Collaboratively Innovating Oakland

INOAK Holds First Meet-Up
This past Thursday INOAK, a community of Oakland-grown tech companies, hosted their first mixer to encourage innovation, exchange best practices, and to network @ Levende East. http://www.levende.com/

You may know about Pandora, but does Skytide ring a bell? Well get ready because that's all about to change. INOAK was created by a handful of innovative new companies based in Oakland to inspire, encourage, and help build a strong tech business sector here in Oakland.

"Oakland is the center of The Bay Area and is a commuters dream.", says Chris Mottau of North Venture Partners http://www.northangels.com/ a angel investment group that helps tech companies gain a foothold in the marketplace. "The City of Oakland, the Community Benefits Districts (CBDs), and local business have been working over the past year to bring INOAK together", continues Chris. "This is truly a community collaboration and we are looking to get the word out."

Well you just did Chris!

The next Meet Up is August 19th in The Den @ The Fox and starts @ 5:00 PM . To learn more, visit INOAK http://www.inoak.org/ or visit their Facebook page.

So I roll out of the INOAK event right into...

The Summer Block Party That Lasts Until October
Akin to Oakland's tech community, Old Oakland has quietly and subtly become the hottest low-keyed neighborhood in Oakland. In an attempt to build neighborhood awareness; a newly formed business coalition is promoting what may be the most picturesque neighborhood in Oakland.

Thursday Night Live (TNL) is produced by The New Old Oakland Entertainment Group; a coalition of Old Oakland businesses formed with the purpose of bringing more people to the neighborhood. By partnering with the CBDs, Eastbay Express, Club One, and Yelp this team of “take charge of our own destiny” business owners refuses to wait around for opportunities to show up. In classic Oakland fashion, they have adopted a "smash and grab” entrepreneurial approach to growing their businesses.

“Residents from all over Oakland love Oakland’s potential,” says Tina Aiyer a member of The Group. “Every nationality is here partying together!” Furthermore, “Promoting social engagement through food, and music events that reflects the cultural diversity of our city is essential.”

Make the rounds and check out The Trappist http://www.thetrappist.com/ , Tamarindo http://www.tamarindoantojeria.com/ , B Restaurant http://www.boakland.com/ , Air Lounge, Blackbird Gallery, Levende East, and get some of Benny B’s Jerk Chicken Wings @Liege http://www.liegeoakland.com/ Hitting all the spots in one evening may be a bit much, but you can always map it out for next time.

Free salsa lessons, hot, hot music, good food, and great friends will keep this bi-monthly concert series running HOT through October. Now that’s a party!

The next TNL takes place August 5th and features Julio Bravo http://www.juliobravo.com/

Check out TNL and TheNew Old Oakland (not a typo) on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=76322072173&share_id=109014769146030&comments=1#!/thenewo

Oakland Stand Up!

Mr. Oakland

The Icon, The Artist, & The Super Hero

They say loss comes in 3s. For the past 2 weeks that has been painfully true for Mr. Oakland. Since July 3rd, 3 people in my life have "moved on". Three people that exemplify for me what it means to live the "Oakland Life". The life that so many people want to hate on and yet, can't help but want to BE US.

Love is Alive in Oakland
Growing up as a church kid, I was condemned to attend church-related functions sometimes 3 to 4 times per week. While I hated going most of the time (sorry Mom), choir rehearsal was one functions I loved. Why? Because we could learn Walter Hawkins songs: One of the benefits of growing up post "Oh Happy Day".

The Hawkins made it cool to be spiritual and funky, funky, funky! By making gospel music relevant to daily life and exposing the "true roots" of popular music, Walter (and his brother Edwin) became musical icons that changed not only gospel, but popular music around the world.

Yeah I said it! THE WORLD!!!

I will miss Walter for performing @ Art and Soul, always being fly (especially the hair), and mostly for reminding me that I live in a culturally relevant city that is ever changing, improving for the better, and influencing the world.

I said it again, THE WORLD!!!

Oakland's Light Chaser
I met Cathy Austin through her photography. Rich, vivid, and sometimes ethereal, the work had a strangely calming effect on me. She would say, "It's the light". "I wait for the light to reveal the true image." No effects. No PhotoShop. Just "the light".

