Tonight: Big Fish in Jack London Square

It’s a free movie night at Jack London Square.

The movie is Big Fish, and it isn’t really about a fish. Directed by Tim Burton, it features Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, and Jessica Lange.

An Oakland trivia quiz, where you can win all kinds of prizes, precedes the movie.

7.30 p.m. onwards on the lawn near Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon

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Tomorrow: Artists Against the Prison Industrial Complex

Head over to the Eastside Cultural Center tomorrow for a reception and discussion with Critical Resistance and Justseeds, a co operative of artists from the U.S., Canada and Mexico about culture and media. The aim is “to dismantle, change, and build towards a world without prisons.”

The event will feature Critical Resistance’s new book Abolition Now!, which documents their work over the past ten years, and an accompanying exhibit put together by Justseeds, “Voices from the Outside.”

The exhibit will run until August 15.  For more info on the project visit the Center for Political Education
Questions about the reception and exhibit:  510.533.6629

Free
Tuesday, August 4, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
EastSide Cultural Center
2277 International Blvd   Oakland

7/31 Back Up! film explores sexual harrassment and lame pickup lines

Hey Baby…Hey Sexy..Wit’ yo fine self…Come ‘er girl…Damn, can I get summa that?

Um, just for the record, “Damn, can I get summa that?” is never a good introduction.

Unfortunately, fimmakers Nijlan Mu’min and Monique Hazeur, along with, well, just about every other woman on the planet, knows about this kind of on the street harassment pretty damn well.

Whether it’s lame and overbearing pick up lines or wandering hands that may border on physical assault, the average women walking down the street minding her own damned business has to deal with an extraordinaire amount of bull caca. Mum’in and Hazeur’s new documentary, Back Up! concrete diaries, screening tonight at the Eastside Arts Alliance, explores the different ways that women are speaking out and redefining their own personal and public spaces.

Book reading at Diesel

Janelle Orsi and Emily Doskow: the Sharing Solution: Save Money, Simplify Your Life and Build Community

Diesel, A Bookstore
Wednesday, July 29 at 7:00pm
5433 College Avenue (Rockridge neighborhood)
Oakland, CA
diesel.booksense.com

For more on the Sharing Solution, click here.

Tonight: LAVA at JACK LONDON SQUARE

Want to do something mellow tonight — to celebrate getting through another Monday?

Hit Jack London Square to listen to the Latin band, LAVA  – and they’re a lot of fun to listen to, especially if you enjoy popular crossover Spanish hits.. Check out their music at lavamusicrocks.com

And as Lava performs covers of hits by Santana, Poncho Sanchez, Hugh Masakala and others, there’s always the option of playing some board games like chess or checkers..

LAVA
Jack London Square (near Scott’s and Il Pescatore restaurants)
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tonight: Black Science Fiction and Frida

Thursday, July 16

Brother from Another Planet

Third Root Productions (W. Kamau Bell Curve) in collaboration with The Loft Project (New Life, The Diva & the Dj) present Third Root Art House Film Series — Black Science Fiction: The Afrofuture is Now!

The film series is on the third Thursday of the month in June, July and August at Golden Bridge Lofts in downtown Oakland.

Tonight: July 16 – Brother from Another Planet, 1984, directed by John Sayles, starring Joe Morton

8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Golden Bridge Lofts, 330 13th Street

The Many Faces of Frida

31 artists come together tonight to celebrate the legacy of Frida Kahlo. Curated by Rachel-Anne Palacios, juried by Las Tres Flores, Di Anne Love and Julie Rosenberg, this is a show of artwork that represents an aspect, a tradition or a connection to Frida’s life. Participating artists include Rachel-Anne Palacios, Dania Elisai, Gonzalez Gutierrez, Joaquin Newman, Kim Lynh Engebretson, Alexandra Palos, Margo Rivera-Weiss, Mary Jo Mishork and the 5th grade students from St. Jerome Elementary, and Rick Moreno.

There will be a short ceremony in honor of Frida, and drinks/eats will be served. The afterparty following the reception is at Somar bar, 1727 Telegraph. somarbar.com/

Tomorrow: Fire at the Festival

The Crucible is probably just being modest. It claims that it’s annual Fire Arts Festival boasts the largest collection of outdoor fire sculpture on the West Coast. We’d be willing to wager theCrucible has the largest collection of outdoor fire sculpture anywhere. Sate your pyrophilia at this year’s Fire Arts Festival. The fire eating and fire dancing starts Wednesday night at new, bigger West Oakland location where the performers won’t have to worry so much about singeing the audience. Tickets for the first night costs adults $35 and increases by $5 increments for each night until the big burn on Saturday. You can get tickets at the Crucible Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., or on-site at the festival – 7 p.m. -11:30 p.m. (510) 444-0919 X122

Tonight: Free movie in Jack London Square

Tonight, head over to Jack London Square for another free movie on the waterfront. In keeping with the “water” theme, it’s the 1989 thriller from Phillip Noyce, Dead Calm, starring Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane, and Sam Neill.

This movie, with its murder and kidnapping plot, isn’t exactly a family movie. So you’ll have to leave the little ones at home. The rest of you, get your picnic blankets and come on down to the east lawn on the waterfront.

