Community

Perata rallies religious community to abate truancy

On Wednesday, Don Perata, former senator and mayoral candidate, hosted a breakfast with more than 50 of Oakland’s most influential religious leaders to solicit their help in addressing school truancy, one of the city’s most pressing challenges.

Second annual Taste of Temescal sells out

The second annual Taste of Temescal, an event celebrating a smorgasbord of culinary delights, sold out to hundreds of attendees on Tuesday. For $30, locals sampled signature items from each of the 23 participating restaurants on Telegraph Avenue.

New owners celebrate Habitat “sweat equity” homes

The volunteer group Habitat for Humanity, which helps low-income working families buy homes by investing their own labor in the construction, invited neighbors and first-time homeowners on Saturday to the completion of Habitat’s Edes Avenue development in East Oakland.

Visit to renovated Oakland Museum a hands-on experience

As Alyssia Alexandria entered the newly renovated History Gallery at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) Friday night, a museum volunteer handed her a few scraps of drawing paper, a small yellow pencil, and a black and white pamphlet, an official invitation to play “Choose Your Own California Adventure.”

Children’s Fairyland celebrates its 60th anniversary

Oakland amusement park Children’s Fairyland celebrated its 60th anniversary this weekend with two days of special events and activities. The park, which is geared towards young children, opened on September 2, 1950, and is credited as the first storybook-themed park in the nation.

Along for the ride with the East Bay Bike Party

The first rule of bike party is: Have fun during bike party. On Friday night, 300 cowboy-costumed cyclists rolled through three East Bay Cities, bringing the party with them. Listen to Oakland North Radio’s sound report of the happy biker pack out for the night.