Without fanfare, she came with Karen, her partner for over 20 years, to hang 12 pieces of her Oakland-centric works @ The Golden Bridge Lofts. The two of them worked quietly and in joy: Laughing, encouraging, critiquing until things were just right. Watching these two work, I never imagined that there was a war going onwithin Cathy's body. I only saw love and admiration.

She never let on and she never let her light diminish.

During our brief time together Cathy showed me the art of sharing. Sharing her passion for her art (she was a jazz DJ as well), her love of Karen, her friends, Big Blue, and her love for Oakland. Man she loved her some Oakland.

She was waiting for Oakland's light to be "just right"...
and for her, it is ever perfect.

See Cathy's love for Oakland on her site: click on"Oakland Reflections" and "Black & Whites" http://www.cathyaustinphoto.com/






Wonder Woman Was Here
Christy Freitas wasn't famous. She didn't have one of "those" talents that made everyone stop and notice her. What she was was extremely genuine. Bright, sarcastic, funny, & imaginative she could bend you over with laughter or scold you into submission with a simple glance.

This ability was due to her "magic power". Powers gleaned from her time in Amazonia hanging with Wonder Woman. You remember "The Lasso of Truth", indestructible bracelets, and invisible jet, right? She always claimed to have this gear, but would never show me. "That's only to be used when necessary."

As a mere mortal, she had the power to pour courage, sincerity, generosity, and love on her family and friends.

To top it all off, she was a mad crazy Raider fan.

And that's alright by me!

Oakland Stand Up!

Mr. Oakland

PS Oakland: Think of 3 people in your life that best exemplify the "Oakland Life". I would love to hear about them. MO

Don't Hate, Collaborate!

What Up Oakland?

This week's dispatch is dedicated to the collaborators: Those folk that understand the best way to leverage their skills and resources is to partner and/or build upon what has already been proven to be successful. Read on my peoples!

Buy Low & Never Sell This Work
Word is there are more working artists per capita in Oakland than in any city in the US. You may even know a couple, but few are puttin’ it down like Carly Ivan Garcia (CIG). Not only has CIG proven to be a hard-working purveyor of his craft, he is doing it collaboratively. “When you get away from The Bay, people see us as The San Francisco Bay Area; not East Bay or Oakland. We can’t change that view.” So it makes sense to show Oakland as a jewel in the crown that is the Bay Area. This past December, CIG hit Miami’s Art Basel, the stateside version of Art Basel-Switzerland, like a tropical depression. In Miami he rubbed shoulders with “The Father of Digital Art” Laurence Gartel, collaborated on a installation with two other Bay Areans-Robert D. Harris (SF) and Armogeddon 2057 (SJ)-for Graffiti Gone Global, and sold his vibrant works to a slew of international art fiends seeking the bestest/brightest/ newest/freshest pieces to add to their collections. The buzz was strong enough for CIG to snag representation in New York & Miami.

“I have worked with Robert and Armo on the RAW shows at The Uptown and I respect their work”, Carly recently told me. “The commission work for Ali is a collaborative by Robert and me…I'm really excited to do that…it’s a huge honor. Especially to rep Oakland and The Bay”
“Did you say Ali?”
“He's familiar with our work; he liked it.”
“He liked it?”

"Yeah."
I guess he did!

Carly's aggressive use of color and texture are adventurous and fearless: People respond BIG.

Look for Carly’s work March 17th in the award winning new film “Touching Home” starring 4 time Academy Award winner Ed Harris. If you work it right, you might be able to get in line to nab one of these film originals (that's not Carly, but an actor playing an artist). If not, he is always creating more. Catching an artist on the rise with a crazy mad work ethic like CIG's is the closest to a "sure thing" that you can find. Just remember that Mr. Oakland told you first.
“What’s up next Carly?”
“Man, I just love to paint.”

Buy now or hate later!

See Carly’s work via these links or hit ‘em up on Facebook: http://web.mac.com/dpogni/iWeb/Site/HOME.html

Art Is Love-CIG, Robert, and Armo prepping for Graffiti Gone Global @ Basel 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNebILGDmrw

Oakland’s Professor of Dance
Reginald Ray Savage is a professor-The Dance Doctor. As the Director of Dance @ Oakland School for the Arts http://www.oakarts.org/ (OSA) he is directly for responsible for the development of The Bay’s young raw dance talent. “My program is intense. I expect a lot from my students; I expect their best“. Seeking excellence doesn’t always help him make friends with the students. “Not all of them like me, but they do respect me”, he says emphatically. Continuing, “A few of my students are not the most talented dancers. What they want is to be exposed to those students and a program that pushes them toward excellence.” His program is home to the best academic performers at the school. This approach has rewarded “Dr” Savage a high level of respect and loyalty from his kids and therefore, the community.

