This weekend in Oakland

Community events and activities for the weekend of August 5-7.  Got an event we didn’t know about? Please add it in the comments!

Friday August 5

Debate Tournament and Awards Ceremony
10 am – 3 pm
Westlake Middle School, 2629 Harrison Street, Oakland

Students who have participated this week in the Bay Area Urban Debate League Summer Debate Institute will face off in a final tournament.

The Summer of Video Art: The Feel of the Water
Kroswork Gallery, 480 23rd Street, Oakland

A second set of installations, screenings and art projections in the gallery’s two-month celebration of video art opens Friday and continues through August 27. More info here.

First-Person Plural
7 – 10 pm
MacArthur B Arthur: 4030 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland

An opening reception for new work by Joel Dean, Dana Hemenway, and Sasha Krieger; each artist was asked to create a solo work, and then an additional work responding to the others’ pieces.

Eric Bohr/Paul Mueller/Mississippi Rising Art Murmur opening
6 – 9 pm
Mercury 20 Gallery, 475 25th Street, Oakland

An opening for three new gallery exhibits: Eric Bohr: Levant (mixed media), Paul Mueller: Blood on the Church Hall Floor (photography), Terryl Dunn, P.K. Frizzell, Mary Curtis Ratcliff: Mississippi Rising (map-based art). More info here.

Oakland Art Murmur
6-9 pm
Uptown Oakland arts corridor between Telegraph and Broadway, and between 23rd and 26th Streets

A monthly First Friday art walk during which participating galleries open their doors to the public. Street performances and food trucks will be available nearby. More info here.

Dishcrawl

An evening of food, stopping at four yet-to-be-revealed locations, featuring art by artist from the Bay Area Visual Arts Network. Registration required, tickets $26, meeting location announced by email. More info here.

“Back to the Future”
Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland

Where we’re going, we don’t need cars.  Tickets $5. More info here.

“My Fair Lady”
Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland

A live theater performance of the classic musical based on George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion.” Performances begin August 5 and run through August 17. More info about tickets and showtimes here.

Edie Meidav and Carolyn Cooke author appearance
7 pm
A Great Good Place for Books: 6120 LaSalle Avenue, Oakland

Meidav reads from her new book, Lola, California, and Cooke reads from hers, Daughters of the Revolution. More info here.

Bites off Broadway
5:30 – 8:30 pm
365 45th Street in front of Studio One Art Center, Oakland

Mobile food, live local music, and lawn games — now at a new location. Continues every Friday through October 21. More info here.

Decompression Sessions
5 – 8 pm
Actual Cafe, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

Weekly get-together featuring music, popcorn, ice cream, and beer, this week featuring a rotating crew of deejays; this week featuring DJ Lifeone. More info and prices here.

Comedy Off Broadway
8 pm
Miss Pearl’s Jam House (at The Waterfront Hotel), 1 Broadway, Oakland

Comedy featuring Phil Johnson. Admission $10, $8 for students, seniors and peace officers. More info here.

Dancing Under the Stars: Samba
8 – 10 pm
Jack London Square

A weekly free dance lesson followed by an outdoor dance party. More info here. See our coverage of the recent waltz lesson night here.

Grassroots Composers Ensemble
8 pm
EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Boulevard, Oakland

Classic jazz and original compositions. Tickets $10. More info here.

Crown City Rockers with Skins & Needles
Doors at  8 pm, Show at 9 pm
The New Parish, 579 18th Street, Oakland

DJ Set by Headnodic & The Mighty Underdogs, hosted by Gift of Gab and Lateef The Truth Speaker. Ages 18 and over show. More info and ticket prices here.

Vince Wallace Jazz Ensemble
9:30 pm
Cafe Van Kleef,  1621 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Bop jazz. More info here.

MJ’s Brass Boppers
9:15 pm
Disco Volante, 347 14th Street, Oakland

New Orleans style brass band. Admission $5.  More info here.

Howlin’ Rain, Skystone, The Myonics, The Hypnotist Collectors
Doors at 6 pm, show at 9 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Indie and alternative. No cover. More info here.

First Friday Follies
Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Music, comedy and burlesque, hosted by MC Juicy  D. Light. More info here.

Friday Evening Jazz featuring Youth Jazz Ensemble with Ranzel Merritt, Jr.
8 – 11 pm
57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Dinner and jazz; admission $15 plus $5 for dinner. Reservations recommended. More info here.

Eargasm
10 pm
Luka’s Taproom, 2221 Broadway, Oakland

DJs Spair and Mere of the Oakland Faders play hip-hop. Admission $10. More info here.

Saturday August 6

A Walk in the Wild: Continuing John Muir’s Journey
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

A new interactive exhibit opens August 6 and highlights the legacy of the famous California naturalist and combines, art, science and natural history. Exhibit continues through January 22, 2012. Museum admission required. More info as well as museum hours and ticket prices here.

Greening the West with the Black Cowboys
10 am – 2 pm
24th and Market Streets, Oakland

Urban Releaf and the Black Cowboys host a tree-planting. Kids and cowboy outfits welcome. More info here.

