food+drink: Black Spring Coffee Company

One of the latest places to open on Telegraph is Black Spring Coffee Company on the edge of Pill Hill. In what's been a mostly empty stretch of storefronts between Commonwealth Cafe and Public House and the Bee Healthy Honey Shop, it's a lively addition to the area.

Owner Ryan Stark happily serves customers his favorite coffee, Monsoon Medley, the least acidic coffee out there. It's Indian coffee roasted in Menlo Park, and is very tasty. There's a nice vibe, and although there's no wireless, there were a number of people working and talking with each other when I was there. Definitely a nice place to hang out.



One of the people working there was local (very local, as in he lives nearby) artist Keith Magruder, who has numerous watercolors of food hanging on the walls. He grew up in Washington, DC, helping his mother and grandmother bake, which regardless of the occasion helped bring joy into their lives. In Keith's words, he "paints bread because it is a modern symbol of class, status, culture and race while also being a staple food for many cultures." While I was there, he was working on a painting of another modern symbol, a pair of Air Nikes.

HellaWeen Fun Run 2013 was hella fun

Saturday in Old Oakland was the 2nd annual HellaWeen Fun Run. Hundreds of people turned out to run, most of them in costume. Most people were just out for fun, but a few took the running a little more seriously. The top finishers for the 5K race were Daveon Sadusky (18:21), Connor Waterloo (20:06) and Ashley Clayborne (20:12).

As with last year, the most popular "water" stop was at Linden Street Brewery. Adam and his crew were serving up water, Old Brick Bitter, and Campovida had glasses of wine, too.

The best costume winner was a group dressed as Pacman and five ghosts, but there were lots of great, creative costumes. The winner of the most popular costume (relying in no small part on the cuteness factor) was a little girl dressed as Bat Kid and her mom dressed as Robin.

Congrats to all the racers, whether you ran, walked, skipped, or were in a stroller! I hope you all had lots of fun, and hope to see you out next spring for the Oakland Running Festival in March, whether you run or just cheer the racers on.



Lots more pictures from Saturday:

Learn to Curl with SF Bay Area Curling Club

This weekend in Oakland was a special learn-to-curl event with the SF Bay Area Curling Club, Road to the Olympics - Olympic Celebration Tour. Sponsored by the World Curling Federation, it featured Olympian Carolyn McRorie as well as other Northern California Olympians (not necessarily in curling). In addition to the learn-to-curl sessions, there was also a mini-bonspiel (tournament) on Sunday, and special learn-to-curl sessions for youth.

I was reminded just how much fun curling is! It's an easy sport to learn, but with enough finesse to it that you could spend a lifetime improving and enjoying it.

Some short video clips from Friday:


More pictures from Friday:

upcoming Oakland events

Avariety of interesting things to do, including learning how to curl, the HellaWeen Fun Run, walking tours, Day of the Dead at OMCA, and more.

Thursday

Barbary Coast Comedy - Thursdays, 7-8:30pm, at Legionnaire Saloon on Telegraph. A weekly comedy showcase, featuring cutting-edge comedy from names you know and up-and-coming comedians from around the Bay and beyond! (a Belgian comedian? they can probably make you laugh in 3 languages) ($5 cover)

Friday

Learn Curling - Road to the Olympics curling tour - Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Come learn the basics of curling at the Oakland Ice Arena. Tickets are normally $40, but click here and enter the code "OAKLAND ROCKS" to get them for $25. Curling is hella fun! ($25-$40)

Saturday

East Oakland Cleanup - Saturday, October 26, 9am-noon. Come help clean up along Bancroft at 73rd and get to know your fellow Oaklanders. (free)

Learn Curling - Road to the Olympics curling tour - Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Come learn the basics of curling at the Oakland Ice Arena. Tickets are normally $40, but click here and enter the code "OAKLAND ROCKS" to get them for $25. Curling is hella fun! ($25-$40)

Oakland Walking Tours - Saturdays, 10am. Free downtown walking tours highlighting Oakland's history, architecture and people. Saturday's tour is Preservation Park, led by Dennis Evanosky. Read about past Oakland Walking Tours. (free)

Hellaween Fun Run - Saturday, October 26, 4:30pm. Come out and show off your creative side in the 2nd annual Hellaween 5K Fun Run. Prizes for best costume. Post-race beers and restaurant specials in Old Oakland follow. Read about last year's Hellaween Fun Run. ($35-$45)

