4/11/08 Novoscene Weekend

Friday, April 11

Femi, Photo by Andreas Branch

R & B Fridays w/MoeSoul and Femi

Maybe it’s something in the Bay Area water that’s made the region such fertile soil for sultry soul, R&B and funk singers over the years, but whatever it is-from the Pointer Sisters to Sugar Pie DeSanto to the current crop of soul, hip hop and rock influenced musicians-there’s no denying that the Bay’s soul.

MoeSoul and Femi are two of the shining stars in a galaxy of talented but largely underground singers hitting up spoken word spots and jazz joints around the area. The Oakland divas to be have been putting in work for years, gigging from Jack London to Lagos and playing gigs with everyone from Les Nubian to Nelson Mandela.

MoeSoul is more of the straight ahead R&B singer. With sweet songs of lost loves, found loves and all the holdovers in between, she adds a moving soundtrack to the art getting busy. Femi’s music is a bit harder and belies her African and Puerto Rican heritage as she blends soul and hip hop with hints of salsa and rock-a little bit Mary J Blige rolled in with a little Tribe Called Quest and Celia Cruz.

Catch both singers performing with a live band tonight as part of Maxwell’s R&B Friday’s series. Proof that the funky legacy continues.

R & B Fridays w/MoeSoul and Femi
$10 presale, $15 at the door
9pm
Maxwell’s Restaurant & Lounge
341 13th Street, Oakland
(510)839-6169
www.maxwellslounge.com

Through 2/16 Creative Reuse Art Print Sale

More proof that one man’s trash can be another man’s rare artistic find. Continuing it’s efforts to modernize it’s resources, the U.C. Berkeley Art History Department recently digitized over 32,000 professionally mounted prints that had been used for classroom education and exercises.

The images include color and black & white reproductions of paintings, photographs, and architectural studies including work from the Italian Renaissance, Spanish art, Japanese paintings, Chinese sculpture, Greek architecture, Southeast Asian art, male and female nudes, photography by Ansel Adams and architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The department has donated the professionally mounted archval prints to the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, where they’ll be on sale for the low low price of $1 each throughFebruary 16. Get ‘em while they last. -kwan

Art History Print Sale
Free
East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse
4695 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
510-547-6535
www.east-bay-depot.org

1-25-08 Novoscene Weekend

-Mia Zuniga

The official weather forecast for the weekend predicts lots of rain and cold throughout early next week. It’s a damned shame because the Novometro events forecast for the weekend predicts lots of gems for those brave enough to battle the winter weather. Cool jazz, soulful R&B, white hot shopping and some thought provoking cinema are in store for those who can resist the call of the comfy cozy couch. -kwan

1/17-1/19 Hot Couture – A Fusion of Fashion and Fire

The Crucible is like that one little cousin you had when you were young that was always setting shit on fire. Every time you turned around-lighter in hand, I didn’t do it expression on face, flames everywhere. I guess one man’s trash is another man’s kindling. But it helps that the shit they set on fire is pretty damned cool and that you probably won’t get in trouble if you’re mom walks in and finds the place ablaze.

Continuing there mission to bring industrial art hotness to the masses, the Crucible’s latest heaping helping of smoldering performance art celebrates the nonprofit’s 9 year anniversary. The Hot Couture fashion show runs from tonight through Sunday and features over 20 of the Bay’s hottest (you knew that was coming) up and coming designers. including KAYO, miss velvet cream, Fluidance, Alexandria Von Bromssen, Super Sugar Ray Ray and Miranda Caroligne.

The show begins with Community Night and discounted admissions tonight and continues through Saturday with a VIP gala featuring cellist Zoe Keating and contortionist Serchmaa Byamba.

