GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! WELCOME YEAR OF THE TIGER

It's the new year in the Chinese calendar--there's an annual Lunar New Year Celebration in Oakland sponsored by BART, the County of Alameda, the Asian Community Collaborative and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. The party's 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th Street in Oakland.  The celebration features live entertainment including the traditional lion dance, Asian and Filipino cultural performances and a gung fu martial arts demonstration.  If you're there and taking pictures, we'd love to post some--meanwhile, scroll down for shots from last year by 37 C.

"The city is in a precipice of change.  This police organization has the propensity to be the  economic driver for not only the city of Oakland, but for the region, Young kids growing up have the right to grow up in a city that is safe."  Who said that? If you guessed Police Chief Anthony Batts, you were right--listen to the whole KCBS interview here and here and find out more about how Batts sees his new city. (But no, he doesn't mention The Year of the Tiger.)

Take E, Shoot Nude photos? Photographic pedophile predator arrested in Sacto may also have operated in Oakland. Want to hear more about a man preying on young teens? This is your story.

"It's not just hippies in tie-dye." Oaksterdam is the subject of a USA Today story on students for Pot University.

It's not just pot dispensaries in Oakland." Berkeley's City Council gave a longtime medical marijuana dispensary the green light to move its operations to the former Scharffen Berger chocolate building, over objections of a developer and a private school who threatened to sue the city over the move, says Inside Bay Area.

Assulted Hayward dancer back on stage in Concord. Severly beaten, he's now dancing again. Awwwww. GOOD NEWS.

BYE-BYE SWEET JIMMIE: Oakland Seen's Aimee Allison remembers Jimmie Ward, who just passed at age 74

The Good Life: Berkeleyside reports that the upscale and delicious Wood Tavern up on College is expanding into the vacated space next door. (Susan says: This is a special occasion favorite). Oaktown Art visits BayVan Gallery and digs it.

About Susan Mernit

Susan Mernit is the founder of Oakland Local. She is also a circuit rider for The Community Information Challenge, a program of The John S and James L Knight Foundation, and a consultant to non-profit and community organizations. Susan lives in North Oakland, near the Santa Fe school, with her partner Andy, her housemate, a big old dog named Winston, and a yard full of ants. She is an aspiring gardener, a long-time blogger & entrepreneur, and a recovering journalist.