The Oakland Weekend

A Contemplative Angel on the Crocker Tomb (Photo Mountain View Cemetery)

Friday

King Kong
It’s been remade twice in the last 75 years, and both versions failed to match the original RKO masterpiece of 1933. See King Kong the way the great ape was meant to be seen, on a huge screen in one of the nation’s great Art Deco film palaces. Watch Kong swat biplanes from atop the Empire State Building at the Paramount Theatre Friday night. The doors open at 7 pm.

What: King Kong
When: Friday, July 9, Movie Starts at 8 pm, Mighty Wurlitzer at 7:30 pm
Where: Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway
How Much: $5

Hairspray
The Woodminster Summer Musical series opens with Hairspray. Woodminster favorite Greg Carlson takes his first turn in drag as Edna Turnblad in the musical based on John Waters’ 1988 film. As always, champagne will be served on opening night.

What: Hairspray at Woodminster Amphitheater
When: Friday, July 9, 8 pm
Where: Woodminster Amphitheater, Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road
How Much: $25-$45

The Princess Bride
Angry apes not your thing? What about The Princess Bride, The sweetly goofy fairytale beloved by gentle nerds everywhere? See it for free at the Redwoods Heights Recreation Center.

What: Princess Bride
When: Friday, July 9, 8:15 pm – 10:15 pm
Where: Redwood Heights Rec Center, 3883 Aliso Avenue
How Much: Free

Sun Ceremony
Here’s the pitch: Come to drum and stare at the sun. Oakland-based artist David Wilson in collaboration with artist Chris Duncan, opens the Berkeley Art Museum to a “fully participation-based drum and light orchestration” Friday evening. There will be “light projections and visual guidance from Jeffrey Manson (Misto Reef Lights), a Chladni singing performance by Meara O’Reilly (Avocet), and SUN choir.”

What: L@TE: Friday Nights
When: Friday, July 9, Doors open at 6, Ceremony starts at 7:30 pm
Where: Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way
How Much: $5, free for members and UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff

Some Kinda
Dwele blends neo-soul, hip-hop, and jazz the way few musicians can. The sly musician and songwriter will be at Yoshi’s in Jack London Square all weekend. His new album is called “Some Kinda,” which gets it just about right.

What: Dwele at Yoshi’s Oakland
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, July 9, 10 & 11, 8 pm – 10 pm, 7 pm – 9 pm Sunday
Where: Yoshi’s. 510 Embarcadero West
How Much: $28

Saturday

Walking Tour of Mountain View Cemetery
One of the loveliest spots in our city is Mountain View Cemetery. It’s also fairly described as “California’s most historic” boneyard. Meet some of the legendary figures from our state’s past who made this corner of the Oakland Hills their last home on a walking tour sponsored by the Oakland Heritage Alliance. Barbara Smith and Michael Crowe are the tour leaders.

What: Walking Tour of Mountain View Cemetery
When: Saturday, July 10, 10 am – 12:30 pm
Where: Meet at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue
How Much: $15, $10 OHA members

Comics and Islam
G. Willow Wilson is an American author who lived in Cairo for four years. When she was there,  she met her husband and converted to Islam. She also wrote the graphic novel “Cairo.” Wilson will be at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California Saturday night to talk about her new book, “The Butterfly Mosque.”

What: G. Willow Wilson
When: Saturday, July 10, 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Where: Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison Street
How Much: $7, $5 for students

Sunday

Rowing Races on Lake Merritt
For the second year in a row the Lake Merritt Rowing Club is hosting the United States Rowing Association’s SW Masters Regionals on Lake Merritt. More than 800 rowers are expected to be racing 1,000 meter sprints. There is excellent viewing along Lakeshore Avenue, at the City Sailboat House, as well as the grounds near the remodeled Lake Merritt Boathouse on Lakeside Drive (the start line). Or have a drink at Lake Chalet while watching the races.

What: Rowing Club Hosts USRA Masters Regionals
When: Sunday, July 11, 7:30 am – 5 pm
Where: Lake Merritt
How Much: Free 

Justa Space Queen
We’re excited about our next show at Art@TheOakBook. Two women artists who have been inspired by the cannabis movement have joined forces to install “Justa Space Queen” at our Jack London Square location. Come to the opening to see the work ofMonika Lea Jones and Smokie of Guns and Brushes.

What: Justa Space Queen
When: Sunday, July 11, 12 pm – 3 pm
Where: Art@TheOakBook, 423 Water Street
How Much: Free

The Marathon Weekend

Yes. This is the weekend of the Oakland Running Festival, and 26 miles can take a lot out of a body, but whether your running or rooting, you’ll still have time to enjoy other Oakland offerings. Exercise your mind with a music talk on Sunday, or swap plants with neighbors on  Saturday. There’s even still time to get tickets for Natalie Cole’s late shows at Yoshi’s.