Always leading by example, Savage is taking his latest work to the stage. Savage Jazz Dance Company http://www.savagejazz.org/ (SJDC) begins their 18th season with the world premiere of Savage’s interpretation of Igor Stravinsky’s, Agon. Originally premiering in 1957 as a ballet for 12, Agon was choreographed by the great George Balanchine. Savage makes it clear that this is not an attempt to “to compare myself to Balanchine” but more as a “measuring stick; a way to keep the next generation moving upward”.
The dance is an inspired response to the music and after 50 years the music is very relevant and current. That inspiration is reflected and apparent. Go see Agon. More importantly, see the depth, love, creativity and commitment to excellence. It’s The Hope of The Town!

Agon runs through Saturday @ Laney College. Link up to get tickets:

http://brownpapertickets.com/event/93399

Oakland Stand Up!

Mr. Oakland

Next Time: The Quiet Side of Mua/The Break Room/Melissa Taylor-Lady, Tattooer, & Illustrator/More Oakland Runner's Festival Stuff

Hear Me Out: I've Had Good Reason To Be Late For 2010

INSPIRE ME TO GREATNESS, PLEASE!

Like most of you, I have been in an introspective place this New Years. I’ve been attempting to evaluate, meditate, and pontificate on what the past year has meant to me and what I want 2010 to bring. That comes from within. Since I believe in the healing and spiritual power of The Town, I am also seeking wisdom and signs of joy from what Oakland has to offer me. Nine days have passed since the ball dropped on 2010. Here are a few sights and sounds of Downtown Oakland that have (and continue) to inspire me:

SISTER CLASSIQUE
This month, the sparkling jewel that is the Joyce Gordon Gallery is again on hard-hit mode with the show Amor Fati. I wish I could give you some eloquent description of this show and what it represents, but I am not an art writer. Sorry. What I can tell you is the show is vibrant and fresh. Pay special attention to the work of Favianna Rodriguez. Ms. Gordon has been challenging our notions of what is cool, artistic, and significant for many years. The front window is most definitely worth a night time pass by. The show runs through February 8th. http://www.joycegordongallery.com/


MAKE ME LAUGH/FORCE ME TO THINK
I don’t know about you, but I thought Avatar was a lot of fun for its use of technology, pure film making prowess, and imagery. Thank you W. Kamau Bell http://www.wkamaubell.com/ , Nato Green http://www.natogreen.com/, & Hari Kandabolu http://www.harithecomic.com/ for busting my bubble and single-handedly ruining my mindless blockbuster experience and rendering 189 minutes of well deserved escapism a waste of time. Laughter Against the Machine is intense in-your-grill funny and is a economical way to gather some political introspection. Whatever happened to comedians that told jokes to get laughs or free drinks? Just kidding! These guys made me laugh without forcing me to dumb down. BTW you must see yourself @ The New Parish (aka the “old” Jimmie’s night spot) very soon. The venue is home to a majestic brick walled club and a soon-to-come Cajun/New Orleans style restaurant called Hibiscus. The spot is the same, yet fresh. Believe me; you can still feel the love. http://www.thenewparish.com/ and http://www.hibiscusoak.com/

IN THE CUTS
DJ Ryan and DJ Oliver recently held an impromptu get together @ Golden Bridge Lofts: Music spinning, guitarists strumming, and percussionists percussing (that’s one of my own words). Jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove www.myspace.com/royhargrove rolled through to hang. The word is getting out ya’ll-Oakland is the place to be if you want to be down with “The Real”! The Roy Hargrove Quintet performs through January 10th. His funk/hip-hop band, RH Factor, will blow up the spot January 14th-17th @ Yoshi’s San Francisco. http://www.yoshis.com/

RUNNING MY RACE
Lastly, I have been running The Lake in preparation for the Oakland Running Festival at the end of March. Haven’t decided whether to run the half marathon or create a 4-person team to run the entire 26.2 miles with. Whatever I decide, the idea of watching the sun come up over the hills and turning the sky golden for a brief moment is worth the cold air and the pain. It has been 25 years since Oakland has hosted an event like this. I’m trying to represent! Look for me out there. I’m the one with the snot running down his face screaming profanities as he runs. For full event info and to register, visit http://www.oaklandmarathon.com/






Note: The bus is blurry in this image because of my blinding speed. For real!

