By
Hooray for barrelhouse brews and baklava, magicians and violin makers, and Pact and Ear Hustle
Julie Anderson, Elyce Berrigan-Dunlop, Shane Downing, Lisa Fernandez, Janis Hashe, Elizabeth Gonzalez James, Margaret Juhaue Lee, Amy Moon, Chris Orr, and Elise Proulx
BES BEST OF T OAKLAND and the East Bay 2019
BEST BAGELS
Beauty’s Bagel Shop
BEST BAKERY
Arizmendi Bakery
BEST BAR
Starline Social Club
BEST BARBECUE
Everett and Jones
BEST BREAKFAST/ BRUNCH
Grand Lake Kitchen
BEST BURGER TrueBurger
BEST BUTCHER SHOP
Clove & Hoof Butchery Resaturant
BEST CALIFORNIA CUISINE
Chez Panisse
BEST CATERER
Ann’s Catering
BEST CHEESES
The Cheese Board
Collective
BEST CHEF
Tanya Holland, Brown Sugar Kitchen
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
Shan Dong
BEST COCKTAILS
Shakewell
BEST COFFEEHOUSE
Peet’s Coffee
BEST DELI
Market Hall Foods
BEST DIM SUM
East Ocean Seafood Restaurant
BEST DINER
Bette’s Oceanview
Diner
BEST DOUGHNUTS
Colonial Donuts
BEST EAST BAY BEER
Drake’s IPA, Drake’s Brewing Co.
BEST ETHIOPIAN/ ERITREAN RESTAURANT
Enssarro Ethiopian Cuisine
BEST FARMERS MARKET
Grand Lake Farmers Market
BEST GREEK RESTAURANT
Ikaros Greek Restaurant
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Shakewell
BEST ICE CREAM Fentons Creamery
BEST INDIAN/PAKISTANI RESTAURANT
Viks Chaat
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Bellotti
BEST IZAKAYA
Ippuku
BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Kirala
BEST KOREAN RESTAURANT
Bowl’d BBQ
BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING
Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe
BEST LOCAL BREWERY
Drake’s Brewing Co.
BEST LOUNGE
Luka’s Taproom
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
Doña Tomás
BEST MEZCAL SELECTION
Calavera
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT
Dyafa
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
Heart and Dagger
Saloon
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Dyafa
BEST OUTDOOR DINING
Drake’s Dealership
BEST PIZZA
Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
BEST PLACE TO DRINK BEER
Drake’s Dealership
BEST RAMEN
Ramen Shop
BEST RESTAURANT
Wood Tavern
BEST RESTAURANT WINE LIST
À Côté
BEST RETAIL BEER SELECTION
Berkeley Bowl Marketplace
BEST SALADS
Market Hall Foods
BEST SANDWICHES
Bakesale Betty
BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
alaMar
BEST SEAFOOD RETAILER
Tokyo Fish Market
BEST SMALL PLATES
Mua
BEST SOUTH- OR CENTRAL-AMERICAN RESTAURANT
Cholita Linda
BEST SOUTHERN/SOUL FOOD
Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen
BEST SPANISH RESTAURANT
Duende
BEST TACO TRUCK
Tacos Sinaloa
BEST THAI/BURMESE RESTAURANT
Burma Superstar
BEST VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
Millennium Restaurant
BEST VIETNAMESE/ CAMBODIAN/LAOTIAN RESTAURANT
Le Cheval
BEST WINE BAR
Ordinaire
BEST WINE STORE
The Wine Mine
BEST WINERY
Rock Wall Wine Co.
