Culture

Oakland startup builds “social democracy” app

Ever find yourself frustrated with the back and forth group messaging, conference calling and group emailing that often precede decision-making in small groups? An Oakland-based startup seeks to end that with a social decision making application they say is designed to deliver “social democracy” in group decision making, based on a concept they call dynamic voting. From small-group decisions about whether to watch the Oakland Raiders or the San Francisco 49ers  to more complex political decisions about whether Barack Obama…

Beauty’s brings Montreal-style wood oven baked bagels to Oakland

Amy Remsen and Blake Joffe—she experienced in the restaurant business and he as a chef—opened Beauty’s Bagels in Oakland last August. For the past few months, the small Temescal shop on Telegraph Avenue has seen a steady flow of customers, with lines occasionally winding out the front door and spilling onto the sidewalk.

Forty Blocks: Oakland’s Telegraph Avenue in photos

A photography class at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism documented the Oakland stretch of Telegraph Avenue last fall in photos. This photo series follows Telegraph Avenue from 51st Street in Temescal to the heart of downtown Oakland at 14th Street.

After more than 50 years, Sarber’s Cameras will shutter the shop

From his dark, cramped second floor office, David Sarber looks out a narrow window to the sales floor below, surveying the final days of the business his family has run for some 50 years. A large sign outside reads: “LIQUIDATION SALE Everything Must Go.” After opening in 1961 and coming to Montclair Village in Oakland in 1964, Sarber’s Cameras will close up shop at the end of January.

Ready for new art shows? Oakland galleries kick off 2013

Oakland’s art galleries are kicking off 2013 with a round of new exhibits, from abstract sculptures and bold paintings to photographs and seemingly mundane objects portrayed in a new light. Art enthusiasts can roam Oakland from Alcatraz Avenue to the waterfront this month in search of inspiration, distraction or a fun outing on a weekend afternoon.

Oakland School for the Arts celebrates its 10th anniversary with a show at the Fox

The downtown Oakland school, founded in 2002 by Governor Jerry Brown who was then Oakland’s mayor, will celebrate its 10th birthday Thursday night with a performance at the Fox Theater. It is the only public charter performing arts school in Oakland, and is actually made up nine different schools, each spanning grades 6-12, that teach dance, instrumental music, vocal music, digital media, literary arts, production design, theatre, visual arts, and circus arts.