From the Oakland Local Editorial Team

This Saturday, May 26, the Fifth National Queer Arts Festival takes place - promising an intimate evening of art and conversation, which celebrates traditions of dissent and Queer Black Aesthetics!

As a local, community news nonprofit, Oakland Local works with local, community contributors to tell stories and share news that's important - whether it's going to interest big business advertisers or not. This means that we rely on you, community members, readers, and local businesses - to help keep us going.

With summer quickly approaching, the city of Oakland's Office of Parks and Recreation wants to improve the experience for residents interested in playing one of the most physical outdoor recreational sports.

If there's a "must read" for people interested in Oakland, it would have to be Oakland: The Story of a City, by Beth Bagwell. In order to fully understand Oakland in the present, it helps to know the story of the people and events that shaped it. As Living in the O blogger Rebecca Saltzman says, "it should be required reading for anyone who cares about Oakland." Unfortunately for Oakland supporters and history lovers, it's been out of print for many years, but thanks to the Oakland Heritage Alliance, not only is it back in print, but it's been updated to bring the story of Oakland up to the present.