May-June 2012, Volume 9, Number 3

A Little Alchemy and a Lot of Heart

by Megan J. Gordon(Photography by Susan Burdick)

What does a one-time English teacher do upon moving to Oakland and finding a tough job market? Open a most charming spice shop with his fiancé, of course. John Beaver and Erica Perez opened...

CK Gallery

by Michael Singman-Aste(Photography by Michael Singman-Aste)

Pass through a picturesque courtyard, climb the wooden stairs entwined with vines and emerge on a sunlit patio. Charlotte Kubiak sits on a bench outside her CK Gallery, sipping coffee.

Where It's At

by Julia Park Tracey(Photography by Tim Porter)

Fresh out of the studio come the Hollyhocks, an Oakland-based indie band with fresh vocal harmony and sharp guitar melodies, with a debut CD, Understories.

Park It at a Parklet

by Nate Seltenrich

The curbside mini-park with a beguiling name appeared in San Francisco in 2005, and rapidly spread to cities around the world.

In the Mix

by Renee Macalino Rutledge(Photography by 123RF/Gayane)

AAA’s Via magazine proclaimed The Gardens at Lake Merritt one of the top five California gardens, yet this Oakland oasis still remains a charming little secret for many locals.

Praise the Lord!

by Julia Park Tracey

Spin the new CD by the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Hear My Prayer, and enjoy the richness of 55 local voices raised together in songs of praise and glory.

The 6 Questions

by Renee Macalino Rutledge(Photography by Jan Strürmann)

Most of us know flash mobs as those random spectacles of synchronized dance seen on TV and in commercials.

The Broadway Shuttle

by Nate Seltenrich

It’s 10:15 a.m. on a Wednesday when an empty Broadway Shuttle (the Free B, according to Meet Downtown literature) approaches the curb at Third and Broadway.

History Lesson

by Ann Leslie Davis(Photography by Chris Duffey)

In the weeks before Christmas 1886, a Swedish pastor who’d recently arrived in Oakland, scoured the streets of the young city, searching for followers.

Social Transformer

by Elise Proulx(Photography by Deborah Sherman)

The latest passion of Oaklander Marc Bamuthi Joseph — playwright, poet, director, essayist, choreographer, father, educator, actor and social activist — combines art, social and environmental...

Media Shelf

by Judith M. Gallman

New Books from the Bay Area

Oakland Shakes Up the Disney Channel

by Linda Childers(Photography by Courtesy of the Disney Channel)

From the time she was a little girl, Zendaya Coleman had dreams of stardom. Growing up in the world of theater, Coleman accompanied her mom, Claire Stoermer, to the California Shakespeare Theater...

Spice is Nice

by Anna Mindess(Photography by Jan Strumann)

Heaping bowls of onions, tomatoes, lemons and shiny green jalapenos dominate the wooden tables, while the key ingredients — powdered brown and red spice blends — wait quietly in smaller...

Oakland Screenwriter

by Linda Childers(Photography by Chris Duffey)

Tyler Perry and Steven Spielberg may soon have competition in the screenwriting and producing arenas if a talented Oakland woman realizes her dream.

Do-Gooder

by Linda Childers(Photography by Chris Duffey)

Laura Graham is living proof that one person can make a difference. After hearing about a friend’s family who had adopted a teen with limited clothing, Graham and her mom started discussing what...

Against the Grain

by Sarah Barker(Photography by Susan Burdick)

Denise DeRose’s exquisite handbags don’t come from a fabric-strewn atelier. They’re born in her Oakland wood shop. DeRose is one of the only artisans in the country turning wood into wearable...

Russo to the Rescue

by Keith Gleason(Photography by Lori Eanes)

Russo sees good communication with the public as a key component of his goal to change the culture of city hall.

What's a Diner to Do?

by Carolyn Jung(Photography by Susan Burdick)

There are times when restaurants go the extra mile to make service flawless, when every need is not only met, but anticipated and exceeded.

Go Al Fresco

by Rick Mitchell(Photography by Julie Goonan)

Bar Trekking is urban walking or biking with drinking destinations, a little more physical than a pub crawl or bar hop.

Discover Roussillon

by Jeff Diamond(Photography by istockphoto.com/richard semik)

Roussillon is blessed — for wines anyways — by great weather, strong winds and poor soils.

Maoz Falafel

by Anna Mindess(Photography by Jan Struman)

Ethnic Treat

Ask the Chef

by Candace Murphy(Photography by Jan Struman)

We decided to catch up with Geideman, 42, a Bay Area native who graduated from Berkeley High School, and ask him about that chicken, and a few other things.

Out on the Town

by Linda Leonard(Photography by Courtesy of Amgen)

What's going on in the months of May and June