Friday, March 26

A Clockwork Orange

C’mon Droogs, pop on over to the Piedmont sinny for one of the great dystopian films of the Cold War from a master of dystopian Cold War films. On Friday, the Piedmont Theatre has a midnight showing of Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. The Park Avenue Bar and Grill across the street is offering themed drinks for only $5. Now that’s not much golly.

Friday, March 26, 11:45 p.m.
Piedmont Theatre, 4186 Piedmont Avenue
$8

Oso

Call him Bear. Oso, a rocker rolling over the genres borders, will be at Flux 53 Friday night. His music is described as “technical folk” and “math-rock.” His influences range from the Beatles and Bob Dylan to Dredge and Radiohead.

Friday, March 26, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Flux 53, 5306 Foothill Boulevard
$10

Natalie Cole

She’s a winner. She’s a fighter. She’s a great jazz singer.  Natalie Cole owns nine Grammy awards and has battled drug addiction and illness. The gifted daughter of Nat King Cole comes to Yoshi’s for three nights starting on Friday. Not surprisingly, the first shows are all sold out, but there’s still tickets available for the late shows.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 26, 27, and 28, 10 p.m., 10 p.m., and 9 p.m.
Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero
$75

Saturday, March 27

Saturday is the day when people are planning to turn off non-essential lights at 8.30 p.m. for Earth Hour. For more, go to myearthhour.org/

Soweto Gospel Choir

Known as much for their performances of traditional South African songs as their interpretations of American gospel music, and even American folk, the Soweto Gospel Choir has inspired and surprised audiences all over the world since forming eight years ago. Fans of Wall-E will recall that the Soweto Gospel Choir were featured on that movie’s theme song, “Down to Earth.” The Soweto Gospel Choir comes to the Paramount Theatre Saturday night. The New York Times said the choir “has a cornucopia of remarkable voices: sharp, sweet, kindly, raspy and incantatory leads above a magnificently velvety blend the music is both meticulous and unstoppable.”

Saturday, March 27, 8 p.m.
2025 Broadway
$25 – $65

West O Bike Tour

West Oakland has a rich past, but it’s not the sort of history that’s easily gleaned from behind a car or bus window. Bikes4life a non-profit committed to making West O greener by promoting bike riding is hosting a history ride Saturday afternoon. Interested riders should meet at the B4L HQ near the West Oakland Bart Station.

Saturday, March 27 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Seventh Street and Peralta
Free

Jazz Artists in the Concert Hall

Join composers Rebeca Mauleón, Benedikt Brydern, Scott Amendola, and moderator John Kendall Bailey to discuss “the history of jazz composers making the transition to the concert hall, including Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Darius Milhaud.”

“Topics will include American cultural history and the stratification of popular vs. classical culture that began in the 19th century, and the split that occurred at the turn of the century.”

The Oakland East Bay Symphony is presenting the talk, which will be introduced by Michael Morgan.

Saturday, March 27, 3 p.m.
200 Grand Avenue
Free

Plant Exchange

It’s a neighborly way to cull your garden, get new plants, and meet other green thumbs. On Saturday afternoon, there will be a free neighborhood plant exchange on Lakeshore. The organizers say that all types and sizes of healthy plants are welcome (so are gardening accessories, tools and supplies). You don’t even have to repot your donations. Just stick ‘em in a bag and bring ‘em over.

Saturday, March 27 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
3811 Lakeshore
Free

Sunday, March 28

The Oakland Running Festival

This is the big day that local runners have been waiting for — when Oakland hosts its first marathon in 25 years. While the event kicks off with a twilight race around Lake Merritt on Saturday evening at 6.30 p.m., the big events — a kids’ race, a relay race, a half marathon and the marathon — are all on Sunday and all go through Oakland. There’s still time to register. If you’d just like to take your chairs and sit along the route to cheer the runners, make sure you do so early. And after the runners have gone past you, think about visiting your favorite restaurant, store or art gallery. Everyone’s got specials going to celebrate the running festival. For more on the marathon, please go to oaklandmarathon.com

At our gallery, art@theOakBook in Jack London Square, watch artists Savanna Snow and Michael Eli sketch. You’ll find it fun, and perhaps even inspiring. They’re very, very good. 423 Water Street – inside Jack London Square, 11.30 onwards

The Ellington

The downtown condos of the housing boom years still exert a mysterious pull: Who lives in them, what do they look like inside, how much do they cost? On Sunday, the Ellington in Jack London Square unveils its “Club Level Residences” on floors 12 through 15, and is opening the doors to the public for a peek. Combine a visit to the Ellington with brunch at Miss Pearl’s Jam House, and art viewing at The OakBook gallery (423 Water Street).

Sunday, March 28, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
222 Broadway
Free