Hot Couture - A Fusion of Fashion and Fire
1/17 - Preview & community night:$15
1/18 : $35 General Admission, $30 Crucible Members, $40 at the door
1/19 - VIP gala $125 in advance, $100 Crucible Members, $150 at the door
7pm
The Crucible
1260 Seventh Street, Oakland
www.thecrucible.org

12-15 Novoscene Weekend

Saturday, Dec. 15

 

The Crucible Presents A Gifty Holiday Celebration and Art Sale

Looking for the last minute out of the ordinary gift ideas? Something that’ll stand out from all the techie bling and fruitcakes? Well it might be a good idea to roll over to the Crucible for their annual “Gifty Holiday Art Sale”, one of the more unusual holiday shopping extravaganzas in the area.

Expect Santa to roll in in typical style accompanied by giant elves and “flamedeer,” to preside over the tables of blown glass, jewelry, sculpture, clothing, and ceramics from over 50 Bay Area artisans including Carla Hall, Kristy Alfieri and April Zilber.

Crucible staffers will be on hand demonstrating the various classes offered at the West Oakland fire arts center. Participants from the Crucible’s Bike Frame

Alteration program will be showing off their creations as will artist-in-residence Githinji Wa Mibre.

12-7-07 Novoscene Weekend

It’s here!! The OakBook Party!!! Tonight!!!

There’s lot’s of other cool stuff in the calendar too, but…

THE OAKBOOK MAGAZINE IS HERE AND THE PARTY’S TONIGHT!!

See you there.

-kwan

11/23 Novoscene Weekend

I know it’s Black Friday and you’re all pooped from shopping and stuffing yourselves with stuffing. Well get those keisters back in gear dammit! There’s goin’ out to do! Tonight stop by the AK Press warehouse and hear one our foremost US policy critics get critical, then hop to Berkeley to find out why everything you’ve brought today is wrong. Saturday is a bit more cheerful with spoken word and community celebrations before Sunday comes round with a great reason for all you writers to get out from behind your desks for a few hours. A great way to work off those holiday pounds…

-kwan

Photos-First Fridays at Oakland Museum

First Fridays over at the Oakland Museum have been kicking up the heat quite a bit for the last few months. Between last weeks screening of Bay Area graffiti doc Piece by Piece, a night market sponsored by Feria Urbana, a lecture by historian Cecil Brown and funky jazz from Ric Alexander and company, there was a little something for everyone. Reps say they’re working on bringing a new, younger audience into the museum and promise more surprises in the upcoming months. Check the pics.

-kwan

Block Party in Old Oakland Today

If you want get the weekend off to an early start, hit Old Oakland Thursday evening. The restaurants in the area are hosting a block party. The highlights: an outdoor bar and Fito Reinoso’s 10-piece Cuban band. Get a drink, do some salsa, and enjoy the moonlit night.

The party, which is at 9th and Washington, begins at 5.30 pm. The band stops playing at 9 pm, which doesn’t necessarily mean that the party must end. You can then show your support for one of the places that made the party happen – go get dinner or drinks at B, Tamarindo (my personal favorite), Levende East, or Air Lounge.

And if you’re in the market for a new pair of jeans, you might want to stop by Drift, Old Oakland’s denim store. It’s open until 9 pm today – and yes, they’ll be serving wine with custom fittings.

For the shopping party of the weekend, please see Party with Cari – Priyanka

Party with Cari

Cari Borja, the Oakland designer and maker of all things beautiful and (often) frilly, has finally opened her own store, and she’s inviting everyone to her grand opening party. It’s this Saturday, September 29. If you can’t make it, you can stop by her pre-party sample sales on Thursday and Friday. Special note to all shopaholics: She’s got a sale on jackets, dresses, and other outfits for women, and on kids’ wear.

The party starts at 7 pm Saturday, and you can try on clothes and eat, drink, and mingle, mingle, mingle until 10 pm. The pre-party affairs will run from 11 am to 5 pm Thursday , September 27th and Friday, September 28th.

The address of her new store, which is the venue of her party: 2117 4th Street, studio B (between Addison and Allston Way) in Berkeley

If you miss these events, and really, really want to see her stuff, give her a call at (510) 981-0067, or swing by her studio between 11 am and 5 pm on any Thursday or Friday. The other three days of the week, she’s still going to be sewing away at home in West Oakland. – Priyanka