Sunday

Days of the Dead Celebration at OMCA - Sunday, October 27, noon-4:30pm. The annual Days of the Dead community celebration at the Oakland Museum of California. Read about last year's celebration. (with admission)

Learn Curling - Road to the Olympics curling tour - Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Come learn the basics of curling at the Oakland Ice Arena. Tickets are normally $40, but click here and enter the code "OAKLAND ROCKS" to get them for $25. Curling is hella fun! ($25-$40)

Food Day popup and beer garden - Sunday, October 27, 3-7pm. Food Day is "a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign for better food policies." Join La Borinqueña, Linden Street Brewery, and more to celebrate in Oakland. (free)

Wednesday

Oakland Walking Tours - Wednesday, 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)
• Piedmont Avenue Stroll (3rd Thursdays)
• 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)
• West Oakland Community Fair and Farmer's Market (1st Saturdays)
• Oakland Urban Paths walk (2nd Saturdays)
  
• Jack of All Trades Market (2nd Saturdays)
  
• Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)

looking further ahead:

Dia De Los Muertos festival - Saturday, November 2. The annual Day of the Dead celebration in Fruitvale. Read about last year's festival. (free) CityCamp Oakland - Saturday, November 9. The 2nd annual "unconference" brings together citizens, city government, and businesses to innovate, enhance transparency and increase civic engagement. (free) Fences - from the Lower Bottom Playaz - opening in November. The Lower Bottom Playaz continue working their way through August Wilson's remarkable Century Cycle.

wanna learn curling for free? (yes, that sport with stones, ice, and brooms)

Coming up this weekend is a special event, the Road to the Olympics / Olympic Celebration Tour put on by the World Curling Federation and the San Francisco Bay Area Curling Club. There are 'learn to curl' sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and a mini tournament on Sunday. And I've a free pair of tickets for Our Oakland readers! I can personally attest that curling is hella fun.

The pair of tickets (normally $40 each) are first-come, first-serve, and depend on space being available for your chosen session. Please claim them only if you plan to use them! I'll be there on Friday.

You can also get tickets for $25 by clicking here and enter the code "OAKLAND ROCKS".

walking tour: the Dimond

If you're new to Our Oakland, note that the links below marked with the oak tree logo will take you to the corresponding article on the Oakland Wiki where you can read more about the topic and see more photos.

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Sunday there was a waking tour led by local historian Dennis Evanosky. I went on a walking tour of the Dimond with Dennis two years ago, but I've found there's always more to learn.

Dennis had a number of historic photos of notable people and the district laid out on the picnic tables. He told us about some of the colorful characters in Dimond history: the Peralta family, Hugh Dimond, Henderson Luelling, Frederick Rhoda, and others.

We walked a short distance to the Boy Scout Hut, which was made in part with bricks from the Peralta Hacienda adobe. Then we went south past a grove of redwoods where we heard about plans to reroute and unculvert part of Sausal Creek. The current route of Sausal Creek is not where it naturally flowed, and is causing erosion below nearby houses. Near the redwoods is where the home where the Dimond and later Luelling families lived.

swimming hole on Sausal Creek

Towards MacArthur Boulevard, we saw the remains of one thing the early Dimond was known for—beer gardens. Although Tepper's and other beer gardens are long gone, the building where Tepper's was is still there. We crossed MacArthur briefly to take another look at Sausal Creek where it comes above ground again, and heard about the old swimming hole.

Unfortunately we couldn't go into the Altenheim as we did two years ago, but Dennis told us a bit about the history. The first Altenheim was a large wooden structure, and like many wooden structures of the era, it burned down. Adolph Sutro had wanted it built in San Francisco, and even offered land, but it was decided Oakland had better weather.

We walked back towards Dimond Avenue and then under the freeway and up the hill, where Dennis showed us a historic picture of the Dimond circa 1927, and the house on Boston Street that's in the photo. After wondering about the location of the photo for years, Dennis happened across it when there was a fire at the house in the photo. He determined that the photo had been taken from two houses over, but another house and growing trees have made it impossible to recreate the image in the present day.

Back over the freeway took us to Palmetto Street, where there are a number of palm trees. But there's also a building that was the first Presbyterian church in the Dimond. Then it was over to Prospect Hill on MacArthur to see the location where another historic photo was taken. From there we could also see where the original Dimond firehouse stood next to the current (but unused) one. The bell from the first firehouse is on display at Dimond Park next to the Boy Scout Hut.