The movie starts at 8. But the fun starts earlier. There will be music and a trivia contest. If your Oakland I.Q.’s high enough, you could win some yummy prizes. If you sent in a question, you could hear it in the OakBook Oakland Trivia quiz tonight. Come and play to win.

WHAT: Movie night – Dead Calm
WHERE: Jack London Square, in the lawn near Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon
WHEN: Thursday, July 9. 7.30. p.m. onwards.

Food, fun and a free movie on the waterfront. This week, it’s the Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane and Sam Neill thriller.

Tonight, head over to Jack London Square for another free movie on the waterfront. In keeping with the “water” theme, it’s the 1989 thriller from Phillip Noyce, Dead Calm, starring Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane, and Sam Neill. This movie, with its murder and kidnapping plot, isn’t exactly a family movie. So you’ll have to leave the little ones at home. The rest of you, get your picnic blankets and come on down to the east lawn on the waterfront. The movie starts at 8. But the fun starts earlier. There will be music and a trivia contest. If your Oakland I.Q.’s high enough, you could win some yummy prizes. If you sent in a question, you could hear it in the OakBook Oakland Trivia quiz tonight. Come and play to win. WHAT: Movie night – Dead Calm WHERE: Jack London Square, in the lawn near Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon WHEN: Thursday, July 9. 7.30. p.m. onwards.

6/7 Michael Jackson Memorial tonight

Anyone in the Bay Area looking for some Michael Jackson communion tonight should head over to the Black Dot Cafe,

1195 Pine st in West Oakland from 7pm-10pm. Folks will be reading memorials, poems, playing music (bring your axe) and watching the CNN memorial. call 510-594-4340 for more info.

6/26 O-Scene Weekend

Tributes to the King of Pop, Pride events, and following in the steps of the governor of South Carolina, amonst many other events in the O-Town.

Friday, June 26

Michael Jackson Tribute + Northern Soul
It’s the day after the King of Pop died. Mourn his loss and celebrate his music with other fans at the Ruby Room. Supersonic Soul and Michael Jackson will play all night long — until 2 a.m., that is.

Michael Jackson Tribute + Northern Soul
Free
10 p.m. onwards
The Ruby Room, 132 14th Street; 510-444-7224

Dancing Under the Stars, Argentine Tango Night
Dinner and a dance, anyone? This would seem like it were an event in honor of the governor of South Carolina. Come to Jack London Square tonight to learn the Argentine Tango from the instructors at Linden Dance Studio. The dance is sensual, beautiful, and not as hard as it seems. Try it. It’s free.

Dancing Under the Stars, Argentine Tango Night
Free
8.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Foot of Broadway in Jack London Square (Broadway at Water Street)

Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band

Poncho Sanchez has been hailed as the leader of one of the most popular Latin jazz groups in the world. If you haven’t heard their music before, hear this ensemble’s incredible sound by clicking here. And if like it, go hear him at Yoshi’s tonight.

Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band
June 26-June 28
Friday – Saturday
8 p.m. & 10 p.m. $24
Sunday 2 p.m. – sold out
Sunday 7 p.m. $24

Saturday

The Vibe Pride Party

It’s been 40 years since Stonewall and a year since the Vibe opened in Uptown. Celebrate Pride in The Town Saturday night at the Vibe’s White Party. Joe Hawkins, the owner of Club Rimshot and the Grand Marshall of Sunday’s SF Pride Parade will be there for cocktail appetizers and reception from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Then DJ Dedan, DJ Rum will be spinning and The Mighty High Dreamers drill team will perform.

The Vibe Pride Party
The Vibe, 2272 Telegraph Ave
(510) 451-8423

Pride ’09

Our correspondents tell us that the parties at Velvet are getting hotter with each passing week. The Laurel bar is celebrating Pride with parties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday, it’s Candy, Saturday, it’s DJ Luna and the Butterfly Lounge and Sunday, it’s the All Star Pride.

Pride ’09
$10

Friday and Saturday: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday: 6 p.m. to midnight

Velvet, 3411 MacArthur Boulevard

510-531-3321

Sunday, June 28

Kambale Musavuli
Before it became infamous for out of control kleptocracy and then utter social breakdown, Congo was the birthplace of Africa’s finest electrified 20th century music. When you think of Congo don’t think of child soldiers with painted nails, think of Tabu Ley Rochereau the king of soukous and the composer of the peerless 14-minute masterpiece, Sarah.

On Sunday, the Humanist Hall hosts Kambale Musavuli from Friends of the Congo for a free afternoon of Congolese music, dance, and food. To be sure, there’ll be talk about the current situation in Congo, but the music is irrepressible.

Kambale Musavuli

Free

2 p.m – 4:30 p.m

Location:

Humanist Hall, 390 27th St.

Meeting Barack’s Teachers

Remember how the Republicans made nasty cracks about community organizers right up until the Community Organizer-in-Chief kicked their asses back to Alaska and Arizona in November?

Well, the community organizers who 25 years ago taught President Obama the art he put to such fine use last year will be speaking at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral Sunday afternoon. Greg Galluzzo, Jerry Kellman, and Mike Kruglik will talk about their time with Obama as well as “how community organizing is creating powerful community leaders who will transform the Bay Area.”

Greg Galluzzo, Jerry Kellman, and Mike Kruglik

4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 4700 Lincoln Ave.