This weekend in Oakland

Community events and activities for the weekend of September 30 – October2. Got an event we didn’t know about? Please add it in the comments!

Friday September 30

Parent Empowerment and Engagement Info Session
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
East Bay Community Foundation Conference Room: Ogawa Plaza, Oakland

Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network (PLAN) offers an info session on their leadership and advocacy curriculum. More info here.

Weekly Art Workshop with MOCHA
2 – 4 pm
Golden Gate Branch, 5606 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland
3 – 5 pm
Elmhurst Branch, 1427 88th Avenue, Oakland

MOCHA artists present different art each week and introduce children to various themes around the world. 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 Café, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

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

O ZONE @ OMCA
5–11:45 pm
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

Celebrate the spirit of John Muir with food, cocktails, music and a “Best John Muir Beard in the Bay” contest. Event is free with museum admission. More info here.

Fairyland Party 2011
7-10pm
699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland

Pre-sale tickets are already sold out to this night of drinks and music for adults at the Lake Merritt children’s park, but a limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $15. Attendees must be 21 and over. More info here.

Comedy Off Broadway

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

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

Asha Bhosle & Shujaat Khan at 29th Annual San Francisco Jazz Fall Festival
8pm
Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland.

The legendary “Queen of Bollywood” performs with North Indian sitar virtuoso Shujaat Khan. Tickets $20-$65. More info.

London Calling: Stories from the Diaspora
10pm
The New Parish, 579 18th Street, Oakland

Live music performance from The Congress, stories by Daz-I-Kue, Victoria B. Robinson, Bryant Terry, Bryan Keith Thomas, Githinji Wa Mbire and DJ set by Daz-I-Kue. Tickets $5-$10. More info.

Saturday October 1      

10^th Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence & Teen Dating
8am–4pm
Lake Merritt Bandstand, Oakland

A Safe Place celebrates 10 years of striving against domestic violence in Oakland with their annual walk. Mayor Jean Quan will deliver the keynote speech. More info here.

OPC Love Your Parks Day
8:30am
Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland

Volunteers needed for annual park survey. Breakfast will be provided. More info.

Financial Planning Clinic

9 am – 4 pm
Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza

Meet one-on-one with financial experts for free to talk about money issues. Spanish translation available. More info here.

37th Annual Black Cowboys Parade and Festival
10am-6pm
DeFremery Park, 10th and Adeline Streets, Oakland

The parade honors the role of African Americans in the Old West and shares little known histories of the black cowboy, which according to some historians, made up 25% of cowboys in the West after the Civil War. More info.

6^th Annual Ready to Learn Fun Fair

10 am – 1 pm
Peralta Elementary School, 460 63^rd Street, Oakland

Clifford the Big Red Dog makes an appearance at this free family event. The first 200 children will receive free backpacks and books. Families can find resources on education, nutrition and more. Admission is free. More info here.

Oaktoberfest in the Dimond
11 am — 6 pm
Dimond District, MacArthur Boulevard at Fruitvale Avenue, Oakland

Oakland’s Dimond District hosts this annual family-friendly festival celebrating craft beer, food, art, entertainment, ecology and more. 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.

James Carter Organ Trio—Kids Matinee Performance
2pm
510 Embarcardero West, Jack London Square, Oakland

Saxaphonist James Carter puts on special kids matinee performance. Admission $5 for kids, $18 for adults with kids and $20 general admission. More info.

Reception for This Means War Is Personal
5 – 8 pm
Kroswork Gallery, 480 23rd Street, Oakland

Join artists Jason Hanasik and David Gregory Wallace at a special reception for their exhibit that examines the United States’ involvement in war. More info here. To read Oakland North’s coverage of the event, click here.

Laurel Literary Lights: A benefit for the MacArthur Metro
7pm
Fruitvale Presbyterian Church,2735 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland

A fundraiser for the MacArthur Metro, a local newspaper—with food, prizes and authors aplenty. Hosted by Laurel bookstore. $25 donation. More info. 

Beirut
8pm
Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Live musical performance with special guest Laetitia Sadier. Tickets $35. More info.

