Oakland Art Murmur
A group of nearly 20 galleries in Oakland that have coordinated openings every first Friday of the month (second Friday for May). Wander from gallery to gallery, sample nibbles, drink some wine, see occasional outdoor movies and find some new artists to love at venues like 21 Grand, Blank Space, Luka’s Taproom, Rowan Morrison, Rock Paper Scissors Collective and more.
Fri, May 7, 7-9pm
Urban Fair: Bay Area Artists and Designers
An urban fair made up of local artists & designers selling a range of items at accessible prices. You will find creative and high quality clothing, jewelry, artwork, home accessories, ceramics, fashion accessories, baby items and more. One stop local shopping for everyone on your holiday list. Shop to the beats of local dj's and enjoy some food and cocktails.
Fri, May 7, 6:30-9:30pm
The New Parish, 579 18th St, Oakland
Space Day
Chabot’s Space Day celebration will include hands–on activities and demonstrations by Galaxy Explorers, public missions in the Challenger Learning Center, along with their hands-on exhibitions. A special showing of Two Small Pieces of Glass will be part of the celebration. Also get down and dirty with Kids Go Green and the Galaxy Explorers as they continue work on their community butterfly garden.
Sat, May 8, 11am-5pm
Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland
Bike to Work Day
Bike to Work Day is the premier bicycling event taking place in all of Northern California with all nine Bay Area counties participating in the celebration. The event is just one day of many events taking place in May as part of National Bike Month. The Capitol Corridor is an intercity passenger train system that provides a convenient alternative to traveling along the congested freeways by operating fast, reliable and affordable intercity rail service to 16 stations in Northern California stretching from San Jose to Sacramento and the Sierra Foothills. All trains on the Capitol Corridor route are equipped with bicycle racks on the lower level of most cars. And with up to 32 trains a day, it's an easy and convenient way to take your bike with you and explore Northern California without ever getting in your car. For more information visit www.capitolcorridor.org
Thu, May 13
Berkeley Rep presents In the Wake
After an idyllic Thanksgiving filled with food, football, family and friends, a woman discovers how one passionate act can affect everything—her faith in love, her faith in country, her faith in herself. This tale of heartache and hope unfolds amidst the turmoil of American politics in the 21st century. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.
Opening May 14
2025 Addison St, Berkeley
Evening at the Crucible
Converge with Crucible faculty at our industrial arts facility to ignite your creativity. Instructors will be on hand to divulge age-old techniques in jewelry making, hot metal foundry pours and neon. You will learn how artists, limited only by what they can imagine, use these techniques to transform a lump of cold hard metal or glass into an amazing work of art. Works by these artists will be on display, and you can enjoy adult libations from our bar while hanging out with some interesting and inventive folks. Check out information about our great classes, and if you're a new student or Crucible member, you can also get discounts for class tuition.
Fri, May 14, 6:30-9:30pm
The Crucible, 1260 7th St, Oakland
Alameda Backyard Chicken Coop Bicycling Tour
People are encouraged to bring their bicycles and cycle from coop to coop. A map will be provided at the starting location and refreshments will be available en route. Come along and enjoy an afternoon filled with fun, feathers and information about raising backyard chickens. You’ll see a variety of coops and many types of chickens and maybe even a few beehives.
Sun, May 16, 1pm
448 Lincoln Ave, Alameda
Walk to End Poverty
The community walk aims to raise awareness about the conditions of the 76,489 people who live in poverty and violence within the City of Oakland.?In addition, the Walk aims to raise funds for supporting local organizations that provide assistance to those committed to break the cycle of poverty and violence.?Local agencies providing services to Oakland?s low-income residents, community organizations, and the community at-large are encouraged to participate in the event by organizing teams of supporters to walk.
Sat, May 22, 9am
Lake Merritt Bandstand, Oakland
Bay Area Storytelling Festival
For 25 years, the Bay Area Storytelling Festival has brought the finest storytelling to the San Francisco Bay Area. Every May, stories whisper and shout through the East Bay hills, alive with personal drama, folk and fairy tales, epics and song. Nationally celebrated performers lead you far from home, through laughter and tears, deep into new cultures, and face to face with yourself. Discover the world within the towering trees and rolling hills of Kennedy Grove, just a short drive from the Bay Bridge.
May 22 and 23
Kennedy Grove Regional Park, El Sobrante
Introduction to Chinese Traditional Medicine
Come listen to Anastacia White, practitioner and teacher of Chinese Traditional Medicine talk on the principles of CTM. The talk will be followed by a walk in the Garden’s Chinese Traditional Medicinal Herb Garden, named by Ms. White “one of the most extensive Chinese herbal medicine gardens in the United States where you will experience over one hundred Chinese herbs in their natural state, arranged in the garden according to their therapeutic categories.”
Sun, May 23, 10am-12pm
UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, 200 Centennial Dr, Berkeley
Breakthrough Communities Author Event
Breakthrough Communities: Sustainability and Justice in the Next American Metropolis, a presentation and book signing. M. Paloma Pavel and Carl Anthony will introduce the metropolitan regional equity movement -- sometimes referred to as a new civil rights movement -- and highlight solutions to problems of environmental justice that take into account entire metropolitan regions: the inner city core, the suburbs, and exurban areas. They will explore current examples of people building healthy, socially just and multiracial communities across the country featured in their new book: Breakthrough Communities.
Ecology Center Store, 2530 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley
Thu, May 27, 7-9pm
Richmond Community Block Party
The Richmond community at large is creating an extraordinary free afternoon event reaching out to unite residents, businesses and the vast array of community organizations all in one fabulous place. The event is about trying something new in Richmond. There is Live Musical Entertainment and a Youth Stage, a BMX Bike demo, Richmond and Contra Costa County Community organization activities, Ford Point tenants, local food vendors, and a Gallery of Local Artists. Brush elbows with your neighbors and come together for a true neighborhood block party on the sunny waterfront.
Sun, May 30, 12-5pm
Craneway Pavilion, Richmond
A big thanks goes out to the EcoMetro Guide for keeping us up to date:)