6th Annual Urban Wine Xperience
2 – 5 pm
Jack London Pavilion, 1 Broadway, Oakland

Twenty local vintners showcase their wines, along with food, live music and dancing. More info and ticket pricing here.

Lake Merritt Modern walking tour
10 am – 12:30 pm
Meet at Lakeview Branch Library, 550 El Embarcadero, between Grand and Lakeshore Avenues

Bill Coburn leads a walking tour of the buildings on the east side of the lake, with a focus on their history and architectural styles. The walks are organized by the Oakland Heritage Alliance. More info here including donation fees.

Backpacks and Salads @ Memorial Tabernacle’s Annual Salad Festival
6 pm
Mormon Tabernacle Church Fellowship Hall, 5801 Racine Street, Oakland

Cooking demonstrations at the tabernacle’s annual salad festival; your $10 donation will be used to buy backpacks and school supplies that the Lend-A-Hand Foundation will distribute to local students. More info here.

Woman and trans bike workshop
2 – 5 pm
Spokeland, 1121 64th Street, Oakland, CA 94612

Women and transgender people can learn how to fix their bikes. Suggested $5 donation. More info here.

Oakland Art Murmur’s Saturday Stroll
1 –  5 pm
Uptown District along the Telegraph Avenue Corridor

A quieter, more art-focused weekly stroll highlighting the artwork in the galleries of the Uptown District. Click here for more information about participating galleries and the geographic area covered by the Saturday Stroll.

Games from Around the World
noon
Martin L. King Jr. Branch Library, 6833 International Blvd, Oakland

Kids can play games from Pakistan, Ghana, Argentina and other countries. More info here.

Bookmaking with MoCHA
3 pm
Main Library, 125 14th Street, Oakland

Kids ages 3 and up can make books in any language with the help of MoCHA teaching artists. More info here.

Comedy Off Broadway
8 pm
Miss Pearl’s Jam House (at The Waterfront Hotel), 1 Broadway, Oakland

Comedy featuring comedian Emily Heller. Admission $10, $8 for students, seniors and peace officers. More info here.

Starchild’s Dance Groove
7 pm
EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Boulevard, Oakland

Learn how to Lindy Hop to live music. More info here.

J*Davey with Karyn Paige and the Scoundrels
Doors at  8 pm, Show at 9 pm
The New Parish, 579 18th Street, Oakland

Hosted by Trackademicks. All ages show. More info and ticket prices here.

The Lovelight Blues Band
9:30 pm
Cafe Van Kleef,  1621 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Blues. More info here.

Danya Stephens with Clifford Brown III and the Brewing Co.
9:15 pm
Disco Volante, 347 14th Street, Oakland

Jazz saxophone. Admission $5.  More info here

Saint Vernon, Ashkira, Ominos
Doors at 9 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Metal and rock. $10 cover. More info here

Polkacide
Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Hardcore polka. More info here.

Speak Friend, Social Stereo
7 pm
Mama Buzz Café, 2318 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

More info here.

Saturday Evening Jazz featuring the Glen Pearson Trio
8:30 pm and 10 pm
57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Dinner and jazz; admission $15 plus $5 for dinner. Reservations recommended. More info here.

Smoove Saturday
10 pm
Luka’s Taproom, 2221 Broadway, Oakland

Classic hip-hip and neo-soul with JAMO. Admission $5 before 11 pm, $10 after. More info here.

Sunday August 7

OMCA Family Summer Reading Celebration “One World, Many Stories”
noon – 4 pm
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

The museum partners with the Oakland libraries to celebrate reading and world cultures with story time, crafts, scavenger hunts, tamale making, dragon and kung fu sword dancing, and more. More info here.

From Bay to Playa: The Art, Music & Culture of Burning Man
2 – 4 pm
Main Library, 125 14th Street, Oakland

A discussion of the arts and culture of Burning Man, featuring Steven T. Jones, author of The Tribes of Burning Man: How an Experimental City in the Desert is Shaping the New American Counterculture, Marion Goodell from The Burning Man Foundation, Michael Snook of NIMBY, Karen Caruso of American Steel and Syd Gris of Opulent Temple. More info here.

The Redwoods of Oakland walking tour
10 am – 1:30 pm
Meet at McDonell Avenue and Mountain Boulevard

Dennis Evanosky leads a walk through the Oakland redwoods, with views of the Leona Quarry plus find out which is the oldest tree in Oakland. Bring water, binoculars and wear hiking shoes. The walks are organized by the Oakland Heritage Alliance. More info here including donation fees.

Get ‘er Done day and Community Potluck
noon – 6 pm, 6 – 8 pm
A PLACE for Sustainable Living, 1121 64th Street, Oakland

Volunteers can work on a variety of tasks including carpentry, seed planting, plumbing work and more to benefit the center. Followed by a “Souper Sunday” community potluck dinner; bring a vegetarian dish or something to add to the “stone soup.” More info here and here.

Actual Record Swap
5 – 8 pm
Actual Cafe, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

Bring your old vinyl to trade. More info here.

