Blog entry by Oakland Local edi....
Last updated at Thu, 8 Jul at 7:26am.

The city may be poised for the Mehserle verdict and the budget may be a mess, but that doesn't get in the way of City Council member Jane Brunner's July 11th BBQ. 

Held from 12 noon to 4 PM at the North Temescal Picnic Site at Lake Temescal (6500 Broadway if you need your GPS, the party offers free drinks and BBQ meats--but you have to bring a side dish to share.

Article by Oakland Food Poli....
Last updated at Fri, 25 Jun at 11:18am.

 Starting Saturday July 3rd, Phat Beets Produce will join North Oakland Pediatrics in opening a new Farmers' Market in North Oakland (5715 Market St) rooted not only in sustainable food, but in food justice. The grand opening will feature a variety of organic, pesticide free, and local fruit and vegetable growers, local bakers socially grounded food businesses, local crafts as well as live jazz music, live art, and free cooking demos.

Article by Meg Spohn.
Last updated at Tue, 15 Jun at 1:56am.

Enjoyed a free first-rate local film projected onto the wall of a bank lately - with free popcorn and live music included? No?! Well, every Thursday evening from June 17 through July 22, beginning at 8 p.m., anyone stopping by 49th and Telegraph can be treated to just that.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Mon, 7 Jun at 3:22pm.

This just in - It’s officially summertime in the O.

The summer solstice may be a few weeks off, but if the nice weather at Sunday’s Temescal Street Fair is any indication of what to expect in the meantime, it’s time to put those winter clothes away (if you haven’t already) and get down in the sunshine - just like that Roy Ayers song says.
 

Article by Alan Lopez.
Last updated at Mon, 24 May at 2:47pm.

Lighting, pollution and increased parking associated with the massive rebuild of the Kaiser Medical Cen

Article by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Mon, 24 May at 10:27am.

So, as you know, the Merritt Bakery has asked the city for another $150,000 in loans to help keep it afloat and keep its staff working, this after borrowing more than $800,000.

Despite many Oakland Local community members' comments on OL and Facebook that most of the food is overpriced, the vegetables taste canned, and the people running it don't seem to understand fiscal management on the most basic level (don't mix your personal checking with your business checking), it's pretty clear that Dellums, at the June 1 City Council meeting, is going to make sure the Council approves the loan.

Article by Sara Kassabian.
Last updated at Sat, 15 May at 1:46am.

Temescal is a hotspot this summer for festivals celebrating local businesses, sustainability and community. (See the map here.)  

Article by Stephanie Paige O....
Last updated at Tue, 4 May at 12:29pm.

In April 2009, a cryptic sign appeared in the window of a run-down building on the 43rd block of Telegraph Avenue. Black print on white paper shaped a question mark, whose dot was a hand-drawn coffee mug. People slowed as they walked past, seeming to wonder: Is Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood finally getting a coffee shop?

Article by Laura McCamy.
Last updated at Sat, 24 Apr at 1:01pm.

Last year, Mike Napolitano heard something at a school meeting that upset him.  “We learned that we were going to lose about 15% of our site budget.  It was demoralizing.” 

Napolitano decided to take action:  he sent an email to other parents suggesting a bike ride to Sacramento to bring attention to the budget cuts.

Article by Alan Lopez.
Last updated at Fri, 23 Apr at 5:26pm.

Construction of a new five-story parking garage at the MacArthur BART station could begin as early as 2011 as part of a plan to revitalize the area in the coming years with new housing and retail.

Article by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Thu, 18 Mar at 6:52pm.

If you’ve lived in Oakland long, you’ve probably seen them outside a dive bar or gallery, the skinny-jeaned hipsters with long bangs and eyeliner smoking in packs, possibly clutching cans of Pabst. For those who don’t know better, this manifestation of “indie,” or independent, culture may be as far as the idea goes.

Article by Deborah Sherman.
Last updated at Wed, 10 Mar at 10:26pm.

What do you get when one reformed stock-analyst turned foodie, one ex-computer-programmer with a penchant for swiss kitchen gadgetry, and one professionally trained pastry chef all join forces? How about a company making what has to be the BEST sorbet you've ever tasted-- Scream Sorbet.

Article by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Fri, 12 Feb at 5:22pm.

About 3,400 Oakland residents around Temescal and Piedmont Avenue are eligible for free parking permits for the next 50 years, courtesy of Kaiser Permanente.

Blog entry by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Sat, 6 Feb at 1:25am.

From the Temescal Telegraph Business District's Web site:

Article by Beth Terry.
Last updated at Tue, 26 Jan at 10:48am.

They said they’d do it, and now Urban Village Farmers Markets, the organization that runs the Temescal, Montclair, and Old Oakland farmers markets, has finally banned plastic bags! Originally scheduled to go into effect on October 1, the ban was pushed to January of this year to give vendors time to research their options and prepare for the change over. Beginning this month, a sign greets patrons as they enter the market informing them of the change and encouraging shoppers to bring their own reusable bags.

Article by Amy Gahran.
Last updated at Sat, 2 Jan at 3:46pm.

Last night I spent my first New Year's Eve in Oakland at home with friends in the Temescal neighborhood. Just before midnight, and for quite a while afterward, I heard what I could have sworn were gunshots. A lot of them. From a lot of different directions. But I figured, nah, it couldn't really be.