upcoming Oakland events

It's Memorial Day weekend. Lots going on, including various special events on Memorial Day.

Wednesday

Oakland Walking Tours - Wednesday, 10am. Free downtown walking tours highlighting Oakland's history, architecture and people. Read about past Oakland Walking Tours. (free)

Friday

Bites off Broadway - Fridays, 5:30-8:30pm. My favorite food truck event, held Fridays outside Studio One Art Center just off Broadway. Read more about Bites off Broadway. (free)

Compared to What? play - May 24,25 - A play by Judith Offer about the Pullman Porters and life in West Oakland. Held at the First Christian Church. ($15-$20)

Saturday

Rod and Custom Car Show at JLS - Saturday, May 25, 10am-4pm. More than 65 classic cars from the 1920s to 1960s will be on display. Enjoy live music, food and fun! (free)

Oakland Walking Tours - Saturdays, 10am. Free downtown walking tours highlighting Oakland's history, architecture and people. Read about past Oakland Walking Tours. (free)

"Finding Common Ground through Sacred Words" - Saturdays, 10am-4pm. The Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California hosts an interfaith art exhibit. In conjunction with Kehilla Community Synagogue and the Montclair Presbyterian Church. Each work incorporates words, text or letters in unique expressions that underscore interfaith understanding, spirituality, peace and cultural dialogue. (free)

Monday

Memorial Day Commemoration - Monday, May 27, 10am. Honor all veterans in this special ceremony at Mountain View Cemetery. It will be followed by a tour led by local historian Dennis Evanosky. Read about last year's ceremony. (free)

4th Annual Jamaican Jerk Cook Off - Monday, May 27, 1-5pm. Bay Area connoisseurs offer up unlimited Jerk tastings (if you dare!), $4 Linden Street Beers, raffles, DJ's and it all benefits a great organization, My Yute Soccer Camp. Held at Linden Street Brew($20-$25)

ongoing events:

• Oakland Walking Tours (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
• Art Murmur (1st Friday)
• Bites off Broadway (Fridays
• Off the Grid at OMCA (Fridays)
• Saturday Art Stroll (Saturdays)
• Oakland Urban Paths walk (2nd Saturdays)
  
• Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)
• Piedmont Avenue Stroll (3rd Thursdays)

looking further ahead:

Oakland Indie Awards - Thursday, May 30, 6:30-10:30 pm. Join the celebration for Oakland's local economy, a party for locals by locals. Enjoy an evening under the stars on the beautiful Kaiser Rooftop Garden and Terrace, overlooking Lake Merritt. Read about last year's awards and party. ($10-$15)

ACCFB: Empty Bowls - Thursday, May 30, 6-8pm. Join the Alameda County Community Food Bank for their annual Empty Bowls program to raise money for their work of feeding the hungry in Alameda County. In addition to enjoying a delicious soup dinner, guests will enjoy the music of accordionist Duckmandu, take home a hand-painted bowl and bid in a silent auction. ($25)

Gallery of California Natural Sciences at OMCA opens - Friday, May 31. The long-awaited reopening of the natural sciences section of the Oakland Museum.

ReWrite Oakland - Saturday, June 1. Help decipher and rewrite the obfuscated city of Oakland websites, making them accessible to all. Part of the National Day of Civic Hacking. (free)

Fairyland Gala Costume Party - Thursday, June 6, 6:30-9:30pm. Help support Children's Fairyland by attending this special adults-only gala party in Fairyland. ($75-$125)

Love Our Lake: Oaklavia + Measure DD Celebration - Sunday, June 9. Come celebrate the work accomplished as part of Measure DD, improving the areas around Lake Merritt. Streets around the lake will be closed for pedestrian and bicycle friendliness. There will be food trucks, live entertainment, and activities for kids. (free)