Culture
The cold, gray skies and wind didn’t deter people from riding through Oakland’s Fruitvale district on Saturday to partake in the Tour de Taco.
This spring, Oakland North welcomes a new staff of 13 reporters, all students at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Got story ideas? Questions? Complaints? Please drop us a line at staff@oaklandnorth.net Elise Craig Elise Craig is a native Northern Californian who started writing at her high school newspaper, The Octagon. After graduating from Georgetown University in 2006, she spent two years as a producer on the breaking news desk of the washingtonpost.com, then quit her job on the InterWebs…
There are those who say that every beer has a story. A growing number of women in the Bay Area say that every story…should have a beer.
Bay Area residents have the chance to be fairy godparents by opening their closets and hearts to help a young women attend their high school proms. The Princess Project, now in its eighth year, is a volunteer effort to give accessories and new and gently used prom dresses to teens who otherwise couldn’t afford them.
In the era of Proposition 8 — the state constitutional amendment that says marriage is only legal between a man and a woman — same-sex couples are doing what they can to express their commitment to each other. Lindsay Nelson and Chelley Putzer participated in a Valentines Day instant wedding hosted by UrbanDaddy.com and the W Hotel. The ten couples who were married throughout the day had everything provided for them. For Lindsay and Chelley, that meant everything but a marriage certificate.
Coffee shops used to be the social hub of the community until laptops and wireless Internet turned them into libraries that serve food. In North Oakland, one coffee shop is trying to get the conversation started again. Shilanda Woolridge reports.
A sustainable garden, hip-hop and multimedia production — the Green Youth Arts and Media Center opened on January 14th in Oakland. It’s mission: to connect environmental sustainability to cultural practices and to mentor Oakland’s future leaders. Jun Stinson reports.
After the earthquake, Haitian dancers Portsha Jefferson and Colette Eloi were hearing from loved ones in Haiti who needed help. So they came together with other artists in Oakland, California to perform at a benefit concert. The money they raised was sent directly to friends and family in Haiti, where it will be distributed in their communities. Kate McLean reports. Photos courtesy of Congo SQ West, Rita Daniels and Rara Tou Limen.
Mike “DREAM” Francisco, a graffiti artist from Alameda who was murdered 10 years ago during a robbery, inspired young artists and his memory brought them together Friday for “Dream Day,” a celebration of his life and hip hop culture.