• Entertainment

    Oakland Vocal Students to Perform

    by  • April 26, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Cultural Events, Entertainment, Events, Featured Events, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, South County

    Vocal music students at the Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) are preparing to perform in “Spotlight,” a one-night show on Thursday, May 2 at the Fox Theatre in Uptown Oakland. The show will take the audience on a  journey into competitive singing reality TV shows such as American Idol, Making the Band, and...

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    San Leandro Expands Dates and Hours for Summer Swimming

    by  • April 26, 2013 • Bay Area, Children, Entertainment, Family, News Articles, Publicity, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The San Leandro Recreation and Human Services Department will operate pools over the summer at the San Leandro Family Aquatic Center, Boys and Girls Club and Farrelly Pool. Each of the pools offers swim lessons for all ages and levels at a variety of times with American Red Cross certified and trained instructors.  To...

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    April 23-28 – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater | Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley

    by  • April 20, 2013 • Advertisement, African American, Alameda County, Bay Area, Beauty, Business, Culture, Daily Posts, DVD Entertainment, Entertainment, Foundations, Health, Information, Recreation, Social Media, Socialmedia, Training

    Ailey-2013

    The incomparable Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, perhaps the most acclaimed international ambassador of American culture performing today, returns to the Bay Area. Under the inspired leadership of artistic director Robert Battle, and building upon the “big, big wow” (San Jose Mercury News) of its 2012 appearances, the company’s 2013 Berkeley residency promises wide-ranging...

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    Boston Ballet Dance Soloist John Lam Visits “Performing Stars,” Where He Got His Start

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Entertainment, Entertainment, Marin County News, News Articles, San Francisco, SECTIONS

    John Lam. Photograph by Gene Schiavone.

    By Godfrey Lee John Lam, a dance soloist with the Boston Ballet, returned home to San Rafael to dance in the Marin Ballet 50th Anniversary Reunion Performance Saturday, April 13. Lam trained at the Marin Ballet for more than 10 years before going on to complete his training at the Canada’s National Ballet School....

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    SXSW 2013 Spring Music & Film Festival

    by  • April 6, 2013 • Entertainment, Entertainment, Featured Events, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, Socialmedia, Special Interests Articles

    Fundamental Strategic Marketing by JT Tha Bigga Figga. Photo by Damon Jamal .

    By Shaveela Raniga The South by Southwest (SXSW) 2013 Spring Music & Film Festivals, an “Artistry Battle” that takes place annually in Austin, Texas, this year featured artists and musicians from the Bay Area and around the world. One attention grabber was JT Tha Bigga Figga from San Francisco, who found a unique way...

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    CubaCaribe Dance Festival in Oakland and SF

    by  • April 6, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, Socialmedia, Special Interests Articles

    CubaCaribe Dancers in a recent performance. Photo by Andy Mogg.

    The 9th Annual CubaCaribe Dance Festival will present performances, workshops, demonstrations and lectures by master and emerging Caribbean and Latino musicians and choreographers, April 12 through April 28 in San Francisco and Oakland. The theme of this year’s festival is “Tributes to our Teachers.” Among the groups that will perform are the modern dance...

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    USA Today – Obama praises Calif. AG’s looks

    by  • April 4, 2013 • African American, African American History, Barak Obama, Beauty, Business, Daily Posts, Education, Energy, Entertainment, Environment, Feature 2, Featured, Information, Michelle Obama, Open Government, Politics and Government

    Obama praises Calif. AG’s looks Rich Pedroncelli, AP In this this May 10, 2012 file photo, California Attorney General Kamala Harris appears before an Assembly committee at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. by David Jackson, USA TODAY Published: 04/04/2013 05:40pm We can’t help but wonder what the first lady is going to think of...

