Posts from — January 2009

Oscar Grant’s death at the hands of a BART police officer, violent protests downtown, and OPD controversies hog the headlines, but there is much more to learn from the news this week. With so much recent discussion about public safety strategies, Oaklanders are increasingly aware of today’s tactics. But Oaklander Online gives us a glimpse of policing in the past, gleaned from her great-grandfather’s diary of walking the beat in 1918′s DTO.

Though transportation giant American President Lines is shipping hundreds of jobs from downtown Oakland to Mesa AZ, Shorenstein paused construction on 601 City Center, and several struggling construction projects finally went into default, other forms of investment are finding the DTO hospitable. Levende East secured permission to serve alcohol with a limited menu at a new cafe in Old Oakland, and it was only one of three such hearings at the Planning Commission Wednesday night (the other permits were granted for restaurants in the Laurel and Eastlake Districts).

Souley Vegan has left 13th St because of code compliance issues, but the owner tells me that she’s hoping to reopen in a better-equipped space downtown this summer. Around the corner, the Trib’s Night Owl reminds us of continuing developments at DeLauer’s Super Newsstand.

Folks continue to discover the DTO’s new restaurants, and even Montclarions are vowing to come down here more. Oakland Goods reviews Ozumo, BixChix visit Miss Pearl’s, Living in the O reviews Dazz Thai and other Thai outlets, and the Single Guy Chef likes the Red Door Cafe.

There are only 12 days until the Fox explodes onto Telegraph, but the week’s news shows there’s much more to the DTO’s growing vibrancy.

As the Oscar Grant / protest / riot situation simmers, City Councilmember Pat Kernighan, who represents part of downtown, expressed her outrage at the vandals and her sympathy for the residents and businesses who have been working to transform the DTO, only to see their property destroyed by out-of-town “wannabe revolutionaries.” Her balanced essay is a must-read for concerned citizens. She highlights the unfairness of negative media attention when the vandals were not residents, and promises to help spread a more positive message of Oaklanders coming together to support their community.

To show solidarity with local businesses damaged by this and last week’s rioting, Oaklanders have organized two events designed to bring folks to the DTO. Tonight, blog commenters have declared a Night Out, and are encouraging everyone to spend the evening at one of downtown’s many restaurants, discos, and cultural venues. Tomorrow (Sat Jan 17 2009), merchant groups throughout the city have organized 17th on 17th, a mini-festival celebrating downtown’s charming block of shops between Franklin and Webster Streets, from 2 to 5p. When was the last time buying a smoothie and a handbag was such a good deed? I look forward to seeing you there.

The big event in downtown Oakland this week, of course, was the destructive aftermath of a protest against BART police killing an unarmed, restrained man. Alerted by Google, I fled to Rockridge and followed the events via television, phone and Internet. A terrible tragedy, to be sure, but at least the DTO looks great from a helicopter!

Fortunately, we can all do something to make a difference. What better way to help downtown recover than to fund window repairs by patronizing vandalized businesses? Living in the O compiles a list of victims for your dining, shopping, and grooming pleasure.

City Homestead offers a perspective of the riot from Westlake, and her experience being touched by the Oscar Grant killing. At FutureOakland, I blog that the OPD failed to protect downtown residents and should investigate its crowd control tactics. CounterPunch publishes an account of the protest that sympathizes and attempts to justify the vandals’ anger by asserting racial division, but other bloggers point out that the radical elements appeared to hail from Berkeley and San Francisco.

Recently, Oakland developer Hal Ellis passed away. As the original builder of City Center, one of the region’s largest job centers, he helped revitalize downtown Oakland in the 1970s. In the last few years, his Jack London Square Partners have begun transforming the foot of Broadway into another major office district, this time anchored by gourmet retail. But just as the DTO will rise from Wednesday’s ashes thanks to efforts of pioneers in the mold of Mr. Ellis, Jack London has risen from the dead and will visit his eponymous square tomorrow (Saturday Jan 10 2009) on the occasion of his 133 birthday. The history walk begins at Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon at the end of Webster, at noon.

43 years after the last movie was screened at Uptown’s landmark Fox Theater, Oaklanders will once again have the opportunity to take in a show at the Fox. On February 5, 2009, the Fox Theater will open with a gala fundraiser, and then get to its mission of being one of the Bay Area’s premier venues (not to mention its most architecturally fantastic). Run by Another Planet Entertainment, which also programs the Independent in SF and the Greek Theater in Berkeley, the Fox has announced its first month’s lineup. See you at Video Games Live!

Tomorrow, January 2, will see the first monthly art event of 2009. The semi-official Art Murmur site features a map of participating galleries. The Chronicle today highlighted a curatorial debut at the Buzz Gallery (2318 Telegraph Ave), while The OakBook offers a guide to select art openings, including a selection of contemporary paintings from Los Angeles at the Oakland Museum (1000 Oak St). To help cap an artsy evening, The Uptown (1920 Telegraph Ave) will have no cover until 9 to display rock photography. Free art and free music, only in the DTO.