Oakland art subscriptions services, like The Present Group, Art in a Box, bring out the collector in all of us
Article by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Tue, 13 Apr at 2:48pm.

Walking into an art gallery can be an intimidating experience, especially if you're looking to do more than just browse.

Price lists alone can seem daunting, not to mention the idea of trying to decide whether a piece will continue to compel over time, or how the art might fit with the existing decor. And did I mention the price?

Read the whole story...

Phat Beets kicks off improved farmer's market at Oakland Children's Hospital today
Article by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Tue, 13 Apr at 2:48pm.

A local food justice group is ramping up its farmer's market at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland with more stands, vouchers for some hospital patients, an innovative produce box program and a demonstration booth by People's Grocery, as well as plans for a nearby community garden in the coming months.

The market will offer two produce stands, J&P Organics and J and J Farms, along with goodies from an Oakland Mediterranean market called Med Food and Berkeley's Vital Vittles Breads and Bakery.

Read the whole story...

Furry pigs cause foodie frenzy in downtown Oakland
Article by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Thu, 31 Dec at 8:49pm.

Hungry for fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits topped with tender bacon and succulent sausage, foodies lined up early Sunday morning to pay top dollar for 5- or 10-pound shares of very special swine.

And when the pig ran out early, there were some very long faces.

Read the whole story...

Don't hog that hog: Sharing meat is all the rage
Article by Emilie Raguso.
Last updated at Sat, 5 Dec at 9:54am.

The deal went down by the Berkeley Marina. Matt Markovich handed over several hundred dollars to a man in a van and drove away 70 pounds heavier.

“It was like Miami Vice contraband,” Markovich, 36, said recently while sitting at the dining room table in his cozy Oakland home.

Read the whole story...