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    Man Wanted for Spreading HIV to Hundreds of Men and Women

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Black Church Information, Entertainment, Marin County News, Michelle Obama, News Articles, Obituaries, Post News Feature Story, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, site test

    Isaac Don Burks

    Authorities are offering a reward up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of 31-year-old Isaac Don Burks, who has been accused of intentionally infecting hundreds of men and women in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with HIV. Police say his potential victims could date back as far as 2003. He has...

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    New “InYoFaceFilm” Video Production Features a Light Hearted Comical Music Video

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    From the left Danny A,Droop-E, Cherenna Wright, and Haqq Shabazz.

    By Shaveela Raniga Award winning director Damon Jamal and  executive producer Haqq Shabazz of InYoFaceFilm are coming out with “White Boy Faded,” a light hearted comical music video on getting faded by up and coming artist Danny A. The video features an appearance by hip-hop’s Droop-E, the son of the Ambassador of the Bay,...

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    Berkeley High Jazz Bands Kick Off New Season

    by  • March 8, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, News Articles, Oakland News Articles

    Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble

    Berkeley High School’s jazz bands kick off their spring season with two shows at Yoshi’s Oakland on Tuesday, March 26. Both shows will feature the Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble, the program’s flagship big band. The show will also feature one of the program’s smaller combos, made up of students poised to become tomorrow’s jazz...

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    Darlene Lawson, 75, Fought for Equal Education

    by  • February 23, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Darlene Lawson served on the Oakland Board of Education from 1983 to January 1993. Here she celebrates her second inauguration with five of her seven children: Loretta Little, Vida Byrd, Billie Wright, Annette Wright and Charlene Byrd.

    By Ken A. Epstein Businesswoman Darlene Ann Lawson-Scott, 75, who left a lasting impact on Oakland schools during two terms on the Board of Education, died on Jan 13. A fighter for equal education for flatland children and families, she was the first African American woman to be elected to the school board. Known...

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    Oakland’s Margo Hall Plays a Woman Who Got “Played”

    by  • February 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Margo Hall

    By Sandra Varner/ Talk2SV.com Currently running at The San Francisco Playhouse through March 16 is the aggressive and arresting Broadway hit, “The MF with The Hat” from playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis (Jesus Hopped the “A” Train). “The Hat” is bold, edgy, powerful and callous with a cast up to the task of parlaying the...

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    Alameda Students Sponsor “More Than a Month” Film Screening

    by  • February 15, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, FAME, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, Special Interests Articles

    film More Than a Month by African American filmmaker Shukree Tilghman

    High students in Alameda will be showing and discussing a provocative documentary, “More Than a Month,” in which a young man travels across the country, examining what Black History means in “Post-Racial” America. The event will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Ruby Bridges Elementary School, 351...

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    Paul Robeson’s Songs and Struggles Live at Allen Temple

    by  • February 15, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Church Events, Entertainment, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Lawrence Beamen

      By Lee Hubbard Lawrence Beamen was 20 when he learned about legendary singer and political activist Paul Robeson, captivated by stories of the historic struggles Robeson went through and how he used his artistic talents to help fight for Black civil rights and equal opportunity. “I began to immerse myself in the study...

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    Evergreen Gives “Blankets and Blessings” to Homeless

    by  • February 8, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    From left to right, back row - Rev. David Moore, Darryl Rice, Larry Teague, Darla Robbins, Rev. Ruffus Robbins, Richard Curtis, Dannetta Robinson, Carol Sanders, Jamal Churchill, Iman Calip; middle row-Joel Dill, Deborah Martin, Regina Alexander, Marilyn Martin, Geneva Bennett, Artis Dawson, Kenneth Breedlove, Cynthia Rowden, Linda Sandiser, Betty Majors, Roy Deale, Susie Patrick; front row-Linda August, Kay Moore, Johnnie Nicks, Georgetta Edwards-Breedlove, First Lady Kathi Pinkard, Christopher Thomas, Rene Hunter-Phillips, Tonya Sellers-Daniels, Brenda Deale, Delores Johnson, Bret Phillips; front kneeling-Maria Bershell, A. Renee Daniels, and Jamilah Jefferson. Photo by Ashley Chambers.

    Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., members of the Care Ministry at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church gave away food, blankets, and hot chocolate to the homeless on Jan. 20. Led by First Lady Kathi Pinkard and coordinators Georgetta Edwards-Breedlove and Christopher Thomas, members accompanied by Officer Kittrell Carter gave out 100...

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    Tenor Man Dayna Stephens to Blow at Benefit

    by  • February 8, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Dayna Stephens

    By Lee Hildebrand Former East Bay resident Dayna Stephens is, at age 34, one of the most gifted jazz tenor saxophonists of his generation. Now living in Patterson, New Jersey, he says he “caught the bug” two decades ago from seeing a local performance by tenor titan Joshua Redman. Because Redman and other jazz...

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    Harris Sues BP and ARCO Over Gas Station Pollution

    by  • February 7, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    Attorney General Kamala Harris has filed a civil lawsuit on1 against BP West Coast Products, BP Products North America, Inc. and Atlantic Richfield Company for allegedly violating state laws governing hazardous materials and hazardous waste by failing to properly inspect and maintain underground tanks used to store gasoline for retail sale at more than...

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    Point Richmond Acoustic Presents Claudia Russell

    by  • February 1, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS

    Claudia Russell. Photo by Mindy Pines.

    Point Richmond’s resident singer Claudia Russell will bring her eclectic blend of folk, blues and pop to Point Richmond Acoustic, Friday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. Russell will perform with her band, the Folk Unlimited Orchestra, with husband Bruce Kaplan on guitar Tom Tally on viola and violin. The concert is at the First...

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    Picklewater Clown Cabaret Presents Prescott Circus Fundraiser

    by  • January 25, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Philanthropy, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Prescott Clowns

    The Picklewater Clown Cabaret will host a fundraiser for Prescott Circus Theatre, featuring some of the Bay Area’s finest circus and variety stars and local and international professional circus artists, comedians, and Clown Conservatory alumni, 8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 4 at  NEW Stage Werx Theatre location, 446 Valencia St. in San Francisco. In an...

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    Classical Star Performs at East Oakland Leadership Academy

    by  • January 18, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    East Oakland Leadership Academy students greeted the artists after the performance. From left to right: Miracle Sheperd, Sandra Rivers (pianist), Nokuthula Ngwenyama (violist, violinist), Kris Rivas, Rovijon Davis, and Lizeth Castillo-Simon.

    About 50 middle school students from the East Oakland Leadership Academy had the opportunity last week to hear a performance by classical violinist and violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, who the L.A. Times called, “A Face to Watch,” hosted by Four Seasons Arts. Ngwenyama played pieces for the students, discussed the viola and violin and answered...

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    Oakland Youth Orchestra’s Winter Concert

    by  • January 18, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Oakland Youth Orchestra

    The award-winning Oakland Youth Orchestra is opening its season with a winter concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27 at Holy Names University in Oakland. The free winter concert follows on the heels of the orchestra’s participation in the Bay Area Youth Orchestra Festival, known as the “Bay of Hope,” at 3 p.m. on...

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    Guitarist Calvin Keys’ Kinder, Jam Sessions

    by  • January 18, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Guitarist Calvin Keys. Photo by John Goyer.

    By Lee Hildebrand There are two types of jazz jam sessions: the ones where the host calls out tunes in uncommon keys with difficult chord changes and tempos faster than a speeding bullet, the purpose being to discourage less-experienced players unable to rise to the challenge, and others where the host actually encourages newcomers....

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    Jennifer Holliday to Headline Oakland Concert

    by  • January 11, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Jennifer Holliday

    By Lee Hildebrand Versatility is one of Jennifer Holliday’s hallmarks. The Riverside, Texas-born, Atlanta-based singer has performed gospel music, R&B, jazz, pop and, of course, songs from the musical theater. Her 1982 tour de force treatment of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls,” in which...

