The increasingly artsy environs around downtown are of course a source of civic pride, but the arts have also been used to put the Town down, from Gertrude Stein’s epigrams to aborted television pilots. Recently, all the way on the northern border, a “tea party” of craftsmen (and women) knitted over Berkeley’s rail-side HERETHERE sculpture, covering up this perceived slight at Oakland. Given the sculpture’s proximity to pioneering Internet-enabled Nomad Cafe, will we soon see censorious socks on (Regr)Etsy?

In Jack London Square, vegetarian restaurant and wine bar Encuentro gave up its most popular recipe to the Chronicle recently. You could try this at home, but it seems pretty labor-intensive. Best to visit Encuentro, don’t you agree?

Geisha, the long-awaited and somewhat controversial establishment dreamed up by the owner of the former Silver Lion and Golden Bull watering holes, opened in the former Oakland Stamp Factory on 14th near Webster this week. A generously-sized bar, well-expressed decor, experienced bartenders, and a full kitchen will add life to a street mostly known for shuttling people from downtown to the Lake. I don’t know what sort of food the cabaret-licensed nightclub will serve, but Geisha’s eponymous cucumber-lime punch is tasty.

Finally, I would like to encourage Art Murmerers to take advantage of my client Friendly Cab’s First Friday promotion. Sponsored by Kapsack & Bair DUI attorneys, three DTO hotspots will offer $5 taxi coupons tonight to help you get home or even cover a bar-hop. Stop by The Layover (1517 Franklin), Penelope (11th and Clay), and Era (19 Grand) so you can enjoy the drinking without the driving! After all that walking and biking for the Car-Free Challenge, it will be nice to traverse all the DTO has to offer in the comfort of a back seat. Enjoy your First Friday!

Downtown Oakland’s second-largest property owner, Shorenstein Properties, has put its four-million-square-foot office and retail portfolio on the market. The properties include the City Center shops; Oakland’s third-largest and second-tallest building, 1111 Broadway; and an agreement to complete construction of a new high-rise at 11th and Jefferson. Though Shorenstein is a local company and a long-time investor, new energy and ambition could improve the City Center office district.

To link Oakland’s disparate office markets and transit hubs, the City of Oakland has set a date for the launch of its new shuttle serving Broadway. On Monday Jun 21, commuters can catch a free ride from Uptown all the way to Jack London Square every fifteen minutes, from 7am to 7pm. Downtown is geographically quite large for a downtown of a mid-sized city, and it’s just not a nice walk from a Midtown lounge to a Jack London Square restaurant, so many expect the shuttle to help unite different retail  nodes, over time. If the shuttle can secure additional funding, its hours can be lengthened to serve dining, but for now it’s great for commuters and Jack London Square restaurants, which suffered mightily when the City’s last Broadway shuttle ended operation in 2002.

Far from the beaten First Friday track, Jack London District’s Swarm Gallery opens a new exhibit this Second Friday, featuring photography and wood sculpture. The Mercury20 photography gallery is now open at its new location on 25th St near Broadway. Today is the deadline for Alameda County artist to submit work for ProArts Gallery’s juried annual, Bay Area Currents 2010.

The Uptown neighborhood continues to add residents and businesses at a rapid clip. City Homestead reports several new restaurants coming to the district, and recently the Planning Commission gave a new bar permission to operate at 17th and Telegraph. Oakland will spend Redevelopment funds to brighten BART’s lonely alleyway. With artsy lighting joining our rightful sunshine, it’s the season for hanging out in downtown Oaktown.

Highlights of the monthly Art Murmur can be found in the OakBook’s regular article about the art scene. Uptown’s newest hotspot, The New Parish, hosts a Feria Urbana for local designers to sell their wares, ranging from art to jewelry to t-shirts to hats. More details are available at FeriaUrbanSF.com.

For the Bike Month of May, cyclists will ride the map of the Art Murmur from 23rd and Telegraph starting at 6:30pm, “in a fantastic parade of hometown fashion and music.”

The Uptown Nightclub, just slightly off the beaten Art Murmur path, will host a First Friday extravaganza with no cover charge. Several bands and DJs including The Mumlers will perform, while Warner Records will play new albums from The Black Keys and The Dead Weather.

