This weekend in Oakland
on December 23, 2011
Community events and activities for the weekend of December 23 – December 25, 2011. Got an event we didn’t know about? Please add it in the comments!
Friday December 23, 2011
The Oakland Ballet presents Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland
The classic Christmas fairytale, retold in ballet and with members of the Oakland East Bay Symphony conducted by Michael Morgan. Show continues Friday and Saturday. Ticket prices and show times here.
Winter Art Camp: Outsider Art
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
MOCHA, 538 9th Street, Oakland
Kids ages 5-10 can learn about outsider art. More info here.
Winter Fairyland Celebration
noon – 7 pm
Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland
Featuring live holiday performances, puppet shows, free holiday treats, and, of course, Santa and the Festival of Lights parade. More info here.
ZooLights
5:30 – 9:30 pm
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland
The Oakland Zoo comes alive at night with hundreds of thousands of LED lights, holiday-themed rides, music around stands of Christmas trees, and a meadow light show that is festive and fun for the whole family. 5:30 – 9 pm. 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. This weekend featuring a showing of The Nightmare Before Christmas at 8 pm. More info and prices here.
Tony! Toni! Tone!
Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland
Oakland’s R&B favorites. Admission $26. Show continues Friday and Saturday. Showtimes and more info here.
MJ’s Brass Boppers Christmas Special
Cafe Van Kleef, 1621 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
New Orleans brass. More info here.
East Bay Brass Band
7 pm
Disco Volante, 347 14th Street, Oakland
Mash ups and covers, performed brass band-style. $5 cover. More info here.
Sisters of the Sun, Love & Voodoo, Tunestone, La Fin Absolute du Monde
Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
MC LARS, Frontalot, Adam Warrock, Peck the Town Crier, C.U.P.C.A.K.E
9 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
Tickets $13. More info here.
Mighty Irie
10 pm
Luka’s Taproom, 2221 Broadway, Oakland
Hip hop, reggae and dancehall featuring DJ Rocker T, Smoke One and Irie Dole. More info here.
Saturday December 24, 2011
The Oakland Ballet presents Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker
Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland
The classic Christmas fairytale, retold in ballet and with members of the Oakland East Bay Symphony conducted by Michael Morgan. Show continues Friday and Saturday. Ticket prices and show times here.
Chanukah on Ice!
7 – 10 pm
Oakland Ice Center, 519 18th Street, Oakland
A Chanukah celebration involving skating, an ice menorah, and activities like doughnut decorating and candle making. More info and ticket prices here.
Tony! Toni! Tone!
Yoshi’s Oakland, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland
Oakland’s R&B favorites. Admission $26. Show continues Friday and Saturday. Showtimes and more info here.
Sunday December 25, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Ongoing Art Exhibits
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.
Occupy…
Saturdays 12pm-5pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm, and by appointment
GZ | Soulye Gallery, 2615 Magnolia Street, Suite D, Oakland
A collection of photos from Occupy protests in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and Oakland. Show runs through January 14. More info here. You can read Oakland North’s previous coverage here.
Ongoing community weekend events and gatherings — these events may be closed for Christmas weekend, so call ahead.
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.
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