Temescal
As Temescal grew in 1870s, the small town became an important transportation hub for rail travelers passing between Oakland and Berkeley.
The physical evidence today is scarce, but Temescal began with the creek. Most of the section of Temescal Creek that runs through the Temescal district has been covered up. Over the years, the creek was gradually culverted through the flat lands of North Oakland, and many younger residents of the area today may not know that it even exists. But where the bustling intersection of 51st Street and Telegraph Avenue is located today was once a popular relaxation destination for…
For nearly 100 years, the Colombo Club has been the heart and soul of Temescal’s historic Italian community. With almost 1,000 members today, the Columbo Club is the largest private Italian social club west of the Mississippi River. Oakland North reporter Megan Molteni goes down to the club to learn about its long and storied history.
Check out photos of the 8th Annual Temescal Street Fair on Sunday. Thousands of people crammed into seven blocks of Telegraph Avenue, from 51st Street to 45th, on Sunday afternoon to eat popcorn and hotdogs, dance, shop and walk around.
A mural on the Highway 24 underpass at 52nd Street in Temescal that has been in the works for two years is close to completion. All that’s left is a little touch-up work and approval from BART to work on the two remaining blank columns. “It’s been an arduous process trying to work with the city bureaucracy trying to get this thing painted,” said Darlene Rios Drapkin, executive director of the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District. “We’re almost there,” she…
Temescal Street Cinema, now in its fourth year, regularly draws between 150 and 200 people out for a movie and music every Thursday night for a few weeks each summer, but its future funding is uncertain.
Two public safety debates dominated the Oakland City Council meeting on Tuesday: local merchants pleaded for increased policing and other neighbors turned out to oppose the planned Fruitvale gang injunction. The two discussions bookended a lengthy examination of plans to remodel the Telegraph Avenue McDonald’s.
As the heated California gubernatorial race moves into its final days, Oaklanders offer their opinions on who should take the seat. Will it be billionaire former Ebay CEO Meg Whitman or 1970s era governor and former mayor of Oakland, Jerry Brown? Oakland North went to the Temescal and City Center districts to find out. Check out all of our Oakland elections coverage on our Campaign 2010 page. Connect with Oakland North on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Residents in North Oakland’s Koreatown-Northgate district may soon be getting some new neighbors—a group of men and women trying to restart their lives after spending time behind bars. Center Point, Inc., a Marin-based non-profit social services agency, is planning to open a day reporting center for parolees from Oakland on the 33rd block of Telegraph.