Ghoul, Early Graves, Population Reduction, Feast
8pm
Oakland Metro Opera House, 630 3rd Street, Oakland

All ages performance. Admission $10. More info.

Esperanza Spalding at the 29th Annual San Francisco Jazz Fall Festival
8pm
Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland.

Bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding performs. Tickets $20-$65. More info.

Comedy Off Broadway

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

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

Jonathan Wilson & Simon Joyner
9pm
The New Parish, 579 18th Street, Oakland

Live music performance also featuring Farmer Dave Scher and DJ selections by Andy Cabic. Tickets $10-15. More info.

Sunday October 2

Ecstatic Dance
9:30am-1pm
Sweet’s Historic Ballroom, 1933 Broadway, Oakland

The Bay Area Young Sierrans host Sunday morning yoga (9:30am), a freeform dance group (10:30am) and and sound healing (1pm). Admission $15. More info.

Open Cockpit Day
12 – 4 pm
8252 Earhart Road, Bldg. 621, Oakland

Tour the flying boat from Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, sit in a Korean war plane and check out the Navy A-6 simulator trailer. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 for Seniors, $7 for military/teens, $5 for children 6 – 12, and free for children under 5. More info here.

Fighting in Paradise: Labor Unions, Racism & Communists in the Making of Modern Hawaii

2 pm
Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Dr. Gerald Horne of the University of Houston documents the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Suggested donation of $5, proceeds benefit the library.

Sundays In The Redwoods
2pm
Woodminster Amphitheater, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland

Concert featuring The Rhythm Section: Chrisette Michele; K’Jon; Silk E; OSA. V.I.P. table $125.  More info here.

Gloria Frym & Donna de la Perriere—Book Reading
3pm
Diesel bookstore, 5433 College Avenue, Oakland

Gloria Frym will read from her new book, Mind Over Matter, while Donna de la Perriere’s will read from her most recent book, Saint Erasure. More info.

Rachel Herron—Book Reading & Signing

4pm
Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave, Berkeley
Rachel Herron will read from her book of essays, A Life in Stitches. More info.

Ongoing Art Exhibits

Fuzzy Logic — Oakland Threads
Actual Cafe, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

Opening reception for a show featuring soft sculptures, pillows, crocheted animals and other tactile treats, co-hosted by Actual Cafe and James and the Giant Cupcake. Show runs through October 13. More info here.

Threads of Transition, Patterns of Change: Rabari Textiles of India
A Verb for Keeping Warm
6328 San Pablo Ave., Oakland

In conjunction with the “Fuzzy Logic” show, A Verb For Keeping Warm hosts an exhibit of textiles made by semi-nomadic camel herding societies in India, showcasing quilts, wall hangings, bags and other dowry items. Show runs through December 7. More info here. To read Oakland North’s coverage of the event, click here.

This Means War Is Personal

Fridays 3-6, Saturdays 1 – 5
Kroswork Gallery, 480 23rd Street, Oakland

Video and photography by Jason Hanasik and video and installation by David Gregory Wallace relating to the United States’ involvement in war. Exhibit runs September 2 – October 15. More info here. To read Oakland North’s coverage of the event, click here.

Camp
Mercury 20 Gallery, 475 25th Street, Oakland

Paintings by Julie Alvarado focusing on the interactions between humans and nature while camping or at summer camp. Show continues through October 1. More info here.

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. To read Oakland North’s coverage of the exhibit, click here.

Remembering and Rebuilding: A Commemoration of the Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm

Oakland History Room, Oakland Main Library, 2nd floor, 125 14th Street, Oakland

A free exhibit that uses photos, maps, letters, poems, newspapers and other public documents to capture the devastation caused by the 1991 hills fire, and the efforts to rebuild afterwards. Exhibit runs September 1 – November 30. More info and hours here. To read Oakland North’s coverage of the exhibit, click here.

Ongoing community weekend events and gatherings

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.

Get ‘er Done Day and Community Potluck

Sundays 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chemical Dependency Workshop

Saturdays 10 am – 12 pm
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s MPI Treatment Services: 3021 Summit Street, 5th 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.

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.