This weekend in Oakland

Community events and activities for the weekend of November 25 – 27. Got an event we didn’t know about? Please add it in the comments! Enjoy your Thanksgiving break!

Friday, November 25

Post-Thanksgiving hikes

Starting at 8:45 am (several schedules).

Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter

Sierra Club has scheduled several hiking trips designed to “burn off those extra Thanksgiving calories.” Hikes also scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Schedules, locations and more info here.

Keep Downtown in the Black

11 am-6 pm

14th and Broadway, Downtown Oakland

Shopping festival featuring local vendors and stores, food and live music and performances. Free admission. More info here.

Plaid Friday

All day at various locations

Oakland local retailers invite residents to “shop indie” for these holiday season. Residents can celebrate this day by wearing plaid and shop at these participating stores on Friday. Some stores will make special offers and discounts. More info here.

Open Call for PROJECT art installation

6 pm

Pro Arts, 150 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, Oakland CA, 94612

Pro Arts is accepting proposals from Oakland-based for it’s PROJECT contemporary art installation. Three proposals will be selected for exhibition. More info here.

Avant Live

8 pm and 10 pm (same schedule for Saturday Nov. 26)

Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, 510 Embarcadero West, Okland

Soul singer and songwriter Avant will perform hits from his newest album The Letter. $30. More info here.

Saturday, November 26

Hike the Hills

1 pm & 2:30 pm

Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland

A guided hike through the Redwoods. Guides will discuss the role of the landscape as a climate indicator. Free with general admission to the Center. More Info here.

Pachas Pajamas Live Show

12pm & 3pm

MegaDome Theater at Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland

A hip-hop musical about biodiversity, social change and humans’ connection with nature. Recommended for Ages 8 and under. Free with general admission to the Center. More info here.

The Velveteen Rabbit puppet show

11 am, 2 pm and 4 pm

Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland

Puppet show based on the classic children’s book by Margery Williams. Free. More info here.

Rockridge in the Snow

3-6 pm

Rockridge BART area, 5660 College Avenue, Oakland

Holiday Shopping at College Ave. Live jazz performances and children’s play area with snow. More info here.  

Brazilian Dance Workshop

4-5:30 pm

Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, Oakland

Dancer and choreographer Isaura Oliveira from Bahia, Brazil, will be the instructor for the workshop. $12 for adults, $5 for children. More info here.

Chris Tucker stand-up comedy

7:30 pm

Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland

Live performance by actor and comedian Chris Tucker, star of the Rush Hour movies and the actor who played that weird playboy/radio celebrity in The Fifth Element. Prices: $77.50, $57.75, $42.75. More info here.

Diamano Coura West African Dance Company performance

8 pm (also Sunday Nov. 27 at 3 pm)

Laney College Theatre, 900 Fallon Street, Oakland

Diamano Coura will perform The Path, a show that combines music, dancing, storytelling and digital media. Admission for adults: $20, Students and under 17: $15. More info here.

Sunday, November 27

Oakland Raiders vs. Chicago Bears

Oakland Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland

Football game. Ticket prices and more info here.

Claremont Hotel Holiday Celebration and Faire

11am – 7pm

Claremont Hotel, 41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley

Visits to the gingerbread villa, artisans market, wine tasting, crafts workshops and live holiday music and photos with Santa. Free admission. More info here.

Montclair Women’s Big Band

7 pm

Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, 510 Embarcadero West, Okland

Ellen Seeling, Director. Admission: $18 Students: $10. 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.

Love and Loss: Dia de Los Muertos

Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

17th annual exhibit on the Day of Death Mexican celebration explores the stories behing traditional home altars. Exhibit runs October 12-December 11, 2011. More info and hours here. To read Oakland North’s coverage of the exhibit, click here.

Ongoing community weekend events and gatherings

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. Library, 160 41st Street, Oakland

Weekly knitting get-together and help session. More info here. 

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 amMemorial 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. 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.