Opportunities to JOIN.
We build community through social events, together.
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REACH, BACK, RETAIN: A Kingmakers of Oakland Evening of Film & Performance
The 3rd Annual Black History Month Film Celebration
Join Kingmakers of Oakland at The New Parkway Theater on February 12th for a curated cinematic experience that honors our past, protects our identity, and blueprints our future.
This isn't just a screening; it is a movement. For our 3rd Annual Black History Month gathering, Kingmakers of Oakland presents a powerful program of commissioned and original media, woven together by the philosophy of REACH, BACK, RETAIN. 🎟️ Your ticket includes full access to the program plus food provided for all attendees.
Meet the Author: Craig A. Johnson - How to Talk to Your Son about Fascism
Craig A. Johnson is an author and researcher specializing in right-wing movements, and he teaches at the University of California, Berkeley. His recent book, How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism, offers practical guide for parents and educators on how to prevent children from becoming involved with radical right-wing ideologies. The book explores the history of the radical right, the methods and motivations behind their outreach to young men today, and strategies for intervention and prevention.
Please register on OPL website .
Shonda Scott - Give Me a Year: 12 New Things to Embrace Change and Live Your Best Life
Shonda Scott will discuss her book, Give Me a Year: 12 New Things to Embrace Change and Live Your Best Life.
This talk is sponsored by the Friends of the Rockridge Library. Copies of the book will be sold by A Great Good Place for Books.
Please register on OPL website .
Meet the Author: Huey P. Newton’s Family - Roots of A Revolutionary Suicide
Judge Lise Pearlman will discuss her book Huey P. Newton’s Family: Roots of A Revolutionary Suicide. The talk aims to shed light on how the Newton family’s ancestry and interrelationships helped shape Black Panther Party co-founder Huey Newton’s thinking and life trajectory.
Judge Pearlman will be joined by Melvin Newton, Prof. Emeritus of Merritt College, Huey Newton’s older brother, who provided many details of his family’s story—one of defiance, self-respect, pride, dignity, hopes, dreams and triumph.
Please register on OPL website .
Awesome Orchestra Session 111: Elgar-Palooza
Check out the Awesome Orchestra playing inside a body shop! More info on their site.
Shelley Sella - Beyond Limits: Stories of Third Trimester Abortion Care
Shelley Sella will discuss her book, Beyond Limits: Stories of Third Trimester Abortion Care.
This talk is sponsored by the Friends of the Rockridge Library. Copies of the book will be sold by A Great Good Place for Books.
Please register on OPL website .
Join or Die: Oakland Join-Up Screening
Join us for a Saturday night screening of Join or Die, the acclaimed documentary about the decline of clubs, associations, and civic life—and why they matter more than ever.
After the film, JOINERS will host a short, guided reflection to help you think about:
What kinds of connection you’re missing
What clubs or groups you wish existed
How you might want to show up locally
This isn’t a lecture or a debate—just a low-pressure way to reflect, connect, and set yourself up for the next step. RSVP at Luma
👉🏿 This screening is part of The Oakland Join-Up, a two-day civic weekend at Two Pitchers. On Sunday afternoon, we’ll host an Activity & Resource Fair where you can meet local clubs, projects, and groups you can actually join.
Drinks available from Two Pitchers. Food available from Lovely’s.
The Oakland Join-Up Activity & Resource Fair
The Oakland Join-Up Activity Fair is about turning interest into action. No pressure, pitches, or performance.
Stop by to meet 20+ local clubs, community groups, mutual aid projects, arts collectives, and civic initiatives offering:
Low-barrier ways to get involved
Social and interest-based groups
One-time or short-term actions
Opportunities for deeper participation if you want it
Whether you watched Join or Die the night before or are just wandering in for a beer, this fair is designed to help you find something that fits your energy, schedule, and interests.
Come solo. Bring a friend. Stay for 10 minutes or the whole afternoon.
