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.

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.

"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.

“When I started breastfeeding, my great grandmother would sit across from me and sing what I was doing wrong,” explains actress ‘Rie Shontel, who is known as Anita Woodley offstage. 

Shontell transitions seamlessly into her great grandmother’s voice singing, “That’s not how you do it/You’re gonna kill that baby with that milk.” The first few minutes chatting with the journalist who grew up in Funktown on 13^th Avenue and East 17^th is filled with laughter. She share’s some of most memorable interactions with the woman who inspired “Mama Juggs: Three Generations Healing Negative Body Image,” which shows Wednesday and Thursday - Dec. 29 and 30 - at the Black Dot Café in Oakland.

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!

The Oakland community is invited to come help celebrate the blessing of the mosaic of La Virgen de Guadalupe at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Dec. 12.

The Coven of the Sacred Feminine, will have a procession from 2912 Ford St. and

'Tis the season for holiday soirees filled with music, dancing, spoken word, live art, catered dinners and wine tasting. At least that's what you'll find at The Vanguard Launch Party on Dec. 4.

Presented by the Museum of the African Diaspora at a private estate in the Oakland hills, the event will feature performances from singer/songwriter/guitarist Martin Luther and Def Poet and Hot Water Cornbread's Creative Director Scorpio Blues.

I am not colour blind
I see us ... Everyday
In shades of black/brown I see us all,
Travelling a variety of roads
To so many unknown places
I see ... black people

~My name is Gaila Patrice Turner. I see black people.

Re-Create is a recycled art competition open to students in Oakland schools.

Participants use discarded or reused materials in a creative application of the 4Rs - reduce, reuse, recycle and rot. All students in grades K-12 are eligible to participate in the contest. Fifteen prizes valued at $1,000 will be awarded to the students who enter this year’s contest and exhibition.

To Slimm Buick - a Richmond-based artist and entertainer - bikes aren’t just tools for exercise or commuting. They’re also the perfect canvas.

Oakland’s artists, community leaders and local politicians gathered to discuss key issues, and to rally support, for the arts community Thursday.