Oakland Businesses Celebrate Return of Free Parking

Tomorrow evening businesses across Oakland will be extending their store hours in celebration of the recent decision by City Council to bring back free evening parking. Various merchants throughout the Fruitvale neighborhood are expected to participate in the event, staying open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Just outside the Fruitvale in the Dimond district, Paws & Claws will be hosting a special opening reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. along with "Dogs Bark," an art exhibit featuring the work of photographer Cathy Cade.

As many Oakland residents know, on October 6th, the Oakland City Council agreed to roll back their extension on metered parking hours from 8 p.m. to the normal 6 p.m. after numerous store owners throughout the city said the extended hours were hurting business.

Fruitvale hosts many different stores and restaurants, especially along Foothill Boulevard, International Boulevard, and Fruitvale Avenue, all who would benefit from your support and patronage Friday evening.

More information can be found at Shop Oakland

Finding a chopstick in the haystack

The Fruitvale district of Oakland is famous for its taquerías, taco trucks, and Mexican restaurants but there is also a wealth of places to get Chinese food


View Chinese Food Restaurants in Oakland’s Fruitvale Neighborhood in a larger map

Lederhosen, Meat Pies, Beer, Oh My!

Nothing completes a crisp Saturday morning like a warm apple strudel and a cold beer. Yes, that’s right a tall frosty pint from one of the Bay Area’s best local breweries was the beverage of choice this weekend at Oakland’s second annual Oaktoberfest.

Despite being in only it’s second year the street festival proved to be a success, drawing a large and diverse crowd to the Dimond district this past Saturday.

Oaktoberfest was a celebration of the neighborhood’s rich cultural history, which includes a large german community. “Previously this area had beer-gardens and german cultural restaurants and resorts all along the street,” said Councilmember Jean Quan, who co-sponsored the event. “This was a german community, we’re trying to restore that part of the tradition.”

However, Oaktoberfest became more than an appreciation of the neighborhood’s german heritage. It became a celebration of the multi-ethnic community that presently resides in the area. Local shops, restaurants, performing groups, and community organizations came together to showcase what the Dimond district has to offer, lining a four block diameter at the intersection of MacArthur Blvd and Fruitvale Avenue with booths. “It looks like quite a party,” said Steve Vantassell, of the Mad Zymurgists the Tri-Valley’s homebrew club. A large biergarten, named for Bill Brand the late Oakland Tribune beer columnist and two stages completed the set up.



Although the festival was largely centered around beer it was a family affair with booths and activities set up for children. Oakland Parks and Recreation teamed up with the Dimond Rec Center to host a recycled paper crafts booth for kids and the neighborhood event organizers held a kinder friendly rootbeer garden.

Parents with children of all ages packed the streets, meandering from booth to booth while teenagers haunted the brewers tent eyeing the different beer vendors. Even the dogs came out in high volume, some being left at the Dance Doggie daycare pen area. “I love this because it feels like neighborhood,” said Kevin Pratt. “It feels like a solid family event.”


Returning this year to Oaktoberfest was alphornist, Allan Richards, whom you may recall seeing a few years back with his alphorn atop green mountains in the Ricola mouth lozenge commercial. Richards has been playing a multitude of horns for an estimated fifty-eight years, having first been taught by his father when he was seven or eight years old. He found his alphorn, a slender, hand made, wooden horn over 10 feet long with a painted bell, in a Chinese musical instrument store in San Francisco. “It’s an instrument that is used for a lot of different purposes,” said Richards. “Mainly for calls, to get people together.”

Richards plays other octoberfests and various other events, but enjoys Oaktoberfest. “I think it’s wonderful. It is the time of year, harvest time, when people should get together,” said Richards.



New to the Oaktoberfest was the homebrew competition organized by the Mad Zymurgists. “We had fifty-five entries this year, which is outstanding,” said Jon Koerber, the club’s vice president. All the entries were judged the Sunday before Oaktoberfest with the top seven entries moving on to Best of Show where they were sampled and evaluated on aroma, appearance, mouth feel or texture, and overall impression by grand master beer judges. Kevin Pratt, who served as a grand master judge said the entries were all of high quality. “I generally find home brewers make an extraordinary quality of beers,” Pratt said.

Dwight Mulcahy took home the award for Best of Show with his Weizenbock entry.

Weekend events in and around the Fruitvale

This weekend in the Fruitvale neighborhood a few different cultural and community events will take place.

Happening this Friday, October 9th at the East Side Cultural Center is Pecha Kucha Night Oakland: Graffiti for Social Change - Don't Sweat the Technique.

10 presenters, who range from authors, local artists, photographers, and social activists will use slides to discuss how graffiti has been and can continue to be used to create and encourage social change. The night begins at 7pm with a 5$ admission charge and is open to all ages with a beer and wine bar for patrons over 21 years of age.

The event is being held in conjunction with the Estria Invitation Graffiti Battle, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday October 10.

East Side Cultural Center
2277 International Blvd
(510) 533-6629
www.eastsideartsalliance.com


The Estria Invitation Graffiti Battle, hosted by Bay Area graffiti artist, Estria, is scheduled for 11am-5pm Saturday October 10th at deFremery Park in Oakland.

24 graffiti artist from around the United States will compete in a live painting battle. This event is free and open to all ages. An after party will be held at Farmer Brown from 10pm-1am where guests can meet the artists.

More information can be seen at the event's website www.estriabattle.com

deFremery Park
1651 Adeline Street
Oakland CA 94607

Farmer Brown
25 Mason Street @ Market St


Also taking place this Saturday, October 10th is the Oaktoberfest Festival held in the Dimond District neighboring Fruitvale at the crossing of Fruitvale Ave and MacArthur Blvd.

This year Oaktoberfest will feature a biergarten, an eco fair, a kid’s area with root biergarten, and live music. There will also be a homebrew competition and food vendors.
More information can be found at http://www.oaktoberfest.org/

Check back here for more in depth coverage of this event.


On Sunday, October 11th and Friday, October 30th the East Side Cultural Center will be hosting a Dia De Los Muertos community altar making and celebration.

The festivities will last from 10am-2pm on Sunday the 11th and from 4pm-8pm on Friday and will include a free lunch, dinner, and art activities for the entire family. Participants are asked to bring photos of friends and family for the altar. This event is free.

East Side Cultural Center
2277 International Blvd
(510) 533-6629
www.eastsideartsalliance.com