Oakland Stand Up!



Mr. Oakland

UP NEXT
Carly Ivan Garcia (for real this time) and ERA

Blog Mentors,The WNBA, & Fuzzy Hat Shopping

What Up Oakland?

Last Thursday my good friend Tracey http://diaryofanoaklandshopgirl.blogspot.com/ invited me out to The Blogoaksphere Party-an event for geek-o-philes, such as myself, to get together and encourage positive coverage of The Town. Since I'm new to the blog game, I figured it couldn't hurt to kick it with more experienced writers and have an excuse to hang out @ a cool new lounge. Since I'm into win-win scenarios, I had to hit it!

The Lay Over http://www.oaklandlayover.com/ was a excellent setting for this eclectic mix of project managers, media relations managers, consultants, real estate professionals, artist, and entrprenuers to gather. Its vintage cozy seating, soft ambient lighting, and ever-changing HOT HOT local art provided by BayVAN http://www.bayvan.org/ make it a unique neighborhood "dive bar" minus the freefall. DJs with a sense of history and a penchant for the obscure keep the musical energy high. Did I mention good drinks? If I didn't, I just did. Look for the green neon martini glass on Franklin @ 15th and drop in soon.

Most notably in attendance was Rebecca Kaplan, Oakland City Councilmember @ Large. She is making a serious push to lure a WNBA team to Oakland. She told this Blogger, "We just need someone with a spare $5 million to get things going." I told her that I would ask you all about it. Well, what do you think? Hit her up and let her know where you heard about it. She's all ears. rkaplan@oaklandnet.com . Keeping it timely: Gwen Knapp of The SF Chronicle implys that a WNBA team "is coming". http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/09/SPRO1B122K.DTL Hanging with my fellow bloggers helped me to see how important your support is. I challenge you to keep us focused and relevant by following us. Peep http://www.abetteroakland.com/ and click on "Links" for a list of blogs that may interest you. Don't forget this is interactive so Holla Back!

Yeah thats me in front of oo la la! gift & accessories lounge http://www.oo-la-la-gift-lounge.com/ located @ 386 17th Street in Downtown Oakland. You wouldn't know it from my pink fuzzy hat, but my Oakland Shop Girl helps me to stay up on all things fashionable. Check her out if you need to spice up your wardrobe. Attention Fellas: She is a crack fashion aficianado . I promise she'll make you look like Heidi Klum hooked it up. Speaking of shopping, hit up these two Oakland-centric holiday shopping events featuring one of my favorite Oakland "image go getters" Cathy Austin http://www.cathyaustinphoto.com Ms. Austin focuses her lense on Oakland-scapes with an emphasis on using natural light. No Photshop here baby! She waits for the right shot and cracks it off ala Ansel and Avedon.

The particulars:

FULL MOON BUY NIGHT-OAKLAND'S INDIE NIGHT BAZAAR

Holiday Buy NightOakland's Holiday Shopping Mall-ternative

Dec 10th and 11th, 20095:00-10:00pm

Inside Jack London Market

55 Harrison @ Water St.

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?JackLondonSquare/a4270f1c59/d7c2e229b2/9cf5c62a19

THE SPACE WINTER CRAFT FAIR

Saturday, December 12th

11AM - 6PM

4148 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland

Until next Wednesday!

Peace, Prosperity, and OAKLAND LOVE,

MR. OAKLAND

On Deck: Carly Ivan Garcia-Representing Oakland on the International Art Stage

Mr. Oakland Speaks

I love Oakland and have loved it for as long as I can remember.

As a young child living in The Haight, my fondest memories were the "trips" across The Bay to see my Aunt Carol. Ok. She wasn't my real aunt, but she and my Mom were true "sisters". Fairyland, Knowland Park, I. Magnin, Jack London Square, Doggie Diner, and Capwell's ? The only thing better was one of those sunshine-laced days to make it a perfect day. I even decided to attend high school here. I couldn't get enough!

My Blog will be devoted to all things Oakland; especially the revival of Downtown. I live Downtown. I work Downtown. I love in Downtown. It is my goal to have as many Oakland Lovers live in Downtown as possible.

Lovers of Oakland Unite!