Drinks from Two Pitchers. Food from Lovely’s. Good people guaranteed.
Matt Fogelson - Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key
Matt Fogelson will discuss his book, Restrung: Fatherhood in a Different Key.
This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Rockridge Library. Copies of the book will be sold at the event by A Great Good Place For Books.
Please register on OPL website .
Erica Pool - The Judgment Trap: Why We Judge, How It Hurts Us, and How to Break Free
Erica Pool will discuss the book, The Judgment Trap: Why We Judge, How It Hurts Us, and How to Break Free
Please register on OPL website .
Lisa Solomon - Art Craft Color: Brighten Your Life with Projects in Every Color of the Rainbow
Artist Lisa Soloman will discuss her new book, Art Craft Color: Brighten Your Life with Projects in Every Color of the Rainbow.
Please register on OPL website .
Nancy Kurshan: Levitating the Pentagon and Other Uplifting Stories
Activist Nancy Kurshan will discuss her new book, Levitating the Pentagon and Other Uplifting Stories.
In Levitating the Pentagon and Other Uplifting Stories, longtime activist Nancy Kurshan offers a vivid, woman’s-eye view of seven decades of radical social change. From the founding of the Yippies and the theatrical feminist resistance of W.I.T.C.H., to solidarity work with political prisoners and Black liberation movements, Kurshan’s life chronicles the evolution of the U.S. Left—from civil rights to antiwar to feminist, abolitionist, and internationalist struggles.
Please register on OPL website .
Meet the Author: Adam Becker - More Everything Forever
Adam Becker is an author and astrophysicist whose latest book - More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity - is about "the terrible plans that tech billionaires have for the future and why they don’t work." In it, Becker breaks down why we will not be colonizing Mars or creating machines with so-called superintelligence any time soon, and lays out how all of tech's futuristic claims are really just about consolidating money and power.
Becker will be joined by Librarian Ian Hetzner for a discussion of More Everything Forever, how tech is manipulating our future for the worse, and what we can do about it.
Please register on OPL website .
Chess Club for Kids, Tweens, & Teens
Chess Players!
Drop by to learn the basics, practice with new or old friends, or play against a worthy opponent.
Instruction and chess sets will be provided.
All levels welcome. Best for people ages 6 to 17 years. (Children under 8 years old must be supervised by a responsible caregiver.)
This is a great activity for intergenerational family pairs - otherwise we try to match people who are close in age & level.
Vision Board Food Drive @ Nido's Backyard
Come craft your own vision board and support our Food Drive at Nido's Backyard!
Meet fellow makers, share ideas, and spend a relaxing afternoon surrounded by art, laughter, and good company. All ages and experience levels are welcome!
During this event we will be collecting food donations for the East Oakland Collective. Please bring at least 3 non perishable food items.
What’s the Deal?
✨ Intention Setting: Start with some fun, guided exercises to figure out what you really want out of life.
📍 Location: Nido's Backyard- 104 Oaks St. Oakland, CA
🗓️ When: Sat. January 24th from 12:00pm-2:00pm (soft ending)🎨 Cost: Sliding Scale
🖌️ Supplies: We'll have a wide range of magazines, stickers, glue, scissors, poster board, and crafty paper. You are welcome to bring your own cut outs too!
🥘 Food: Grab a menu and order from Nido's delicious Brunch menu.
Curated & hosted by Piscola Mami → www.piscolamami.com
Skate the Town
Skate the Town! Part of the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts Opening Celebration!
Featuring Richard Humphrey, enjoy a night of skating and line dancing on the beautiful wood floor of the HJK Arena. The tunes will be pumping and fun will be had by all. Skate rentals will be available – or just come for the line dancing on your feet!
Friday, January 23, 2026 – 7pm-11pm
ALL Skate from 7pm -9pm
18+ Skate and Line Dancing from 9pm -11pm
Love on Tap
Tired of swiping? Meet local singles IRL at Love on Tap. Flirty convos, good vibes, real sparks. Let’s make dating fun again!