Further afield, newcomer Urban Legend Cellars winery will keep their tasting room open until 9pm tonight. 621 4th St. Nearby, on Saturday and Sunday, Jack London Square will host The Sweet Shoppe, a festival dedicated to sweets. Just in time for Mother’s Day, its probably the best place to pick up bonbons in the DTO.

Uptown’s resident pedicab service, Backseat Driver, will be out and about tonight. Check out OaklandNorth.net’s video interview with urban micro-entrepreneurs Ken and Lulu Ott. Look for Ken and his rickshaw around town tonight. While Ken pedals around, The Rock Papers Scissors Collective will display of human-powered machinery, an element of their Beyond Bicycles project.

Since we’re on the topic of transportation, allow me to plug a professional project of mine. I am helping Friendly Cab offer free taxi rides on First Fridays. A $5 taxi coupon, enough for a free bar-hopping trip downtown, will be available tonight at three downtown bars: Penelope at 11th and Clay, The Layover at 1517 Franklin, and Era Artbar at 19 Grand. Stop by a bar and ask for your coupon, and enjoy a free or heavily discounted ride on Friendly Cab! Sponsored by Kapsack & Bair DUI Attorneys, the coupon can help you have fun while avoiding drunk driving. Read more about it at TheOakbook.com and the Trib’s Nightowl blog.

Whether you’re cabbing, bicycling, walking, riding a rickshaw, or even driving, downtown’s First Friday is where all roads lead. Legalizing live music this week adds to the cultural celebration.

The scoop on what you may have seen near the Art Murmur: classic car enthusiasts gather informally in Uptown every First Friday.

Hibiscus gets a flattering writeup in a popular Bay Area dining blog.

The Oakland Running Festival (yes, it was more than a marathon), which was centered downtown, is estimated to have brought almost two million dollars to Oakland in one weekend. And that’s not including the publicity value of all those nice blogs about the Town!

Will Oakland’s next Pride Parade be in Uptown?

Obi Kauffman interviews The Hive’s Elise Morris. The Hive’s sister gallery, Swarm, will be open tonight displaying conceptual works and watercolors. You can find more about tonight’s art offerings in The OakBook’s monthly art roundup.

New fixture The Layover presents art to walk through, created by one of the DTO’s most prominent public artists of the last decade. And in Old Oakland, a new bar brightens Ninth Street. With cabaret reform coming to the Council for final passage this Spring, look for new nightlife venues continuing to crop up.

Another winery comes to Jack London Square. If only there were a water taxi, the Oakland and Alameda waterfronts would be a premier boozy destination!

Mobile food vendors will gather near 23rd and Telegraph this evening, including a “jerk” specialist, but most of Oakland is not supportive of alternative culinary experiences.

The fate of the A’s, whether they stay in East Oakland, move downtown, or move to San Jose, remains unresolved.

Happy weekend downtowners! I’ll see you in Uptown.

Proving itself no slouch, newly-christened Midtown continues to excite the center of downtown with art and fun. The Joyce Gordon Gallery features a show of woman-created art opening with a reception tonight, while the Layover hosts a DJ tribute to late hip-hop producer J-Dilla this evening, behind newly-installed bike racks. Further downtown, Beer Revolution is bringing amusingly-named suds to Third Street near Jack London Square, not far from the Linden Street Brewery, Pacific Coast brewpub, and The Trappist temple of beer.

But not everything downtown is adults-only or even nightlife. Tomorrow the African American Museum and Library in Old Oakland hosts a screening of African-Italian film Inside Buffalo, about a segregated WWII combat unit. The Oakland Ice Center is offering free curling classes to kids, for Canadian expatriates in our diverse, multicultural city. Farley’s East next to Era has been called one of the most family-friendly coffeshops in the Bay Area. Though other parts of Oaktown host everything from fashion to art parties this weekend, the DTO offers everything in a few square miles.

Tonight the Fox Theater celebrates its anniversary of reopening as a live-performance venue with a party at the Den. Despite not having any dedicated parking, the Fox has sold out almost all of its shows and was the top Google search term in San Francisco in 2009. Joined by the New Parish at 18th and San Pablo, the Fox is establishing Uptown as a live-music destination, though there is a growing perception the Paramount is falling behind (a position disputed by a boardmember in a recent OakBook column).

