This Weekend in Oakland

Community events and activities for the weekend of November 16-18, 2012. Got an event we didn’t know about? Please add it in the comments!

Friday, November 16

Secret of the Rocket
11 am, noon, 3:30 pm
Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland

Two young adventurers turn an old cardboard box into a rocket and with the help of a magical book and their vivid imaginations blast off on a journey to the many places in the Solar System. The show provides an introduction to the nine planets of our Solar System. Especially for ages 5 to 10. For more information, click here.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art San Francisco
3:30 pm
Dimond Branch, Oakland Public Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave

Docents from the Museum of Craft and Folk Art San Francisco will guide children through craft making in celebration of Native American History Month. More here.

MOCHA at the Library
3 – 5 pm
Elmhurst Library Branch, 538 Ninth Street, Suite 210, Oakland

Create art with Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA) Teaching Artist at the Elmhurst Library. For more information, click here.

Biketopia
5:30 – 9:30 pm
Jack London Pavilion, 98 Broadway, Oakland

Celebration of 40 years of East Bay Bicycle Coalition with food, drinks and music. All ages. Tickets range from $15-$50.  For more information, click here.

Misfits, The Attack, At Our Heels, Them Creatures
8 pm
Oakland Metro Operahouse, 630 3rd St., Oakland

Punk show. More here.

Katt Williams
8 pm
Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland

Comedian Katt WIlliams returns to the stage with his ” Katt Is Back” Tour at Oracle Arena. More here.

Erik Jekabson New Orleans Quintet with Kenny Washington
8 pm
Piedmont Piano Company, 18th St. and San Pablo Ave., Oakland

Classic New Orleans Jazz: Erik Jekabson of New Orleans and Kenny Washington of Crescent City joined by Rob Barics on clarinet, Dan Zemelman on piano, Lukas Vesely on bass and Smith Dobson on drums. More here.

Gladys Knight, The Whispers
7:30 pm
The Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland

Grammy Award-winning soul and R&B artist Gladys Knight and R&B vocal group the Whispers.  More here.

Foreverland
9 pm
The New Parish, 579 18th St., Oakland

Foreverland is a 14-piece tribute to Michael Jackson. The band brings songs like “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” and “Beat It.” Admission: $15 – $20; 18 and older. More information here.

45 Sessions – All things 7
9 pm
Disco Volante, 347 14th St., Oakland

Just 45s all night. Cover $5.  More here.

Saturday, November 17

ZooKids: Harvesters and Hibernators
9:30 am – 12 pm
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland

In this edition of the ZooKids program kids learn about how animals adapt to winter conditions. More here.

The Clarences
1 pm
Norge Laundry, 3908 Grand Avenue, Oakland

Monthly Saturday afternoon, free and all ages, concerts at Norge Laundry. This month’s guest artist is Dr. Notorious.  More information here.

Guided Walking Tour of Five Oakland Art Murmur Galleries
2 – 4pm
Swarm Gallery, 560 2nd St., Oakland

Tour led by Svea Lin Soll of Swarm Gallery. More here.

Oakland in the Civil War with Dennis Evanosky
2:30 – 4:30 pm
Temescal Branch, Oakland Public Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave. Oakland

Local history scholar Evanosky examines the role of Oakland and its residents in the Civil War. More here.

Neurosis
8 pm
Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Metal band. Tickets are $29.50.  All ages. For more information, click here.

Love Balm for My SpiritChild
8 pm
EastSide Cultural Center, 2277 International Blvd., Oakland

A play about Bay Area mothers who have lost children to violence. More here.

Vinnie Paz & Ill Bill
8:30 pm
The New Parish, 579 18th St., Oakland

Heavy Metal concert. Admission, $17, 18 and over. More information here.

The Standells
9 pm
The Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

Punk rock. Admission, $20. For more information click here.

Hot Einstein
9 pm
Disco Volante, 347 14th St., Oakland

Mix of rock, soul and rhythm & blues Cover $5. More here.

Sunday, November 18

Story Reading by SAG – BookPALS
11:30 am
Children’s Fairyland
Lake Merritt at Grand Ave. and Bellevue Ave., Oakland.

Performing Artist for Literacy in Schools is a project of the National Screen Actors Guild. Professional actors and performers read aloud to children to help boost literacy. More here.