Photo by Lance Yamamoto
El mejor. East Oakland, on International Boulevard, there’s a plancha heating up every flavor you long for. On a bright afternoon when salsa and seasoned meats are igniting the imagination, EL PAISA is making all dreams a reality with deluxe burritos filled with lengua, carnitas, pollo, al pastor, or cabessa. If you want to up the spice game, make sure they hit your order with the enormous mortar near the window, and then find yourself overjoyed by the pickled vegetable and toppings bar behind you. Take a seat on the covered back patio or eat in the gloriously festive restaurant. Either way, you will indulge knowing this place not only loves you, they are the staple of te quiero in The Town. Gracias a dios para este lugar. 4610 International Blvd., 510-534-2180
It’s quite likely that nowhere else in the world are people as passionate about their bread as in the Bay Area. Everyone has his favorites, but PHOENIX PASTIFICIO’s rustic olive bread is a clear standout. The thick, chewy crust contrasts nicely with the soft, yeasty interior, but when you hit on an olive, this bread really bursts into life, especially when it’s hot. The Kalamata olives add just the right amount of saltiness and earthiness to the flavor. Phoenix Pastificio sells its rustic olive bread at farmers markets all over the East Bay (listed on its website), but you can also pick up a loaf at many local supermarkets or at its bakery. While you’re at it, you can also pick up one of Phoenix Pastificio’s excellent handmade pastas, pasta sauces, or pastries. The chocolate macaroons — crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle, with just the right amount of almond paste — are beyond delicious. 1250 Addison St., Suite 109, Berkeley, 510-883-0783, PhoenixPasta.com.
DONUT SAVANT has turned junk food into an art form with over 27 varieties of doughnuts, doughnut holes, and “cron’ts” (croissant-doughnut combos), all at very reasonable prices. While you can go conservative and get a basic chocolate or vanilla-glazed doughnut, the true delight lies in trying some of wackier varieties, like “Hella Nutella” — a doughnut hole topped with Nutella and almond pieces — or the “Sean Pecan-ery” — a mini cinnamon roll covered with butter cream and toasted pecans. At any moment, a fiery debate might erupt about whether the apple fritter or the coconut dream hole is the superior choice.
El Paisa by Paul Haggard; Donut Savant by Lance Yamamoto
Other favorites include the salted maple cron’t and the o.m.j. — a vanilla glazed cron’t with jam filling. Its crème brûlée doughnut — an airy doughnut filled with vanilla cream and topped with caramelized sugar — is also mouth-wateringly good. A cool service the store offers is ordering doughnuts online through its website. That way, you’re guaranteed to get the doughnuts you want, and you can pick them up 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. 1934 Broadway, 510-972-8268, Oakland, DonutSavant.com.
If you’re craving no-frills Mediterranean food, head to HOLY LAND RESTAURANT. The longtime restaurant is easy to miss, because its nestled on a tiny street near the intersection of Lakeshore and Lake Park avenues, but the food is easier to remember: the falafel, dolma, hummus, pita, shakshuka, and matzo ball soup are some of the best in the East Bay. Catering and takeout orders keep Miri Levy and her team busy, but if you go in for a sit- down meal, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into an Israeli cafe. In the mood for something sweet? Grab some baklava for your walk around Lake Merritt. 677 Rand Ave., 510-272-0535, Oakland, OrderHolyLandRestaurant.com.
Oakland’s craft beer scene may be crowded, but GHOST TOWN BREWING has managed to carve out a name for itself among Bay Area beer enthusiasts. Prior to starting a brewery, Ghost Town’s co-founders — Sam Carr-Prindle, Jason Gehman, Adam Hill, and Ryan Nosek — were in a metal band, and the West Oakland quartet gathered on weekends to home brew. Their first location, on Union Street, was more of a rehearsal space than a brewhouse, and in 2017, they upgraded their current operation to include 15 barrels and a taproom. With an ever-revolving menu of beers, Ghost Town Brewing also sells four-pack cans, growlers, and crowlers, and the brewhouse is both kid and pet friendly. Better yet, there’s usually a food truck outside. 1960 Adeline St., 510-926-6728, GhostTownBrewing.com.
Food historians place the origins of baklava in ancient Rome, to a popular dessert called placenta made of layered dough filled with honey, cheese, and bay leaves. Baklava as it is known today is a pastry made of filo dough, chopped nuts — usually pistachios — and drizzled with a syrup made of honey and rosewater. And no one in
HOLY LAND GHOST TOWN BREWING Holy Land by Lance Yamamoto; Ghost Town courtesy brewerOakland makes a better baklava than OASIS FOOD MARKET. Flakey, sweet, crisp, nutty — baklava is perfect for dessert, tea time, breakfast, or any time at all. Oasis offers several different kinds, as well as many other specialty desserts from the Middle East. Call ahead and order a platter or just stop by and get one for yourself. There’s no rule that says you have to share. 3045 Telegraph Ave., 510-6555111, Oakland, OasisFoodMarketCA.com.