Join us for a night of flirty fun a Oakland United Beerworks on Janurary 23!
Whether you're new to speed dating or just tired of the swipe scene, this is your chance to meet cool, like-minded singles face to face. Expect great conversations, great drinks, and maybe even a great connection.
Event Details:
📍 Oakland United Beerworks 262 2nd St, Oakland, CA 94607
🕠 Check-in starts at 6:30 PM
💬 Speed dating runs from 7:00 – 9:00 PM
🎯 Recommended Ages 25-36
Tickets include entry into our structured speed dating rounds and a night full of possibilities. You'll rotate through a series of mini-dates and note who you’d like to see again. We’ll handle the matches—no pressure, no awkwardness.
✨ Early bird tickets are available on Eventbrite while they last!
🚨 Limited seating available, so don’t wait—grab your spot now and get ready to meet your match!
🛑 Cancellation in the event the ratio of men/women is unfair, the event will be cancelled. you will be notiififed 24 hours before the event and be given a refund.
Follow Love on Tap on Instagram to learn about upcoming events.
Town Flicks at Raimondi Park (Inside Out)
Cal State East Bay and Pixar Animation Studios in collaboration with the Oakland Ballers are hosting a free outdoor movie night at Raimondi Park. Free tickets available at Eventbrite.
Trybe x ACPD: Positive Futures Fair
A special themed Town Nights hosted by Trybe and in partnership with Alameda County Probation Department.
Pre-registration is NOT required. More info at Town Nights
Civic Thursdays
Join us for an easygoing happy hour where neighbors, regulars, and newcomers can connect over good drinks and better conversation. Civic Thursdays are about meeting the people who make Oakland tick—residents, organizers, business owners, and anyone curious about what’s happening in our city. No agenda, no speeches—just community, conversation, and a chance to feel a little more at home in Oakland.
Songs for Many Lives (San Francisco)
Sruti Sarathy and Roopa Mahadevan have been hard at work to broaden what Carnatic music sings about while also understanding with more clarity their immigrant past in the states and Bay Area. Tickets on Luma.
Town Flicks at Raimondi Park (Coco)
Cal State East Bay and Pixar Animation Studios in collaboration with the Oakland Ballers are hosting a free outdoor movie night at Raimondi Park. Free tickets available at Eventbrite.
CURYJ: Nightmare on Mitchell Street
🎃💀 NIGHTMARES ON MITCHELL STREET 💀🎃
The 2nd Annual Halloween Block Party is going down in the heart of East Oakland and EVERYONE’S invited!
🗓️ October 31st, 2025
🕔 5PM – 9:30PM
📍 Mitchell St. between E. 21st & E. 22nd Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice.
This is something we wish we had growing up, and now we get to bring it to life right here where it all started. That’s love. That’s community. That’s Oakland.
🧡 Pull up for:
✨ Free Jumpers for the kids
🍭 Trick-or-Treating
🌮 Free Tacos & Snacks
🎧 Live DJ
🎁 Raffles
🕺 Breakdance Performances
🎮 Games for the youth
🎭 Costume Contests (Youth and Adults – come dressed to win!)
Come through and vibe with us, this one’s for the community, by the community. Let’s keep building the kind of memories we all deserved as kids. We keep us safe! More info at Town Nights & CURYJ.
Songs for Many Lives (Mountain View)
Sruti Sarathy and Roopa Mahadevan have been hard at work to broaden what Carnatic music sings about while also understanding with more clarity their immigrant past in the states and Bay Area. Tickets on Luma.
Songs for Many Lives (Mountain View)
Sruti Sarathy and Roopa Mahadevan have been hard at work to broaden what Carnatic music sings about while also understanding with more clarity their immigrant past in the states and Bay Area. Tickets on Luma.
East Bay Yesterday History Boat Tour
Join Kate Sullivan Creative + East Bay Yesterday’s Liam O’Donoghue for one of the best things I’ve ever done in the Bay Area: Liam’s history tour by boat. Get your tickets here before they sell out!
