Recent studies show that the amount and frequency of your chuckles are proportionally linked to stress levels and general well-being. Like the science but aren’t one of those who can chuckle on cue? You might want to join the Lifefire Laughter Club of Oakland.
The “HERE” and “THERE” sculptures on the Oakland-Berkeley border have become the site of a dispute between the City of Berkeley and an anonymous group of guerilla knitters, who have created a “T cozy” over part of the sculpture. On Sunday, the group held a “T party” to bring attention to their piece.
How’s the recent spate of bad weather effecting Oakland’s outdoor farmers markets? Take a trip to the Old Oakland Farmer’s Market with Patrick Kollman on a wet, windy day to find out.
Amid escalating burglaries and gun violence in North Oakland, City Council President and North Oakland representative Jane Brunner announced last night that a ballot measure is necessary to avoid laying off more than 100 city police.
After controversy earlier this fall, Oakland’s parking conflicts have quieted considerably in recent months. But they could flare up again, as the Oakland City Council moved last Tuesday toward passing an increase in annual residential parking permit fees.
The Oakland Raiders and Mrs. Fields Cookies helped the Oakland Children’s Hospital celebrate its 50-year anniversary Tuesday morning. Raiders players paid a visit to the hospital’s atrium, where patients and staff were treated to cookies and snuggly, eye-patch-wearing teddy bears.
Pickling perfect peppers isn’t all that hard, and canning is an inexpensive way to produce charming, memorable homemade holiday gifts. See Richard Parks’ video on making the perfect pepper Escabeche.
Neither the pies nor the woman upon whom a royal appellation was bestowed for making them is in evidence at Lois the Pie Queen at 9 a.m. this Wednesday morning. That’s no surprise—Lois died many years ago, and everybody knows her granddaughter Margot now makes the pies. Her dad Chris, Lois’ son, runs the joint at the confluence of 60th, Adeline and Genoa streets on the dilapidated fringe of northern/western Oakland near the Emeryville and Berkeley borders. Tempting as the…
You see the darnedest things in Northwestern Oakland during an evening constitutional. That’s how we happened upon this heap of raiment on Sunday night on Genoa Street near 56th. This curious clump of clothes reads like the droppings of some afternoon wanderer who, seeing that it was opposite day, elected to obey the inverse of the old adage, “No shoes, no shirt, no service.”
Good Afternoon North Oakland, Are you surprised at the outcome of last night’s Cowboys-Eagles game? Our own Jake Shonecker surely is. The young reporter and Philadelphia native will have to cut his long and curly locks after losing a friendly bet to fellow O.N. staffer Lauren Callahan. His Eagles fell to the Dallas team, 20-16. Check out our twitter page for a photo of Jake (in the top-left corner) in his un-shorn state. That’s a lot of hair! Help Jake…
A great little recipe by Mary Riehle, who teaches knitting at the Lakeview branch of the Oakland Public Library. She’s also published a book of Christmas cookie recipes. Here’s her recipe for Mexican Wedding Cakes (also called “Russian Tea Cakes”). Mexican Wedding Cakes Ingredients 1 cup butter 1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 cups flower 1 cup very finely chopped pecans A little vanilla extract Here’s how you make these cakes, according to Marie: Heat the oven to “300 or 325.”…
The It Costumes this year are scariest not because of gore but because of their powerful soul-sucking properties. Hint: They involve men’s suits, Lucky Strikes, and hair.
Oakland’s new police chief was sworn in at tonight’s Council meeting.
Just when you thought the Oakland parking wars had come to an end, parking rules are once again on the agenda. The City Council will consider easing enforcement against wrong-way parkers tonight.
The recently re-opened Kingfish Pub & Café on Claremont Avenue east of Telegraph is essentially a squat, low-ceilinged fisherman’s hut inexplicably marqueed with a large ad for 7-Up. The paint-job is marine green—pretty much the color of Ariel the mermaid’s tail—with white trim. There are the requisite neon window hangers advertising Camel cigarettes, Corona, Sierra Nevada, and of course Pabst. There’s a couple 8.5×11 printouts also posted to the façade, directing patrons where to smoke (by the standing ashtray several…
North Oakland’s NicNak Liquors closed in 2004 while owner Ashrious Pannell grappled with poor health. His strength now back, Pannell is fighting a city rule that may keep his store from reopening.