The outside looks like a movie version of a 1960s hamburger joint. Located kitty-corner from Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond, this family-owned place, FROSTY KING, also revisits the past with its friendly customer service and seriously yummy fast food. If you’re not old enough to remember going for burgers and fries in the station wagon, never mind. The blackberry milkshakes, hot pastrami sandwiches, chicken dinners, and of course, burgers and cheeseburgers don’t care what age you are. You may do a doubletake if your cashiers are the family twins. 171 Harbour Way S., 510-232-3040, Richmond.
If you’re looking to heal a broken heart, boost your longevity, improve your focus, or just get a good meal, then THE WELL is the place for you. Offering a variety of interesting, gluten-free foods like pickled burdock congee, cardamom chia seed pudding, and bone broth (five kinds!), The Well is dedicated to improving your health as well as pleasing your taste buds. To accompany your congee, you might order an herbal latte with turmeric and ashwaghanda (Indian ginseng), or a cold, herbal elixir featuring raspberry leaf, yellow dock, nettle, and dandelion designed for “strong women.” In fact, the strong woman vibe is palpable in every aspect of The Well, from its hand-drawn portraits of famous black feminists down to the lines of soaps, salves, bitters, teas, and essential oils it sells, all made by small, women-owned companies. It’s a delightful place to hang out, too, with a mellow vibe and lots of plants and local art. There’s an open mic night every Sunday 8-10 p.m. 5443 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 510-808-7315,
BES BEST OF T OAKLAND and the East Bay 2019
BEST ACCOUNTING OR TAX PRACTICE
Jake Birnberg
BEST ACUPUNCTURIST
Aimee Ruiz
BEST ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRACTICE
For the Love
Acupuncture & Wellness
BEST ANIMAL SHELTER OR RESCUE GROUP
East Bay SPCA
BEST ARTS AND CRAFTS STORE
East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse
BEST ATTORNEY
Brian Ripley
BEST AUTO BODY SHOP
Uptown Body & Fender
BEST AUTO REPAIR
Art’s Automotive
BEST BANK, S&L, OR CREDIT UNION”
Patelco Credit Union
BEST BARBERSHOP
Temescal Alley Barbershop
BEST BIKE SHOP
Tip Top Bike Shop
BEST BOOKSTORE
Walden Pond Books
BEST BUILDING CONTRACTOR
McCutcheon Construction
BEST CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
Ruby’s Garden
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
Melissa Crago, Life Chiropractic
BEST CHOCOLATE SHOP
Casa De Chocolate
BEST CLOTHING RESALE
Crossroads
BEST DENTAL PRACTICE
Oakland Green Dental
BEST DERMATOLOGIST
Tomi Wall, MD
BEST EYEGLASS STORE
UC Berkeley School of Optometry
BEST FINANCIAL PLANNER
Erilk Wolfers
BEST FLOWER SHOP
Wisteria
BEST FRAME SHOP
Galeria Scola Custom Framing
BEST GIFT SHOP
Oaklandish
BEST GROCERY
Berkeley Bowl Marketplace
BEST HAIR SALON
77 Salon
BEST HAIRSTYLIST OR COLORIST
Trinh Tran, Phoenix Rising Salon
BEST HARDWARE STORE
Grand Lake Ace Hardware
BEST HOME FURNISHINGS STORE
IKEA
BEST HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE
Hella Clean
BEST INSURANCE AGENT
Ruth Stroup, Farmers Insurance
BEST INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM
Laura Martin Bovard Interiors
BEST JEWELRY STORE
Pavé Fine Jewelry Design
BEST KITCHEN REMODELER
McCutcheon Construction
BEST LANDSCAPING SERVICE
Robert S. Cruikshank
BEST LIGHTING STORE
Berkeley Lighting Company
BEST PLACE TO GET A MASSAGE
Piedmont Family Spa
BEST MEN’S FASHION
Ginger Parnes, J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier
BEST MORTGAGE BROKER
Suzanne ”Skip” Skipper, LaSalle Mortgage Services
BEST NEW BUSINESS
Tacos Oscar
BEST OPTOMETRY PRACTICE
UC Berkeley School of Optometry
BEST ORTHOPEDIC PRACTICE
Steven S. Isono, MD, Stanford Health Care Orthopedics
BEST PAINTING CONTRACTOR
Arana Craftsman Painters
BEST PLACE TO GET A FACIAL
Rockridge Day Spa
BEST PLACE TO GET A MANICURE OR PEDICURE
Natural Nails Plus
BEST PLACE TO GET CLOTHES ALTERED
Eclipse Alterations
BEST PLANT NURSERY
Berkeley Horticultural Nursery
BEST PLUMBING CONTRACTOR
Albert Nahman
Plumbing & Heating
BEST PRINT SHOP
Minuteman Press
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Jennifer Bauer, The Grubb Co.
BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY
Red Oak Realty
BEST RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECT
Rebecca Amato, Amato Architecture
BEST ROOFING CONTRACTOR
Collins Roofing
BEST SEWER LINE CONTRACTOR
Pipe Spy
BEST SHOE REPAIR
Ike’s Shoe & Luggage Repair
BEST SHOPPING DISTRICT
Fourth Street, Berkeley
BEST SMALL COLLEGE
Mills College
BEST SPA
Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel
BEST THERAPIST
Lorie Solay, SolayCreative
BEST TILE AND STONE STORE
Art Tile
BEST VETERINARY CLINIC
Montclair Veterinary Hospital
BEST WAXING SALON
European Wax Center
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING
McMullen
BEST WOMEN’S SHOES
Shoes on Solano
TheWellOakland.com.
In a time when race issues are front and center and often seem intractable, it’s heartwarming to know that deep in the trenches, good work is being done to make a real difference. PACT, An Adoption Alliance is an Oakland-based nonprofit that serves adopted children of color. A full-service adoption agency, Pact doesn’t stop serving after the placement is made. In some ways, this is when the real work begins — lifelong education, support, and community — because there’s no glossing over the challenges of transracial adoption as well as the need to educate oneself and others about the pervasive power of race and racism. But the real beauty of Pact is its goal for “every child to feel wanted, honored and loved, to be a cherished part of a strong family with proud connections to their rich, cultural heritage.” 5515 Doyle St., Suite 1, Emeryville, 510-243-9460, PactAdopt.org.
While clowns can be polarizing (or terrorizing) for children’s birthday parties, everyone loves magic. And no one brings more age-appropriate laughter and delight than MIKE THE MAGICIAN, aka Mike Della Penna. A former stand-up comedian and elementary school teacher, Della Penna knows how to capture the attention of the 3 to 7 crowd and wow them with feats of magic.
A popular fixture at library events and Children’s Fairyland, Mike does balloon animals, improv, card and hat tricks, and is even available for school assemblies and other special events. 510-408-8080, MikeDellaPenna.com.
It’s pretty rare to find anyone who can fix anything anymore. After several phone calls around the East Bay, CALIFORNIA SKI COMPANY was the only place that readily said it could repair a 15-year-old pair of snowshoes by replacing old plastic bindings with new ones. The skilled tech said it would take him an hour to fix the shoes at $45 an hour, which is way better than plunking down $150 or more for new shoes. He was true to his word, and the shoes were fixed in a few days. Plus, the tiny shop was bustling on a weekday morning with all sorts of business types looking like they were playing hooky for the day so they
could get fitted for ski boots and head off to the slopes. The specialty shop is known for its quality boot fittings, and it’s been doing this as well as renting skis for alpine and ski touring since 1989. The shop’s owner, Greg Whitehouse, and his team believe that boots “form 100 percent” of the connection between skier and ski; they are the control link between skier, skis, and snow, and they all really stand behind making sure your boots and shoes give you happy feet in the snow 843-A Gilman St., Berkeley 510-527-6411, CaliforniaSkiCompany.com.
