11/20: Your O-Scene Weekend’s Here

Friday, November 20

 

The Swell Season

Irish performer Glen Hansard and Czech pianist and singer Marketa Irglova, who found fame, glory and love with their album, Once, roll into town tonight to perform at the Paramount. They’re on tour to promote their latest album, Strict Joy.

Friday, November 20, 8 p.m.
2025 Broadway
$35 and $40

Sentinel, Maldroid and Goodbye Gadget

Some really good local indie bands play tonight at the Uptown: Sentinel, Maldroid, Tornado Rider and Goodbye Gadget.

Uptown, 1928 Telegraph,
9 p.m. 21 and over
$10

For more on Sentinel, go to sentineltheband.com

If you want to learn about Maldroid, read this OakBook article on the band.

A Comedy Revolution

The Revolution Café on 7th Street out by the main post office has been slowly expanding over the past few years, growing in size and ambition. Now the Revolution Café is getting into comedy. On the third Friday of each month, it hosts a cover-free comedy night. The café is only three blocks from West Oakland Bart.

Friday, November 20, 8:30 p.m.
1612 7th Street

Holiday Shopping – Locally

Stop by Namaste Yoga for a holiday bazaar and henna lounge this Friday evening. The studio and store will be filled with locally made handicrafts and trinkets. You’ll be supporting Oakland artisans, and a hefty 20 percent of proceeds go to the Options Recovery Center, an outfit that helps parolees.

Friday November 20 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
5416 College Avenue

Cornel West Reads

Cornel West, one of America’s most interesting public intellectuals, will be at Barnes and Noble in Jack London Square Friday evening to discuss his new memoir, “Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud.”

Friday, November 20, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, Jack London Square
Free

Saturday, November 21

Dominoes Downtown

Do you throw the bones? Maxwell’s Lounge is holding a dominoes tournament Saturday afternoon. Twenty bucks gets you a spot. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers win cash prizes. Registration starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday

Saturday, November 21, 11 a.m. onwards
341 13th Street

For the Fashionistas

Oakland designer Cari Borja is having a pre-holiday sample sale on Saturday afternoon. Head over to her Berkeley studio to grab some bargains on her beautiful clothes. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

30% off any one new collection item and extra 50% off on all samples
Baby Royal and Baby August hats are 2 for $25
Saturday, November 21
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

2117 4th Street, Studio B, Berkeley
510-981-0067, www.cariborja.com

Book Reading, Belly Dancing and Coffee

Romney Steele, an Oakland-based writer, cook and food stylist, has written a book about growing up in the famous Big Sur restaurant, Nepenthe. She will read from My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family, and Big Sur at Caffe Trieste on Piedmont Avenue this Saturday evening. There will be a no-host wine and coffee bar. Belly dancing, an integral part of the Nepenthe experience, will begin at 8 p.m.

Saturday, November 21, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Caffe Trieste, 4045 Piedmont Avenue
mynepenthebook.com/my-book/

Black Dynamite

The always-engaging Oakland Underground Film Festival presents Black Dynamite on Saturday night at the Grand Lake Theater. The 2009 blacksploitation spoof will be preceded by Will “The Thrill” Viharo and Monica the Tiki Goddess of Thrillville with 70’s movie trivia.

Saturday, November 21, Midnight
Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Avenue

Lake Merritt Vigil for Murdered Gay Teens

A group of queer and transgendered people of color are holding a vigil at Lake Merritt this weekend for gay teens murdered in Maryland and Puerto Rico. For more info, call 510-282-5223 or e-mail morethanavigil@gmail.com

3.30 p.m.
Grand and MacArthur
morethanavigil.blogspot.com/

Sunday, November 22

Philippine Dance Showcase

From tinkling to dances with roots in the Spanish Court, Philippine dance is as varied as the archipelago itself. On Sunday afternoon, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and The American Center for Philippine Arts present a showcase of Pilippino dancing. After the dancing, there’ll be food and activities like Make Your Own Parol for the kids.

The center is less than a year old, but already teaches 40 kids in the age range of five to 15. Executive director Herna Cruz-Louie says that traditional dance forms can be a tool that help second and third generation kids develop pride in their culture and learn about their history and heritage. The center, which also offers classes in the traditional Philippine mandalin, plans to eventually expand beyond music and dance. But this Sunday, explore Philippine arts through the performances of the center’s dance students. Come for the dancing, stay for the lumpia.

