Community
Forget about the London Olympics. Friday, the real Olympic fun was right here in Oakland at Soccer Without Borders’ Oakland Olympics, an annual event bringing together displaced refugee children between the ages of 5 and 19 years old from Bhutan, Iraq, Nepal, Gabon, the Ivory Coast and El Salvador, among other countries.
We’ve been running Oakland North for nearly five years now, and in that time our reporters have uncovered some amazing stories. Here are a few of our favorite longreads, magazine-length stories that take on complex issues or spin compelling tales. So grab a cool drink, find a comfortable seat, and enjoy! As the economy sinks, homeless people move onto abandoned boats by Amina Waheed Rehearsing your own death: not your typical night in Oakland by Becky Palmstrom After the fire, Oakland’s love…
Donut Savant is an artisan gourmet donut shop. Donut “wholes” made from a buttermilk cake batter are topped with the traditional glazed, cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar and chocolate that donut fans expect. But adventurous eaters can also get frosted coconut, salted maple, buttercream candied ginger, s’mores, lemon zest and key lime donuts.
On Wednesday, the palliative care suite at Oakland Children’s Hospital and Research center was re-named “The Edward W. and Yuri H. Chin Reflection Room” in honor of a pledge of $250,000 from the couple. The suite, which was opened last November, is a miniature apartment that consists of a bathroom, living room, bedroom, kitchenette, and den that gives families a private space that feels like a home to enjoy quality time with a child who has a life-limiting illness, particularly children who are dying or have just died.
More than 600 Oakland areas hosted community events inspiring residents to come out of their homes, discuss safety issues, and meet their neighbors during Oakland’s annual National Night Out event on Tuesday.
Every week, Oakland North will publish a photo submitted by one of our readers. This week’s photo is by Isaak Gartland.
In the last few years, the Temescal District has been heralded as one of the most culturally diverse communities in the city. Its growing popularity has resulted in increased interest from business owners and residents who are vying for a space within the community. But over the last few months, the number of robberies and thefts that have been reported to the Temescal Telegraph Avenue Community Association and the Temescal Merchants’ Association has shown an increase, the members of those associations say, leaving local merchants frustrated and asking for more help from the police and the city.
Oakland North is continuing with our feature. Every week, Oakland Animal Services will spotlight an “Animal of the Week” that’s up for adoption at their facility. This week it’s a dog named Rover.
Thousands of Oaklanders filled downtown Oakland this weekend to shake a tail feather, boogaloo, rock ‘n’ roll, or do the Harlem Shuffle during the city’s annual Art & Soul festival. The two-day outdoor festival—which closed several busy streets—featured jazz, rock, gospel, punk, honky-tonk, metal, folk and Latin musicians from the Bay Area.