Support local makers at the HEAD WEST MARKETPLACE, a series of pop-up gatherings at various locations, such as Old Oakland and Hangar 1 Vodka in Alameda. Expertly curated by West Perro’s Jimmy Brower (look for the lanky bearded guy wearing the desert sun hat), the market was born out of “the desire to create accessible and affordable space for others.” The vibe is slightly bohemian and decidedly feel-good. Past vendors include clothing designer Mira Blackman, Revive Kombucha, Curvy Girl Vintage, and SF artist Sofia Shu. Check the website for dates and locations at HeadWestMarketPlace.com.
YES
Husband-and-wife team Laura and Julien Shields make laser-cut jewelry from unwanted books headed for the rubbish bin for their YES & YES DESIGNS. From initials to geometric shapes and even the state map of California, the entire Made From Books line of quirky and cute earrings, necklaces, and pins can be found at Mischief, the couple’s gift shop in the Laurel District. You can also find them online at MadeFromBooks.org and at Mrs. Dalloway’s bookstore in Berkeley. A portion of the profits supports literacy in developing countries. Mischief, 3908 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 510 646-0453, MadeFromBooks.org.
You’re minding your own business driving down San Pablo Boulevard, and before you hit Macdonald Avenue, you glance over — and notice a very large fake gold horse outside a store, with an equally fake cowboy standing behind it. But the merch inside is the real thing. GOLDEN GATE WESTERN WEAR has every form of Western garb you can think of, with a huge Selection of hats and boots. (The “1890s Campaign” hat could have come right
off Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders’ head.) This is a very manly place, but there’s a good selection of women’s Western-style jeans as well. Bully! 12153 San Pablo Blvd., Richmond, 510-232-3644, GoldendGateWestern.com.
Entering IFSHIN VIOLINS, you feel as if you’d been transported back to an elegant fin-de-siècle atelier: Persian rugs cover the floor, century-old posters of violinists grace the walls, cello cases line the staircase, and behind the front counter, four large, paneled windows look in on a workshop where nine craftspeople diligently restore and repair violins. Aside from the workshop, there are several rooms available to try out violins either for buying or renting — and if you hit it right, you might hear several master violinists trying out instruments all at once. Raphael Gold, one of the salespeople, is extraordinarily knowledgeable about Ifshin’s violins and will help you find just the perfect one. (Younger violinists might liken this to Harry Potter, where students wizards are magically matched with their wands.) Ifshin Violins also make its own line of violins called Jay Haide. These violins are exceptionally high quality but are quite reasonably priced, given their craft and workmanship. The store also sponsors the occasional concert as well as talks by violin and bow makers. 6420 Fairmount Ave., El Cerrito, 510-843-5466, IfshinViolins.com.
Longtime Oakland resident Jaime Levine opened Temescal’s DANDELION POST in 2015 to showcase independent designers and socially conscious companies. The beautifully curated shop mixes contemporary basics (Only Child, Bella Dahl, Loup, 3x1 Denim) and colorful design splashes against white walls and natural wood shelving. Check out the jewelry, accessories, home goods, and gifts (like the SF-based Basik coconut wax candles). And make sure to pet Charlie, the shop mascot, who is always ready for a scritch. 421 40th St., Oakland, 510 858 3742, DandelionPost.com.