Sunday, November 22, 2 p.m.
388 Ninth Street
Free

Toy Drive

If you’ve been hit by the economy, and are getting worried about holiday gifts for the kids, head over to City Hall on Saturday morning. Take your ID, proof of an Oakland residence, proof of kids’ ages and proof of income, and get on the list to receive toys through Mayor Ron Dellums’ toy drive. For more information, call 777-toys or just show up at 10 a.m. on Saturday. If you’d like to find out how to donate toys, call Albert Lujan at 510-238-7366.

Saturday, November 21
Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 3
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Calling Oakland Artists

The Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement, a West Oakland non-profit is getting ready for its annual holiday art exhibit. For those of you that haven’t been to the center, it’s a two-story Victorian that was once used as a convent.

Tomye Neal-Madison, the center’s Visual Arts Coordinator, is curating the group show that will be titled Bay Area Artists Collection. While the location doesn’t encourage sculpture displays, the call to artists says the venue allows for every wholesome topic/technique of art that can be displayed on the building’s walls.

Please send photos – jpegs or slides — either to tomyegouache@sbcglobal.net or to 765 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland 94610. The images will be used for promotional material about the exhibit.

Instructions from Neal-Madison: Please make sure your artworks have a wire across the back. There is a suspension from the ceiling’s molding system in place. Holes in the walls will not be tolerated. Consider that among your viewers will be special guests, collectors, gallery owners and business people expecting professional works of art. There are two delivery dates, Thursday November 19, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. or Sunday, November 22, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be a reception on Saturday, December 12, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit is scheduled from Monday, November 30 through Friday, January 22, 2010.

Your 11/12 O-Scene weekend

FRIDAY

Buy Coffee to Support Khadafy

Nine years ago, Marilyn Washington Harris founded the Khadafy Foundation for Non-Violence as a tribute to her son, Khadafy Washington, who was shot while riding his bicycle in West Oakland. Since then, the group has worked to provide healing and support services to people who have lost friends or family members due to violence.

Farley’s East is hosting a benefit for the Khadafy Foundation Friday evening. If you get something at the café – a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or some food – 20% will go to the foundation. Their board members will be there for you to talk and mingle with.

Friday, November 13
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Farley’s East
33 Grand Avenue

For more information, please go to khadafyfoundation.org

Utunes Time

The organizers of the Utunes coffeehouse at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland say they are going after an old-timey church basement coffee house vibe, but with an Oakland twist. The events feature folk and popular music from all over the world. This Friday, the exceptional East Bay Anointed Voices perform in the cozy venue. Here’s a little bit more about EBAV: “East Bay Anointed Voices is a multi-racial, inter-denominational mix of talented vocalists and musicians of all ages under the direction of Donald Taylor and Rachelle Rogers-Ard. EBAV’s music is a mix of traditional and contemporary gospel styles, infused with jazz, Latin and Afro-Cuban rhythms.”

Friday, November 13 8 p.m.-10 p.m.
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th Street
$18 at the door, $5 kids 6-15, 6 and under are free
$14 in advance

Re-Create

The Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA) is putting on a show of artwork made by Oakland K-12 students from discarded or reused materials.

The fifth annual Re-Create art contest and exhibition, which features artworks like giant gold robots made from old CDs to winged water bottle creatures, aims to highlight creative approaches to the 4 Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle, rot.

The Re-Create exhibit runs November 13 through December 20. Gallery hours are Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Public reception and award ceremony
Friday November 13, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
472 Water Street in Jack London Square
www.mocha.org

Opening Concert: Night at the Opera

Friday is Michael Morgan’s big night. Mr. Morgan, who celebrates his twentieth anniversary with the Oakland East Bay Symphony this year has picked arias, overtures and intermezzos from many of his favorite operas and brought a group of talented and high profile young singers such as former Adler Fellow Joshua Bloom, who recently made a successful debut at the Metropolitan Opera, for opening of the symphony’s 2009-2010 season. The program for Night at the Opera includes music from some of the world’s most well known operas, including Aida and other Verdi favorites, Lucia di Lammermoor and Bernstein’s Candide.

Friday, November 13, 8 p.m.
The Paramount, 2025 Broadway
Tickets: $20 to $65
oebs.org

SATURDAY

Special School Board Meeting

It might not be your notion of an ideal weekend afternoon, but Oakland Unified’s governing board is holding a special meeting at the district’s downtown HQ Saturday, which address some of the biggest issues facing the district: teacher compensation, school size, and class size. Tony Smith, the district’s new boss, has said that Oakland public schools are going to have to perform at a higher level with a lot less money. On Saturday, the public will get a glimpse of what a post-Great Recession school district will look like.

