This Weekend in Oakland

Friday Oct. 4

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.

Friday Nights Magic
3:30 – 10 pm
D20 Games
2311 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda

Magic the Gathering tournaments cost $12.50 for three rounds, with prize money awarded to the winner.

First Friday
6 – 9 pm
Uptown Oakland

Food from carts, drinks, arts venders, and lots and lots of gallery openings. First Fridays in Uptown.

Great Wall of Oakland
5 – 11 pm
West Grand Avenue, between Broadway and Valley Street

The Great Wall’s final show of the 2011 season will include a live painting by a street art crew from San Leandro and video projections of mind-blowing stop-motion animated graffiti art by Argentinian artist Blu.

Future Fridays: Astronaut author’s tell-all unveils early NASA drama
6 – 7:30 pm
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Boulevard

Al Worden is a veteran Apollo astronaut whose new book, Falling to Earth, recounts untold stories from his moon flight days.

Oakland East Bay Symphony Season Opening
8 pm
Paramount Theater
2025 Broadway

Doors open at 7 pm, low-price tickets are $20. More info here.

Vince Wallace Jazz Ensemble
Cafe Van Kleef, 1621 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Legendary jazz artists perform.  More info here.

Faun Fables
Doors at 8, show at 9 pm
The New Parish, 579 18th Street, Oakland

Theatrical music troupe Faun Fables. $10-13. More info here.

Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet
Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland

$25 at 8 pm, $22 at 10 pm. Five-time Grammy-nominated composer. More info here.

Bart Davenport
9 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Indie/alternative/folk rock. More info here.

First Friday Follies Burlesque
Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Free. Burlesque show and DJ Juicy D.Light. More info here.

Actual Movies: House of Flying Daggers
8– 10 pm
Actual Cafe, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

Free. More info here.

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

First Friday event. New Orleans Second Line-style brass band. More info here.

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

$10. DJ Mere of Oakland Faders. Oldschool hip hop and R&B. More info here.

North Oakland Senior Center Art Show

7 pm
Cafe Madrid, 2001 Broadway, Oakland

Opening reception for “My Gems/My Treasures Part II.”

Saturday Oct. 5

Mediterranean Garden
9 am
The Gardens at Lake Merrit, 666 Bellevue Avenue

More information.

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.

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

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

Harvest Celebration 2011
 4 –  7 pm
Stage Left Cellars, 2102 Dennison Street, Suite A

$30 to sample 2008 debuts from this winery, sample local chocolate and listen to live music. Purchase tickets here.

Barely There: When Less is More
noon –  5 pm
SLATE Contemporary

A multimedia exhibition from SLATE, featuring work by local artists. Free.

Star Party
6 pm
Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard

Star-gazing and science talks. Appropriate for children under 7. More Info.

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

Blues music with Oakland, Mississippi and Chicago influences.  More info here.

Dwele and Slum Village
Doors at 8, show at 9 pm
The New Parish, 579 18th Street, Oakland

Contemporary Soul, tickets start at $28. More info here.

Uptown 4th Anniversary Bash
8:30 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Bands The Swinging Utters, and more. $15. More info here.

November Pain Fest
7 pm
Eli’s Mile High Club, 3628 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Oakland

 More info here.

Laptop Free Weekends at Actual Cafe
5 – 8 pm
Actual Cafe, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

Indie rock.More info here.

Kevin Mason Hull and Nika States
7 pm
Mama Buzz Café, 2318 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Live rock. More info here.

Smoove Saturday with Jamo and Marcella
10 pm
Luka’s Taproom, 2221 Broadway, Oakland

$5 before 11 pm, $10 after. More info here.

Sunday Nov. 6

Black and Jewish Panel
930 – 11 am
Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit Street

Free speaker panel and discussion. More Information.

Tall Tales: Collaborative Projects by John Casey and Friends.
noon – 5:30 pm
Swarm Gallery, 560 Second Street

Beautifully detailed narrative drawings and sculptures. More information.

Grapes and Giving
2 – 5 pm
Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit Street

$20 for wine, cheese, live music and chatting. More Information.

Ives Quartet
2 pm
Rythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Branding Avenue

Eccentric chamber music group that shreds. $15 show. More information.

Owen Baker Flynn
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Children’s Fairyland

Flynn’s world premiere includes juggling and fire eating. More information.

Sonny Simmons Quartet
7 pm
Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland

Charlie Parker’s disciple on saxaphone. $12 More info here.

Front Bar Open and DJ iPod
9 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

$15. Alternative Rock. More info here.

Vulvalard, Mendozza, Razorhoof
7 pm
Eli’s Mile High Club, 3628 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Oakland

 More info here.

Laptop Free Weekends
5 pm
Actual Cafe, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland

Actual Record Swap. More info here.

Ben Henderson, Nameless
7 pm
Mama Buzz Café, 2318 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Rock. More info here.

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

DJ aebldee spins soul. More info here.

Ongoing Art Exhibits

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.

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.