BES BEST OF T OAKLAND and the East Bay 2019
BEST ART CLASSES
The Crucible
BEST ART GALLERY
Oakland Museum of California
BEST ARTS ORGANIZATION
Oakland Art Murmur
BEST BAND
Green Day
BEST CAMP
Oakland Zoo
BEST CHARITABLE EVENT
Oakland Museum Women’s Board
White Elephant Sale
BEST COMEDY VENUE
Starline Social Club
BEST CONTINUING EDUCATION
Laney College
BEST COOKING CLASS
Kitchen on Fire
BEST CRAFTING CLASSES
The Crucible
BEST CULTURAL EVENT
First Friday Art Walk
BEST DANCE STUDIO
Hipline
BEST EVENT SPACE
Fox Theater
BEST GAME AND TOY STORE
Mr. Mopps’
BEST GOLF COURSE
Sequoyah Country Club
BEST GYM/HEALTH CLUB
Truve
BEST NEW CAUSE
#MeToo
BEST NONPROFIT GROUP
Girls Inc. of Alameda County
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Mario P. Gaytan, The Working Body
BEST PET STORE
Pet Food Express
BEST PILATES STUDIO
X-CORE Studio
BEST PLACE TO BOARD PETS
Wag Hotel
BEST PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS
Oakland Zoo
BEST PRESCHOOL
Mills College
BEST PRIVATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
St. Paul’s Episcopal School
BEST PRIVATE MIDDLE SCHOOL
St. Paul’s Episcopal School
BEST PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL
Bishop O’Dowd High School
BEST PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Crocker Highlands Elementary School
BEST PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL
Edna Brewer Middle School
BEST PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Oakland Technical High School
BEST SENIOR LIVING
The Point at Rockridge
BEST SPINNING CLASSES
RIDE
Oakland
BEST SWIMMING LESSONS
Oakland YMCA
BEST YOGA STUDIO
Namaste
PERSON OF THE YEAR
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris
Did you know that the only soccer apparel brand for women, GOAL FIVE, is based in Oakland? Founded by three lifelong soccer players — Keely Wachs, Carrie Kessler, and Ann Kletz — Goal Five is inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: “Achieve equality and empower all women and girls.” This mission-driven clothing company offers performance gear designed for females that can be worn on and off the soccer pitch. Five percent of profits go to organizations that promote soccer to girls worldwide. You can find their collection of shorts, joggers, shirts, hoodies, and tights with a built-in sleeve for shin guards at GoalFive.com.
Cats are awesome. Books are awesome. Ipso facto, bookstore cats are the best. And a bookstore named after its residents cats is the bees knees. Such is the case with Berkeley’s SLEEPY CAT BOOKS, an Orinda transplant that arrived on Telegraph Avenue in 2018. Home to kitties Lyla, a mellow white sleepyhead, and Oliver, a gray and
Goal Five by Sean Farkas; Sleepy Cat Books by Jeff Koren
SLEEPY CAT BOOKS
white talker, the store’s motto is perfect: “Read a book. Pet a Cat. Save the World.” Store owner Jeff Koren says that the felines really love living in the store and meeting the customers and that Cal students love to come by and pet them. Stop by and pet them yourself. Don’t forget to pick up a high quality, gently used book, too! Follow these kitty literati on Instagram at #sleepycatbooks. 2509 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, 925-258-9076, SleepyCatBooks.com.
For young survivors of gun violence, justice can be elusive and revenge is a no-win proposition.
VISION QUILT, founded by Cathy DeForest, came to Oakland to heal through art and education, taking inspiration from the AIDS Quilt of the 1980s that brought empathy to bear on a threat that was too often met only with fear. At the Lighthouse Community Charter School in Oakland, young people in a Vision Quilt project worked in their classrooms for several months to apply their maker, math, humanities, and science skills to expressing their stories, doing research, and gathering statistics. They discussed how gun violence affected their own lives and their families. Most powerful of all, they expressed their ideas for changing the world. At the end of this journey of discovery, the students exhibited their creative results — painted panels and posters — at the E14 Gallery and the Chapter 510 youth writing center, both in Oakland. If you want to hear directly from the students, watch their video from the E14
Gallery exhibition or visit the Vision Quest website to see the quilt’s 370 (and growing) panels from all over the country. Vision Quilt also offers toolkits for conducting workshops and contributing panels. VisionQuilt.org.
Do you have a problem that’s been nagging you or are you just looking for a little direction in life? A Tarot card reading may be just the thing to clarify your thinking, help you narrow down options, or get a little insight into what lies ahead. Tarot decks are composed of 78 cards meant to symbolize a person’s journey through life and the challenges they will encounter, and have been used since at least the 15th century as a popular entertainment and divining tool. The Tarot readers at ANCIENT WAYS, a metaphysical store and candle shop, are experts in interpreting cards. Call ahead or walk in and they can guide you through a broad overview of your life or answer specific questions. What do the cards have in store for you? 4075 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 510-653-3244. AncientWays.com.
