With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Oakland bars are hoping to create some magic for The Town’s single folks. If you are looking for love, Thee Stork Club and Black Sheep have planned events to help you find a special someone.
But if you’re not feeling Valentine’s, there are plenty of other events to check out this weekend, from the Black Liberation walking tour to the Trash Falcons exhibit displaying all the quirky items the group has collected over the past five years during their countless Lake Merritt cleanups.
We want to know what kind of events you want to hear about. If you would like us to consider an event for this weekly list, please email me at azucena@oaklandside.org. You can also use the self-submission form on our events page to add it to our calendar for free.
The Dating Game Tall People Edition
This one is for the 5-foot-10 and up ladies and the over 6-foot fellas looking for love. Hit those marks and you’ll enjoy $2 cocktails until midnight. But don’t worry if you’re not a tall glass of water; everyone is welcome to join. The vibes include live music by DJs Thowwow and Mousetwat, plus a dating game starting at 9 p.m. for a chance to win a paid Valentine’s Day dinner at Sobre Mesa.
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m., free, Thee Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave.
Screening of ‘The Alabama Solution’
For the People, an organization that identifies incarcerated people who can be safely released to reunite with their families, is hosting a free screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Alabama Solution.” The film, which uses footage recorded by incarcerated men, exposes a “deadly cover-up inside Alabama’s prison system.” The screening will be followed by a Q&A with leaders in criminal justice reform.
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 5 p.m., RSVP online, Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave.
Opening gala for the Trash Falcons exhibit ‘What We Sow’
The Trash Falcons, a volunteer-run group that has been helping to keep Lake Merritt clean for over five years, has put together an unusual exhibit at the Junior Center of Art and Science made up of the interesting discarded items they’ve found over the years. In the exhibit, titled “What We Sow,” the Trash Falcons transform the debris of urban life into works that are at once whimsical, provocative, and profoundly beautiful. The show runs through Friday, April 10.
Friday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m., free, RSVP online, 558 Bellevue Ave.
Black history walking tour of Hoover-Foster neighborhood in West Oakland led by David Peters. Credit: Amir Aziz for The Oaklandside
Black Liberation Walking Tour
Since 2021, third-generation West Oakland resident and community advocate David Peters has dedicated himself to telling the stories of the residents who called the historic Hoover-Foster neighborhood home and documenting their contributions to the political and cultural tapestry of The Town. He’s pulled all that material into a walking tour that Conde Nast Traveler called one of the “standout Black history tours in the U.S.” The tour received a 2025 Partners in Preservation Award from the Oakland Heritage Alliance.
Saturday, Feb. 14, 10 a.m., sliding scale tickets, starting point will be emailed once you RSVP
Sexy Singles Valentine’s Party
Tickets are almost sold out for this Valentine’s Day mixer for Oakland area singles who are tired of the apps and ready to meet someone in real life. Organizers ask folks to dress to impress and get ready to mingle, flirt, and just have a good time.
Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m., $12.51 and up, Black Sheep Bar, 1918 Park Blvd.
Spotlight Sundays: Total Praise — The Making of the Black Joy Parade
Since its inception in 2018, the Black Joy Parade has become one of the most well attended outdoor festivals in Oakland, with dance and music at its core. This weekend, the Oakland Museum of California will host the premiere screening of a documentary short about the event, “Total Praise: The Blueprint Behind the Black Joy Parade.” Attendees will have the chance to hear from the Black Joy team about the making of the festival and why music — especially Black choirs — is the festival’s essence.
Sunday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m., $1-$30 sliding scale, OMCA, 1000 Oak St.
Hot Ticket in The Town this week: ‘90s Banda Tour
If you like regional Mexican music, this is the show for you. Brass-heavy bands like El Recodo, El Mexicano, and Banda Machos will converge under one roof.
Friday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m., $53 and up, Oakland Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way
Coming soon to The Town: Juvenile with the 400 Degreez Band
New Orleans rapper Juvenile is best known for working with Birdman’s label, Cash Money Records, to bring Southern rap to the national stage during the ‘90s and 2000s. In the past few years, Juvenile has toured with the 400 Degreez band, transforming the sound of his best-known tracks like “Ha” and “Back That Azz Up,” featuring Mannie Fresh and Lil’ Wayne.
Friday, June 5, 7 p.m, $66.75 and up, Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave.
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