Downtown’s good news is not just about bars and nightclubs. The DTO, or more specifically Uptown, has seen several new restaurants open this short new year. Though we’re still waiting for Bakesale Betty, True Burger has opened on the same block as the erstwhile bakery, and Hibiscus at 18th and San Pablo adds a sweetly Southern note to downtown dining in a handsome historic building with a focus on Creole foods and unique cocktails.

With the announcement of Barnes & Nobles’ closure in Jack London Square, some observers mourn the passing of yet another bookstore, while others see potential for destination retail to emerge in the prominent space. On the other side of downtown, the Broadway Specific Plan, meant to outline the transformation of Auto Row into a “lifestyle” shopping center, is seeing fierce criticism from both anti-development types led by the Oakland Heritage Alliance who are critical of the goals of the project, and from urbanists who are very uncomfortable with the huge amounts of parking called for in the study (more parking than retail, actually).

Today is of course the First Friday of February, and without rain, it’s likely tonight’s Art Murmur events will be crowded. Highlights include local cityscapes at Pro Arts Gallery, a multimedia exhibition by French artist Pierre Alain Clauzin at Hatch Gallery, and a retrospective of late graffiti artist Mike “Dream” Franciso at the New Parish. From Jack London Square to Midtown to Uptown, the DTO offers art and entertainment tonight for any budget, or no budget. See you at the hot dog stand on Telegraph!

If you’re still looking for a way to celebrate the end of the Noughties, there’s no better place to ring in 2010 than downtown Oaktown. The DTO’s growing assortment of bars and nightclubs offer many different New Year’s Eve experiences. Here is a sampling of public New Year’s Eve parties in the DTO and its environs.

Audrye Sessions and Hottub at The Uptown

The Uptown presents a varied show for New Year’s, with pop-rock band Audrey Sessions headlining a lineup with electro-dance outfit Hottub and the soul group Soft White Sixties.

$12-$15, uptownnightclub.com
1928 Telegraph Ave

Eclectic Fever at the New Parrish

Native favorite Kev Choice and his ensemble headlines a cosmopolitan lineup at the New Parrish, downtown’s newest live-music venue. Also featuring Aphrodesia, Doca Do Rio, several DJs, and samba dancers.

$40 in advance, eclecticfever.com.
578 19th St at San Pablo

Lovemakers at Ghost Town Gallery

The Lovemakers came from Oakland’s underground warehouse party scene and rose to almost-stardom with a major-label record in 2005. The electro-pop-rock outfit return to their roots for their final performance, with dance DJs, guest performances, and art displays.

$15
2519 San Pablo Ave

Make Love: LaToya London and Ise Lyfe at Maxwell’s

American Idol finalist LaToya London returns from touring the country as the lead in The Color Purple to perform one night in her hometown of Oaktown. With poet Ise Lyfe and DJ G Wayne.

$25 – $40, airbornetickets.com
341 13th St

New Year’s Eve at Penelope

Downtown’s newest bar, known for outdoor seating, slick decor, and spicy cocktails, will host its first New Year’s Party.

No cover.
11th and Clay Streets

New Year’s Eve at Radio

Radio Bar presents its signature New Year’s Eve celebration, with champagne and party favors, without a cover. DJ Barracuda will spin rock, funk, and electro, and dancing on the bar will be encouraged.

No cover.
435 13th St at Broadway

New Year’s Eve at Ruby Room

The DTO’s venerable hipster spot Ruby Room celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, and will celebrate its tenth New Year’s Eve in its trademark punky style, with no cover, rock DJs, and a raucous champagne toast at midnight.

No cover.
132 14th St at Madison

Top Ten Social at Levende East

Top Ten Social is a house music party on Fridays at Levende East. For New Year’s they’re bringing famed house DJs Vikter Duplaix and Mark Grant to Old Oakland.

$40, with discounts for groups, toptensocial.com
827 Washington St

White Party at the Easy Lounge

The Easy Lounge, which now has a cabaret license, will ring in the new year with dancing under blacklight. Wear white while DJ Jerry Ross spins pop, rock, and hip-hop.

