Local Events

Catch Chicks-n-Chickens On Tour

Attention new moms!  Catch the summer tour of the Chicks-n-Chickens class, today in Montclair.  This is a mixed class with toning exercises and lullabies, developed by Alamedan Darcy Novo Albrecht.

Darcy’s leading two free 35-minute demo classes at 11:30am and 1:00pm today, at The Tulip Grove (map here).  Bring yourself and your baby, along with a good carrier.

The hipster site Daily Candy says these are great lullaby exercises:  “Hush, little baby, don’t say a word. Mama’s going to burn a few lbs. while she rocks you to sleep.”  It sounds like a nice multitasking routine for moms.

If you miss the classes today, then there will be more in Berkeley and Walnut Creek soon (schedule here).  Keep in mind there could be some sales pressure for the $30 DVD/CD, similar to a book reading.

Still if you’re a new mom, there are so few welcoming places and this is one – if your child is between eight weeks and a year old.

Cops Give Fatherly Advice

Oakland cops weren’t shy with their advice to Montclair residents last week.   First, they want to hear about any problems you may see, even small things.  Second, they want us to lock our cars and houses.

While this fatherly advice seems pretty simple, I’m admitting to guilt on both counts.  I often dismiss things that might be suspicious AND I frequently leave my doors ajar.  Maybe it’s time to stop singing Que Sera Sera.

Sandra Pohutsky, who attended this village meeting, explained that “Sgt. Bernard Ortiz and Officer Melvin Bermudez want to know all the problems that are happening in Montclair so that they can recognize patterns and do something about it.  They get a list each day of our complaints.”

While I enjoy sharing what’s happening around town, my instinct is to clam up about experiences that seem minor.  For example, I’m one of many locals who have been solicited for magazines.  I didn’t ask to see the seller’s license nor did I get paranoid about him casing my home.  So I have officially spoken up now.

Saying something can make a difference.  The cops told a story about the “Sierra Club Solicitor” who committed 200 burglaries statewide.  One Montclarion was solicited and then noticed this nice guy rummaging around his neighbor’s backyard.  By calling 911, our local hero helped nab a hardened criminal.

For reference, here’s how to share anything suspicious:

  • Emergencies by land line – 911
  • Emergencies by cell phone – 510-777-3211
  • Non-emergencies – 510-777-3333

Besides the cops, the Montclair Safety & Improvement Council is a citizen group which encourages everyone to share issues they see in the Village; their Yahoo message board is a great vehicle to ask questions.  This group delivers priorities to Oakland cops and city officials about recurring matters.

So the ball’s in our court, to actively communicate with cops and watchdog groups.  Except for the Nina Reiser murder, the crimes are petty ones around here.  Yet it’s still possible to raise awareness and lower the thefts, by reaching out when something’s amiss.

Jack London Fourth

The place for Oaklanders on July Fourth?  Jack London Square, which has free activities starting at 4pm today.  If you haven’t made plans, this line-up should make you feel appropriately patriotic.

You can hang out and listen to these groups:  Basic Black Soul and RB; Amigos Latin Pop; House of David Pop/Rock/Cover; and The Ben Oni Orchestra Big Band.

Your kids can be entertained for hours, too.  There’s the requisite magician, a jump house, carnival games, animal balloons, face-painting, and arts & crafts.

Fireworks return this year, after last year’s hiatus.  The display runs from 9:15 – 9:35 pm, accompanied by the Ben Oni Band playing our anthems.

Meet The Cops – Tues at 6:30pm

Meet Montclair’s Finest this Tuesday evening, from 6:30-8:30pm at the Montclair Library (map).

Officer Melvin Burmudez serves as our main Problem Solving Officer (PSO), while Jason Scott helps with traffic matters in the Village.  In addition, outgoing Sgt. Brad Young will be there along with his replacement Bernard Ortiz.

We mostly suffer from thefts and robberies in Montclair, usually a handful or two monthly.  You may look up exact locations via the Oakland Crimewatch site.

Our Montclair and North Hills watchdog groups jointly organized the meeting, since they focus on all neighborhoods located in Beat 13Z (south of Thornhill), and Beat 13Y (north of Thornhill) respectively.

Everyone is invited to meet the officers, and put faces to these names.  Find out what they do, learn how to help them, and ask any questions in this forum.

Montclair’s Streets Filled With Fine Art

Make a special trip to Montclair Village this weekend, for your art fix.

The 33rd Annual Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival is returning to all the sidewalks, streets, nooks and crannies.  The festival runs through Sunday, between 10am-5pm daily.

Usually free summer festivals have a lot of junky stuff.  Montclair’s festival is juried by Pacific Fine Arts, who hand-selects 90 artists and seems to have great taste.  To whet your appetite, below are a few pieces by exhibitors.

The sculptor, James Moore, hails from San Rafael. He exhibited in Montclair last year, right in front of Le Bon Bon. Moore’s pieces are all about guys who are unbalanced – or are balancing things. Many of the sculptures are massive, and I want all of them.

Painter Kelvin Curry is from Oakland.  I think this piece above is elegant, don’t you?  You can see a video interview with Kelvin, who was inspired by his grandmother to become an artist.  He also likes to work in series, trying certain things over and over.

Jeweler Sica Roman wants to “create wearable art that can be recognized as symbols of our interconnectedness.”  This isn’t a piece you are likely to see everywhere, and I think it contains an evil eye and a serpent, hhmm.

I’m sure ALL these pieces are out of my price range, but I still like to gaze at the beautiful artwork anyway.  It usually takes me a few hours to stroll the street museum.  Like any museum, you may “hit the wall” because there’s too much to see.