Parents Jasmin Malabed and Dennis “D2” Hoskins know kids love being superheroes. And what better way to live that fantasy than zipping up hills and flying through the air on your BMX bike at DIRT WORLD in Richmond? Powered by love and a dream, they recruited a small army of
Photo courtesy Dirt World
EMERYVILLE TAIKO
volunteers, nonprofits, and city agencies, turning a trash-strewn lot into a free and freewheeling facility with a two-rider BMX practice track, four jump lines, a dirt quarter-pipe, and a pump track. It’ s open sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year. Helmets are required, and parents must be responsible for kids’ safety while riding. Grinning guaranteed. 20th and Ohio, Richmond, DirtWorld. org.
Whatever Taiko drumming is, it’s not just drumming: It’s an immersive sensory experience that combines percussion with carefully choreographed movements and a dash of chanting thrown in. Drummers stand on the stage, feet planted on the floor, legs spread wide, arms raised, drumsticks poised, awaiting their cue. One of them shouts a command in Japanese, then — in perfect harmony — the drummers begin to pound on their drums, all the while leaping around the stage, switching drums, clicking drumsticks and pointing them upwards. Taiko is spectacular to watch, but even more fun to perform, and anyone with the desire and willingness to learn can do so at EMERYVILLE TAIKO. For many, it’s a lifechanging practice and requires a kind of discipline akin to a martial art, though students clearly have fun, too. The first Saturday and Wednesday of every month are when beginners can start, but after your first session, you’re welcome to come to practices at other times of the month. Despite its name, most classes take place in Oakland. Emeryville Taiko offers classes for kids, too. What a place. ETaiko.org
Photo by Lance Yamamoto
LAKE MERRITT has often been called the heart of Oakland. Especially on a warm summer’s night, there’s no better place for a post-dinner stroll than Lake Merritt. Grab an ice cream cone at Humphry Slocombe, then head over to the lake to people watch and observe the twinkling lights of the Oakland city skyline. You might stumble upon a dance troupe practicing for its latest performance at the pergola on the northeast side of the lake or an impromptu group of musicians jamming on the south side, by the bandstand. You’ll pass joggers, bicyclists, and couples walking arm and arm. Strolling around the entire lake will take you about an hour — it’s 3.1 miles around — but if you get tired, you can always hop on a scooter or a Ford Gobike. For those who want a quieter stroll, visit the lake on a winter night, and you’ll have it pretty much to yourself. You’ll have to bundle up, but on such a night, as you amble along the lake’s winding pathway, illuminated by more than 3,000 lights and 26 lampposts emitting a soft yellow glow, you’ll feel transported back to 1925, to when the lights were first strung around the lake.
The news that inmate Earlonne Woods was to be paroled from San Quentin Prison in late 2018 was wonderful — and startling for the millions of fans of EAR HUSTLE, the heart-wrenching, provocative,
and often humorous podcast he hosted out of San Quentin’s media lab. “Ear hustle” is prison slang for “eavesdropping.” Since 2016, the show has covered themes like ministering on death row, what causes (and how to survive) a lockdown, and being gay or an immigrant in an American prison. When Gov. Jerry Brown commuted Woods’ sentence after 21 years of incarceration he said, “[Woods] has set a positive example for his peers and, through his podcast, has shared meaningful stories from those inside prison.” Glad news for his fans, Woods now lives in Oakland and has a fulltime
job with PRX, the producer of Ear Hustle. He will continue the Ear Hustler podcast with his stalwart co-host, Nigel Poor, a Bay Area visual artist who volunteers at San Quentin. She helped launch the podcast by entering and winning a Radiotopia contest back in the day. Instead of prison, Woods now records at the Emeryville offices of the Center for Investigative Reporting. If you haven’t listened yet, now is the time to “get your binge on,” as Woods said post-release. The fourth season of Ear Hustle will be out this summer.
EarHustleSQ.com.
Lake Merritt by Greg Linhared, City of Oakland; Ear Hustle by Eddie Herena LAKE MERRITT