Closer to Fruitvale Avenue, we heard about the naming of the Dimond. The conservative Presbyterians in the area weren't too pleased at having their district named for liquor salesman Hugh Dimond, but the post office got the name anyway. Despite that, some early signs referred to the area as "upper Fruit Vale". The first Fruit Vale post office was near the Cohen-Bray House.

We heard about lots more in the Dimond and other places in Oakland, including:

• the infamous Hermitage
• Leona Heights
• Laundry Farm
• the Nike missile site that isn't (it was part of quarry operations)
• the old sulfur mine
• Caspar Hopkins

and much, much, more.

Dennis will be leading a city of Oakland walking tour on Saturday, October 26, at 10am in Preservation Park. He'll also be leading an Oakland Urban Paths walk in November—check the OUP website for details.

More pictures from the walk:

photo of the week: fall colors

One of the best returns on investment we've gotten was the $10 or so of materials to make a birdbath. K and I and the cats are entertained by it daily, whether it's sparrows or crows. Yesterday afternoon, the bath was back lit by a Japanese maple tree changing colors, making for an even more striking scene.

Oaktoberfest 2013

The other week I had too many things going on, but I did manage to go and hang out at Oaktoberfest in the Dimond for a bit. Lots of adults and kids (and no small number of dogs) having fun.

Lots more pictures from Oaktoberfest:

upcoming Oakland events

You might be thinking there's not much to do in Oakland, since we're past all the big street festivals, but you'd be wrong. There's lots going on, from classic cars to native plants to A Taste of Oakland block party, plus the Autumn Lights Festival at Lake Merritt.

Thursday

Barbary Coast Comedy - Thursdays, 7-8:30pm, at Legionnaire Saloon on Telegraph. A weekly comedy showcase, featuring cutting-edge comedy from names you know and up-and-coming comedians from around the Bay and beyond! (a Belgian comedian? they ca n probably make you laugh in 3 languages) ($5 cover)

Friday

Autumn Lights Festival at Lake Merritt - Friday, October 18, 6-10pm. Acres of gardens illuminated with weird and enchanting art installations created by local Bay Area artists. Read about last year's Autumn Lights. ($12.50/$25/$50)

Blacula's Ball - Friday, October 18, 7pm-midnight. Blackball Universe will transform itself into a haunted house, with dark art by various local artists. Friday they're having a party!

Saturday

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

Classic Cars at JLS - Saturday, October 19, 11am-4pm. Jack London Square will showcase more than 60 vintage vehicles from the 1920s to the 1960s. Live music, too. (free)

A Taste of Oakland: Uptown Block Party - Saturday, October 19, 5-8pm. Sample dishes and cocktails from restaurants and bars in Uptown. Tickets include a taste/sample of cuisine or a signature cocktail at over 20 participating venues. Partial proceeds will benefit Youth Radio and the visual arts program at Oakland School for the Arts. (21+ to drink; $20/$30)

Autumn Lights Festival at Lake Merritt - Saturday, October 19, 6-10pm. Acres of gardens illuminated with weird and enchanting art installations created by local Bay Area artists. Read about last year's Autumn Lights. ($12.50/$25/$50)

Sunday

Native Plant Sale and Open House with Friends of Sausal Creek - Sunday, October 20, 10am-3pm. Experts will be on hand to help you pick appropriate plants for your area of Oakland. Plus live music, face painting and crafts for kids, and more. (free)

Dimond Walking Tour - Sunday, October 20, 10am-12:30pm. Join historian Dennis Evanosky for a walk through the historic Dimond district. Meet at the Boy Scout Hut in Dimond Park. (free)

Wednesday

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

Jack Glow and Fire Show - Wednesday, October 9, 6:30-7:30pm. A fusion of fire dance and flow art with fire hoopers, fire spinners and fire jugglers at Jack London Square. (free)

ongoing events:

• Oakland Walking Tours (Wednesdays and Saturdays)
• Piedmont Avenue Stroll (3rd Thursdays)
• 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)
• West Oakland Community Fair and Farmer's Market (1st Saturdays)
• Oakland Urban Paths walk (2nd Saturdays)
  
• Mt. View Cemetery Tours (2nd and 4th Saturdays)

looking further ahead:

Return of the Living Fed - Tuesday, October 24, 5:30pm. An after-hours opportunity to volunteer with the Alameda County Community Food Bank and have lots of fun at the same time! Come in costume, get free dinner from the Grilled Cheez Guy, and help out the hungry in Alameda County. (free)

