Our lives were a blur last weekend, when the Oakland arts scene was dominated by hella First Friday events, Oakland Art Murmur, live entertainment, bars and restaurants. This weekend we can kick back, play it safe and save money for Valentine's Day by just picking one or two really good things to do. This is Black History Month, and it's absolutely in everyone's favor to get into the spirit of what that history means for Oakland.
As always, there is still a gang of artsy things to do, even if you are just hanging by the Lake, walking the dogs on the Estuary, admiring the Cranes, or just chillin' close to home. So who knows what you might want to do later on? So many choices! You've got two CD-release parties, a dance festival, a film festival, a stage-play-originally-staged-in-San-Francisco-now-staged-here-in-Oakland, comedy and of course, art gallery exhibitions and wine tasting. All right here in the 'Town. No need to leave town for your daily dose of Fun.
Just don't do nothing. Last year, The Godfather of Funk George Clinton, founder of Parliament-Funkadelic, rocked Oakland Yoshi's with a week-long jazz residency. But he left behind this (NSFW) message...
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2012
★POPLYFE'S SINGLE RELEASE PARTY!★
8:00pm
Yoshi's Oakland
510 Embarcadero West
Jack London Square
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510.238.9200
Ticket info here
Yoshi's is proud to present: Oakland's own teen idols, POPLYFE, from America's Got Talent, launching their new single "THE WORLD IS MY DANCE FLOOR!" Now available on iTunes!
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2012
Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now 2012
Weekend I
Laney College
900 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA
8:00 pm
BCF Performance Featuring:
Kendra Kimbrough Barnes, Latanya Tigner & Kiazi Malonga, Reginald Savage, Susanna Arenas, & Robert Moses
Oakland Interfatith Gospel Choir
8:00pm
The Cathedral of Christ the Light
2121 Harrison Street
Oakland,California
94612
Oakland's own multiracial, interfaith gospel choir, under the leadership of Artistic Director Terrance Kelly, performs traditional and contemporary Black gospel music and spirituals. This concert will also feature combined Choirs from the Diocese of Oakland. Complimentary Reception Following Concert. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Pre-concert tour at 7:00 pm. Info here:
Cedric The Entertainer's Valentine's Comedy Show
8:30-11:00 pm
2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
Considered one of the funniest comics in America, Actor/Comedian Cedric ‘The Entertainer’ is best known as one of the headlining stars of the hit feature film, The Original Kings of Comedy, directed by Spike Lee. Come see him live at the Paramount Theatre with your Valentine.
The Interrupters
Part of: A Celebration of Black History Month Through Film
Oakland City Hall, 3rd Floor
6:00pm
A premiere PBS Frontline documentary about a Chicago organization, "The Interrupters," dedicated to quelling inner city violence, by the director of "Hoop Dreams", an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival. See Ameena Matthews of The Interrupters February 1 interview on Stephen Colbert's show at this link:
The Love Show
The inaugural show at the new Gray Loft Gallery
Reception, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
2889 Ford Street, 3rd floor,
Jingletown, Oakland 94601
Announcing Oakland’s newest alternative art venue located in one of the oldest artist warehouse lofts in the area which now houses the Gray Loft Gallery. The gallery will be an alternative to traditional gallery spaces and will show work by emerging as well as established artists who want to show their work in an unconventional venue. The third floor gallery is located in the heart of Jingletown, an historic and thriving artist district Oakland. The inaugural show will feature work by more than 25 artists. On display will be photographs, paintings, monoprints and sculptures, which reflect love, passion, lust, hope, romance, broken hearts, true love, self-love.
Broun Fellinis' Record Release Party
8pm
347 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612
Come celebrate the release BLAM, pick up a CD and hear us in the flesh.
