The local artists headlined our first Culture Makers event—and wanted to answer more of your questions.
Author Archives: Azucena Rasilla
Azucena Rasilla is an East Oakland native, a bilingual journalist reporting in Spanish and in English, and a longtime reporter on Oakland arts, culture and community. As an independent local journalist, she has reported for KQED Arts, The Bold Italic, Zora and The San Francisco Chronicle. She was a writer and social media editor for the East Bay Express, helping readers navigate Oakland’s rich artistic and creative landscapes through a wide range of innovative digital approaches.
Posted inArts & Community
Sarahbeth Maney’s photo of Judge Ketanji Brown’s daughter wasn’t the first time her work went viral
The East Bay photojournalist talked to The Oaklandside about how one of her images from the summer 2020 protests became a mural in downtown Oakland.
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: Mills College Pow Wow, samba at Elbo Room, and a Selena tribute
Other events include a virtual town hall to talk about Santa Rita Jail and the upcoming election, and a pottery chat at OMCA.
Posted inArts & Community
Photos: The Oakland Roots kick off a new season
The soccer team played its first home game of the 2022 season at Laney College on Saturday. Pre-game festivities included a performance by hip-hop collective Grand Nationxl.
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: the Dancing Moons Festival, Aaliyah tribute party, and Cantare Chorale
Other events include a Dimond District cleanup, and city of Oakland town hall.
Posted inNosh
A former Oakland restaurant worker is Bon Appétit’s newest tastemaker
Less than a decade ago, Elazar Sontag was a high school student by day and a kitchen worker at night. Now he’s on the masthead of one of the world’s most famous food magazines.
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: Salsa by the Lake returns, and speed dating at Sobre Mesa
Other events include volunteering to plant a tree, the Oakland Magic Circle gala, and Alphabet Rockers at Fairyland.
Posted inNosh
‘Oakland Coffee Lover’ on Instagram is an anti-influencer in the making
This East Oakland native wants to open coffee culture up to all, and support some local businesses in the process.
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: Celebrating Women’s History Month
Other events include a pop-up shop in West Oakland and the unofficial A’s fan fest at Brooklyn Basin.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Why you still need a mask, according to a doctor on the frontlines of health care in Oakland
We spoke to Dr. Noha Aboelata of Roots Community Health Center about the new variant BA.2, emerging COVID-19 treatments, and more.
Posted inArts & Community
Crybaby opens this weekend where The Uptown Nightclub used to be
The venue hopes to revive Oakland’s nightlife and pay homage to the spaces that came before it.
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: Lunchtime sessions at OMCA, and ‘Into the Redwoods’ at Chabot Space & Science Center
Other events include two virtual conversations about the future of West Oakland, and Oscar-nominated films at The New Parkway.
Posted inArts & Community
For its 10th anniversary, the Oakland Theater Company will get to perform indoors again—and not in a parking lot
The company’s new in-person season opens on Friday, Feb. 25, with a sold-out show of William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest.’
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: Black History Month celebrations continue
Other events include a community toy swap in Redwood Heights and a Garden Work Day on High Street.
Posted inArts & Community
‘Evolutionary Blues,’ a film about West Oakland’s musical legacy, returns at the Grand Lake Theatre
Some of the pioneers featured in the doc have passed away since the film debuted in 2017. But you can learn their stories at a special screening next Thursday.
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: Live music at Original Pattern Brewing and a celebration in the Laurel
Other events include a Huey P. Newton commemoration in West Oakland and a theater reading honoring James Baldwin at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park.
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: a rooftop Super Bowl party and romantic Valentine’s Day walks
The roundup is once more highlighting outdoor events like this Sunday watch party at the Continental Club.
Posted inArts & Community
Off The Grid returns to OMCA for lunch and dinner starting this week
The food trucks will serve dinners on Fridays. But there’s still no set date for the return of ‘Friday Nights at OMCA.’
Posted inArts & Community
This week in Oakland: Kicking off Black History Month
Other activities include a youth skateboarding workshop and a virtual lakeside chat.
Posted inArts & Community
See Oakland in technicolor at new Camron-Stanford House art exhibit
‘Town Landmarks: Abstract Oakland by Jorge Bejarano’ is the first of new programming by the museum’s executive director, Iliana Morton