upcoming Oakland events

There a variety of events in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. including a concert and a various service events. And Oakland Restaurant Week starts on Friday! Let me know of other fun stuff going on this week.

Thursday

Oakland: The Story of a City lecture by Annalee Allen - Thursday, January 17, 7:30pm. Noted Oakland author and historian Annalee Allen talks about Oakland: The Story of a City and the late author, Beth Bagwell. At the Rockridge Library. (free)

OHA: Neon Works lecture & demo - Thursday, January 17, 7pm. Visit a local neon factory with the Oakland Heritage Alliance to see new signs being built and discover a vintage neon sign collection! This very special event will include a lecture and glass bending demonstration by shop owner Jim Rizzo. I went to this last year, it was great. ($20-$25)

Friday

Oakland Restaurant Week - January 18-27. Celebrate the thriving culinary scene in Oakland with ten days of special deals. Restaurants all over Oakland will offer prix fixe menus at $20, $30, and $40.

Saturday

Sausal Creek service - Saturday, January 19.
- Quarterly Bird Monitoring, 8:30am-12:30pm
- Dimond Park Restoration Event, 9am-noon
- Friends of the Montclair Railroad Trail Volunteer Event, 9am-11am
- Gardening at Wood Park, 9am-noon
See the Friends of Sausal Creek calendar for more information. (free)

In the Name of Love - Musical Tribute to MLK - Saturday, January 19, 7pm. A musical tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., featuring Jennifer Holliday, Tuck & Patti, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and Oakland Children's Community Choir. Read more at Oakland Local. ($8-$45)

Sunday

Oakland Wiki Sunday History Edit-a-thons - Sundays, 1-5pm. Bring a computer or note-taking materials to the Oakland History Room and hang with your fellow local history nuts as we research and add historical content to the Oakland Wiki. Read more about the inaugural edit-a-thon at Oakland North. (free)

MLK Day of Service at Dover Street Park - Sunday, January 20, noon-4pm at Dover Street Park, 5707 Dover Street. Potluck and gardening. (510) 238-2197.

Monday

MLK Day of Service at MLK Regional Shoreline Monday, January 21, 8:30am-noon. At the Oakport Athletic Field on Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, 5737 Oakport Street. Community service and clean up. www.ebparks.org/activities/events/.

MLK Day of Service - Monday, January 21
- Lakeside Park and the Gardens at Lake Merritt, 9am-1pm, 666 Bellevue Avenue
- Madison Middle School/Sobrante Elementary, 9am-1pm, 400 Capistrano Drive
- Fruitvale Community School/Lazear Elementary, 9am-1pm, 824 29th Avenue
- tree planting, 10-2pm, 27th and Market
www.mlkchallenge.org Email sfpbayarea@gmail.com. (510) 427-1605.

volunteer at Peralta Hacienda - Monday, January 21, 9am-noon. Help cleanup, weed and improve Peralta Hacienda historic park.

Annual MLK Film Festival at AAMLO - Monday, January 21. The African American Museum and Library of Oakland presents an extraordinary film collection directly from their archives. There is also a bone marrow registry drive in support of Bay Area journalist Kevin Weston, who is battling a rare form of leukemia.

ongoing events:

• Art Murmur (1st Friday)
• Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
• Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)

looking further ahead:

Off the Grid at OMCA - Friday. January 25, 5-9pm. The food truck event comes to the Oakland Museum. (free)

OMCA White Elephant Sale - Sunday, January 27. It's the annual fundraiser for the Oakland Museum of California. Check out the massive White Elephant Sale fundraiser before the crowds arrive! ($15-$20)