Article by Tehea Robie.
Last updated at Sat, 28 Aug at 1:30pm.

Divinity Voice is a small, but welcoming space, that features some of the Bay’s best artists, hands down. This is why it’s making my must-see list two weeks in a row.

Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Mon, 23 Aug at 9:44am.

Thousands of people filled downtown during this past weekend's Art and Soul Festival. And while the amazing Oakland-related performers - from Oakland native MC Hammer to Cake's John McRea to our very own Kev Choice, plus Club Nouveau, Pete Escovedo, Sheila E and Tony Toni Toné - thrilled the crowds who dug the hip hop, the pop, the jazz, the rock, R&B and gospel. It seemed like the main attraction - besides sunny skies- was Oakland itself, and the need to celebrate the arts, the spirit and the determination that makes our city great.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Mon, 23 Aug at 7:53am.

t’s easy to overlook MC Hammer in the pop culture canon. In the late 80s and early 90s, hip-hop was still mainly underground. As the genre’s first major crossover star, Hammer shattered mainstream barriers many didn’t know existed. The Oakland product and onetime McClymonds student was the first rap artist to sell 10 million records. His breakthrough hit, “U Can’t Touch This,” made him a household name in the suburbs. At the peak of his fame, he even had a Saturday morning cartoon show, “Hammerman.”

Article by CB Smith-Dahl.
Last updated at Mon, 16 Aug at 7:53am.

(Editor's note: The following piece was written in part by 8-year-old twins Mimi and Cici, who also are the OL cub reporters who hosted the following review of the musuem's newest exhibit. See related story here.)

Earlier this month, Oakland Local sent my daughters – Mimi & Cici – to cover the opening of “Pixar: 25 Years in Animation” at the Oakland Museum of California. Here's what they had to say about their experience.

Article by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Sat, 14 Aug at 8:47am.

 For anyone and everyone with an appreciation for the green hip hop movement, Saturday's Fresh Fest is a don't miss  A packed half day of music and events to be held on August 14th from noon to 6 pm at Oakland's pretty Mosswood Park,

Article by Jennifer Inez Ward.
Last updated at Sun, 1 Aug at 7:34am.

This Saturday, July 31, after a tour around the world, the Pixar 25 year retrospective made its hometown debut at the Oakland Museum of California.

Article by Amy Gahran.
Last updated at Tue, 13 Jul at 6:48am.

Photos of downtown Oakland an hour before the Johannes Mescherle verdict was due to be announced. Many -- but not most -- businesses were boarded up in the vicinity of 15th and Webster.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Mon, 12 Jul at 7:26am.

The day Oakland won’t soon forget kicked off with a text message.

Article by Amy Gahran.
Last updated at Fri, 9 Jul at 1:03pm.

On July 8, 2010, just after 4pm PT, it was announced that a Los Angeles jury found former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the Jan 1, 2009 shooting death of the unarmed 22-year-old Hayward resident Oscar Grant.

Article by Amy Gahran.
Last updated at Fri, 9 Jul at 1:01pm.

Through the evening of July 8, 2010, Spot.us founder David Cohn photographed the protests, vandalism, and Oakland Police response to public unrest after the Johannes Mehserle verdict:

Article by Marv Nettles.
Last updated at Fri, 9 Jul at 11:04am.

Oakland Local photographer Marv Nettles caught the initial reaction of Oaklanders near 14th and Broadway, downtown Oakland, to the news of the verdict.

 

Article by Stephen Allen.
Last updated at Fri, 9 Jul at 10:52am.

Oakland Local Reporter Stephen Allen captured a quiet but wary downtown Oakland just before the Mehserle verdict was announced. Business owners were boarding up storefronts, TV news vans were seen around town, and office workers headed home early.

 

Article by Amy Gahran.
Last updated at Fri, 9 Jul at 10:06am.

On July 8, 2010, Oakland Local senior editor Amy Gahran strolled downtown Oakland an hour before the verdict was announced. Many, but not most, storefronts were boarded up:

Article by Oakland Local edi....
Last updated at Thu, 8 Jul at 9:51pm.

The following updates are from the Oakland Local team - in collaboration with The Bay Citizen - both on location, in downtown Oakland and elsewhere around the city. Keep watching this page for fresh updates. All times noted are Pacific Time.

Article by Amy Gahran.
Last updated at Thu, 8 Jul at 3:50pm.

Reporting by Thandisizwe Chimurenga, in Los Angeles

 

As of 3:40 pm, the Bay Area is poised to hear the verdict in the trial of former BART police officer Johannes Mescherle, which is expected to be announced 4:00 pm PT.

Article by Amy Gahran.
Last updated at Thu, 8 Jul at 3:50pm.

Reporting by Thandisizwe Chimurenga, in Los Angeles

 

As of 3:40 pm, the Bay Area is poised to hear the verdict in the trial of former BART police officer Johannes Mescherle, which is expected to be announced 4:00 pm PT.