Saturday, November 14, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Paul Robeson Board Room, 1025 2nd Avenue

Think Fast Theater

For the past six or so weeks, Awkward Face, the improvisational troupe at Uptown’s Pan Theater have been performing two shows every Saturday night. The first show of the evening is called The Montage. It’s a collection of scenes, monologues, and games built around audience suggestions. The Harold, the evening’s second show, is a long-form improv piece with recurring characters in three pieces. With that kind of intensity, the motto of Pan Theater pretty much has to be “Where Neurons Fire Faster.” Maybe you’ll catch the improv bug. The theater’s holding auditions at the end of the month.

Saturday, November 14 8 p.m. and 9:10 p.m.
2135 Broadway
$10 at the door

Bay Area Bead Extravaganza 2009

This weekend, the 11th annual Bay Area Bead Extravaganza (BABE), the largest bead and jewelry show in the West, comes to Oakland.

There will be more than 160 juried exhibitors showing unusual beads, jewelry and beading supplies. Designers and fashion connoisseurs can go shop and those that like to work with beads can pick up tips and lessons.

Saturday, Nov 14. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway
$7
For more information, call 510- 684-2484 or visit beadextravaganza.com/

SUNDAY

Discussing Afghanistan

If you’re feeling like you’re in the mood for a political debate, here’s something for you. The title that tells you where the discussion’s going: Afghan lives and freedom sucked into U.S. quagmire.

Agree or disagree? This is your chance to be heard. There will be a free and open discussion led by Htun Lin, News & Letters “Workshop Talks” columnist this Sunday.

Sunday, November 15, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. (at Alcatraz)
For more information call (510) 658-1448 or email banandl@yahoo.com
To read News & Letters articles on Afghanistan, visit newsandletters.org

Jazzschool at Yoshi’s

The award winning Jazzschool Studio Band is an advanced-level high school ensemble dedicated to the study and performance of standard and contemporary big band literature. Directed by Keith Johnson, the group is made up of some of the Bay Area’s top high school musicians who are selected each year by competitive audition. The Jazzschool Studio Band performs frequently throughout the Bay Area and participates in national jazz festivals and competitions throughout the United States. The band has performed at esteemed jazz clubs including Yoshi’s in Oakland, The Jazzschool, and Savanna Jazz in San Francisco in addition to performances in New York, Seattle, and Idaho.

Sunday, November 16
8 p.m. ($15) and 10 p.m.  ($10)
510 Embarcadero West (Jack London Square)
510-238-9200

Howl-o-ween pics!

If you’re pet-crazy, you have to see these photos from the Halloween party at Paws and Claws in the Dimond. The pet store run by the Dimond dynamos Ruth and Diane raised $300 for PAWS East Bay that evening through this fun event. Click here to see the slide show.

Go Oakland!

Ever heard of Hernanes or Cerro Porteno or Ronaldo or Diego Maradona.. or the football legend Pele? It’s okay if you haven’t. By and large, Americans aren’t exactly crazy about soccer or what the rest of the world calls football, even though the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. did draw record crowds of 3.58 million people.

Regardless of how you feel about soccer – if you’re reading this, you probably are pretty crazy about Oakland. And Oakland has a chance to be one of the 18 finalists submitted as part of USA’s bid to host the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup. Oakland already has advanced to the round of 27. And it needs your vote to get to the round of 18.

So go ahead and vote for Oakland by going to the USA Bid Committee’s site -
gousabid.com/city/local/oakland-ca/

 

 

The Oakland Weekend

There’s an embarrassment of riches for music lovers in Oakland this weekend. Folks will be making some hard choices.

Oakland Youth Orchestra

The always-excellent Oakland Youth Orchestra will perform pieces by Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Geminiani, and Boyce at a free concert at the Allen Temple Baptist Church Sunday afternoon. For 46 years the OYO has been representing Oakland’s young musicians all over the world – picking up all kinds of awards and accolades. Families are welcome and the concert is free.