OMCA Family | Drop-In Art Workshop and Days of the Dead Family Gallery Tour
noon – 3 pm
OMCA, 1000 Oak St., Oakland

Family arts and crafts event inspired by this year’s Day of the Dead exhibit. Docent-led family tour of exhibit at 1pm.  More here.

Jazz at the Chimes
2 pm
Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave, Oakland

Jazz series featuring Bay Area talent returns to this landmark designed by Julia Morgan. Performance by Marcos Silva. Admission is $15, $10 for seniors and students. For more information, click here.

Holiday Ice
Oakland Ice Center
519 18th St., Oakland

Holiday Ice skating, from November 18 to January 5. Skate rentals available. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Admission fee ranges according to day. For more information, click here.

Patchwork Indie Art & Craft Festival
11 am – 5 pm
Jack London Square Pavilion Plaza & Stage, Oakland

Indie art & craft festival showcasing local artists, crafters & designers alongside artisan food, DIY craft workshops and indie music. For more information, click here.

Fiesta Cubana!
5 pm
Pizzaiolo, 5008 Telegraph Ave., Oakland

Cuban pig roast and dance party with Tito y Su Son de Cuba. More here.

Mary Jenson, Beyond Standard Jazz
5 pm
Musically Minded Academy, 5776 Broadway, Oakland

A mix of modern jazz highlights and Jenson’s original works. More here.

FivePlay Jazz Quintet with InStep String Quartet
8 pm
Piedmont Piano Company, 18th St. and San Pablo Ave., Oakland

Bay Area-based FivePlay Jazz will play new arrangements of music from their first two CDs with InStep String Quartet. They’ll also play new material from an upcoming CD. More here.

Samba Funk Sundays
7 pm
Malonga Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St – Studio A, Oakland

Carnival procession onto the streets of Oakland with group SambaFunk. Live drummers and samba dance. All ages. More information here.

Demarco
10 pm
The New Parish
579 18th St., Oakland

Reggae. Admission, $15 – $20, 18 and over. More information here.

Ongoing Art Exhibits

From One Thing to Another—The Art of Recycling
Gray Loft Gallery, 2889 Ford Street, Third Floor, Oakland

A group show presenting work by more than a dozen artists who have used recycled materials to create jewelry, furniture, collage, sculpture and more. Exhibit runs through November 19. More information here.

The 1968 Exhibit:
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

Explores the social, political and economic history of the Bay Area counterculture during 1968. Exhibit runs through November 25. More information here.

2 x 2 Solos: Wafaa Yasin
Pro Arts, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland

2 x 2 Solos is a series of solo exhibitions featuring new work commissioned from four artists based in the Bay Area. Exhibit runs through November 30. More information here.

What is Buried is Not Lost: Relics, Shrines & Sacred Objects
Betti Ono Gallery, 1427 Broadway, Oakland

Works by Karen and Malik Seneferu. Runs through November 30. More information here.

Occupy: The Plein Air Story
Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland

Exhibit marking the anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street encampments in the Bay Area from the perspective of three local painters. Runs Through December 1. More information here.

Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives:Dia de los Muertos 2o12
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

18th annual exhibit honoring the lives of local heroes through altars. Runs through December 9. More information here.

Ken and Melanie Light: Valley of Shadows and Dreams
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

A black-and-white photography exhibit showcasing the lives of farm workers in the Central Valley. Exhibit runs through December 31. More information here.

Latham Square: Liz Maxwell
Pro Arts, 1611 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland

The paintings in this exhibition use geometry and color to express impressions of an abstracted reality. Recalling memories of Mexico, Liz Maxwell employs parallel lines, sometimes intersected by slanted ones, to evoke landscapes and architectural forms. Runs through March 1, 2013. More here.

Playing with Fire: Artists of the California Studio Glass Movement
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

Celebrates the 50th anniversary of the studio art-glass movement in the US. Examines California’s influence on the movement. Runs through March 24, 2013. More information here.

Ongoing community weekend events and gatherings

Classic Cars West Beer Garden
Saturdays from 2 pm til dusk
Classic Cars West, 411 26th Street, Oakland

Featuring grilled sausages, craft beer, music, art and vintage cars. More info 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: 942 Stanford Avenue, 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.