Oakland Tribune Outtakes

This is Chris Dobbins doing his part to support the Green Stampede, a homework club affiliated with the A’s, Wednesday night at Oaklandish. Pink underwear and youth groups might sound a little strange. But they fit the occasion: A documentary, Out: The Glenn Burke Story, about Glenn Burke, an Oakland native and Berkeley High graduate who was ousted by the A’s Billy Martin for being gay. The proceeds of Dobbins’ and City Hall hopeful Sean Sullivan (pictured here) went to the Green Stampede.

Few of us will be inside the Paramount Theatre tonight with Brad Pitt for the premier of Moneyball, the story about the A’s brainy numbers guy who cobbled together a team on the cheap. Only the politicians and wealthy among us will be there even though the taxpayers actually are keeping the A’s and Billy Beane sheltered with subsidies of about $10 million a year for the stadium alone. But really this is all about stars and glamour and enjoying the limelight. Tailgates are setting up right now near the Paramount. And the local bars, lounges and restaurants are jumping on board:
•Pican (2295 Broadway) is offering $5 Pican Pale Ale,Wine and Tennessee Margarita/$6 Shrimp Beignets
• Luka’s Tap Room (2221 Broadway) is offering a $3 Trumer Pilsner, Racer 5 and Guinness. Plus $5 margarita or glass of wine/$1 oysters.
• The Layover, located at 1517 Franklin Street (offering $3microbrew drafts/$4
cocktails/$6 highend wines. Half off if you mention Moneyball.
• Mama’s Vietnamese (365 19th) is featuring 15% off all of their entrees.
And yes that is Brad Pitt as Beane in the publicity photo although only his costar names are shown.

The monthly two-for-one at Oakland’s Breads of India on Clay Street begins August 25.

A little mughlai biryani or fish tikka, maybe a cocktail from the bar and a light comedy flick from India? This month’s four-course menu features old Delhi dishes and the movie Cheeni Kum (“Less Sugar”). $40 per person. 7 p.m.

This Tuesday the 9th at 7pm at The Trappist, a convergence of massive proportions, The West Coast Debut of Evil Twin Brewing, Official Wet Dream US release, Taco Tuesday & The Official Trappist Patio Opening! We will be pouring beer on the Patio (not actually on the patio itself but into your glass). Bottles of pretty much everything will also be available for here or “to go”

I like Neko Case and I have a book by one of the contributors right here on my bookshelf, so I am passing this editors’ press release because they’re setting up shop in Oakland: Alibi, a new magazine focused on literature and rock & roll, will launch this winter in Oakland. Published using a mix of traditional and innovative approaches—print, live events, the web, and mobile—Alibi will present rock music and literature side-by-side and explore their exhilarating relationship. The magazine is edited by writer Dan Stone; its board of directors includes Stone, musicians Neko Case and Zach Rogue, designer Brandon Herring, and Pixar Production Manager Jake Martin.

The first issue of Alibi will feature new work by writers Tobias Wolff, Geoff Dyer, Kim Addonizio,  Ted Gioia, A. E. Stallings, Jon Mooallem, Viva Las Vegas, and musicians Zach Rogue (from Rogue Wave), Jim White, Blake Hazard (from the Submarines; she’s also F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great-granddaughter), Kyle Morton (from Typhoon), and Laura Burhenn (from Bright Eyes, Georgie James, and the Mynabirds). Alibi’s inaugural live event will be headlined by Neko Case and a writer we will announce soon. The event will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Alibi is a registered nonprofit corporation interested in exposing youth culture to good music and books. We will give copies of the magazine to high schools and offer free student matinees of our events.Alibi is currently selling subscriptions, event tickets, and other related items through Kickstarter: http://kck.st/rpYnnK. More information can be found on our website: www.alibimagazine.com. For press interviews, quotes, and questions, please contact editor Dan Stone, danstone@alibimagazine.com.

Church might not be the first place you think of spending a Thursday night but saints and sinners: Enjoy live music, complimentary appetizers and a beautiful lake view every 3rd Thursday, August through October (8/18; 9/15; 10/20). 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm on the Plaza of the Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison St (@Grand Ave), Oakland. FREE admission. Everyone welcomed! For additional info, contact 510/893-4711.

It took me forever to get this up here but just wanted to let you know there is a new cafe on Grand Avenue and it looks splendid. Boot and Shoe Service very quietly expanded into the old Di Bartolo’s and opened about two weeks ago now. The cafe is open until 3 p.m. for now. Later drinks and appetizers, as well as cafe and dessert, will be served during the dinner hour.  Like they did when they took over the restaurant portion — the first Di Bartolo holding to go — Boot and Shoe completely gutted the inside of the cafe and opened up the wall between the restaurant and the cafe. It feels like a grown up cafe instead of a laptop work cafe environment. No more sticky pastries, sloppy counters and disinterested service.

While Mayor Quan is on her way to China, we back in Oakland are celebrating another first: Oakland’s Battle of the Taco Trucks. Saturday night from 7 p.m. until midnight at the Oakland Convention Center downtown. Tickets are $15 in advance/$25 at the door. But I think the price only buys you access to “great cheap tacos.” The key word is access.  The actual tacos — and tequila — are extra. But you can call 510-466-6415 or email andrew.fairbanks@ihrco.com. Let the battle begin!

Bar 355 is named for its address: 355 19th Street. The new owners are busy removing layers of history from the lounge. Not the storied decades as Mr. B’s Restaurant & Lounge or Softnotes or other incarnations.  The original signs from two of those incarnations still stand on the roof, high above the facade made from rocks.
They have been scraping away at the residue left behind by food, bourbon, whiskey, beer and smoke. They have a way to go but already the walls are new — royal blue with a gold fleur-de-lys stencil. The bar is long, stretching nearly to the end of the rectangular room.
I happened by yesterday on my way back from a run around Lake Merritt. (I was thinking that the lake has developed an even more serious problem with waste: aviary. To be blunt, the bird s— is layers thick in some spots, including near the Lake Chalet.) The door was open so I peeked inside.
I can tell already that it’s a new era at 355 19th Street.

It’s back again: The Thursday Nite Live summer music series begins tonight with Josh Jones at 5:30 p.m.  Mazacote on June 17, followed by other performers every two weeks — the first and third Thursdays — until October.  No cover.  9th and Broadway. From 12st Street BART, just follow the music . You’ll know it by the people dancing in the street.