Sunday, November 8 3 pm
Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd.
Free

Lullabies to Wake You Up

The New York Times has called Hasmik Harutyunyan’s CD “the best Armenian recording worldwide.” It’s praise that may not sound like much unless you are familiar with the beautiful music of the Trans-Caucasia. Harutyunyan, the songstress famous for popularizing the lovely tradition of the Armenian lullaby performs at St. Vartan Armenian Church Saturday evening. She will be accompanied by Kitka, “a grassroots group of singers from diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds, who share a passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, lush harmonies, and resonant strength of Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian women’s vocal traditions.”

Saturday, November 7 8 pm – 10 pm
St. Vartan Armenian Church
650 Spruce Street, Oakland
$15-$20

By the Waters of Babylon

Chalice Consort is devoted to resurrecting forgotten or rarely heard music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. On Saturday night they will present work by the English composer William Byrd, a crypto-Catholic who nonetheless composed for the Anglican Church as a member of Queen Elizabeth I’s court. Titled “By the Waters of Babylon” the performance presents a sampling of Byrd’s choral pieces. Chalice Consort’s Davitt Moroney writes: “His beautiful and highly passionate music illustrates many of the historical issues that were being played out at that time, including religious fanaticism, oppression of minority communities, and political issues church and state, many of which are being replayed in different ways around the world today.” There could hardly be a better venue than St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Saturday November 7, 8 pm – 9:30 pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
114 Montecito Ave, Oakland
$10-$20

Latin American Mash-Up

The Bolivian Women’s Association, Friends of Bolivia, and the Bolivian Center of Northern California present Uniendo a las Americas, a farewell reception for Bolivian artists Mamani Mamani and Jacqueline Conley. This is a must-attend for all local art lovers.

Sunday November 8, 7pm – 9pm
VERO, 6052 College Avenue

Art@TheOakBook: RE:Design

In recent decades, the line where fine art, craft and design meet has been drawn and redrawn. This constantly shifting intersection is debated by critics, and maintains a symbiotic relationship with cultural realms as disparate as sports, music, and business. In RE:Design, Art@theOakBook presents two artists whose work blurs the aesthetic dictates of what is and isn’t art. Marcos LaFarga and Joel Scilley provide departure points for taking the debate into fresh territory.

Saturday, November 7, 6 pm – 9pm

423 Water Street in Jack London Square

Celebrations: Halloween and the Day of the Dead

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

Uptown masquerade

When was the last time you went to a masquerade, complete with masks and all? This Halloween bash will have masks for sale, if you didn’t get a chance to pick up yours. The organizers are promising an evening of live music, dancing and of course, food. Reed Fromer Band, an R & B group, will perform, and there will be a “surprise celebrity guest.”

This is a benefit for the Fox Theater, with proceeds going to Friends of the Oakland Fox, which preserves the theater, and to East Bay Emergency Relief efforts.

Thursday, October 29, 7:30 p.m. to midnight.
The Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph General admission:$20, VIP: $100

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30

Pre-Halloween with Frankenstein

Want a low key beginning to your Halloween? Watch the 1948 scary comedy, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein on the big screen at the Paramount.

The Paramount, 2025 Broadway
Box Office opens at 6:00pm, doors open at 7:00. The curtain rises at 8:00pm
All Tickets: $5.00

10000 Things That go Bump in the Night

Chabot’s having its Halloween party with live music from BandWorks School of Rock, a costume contest, spooky beverages, views of the cosmos (if the weather holds up) and a special haunt jaunt crawl of things that go bump in the night with the Galaxy Explorers. Kids of all ages –and all kinds of costumes – welcome.

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard
$20 Adults, $15 Students/Members $8

6th Annual Dimond Howl-o-ween Pet Parade & Costume Party

Don’t leave the pets out of the Halloween fun! The Dimond movers and shakers at Paws & Claws are hosting a party for you and your pets. Meet at Paws and Claws, then join the 6 p.m. parade through the district collecting treats, then return to Paws & Claws and enjoy the outdoor campfire, food & drinks.

$5 Donation Benefits PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support)
6 p.m.to 9 p.m. Paws & Claws 2023 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland 510-336-0105
pawsnclawsoakland.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31

Days of the Dead Fiesta 2009

On Saturday, head over to La Borinqueña Restaurant & Specialty Shop in Old Oakland for cooking demonstrations, folk arts and crafts, and to celebrate both the Day of the Dead holiday as well as the 10,000 Steps project. Old Oakland impresario Tina “Tamale” has put together an afternoon that anyone who loves Mexican food and culture will enjoy. If you miss this event, catch up with the tamale queens at the Fruitvale festival on Sunday.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
582 7th Street at Jefferson

Halloween Haunted House

If your kids are into scary Halloween events, consider what the folks at Studio One Art Center are offering. They’re hosting a haunted house – for adults and kids. There will be face painting, games and light treats.

