Oakland Tribune Outtakes

This Friday is going to be off the hook. It’s not enough that the Fox Theater is finally opening Thursday (swoon). Friday night (here is a full calendar) Social Distortion is taking the stage, followed Saturday by Michael Franti and Spearhead. Then, (my heart is pouding) Lee “Scratch” Perry – the maddest baddest reggae Kingston King who taught Master Marley a thing or two about cranking up the bass, way way up – will be standing right there Feb. 20 on the stage of the Fox. So will B.B. King, the Emporer of Blues, who is not too hip in his elder years to have a Web site, in April. Oh wait. That is so not all (should I be this excited?). Feb. 6 also is the ever-expanding First Friday and you know what that means. Every gallery, bar, restaurant, lounge and cabaret will be getting in on the act. Flora is going to be flooded along with — I presume – the Uptown, Ozumo, Mua, Luka’s, B Restaurant, Air Lounge, Levende East and every other place (Arsimona, Air Lounge etc etc etc) within a two-mile radius will too. The artsy lounge in the works in the Art Murmur heartland (Broadway and West Grand) is not yet open but Sidebar will be opening its doors Friday for the first time under the new ownership. Meanwhile, Kimball’s on Washington and 2nd streets is expanding. They want to put out tables on Washington and serve lunch and dinner. And the Cock-a-Doodle Cafe at Washington and 8th is applying for a liquor license. Now if we can just get some hotels built around here we’d be looking pretty fancy.

Someone blew out the flame on Dorsey’s Locker “Blue Candle” happy hour and spoken word special the club used to host twice monthly. The party’s over, at least for now.
But the “80s Party” is still on at Sweet’s Ballroom, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. August 22. Admission is $30 but the winner of the $500 best dressed contest could chip in. 21+ only.  Too $hort is listed on flyers as a “special invited guest.” 
It’s Havanisimo every Saturday at La Taza de Cafe beginning with dinner served beginning 5 p.m and son Cubano featuring Cubanacan at 7 p.m.  Dance lessons are at 9:30 p.m. A DJ takes over at 10 p.m. 
The next day groove over to the Air Lounge for Jamboree Sundays, a chilled out drumming and drinks jam. The music is supposed to be salsa, merengue, soca, reggae and world beat.  And later — 7 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. –  to Soul Sundays at Arsimona.  (Thank you! Dancing on Sunday night!)