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Kiva Rocks!

Many of you already know about Kiva, but for those who don't: Kiva is a fantastic organisation which does microfinancing mostly in developing countries, mostly funded by direct investments by people like you and me. They are celebrating their 4 year anniversary this coming Tuesday in Berkeley, and have a fun night planned for anyone who would like join. The cost is $20 and includes local food and wine, not to mention entertainment. You can purchase your tickets HERE. If you have the money, pay the $20, if you're broke as a toad, save five with this code: KFF

Tonight! Don't Miss Out!

A new green apartment/flat/home "village" is celebrating their opening tonight in West Oakland, and are going to spoil you just for coming! I have copied the details I received from them below. As you will see it should be a fun night of free food and drink and strolling around checking out the new buildings. You will also be unusually close to one of my favorite off-the-radar places, Middle Harbor Park. To get there after your munchings follow Wood down to 7th and take it as West as you can go!

From Kevin at Holliday Development:
The food should be quite good from a number of local sources – Brown Sugar Kitchen is the main caterer (jerked chicken skewers, smoked pulled pork sandwiches, vegetarian muffaletta, mac n cheese), Linden Street Brewery is providing the beer, Scream Sorbet will have a few different sorbet options, and Namie’s Kitchen will be adding a few side dishes as well. We will also have Urban Legend Cellars doing a barrel tasting of their upcoming wine. The food and drink are complimentary, and we owe a big thanks to all of these local businesses that donated or deeply discounted for the celebration.

PS: Having made a couple Google Maps myself lately, I highly admire the one they put together. You can find it HERE

Wanna Have the World Cup in Oakland?

Even if you don't think much of soccer, this could be a great opportunity to bring positive attention, development and business to our little burg. Sign the petition for our city to host the games!

Oakland is Sweeeeet, but sometimes you gotta take a vacation....

San Diego for $25 each way....no way! Ooooooo, but yes way.........

"According to a Southwest press release, the 72-hour "4th Quarter Sale" allows guests traveling 375 miles or less to grab tickets for just $25 one-way. For travel between 375 and 549 miles, the one-way fare is $50. For one-way travel between 550 and 999 miles, fares are $75. Any one-way flight that goes 1,000 miles will cost $100.
The fares will only be available through 11:59 p.m. PST October 29, 2009 for travel between December 2, 2009 and December 16, 2009 or between January 5, 2010 and February, 10 2010. Additional taxes, fees, and exclusions may apply.:

Getumm here: www.southwest.com

Halloween - Updated

UPDATE

Free cab rides home

The spoookie time of year is here again, and with it a myriad of happenings. Whether your cup of tea be blood-bathed haunted house, or smiley faced pumpkin patch, the following should provide you with some direction.

Haunted House

The East Bay Express did such a good job summing up our Haunted Houses that I won't waste my time talking about them myself. Find their article HERE.

Pumpkin Patch

Growing up, my family would always buy pumpkins on Halloween because they were all at least half off. It wasn't until recently though that I did a cost benefit analysis, and realized we had it all wrong. If you buy the pumpkin 14 days in advance of Halloween, you pay only .50 a day for the enjoyment of your $7 melon, vs paying 3.50 for your one day of happiness. Sure there are other factors that could be accounted for, but I will spare you. All said, you might consider going to the smallish and relatively expensive Piedmont Ave. Pumpkin Patch if you want more of an authentic experience, or just head over to Whole Foods or the Berkeley Bowl for a slightly cheaper and organic gourde.

Halloween Parties

Again, why create something that is already there. HERE is a list from CBS of mostly family friendly Halloween parties. HERE are some more adult themed options.

My personal choice: Shipwrecked on Treasure Island, brought to you by an awesome burning man crew, and including many of their fire breathing art installations, and some of the most delicious music that the Bay has to offer - all till 5am.

Costume

This is one holiday which makes laziness embarrassingly obvious, or at least very expensive to hide (if you have money to spend and are not lazy look how far you could go). Though there is less than a week left, there is still time to DIY up a great, and on average, greener costume. Use THIS SITE's  instructional videos as your guide.

Happy Halloween!!

Too Cool! I love you Oakland!

Help Define Oakland's Environmental Direction + Get a Free Meal = Nice

"I'm going to attend a special (and free) event on November 18th, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Laney College in Oakland. It's the Community Convergence for Climate Action, hosted by the Oakland Climate Action Coalition. As global warming affects our jobs, our health, and our pockets, we're advancing local, community based solutions.

Don't miss this inspiring evening of live performances, free food, and community as they showcase the solutions that will make Oakland a model green city.

Click HERE to RSVP:

Weekend Edition: October 16, 17, 18

It's another beautiful weekend in Oakland, and with the newly minted health benefits of our crisp, rain-purified air, why not indulge a little bit more in some other vices!!

Now - Free Play/Symphony tickets
So this first one doesn't fit so snuggly into the vice theme, but there is a time limit on it, so you need to act fast! Currently they still have free tics available for the symphony tomorrow and several East Bay plays, but you need to hurry.