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Studio One Art Center, 365 45th Street

$2 for children accompanies by adults, $2 for adults with children, $3 for everyone else.
For info, call 510-597 5027

Celebrations on Piedmont/Halloween Movie Night for Kids

Oakland retailers are really getting into the Halloween spirit. On Piedmont Avenue, they’ve got a full day of Halloween activities – free cartoons at Piedmont theater, a grand parade, trick-or-treat, face painting, live music, and a lot more. Check out the complete schedule at piedmontavenuemerchants.org/halloween-parade-09-schedule

And when the day’s over, Video Room on Piedmont will have a kids costume contest and a free screening of the Nightmare Before Christmas. Remember to take your chair and blanket.

7 p.m.
4364 Piedmont Avenue
Free
For questions, e-mail: Mandel Lum twentybelowzero@gmail.com

Thrillerthon: Haitian Day of the Dead party

This Halloween costume party celebrates Haitian “Gede” and Michael Jackson’s thriller. DJ Epic and DJ Mpenzi will spin Soca, Soukous, Samba, Soul and Dancehall. El Wah Movement Caribbean Dancers and the Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble will perform.
The Den @ the Fox
1807 Telegraph Ave, Uptown Oakland
Doors open @ 8:30 p.m., $5 before 10pm/$10 thereafter

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1

The Annual 2009 Fruitvale “Día de Los Muertos” festival

It’s happening! Earlier this year, it had looked like Oakland’s Dia De Los Muertos Festival would be a victim of the recession. But Council member Ignacio de la Fuente intervened. With some help from the City, the Day of the Dead celebration, which is the largest festival of its kind in the Bay Area with more than 100,000 attendees, is back on its feet.

Held in Fruitvale every year, this one day event will feature more than 20 altars, art and craft vendors, traditional Latin American foods, musical performances, and an interactive exhibit by the Oakland Museum of California. There’s also going to be a kids area with games and rides.

The festival honors a traditional holiday in several Latin American countries, where families and friends gather to pray for and remember ancestors and relatives who have died. If you’d like to volunteer, get in touch with Claudia Burgos at
cburgos@oaklandnet.com

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Along International Boulevard between Fruitvale Ave. and 35th Ave.; at the Fruitvale Transit Village;  and along 12th Street to 37th Avenue in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California
Free

Sunday Book Readings

Poets C.S Giscombe and Charity Ketz will be reading at Diesel in Oakland. Giscombe, the editor of Mixed Blood, a poetry journal, has written several books of poetry and a memoir. His newest collection is Prairie Style. Ketz, a Ph.D student in English Literature at the University of California, Berkeley, recently had her first poetry collection published – The Narcoleptic Yard.

3 p.m.
Diesel – A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave., dieselbookstore.com

Local author Canyon Sam will be reading from her new book, Sky Train: Tibetan Women on the Edge of History, at Laurel Books.

4 p.m.
Laurel Books, 4100 MacArthur, 510-531-2073

Thursday Block Party

From its earliest days West Oakland has been home to folks representing many races and a wide range of social classes. So, if you are familiar with the real West Oakland, there really isn’t anything that unusual about the three new developments out by the old Central Station. Together, the Pacific Cannery Lofts, Iron Horse and the Zephyr make up 395 units of housing ranging from $400 rental units to $350,000+ town homes. Common landscaping links the developments to each other and to the surrounding Prescott neighborhood.

The developers are inviting the community to a block party celebrating the Central Station developments becoming a part of West Oakland. The party starts Thursday at 5:30 p.m. There’ll be good local food, music, and drinks. Click here for more information.

Thursday, October  29
5.30 p.m. onwards
Central Station, 14th and Frontage Road

TONIGHT: Kev Choice @ Yoshi’s

It’s Monday.. Maybe your week got off to a good start. Maybe your day sucks. Either way, pamper yourself by heading out to Yoshi’s tonight to see pianist Kev Choice and his ensemble. A local celebrity, Kev is already making waves on the national circuit. What people seem to love about him is his versatility and unpredictability — you never know what he’s going to play next. No matter what genre you like, there’s got to be something in his show for you – soul, funk, hip hop, jazz, classical…

Local musician Knox Bronson met up with Kev Choice and his ensemble while they were rehearsing in Jack London Square last week. Watch this video where Knox is trying to get to know Kev a little bit better…

Getting to Know Kev Choice’s Music

TONIGHT
8 p.m.
$14
Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero W.

