Category — citycenter

It’s the end of June, marking the waning of the earth’s daylight cycle and the end of the first half of the year. In California, it’s also the time that many legislative acts come into effect – none more controversially this year than the foie gras ban. In what folks are calling #foiemaggedon, restaurants and delicatessens are forbidden from selling the traditional European delicacy, starting Sunday.

Fortunately, you can find your foie fix in Uptown at new San Pablo Ave spot Hopscotch as well as Flora, though be warned – foie gras sales have risen so much in the last few months that restaurants are running out at a rapid clip. There are also a few restaurants serving foie some BART stops away, for the truly desperate.

Speaking of running out, tomorrow night is the deadline to vote for your favorite downtown establishment in the East Bay Express’ Best Of the East Bay awards.

And in the spirit of a new season and, for some, a chance to start over, here is all the news you missed while I neglected to post here. But don’t worry, your friendly neighborhood chronicler is back!

Summer Events

• Wednesday noontime concert schedule for City Center (13th off Broadway).
• OaklandNorth rounds up free and cheap summertime activities throughout the city, including several DTO.

Food News

• EaterSF tells the whole story of what happened at Hibiscus.
• Plum is no longer serving its late-night menu, boo.
• Donut Savant on Broadway, referenced here recently, gets a review from the Express.
• The lovely Afghan hole-in-the-wall at 14th and Webster also gets the EBX treatment.

Retail and Business Happenings

• The SF Business Times reports that Oakland’s historic office buildings are attracting technology companies.
• Girls Inc hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at their new Uptown HQ for Alameda County.
• As of this week there is a new store at the Pop Up Hood, woman’s clothing boutique McMullen (831 Broadway).

Enjoy your pre-Independence Day weekend! I’ll see you while dodging vegan protesters in Uptown.

Memorial Day weekend is considered the official beginning of summer, California’s finest season, and downtown Oakland’s mix of urbane and natural is the perfect place to ring in the season. Fairyland will be open for a rare Monday, for family fun. A picnic by the Lake could be made up of Korean snacks and bottled teas from EM Market (332 14th St), or champagne and cheese from Ratto’s (821 Washington St). With many restaurants, particularly in Old Oakland and Uptown, offering outdoor seating, downtown is a great place to enjoy your holiday weekend!

Weekend events include:

• Tomorrow is the deadline for artists to submit work for Bay Area Currents, ProArts’ juried exhibition of contemporary works from Bay Area artists. The show will open July 3 at the gallery (15th St at Frank Ogawa Plaza).
• Sunday night at Era (19 Grand Ave), Kev Choice’s soul band performs with DJ Soul Profess, a unique mix of live music and spinning – perfect for dancing!
• Monday afternoon, Linden Street Brewery hosts a Jamaican jerk cook-off benefitting My Yute Soccer camp.
• Monday evening, the Afrorican weekly party will show Ice T’s new documentary The Art of Rap, featuring interviews with many hip-hop legends. The event also features food and happy hour drink specials, starting at 5pm at Liege Lounge (491 9th St).

Next Thursday is the Oakland Indie Awards at the Kaiser Center (300 Lakeside Dr), a celebration of the independent businesses which give Oakland, downtown and the neighborhoods so much vibrancy.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, DTO!