Grand Avenue Merchants Host Block Party To Thank Shoppers
July 25, 2008
| August 5, 2008 |
The Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA) is sponsoring the Third Annual Grand Avenue Block Party, on National Night Out, Tuesday, August 5, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Merchants plan to thank residents with such offers as free YouTube videotaping, free dance lessons and free food. Live music will be performed on the Avenue, and GABA will be grilling hot dogs and corn — all at no charge during the Block Party.
For more information call Nicholas Eveleigh GABA President at 510-421-1020 or Stu Sweetow Secretary at 510-839-2020.
McClure and Brooks Perform at Berkeley Library
April 8, 2008
| April 13, 2008 | ||
| 2:00 am | to | 4:00 am |
In collaboration with the 2nd Annual Bay Area Jazz Poetry Festival, the Berkeley Public Library is proud to present the kick off event “Light, life and grahhrr…Poetry and Jazz” with legendary poet Michael McClure and saxophonist George Brooks. Join us at the Central Library, 2090 Kittredge Street in the Art & Music Department on the 5th floor from 2-4PM on Sunday, April 13th to celebrate Jazz and Poetry appreciation month. [Read more]
“The Movement Spring Showcase” at Julia Morgan Theater
April 2, 2008
| April 18, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 pm | to | 10:00 pm |
Two nights of lively moves from hip-hop to swing to jazz from U.C. Berkeley’s student dance group, The Movement. For more info, visit www.juliamorgan.org.
UC Berkeley’s The Movement Spring Showcase
Julia Morgan Center for the Arts
2640 College Avenue, Berkeley
Friday, April 18 at 8:00pm and Saturday, April 19 at 7:00PM
$9 available at the door
Preparing Children For Success in School
April 2, 2008
| April 5, 2008 | ||
| 9:30 am | to | 12:00 pm |
Dr. Pam Simms-Mackey, Chair of Alameda First 5 Commission and Associate Director of Medical Education at Children’s Hospital will speak to parents about how to prepare one’s child for school Saturday, April 5, 9:30 – 10:00 at the World Conquerors Church, 4500 Redwood Rd., Oakland, and (Bayview Fellowship Church).
Registration & Continental Breakfast 10:00 – 12:00; Seminar, Q&A, Parent Kit Overview & for an important seminar on what parents can do to ensure their child enters school ready to learn and succeed.
Pastor Daren L. Barron, Sr. said Rona Renner, RN, “Nurse Rona”, Host of Childhood Matters on 98.1 KISS FM will join Dr. Simms-Mackey. RSVP by contacting Michelle Wilson at (510) 757-5998 or mlmcmillan@aol.com
Minority Owned Business Opportunities with BART
April 2, 2008
| April 2, 2008 | ||
| 4:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
BART wants to determine if Minority-owned businesses are receiving their fair share of businesses and contracts. The agency is conducting an Availability and Utilization Study (Study) to determine whether minority and woman-owned firms have had equal access to BART contracts.
Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. And BART, along with several local chambers of commerce and trade associations, will host a meeting April 2, 6:00 PM at the Joseph P. Bort Metro Center, Lawrence D. Dahms Auditorium, 101-8th Street, Oakland to discuss the Study.
40 Years Grieving; Now Live the Dream
April 2, 2008
| April 4, 2008 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 2:00 pm |
A public reading of Dr, Martin Luther King’s prophetic speech, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.” will be held on the 40th anniversary of his assassination, Friday, April 4: 12 noon - 2 pm at the Oakland Federal Building, 1301 Clay St. in downtown Oakland. Ms. George Friday, Director, Independent Progressive Politics Network and past National Co-Chair, United for Peace and Justice will be the special invited quest.
The First Congregational Church offers an informal breakfast, music and a participatory reading of Dr. MLKing’s speech followed by a discussion facilitated by George Friday. The Breakfast begins Saturday, April 5: 10 am - 12:30 pm at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison at 27th Street.
