upcoming Oakland events

Lots going on, as usual. Of special note are the opening of August Wilson's Seven Guitars, and the final weekend of the Brighter than Blight art project.

Wednesday

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

Thursday

Seven Guitars - A Play by August Wilson - Thursday, June 27 + future dates. The Lower Bottoms Playaz and the Prescott-Joseph Center present August Wilson's play, Seven Guitars. Opening on Thursday; Shows Friday, Saturday, Sunday, June 28-30 and July 5-7. ($10-$25)

Friday

Brighter Than Blight - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 4-9pm. An art installation by Ise Lyfe at the condemned Greenside housing project which tells the East Oakland story. Read more at 38thNotes.com (free)

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)

Dancing Under the Stars - Fridays, 8:30-10pm. The popular free dance classes at Jack London Square are back for another season. (free)

Saturday

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

ongoing events:

• Oakland Walking Tours (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
• Bites off Broadway (Fridays)
• Off the Grid at OMCA (Fridays)
• Dancing Under the Stars at JLS (Fridays)
• Art Murmur (1st Fridays)
• Jack's Night Market (1st 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:

Family Fun on the Fourth - Thursday, July 4, 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 from the 2011 event. (free)

Temescal Street Fair - Sunday, July 7. Fine crafts and community booths, live music, food, and more! Read about last year's street fair. (free)

Pet Adopt-a-thon - Saturday, July 13. Join the East Bay SPCA for its annual adopt-a-thon at Jack London Square. It will feature more than 350 adoptable animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, and reptiles, all looking for good homes. (free)

WW Sketchcrawl - Saturday, July 13. Join other artists of all ages and abilities to walk Oakland and sketch what you see, then get together and compare experiences. (free)

East Bay Bonsai Society's Annual Auction - Saturday, July 13, 7:30pm. Preview begins at 7pm. Buy a beautiful bonsai tree and support the East Bay Bonsai Society. At the Lakeside Garden Center. (free)

Pedalfest - Satuday, July 20, 11am-7pm. The annual EBBC celebration of bicycles at Jack London Square. There will be all sorts of bike-related things, including a tricycle parade for kids, bike decorating, the Whiskeydrome, bike stunts, and more. Read about Pedalfest 2011. (free)

Fairyland for Grownups - August 16. Your chance to visit Fairyland without a child on an adults only night. Ever wanted to drink a beer inside a whale? This is your chance. A fundraiser for Children's Fairyland.