Once spring rolls around and the rain takes a back seat, outdoor and indoor events are abundant throughout the Town. Besides the events featured this week, the city initiative called Activate Oakland, which provided grants to community organizations to host events between October 2023 and August 2024, is going strong. Events include free shows at Oakland Theater Project, the Oakland Little Saigon Sunset Market, Bandaloop Studios open house, and more. Activate Oakland has a map with a list of all upcoming events.
If there’s something you’d like me to consider for this weekly list, email me at azucena@oaklandside.org. And if you want to promote something on our calendar, you can use the self-submission form on our events page.
Oakland Tech Drama presents: ‘Chicago’
Why go all the way to Broadway when you can experience a top-notch theater production right here at home? The talented students of the Oakland Tech drama department are bringing their unique interpretation of Chicago by Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb to the Town. This gripping story, originally a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, a crime reporter in Chicago, is based on real crimes she covered. Don’t miss the chance to see how these students bring to life the intriguing tale of Roxie Hart and the murder of her lover.
Wednesday, April 24 and Saturday, April 27, 8 p.m., $5-$12, 4351 Broadway
East Bay cyclists ride for Palestinian liberation
For the fourth time since January, local cyclists are meeting for a peaceful and family-friendly five-and-a-half-mile bike ride in solidarity with the Gaza Sunbirds, a team of 20 para-cycling athletes based in the Gaza Strip. The bike ride is a call to action to bring attention to what is going on to the Palestinian people. It will also uplift the demands of Athletes for Palestine, including an immediate ceasefire, and raise funds for the Gaza Sunbirds. The ride will commence at the Ashby BART station and conclude at the Lake Merritt station.
Saturday, April 27, free to attend, riders will meet at 10 a.m., 3100 Adeline St.
Ultimate frisbee – Oakland Spiders home opener
The Oakland Spiders, a professional ultimate frisbee team launched in 2021, continues gaining momentum as sports fans look for other teams to support after the Athletics announced their move to Las Vegas. The Spiders’ president, Jackson Stearns, grew up attending city-funded summer and after-school programs, and he’s using ultimate frisbee to create similar opportunities for Oakland youth. The home opener takes place this weekend against the Los Angeles Aviators. The team’s home base is Fremont High School.
Saturday, April 27, $25 ($28 on gameday), 4610 Foothill Blvd.
Port of Oakland summer harbor tours
The Port of Oakland is once again offering educational 90-minute narrated tours from May to October. Attendees will get behind-the-scenes information on how the port operates and Oakland Seaport activities, and they will sail alongside large container ships and the port’s marine terminals. Tickets will be released on the first Monday of every month starting April 29. Make sure to set a calendar reminder so you don’t miss out on this experience.
Monday, April 29, first tour takes place on Friday, May 10, register for free, Oakland Jack London Terminal, 10 Clay St.
Exhibit: ‘Revisiting Oakland’ at Manna Gallery
Oakland-based artist and Mills College alum Gina Gaiser‘s new exhibit, Revisiting Oakland, a post-pandemic photographic survey of urban landscapes, is on display at Manna Gallery on 25th Street. The exhibit includes black-and-white photography by Gaiser, depicting how people interact with what they see when they are out and about. The photos reveal hidden beauty all around our urban landscape. The gallery is open on First Friday for Art Murmur and every Saturday. Gaiser will host an artist talk on Saturday, May 11.
Through June 1, First Fridays, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.,