Donation requested to cover food and expenses: $5 - $15 sliding scale; no one turned away. RSVP to Phyllis Olin at olins@pacbell.net
Provost Calls for “Conversations” On The Status of Women
March 26, 2008
| March 25, 2008 | ||
| 8:00 am | to | 10:00 am |
Lorraine K. Provost, Exec. Director of the Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women announced that her organization will hold a “Community Conversation” to identify the needs of girls and women.
The “Conversations”, which are co-sponsored by the Alameda County Leadership Circle, are designed to help support the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The meeting will be held during Women’s History Month in District 5, Tuesday, March 25, from 6pm to 8pm, at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. Although signed by Pres. Carter in 1980, and signed by 189 countries, CEDAW is still awaiting full ratification in the U.S. by a two-thirds Senate majority.
Provost said local organizations, advocates, and community leaders are being invited to participate in the forum to assist in the design of an action plan to increase the status of women and girls. She says the Commission wants to establish a virtual resource center and clearinghouse through the use of the Internet and networks to link groups and individuals.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Alameda COSW Executive Director, Lorraine K. Provost at (510) 259-3871.
Lizz Wright at Yoshi’s
March 5, 2008
| March 5, 2008 | ||
| 11:00 pm |
Vocal phenomenon Lizz Wright, a Georgia native and minister’s daughter, grew up steeped in gospel music and choral singing. With her rich brew of gospel, jazz, and R&B, Wright made a vivid first impression on her 2003 recording Salt, which became a Billboard jazz chart staple (as did its follow-up, Dreaming Wide Awake, which reached Number One). Wright has also recorded with Joe Sample, Toots Thielemans, Danilo Perez, and David Sanborn. She’s a songwriter of conviction and skill, and has unerring taste in selecting material by writers from Patsy Cline to Fats Waller and the Beatles. Of an appearance with the Count Basie Orchestra, All About Jazz wrote: “Wright held the audience’s rapt attention with her strong contralto voice [and] her depth of expression with fine articulation and spiritual conviction.” Lizz Wright returns to Yoshi’s to celebrate her new CD The Orchard.
Lizz Wright
Mar 6-8
Thursday both shows $20 Friday $24, Saturday both shows $24
Yoshi’s Jazz Club
510 Embarcadero West
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 238-9200
www.yoshis.com
Blues and Black History
February 13, 2008
By Ronnie Stewart
The “Blues in the Schools” Program which uses local blues musicians to provide instruction on the playing of musical instruments as well to teach the history of the Blues and to students will receive much-needed financial support from The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and Awards Show held 7:00PM, Saturday, March 29, at the Oakland City Center Marriott Hotel, 1001 Broadway.
The City of Oakland and the West Coast Blues Society will honor blues, jazz and gospel artists for their contributions to the art form called Blues and to celebrate Black History Month. This year’s inductees will cover a very broad array of greats who helped to keep blues alive. Eighteen artists will be inducted into the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and the Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the artist who has most influenced a generation of musicians.
This year’s show will induct Pinetop Perkins, Ray Taliaferro, Fillmore Slim; Lady Bianca; Lil Frances; Joel Dorham, Coke Escovedo, Adolph Jacobs, Freddie Hughes, Ferdinand “Fats” Washington; The Continental Club; The Passions; The Hawkins Family (Edwin, Tramaine, Walter); Nat Dove; Nick Harper; Lee Ashford; Connie Bailey; and Joe Simon. The Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Awards presented to Lady Esther of Esther’s Orbit Room and Frosene Phillips.
TICKETS: $30 in advance; $35 at the door – After Party included. highsierratickets.com or tickets.com
African American Historical & Cultural Society Kicks off Black History Month
February 6, 2008
Photo and text by Wade Woods.
Last Friday an over flow crowd of African American community residents and Leaders jammed into San Francisco City Hall to commensurate the beginning of Black History Month. The crowd included dignities including Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, Mayor Gavin Newsom, NAACP President Amos Brown, Rev. Arelious Walker, and others. The event was presided over by San Francisco Historical Society President Al Williams.