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    Oakland Honors Gladys Green at “In the Name of Love” Concert

    by  • January 4, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, San Francisco, SECTIONS, Uncategorized

    Gladys Green

    CBS Channel 5 Anchor Dana King will present the City of Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award to Gladys Green for her outstanding work on behalf of the Oakland community at the “In the Name of Love” Musical Tribute honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 19, 7 p.m., at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. The...

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    Marva Whitney, 68, Singer in James Brown Revue

    by  • January 4, 2013 • Barak Obama, Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Oakland News Articles, Obituaries, Special Interests Articles

    Marva Whitney

    Marva Whitney, a fiery-voiced funk singer who toured and collaborated with James Brown — along the way earning the nickname “Soul Sister #1” — died Saturday at 68, Whitney died from complications of pneumonia. She is best known for her version of “It’s My Thing,” which cracked the Hot 100 in 1969, and for...

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    Blues Great Jimmy McCracklin, 91

    by  • December 28, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Obituary, Richmond News, San Francisco

    Jimmy McCracklin

    By Lee Hildebrand The blues community is mourning the passing of bluesman Jimmy McCracklin, who diedThursday, Dec. 20, at Creekside Health Center in San Pablo. The prolific singer, pianist and songwriter, a longtime Richmond resident, was 91. “He had a style that was completely his own,” singer-guitarist Sonny Rhodes said of his late friend. ...

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    Berkeley Considers Becoming a No Drone Zone

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    By Danielle Savage Berkeley’s Peace and Justice Commission is proposing an ordinance to make the City of Berkeley a No Drone Zone. The proposed ban is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s City Council meeting. If the ordinance passes, flying of a drone in the airspace of Berkeley will be regarded as a misdemeanor...

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    Jazz Legend Dave Brubeck, 91

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Obituary, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Dave Brubeck, the pianist and composer.

    Dave Brubeck, the pianist and composer who helped make jazz popular again in the 1950s and 1960s with recordings like “Time Out,” the first jazz album to sell a million copies, died Dec. 5 in Norwalk, Conn. He was 91. Born in Concord, Contra Costa County, he grew up in farm country. His father,...

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    Donna Summer Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Donna Summer

    (Reuters) – Late disco queen Donna Summer and hip hop pioneers Public Enemy headed a list of eight new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. The late blues guitarist Albert King was also inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame, which...

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    Emperess Hall and Majesty Scott Present Royal Toe-Tapping Gospel Gems on Temple Hill for Christmas

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Post News Feature Story, Special Interests Articles

    Emperess hall

    During the month of December, Oakland’s Mormon Temple Hill will host many Bay Area faith traditions. The Voices of the Miraculous music ensemble will perform African-American toe-tapping gospel gems on Dec. 22, directed by Emperess Hall with lead vocalist, Majesty Scott at 7 p.m., with a repeat program at 8 p.m. The next night...

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    A Knight of Whispers and Excitement

    by  • December 6, 2012 • Bay Area, Entertainment, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    Nick Caldwell of The Whispers holding The Post. Photo by George Livingston.

    By George and Linda Livingston The Paramount Theater recently was filled with two legends gracing the stage. The Whispers and Gladys Knight had the crowd entertained with classic tunes that mostly have not been on the music charts in 30 years. The Whispers, who the Bay Area has embraced as a local group, has...

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    “In the Name of Love” Concert Honors MLK

    by  • December 6, 2012 • Bay Area, Entertainment, Oakland News Articles, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    The 11th annual tribute honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  will be held at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, The program will feature Jennifer Holliday; Tuck and Patti, renowned guitar and vocal duo; the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, directed by Terrance Kelly; and the Oaktown Jazz Workshops....

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    Maestro Gustavo Dudamel Captivates Bay Area

    by  • December 6, 2012 • Entertainment, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    Gustavo Dudamel (left) and Marta Lledo.

