Direction for Tomorrow's Art Murmur

First:
Check out Miss California and the promised-to-be awwww inspiring lighting of Jack London Square


Second:
Velo Wonderland: Bike and Art Party
Bicycle-themed and recycled art curated by local artist Margo Rivera-Weiss. Enjoy snacks from Spice Monkey and beer from Linden Street Brewery. DJ Olga T will be spinning music all night long.


Third:
Meander among the more southernly Art Murmur galleries that you never make it to, starting with the art space that is celebrating its opening next to the Layover. For a map of these galleries see HERE

Trying to Quit? Some Christmas Carols to Spur You Along...

Badass East Bay Christmas Celebrations

So I covered the children-friendly Christmas celebrations happening this week, now for a couple adult and O-so-Oakland versions...


Nightmare Before Christmas Electronic-Music (Rave)
3 rooms of sound. Pictures with "Gangsta Santa". Dancing from 10pm-6am.
Whats not to like? Get your tickets fast though as they jump up in price soon. Happens this Friday, Dec 4th.


East Bay SantaCon
Perhaps you have heard of SantaCon? Basically it's an event where people get dressed up as Santa and do a pub crawl together, usually with many moments of un-Santa-like behavior along the way. San Francisco obviously has a huge one, but if you are hardcore East Bay pride like me, get your kicks in Alameda this Friday.

Half Priced Oakland Raiders Tickets - 2 games left!

"Friends" of the Red Cross can get $71 seats at the upcoming Redskins game for only 30 bucks. The money in turn goes to support the Red Cross, so everyone wins! Check out the deal HERE

Great Art, Great Wine...She only needs You!

I had the distinct pleasure of living in an artist's flat when I first moved to the Bay. Maria Nikl, the artist, was out of town for a couple months visiting her family in Hungary, and sublet her place to me. Living among her art was magical, and it was really tough to leave.

Long story short, she is having a gallery showing in Alameda and I highly encourage you to check it out. She has a style all her own, a combination of found art and plastics and veneers that she combines to make some of my favorite art ever. Details for the event are below.

Exhibit Reception with Artist
Saturday, December 5-th, 2009 2:00 - 4:00 pm
C'Era Una Volta Restaurant
1332 Park St. -D, Alameda, Ca. 94501

"Meet the Artist" reception in the Restaurant. Please come by and say "Hello". I'll be answering questions, talking about Painting and my adventures in Europe, and signing Paintings if you were to buy. Don't miss this chance to honor the enthused and fearless Spirit of Creation, while supporting the inspired cause of studio relocation to Europe.

Christmas Time Fa La La La

While your Thanksgiving feast may still be digesting, Christmas is intent on not missing a beat.

 The plastic made-in-China Donner, and Blitzen, and Santa, and Snowmen figurines that have been adorning the shelves of your neighborhood drugstore since Halloween, are now on sale; the little light bulbs that your lazy neighbors leave hung all year are back a-twinkling; that monotonousness elevator music that drives you crazy has changed to something seasonal and a little magical, if equally repetitive. All this must mean that the 2010th celebration of an Israelis' baby's birth must be just about a month away!

If you are ready to embark into all this glorious craziness, there are plenty of Christmas themed events this week to propel you full speed ahead. Here are a few highlights.

Date: Friday, December 4, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
"Jack London Square celebrates the holiday season with a very special preview of the Oakland Children's Holiday Parade floats and costumed characters. At six o'clock watch as City Officials light up the skies with Oakland's only waterfront holiday light installation and stay to listen to festive holiday music performed by the Oakland Symphony Chorus"

Date: Saturday Dec 5
Time: 2pm
"Curious George. The Raggs. Clifford. Berenstain Bears. Bob from Sesame Street. Santa. Mention the names and watch a kids eyes light up! Assemble them all into one parade, and open the festive holiday season with delight for children and the people who love them. That’s what the Comcast America’s Children’s Holiday Parade in Oakland, California is all about. The children’s favorites appear as giant helium balloons, live characters waving from cars, or dancing and singing on colorful floats parade through Downtown Oakland." Might be for kids, but that sounds pretty fun to me!

Date: Saturday Dec 5
Time: 7:30
"The Holiday Season is on its way – and OIGC is getting prepared to offer you a special concert experience. Don’t miss out – come on out to the Paramount on Saturday, December 5th for the 24th Annual Holiday Concert!"

Date: Saturday, December 5th
Time: 5 pm
"Please join us for the 1st Annual Piedmont Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Stroll! The celebration will begin at the Key Route Plaza at 41st Street and Piedmont Avenue, where a beautiful tree (graciously decorated by Nathan & Co.) will be festively and ceremoniously lit for the holidays. Children will perform holiday songs, Santa Claus will be in the house, and Professional Accordionist Salane Schultz will be performing live in the plaza! All of this will be followed by musician-led holiday caroling along Piedmont Avenue, where participating local merchants will be staying open late and hosting their own holiday receptions! Help us make this a new Piedmont Avenue tradition!!!!"

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM- 9:00 PM
The Oakland Yacht Club and Encinal Yacht Club have organized a beautiful lighted yacht parade that will sail throughout the Oakland/Alameda estuary. Jack London Square provides excellent viewing areas and restaurants to watch this magnificent holiday attraction. Please make sure to book your dinner reservations early at your favorite Jack London Square restaurant. Special performance by the Oakland Symphony Chorus will begin at 5:30PM.

Enjoy!

Discounted Warriors Tics

"Ticket prices for next Monday's Golden State Warriors game vs. the Indiana Pacers have been slashed by as much as 80%.

Upper Level Center seats are just $8 (reg. $40) and Lower Level seats are $40 (reg. $65) for the Nov. 30 game at Oracle Arena in Oakland.

Ticket fees have been waived as well, a savings of about $10 per ticket.

To purchase tickets, click the link below and use the code: "WARRIORS" in the box marked "Special Offer Code". Create or login to your Ticketmaster account on the next screen anduse the pull-down menus to select the tickets." Gettum HERE.