Hellaween Fun Run - Saturday, October 26, 4:30pm. Come out and show off your creative side in the 2nd annual Hellaween 5K Fun Run. Prizes for best costume. Post-race beers and restaurant specials in Old Oakland follow. Read about last year's Hellaween Fun Run. ($35-$45)

Jack of All Trades Market - 2nd Saturdays starting October 12, 11am-5pm. A mix of local makers, indie designers, antiquers, collectors, artists, start-ups and more. Plus DIY workshops, live music, and local food. (free)

CityCamp Oakland - Saturday, November 9. The 2nd annual "unconference" brings together citizens, city government, and businesses to innovate, enhance transparency and increase civic engagement. (free)

Fences - from the Lower Bottom Playaz - opening in November. The Lower Bottom Playaz continue working their way through August Wilson's remarkable Century Cycle.

Saint Mary's Cemetery 150th Anniversary

The other week, Saint Mary's Cemetery marked its 150th anniversary with a special ceremony and the unveiling of several new features. The day began with a mass led by Bishop Michael Barber of the Oakland diocese, who re-consecrated the cemetery grounds.

Following the mass, a beautiful new statue of the Virgin Mary was unveiled. Currently it's near the chapel in the center of the cemetery, but will be moved to near the front gate. Also unveiled was a new grave marker for the last governor of Alta California, Juan Bautista Valentin Alvarado, and his wife, Maria Martina Castro de Alvarado. Some of the most famous of St. Mary's residents, their grave was unmarked until local historian Alfred Janske re-discovered their burial location. He worked with St. Mary's Cemetery, the San Pablo Historical Society, and other groups to have a marker added.

Afterwards I talked with Janske, and learned that the first burial in St. Mary's was Mary Riley, who died December 13, 1863. Her grave is currently unmarked, but he's hoping to get a marker added. Given how far back in local history that is, and her relatively common name, finding out more about Mary's story has been difficult.

More pictures from the 150th anniversary:

Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity

Last week was the 30th annual Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity. I volunteered all 5 days, and after a weekend of mostly resting, I'm still tired. I've been more tired before, and I've been more dirty, but wowza, this is the most cumulative tiredness I can remember. And that's after numerous years of mission trips to Mexico and Habitat build-a-thons.

But it was a for a great cause, and hundreds of people in Oakland and thousands across the U.S. got together during the week to help build decent, affordable homes for people or repair the homes they already have so they can afford to stay in them. Thanks to everyone who came out to work, whether for one day or more, and to everyone who donated to help make it happen!

We now return to our irregularly scheduled working and posting. And some more resting.
Lots more pictures from the week:

Day 1 of the Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity

Today was the first day of the Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity in Oakland. This is the 30th year the Carters have been working with Habitat for Humanity. I haven't even hit 20 years yet, so their dedication to Habitat and to other projects to improve people's lives around the world is inspiring. And President Carter just turned 89 years old, so it's all the more impressive.

As you might have noticed in the picture above, I got a little dirty during today's work day. The house we're working on is between Edes and 98th Avenue, and we're tearing off the very old roof and putting on a new one. We made great progress on Ramona's house today, but it was dirty work. There are 12 new houses near the East Oakland Sports Center, plus home repairs on 8 houses nearby and a bit further afield.

The Carters will be in the South Bay tomorrow, then off to Denver, New York and New Jersey for the rest of the week. Highlights today included hearing the Carters speak again (they spoke at the opening reception at the Paramount Theatre last night), getting our house crew photo taken with them, and getting served dessert by Garth Brooks. I heard Rep. Barbara Lee was there, too, but I didn't see her.

I'll be at the project all week, so posts will be lighter this week, depending on how tired I am at the end of each day.

upcoming Oakland events

It's a First Friday, so that means First Friday events on Telegraph, and Art Murmur Uptown, Downtown, and elsewhere. But there's also the Black Cowboy Parade in West Oakland, Oaktoberfest in the Dimond, a celebration of 150 years at Saint Mary's Cemetery, and Rockridge Out and About. And since Sunday is the First Sunday, it means admission to the Oakland Museum of California is 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)

Art Murmur and First Friday - Art Murmur Uptown, Downtown, every where in town. Plus First Friday events on Telegraph. (free)

Great Wall of Oakland - Friday, October 4, 7-11pm. The Great Wall of Oakland is partnering with Chabot Space and Science Center to bring you amazing videos of space. (free)

