04/23: Your O-Scene Weekend

Art, fresh food, jazz, plants and gardens, clothing swaps, classical music, underground cinema and more to take in this Oakland weekend. FRIDAY, APRIL 23 Underground Cinema The Oakland Underground Film Festival gets underway Friday night in Jack London Square with a screening of “Everyday Black Man,” a feature film by Oakland’s own Carmen Madden. Even if the admission weren’t free, and there weren’t well-priced beer, booze, and food to enjoy instead of the usual $10 popcorn, Madden’s Oakland-grown movie would be worth checking out. Screening of Everyday Black Man, with the director in attendance Friday, April 23, 7.30 p.m. The Jack London Square Pavilion, 98 Broadway Free oakuff.org The Legacy of the Quran: The Beauty of Words The opening reception is Friday, April 23, from 7 to 9 pm. This exhibit features paintings, photographs, and calligraphy by 31 artists on the theme of nature and ecology. This is a diverse group, including both adults (21 artists) and children (eleven artists). This exhibit is the first attempt to unite the diverse Bay Area Muslim community around an art exhibit. The inclusion of children artists, along with works by professional artists, is a way to bring together both families and the nascent Bay Area Islamic arts community. The theme of Qur’anic teachings n nature appeals to contemporary interests in ecology and nature spirituality. Friday, 23 April, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California 1433 Madison Street, 510-219-2431, islamicartexhibit.com/ Free (donations accepted) Jazz Fest: Bay Area Musicians’ Healthcare Fundraiser This is a San Francisco event, but involves many musicians who call Oakland home. In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, trumpeter Eddie Gale and Friends present the second annual Jazz Fest Bay Area Musicians Self-Help Healthcare Fundraiser on Friday April 23 & Saturday April 24, featuring live performances, free workshops & instrument giveaways and free health screenings. Performing artists and legends include Donald Duck Bailey, Calvin Keys, John Handy, Valerie Mih and many more. The mission of the Jazz Musicians’ Healthcare Fundraising Project is for musicians to perform and raise money for healthcare while providing a model for upcoming musicians. Portions of the proceeds will be donated to the California Jazz Foundation for Musicians Healthcare. Friday, April 23, 8 p.m. onwards Saturday, April 24, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Velma’s, 2246 Jerrold Avenue in San Francisco Tickets available on line at brownpapertickets.com, $5 students/$10 general For more about the Jazz Fest visit eddiegale.com or call 408-395-6598 or 415-846-2426. SATURDAY, APRIL 24 People’s Grocery’s California Hotel Garden Plant Sale West Oakland’s food activists at the People’s Grocery are selling tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, Sea Kale, herbs, squash, cucumbers, and much more. They’ll have plants from City Slicker Farms, and a presentation by one of People’s Grocery’s cooking demonstrators. Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m – 3 p.m. 3501 San Pablo Avenue (in the back, around 35th and Chestnut) For more info, contact Max Cadji at max@peoplesgrocery.org Swap, Not Shop The highlight of this weekend is a West Oakland event that celebrates Earth Week as well as fashion. This Saturday, Homeygrown, a group of artists who create artwear from recycled, salvaged, and irregular material, will host Swap! Not Shop! Since 2006, Homeygrown has held two swaps a year, moving from an intimate ladies-only event to a co-ed, all-ages party. Swap-goers also have the opportunity for fashion design and customization. For example, if someone finds a dull t-shirt that needs a boost, $1 will slap on a custom hand-printed silkscreen design from a homey. For the party animals that stick around, clothes will keep coming, and a “Fugly Fashion Show” will encourage people to dig through the piles and model something that they wouldn’t be caught dead wearing otherwise. Leftover clothing will be donated to charity. Saturday, April 24, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Soundwave Studios, 2200 Wood Street Admission: $5 and a bag of clean clothes/shoes/accessories $1 drink donations For more info, call 510-206-8072 or email yo@homeygrown.org SUNDAY, APRIL 25 Lauda Jerusalem The advanced performing groups of the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir present great Early Music and Baroque works. Enjoy Carissimi’s great oratorio Jephthah, along with works by Michael Haydn, JS Bach, Henry Purcell, Nicola Porpora, Johann Adolph Haase, Antonio Vivaldi and WA Mozart. The choir will be accompanied on the period-accurate instruments of Jubilate Orchestra. Performing groups include Ensemble, Ancora, and the Alumni Choir, conducted by Artistic Director Robert Geary; Ecco, conducted by Clifton Massey; and Concert Choir, conducted by Andrew Brown. Sunday, 25 April, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison Street @ 27th $12 for children, $18 general admission, $25 premium reserve (Premium seats via advance purchase only) piedmontchoirs.org, 510-547-4441, presented by Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir 24th Annual Secret Gardens of the East Bay Tour Eleven of the finest gardens of the East Bay will open their gates the last weekend in April in a flourish of vibrant spring colors, with a focus on green. The 24th Annual Secret Gardens of the East Bay tour will be held, rain or shine, on Sunday. The self-guided tour, along with a companion program of gardening and design workshops, will benefit the academic and financial assistance programs at Park Day School in Oakland. Sunday, 25 April, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Park Day School, 360 42nd Street $45 Closing exhibition for Kaleidoscape WE Artspace will be holding a closing reception for Kaleidoscape, its first solo exhibition with works and an installation by artist Chris Vogel. Kaleidoscape is the visual exploration of dissected space and collaged geometric forms positioned in natural environments. This exhibit will on display until May 2. Sunday, April 25, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Opening Reception at WE Artspace: 768 40th Street, weartspace.com, (415) 297-8869 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Music by 9th Floor Radio.com Free