Article by D. Jean Collins.
Last updated at Tue, 7 Feb at 7:01am.

With stores in Oakland and San Francisco, Marcus Books is the oldest Black book shop in the country.  Blanche Richardson operates the Oakland store.  She took time between a steady stream of customers to talk about working in this famous family business.

Article by Kristi Holohan.
Last updated at Sun, 5 Feb at 10:17am.

The streets of the Fruitvale District are lined with produce stands and street vendors.

Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Fri, 9 Dec at 7:14am.

"It is a difficult matter to argue with the belly since it has no ears." — Cato the Elder

Caffe 817
was a beloved Old Oakland spot before Emily and Scott Goldenberg came in several months ago. 

Article by Susie Wyshak.
Last updated at Mon, 21 Nov at 9:35pm.

I’ll never forget my first sight of Vice Chocolates’ farmer’s market booth: black and purple, more dark carnival than dark chocolate.

Now here at I-Li Chang Brice’s workshop in a corner brick building near Jack London Square, the chocolate takes on a more innocent air. That is until I-Li says, “Taste the skeleton,” her tattooed arm holding out a bag of dark brown bones.

Blog entry by Charlie Stephens.
Last updated at Thu, 27 Oct at 10:43am.

Tucked away on the east side of Lake Merritt is a little shop that you wish you had stumbled upon on accident. It’s one of those gems you find and then can’t believe everyone you like isn’t hanging out there all the time.

Article by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Tue, 19 Jul at 1:12am.

Nobody would mistake 64th & San Pablo in the Golden Gate neighborhood of Oakland for 51st and Telegraph in Temescal, but there's no question that in the past 18 months, things have truly improved.

Blog entry by Susan Mernit.
Last updated at Fri, 13 May at 6:20am.

We're huge fans of the handmade pottery crafted by Whitney Smith right here in Oakland. Smith's gorgeous pieces make the rounds of craft shows and fairs around the country - and on Etsy - but they're produced right here in our Town.

Article by Niema Jordan.
Last updated at Sun, 20 Mar at 5:43am.

"I've seen this experience translated into classroom settings, text books and in intense educational documentaries," explains Adimu Madyun, also known as WolfHawkJaguar. "But, I wanted to translate it into the hip-hop genre because that's what I come from.