The Horns of Summer: Bob Mielke’s Oakland A’s Strolling Dixieland Band

Friend of the blog Dave Radlauer is back with another great Oakland story. This one brings in the A's, so it gets top billing around here. Thanks again to Dave for sharing. Here’s a rollicking slice of Americana from what seems like a distant time.  For nearly a quarter century, from 1969 to 1992, Bob …

Dick Oxtot at ‘The Ordinary’ Nightclub

As promised, here's Dave Radlauer on The Ordinary club in Oakland. Thanks for reading and enjoy. This may be the only extant photograph from The Ordinary.  Seen L to R: Bill Bardin, P.T. Stanton, Byron Berry and Walter Yost is behind the tuba. Dick Oxtot fondly recalled this venue in his 1999 memoir: "The Ordinary …

OAKLAND JAZZ; BONUS

I haven't had a burst of energy but I did receive an offer I can't refuse. A well known Jazz writer has offered to write a guest blog on Oakland Jazz. How can I refuse?  He is an award winner.  An Oakland resident.  His stuff is professional and entertaining.  His piece will be about a …

A FILIPINO-AMERICAN MACHADO: YUM

Why would I dare to write a Blog about the Filipino-American community of Oakland? To borrow the title of an Oscar Levant book, at best, what I know about this community can be summed up as "a smattering of ignorance." Actually my desire to write such a blog results from the courage of two young …

IT AIN’T EASY

A few month or so ago, the S.F. Business Times reported that by 2040, the City of Oakland will have developed 29,000 new housing units and 14 million square feet of new Office space downtown.  Those are spectacular numbers for a city of approximately 425,000 people.  Actually, Oakland  generated about 2,000 more units last year …

BASEBALL’S RAIMONDI BROTHERS

The Italian surname Raimondi is not only famous in Oakland but is carried by many notables throughout the World. Aldo is a long  lived  Italian painter (1902-1997).  Antonio is an Italian born Peruvian natural historian and geographer ((1824-1890). Diego an Argentinian footballer (b.1977). The American sculptor John (b. 1948). Ruggero (b. 1941) actor and opera singer. …

OAKLAND’S TREASURE

One of the real treasures of Oakland for more than  one hundred years is the children's hospital on 51st street in hard scrabble North Oakland.  Much of what I blog about on Oakland is plain old fashioned rah rah stuff, perhaps hyperbole.  It's designed to be fun, stir the juices of local pride.  #Children's Hospital …

THE CURSE OF CHOICE

Recently a friend and I had breakfast/lunch at an Oakland Institution. The Oakland Grill at 301 Franklin Street in the heart of the Oakland Commission District.  I'm not sure how long it has been open, but I don't remember when it wasn't around.  It is referred to as, "A homey hangout with a tin roof …

OAKLAND’S GOLD COAST

My earliest recollection of a playground was the dirt lot on 40th and Webster  Streets across from the Sacramento Northern Car Barn. It was a great place for little kids with home made rubber guns to play "war."   The reality of the Second World War was still in the future, and we could let our romantic, heroic …

OAKLAND BOXERS

A friend of mine recently took his wife to the #Wen Wu Institute for an acupuncture treatment.  The Wen Wu Institute is a school for Tai Chi, Gi Gong and other Chinese exercise and health teachings in El Cerrito at the old site of the "It Club."  I do have interesting friends. While waiting for …