Culture and Entertainment – What’s Happening in the East Bay

One of the things I want this site to become is a source of information on things to do in the East Bay.  We have a magnitude of rich cultural events, restaurants, and places to go have fun.  We want all those San Francisco people who want more square footage for their dollar to know we have something going on over here. Many of us who live here don’t even know what we are missing. (If you have a suggestion of a fun event to go see, a great restaurant you’ve just had dinner at, or anything related to entertainment and culture in the East Bay, please send in your comments and add to this site.)

My partner and I just went to a fantastic play at the Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond. Where is Point Richmond you ask? It’s the coolest little town right on the bay and is the best kept secret in the East Bay. There are lots of little cafes and restaurants and it is very charming. I’ll provide you with more information on Point Richmond another time.  

The show we saw was Moliere’s Tartuffe. The theatre is small and intimate and perfect for this type of production. We were extremely impressed with the quality of the acting. They performed it brilliantly which is not an easy thing, given that the entire Play is written in verse. When I heard it was written in verses and rhyme I was worried it would be irritating to listen to but in fact the production was quite the opposite. It was funny, edgy, and very contemporary in the issues it addresses in terms of right wing hypocrisy. Alexaendrai Bond, who played Dorine the maid, was hilarious. Our neighbor, Christine Steers, was the assistant director and stage manager of the production and did a phenomenal job for her first time at Masquers.  We can hardly wait to see their next production, The Full Monte, playing May 23rd – July 5th.

And then we visited another event at the Oakland Museum that our neighbor, Alisa A. de Jong-Stout, internationally acclaimed floral designer and horticulturist and author of “A Master Guide to the Art of Floral Design”, suggested we go see. (Don’t we have amazing neighbors?) The event occurs yearly but only lasts for 2 days, “The California Wildflower Show”.  Hundreds of wildflowers from all over the state are on display. Because have many different sub-climates in California, we have an amazing variety of flowering plants in the spring. Those range from plants you see in the desert to ones along the coastal ranges to the mountains of the Sierras. The flowers were displayed along with an art exhibit from photography taken in the East Bay Regional Parks. All of the people who make this event possible each year donate their time. This was a fun thing to bring kids to as well as they could learn how to create a child-sized bouquet, compose a mini-terrarium, or find out how bees help to pollinate. There were slide shows and lectures and something for the whole family to enjoy. Remember to put this on your calendar for next year.

 

Coming up soon is a fundraiser for Think College Now (TCN) sponsored by Pacific Union. TCN Won a 2008 California Distinguished School Award. TCN is an elementary school in Oakland’s Fruitvale district committed to doing work to secure a bright future for children.  Through its unique focus on college prep beginning in kindergarten, TCN is determined to give its students – 91% of whom live at or below the poverty level – the same opportunities children have in wealthier communities.  The TCN community is a group of teachers, volunteers, and students’ families doing incredible work; but they must raise money from the greater community in order to continue to keep class sizes small, maintain the computer lab, and pay for essential after-school programs. 

 

This year the fundraiser features jazz recording artist, Oakland’s own – Nicolas Bearde, who is also a member of Bobby McFerrin’s world renowned a cappella vocal ensemble, “Voicestra”.  Nicolas packs them in whenever he appears at Yoshi’s, where he applies his remarkably elastic, richly resonant baritone pipes to tunes associated with Lou Rawls. We are lucky to have him volunteer this performance for TCN.  David Silver, TCN principal, will be on hand to share his passion, and tell us more about being one of three Oakland schools to win The Distinguished School Award from the California Department of Education. There will be a wide array of hors d’oeuvres for your eating pleasure and a no host bar. Nicolas will perform from 6-6:45 P.M. and then a second set from 7:15-8:00 P.M. 

 

Wonderful trips will be auctioned between sets: A golf trip to the Western USA Finals in Carmel on July 6-7, 2008 with one night accommodations at the Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club, a Puerto Vallarta Private Villa Experience for seven nights and a Cabo Weekend Luxury Escape to Marquis Los Cabos.

 

Please join us in supporting Think College Now at this fabulous fundraiser.

 

Date:   Friday, May 30, 2008

Time:   5:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

Place:   Scotts Pavilion at Jack London Square

Price:   $50.00 ($25 goes directly to Think College Now)

Tickets sold at the door.  Credit cards welcome.

 

If you aren’t able to attend the fundraiser but would like to contribute, checks can be made payable to “OSSF-Think College Now Fund” and addressed to Pacific Union, 1900 Mountain Blvd. Oakland, CA 94611 Attn: Think College Now.  You can also donate on-line at http://www.thinkcollegenow.org/supportus.  (On the donation page, please be sure to type “Think College Now” in the designation field.)

I look forward to seeing you on May 30 for a wonderful evening of fun!

 

Edited by Dan Joy