10/16: O-Scene’s Weekend Picks

Friday, October 16

Crabby Friday

This week, Lake Chalet debuts Crab Friday with whole steamed crabs for $24, a crab cocktail for $5 and happy hour on the dock and at all of the restaurants bars. Beers are $3, selected wines and cocktails are $5. The crab is all evening, but happy hour expires at 6 p.m.

4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
1520 Lakeside Drive
510-653-8660

Bench and Bar: Change of Venue

As if one needed any more evidence that Oakland’s Uptown district was jumping these days, the Bench and Bar is opening a new location in the site of the old @17th on Friday. Downtown’s venerable gay bar, and the host of the Mr. Gay Vaquero contest, will move to the new location, while the old spot will become Club 21. Stop by Friday night for their cross over party with a Live Performance by Lolene.
At Midnight, Bench and Bar @ 2111 Franklin Street will become Club 21. The official opening is October 22.

9 p.m. to 2 p.m.
bench-and-bar.com/

Saturday, October 17

Strange Beerfellows

File this event under Only in Oakland. The Rotary Club and Oaklandish (polar opposites on the hipness scale) are hosting a fundraiser at Linden Street Brewery. The afternoon will be an ideal time to try Linden Street’s two delicious brews: Urban People’s Lager and Burning Oak Black Lager. Star Meats made the brats. Ten bucks gets you a mug and two beers. The proceeds go to Bay Area Community Services and the Rotary Club’s community endowment.

12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Linden Street Brewery, 95 Linden Street

Plan for a Safer Oakland presents a community townhall

Saturday morning – head out to MetWest High School to meet the EastSide Arts Alliance staff and youth for a town hall meeting discussing safety. Meet other Oaklanders and local organizations and talk about Oakland’s future. There will be speakers, free food, child care & live performances.

Sponsored by Plan for a Safer Oakland; a community collaboration organized by All of Us or None and Critical Resistance. For more info: 510-444-4484

MetWest High School 314 E.10th Street
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Free

Black Panther Film Festival

Celebrate Black Panther month with a film festival at the Oakland Public Library. You can read about their events at the Chron’s In Oakland here.

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
West Oakland Branch, 1801 Adeline
Questions: Veronica Lee 510-238-7352

Oakland’s Diwali Celebration

As you might know, Oakland is an attractive destination for refugees looking to resettle. Recently, many Sri Lankan Tamils as well as refugees from Bhutan and Nepal have been finding their way to Oaktown. A non-profit called RMD Housing and Support Services is hosting a little Diwali celebration to make them all feel at home this Saturday evening. For those of you that do not know what Diwali is, it is the festival of lights, celebrated across parts of south Asia. It’s a Hindu festival, but is often celebrated as a secular holiday in the Indian subcontinent. So if you know someone who might enjoy a taste of Diwali festivities, spread the word.

October 17, 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
759 Barbara Road, Oakland
Free

Musical Monsters

Get out of the house to cheer the Monsters of Folk: Conor Oberst, Jim James, M Ward and Mike Mogis will perform for two and a half hours. You’ll hear new songs from the forthcoming album as well as music from Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket and M Ward.

Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph
8 p.m.
Tickets 39.50 to 45.50
thefoxoakland.com
monstersoffolk.com/

Sunday, October 18

Cedar Walton Performs

Pianist Cedar Walton has written popular tunes like Mosaic, Ugetsu and Bolivia used by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. He has been Abbey Lincoln’s accompanist and has made records with the likes of Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley.

From Yoshi’s website: “One of the most valued of all hard bop accompanists, Cedar Walton is a versatile pianist whose funky touch and cogent melodic sense has graced the recordings of many of jazz’s greatest players.”

Hear Cedar Walton this weekend at Yoshi’s, where he will be accompanied by Steve Nelson, Eric Alexander and others.

Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West
Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. shows $15;  10 p.m. shows $10
Sunday 2 p.m. kids matinee – $5 kids, $15 Adult
Sunday 7 p.m.  show $15
For tickets, go to the Yoshi’s website