Good Day
Oakland
Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
Good morning, Oakland. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 20th of August.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Lucy Blue will open on Aug. 21 as a new two-story bar and soul food restaurant near the historic Fox Theater in Oakland. The owners, Michele McQueen and Matt Sturm, plan to serve southern dishes and international flavors — they aim to boost local nightlife. San Francisco Chronicle
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ On Monday afternoon, an armed robbery occurred when a vehicle rammed into Kim Tim jewelry on the 700 block of International Boulevard—armed suspects entered to steal items before fleeing and left significant damage while police arrived near 1:45 p.m. to investigate. KTVU
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Michael Franti has split with his longtime management company after abuse allegations emerged while he insists his actions were consensual—his Welcome to the Family Tour, including a Bay Area stop, will continue despite the cancellation of his Soulshine at Sea cruise. San Francisco Chronicle
- ➤ Children's Fairyland, Oakland’s 10-acre park on the shores of Lake Merritt, celebrated 75 years of sparking community imagination with its timeless puppetry and storybook charm—elements that have made it a local treasure. The park will hold a birthday party on Sept. 1 to honor its long legacy. ABC7
- ➤ Oakland’s Black Arts Movement Film Festival opened on Broadway on August 1 with a lively parade, drum beats and dance to honor Black pioneers amid funding cuts. The month-long event includes films, theater, panel talks and a new digital archive for disabled audiences — a sign of Oakland’s rich heritage and resilience. Oakland Voices
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Interim Public Works Director Josh Rowan stuck to awarding a $45 million security services contract to Allied Universal Security Services despite pressure from council members who favored local firm Marina Security Services. He said the city’s contracting process allowed too much political pressure — a view he expressed while defending his staff's work. The Oaklandside
- ➤ Starting tomorrow, BART riders in Oakland can tap credit or debit cards—including digital options like Apple Pay and Google Pay—at fare gates to pay for rides. Riders using these cards will not receive transfer discounts and must use the same card to tap in and out. The Oaklandside
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Beloved Golden State Warrior Gary Payton II hosted the GP2 Foundation Basketball Camp in Oakland to offer young players basketball training and raise dyslexia awareness. The camp provided experienced coaching and family-like support while linking parents with resources to help children overcome learning challenges — a program inspired by Payton’s own experience with dyslexia. ABC7
-
Mahjong Rules Book Talk and Game Play
6-8:30 p.m. — Chinese Historical Society of America Museum — $20-40 — Explore mahjong's history and gameplay with author Nicole Wong while enjoying refreshments and a book signing.
-
Cyrus Chestnut Concert
5:30-9:30 p.m. — Piedmont Piano Company — Ticket prices vary — Experience the masterful jazz of Cyrus Chestnut as he showcases his technical skill and soulful style.
-
Kirk Whalum Concert
7:30-9:00 p.m. — Yoshi's — Ticket prices vary — Experience the smooth sounds of Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum as he brings his jazzy vibes to Oakland.
-
Life Drawing Session
5:45-9 p.m. — Faultline Gallery — $20 online, $25 at the door — Explore your artistic side with dynamic life drawing sessions featuring a live model.
-
Let’s Talk FamilySearch: A Group Exploration
11 AM — Oakland FamilySearch Center — Free entry — Discuss navigating FamilySearch and share tips in a community setting.
-
AI Tips for Genealogy Research
10:30-10:45 a.m. — FamilySearch center — Free entry — Discover the latest AI tips for enhancing your genealogy research in this informative session.
-
Happy Hour Cruise at Jack London Square
8-10 p.m. — Jack London Square — $20 — Unwind with unbeatable drink specials and dance aboard a scenic cruise of the San Francisco Bay.
-
All The Feels: R&B and Slow Jams Night
8-11 p.m. — Level 13 Ultra Lounge — Limited Free tickets — Elevate your aura with live DJ sets of R&B, Slow Jams, and everything in between.
-
Milonga Rubia Dance Event
7-11 p.m. — Just Dance Ballroom — $20 cash entry — Enjoy a welcoming Milonga with diverse DJs and community spirit in a safe environment.
-
Life Drawing Session at Faultline Artspace
5:45-9 p.m. — Faultline Gallery — $20 online, $25 at the door — Engage in short poses and unleash your creativity in a vibrant art atmosphere.
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
What you resist, persists.
~ Carl Jung
About Good Day Oakland
Welcome to the Good Day Oakland, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Oakland, California community. If you like the Good Day Oakland, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Oakland.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Oakland and across California. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Good Day Oakland
A free Oakland community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://gooddayoakland.com/sitemap