, and more. Read more at Oakland Local. (free)

"Dinner and a Movie" at Chabot - Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14. Chabot Space and Science Center's popular summer movie series is back. This weekend is Wall-E, and Saturday there will be opportunities for photo ops with a fan-built life size replica. ($5-$16)

Jazz by the Lake - Sunday, July 15, 2-4pm. Camron-Stanford House hosts jazz concerts in their beautiful lakeside setting. July 15 features Terrence Brewer. Small plates, wine and champagne will be available. ($25-$30).

Salsa by the Lake - Sunday, July 15, noon-5pm. DJ and live music for salsa dancing! Free dance lessons, and some of the best people-watching around. (free)

looking further ahead:

10,000 Steps: A Profile of Four Squares - Friday, July 20, 8pm. See the film about the 10,000 Steps Project at Swan's Co-Housing. Relax with your neighbors as you enjoy the award-winning local urban exploration film. (free)

Fairyland for Grownups - Friday, July 20, 7-10pm. A chance for grownups to visit Fairyland, with music, food trucks galore, and fun. ($15 - pre-sale only)

Peace Bicycle Ride - Saturday, July 21, 5pm. Bikes 4 Life holds the annual peace bicycle ride from Lake Merritt to West Oakland. Read more at the Oakland Tribune. (free)

Oakland Jazz Festival - Saturday, July 21. All-day musical extravaganza at the Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate includes headliners such as KEM, Eric Benet, Wayne Wallace, Ledisi and the San Francisco-based jazz-funk-soul quartet, Times 4. Pack a lawn chair and a picnic or enjoy dishes from one of the many food and drink vendors. ($70)

Throw Down for the Town - Saturday, July 28. Volunteer to make Oakland better. Organized by the Ella Baker Center.

Community Arts Festival - Sunday, July 29. Art show at Mosswood Park. Music, snacks, art and more. Contact HellaCity@rocketmail.com if you'd like to participate.

Art & Soul Festival, Saturday, August 4 and Sunday, August 5. ($5-$10)

Block Party on National Night Out, Tuesday August 7, 7-9pm. (free)

Laurel Street Fair, Saturday, August 11, 11 am-6 pm, MacArthur Blvd. between 35th and 38th Street: Food, music and fun in the Laurel District. (free)

Pedalfest - Saturday, August 18, 11am-8pm. The second annual Pedfalfest at Jack London Square. Last year's Pedalfest was hella fun, for cyclists and non-cyclists alike. (free)

Faith Fancher Breast Cancer Challenge - Saturday, August 25. The 8th annual Faith Fancher breast cancer 5K walk and fundraiser.

Eat Real Fest - Friday, September 2–Sunday, September 4. (free)

Taste of Temescal, Tuesday, September 18, 6- 8:30 pm. A culinary crawl to scintillate your palates: the Taste of Temescal on Telegraph Avenue between 43th and 51st. ($30)

ongoing events:

Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
OMCA Summer Nights (last Friday of the month)
OHA Walking Tours (Saturdays and Sundays)

Temescal Street Fair delivers fun

Sunday was the 9th annual Temescal Street Fair. Unlike last year's street fair which had to be rescheduled because of unseasonable rains, this year's had perfect weather.

The fair was even bigger this year, spread out over an even longer stretch of Telegraph. After parking my bike with the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (which provided free valet bike parking), I wandered for a bit to check things out. I saw Annalee Allen, various district 1 and 3 candidates for city council, mayor Jean Quan, BART board candidate Rebecca Saltzman, Tina Tamale, and thousands of other people out having fun. And of course fair organizer Karen Hester was zipping about and keeping in touch with her crew by radio.

Lots more pictures:


Other coverage:

• Oakland Daily Photo photos
• Club Antietam photos
• Club Antietam time lapse
• Oakland North

Lake Merritt Rowing Regatta

This past Sunday, the Lake Merritt Rowing Club hosted the Southwest Masters Regional Championships. Oakland didn't have the picture postcard perfect weather that we had when the LMRC held an open house in June for National Learn to Row Day, but this weather was probably better for competitive rowing. The skies were overcast and it was a bit cooler, and there wasn't much wind, making for fairly calm waters.

I didn't have time to watch very much, but I saw people rowing shells of various sizes (from one rower up to 8 plus a coxswain) up the northwest arm of Lake Merritt, which was used for warm ups. And it being the weekend, there were the usual crowds of walkers, joggers, dogs and bikers going around the lake. The races were held along the eastern side of the lake, starting near 12th Street and heading towards the pergola at the north end of the lake.

More pictures:

Family Fun on the Fourth

There was perfect weather on Wednesday for Friday Fun on the Fourth at Jack London Square. We didn't have that many people take advantage of the free valet bike parking provided by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, but those who did were appreciative. I don't know if there were fewer people overall or fewer vendors or what, but the crowds felt a bit smaller than last year, or at least more spread out. Kids were enjoying a lot of the activities, but the bubble station was probably the most popular. The Coast Guard boat that was docked was popular with young and old alike.

Lots more pictures:

upcoming Oakland events

There's lots of stuff going on for the Fourth of July, plus Friday is a First Friday with the Art Murmur, Jack's Night Market, and more. And the Temescal Street Fair on Sunday! Let me know in the comments if there's other interesting stuff going on.