(510) 663-0271
Also: Artists collective BlackDiamonds Shiningwill be in the house with art supplies to sketch to the Broun Fellinis music, artist Deadeyes Black Futurist (who did the BLAM cover art) will be on hand with T-shirts. Facebook Event link:
Black and White
The Hive Collective
301 Jefferson Street
Reception
6:00-9:00pm
Tamales y Vino
621 4th St., Oakland, CA 94607
Art Show by Marlene White of the Hive Studios
Live Music by Oakland Latin Jazz artists, the Carlos Godinez Duet
Wine tasting at this Oakland winery and look for Tina Tamale traditional and Oakland-inspired tamale bites, specialty sausage from Chef Peter Jackson of Canvas Underground & decadent pastries from Moni Matasol of Semita Dulce.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2012
Saturday Stroll
Oakland Art Murmur's addition to the First Friday calendar.
Sixteen galleries open 1:00-5:00pm
Info here:
Bill Cosby
2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
8:30-11:30 pm
Over the past century, few entertainers have achieved the legendary status of William H. Cosby Jr. His successes span five decades and virtually all media, remarkable accomplishments for a kid who emerged from humble beginnings in a Philadelphia project. Bill Cosby is quite simply a national treasure.
Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now 2012
Weekend I
Laney College
900 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA
8:00 pm
Word Becomes Flesh, by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, presented in association with La Peña Cultural Center and The Living Word Project/Youth Speaks, Inc.
SLATE contemporary
473 25th st.
3:30pm
Exhibition walk-through with artists Jane Norling, Michele Hofherr, and Carol Charney at In addition to the exhibition
The Art of Letterpress
Opening Reception 6:00-9:00pm
1167 65th st., Oakland, CA 94608
The Compound Gallery in Oakland, CA is pleased to present The Art of Letterpress, an exhibition celebrating the bygone era of letterpress printing. Typography was once used to express both language and visual imagery, and the process involved in producing prints involved both craft and artistry. This exhibition features the work of artists who work in letterpress: Lisa Berman, Matt Chase, Tim Fite, Rachel Foster, Vanessa Huang, Jemmy Joe, Claire Kessler-Bradner, Brian Kring, Mary Laird, Studio Lorzig, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., Rebecca Peters, Lisa Rappaport, Two Fine Chaps, and more.
Info here:
Estelle
All of Me Tour
Doors: 8:00pm, Show: 9:00pm
579 18th St
Oakland, CA, 94612
U.K. MC Estelle got her start in London's renowned hip-hop record store Deal Real. Able to rap, sing, and write songs that have everyone from John Legend to Roots Manuva singing her praises.
Info here:
Jesus In India
Magic Theater
Laney College Theater
900 Fallon St.,
Oakland, CA, 94607
The world’s most famous rebel —before He found His cause! by Lloyd Suh, Directed by Daniella Topol.
Three years after his hit play, American Hwangap, Lloyd Suh is back with a contemporary take on the lost years of Jesus Christ. Teenaged and wayward, Jesus of Nazareth journeys to the East with his friend, Abigail of Galilee, toward a spiritual haven full of Maharajas, punk rock, and some really good weed.
San Francisco's Magic Theatre is offering a season of free performances in Oakland in conjunction with Laney College Theater Arts.
No tickets required / Limited seating
For more information, call Magic’s Box Office at 415.441.8822 or Awele Makeba, Community Producer at 510.601.0432
Info here:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2012
OMCA Family: Family Gallery Walk
1:00-1:45pm
Oakland Museum of California
100 Oak Street
This 45-minute docent-led family-friendly tour, offered the second Sunday of the month, is the perfect way for children of all ages and their adult companions to explore the Museum together. Meet at the Ticketing Hub, Level 2. Included with Museum admission. Free to OMCA Members. Info here:
Black Choreographers Festival: Here & Now 2012
Weekend I
Laney College
900 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA
4:00 pm
Youth Family Matinees
All Tickets $10
Featuring: Dimensions Extensions, Skyline High School Dance Dept, Oakland Tech Dance Dept, On Demand, Laney College Dance Dept and others.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2012
Inspired Open Mic
6:30-9:30pm
1738 Telegraph Avenue, downstairs
Oakland, CA 94612
Poets, singers, dancers, hip-hop artists, models--Coming together to share their art. All for only $5 at the door. An Oakland grass-roots talent show at its best.
Coming up next weekend: Oakland's own Don Cornelius Memorial Soul Train Line...
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