Today I managed a first, too-short visit to the Oakland Museum of California, a science, art and history museum dedicated to "telling the story of California." It was a quiet Wednesday afternoon, so I had much of the museum to myself, which was really nice for a first visit. The museum is divided into 3…
Amazing Metal Sculptures in West Oakland!
My sister and I were randomly driving around West Oakland, looking for the onramp to the freeway, when we encountered some truly stunning metal artwork in two different spots. The first was Alliance Recycling on Peralta Street (Google map) , which features several really neat metal sculptures on their storefront. This junk metal C3PO is…
Catch Teatro Zinzanni’s newest and last(?) show “On the Air” by December 31
A couple of weeks ago, Miss Jeskat and I had the pleasure of watching Teatro Zinzanni, a long-running cabaret / circus dinner show in San Francisco. For those that don't know, for many years, Teatro Zinzanni has been putting on lavish three-hour shows complete with singing, magic, trapeze, juggling and more. It's very much an…
Joseph Gordon Levitt’s homage to Donald O’Conner: “Make ’em Laugh!”
Not long ago, Joseph Gordon Levitt on Saturday Night Live did an admirable homage to the great dancer / performer Donald O'Conner. Of course O'Conner's "Make em Laugh!" is revered as one of the finest comic dance performances ever captured on film. I really liked the JGL version though, particularly the awesome stunt at the end….
New Chick Webb Documentary Needs Funds!
My friend Judy Prichett shared with me this appeal for funding for a new documentary about legendary band leader Chick Webb: There is a fantastic new documentary about to be released: "The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America". It tells the important story of the birth of swing dancing at…
“Freak Dance” : A dance movie parody I might actually see (video)
I'm not a big dance movie parody fan. But I have to admit, I laugh every time I watch this trailer for "Freak Dance." The Upright Citizens Brigade know how to bring the funny. Oh and it looks like Quest Crew makes an appearance. So it can't be that bad. I'll at least watch it…
What I Saw in Oakland on a Friday Night
On Friday night, I did a little bike ride from my pad down Telegraph and then back up Broadway in Oakland. Here's what I saw: A street festival with food trucks, artwork for sale, and a burlesque show later An open air R&B concert with a bunch of teens doing a Michael Jackson medley A…
Digitally Disconnected ≠ Discontented?
I have been having a frustrating time getting some kind of communications system working in my otherwise charming new pad in Oakland. In most of the apartment I have zero bars on my cell phone, which is a big bummer. Just as importantly, I have been so far unsuccessful at getting any kind of broadband…
Exploring Oakland’s Telegraph Avenue
I've been very charmed by Telegraph Avenue, which is very near my new apartment in Oakland. Just walking around between 38th and 45th Streets, I am discovering all sorts of neat little stores, cafes, and sites. It's a very multicultural street, with Ethiopian and Korean being the dominant ethnicities represented. This block for example has…
Goodbye, Mr Jobs, and Thanks for All the Inspiring Tech
RIP Steve Jobs. You made cool things that brought delight and joy to my life. Thank you. – Rik Panganiban : Mac Fanboy for Life