The midday sun was bright and strong, but thankfully Franklin Square in Uptown Oakland was well-shaded, with two large picnic tables, a half dozen smaller metal ones, and a woman in a red dress crooning into a microphone. A man jangled keys on a color-matched keyboard behind her.

This was AMP Lunch and Listen, a new series of free weekly lunch hour concerts presented by Oakland Central as part of its Oakland Works Wednesdays, a program looking to revitalize downtown with arts and commerce.

I’m sure you’d agree that the hallmarks of a great Irish pub include great drinks, a thriving community, authentic Irish food and live music. Sláinte Oakland in Jack London has all of that but its origin story and remarkable revival following the closure in 2023 is what gives this place

By Andy Samwick Foliage is a restaurant that has emerged quietly yet confidently from the shadow cast by the saga of Marlena’s closure. Under the stewardship of Chef Mo Bejar and his team, it has become a beacon of culinary excellence in the picturesque corner of Precita Park, situated within

I got the unfortunate news yesterday that Hobson’s Choice, San Francisco’s Victorian punch house on Haight Street, is closing down after 26 years. Owner Chris Dickerson confirmed the rumor to me over text message. Although Dickerson is not sure when the final day will be, the nail is in the

2020 started with the impeachment of Donald Trump, the first attempted presidential ousting since Clinton twenty-two years prior. A volcano in the Philippines erupted, killing thirty-nine and leaving many without homes. LA Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Maria-Onore died in a helicopter crash. A novel SARS virus

Last weekend, the team behind the much beloved Dicken’s Faire put on a new festival called Céilí on the Lake. Centered around Irish Dancing and Irish music, Céilí on the Lake welcomed Spring and celebrated Beltane with great food, sweet kid-friendly activities, tons of live music, artisan-made crafts, and of

Dick’s Donuts on High Street in Oakland was robbed by a regular customer on Thursday of last week in broad daylight. During a brief quiet moment in an otherwise busy morning, a man came into Dick’s Donuts, broke down the plastic barrier on the counter and took the entire register

When was the last time a night out felt special? Not just leaving the house to do something but, as my dad would say, “stepping out on the town.” Well, for the next three weeks, Honey Art Studio, in collaboration with Walking Cinema and Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement, is giving