Poetry Flash
3 pm
Diesel, A Bookstore 5433 College Avenue, Oakland

Prize-winning poets Xochiquetzal Candelaria and Robin Ekiss read from their work. More info here.

Sunday Evening Jazz featuring Lee Waterman and Jazz Caliente
7 – 10 pm
57th Street Gallery, 5701 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Dinner and jazz; admission $15 plus $5 for dinner. Reservations recommended. More info here.

Setting the Standard: A Sunday concert with Terrence Brewer and Friends
11 am
Musically Minded Academy, 5776 Broadway, Oakland

A performance by jazz guitarist Terrence Brewer. More info and ticket prices here.

Blackstrap Molasses, Mammox, Marquees
7 pm
Mama Buzz Café, 2318 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

More info here.

Soul-Full Glow
8 pm
Luka’s Taproom, 2221 Broadway, Oakland

DJ aebldee plays soul. Free admission. More info here.

Ongoing community weekend events and gatherings

Talks, Meetings and Groups

Oakland Walking Tours
Saturdays at 10 am

Free 90-minute walking tours through Oakland’s downtown, offered May through October. Reservations recommended. For more information, including details of the 8 itineraries available, click here.

Wildlife Theater
Saturdays at 11:45 am and Sundays at 1:45 pm
Oakland Zoo: 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland

Every Saturday, hear a story and meet an animal with the Oakland zoo staff.  On Sundays, there are more animals to meet and a chance to learn cool nature facts.

Toddler Storytime

Saturdays 10:30 – 11:30 am
Oakland Main Library, Children’s Room, 125 14th Street, Oakland
and Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College Avenue, Oakland

Every Saturday, children ages three and under can listen to stories, sing songs, and enjoy family play time. More info here.

Piedmont Avenue Branch Knitting Group
Saturdays, 3 – 4 pm
Piedmont Ave. Branch, 160 41st Street, Oakland

Weekly knitting get-together and help session.

Open Spinning/Knitting Gathering
Every second Saturday of the month, 10 am – 1 pm
A Verb for Keeping Warm, 6328 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

A free get-together to work on knitting, spinning or fiber arts projects, with complimentary coffee and tea. More info here.

LOUD Youth Group
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 4 – 6 pm
Pacific Center: 2712 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley

LOUD Youth Group is a drop-in group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) youth.  Tuesdays focus on arts and crafts, writing, and music.  Thursdays focus on hot topics and guest speakers.  Fridays focus on queer moves and video games.  More info here.

Chemical Dependency Workshop
Saturdays 10 am – 12 pm
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s MPI Treatment Services: 3021 Summit Street, 5^th Floor, D Wing, Oakland

Whether you are dealing with alcohol or drug abuse yourself, or helping a family member or friend through the addiction, everyone is welcome at Alta Bates’ Dependency Workshops.  Call 510-652-7000 for more information.

MTC Community Garden Hoe-Down
Saturdays 9 – 11 am
Memorial Tabernacle Church: 514 58th Street, Oakland (enter through the driveway)

Come join the weekly garden work party!  Whether you are a novice or an expert, all levels of gardening are welcome. Bring your gloves and gardening tools.

MTC Let’s Walk Together program
Second and fourth Saturdays, 8 am – 10 am
Memorial Tabernacle Church: 514 58th Street, Oakland

A twice-monthly group walk through different Bay Area parks and trails. Meet at the church and carpool to the week’s location. More info here.

Scrabble Club

Third and First Saturday of every month, 1 – 4 pm
It’s Your Move Games and Hobbies: 4920 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

The club meets two to three times a month and hold a monthly tournament.  Cost: $1 to join the club and $25 for six games at the tournament.  More info here.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
Sundays 8:30 – 10 am, Thursdays 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Summit Campus, Merritt Pavilion
350 Hawthorne Avenue, Oakland, in the “Fir Room.”

A program based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are no dues, weigh-ins, or fee, but pre-registration for this free program is required. The program is provided through Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay. Call (510) 523-4361 for more information.

Farmers markets

Old Oakland Farmers Market: 9th Street between Broadway and Clay, Oakland

Fridays 8 am – 2 pm, year-round.  More info here.

Kaiser Permanente Oakland Farmers Market: 3801 Howe Street, Oakland

Fridays 10 am – 2 pm, year-round.  More info here.

Grand Lake Farmers Market: Splash Pad Park at Grand Avenue and Lake Park Avenue

Saturdays 9 am – 2 pm, year round.  More info here.

Phat Beets Produce Market: 5717 Market Street, Oakland

Saturdays 9 am – 2 pm.  More info here.

Temescal Farmers Market: 5300 Claremont Avenue, Oakland (at the DMV)

Sundays 9 am – 1 pm, year-round.  More info here.

Jack London Square Farmers Market: Webster & Water Streets, Oakland

Sundays, 9 am – 2 pm, year-round.  More info here.

Got an Oakland event to share for next weekend’s events listing? Send info including address, time, and ticket price for events taking place in Oakland to staff@oaklandnorth.net.