Article by Ruth Miller.
Last updated at Fri, 18 Feb at 6:58am.

For more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, Aziz Diagne sits in his studio at Franklin and 14th Street. 

During the day these are busy streets, and large windows allow him to see the mix of people walking, driving and biking by; but it also allows them to see him.

Article by Irene.
Last updated at Thu, 17 Feb at 9:20am.

Which neighborhoods are hardest hit by foreclosures? How many foreclosed homes have become a vacant public nuisance?

Bank-owned blighted foreclosures will be on display Thursday during a two-hour public tour aimed at increasing blight enforcement and big bank accountability.

City Councilwomen Desley Brooks and Jane Brunner will join, ACCE - Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment -  and local residents to view three currently undisclosed locations where blight plagues city blocks.

Article by Niema Jordan.
Last updated at Tue, 15 Feb at 7:49am.

A name is called from the list of people who got to Air Lounge early enough to sign-up for the open mic. Everyone claps as the DJ plays a bit of music.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Thu, 10 Feb at 7:32am.

It’s hard to think of a better First Friday event during Black History Month than AeroSoul 2, which began a monthlong residency at the Joyce Gordon Gallery on Feb. 4.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Wed, 2 Feb at 8:19am.

Graffiti art by itself is fresh. Graffiti art in a gallery setting is dope. And graffiti art in a gallery setting with a historical/cultural/educational theme?

Article by Tymeesa Rutledge.
Last updated at Thu, 13 Jan at 8:18am.

Oakland's harsh cold breeze did not keep the young urban professional crowd from attending the Trends Urban Vintage episode at Era Art Bar this past Saturday night.

Men wore their favorite tailored suits, women wore their favorite winter faux fur and shimmery tights with pockets of glitter. The lower floor of the two-floor building was packed with people drinking cocktails, chit-chatting in circles with their friends and two steppin' to the tunes that DJ Hector Salazar spun in his respective space.

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Wed, 29 Dec at 1:42pm.

"Twenty-ten" was an interesting year for Oakland.

Amidst rebellion and protest in the streets, the invasion of an occupying army of police in riot gear and senseless shootings on both sides of the law, there was actually quite a bit of hopeful positivity where arts, culture and entertainment was concerned.

Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are 10 things that Oakland Local believes helped improve Oakland’s cultural index in 2010.

Article by Tymeesa Rutledge.
Last updated at Wed, 29 Dec at 8:49am.

The Bay Area is the independent capital of the free world. Oakland, in particular, is known for its political history and the Black Panther Movement. The city is continuously cultivating creative culture.

This year, there were creative accessories, clothing lines and music artists standing out amongst the crowd. 2010 was a great year for people with creative ideas and agendas, so I decided to make a list of my personal favorite fashionable artists, brands and events of this past year.

Let's go!

Article by Reginald James.
Last updated at Tue, 9 Nov at 7:21am.

Article by Oriana Bolden.
Last updated at Mon, 8 Nov at 10:45am.

(Editor's note: The following piece written by OL writer/videographer Oriana Bolden is a first person account of events that took place Nov. 5 in downtown Oakland, following the sentencing of Johannes Mehserle in the Oscar Grant murder trial.)

 

As night fell arrests became free flowing. Information, not so much.

Article by Meg Bertoni.
Last updated at Mon, 1 Nov at 9:22pm.

Imagine a Halloween event on the grounds of one of Oakland’s oldest landmarks - with a large Victorian house and gardens and room after room of antique furniture, standing just as the three now-long-gone generations who lived there left it.

Article by Tymeesa Rutledge.
Last updated at Fri, 15 Oct at 6:34am.

On Wednesday, Oct. 13, local curator Kheven LaGrone will bring "Coloring Outside The Lines: Black Cartoonist as Social Commentators" to Laney College. The panel discussion will begin at 11 a.m. in the school's library at 900 Fallon St. in Oakland.

Article by Tymeesa Rutledge.
Last updated at Fri, 15 Oct at 6:32am.

On Saturday, Oct. 16, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center will host its annual fall fundraiser, premiering the work of Dohee Lee’s PURI 5: SPORA - a piece that incorporates dance, art, music and spoken word.

Article by Angela Hart.
Last updated at Thu, 7 Oct at 4:15am.

Nenna Joiner was born and raised underneath the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada.

She refers to the famous strip as “downtown” naturally. Growing up under the luminous, sultry marquee that Vegas forms over the desert left a mark on the 35-year-old Oakland resident.

“Vegas is sex,” she said. “But I didn’t see anyone that looks like me growing up.”

Article by Eric K Arnold.
Last updated at Sat, 25 Sep at 4:33am.

O’Shea Jackson – better known by his rap name Ice Cube – is as iconic a figure as exists in rap today.

Article by Tymeesa Rutledge.
Last updated at Mon, 13 Sep at 2:53am.

During the fall season, events seem to begin to drag.

Art, music and community discussions are essential to our Oakland community.  Don't let the fall season stop you from engaging in our community. Get active!

But how you ask? Well, there are fundraisers throughout the city that will allow you to get involved in Oakland. 

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