    By Conway Jones Much has been said about Gustavo Dudamel, the 31-year-old Venezuelan who ranks among the world’s top orchestral conductors.  Undoubtedly, more will be spoken about him as he continues his meteoric rise. Dudamel completed a four-day residency with Cal Performances on the UC Berkeley campus conducting the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of...

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    Chanté Moore Sings for Pink Access Foundation

    by  • November 30, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Post News Feature Story, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    Chanté Moore

    R&B vocalist Chanté Moore will sing Monday, Dec. 3 at Pink Access Foundation’s “Pink Access and Lavender Live Too Winter Wonderland and Survivors Celebration” in the Meritage at the Claremont Hotel. Moore will be the featured musical guest at the fourth annual event, which is a fundraiser for organizations such as Carrie’s Touch that...

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    San Leandro Students Perform Nutcracker Ballet

    by  • November 20, 2012 • Entertainment, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    nutcracker-ballerina

    The San Leandro Public Library will host the city’s conservatory of ballet performing excerpts from the “Nutcracker Ballet” on Saturday, Dec. 15, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The student showcase will display the talents of the conservatory’s students, who range from 10-years-old to adults. The showcase will be held in the San Leandro...

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    Hawaiian Holiday Celebration, Dec. 1

    by  • November 20, 2012 • Bay Area, Entertainment, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Patrick Landeza grew up in Berkeley. Photo: Kelvin Rama.

    Slack key guitarist Patrick Landeza will start off the holiday season at the 11th Annual Hawaiian Holiday Celebration, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, l300 Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. NÃ HÕKÚ Hanohano, award-finalist and Hawaiian music award-winner Patrick Kahakauwila Kamaholelani...

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    Public Invited to SF Ethnic Dance Festival Auditions

    by  • November 20, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, San Francisco, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    Te Mana O Te Ra, performed by Sarah Padrones. Photo by RJ Muna.

    More than 100 Northern California dance companies representing dance traditions from around the world will perform hoping for a spot in the 2013 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival during auditions scheduled for Jan. 12 and 13 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, and Jan. 19 and 20 at Lam Research Theater at Yerba Buena Center...

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    Allen Lee Weathersby, Jr., 64

    by  • November 16, 2012 • Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Obituary, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    Allen Lee Weathersby, Jr.

    Allen Lee Weathersby, Jr., born May 16, 1948, passed away on Oct. 31. He was a military veteran who retired from Todd Shipyard. He will be missed by his daughter Ayanna Weathersby, family and friends. Funeral services were held at Evangelistic Outreach Center, 1743 Foothill Blvd. in Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

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    Singer Charlene Moore’s Birthday Celebration at 57th Street Gallery

    by  • November 16, 2012 • Bay Area, Entertainment, Featured, SECTIONS, Special Interests Articles

    Charlene Moore

    By Camryn Crump Bay Area gospel musician, singer and songwriter Charlene Moore celebrated her 61rst birthday on Friday, Nov. 2 by treating family, friends and fans to a night of her sultry, soulful storytelling voice and skilled piano playing. Appearing at Floyd Pellom’s 57th Street Gallery in Oakland, Moore quickly had the crowd, hand...

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    Celle! and Friends Bring Mardi Gras Spirit to the Bay

    by  • November 10, 2012 • Bay Area, Entertainment, Special Interests Articles

    Chelle! and Friends, seated left to right: Rhonda Crane, Michelle Jacques; Standing: Donna Viscuso, Bryan Dyer, Eric Swinderman, Bob Scott, Sam Bevan.

    By Lee Hildebrand “We’re havin’ a great carnival here ‘cause the Giants are slammin’,” vocalist Michelle Jacques, leader of the band Celle! and Friends told the festive crowd at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco while introducing “Down at the Carnival Ball,” an original composition in the tradition of Professor Longhair’s “Mardi Gras in...

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