Culture
Tuesday’s transit of Venus—a celestial passage of the planet across the Sun—attracted thousands of people from across the Bay Area to Chabot Space and Science Center, all eager to see an orbit that will go back into hiding until December, 2117. The line of people stretched so far outside of the observatory that workers inside were calling out the headcount by the hour on walkie talkies, saying that the day could set the attendance record for America’s largest public telescope facility.
On Saturday, ASCEND K-8 opened its doors to students, families and the entire Fruitvale community for its Spring Exposition of Learning where students showcased written reports, artwork, multimedia presentations and musical compositions created during the semester.
It’s Sunday afternoon at the Macarthur B. Arthur Gallery in North Oakland as Saskia Levy-Sheon chooses songs on her laptop to play as background music. It’s the last day of her gallery show. As she does this, a local resident who only gives his name as Pierre comes in and takes a look around the exhibit. “Man this is beautiful!” Pierre exclaims as he examines the photographs and artwork arranged neatly around the gallery. “It’s about time somebody started represented…
On a Wednesday at Lake Merritt Dance Center—while the day’s usual runners circle the lake—seniors are tightening the strings on their dress shoes as they get ready for “Over the Hump,” a weekly dance lesson that culminates with dancing the night away until 11 o’clock.
The ladles were out at Issues—a magazine store known for its comprehensive international selections—for their 5th year anniversary party that featured a chili cook-off.
The Institute of Urban Homesteading, which offers classes that focus on living in an urban environment and in “rescuing” the lost arts of gardening, work in the kitchen and other work performed by hand, will host its second annual Urban Farm Tours day on Saturday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seven homes will be featured in guided tours through small medium and large lots in Glenview, Montclair, Oakland and North and West Berkeley.
On Thursday evening, the 6th Annual Oakland Indie Awards honored local business and artists at the Henry J Kaiser Permanente Center in the rooftop garden room. Hundreds of entrepreneurs, craftspeople, and vendors attended the event including honorary hosts Mayor Jean Quan and Congresswoman Barbara Lee. This year, there were over 200 nominees among Oakland’s businesses, restaurants, manufacturers, clothing designers and artists. Hosted by One Pacific Coast Foundation and the East Bay Express, those in attendance enjoyed performances by the Oaktown…
The City of Oakland has been through this before—the owner of a local professional sports franchise announces they’re moving the team out of town, leaving the Coliseum for a state-of-the-art facility somewhere else.
The Senseless Bureau knows how to grip their audience with plays on gender, nuance and innuendo. Their improv show—filled with ad-lib, mime and intuition—is provocative and carefree.