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It’s the First Friday of December, when artistic and cultural events are joined by local shopping opportunities as merchants try to shake off economic disruptions to offer gifts to Oaklanders who want to support local artisans and entrepreneurs. A full suite of holiday shopping and events can be found in downtown Oakland this weekend.

First Friday art highlights in Uptown include Pretty Pretty, an exhibition of pop culture ephemera reworked into unusual sculpture, at the Hatch Gallery (492 23rd St); Amanda N Simons’s gender-questioning visual artwork at Feelmore510 (1703 Telegraph); and Art vs. Food, an indoor celebration of street food and street art at the New Commodity (474 24th St), featuring a half-dozen food vendors and a dozen muralists. In the spirit of the season, tonight Art vs Food will accept unwrapped presents for Oakland’s Community Toy Drive, and Feelmore510 is offering free flu shots and HIV screenings.

Jack London Square is holding a holiday pop-up market with many vendors, benefitting Wardrobe for Opportunity, and holds their annual tree-lighting ceremony tonight. The Pop-Up Market is in the Jack London Market, 55 Harrison St.

Old Oakland’s Pop Up Hood, a great destination for urbane gift-shopping, is featured in today’s local edition of the New York Times. As you shop local this holiday season, don’t forget about the Oakland Grown gift card!

New Uptown watering hole Make Westing is featured in the Chronicle after the debut of their food menu.

Super-fun party rap group Hottub holds their record release party at Vitus, tonight at 9pm, 201 Broadway.

Saturday

America’s Children’s Holiday Parade, a nationally-televised spectacle could be characterized as the PBS version of the Macy’s Parade, kicks off on Broadway and 11th at 2pm.

The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment debuts its first exhibit today, on the History of 3D. Watch a promotional video here. The exhibit opens today at noon and runs for a month. 610 16th St Ste 230.

Jack London Square hosts the annual Lighted Yacht Parade at sundown.

Sunday

Bouchrie Marketplace at La Borinquena (582 7th St at Jefferson) collaborates with Boucherie to bring holiday food and gifts shopping to an Old Oakland mainstay.

With so many opportunities to be a spectator, a shopper, or a giver, this weekend will be one to remember. See you at the Holiday Parade!

Though April’s bucolic weather turned out to be just a tease of summer, the Oakland Museum kicks off spring in the DTO with their annual California Wildflower Show, this weekend. For those willing to brave the drizzle, today offers First Friday events, in addition to the nationally-lauded Art Murmur. From Uptown art posters to a new Saturday brunch spot, here’s what you need to plan your downtown night and day.

Poster Art Party at the Den

Oakland’s newest and prettiest music venue is hosting an exhibit of contemporary concert posters by artists Lil’ Tuffy and Jason Munn, who have designed posters for The White Stripes, Thievery Corporation, and Beck, among others.

1807 Telegraph Ave, all evening.

RAW in Uptown

The Uptown Apartments’ unfinished retail space once again hosts an art exhibit and mixer for First Friday, featuring seven artists, primarily working on paper.

1951 Telegraph, 6 – 9p

HOME at Fiveten Studio

Six local artists explore the concept of “home” in different media.

831 Broadway, 6p – 9p

Notorious at the Paramount

Oakland’s other Art Deco jewel presents Alfred Hitchock’s Notorious. A classic movie in a beautiful venue for only $5, and the theater opens early for cocktails at the two bars.

2025 Broadway, doors at 7p, movie at 8p

Filmnight 1.0 at Swarm Gallery

A collaboration with Mills College, Swarm Gallery presents “the first in a series of monthly screenings of experimental, documentary, short, feature-lenth and animated film, video and all formats in between, curated by filmmakers and film enthusiasts from the Bay Area and beyond.” Tonight’s offerings include digital media by Amanda Bailey, Brian Caraway, Stephanie Cooper, Loke Davis, Grace Rosario Perkins, Steuart Pittman, Annie Vought, Doug Williams and Andrew Witrak.

560 2nd St (at Clay), 7:30p

Dancing Under the Stars at Jack London Square

Jack London Square kicks of its summer programming of outdoor dancing led by an instructor from the Linden Street Dance Studio. Tonight will feature salsa dancing, and prix fixe menus at Cocina Poblana, Miss Pearl’s Jam House, Scott’s Seafood, Il Pescatore,  Kincaids, and Hahn’s Hibachi.

8:30p, bottom of Broadway (by the palm tree forest)

Saturday Brunch at La B

La Borinquena Mexicatessen debuts its brunch menu in celebration of “America’s Cinco de Mayo holiday,” in the words of Tina Tamale. Mimosas, sangria, cerveza, huevos, botanas and the full menu (tamales!) will be served in the generously-defined morning, with a mariachi trio performing at noon.

La Borinquena, 582 7th St at Jefferson, 10a to 3p Saturday May 2