Friday - Pacific Brewing Company 21 Anniversary Party
From 5-11pm this local brewery will be offering music, bites, and beer for sale at the same price it was in their founding year, 1988. By my calculations, and feel free to check them yourself, that should equate to roughly $2.78 per beer. I don't know if you are such a stickler, but if you see someone presenting a tabulation to the bartender, say hello because it's probably me!

Bonus: Old Oakland Farmers Market

Saturday - Brats (and vegetarian) and Beer
The Linden Street Brewery, another one of our locals, is hosting a rare party at their place. Since they don't have a bar or restaurant on property, this event serves as unique chance to see their operations up close. In great Bay Area style they are going out of their way to make the event earth friendly, not to mention law abiding, by offering bike valet and free shuttle rides from the West Oakland Bart. In addition all food is locally sourced, and the profits benefit an organization which gives poor people food baskets on Thanksgiving. Now that I will cheers to!

Bonus: Continue along the theme of donating to the poor and getting sloshed, I mean slushed, check out the ice skating rink in Jack London Square. The $5 admission includes skate rental!

Extra Bonus: $1 wine tasting and snacks at the Wine Mine from 2-5pm

Sunday: Check out one of the several Bottomless Mimosa Brunches the East Bay has on offer
Sadly, I admit I have only been to one of them so far, the Terrace Room. Help me check out the others, or go for the tried and very very true (Terrace Room = $7 bottomless Mimosas and Bellini's, $8 bottomless Bloody Mary's).

Bonus: Sweet Crude the documentary showing in San Francisco. Right off the Powell St. Bart.

All Weekend - Treasure Island Music Festival

Next Week: Rest your poor liver!!!

Oakland Happy Hours and Bottomless Mimosas, Oh my....!

I would like to share with you my two newly created Google Maps. They can be found under If You Haven't, Do, on the upper right hand side of the page. One map lists happy hours and places with bottomless mimosa brunches, while the other lists my local favorite places, many of which are at least a little off the beaten path. I tried to put as much information about them as possible, so click on the icons and in most cases you will see a list of the hours and details.

Happy Hour and Bottomless Mimosas: Here

Favorites in Oakland: Here

I also wanted to give a heads up about my plan for future posts. Rather than my current habit of posting once or twice a week, I have been inspired to write shorter posts with more links, more often. My goal is to begin posting 4-5 times a week. That's all for now! Hope you enjoy the maps and keep checking back on them because I will continue to expand their reach. I would very much appreciate you sending me any tips at grahamhollandpatterson@gmail.com. Thank you in advance!

Photo by: Tom Paiva

Weekend Edition: October 9, 10, 11

A bit off topic, but I want to start by inviting you to the California Academy of Sciences for Nightlife this Thursday from 6-10pm. Although I rarely feature events that are happening in our sista-city, I mention this one because I am personally involved in the occasion. The museum hosts Nightlife weekly with access to the entire museum, free planetarium shows, and bars and djs throughout. It is awesome, and if you haven't checked it out before you definitely should, regardless of my involvement. This week I do happen to be working with them on their theme, which is earthquakes (I work for the Red Cross). I am especially proud because I pitched this idea to them, and they ended up taking the bait, and now it is really happening! Anyway, just a heads up. Tickets are $12, and you can get them, and find out more about the night HERE.

Alright, back to the side of the Bay where the sun shines...

This weekend promises a marathon of possibilities, but I have narrowed them down to just 3 not to be missed events, and here they be.

1. Estuary Attack - Friday

This event happens every month, and is Alameda and Jingle Town's answer to (or attempt to copy and monopolize on) Art Murmur. From what I hear it is similar, but with fewer SF hipsters trying to varnish their street-cred by visiting Oakland, more literally starving artists in Jingle Town, and more rich parents admiring their Academy of Art attending children's latest paper mache project on the Alameda side. Last but not least, there is also rumored to be more free booze. One of the art galleries also offers flotation tank sensory deprivation, which although pricey, is a definitely-try-once sort of experience.

2. Paramount Theater :: Movie Classics - Friday

I finally made it to the Paramount to see Noam Chomsky last weekend, and boy o boy is it a beautiful space. Their schedule of movies is really confusing because they skip weeks and then will have a couple showings, then skip another month..... randomly. This Friday evening happens to be an "on" night though, so don't miss it. They are showing It Happened One Night, and tickets are only $5. Show starts at 7, but make sure to get your tickets a bit earlier in case they sell out!

3. Oaktober Fest - Saturday

As the name so cleverly implies, this is an Oktoberfest in Oakland. Happening Saturday only from 11am till 6, and family friendly to boot, I don't know how I am feeling about it's prospects. Still, any chance to drink local beers (15 local breweries will be represented) in the sun on a Saturday afternoon is not an opportunity I often pass up.

Also worth considering....

Random

How Sweet the Sound :: Gospel Music, The Search for the Best Church Choir :: Oracle Area :: $5 :: Saturday

Cool

3rd Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle :: Music, Food, Live Art :: 1651 Adeline, Oakland :: Free :: Saturday

New

Oakland Zoo :: Baboon Cliffs Exhibit - Just Opened :: $10.50 :: All Weekend