Uptown Stroll
A neighborhood stroll featuring music, vendors and other activations in the heart of Oakland’s Arts & Entertainment District. Telegraph & Broadway between 15th & 20th. More info online.
Happy Hour with Mangobus at the Bandshell
Kick off the weekend with free live music in Golden Gate Park! Bring your favorite drinks, tasty snacks, and the watch Mangobus (funk, soul, R&B) shake up the Bandshell stage.
Reframe: Rebecca Solnit & Steve Phillips
Step into “Reframe,” the inaugural Merritt Dialogue Speaker Series—an electrifying live conversation between Rebecca Solnit and Steve Phillips, moderated by Jane Kim of the Working Families Party. The quarterly Merritt Dialogue Speaker Series, launching in Oakland’s California Ballroom in 2025, invites us into generative conversation—where two thinkers, whose viewpoints may align or diverge, engage in dialogue that engenders critical thinking and deepens understanding of complex issues. Tickets on Eventbrite.
The Rotunda Mixology Series
Oakland’s top cocktail makers preview drinks every Thursday leading up to the Oakland Style Mixology Competition on Oct 9th. Tickets on Eventbrite.
A Conversation About Adolescence (Zoom)
Come ready to share ideas and engage in an open conversation about the powerful themes raised in Netflix's Adolescence! Cohosted by Reichi Lee (My Digital Tat2) & Deepti Doshi. (New_ Public). RSVP at Eventbrite.
SF Good Neighbor Week
Join your neighbors, the City of San Francisco, and many founding partners to celebrate the very first San Francisco Good Neighbor Week across our city’s wonderful neighborhoods. This holiday celebrates everyday residents who bring connection, kindness and community to San Francisco. More info on their website.
Nature Talks: Black Gold Exhibit Walk
Join a docent-led Nature Talks walk at Fort Point, where you’ll explore Black Gold: Stories Untold. The exhibition features 17 contemporary artists reflecting on the resilience, struggles, and triumphs of African Americans in California from the Gold Rush through Reconstruction. Tickets on Luma.
The Rotunda Mixology Series
Oakland’s top cocktail makers preview drinks every Thursday leading up to the Oakland Style Mixology Competition on Oct 9th. Tickets ($5) on Eventbrite.
Adult Field Trip: Japanese Tea Garden
Join for a private tour of the oldest operating public Japanese Garden in North America. $49 ($30 for SF residents). Sign up here.
Creative Sundays @Gold Palm
Creative Sundays are for anyone who wants to make time for creativity—from creative professionals craving a change of scenery to the creative-curious wanting to play with the array of creativity boosting materials I provide and see where it leads. Reserve a spot on Eventbrite.
The Rotunda Mixology Series
Oakland’s top cocktail makers preview drinks every Thursday leading up to the Oakland Style Mixology Competition on Oct 9th. Tickets on Eventbrite.
A Conversation About Adolescence (Zoom)
Come ready to share ideas and engage in an open conversation about the powerful themes raised in Netflix's Adolescence! Cohosted by Reichi Lee (My Digital Tat2) & Deepti Doshi. (New_ Public). RSVP at Eventbrite.
this is my body: a storytelling showcase.
This is my body is a powerful storytelling experience designed for women of color to reclaim their narratives, amplify their voices, and own their truths. Hosted by Novalia Collective. Tickets at Eventbrite.
Culture Makers: Sports + Community + Music
A conversation with Oakland Ballers General Manager Laura Geist, Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club co-founder Tommy Hodul, and Oakland Girls Softball League President Amanda Wentworth moderated by Azucena Rasilla. Tickets at Eventbrite. (Editors Note: This is the latest installment in the event that launched Revival Rounds! What will inspire you?)
Lighten Up: Opening Reception
A traveling exhibit at SOBU in Oakland and TC Space in Fort Bragg.