Fire crews battled a two-alarm fire at a vacant house in downtown Oakland, according to the Oakland Tribune, which started at about 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, and took three hours to get under control.

Black smoke was visible in downtown Oakland, Jack London Square and over the Alameda-Oakland Estuary from about 5:20 p.m. until at least 6:30 p.m. It drifted toward Alameda initially, and then a shift in the wind pushed the smoke away from the Island.

The fire caused extensive damage to a three-story home dating from 1896 in the 600 block of Harrison Street, on the Oakland side of the Estuary.

The Oakland Fire Department says that one civilian was injured in the blaze and that three people have been detained for questioning about the blaze, which required a crew of 50 to put it out.

They suspect the fire was started in the home apparently when squatters cooked food over an open flame.

The Alameda Journal reported earlier today that an employee of Papa Murphy’s had his cheek broken and his ear torn when he was hit with a pistol at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The employee could not unlock the business safe, Alameda police said, which prompted the robber to injure him and another employee before fleeing with some cash on foot.

The robber had a semi-automatic handgun. He stole money from the register and from one employee. He also stole wallets from two other workers.

The employee who was hurt received treatment at Alameda Hospital and then released.

The suspect was last seen running away from the pizza shop, southbound on Broadway. He is described as a black male of 27-33 years of age, who was wearing all dark clothing, gloves, a hoodie and either a ski mask or a scarf. The man has a deep voice and is tall — between 6 feet and 6 feet 4 inches tall. He weighs between 180 and 250 pounds.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the police at 510-337-8340.

There was an armed robbery at Papa Murphy’s at Broadway and Blanding Avenue between 7 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

One individual was shot and injured during the robbery but is not in critical condition, according to the Alameda Police Department.

Several police officers and firefighters were on the scene after the incident, but it did not appear that any alleged criminals had been arrested.

The store managers were not in the pizza parlor during the robbery; they came by to speak with police after the incident.

We will post more details once they are available from APD.

Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS) asks the community to support Dine & Donate at Tomatina, 1338 Park St.

The restaurant is generously giving 20% of food and beverage sales from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, to FAAS.

Diners are asked to bring a flyer from the FAAS website, if possible, to the restaurant.

FAAS took over responsibility for the Alameda Animal Shelter on Jan. 1, 2012, and organizers say it has made great progress toward its goal of making the shelter a safe haven for homeless animals and a resource for the community over the past year or so — thanks to generous fund-raising and other support.

For instance, more than 450 animals were adopted during 2012 — a 21% increase over the previous year.

The Oakland Yacht Club in Marina Village was busy yesterday with its second series of winter races, which took place during a sunny afternoon with light winds.

The Brunch Series of Estuary races took place Jan. 6 and 20, and future races are set for Feb. 3 and 17, as well as March 3.

The Alameda-based yacht club, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, says these events will include a skippers meeting and a talk by George Lythcott about his Trans Pac racing experience.

Club member Greg Matthews plans to take photos and videos of the brunch events. Congratulations to the Jan. 20 race winners.

OYC is also planning to host a chili cook-off and barbecue event on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3. Also, Ladies Luncheon is scheduled for Feb. 23, when post-1850s fashions made from items picked up at estate sales and from donations to Goodwill, will be featured.

The club will take its anniversary group photo on April 14 and celebrate a Great Gatsby Gala in June, featuring the Royal Jazz Society Jazz Band.

In addition, improvement of the dock and garden areas is taking place at OYC.

Alameda’s Little Ice Rink will be open from 3 to 10 p.m. today and then will be closing for the season.

The 3,000-square-foot ice rink, which has been open since Nov. 16 at South Shore Center near PetCo, rents skates and offers novice skaters the use of handy plastic “seals” they can lean on as they move around the rink.

In addition to the Perforce Software Foundation, South Shore Center and Ice America teams, the project came together with the following partners:

Alameda Municipal Power
Buestad Construction
BME Construction, Inc.
Cell-Crete Corporation
City of Alameda
DRYCO Construction, Inc.
The Art Sign Company
West Coast Rental & Event Production

The Alameda Main Library will present the documentary “Koran By Heart” at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20. The film highlights the lives of three students who devote themselves to memorizing and reciting the Koran.

It is being shown in collaboration with the Islamic Center of Alameda and the Alameda Multicultural Community Center, as part of special series of free cultural events: Muslim Journeys: An exploration and celebration of the intertwined histories of Islam and the West.

From 4-7 p.m. on Sunday Feb. 17, there will be a discussion of two books that focus on the theme of connected histories, accompanied by a multicultural potluck. The venue is the Islamic Center of Alameda, 901 Santa Clara Ave.

The third program takes place from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, the Leydecker Park Recreation Center (3225 Mecartney Road). The program will highlight stories about women and Islam.

The final program is set for 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at the Alameda Multicultural Community Center, 1900 Third Street, in the Woodstock Education Center Multipurpose Room. The event will including a viewing and discussion of the film “Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World.”

To celebrate the end of the Year of the Dragon and get a jump on the Year of the Snake, the Alameda Free Library is hosting a lecture on Chinese art highlighting its hidden meanings.

LauraBeth Nelson, a docent at the Asian Museum of San Francisco, will discuss the symbols the Chines use in celebrating the New Year, birthdays, advancements in business and good wishes for a long and prosperous life.

The program will take place in the Regina K. Stafford meeting rooms at the Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak Street, today (Wednesday January 9) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On New Year’s Eve, the Speisekammer Restaurant, at 2424 Lincoln Ave, will host a show by the Saddle Cats, an American Western swing four-piece ensemble, which is set to perform from 9 a.m. to midnight. Guests also can order German food and beer usually found on the menu, as well as some New Year Eve’s specialty items.

“It’s a local band that plays here regularly and is really a lot of fun,” said Cindy Kahl, a co-owner of the Lincoln Avenue establishment. “The Saddle Cats play vintage Western Swing, like what you hear from Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.”

The musical group features Bobby Black on steel guitar, Richard Chon on fiddle and vocals, Gordon Clegg on guitar and Bing Nathan on bass. The members also plan to perform at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, which will take place from Jan. 28-Feb. 2 in Elko, Nev.

At Rhythmix Cultural Works on Blanding, Bay Area-based comedian Josh Kornbluth will present his Red Diaper Baby show at 7 and 10 p.m. on Dec. 31. The New Year’s Eve program features “a poignant celebration of a neurotic child’s awkward yet heartfelt journey into adulthood,” Rhythmix staff members say.

“Josh received a standing ovation for his October show at Temple Israel” on Bay Farm, said Ruth Belikove, who helped put that event together. “It will not be the same monologue, and I hope many Alamedans will come to see him again. His material is autobiographical, which makes him so amusing and very funny.”

According to Kornbluth, a man with “a deep fear of transitions,” the show highlights “thorny subjects as sex, politics and the possible overuse of baby powder,” along with details about a young boy who believed he was destined to grow up to lead a communist revolution in America.

Tickets are $30-$40, and the 10 p.m. show includes a champagne toast. (See www.rhthymix.org or call 510-865-5060.)