Blogs

Gang Wars Oakland on Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel focuses on violence in Oakland tonight, with the first episode in a two-part series called “Gang Wars Oakland.” The channel web site’s calls Oakland is “the new frontline in an American gang war” and says, “the murder rate rivals a war zone.”

North Oakland Now: No breakthrough in Campbell search

A volunteer-led search yesterday in the Oakland Hills for missing 5-year-old Hassani Campbell turned up a sweatshirt and a sock on Chabot Road near Highway 24, but Campbell’s foster parents said the clothing did not belong to the boy. “The sweatshirt was a different brand and a different size, and the sock was a big red sock — [Campbell] wasn’t wearing a red sock,” said John Burris, an attorney advising Campbell’s foster parents. At a press conference this afternoon, Oakland…

Even more bike love

It’s the season for swapping and this weekend Walk Oakland Bike Oakland is putting on its Bike Love Festival and Swap Meet. As is the fashion with swap meets, you can search for that rare part you need or buy a whole new bike. There will be bike builders, shops and lone sellers hawking their goods. Dubbed a “swap meet plus,” people can also do an alleycat ride or chip in with the raffle. All proceeds go to Walk Oakland Bike…

True bike lovers

Only a dedicated bike lover would forever stencil their body with a bicycle tattoo … and they’re a lot more common than you’d think. I’ve been searching around to find people with bike-related tattoos to put here on Keeping It Wheel. Below are a few recent photos I took of bicycle tattoos and their proud owners. If any of you have some you’d like to show off, please send in your photos.

Ride the Port of Oakland

Every Tuesday evening, dozens of roadies suited up in spandex and cleats head down to the Port of Oakland for the “POO ride.” This ride is not for the everyday bike commuter or even avid weekend rider. It’s as close to a bike race you can get without being in an official race — there are breakaways, sprints, and people getting dropped left and right. The ride entails several loops around the Port of Oakland, a 2.4-mile loop, and the…

$10K reward for Hassani Info

Oakland police offered a $10,000 reward earlier this week in their search for Hassani Campbell, the 5-year-old Fremont boy reported missing last week in Rockridge.  Anyone with information that might help police find the boy is asked to call (510) 777-8572 or (510) 777-3211.

East Bay bike swap

Think group garage sale but with a bunch of nice and eclectic bike paraphernalia. It was pretty crowded down at Mosswood Park this weekend as folks set up blankets and laid out their gear to sell. There were a lot of good deals to be had, like bike jerseys for five bucks, but also some serious expensive gear, like the mint condition vintage steel Merckx and Pinarello frames for $900 each.

North Oakland Now 8.17.09

The BART strike was called off Sunday night with a tentative contract agreement.  That’s good news, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Why not start your work week with some weird news?  Cal swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Natalie Coughlin will be Dancing with the Stars in the upcoming season of ABC’s popular show.  Coughlin will compete with a curious assortment of notables that include Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Kelly.