Community events and activities for the weekend of May 10-12, 2013. Got an event we didn’t know about? Please add it in the comments.

Friday, May 10

MOCHA at the Library
3 – 4:30 pm
Elmhurst Library Branch, 538 9th Street, Oakland

A teaching artist will be on hand at the library for an art lesson. More information here.

Bites off Broadway
5:30 – 8:30 pm
In front of Studio One Art Center, 365 45th Street, Oakland

Bites off Broadway is back for a third year this summer, every Friday from May 10 to October 11. Stroll down 45th Street for the best in mobile food. More information here.

Friday Nights at the Oakland Museum of California/Off the Grid
5 – 9 pm
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607

Food trucks, a live reggae band and extended gallery hours are all part of this weekly event. A family-friendly workshop on how to make your own headdress will also be available. Half price gallery admission for adults, free for children under 18. Admission for members is free. More information here.

A-1
Doors 8/ Show 9 pm
The New Parish, 579 18th St (at San Pablo)

Rap/Hip-Hip. $10 advance, $15 dos. More information here.

The Broun Fellinis
9 pm
Disco Volante, 347 14th Street, Oakland

Soul/Funk. $5 cover. More information here.

Mortar & Pestle, and more
9 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland

Alternative/Indie. $8. More information here.

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

Blues. More information here.

Saturday, May 11

21st annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive
Before your mail arrives (details below)

Sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, this food drive will help keep Bay Area food banks stocked during the summer months as families who rely on school meals will need to feed their children during the week. Residents can fill a bag with non-perishable food items and place it by their mailbox before their mail is delivered on Saturday. Postal workers will deliver it to the food bank.

Tiki Houseman, The Clarences monthly concert
1 pm
Norge Laundry, 3908 Grand Avenue, Oakland

A monthly, free Saturday afternoon concert. Bring your laundry and listen to free music. More information here.

Saturday Beer Garden
noon to dusk
Classic Cars West, 411 26th Street, Oakland

Featuring food from Fist of Flour and beer by Commonwealth. Come enjoy art, cars, food, ping pong and sunshine. More information here.

Internet Cat Video Festival
3 to 10 pm
The Great Wall of Oakland, Broadway and West Grand Ave, Oakland

An estimated 5,000+ cat lovers will be celebrating cats and exploring Internet cat videos together. Proceeds benefit the East Bay SPCA. Tickets ate $5 to $10, $75 will get you a VIP pass. More information here.

Jazz vocalist Ellen Robinson
8:00 pm
Piedmont Piano, 1728 San Pablo Ave, Oakland

Ellen Robinson and her quartet will be performing a jazz concert. Tickets are $20.00, reservations are recommended. More information here.

DeeJay Lady Ryan
9:30 pm
Disco Volante, 347 14th Street, Oakland

DJ. $5. More information here.

Reggae Gold
10 pm, 21+ and older
The New Parish, 579 18th St (at San Pablo)

Reggae. Tickets avail at door. More information here.

HELLA GAY Dance Party
9:30 pm
The Uptown, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland

Dance. $5 cover. More information here.

Blue Bone Express
Cafe Van Kleef, 1621 Telegraph, Oakland

More information here.

Sunday, May 12

Mother’s Day Cruise on the Bay
11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Presidential Yacht Potomac (Jack London Square, Oakland)

Treat your mother to a cruise on the Bay on board the Presidential Yacht Potomac.  The cruise includes a brunch buffet, champagne and wine bar. For additional information, call 510-627-1215.

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

A festival featuring local artists, crafters and designers showing handmade goods ranging from art, knits and clothing to paper, housewares and more. There will be food, music, and book signings. More information here.

Mother’s Day at the Oakland Zoo
10 am – 4 pm
Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland

Mothers get to ride the train for free today at the Oakland Zoo. Bring the whole family out to see the animals. More information here.

Sunday Music Showcase
No Cover
Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph, Oakland

More information here.

Balto
The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph, Oakland

Jazz. More Information here.

Ongoing Art Exhibits

Finding Common Ground through Sacred Words
Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, 1433 Madison Street, Oakland
May 11 – June 5

The focus is on sacred text, with 130 works of art including calligraphy, paintings on silk, oil paintings, photography, quilts, stained glass and sculpture. Each work incorporates words, text or letters to underscore interfaith understanding. The exhibit will be open Wednesday through Saturday from May 11 to June 5, from 10 am to 4 pm. More information here.

We/Customize
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland
February 9 – June 2

From rat rods and lowrider bikes to Kinect and Ikea hacks, people are customizing mass-produced objects as part of artistic and personal expression more today than ever before. Inspired by maker culture, the experimental, participatory, process-oriented outreach project and exhibition We/Customize includes multiple phases from taking OMCA outside its walls and inviting the public to participate. Exhibit runs through June 30, 2013. More information here.

Suburban Dreams
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

California photography by San Francisco artist Beth Yarnelle Edwards exploring the relationship between people, their possessions and the domestic world. Exhibit runs through June 30, 2013. More information here.

Summoning Ghosts: The Art of Hung Liu
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland

The first comprehensive survey of the artwork of Hung Liu.  Featuring approximately 80 paintings, as well as personal ephemera such as photographs, sketch books, and informal painting studies from private and public collections around the world, the exhibition celebrates Liu’s career accomplishments and includes work completed in China before the artist arrived in the U.S. Exhibit runs through June 30, 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.