Oh Oaklanders, we are about to yet more nightlife in coming months. First, the owners of B Restaurant and Bar, Air lounge and FIVEten Studio are collaborating on a split-level art bar and gallery, ERA. Patrons will want to get out on the dancefloor because of the DJs who will spinning — some of them big-name hot shots.  Era is going to be slick enough to give San Francisco a run for its money, according to Kevin, co-founder of B. It also will be a welcome addition when it opens around January to the Broadway/Grand interesection just across the street at 19 and 21 Grand from Luka’s, Ozumo, Vo’s and the galleries, plus the new Bakesale Betty’s store. Not too far away, near the SEARS building on Telegraph is AVE, where the old Bear Cave is.

First of all, if you are reading this on election night STOP and go join the living at some of the local parties. Everett and Jones barbecue, for starters, has Second Street at Broadway blocked off. In the place of cars is a band that was warming up with some loud drums. Beware, however: the parking is tight down there. Walk, bus or taxi if you can (the only cab company number I know is 536-3000. If you read my blog earlier about this city’s taxi service you’ll understand). Even Sacret Heart tattoo parlor on Broadway and 7th is getting into the spirit. One of the artists did an “Obama ‘08″ tat a few months ago on someone’s back. They offered to do one on the spot for me tonight but I’m working until 11:30.  This is definitely Obama territory, although I overheard a woman passing by saying “He’s not a hero. He’s just a politician.” She must be from out of town. Anyway, aside from the Marriott’s party, the Washington Inn on 10th and Washington is expecting a crowd as is nearby B Restaurant and Bar. Levende across the street is offering drink specials in honor of the occasion: Two for one drinks with your “I voted” sticker or ballot receipt up to $20. But don’t fret. Levende also has happy hour drink prices.

9th Street between Washington and Broadway exploded last night in a show of cherried-out Chevrolets, tricked-out bikes, pumping Hip-hop and crowds of young and old folks outside FIVEten Studio. The occasion was the closing of a gallery show there, a photog by the name of Deandre said. I don’t know how to spell his name but am hoping he will send some photos to do justice here to the scene Saturday night that I stumbled across on my day to B’s to catch up on some reading and talk politics with the restaurant’s best bartender (IMHO). It was the perfect cap to a long day of Art & Soul that Zoe and I partook of. We only stayed a few hours (busy day), long enough to see some righteous dance from this city’s studios: Dance-A-Vision, New World Motherlode, Sparkle, Imani’s Dream, Afta Shock, Mighty Shock and (what else) Future Shock. We walked the isles of food and craft booths, listened to the Wombats (catchy), grooved to Las Rakas and left after checking in with Agua Libre (fka OMaya). Oh, lest I forget, I ran into Joyce Gordon at her gallery on 14th Saturday afternoon. She was bleary-eyed after an opening party Friday night for her new show that features graffiti. She asked me if I had seen it. No, I hadn’t and didn’t manage to swing by yesterday and I can’t find info about it on the Web site. So we’ll all just have to check it out ourselves. And if you’re checking things out, I recommend strolling down 13th Street from Lake Merritt to Broadway. That is one beautiful street, lined with Oakland’s Beaux-Arts brick buildings, like the post office/custom house and the old Hotel Oakland, that look like they are carved out of smooth buttercream frosting. So I guess yesterday was a pretty good Oaktown kind of day.

I wandered over to Thursday Night Live, the twice-monthly street fest on Washington and 9th, to see how the gathering was going since it started in June.  Instead of shutting off Washington, 9th Street was closed, and guards checked IDs because the cocktails were flowing. The music wasn’t my thing but the crowd of about 100 seemed to be grooving along. More vendors with cooler goods were also on hand. My favorite was the Obama ‘08 football jersey in the Raiders silver and black.  
Raj, the manager of the Washington Inn, was there sipping something fuschia colored on ice.  The speed dating club, 8Minute Dating, might start holding sessions at the hotel’s restaurant, Seison. But more about that later. 
The first Thursday Night Live was hot. Last week, the mood matched the cool weather, so I headed indoors and ran into Kevin and Dirk, co-owners of B Restaurant and Levende East (respectively), who complained bitterly about the lack of media coverage for Thursday Night Live…

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