10/23: The Pre-Halloween Scene

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

Percolating Poetry
Spoken word is a mixed bag, and it’s not for everyone. But it might be worth checking out the spoken word scene at Farley’s East on the fourth Friday of each month. Instrumentation is encouraged by the sponsors of “Uptown, Downtown, and Around Town,” which promises one or two featured artists followed by an open mic.
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
33 Grand Avenue
Free

Scholars on Ice
Cal is not exactly known for its ice hockey. How many people get excited about The Big Freeze? That’s when the Golden Bears take to the ice against Stanford. Still, five bucks to watch two decent teams clash over the puck is a good deal. On Friday, the Golden Bears take on Gonzaga University at the Oakland Ice Center. The Golden Bears are 4 and 3 this season, and they meet Gonzaga following a loss to UCLA last weekend.

Hockey: Cal Golden Bears vs. Gonzaga University
7  p.m.
Oakland Ice Center, 519 18^th Street
$5

Book reading: Anne Laughlin
Anne Laughlin reads at Laurel Books on Saturday evening. Her second bay, Veritas, will be out this fall. The Chicago-based writer has been published in anthologies by several well known lesbian and gay presses. Last year, she was named an Emerging Writer by the Lambda Literary Foundation.

7 p.m.
4100 MacArthur

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

Neo-Soul at the New Parish
Meshelle Ndegeocello performs at the New Parish Friday night. One of the first neo-soul artists, Ndegeocello a D.C.-native, but a Berkeley transplant, is known for her husky sweet voice and a searching, philosophical take on the world.
Doors open at 8 p.m., Show starts at 9 p.m.
The New Parish, 579 18^th Street
$25

Brews and Boos
If Fairyland’s Halloween event is a tad too kid-centric for you, the pumpkin patch at the Dunsmuir House on Saturday will offer beer and sausages for the grown-ups. The only thing scary will be the polka music. Kids will enjoy the hay rides, the pumpkin carving, and old-fashioned games (and we don’t mean Pac Man.) One free pumpkin per family while supplies last. The event will be held around the Carriage House at Covington Gate.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dunsmuir House, 2960 Peralta Oaks Court
Adults are $7, Ages 5 – 12 are $5, Five and under are free

F.A.S.T. Community Event
The second annual F.A.S.T. (For A Safe Town) community event will serve up entertainment, free food, and employment opportunities, and promises “lots of old fashioned fun.” This event is a result of the partnership between Youth Uprising, a community youth organization, and the Oakland Police Department and represents an ongoing effort to help heal relations between the community and the police.

Noon to 5 p.m.
Verdese Carter Park
98th & Bancroft

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

Scaryland
Fairyland turns spooky this weekend for the annual Jack O’Lantern Jamboree. Come in costume and enjoy unlimited rides, parades, goody bags for kid, pirate school, plus the usual puppet shows and other Fairyland attractions. Admission for everyone is $10.

Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
699 Bellevue Avenue
Admission $10
For more info, go to fairyland.org

Middle Eastern Treasure Concert
On Sunday afternoon, acclaimed Middle Eastern percussionist and recording artist Mary Ellen Donald will present a six-piece Arabic music ensemble. There will be singers from the Aswat Choir, a vocal ensemble called Mozaik, which will perform harmonies from around the world, belly dancing  by Amira Ariana and April Faith, and yes, audience dancing, too. They’ll bring out the wine and you’re welcome to take some food for a potluck. If you like Middle Eastern culture, you can’t miss this event.

2 p.m. to 5:15 pm
Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94609 (between Broadway and Telegraph)
$17 adults, $8 children under 12. No advance ticket sales
Ticket price includes complimentary wine and other beverages.

For more details call Mary Ellen at (510) 654-DRUM (3786)

TONIGHT: Jazz at Farley’s East

If you haven’t been to Farley’s East as yet, tonight’s a good night to check it out. They have live jazz tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m with Nancy Wright’s Trio.

Oakland resident Nancy Wright performs with Robert Kennedy on organ and Casey Smiley on drums. Hear her music online at
www.myspace.com/nancywrightmusic