Good Day
Oakland
Thursday, January 29th, 2026
Good morning, Oakland. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 29th of January.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Chef Will Allen of Fowl + Fare has shared his struggles with mental health while managing his busy fried chicken sandwich business in Oakland, highlighting the toll of a demanding kitchen. He is planning a Tigres QBan Sandwiches popup in February to honor a late friend. San Francisco Chronicle
- ➤ Vallejo rapper LaRussell will perform at the Super Bowl LX tailgate at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8; he is curating the hyphy house band after petitioning the NFL on social media, and his set is part of a Bay Area celebration that includes an Oakland Arena event the day before. San Francisco Chronicle
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Samuel Merritt University will relocate its nursing campus to downtown Oakland in a new $240M, 10-story, 260,000-sqft facility that will host 2,000 students and 500 faculty daily — the project aims to boost local business and double enrollment over the next decade. ABC7
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Contra Costa Public Health reported a new death on Tuesday from wild mushroom poisoning in an outbreak that has sickened 39 people since November + officials urge residents to avoid foraging wild mushrooms as even half a death cap mushroom is deadly. SFGate
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ New eateries are heating up the East Bay food scene. Bangalore Blues—formerly Pochys Home Style South Indian—serves at Solano Ave; Gusto and Id Cafe have opened in Berkeley, Tokyo Central will open in Emeryville on Jan. 31, and Winky Dinky Dogs has reopened at Oakland’s historic Kasper’s location. The Oaklandside
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Tower Of Power Live Performance
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Yoshi's — Ticketed event — Experience 55 years of soul and funk music with the legendary Tower of Power.
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Boss Guitars Master Class Series: Jubu Smith
2-4 p.m. — The Sound Room — Tickets available — Learn from legendary guitarist Jubu Smith and enhance your musical skills in this dynamic masterclass.
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LIFE OF THE PARTY! - Oakland First Friday
10 PM – 1 AM — Crybaby — Free entry for first 25 with RSVP — Experience lit vibes and curated sets from local DJs at Oakland's First Friday celebration.
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Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir's 10th Black History Month Celebration
7-10 p.m. — The Freight — Ticket prices vary — Experience a powerful musical journey honoring African American history with gospel and spirituals in an intimate setting.
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Super Bowl Sunday Celebration in Oakland
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts — Free entry — Experience the excitement of the Super Bowl with live music, local vendors, and community activities.
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Pedrito Martinez Concert
8-11 p.m. — Yoshi's — Tickets available — Experience the vibrant rhythms of Afro-Cuban music with percussion master Pedrito Martinez.
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Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA
8:45-9:45 p.m. — Rotunda Building — Tickets required — Experience the music of Queen and ABBA performed by a string quartet under candlelight.
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Lunar New Year Celebration with Maxine Hong Kingston
6:30-8 p.m. — Mechanics' Institute — Free entry — Celebrate the Lunar New Year with engaging stories and traditions from notable Asian American authors and activists.
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FTM-SIG Meeting with Mark Olsen
11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — FamilySearch Center — Free admission — Discover the latest features of Family Tree Maker with hands-on demonstrations and Q&A.
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Producers Associates 2026 Season Audition
10 a.m. — Woodminster Summer Musicals — By appointment only — Equity chorus dancers audition for the 2026 season of Producers Associates.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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