Posts from — December 2008

The end of 2008 comes to a downtown packed with new restaurants, clubs, and parks in which to celebrate the New Year. BART will run until 3am, and offers an evening-long “Flash Pass” that can be purchased at the Lake Merritt station. Central Contra Costa County dwellers unfortunately just lost their all-night bus service, so New Year’s Eve may be their last chance to party all night in the DTO! Downtown New Year’s Eve parties include:

Reggaton Dance Party at Levende East, $20 (no cover with dinner). 825 Washington St.

Sugar and Gold and Damon and the Heathens at The Uptown. $10. 1928 Telegraph Ave.

Black Comedy Explosion at The Paramount. $40 – $75. 2025 Broadway.

Latin Beats and Go-Go Boys at The Bench and Bar. $25. 2111 Franklin St.

Funky New Year’s Eve at Luka’s. $20. 2221 Broadway.

For the more casual reveler, DTO nightclubs Ruby Room (132 14th St) and Radio Bar (435 13th St) will have champagne toasts and no cover charges. The Oasis (135 12th St), Air Lounge (492 9th St), and Cafe Van Kleef (1621 Telegraph Ave) probably have parties, but there’s no online info.

Happy New Year!

There’s no shortage of education material online about the center of the East Bay. This week’s highlights:

City Homestead presents a fascinating history of Oakland’s district and neighborhood names. Before the coming of the freeway, downtown extended to Market Street to the West and 27th to the North. Also, it seems that Broadway Auto Row has been called that since 1913.

Tobedeus points out the need for improved transit downtown, and proposes a downtown nightlife-serving bus with unique branding.

Becks takes photos showing the contrast between potential and reality that both inspires and frustrates Oaklanders: beautiful buildings marred with graffiti, and thriving streets littered with refuse. Also, apparently downtown’s councilmember is uninterested in preventing public urination and defecation.

Some restaurant / nightlife news: Trendily-named steam table on 14th, frozen yogurt coming to City Center, a secret bar in Old Oakland, and an Atlanta celebrity chef is moving to Uptown. No boobs, though.

If you click only one link today, make it this one: a 1948 video about pedestrian safety in Oakland. It’s amusing to recall a time when cars were new, intersections were uncontrolled, and people had little driving experience. Perhaps that’s more frightening than amusing.

The DTO’s top happenings this beautiful weekend, December 4 – 6, 2008.

Thursday, Ozumo opening: the first of several big-budget restaurants in Uptown to open is Ozumo, a Japanese yakitori (bar and grill) restaurant and lounge first in San Francisco’s SOMA. Designed by a top Japanese architect, the late-night lounge offers a concrete-and-tatami bar but also traditional private rooms. It opens today at 5:30, with sumo wrestling! W Grand at Broadway.

First Friday: It’s that time again! Check out the arts and crafts on sale at Oakland’s ever-expanding Uptown gallery district, centered at 23rd and Telegraph, 5 – 9p. In Old Oakland, IndieVillage hosts a temporary fashion boutique at 481 9th St, 5 – 11p ($5 donation to a children’s education foundation).

Saturday, Comcast Holiday Parade: One of America’s best children’s holiday parades, and so cute that it’s fun for adults too! Marshals include Bob from Sesame Street and Mark Curry. A Better Oakland has photos of 2006’s event. 2p, Broadway from 11th to 20th.

Saturday night, Gridlife Fashion Show: Local t-shirt and hoodie designer Political Gridlock presents a fashion show and DJ dance party at the Uptown. 9p, 1928 Telegraph, no cover (21+).

In my professional life I work with fonts, and of course the internet is an intensive study of the utility and connotations of typefaces. I recently noticed that both StopWaste.org and the US Army are using the font Dirty Headline in advertisements, which two years ago graced my flier for a Halloween club night. Tonight, the Oakland Museum hosts a screening of the film Helvetica, about the ubiquitous early sans-serif font, and a panel discussion about typefaces in this time when the printed word is more dynamic and pervasive than ever. Also, it’s free!

Oakland Museum screens Helvetica
1000 Oak St, free parking
Tonight, Weds Dec 3, 6p

The film and discussion will be interpreted for the hearing impaired.