What would you put in an Oakland scavenger hunt if you were hoping to stump a smart, enterprising new reporter?
Video
Oakland murals color the urban jungle
August 2, 2010 – 7:12 am
Hundreds of street murals brighten Oakland’s walls, painted by local artists, graffiti writers and collectives, like the Community Rejuvenation Project. Some are “bombed”, i.e. done without permission, on the fly, usually at night. Others are commissioned by private businesses and public institutions. This audio slideshow is a preview of some of them.
Girls learn empowerment through rock music
June 29, 2010 – 8:43 am
Bay Area Girls Rock Camp kicked off last week in downtown Oakland. Eighty girls, from ages 8 to 18, learned to play guitar, drums, synthesizer and sing. This is the third summer of Bay Area Girls Rock Camp, where attendees get to do more than just learn about music—they also go to screen printing classes where they design band logos and print them on t-shirts, take self-defense classes, participate in image and identity workshops, and learn about song writing and music her-story.
An endangered bird’s population is rebounding, but fragile, in Alameda County
June 3, 2010 – 8:52 am
It’s nesting time for the California Least Tern, an endangered species of bird that is beginning to make a recovery out on the Oakland mudflats and at the Alameda Air Station. But as development encroaches on their nesting grounds and their food supply remains uncertain, the birds’ comeback is anything but a sure thing.
Guerilla knitters “yarn bomb” sculpture on Oakland-Berkeley border
May 30, 2010 – 4:20 pm
The “HERE” and “THERE” sculptures on the Oakland-Berkeley border have become the site of a dispute between the City of Berkeley and an anonymous group of guerilla knitters, who have created a “T cozy” over part of the sculpture. On Sunday, the group held a “T party” to bring attention to their piece.
We don’t need no stinkin’ shoes! Barefoot running takes off
May 10, 2010 – 9:03 am
They say that running barefoot is like gardening naked in the backyard: it’s not for all seasons, and your neighbors will probably stare. But is this trend only for the serious runner, or is this an opportunity for the rest of us to kick our Nikes to the corner? Mary Flynn has the story.
Pedicab driver stays true to vision for a better Oakland
May 7, 2010 – 10:05 am
Ken Ott and his wife, Lulu Lin-Ott, are part of a generation of young Oaklanders who are trying to change one of the Bay Area’s most troubled and dangerous cities on their own terms. Lulu wants to sell organic ice cream; Ken wants to drive electric pedicabs.
Parents will bike to Sacramento to support Oakland schools
May 6, 2010 – 9:40 am
On May 8th, a group of public school parents and supportive community members will ride 100 miles from Claremont Middle School to Sacramento to demonstrate their commitment to public schools and petition the state legislature to restore funding for K-12 education.
Bakesale Betty’s Uptown is Open for Business
April 23, 2010 – 12:06 pm
The wait is over. The uptown location of Bakesale Betty’s, 2228 Broadway, Oakland, CA, started its soft opening Thursday at 7 a.m. Employees from area businesses were elated to have a favorite so close.
The soft opening will continue Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and next week from Wednesday through Friday. Plans for a [...]
At camp, ladies tap into inner rock stars
April 13, 2010 – 4:44 pm
For those women who always wanted to unleash their inner Patti Smith or Grace Slick, last weekend’s Ladies Rock Camp in downtown Oakland offered a weekend of concentrated rock.
Soggy biscotti: Oakland’s farmers markets brave the rain
April 3, 2010 – 5:16 pm
How’s the recent spate of bad weather effecting Oakland’s outdoor farmers markets? Take a trip to the Old Oakland Farmer’s Market with Patrick Kollman on a wet, windy day to find out.
2010 Oakland Running Festival brings the marathon back to the city
March 30, 2010 – 3:43 pm
6,500 runners from across the country joined Oakland residents in participating in the inaugural Oakland Running Festival on March 28, which included the city’s first marathon in 25 years. In this video, participants share their stories about why they run and what it was like to take part in the day.
Oakland neighborhood fights to save a house from foreclosure
March 29, 2010 – 9:52 am
After months of failed negotiations, Fruitvale resident D’Weena Coleman feared she’d be evicted from the house her grandparents built back in 1961. But with help from her neighbors — and some well placed media attention — US Bank suddenly modified her loan, allowing her to stay. Oakland North was there to see it happen.
Oakland taxi drivers say business is getting tougher
March 25, 2010 – 9:48 am
Driving a cab in Oakland is an increasingly tough job with too few cab stands and tighter parking enforcement.
Yudof, students unite over lobbying
March 17, 2010 – 1:44 pm
As president of the University of California, Mark Yudof has been the target of protests over budget cuts and rising student fees. But in Sacramento, Yudof is applying some pressure of his own. Together with university regents, chancellors, and students, he is asking legislators to direct more money toward higher education.
Oakland students bring speeches, skits and song to the Oratorical Fest
March 16, 2010 – 4:58 pm
On Friday, students from across the city competed in the 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Fest, reciting speeches and poetry and performing dramatic skits in front of an audience of about one hundred people.