This is the Oakland blog for people living out loud. True to the Oakbook philosophy, we’ll tell you where to go, what to do, and what’s really going down in the town and around the Bay. From parties to films, peace protests to flag football, if there's a there there, we'll blog it.
Invite us to things. We're great at parties.
If you've got events, photos, videos, announcements or general news on all the happenings in the Bay, send 'em over to Kwan Booth at kwan (at) theoakbook.com. And don't be afraid to leave a comment. Don't be shy...come over and talk to us. You just might get lucky!
With only a few weeks to go til the National Poetry Slam, teams from all over the area have been fine tuning poems, sharpening their stage routines and getting their lyrical shit tight in the hopes of bringing another national title home to the Bay. For the last few weeks they’ve been slamming n spitting and writing n fighting all over, and since poetry don’t come cheap these days (or more precisely the plane tickets, hotels and registration fees needed to travel to Salt Lake City to perform said poetry) they’ve also been doing lots of fund raising.
And tonight’s Multi Voice Slam is another chance to support the cause. Teams of two or more poets have adapted work to be performed by the multivoiced groups with usually hilarious/insightful results-two/three/four times the poetry in the same 3 minute time slot! Tonight’s event is free but donations accepted and encouraged. Help get our kids to Salt Lake.-kwan
Nelson Mandela turns the big 9-0 tomorrow, and to celebrate the B-day of the historic South African freedom fighter, Ashkenaz is hosting a special performance by freedom song choir, Vukani Mawethu.
“Vukani Mawethu was formed in 1986 for a concert at Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall organized by the late South African singer and freedom fighter James Madhlope Phillips. Since then it has performed at festivals, concert halls and rallies for an array of social causes, using music to uplift spirits and move the struggle forward. The nonprofit, multiracial choir sings the freedom songs of Southern Africa, primarily of South Africa, in Zulu, Xhosa, Sethu, and English, and also gospel, spirituals, labor, and civil rights songs linking peoples in the U.S., South Africa, and around the world. The choir continues to sing out against racism and injustice whenever and wherever possible - from small AIDS rallies to homeless shelters and prisons, and throughout the cities and townships of South Africa on a dynamic cultural tour in 1997. Proceeds from concerts go to support a return trip to South Africa and to help ongoing AIDS work in that country.” Read the rest of this entry »
By most accounts, Annie Hall and Manhattan are Woody Allen’s best movies (although to be honest, I think Celebrity and Sweet and Lowdown are tops). The flicks catch Allen at the height of his mature neuroticism, after the slapstick of What’s Up Tiger Lily and before the “just a little too dry” newer stuff like Cassandra’s Dream. Both screen tonight as part of BAM/PFA’s 90 year anniversary tribute to United Artist Films. Check ‘em out. Cuz anxiety, depression and angst of this magnitude deserves to be seen on the big screen at least once.-kwan
Annie Hall’s Best scenes: (Best Line “We’ll kiss now, we’ll get it over with then we’ll go eat, we’ll digest our food better.”)
If you’re just bursting at the seams to see some top notch athleticism and can’t wait ’til this Summer’s Olympics, or if you’ve just got a gaggle of kids running around with nothing to do over the next 4 days, then the 42nd Annual US Youth Games have the cure for what ails ya.
From now through Saturday, hundreds of the country’s best young athletes will be descending on the city for a full palate of muscle stretching, brain bending competition. Teens ranging from 13-15 will be participating, Olympic style, in tons of competitions including Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Swimming, Track and Field, Bowling, Golf, Double Dutch Jump Rope, Chess and Academics. The games also feature alternative Boating and Table Tennis exhibitions for the kiddies.
Things kick off tonight with the Opening Ceremonies over at Woodminster Amphitheater and continue at various locals around the city starting tomorrow. Get the full schedule over at the event website, then get out and support the next generation of US Olympians.-kwanRead the rest of this entry »
So if you believe what scientists say and not the holy word from those kinda creepy creationists, all human life originated in Africa. So by grand extension that means we’re all African, right? So with this little nugget of cultural origin tucked under your arm, everyone should celebrate their heritage at Oakland’s official African Diaspora Arts and Culture Day. Started last year by local arts organization Caribelinq and officially sanctioned by da Dellums for July 17, the celebration actually runs for the next 3 days, cuz let’s be honest, Africa has a lot of culture.
Things kick off tonight at Air Lounge with a special poetry and spoken word extravaganza featuring poets from Hot Water Cornbread, music by Hairdoo and a dance performances by Traci Bartlow & The Beautiful One. Tomorrow afternoon there’s a free artist reception and shindig hosted by da Dellums down in Frank Ogawa Plaza featuring culinary and cultural presentations from throughout the African diaspora. Then Friday’s big finale is a free screening of the bad ass concert doc “Wattstax” down at the Black New World, hosted by Oakland Film Society’s David Roach and Caribelinq’s Theo Williams. That’s 3 chances to get in touch with your inner African. Don’t miss out-KwanRead the rest of this entry »
Tonight’s the second to last installment of the Temescal Street Cinema, so get over to the Bank of the West Building on Telegraph before all the fun’s gone. The featured film tonight is Runner’s High, a 2006 doc about a team of East Oakland runners who overcome some pretty daunting obstacles on the way to competing in the LA Marathon. Head over to Rowan Morrison Gallery before hand for a free drawing party then join the bike caravan over to the film.-kwan
If there’s anywhere in the country that can appreciate a good ol’ alternative family, better believe the Bay’s the spot. Two moms, two dads, shared parenting, single parenting, interracial relationships, poly relationships and just about any permutation and identification of “family” you can think of probably has a home here, and more than likely a thriving support network.