Opening Reception for Indisputable Still Life - Friday, October 4, 6-9pm. Opening reception for the new exhibit at the Transmission Gallery. (free)

Saturday

Black Cowboy Parade - Saturday, October 5, 10am-5pm. The long-running Black Cowboy Parade, a staple of West Oakland for almost 40 years. Read about the 2011 parade. At Defremery Park, though the parade goes for a number of blocks. (free)

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

150 Year Celebration at Saint Mary's Cemetery - Saturday, October 5, 11am-noon. Saint Mary's celebrates 150 years, as the oldest operating cemetery in Oakland. (free)

Oaktoberfest - Saturday, October 5, 11am-6pm. Oakland's annual, family-friendly craft beer festival. Food, beer, music, activities for kids, and more. See pictures from the 2011 Oaktoberfest. (free)

Sunday

Rockridge Out and About - Sunday, October 6, 12-6pm. Food, music, activities for kids, crafts, and more at the annual Rockridge street festival. Check out coverage of Rockridge Out and About 2011. (free)

Sundays in the Redwoods - Sundays, starting September 22. Hang out in beautiful Joaquin Miller Park and listen to live music amongst the redwoods. ($14+$2)

Tuesday

Tall Ships visit Oakland - October 8-14. The tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will be back in Oakland at JLS. Tours ($3) and battle sails ($40-$60) available. Read about a visit last year.

Wednesday

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

Jack Glow and Fire Show - Wednesday, October 9, 6:30-7:30pm. A fusion of fire dance and flow art with fire hoopers, fire spinners and fire jugglers at Jack London Square. (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:

Fences - from the Lower Bottom Playaz - opening in October. The Lower Bottom Playaz continue working their way through August Wilson's remarkable Century Cycle.

Oakland Urban Paths - Walk the Bay - Saturday, October 12, 10am. Oakland Urban Paths will join WOBO, California Walks, and Walk San Francisco to walk the new Bay Bridge trail. (free for members; $5 others)

Life is Living Festival - Saturday, October 12 at 10:00am. The annual West Oakland festival celebrating urban life through hip hop, inter-generational health and environmental action. Music, vendors, food, health screenings, skate demos and more. (free)

Jack of All Trades Market - 2nd Saturdays starting October 12, 11am-5pm. A mix of local makers, indie designers, antiquers, collectors, artists, start-ups and more. Plus DIY workshops, live music, and local food. (free)

Classic Cars at JLS - Saturday, October 19, 11am-4pm. Jack London Square will showcase more than 60 vintage vehicles from the 1920s to the 1960s. Live music, too. (free)

CityCamp Oakland - Saturday, November 9. The 2nd annual "unconference" brings together citizens, city government, and businesses to innovate, enhance transparency and increase civic engagement. (free)

Oakland's Cemeteries - St. Mary's turns 150

You'd expect plot 1 in a cemetery as old as Mountain View Cemetery to have a lot of history, and in that regard, it doesn't disappoint. It's the resting place of a number of people who were instrumental in the shaping of the early town of Oakland, like Solomon Alden, John McElrath, Moses Chase (the first American citizen to settle in Oakland), Enoch Pardee and George Pardee, Jane Waer (the first burial in Mountain View) and many others.

While Mountain View is the biggest cemetery in Oakland, it wasn't the first. It's not even in the top 3. The first cemetery was the Oakland Cemetery, near where Laney College is now. When it was started in 1852, Oakland was a brand new town, and the location was out of the way. But Oakland was growing rapidly, and within 5 years the cemetery was in the way of expansion.

The larger Webster Street Cemetery was started in 1857, but it barely lasted 10 years. Mountain View Cemetery was founded in 1863, but the first burial didn't take place until 1865. Burials stopped at Webster Street in 1867. In preparation for development, most of the remains were moved from Webster Street to other cemeteries. The 'most' part makes it unsurprising that in 1877, an excavator accidentally hit one of the remaining coffins and spilled the contents: "the left hand and arm nearly to the elbow protruded from the ground, the hand drooped over gracefully from the wrist. Portions of the coat and vest were visible, as were the outlines of the face, but over these still rested a coating of fine earth."

The third cemetery to open in Oakland was Saint Mary's Cemetery in 1863. This Saturday, Saint Mary's will be celebrating its 150th birthday with a ceremony and tour. It's a great chance to learn more about this smaller neighbor of Mountain View Cemetery, and learn some Oakland and California history in the process.

Lots more pictures from Plot 1 in Mountain View Cemetery: