Funky Brazilian shack offers up a taste of Rio ...

THE MORE TIME you spend in the Oakland area, you come to realize this is one funky scene. We're a geographical George Clinton, the "King of Funk."

Enjoy a libation at the Kingfish or Last Chance Saloon in Oakland or Croll's in Alameda, or grab a burger at The Smokehouse in Berkeley — it doesn't get any more funky.

But if you want funk, samba-style, there's only place: The Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe. Even the name sounds funky.

The cafe — it hardly resembles one — is one block from the University of California, Berkeley, campus at the corner of University and Walnut.

Seeing it for the first time, your immediate thought will be: How did it ever get a building permit? For its architecture is impossible to describe — sort of a shack or a hut or a fort.

But Berkeley is strange, so the cafe fits the city perfectly.

However, if you want genuine Brazilian food, you don't have to go to Rio de Janeiro. Just drive over to Pedro Robin's funky food palace, with the American and Brazilian flags flying above the roof and place your order.

Figuring what to eat will be challenging. The cuisine is quite good and quite varied. Thus making a decision will be harder than doing the samba.

Dave Newhouse's Good Neighbors, Oakland Tribune 01.28.08

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Guess who is coming to dinner?

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market” is planning to open a grocery store at the former site of Eugene International Market at the Jack London Gateway Shopping Center on Market Street. This addition (5 minutes drive), augments our current choices of grocery stores: Lucky's (8 minutes), Pak n' Save (6 minutes), Berkeley Bowl (12 minutes), Trader's Joe (8 minutes), Smart & Final (6 minutes) and Whole Foods (8 minutes).

Reviewing the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market website, under Great Foods I Can Trust they sound like the type of grocery store our community needs, although they state they are smaller than the usual supermarket.

I heard that they signed the lease for the 27k sq. ft. but want to collaborate with a compatible venture to use approximately half of the space. A good candidate may be a drug store????

Here is a snap shot of the recent Press Release of Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market openings in San Diego

Based on recent openings in California, each Fresh & Easy store employs approximately 20 to 30 people. Entry-level positions start at $10 an hour (minimum 20 hours a week), and all positions include a quarterly bonus of up to 10%. Fresh & Easy pay at least 75% cost of comprehensive and affordable healthcare.

More to come later, Stay tuned…

Off the Wall

The Oakland Museum of California located at 1000 Oak Street

presents "OFF THE WALL" weekend celebration "First Fridays After Five"

Friday, December 7th, 2007; 5-10pm.

Featuring a soul-food cooking demo with Chef Tanya Holland.

Tanya is the author of New Soul Cooking, Updating a Cuisine Rich in Flavor and Tradition. Her restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen (former site of Island Cafe), is opening soon.

Other happenings that night include:

• Dance to the Live Afro-Cuban sounds of Candido Oye-Oba's AfricanBeatz featuring drummer Rasaki Aladokun


• Velocity Circus performers, click here for a recent event


• Gospel and holiday music with recording artist Lawrence Beamen


• Talk and book (Rex Ray: Art and Design) signing with artist Rex Ray; browse sample pages now


• Holiday shopping in the museum store (or on-line) and Feria Urbana (urban fair)

Music Happenings!

"The After World" deep soulful selections by Afrikan Sciences plus live performances ... More free. Fridays, 9 p.m. Black New World, 836 Pine St., Oakland, 510-238-9680, BlackNewWorld.blogspot.com.

"Culture Thursdays" rotating DJs spinning reggae & world beat free. Thursdays, 10 p.m. Air Bar & Lounge, 492 9th St., Lower Patio, Oakland, 510-444-2377, AirOakland.com.

Dotha's Juke Joint Presents Birdlegg & the Tight Fit Blues Band free. Saturdays, 9 p.m. Everett & Jones Barbeque, 126 Broadway, Oakland, 510-663-2350, www.eandjbbq.com/music_at/qs_page.htm.

Gallery of Urban Art Benefit w/ Skimpy Portions, the Gomorran Social Aid and Pleasure Club, & Steve Taylor ... More $5. Sat., Dec. 1, 7 p.m. Gallery of Urban Art, 1746 13th St., Oakland, 510-596-0020, TheGalleryofUrbanArt.com.

Grown Folk Entertainment free. Saturdays, 8 p.m. Kimball's Carnival, 522 2nd St., Oakland, 510-444-6979, KimballsCarnival.com.

Lion Rock roots, dub, and dancehall with residents Riddm, Rocker-T, Kurious, Dubrocker, Yao Chris, and Jah Yzer, plus rotating guest selectas ... More $5 before 11 p.m. Wednesdays Club Oasis, 135 12th St., Oakland, 510-763-0404.

Live Lingerie Show w/ prizes free. Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m. Warehouse Bar, 402 Webster St., Oakland, 510-451-3161, thewarehousebar.net/index.asp.

"Mouth Off" open-mic poetry, followed by DJ music free. Wednesdays, 8-10 p.m. Air Bar & Lounge, 492 9th St., Lower Patio, Oakland, 510-444-2377, AirOakland.com.

Roy Haynes & Birds of a Feather w/ Nicholas Payton, Kenny Garrett, John Patitucci, & David Kikoski ... More $16-$28. Thu., Nov. 29, 8 & 10 p.m., Fri., Nov. 30, 8 & 10 p.m., Sat., Dec. 1, 8 & 10 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 2, 7 & 9 p.m. Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, 510-238-9200, Yoshis.com.

Salsa Saturdays w/ DJs Mambo & Virus $5 before 10 p.m., $8. Saturdays, 9 p.m. Club Anton, 428 3rd St., Oakland, 510-463-0165, ClubAnton.com.

Skip Henderson and Starboard Watch free. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Quinn's Lighthouse, 1951 Embarcadero Cove, Oakland, 510-536-2050, QuinnsLighthouse.com.

"Sultry Fridays" DJ Lash & Fat Rob spin R&B & soul $5. Fri., May 11, 9 p.m. and Fridays, 9 p.m. Kimball's Carnival, 522 2nd St., Oakland, 510-444-6979, KimballsCarnival.com.

The Underworld Opera Co. Circus Variety Show w/ Paula Frazer, Second Star, Laura Weinbach, Sophie the Skeleton Keys, Tribal Fusion Bellydance, Lisa Bolin, & Skye Atman ... More $8. First Saturday of every month, 9 p.m. Oakland Metro Operahouse, 630 3rd St., Oakland, 510-763-1146, OaklandMetro.org.

"Unity" w/ DJs, free bar snacks, & art free before 7 p.m., $5. Thursdays, 5-10 p.m. Air Bar & Lounge, 492 9th St., Lower Patio, Oakland, 510-444-2377, AirOakland.com.

Two films featuring our neighbors

You are cordially invited to a premiere screening of two films produced and directed by Harold Lawrence featuring Internationally-acclaimed Oakland artist Bruce Beasley and Award-winning Journalist/Publisher Paul Cobb

Wednesday, November 14th, 7:30pm
James Moore Theatre
Oakland Museum of California
Oak at 10th Street

The Conversation – Sculptor Bruce Beasley and longtime civic activist Paul Cobb discuss their partnership as community activists in West Oakland during the turbulent 1960s.

Citizen Artist – The life and work of sculptor Bruce Beasley are explored in the video originally commissioned by the Oakland Museum of California for a retrospective of his career.

Reception to follow films
Bruce Beasley, Paul Cobb and Harold Lawrence will be in attendance.

The programs will be broadcast on KTOP/Cable Channel 10, the City of Oakland’s government channel during December 2007.

Filming activity in Prescott Oakland Point Neighborhoods

According to Ami Zins, Film Coordinator with the Oakland Film Office, Saturday, Nov. 3rd filming activity I witnessed on Central Station Parkway (Frontage Rd.) was a car commercial being produced by Bing Productions, a UK premier production company.

They could not divulge what car company but did state they will continue to film and finish probably Friday, Nov. 16th.

Looking for acting opportunity, check this out!

The Oakland Film Office is proud to announce LOCAL FOCUS!

Local Focus is a filmmakers’ salon and screening series featuring short films and music videos by local filmmakers. Local Focus will be held bi-monthly at the Oakland Metro Operahouse at 201 Broadway near Jack London Square.

The evening is an opportunity for local filmmakers to share their works with others in and outside of the industry, and to benefit by lively discussion and networking opportunities!

Admission is FREE and the public is invited. There will be a no-host bar and light snacks for your enjoyment.

The following films will be screened on Tues, Nov 13th:

FIRST SET

Bag of Funyuns, by Yoram Savion and Youth Uprising, 4 min (total min of first two)

Anti Violence PSA, by Yoram Savion and Youth Uprising

Voices of Dissent, by Karil Daniels, 8.14 min

Trina’s Collections, by Ellen Lake, 6 min

The War Prayer, by Dawn Satkowski/Michael Goorjian/Noah and Mary Veneklasen (and others), 11.31 min

Switch and the Spark, by Taj Musco, 15 minTotal: 44.45 min

SECOND SET

BBQ, by Janero Baltrip, 2.5 minGreat Train Robbery, by Kristian Hansen, 4 min

Town Culture & Youth Abuse PSA, by Joslyn Rose, 5 min

Jesus Wishes, by Heather MacLean, 8 minReflect, by Yoram Savion and Youth Uprising, 11 min (total min of last three)

Nameless Repercussions, by Yoram Savion and Youth Uprising Turf Dancers Freestyle, by Yoram Savion and Youth Uprising Total: 30.5 min

If you would like to submit a short film to the series, please see info below:

Please submit your short film or music video (15 minutes max length) in DVD format or by internet link for consideration to:

Oakland Film Office 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 9th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 filmoakland@filmoakland.com

We will contact you when we receive your film. If you have questions, please email filmoakland@filmoakland.com or call 510-238-4734. We look forward to receiving your submissions and seeing you there!

Prescott Oakland Point Neighborhood

The Prescott Oakland Point neighborhood is one of the oldest residential and commercial areas in Oakland.

Most of the houses are historic Victorians built between 1860 and 1900.

Oakland Point, was the terminus of the first transcontinental railroad and is one of the most intact Victorian districts in the state.

It became home to a diverse community of Europeans, Mexicans, Asians, and African Americans.

It remains a thriving socially and ethnically mixed neighborhood, and is centrally located minutes from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and Highways 580, 880, 980, and 24.

The Prescott-Oakland Point Neighborhood Association community group's boundary is defined within Mandela Pkwy (East), 7th Street (South), West Grand (North), San Francisco Bay (West) encompassing the "Central Station" development and Oakland Army Base.