Oakland Celebrates Martin Luther King with music, ways to help
Article by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Mon, 16 Jan at 1:13pm.

Given the kind of year we've had, celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's memory and purpose this weekend in Oakland, CA seems like a pretty good idea.  Deep in the middle of a tough economy, city budget cuts,  a disaster in Haiti, and many local folks having a tough time getting by, celebrating King's purpose and spirit--and our own understanding of his work, might be just the thing.  Oakland Local takes a look at what's happening around town and hopes that at least one of these events can rock your world enough to get you out and into the spirit of the day.

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Oakland winemaker connects to history
Blog entry by Friends of Peralt....
Last updated at Sat, 3 Dec at 7:31am.

Martha Rueca-Gustafsson, owner of Roland Rosario Cellars, will be pouring a selection of her wine at a benefit for Friends of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park. This is your chance to taste a uniquely Oakland story.

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Public committee meetings in Oakland - all day Tuesday, April 26
Article by Ruth Miller.
Last updated at Tue, 26 Apr at 9:09am.

Every first and third Tuesday, Oakland Local gives you top five to watch for the upcoming City Council meeting. However, Oakland has far more meetings than that.

Every second and fourth Tuesday, the city's public agencies participate in a bi-weekly marathon of discussion in the first floor of City Hall.

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Oakland Mardi Gras: A Tale of the King Cake (and the Dimond)
Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Sat, 12 Mar at 10:49am.

If you live in Louisiana, you start working your way to Mardi Gras on January 6, the Twelfth Night (feast of Epiphany)--and keep it going until Mardi Gras aka Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which is March 8th this year.

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Mardi Gras Gumbo Throwdown in Jack London Square marks Bay Leaf Restaurant as the winner
Article by Robert Raburn.
Last updated at Wed, 9 Mar at 7:38am.

Miss Pearl’s Jam House hosted a “Gumbo Throwdown” on the Saturday before Mardi Gras next to the Oakland Estuary in Jack London Square. Only the bayou was missing! Crowds in beads sipped Abita beer while judging the best gumbos from six East Bay chefs.

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Laurel District's World Ground Cafe offers something for everyone in Oakland
Article by Tehea Robie.
Last updated at Wed, 22 Dec at 9:28am.

I found World Ground Cafe in 2002, when I lived on 35th Avenue and MacArthur, in the Laurel District. My roommate and I used to check out the cute lesbians who came in to study.

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Come out starting Oct. 15, meet District 4 City Council candidates
Blog entry by Oakland Local edi....
Last updated at Fri, 15 Oct at 6:42am.

Do you live in District 4? 

This Friday is the kick off of the DISTRICT 4 Council Candidates events in the Laurel and Allendale neighborhoods, sponsored by the Laurel District Association and the Laurel Village Association, w/local NCPC groups, the League of Women Voters and the  Allendale Recreational Center. Come out and talk to the candidates about issues you care about.

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Rezoning Oakland: Managing density and growth is goal
Article by Alan Lopez.
Last updated at Sat, 18 Sep at 7:44pm.

Some residents involved in the process to update the city’s zoning code say that Oakland is doing a good job incorporating public concerns into a far-reaching document that will help shape the look and density of the city for decades to come.

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