$5 if you’re wearing white, $10 otherwise
3255 Lakeshore Ave

This week’s downtown news is brought to you by first-hand experience, online media sources, and the number 30.

Specialty film is the theme of moment, with the International Black Women’s Film Festival opening at the Oakland Museum tonight. If you missed yesterday’s viewing of Afro-futurist classic Brother From Another Planet, there will be another airing of the Black Sci-Fi film fest in August. And 21 Grand is showing an avant-garde video art project this evening,

Yesterday I had the opportunity to enjoy a lunch prepared by the team behind Encuentro, a wine bar and vegetarian restaurant planned for 200 Second St. While they wait on all the hassles to clear to open their restaurant, they host an occasional lunch that is both literally and figuratively underground – in a semi-sunken loft somewhere near the JLS train station. Tuesdays and Thursdays (though not next Thursday), look for an open door to find an $8 gourmet and vegetarian lunch, usually a choice of sandwich or salad (lemonade, ice tea, and cookies are extra). You can find more information by sniffing around Facebook.

In other Jack London Square news, the Chronicle reports that the much-anticipated restaurant Bocanova is coming closer to its debut, with more details available on its New World cuisine and family-style dining. In related news, the forthcoming gastropub on 13th off Clay Jefferson is finishing its buildout and anticipates an early August opening. In perhaps even more joyous news, the hulking half-finished City Walk project across the pedestrian way has been transferred to another developer, raising hopes that the project might actually be finished. New restaurants joining new housing? It seems like the 10k Plan has a little more steam.

Downtown promises plenty to do today and tomorrow, July 3 and 4 2009, from First Friday events spanning the length of the district, to tomorrow’s long-awaited return of fireworks on the waterfront.

ProArts, the non-profit dedicated to aiding and promoting East Bay artists and artisans, has merged with the Oakland Art Gallery. The Oakland Art Gallery, subsidized by the city of Oakland, was one of Oakland’s few galleries dedicated to local artists a few years ago, but now has been eclipsed by private galleries in better locations. Merging the two organizations should help restore focus to the Oakland Art Gallery, and give ProArts better access to like-minded organizations including the city’s Cultural Arts Department. Today, the First Friday of the month, ProArts will present its first show at its new space in Kahn’s Alley.

First Friday was of course popularized by the Art Murmur galleries concentrated on Telegraph, and there will be no shortage of art to see in Uptown. Adding to the likely boisterous atmosphere on this lovely evening, Oakland Soft Rock Chorus will perform in the street around 23 and Telegraph, probably at 8:30. The OakBook’s monthly arts article highlights several of the Uptown galleries’ shows, including Mark Inglis Taylor and Porous Walker at the Hatch Gallery.

Down south, the Ellington, a new high-rise building at 2nd and Broadway, will host a curated “Art Walk,” combining tours of the apartments with works by Oakland artists. Also on 2nd, Swarm Gallery currently displays contemporary landscape paintings by Claire Baker and R. Reynolds.

For those less interested in fine art than street art, Old Oakland’s Fiveten Studio presents its second annual graffiti exhibit, featuring “the Throw Up Style.” Featuring a dozen artists and a hip-hop DJ, the event is at 8th and Broadway.

Between Uptown’s Art Murmur and Old Oakland / Jack London Square’s events, new bar Penelope is getting raves for its cool interior and innovative, savory cocktails. Nearby, on the pedestrian alley between the Federal Building and Preservation Park (what was once 13th St), a gastro-pub is under construction with the goal of opening at the beginning of August.

Many Oaklanders are looking forward to the opening of the Lake Chalet, which promises to grace Lake Merritt with fine, though not daring, cuisine. You don’t have to wait to enjoy a lake view at dinner, since the Terrace Room at the Lake Merritt Hotel has reopened. I’ve heard great things about brunch.

Last but not least: after a two-year hiatus, fireworks will be back at Jack London Square, despite some finger-wagging from budget watchdogs. The Square will provide entertainment starting at 1pm, including performances by a big band and an R&B group. Valet bike parking will be provided by Bay Area Bikes‘ new bike-rental location at 427 Water St. Though it’s likely to be foggy as usual, downtown’s waterfront will boast a spectacular show. See you there!