Fourth of July:

Family Fun on the Fourth - 11am-4pm. Fun for the whole family at Jack London Square, with food, live music, and lots of stuff for kids. See my coverage of last year's event. The East Bay Bicycle Coalition will be providing free valet bike parking. (free)

BBQ at the Pardee Home Museum - noon-4pm. Visit the beautiful gardens of the historic Pardee Home Museum. An old fashioned BBQ will include hamburgers, baked beans, corn on the cob, beverages and more. There will be special activities for all ages, including children's craft table, croquet, badminton and volleyball. Tours also available. Admission is $15 adults, $5 for children ages 5-11. Those under 5-free. A $2 discount for guest who attend in period costume. All proceeds benefit the preservation of the historic home and gardens.

Fourth of July Concert - 1-3pm. At the bandstand in Lakeside Park. Hear the Oakland Municipal Band play patriotic favorites from The Star-Spangled Banner to California Dreamin'- Monday, Monday Medley, The Symphonic Gerswhin, Stephen Foster Rhapsody and The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise - 7:30-10:30pm. Cruise the bay aboard the USS Potomac, and view the fireworks from some of the best seats in the house. ($125)

other fun stuff:

Bicycle Bingo at Actual Cafe - Thursday, July 5, 7-9pm. Actual Cafe hosts Bicycle Bingo, benefiting different local non-profits each week. This week's beneficiary is East Bay Bike Coalition, which works for safe, convenient and enjoyable bicycling for all people in the East Bay.

Oakland Landmarks art reception - Friday, July 6, 5-7pm. Painter Heidi Wyckoff of the Oakland Landmarks book will have a reception at Caffe 817. (free)

Dancing Under the Stars - Friday, July 6, 8:30-10pm. Free dance lessons and a dance party. This week's dance: East Coast Swing (free)

Jack's Night Market - Friday, July 6, 6-10pm. A fun evening market at Jack London Square, featuring food, fun, vendors and more. See photos and read about our visit last month. (free)

Downtown Walking Tours - Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10am. The walking tours program goes through the summer, rotating through the 8 different tours. They're a great way to get out and see Oakland and learn about its people and history. Coming up: Saturday, July 7 - Preservation Park. (free)

OHA Walking Tours - Saturday, July 7. The Oakland Heritage Alliance's summer walking tour season kicks off with a tour of the former F.M. "Borax" Smith estate near Park Blvd. Read about last year's tour. ($10-$15)

Beast Crawl - Literary Pub Crawl - Saturday, July 7, 5-9pm. Readings, poetry and more at 25 venues around Oakland. After party at Club Paradiso at 9pm.

Temescal Street Fair - Sunday, July 8, noon-6pm. The annual street fair in Temescal features food, music, art and fun for the whole family. (free)

looking further ahead:

Waterfront Flicks - Thursday, July 12, at dark. The monthly waterfront flicks are back, with We Bought A Zoo on July 12. Beverages and free bike parking available from EBBC. (free)

Fiddler on the Woof - Thursday, July 12, 6pm. Unique evening under the stars for dogs and the people who love them at Woodminster Amphitheater, Joaquin Miller Park. Enjoy a pre-performance picnic and silly party with your pup and then see the traditional Fiddler On the Roof in Full Dress Rehearsal at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. Dogs are welcome at the picnic space. Thursday July 12, 6pm picnic and party / 8pm performance. Tickets at www.odogparks.org Adults $25 Kids $20 to help build a user friendly gate system at the dog park/ parking lot interface.

Montclair Stairs with OUP - Saturday, July 14, 10am. Join Oakland Urban Paths for our July walk in the Montclair and Thornhill neighborhoods of the Oakland Hills. Learn about the old Sacramento Northern railroad line & the scuttled plans for the Shepherd Canyon Freeway (Route 77). Travel along the upper reaches of the Temescal Creek watershed. Walk the all-wooden stairways of the Thornhill Canyon neighborhood. (free)

Jazz by the Lake - Sunday, July 15, 2-4pm. Camron-Stanford House hosts jazz concerts in their beautiful lakeside setting. July 15 features Terrence Brewer. Small plates, wine and champagne will be available. ($25-$30).

Salsa by the Lake - Sunday, July 15, noon-5pm. DJ and live music for salsa dancing! Free dance lessons, and some of the best people-watching around. (free)

Fairyland for Grownups - Friday, July 20, 7-10pm. A chance for grownups to visit Fairyland, with music, food trucks galore, and fun. ($15 - pre-sale only)

Community Arts Festival - Sunday, July 29. Art show at Mosswood Park. Music, snacks, art and more. Contact HellaCity@rocketmail.com if you'd like to participate.

Pedalfest - Saturday, August 18, 11am-8pm. The second annual Pedfalfest at Jack London Square. Last year's Pedalfest was hella fun, for cyclists and non-cyclists alike.

ongoing events:

Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
Piedmont Avenue Art Walk (3rd Thursday)
Art Murmur (1st Friday)
Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
OMCA Summer Nights (last Friday of the month)

new mural adorns San Pablo Ave. underpass

There's a beautiful new mural being completed under the I-580 underpass on San Pablo Avenue. It features West Oakland's music history, people and architecture. The elements of the mural were designed by McClymonds High School students, and put together by head artist David Burke. The mural is sponsored by Attitudinal Healing Connection, which is based nearby. AHC-Oakland will be holding a completion celebration on July 12 at 1pm.

This mural is one of six planned for West Oakland. Read more about the larger mural project for the area at the Oakland Super Heroes Mural Project website.



More photos of the painting:


On a less cheerful note, several photographers and reporters have been robbed in the area during the day, the most recent a veteran Oakland Tribune photographer. I was there on Sunday taking pictures, but fortunately I didn't have any problems.