So taken in that context, Mary F. Pols’ story isn’t that out of the ordinary. But on a purely practical doody, diapers and baby formula level, it’s understandably daunting: Single, childless film critic knocking on 40’s door, looking forward to a family but not interested in going the baby momma route, meets young hot guy, screws young hot guy, then finds out she’s on her way to becoming a not quite young, but still pretty hot single mom (insert appropriately timed “Aw fuck” here). In her book “Accidentally on Purpose: A One-Night Stand, My Unplanned Parenthood, and Loving the Best Mistake I Ever Made” the Contra Costa Times writer details the ups and downs of shared parenting, generational differences (the father’s 10 years her junior) and juggling an out of the ordinary family life. She’s reading at a Great Good Place For Books tonight, and I’m sure she’d be willing to listen to any parenting tips you might want to toss her way.-kwanRead the rest of this entry »
Ever been to a hoe down? I mean a real hippified, jug band, backyard, bare foot, dust kickin’ kinda hoedown? Well, being from Virginia and having been fortunate (?) enough to get hitched to the String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Hot Buttered Rum Band set for a while, I’ve been known to get my feet dusty on occasion. And you can too, (granted, without the actual dust) as Ashkenaz hosts a show by Oakland roots and “Soul Tub” band The California Honeydrops.
While young in years the Drops are old in influence. Versed in varying types of American Roots Music (that catchall category encompassing Blues, Bluegrass, Ragtime, Gospel, Jug Band and music originating in rural Southern and Midwestern communities) the quartet of Lech Wierzynski, Nansamba Ssensalo, Chris Burns and Ben Malament play everything but the kitchen sink as they run through bluesy numbers and dance floor friendly interpretations of classic work by Big Bill Broonzy, Rae Charles, The Soul Stirrers and a long list of other acoustic artists that are being pushed more and more into obscurity with each digitally enhanced day.
Check them out tonight as they put a new hand clapping, foot stomping twist on some old classics. Some sweet southern licks right here in Bay. Bare feet optional.-KwanRead the rest of this entry »
Alright, I was all set to suggest a quiet night of classical tunes ‘n flutes when I remembered this show, and I could not, in good conscious, not blog about it. The house head and former raver boy in me just would not let it pass. I’m already flashing back to the shiny pants and glowsticks days…
Italian production duo Crookers (named for the way they remix songs all sideways and crooked) have been crafting a kind of jittery, spastic club music for the last 5 years. They’ve got a fresh approach to remixing that still borrows a lot of the PLURry feeling from the old school large scale warehouse parties. A crisp mix of electro, hip hop, Baltimore Club and house, their remixes are a party DJ’s fall back bangers armed with the ability to get any dancefloor jumping-unless of course, you’re no friend of the bleepy, the bloopy or the techy. If that’s the case then you should really stay far away from Vessel in San Francisco tonight. I’m sure you’ll be able to feel the electro love for blocks.
But for the initiated, Crookers remixes of songs like We Are All Prostitutes and Kid Cudi’s Day ‘n Night unleash a bit of bass filled fever in our heads that just wont’ be cured by more cowbell. Unless it’s looped under a vocal track, synthesized and tracked to a 4/4 rhythm. It’s hump day people, the perfect night to get a little Crooked. -kwanRead the rest of this entry »
It’s time again for Mix It Up, the monthly meet ‘n drink get together for young and young at heart activists, artists and organizers in the East Bay. Often firmly entrenched in some social justice campaign or another, Mix It Up offers a much needed chance for organizers to step away from the policy debates and funding crises and kick back with some fellow do gooders (and is it me, or is the activist set just full of hotties?). The night usually starts off with a short presentation and discussion-tonight the topic is “Public Art: Essential for a Vibrant City”- followed by all out networking, imbibing and revelry. Green, eco friendly, sustainable revelry, of course. Take a brake from saving the world for a few hours and have a beer. The world will thank you for it later.-kwanRead the rest of this entry »
With only a few weeks to go til the National Poetry Slam, teams from all over the area have been fine tuning poems, sharpening their stage routines and getting their lyrical shit tight in the hopes of bringing another national title home to the Bay. For the last few weeks they’ve been slamming n spitting and writing n fighting all over, and since poetry don’t come cheap these days (or more precisely the plane tickets, hotels and registration fees needed to travel to Salt Lake City to perform said poetry) they’ve also been doing lots of fund raising.
Nelson Mandela turns the big 9-0 tomorrow, and to celebrate the B-day of the historic South African freedom fighter, Ashkenaz is hosting a special performance by freedom song choir, Vukani Mawethu.
If you’re just bursting at the seams to see some top notch athleticism and can’t wait ’til this Summer’s 
So if you believe what scientists say and not the holy word from those kinda creepy creationists, all human life originated in Africa. So by grand extension that means we’re all African, right? So with this little nugget of cultural origin tucked under your arm, everyone should celebrate their heritage at Oakland’s official African Diaspora Arts and Culture Day. Started last year by local arts organization Caribelinq and officially sanctioned by da Dellums for July 17, the celebration actually runs for the next 3 days, cuz let’s be honest, Africa has a lot of culture.
If there’s anywhere in the country that can appreciate a good ol’ alternative family, better believe the Bay’s the spot. Two moms, two dads, shared parenting, single parenting, interracial relationships, poly relationships and just about any permutation and identification of “family” you can think of probably has a home here, and more than likely a thriving support network.
Ever been to a hoe down? I mean a real hippified, jug band, backyard, bare foot, dust kickin’ kinda hoedown? Well, being from Virginia and having been fortunate (?) enough to get hitched to the String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Hot Buttered Rum Band set for a while, I’ve been known to get my feet dusty on occasion. And you can too, (granted, without the actual dust) as Ashkenaz hosts a show by Oakland roots and “Soul Tub” band 
