Oaktown Weekly | August 21, 2025

Welcome to another weekend’s eve,

Word on the street is a new restaurant is moving into Duende’s (RIP) former location downtown — and it opens TONIGHT.

Town Fare chefs Michele McQueen and Matt Sturm are set to open Lucy Blue tonight. The new bar and soul food restaurant will feature neighborhood-themed cocktails, buttermilk-fried quail, and wasabi ranch deviled eggs — which all sounds bangin’ imo.

But judging by the Lucy Blue website, everything else is a mystery.

In this week’s issue:

• The “Summer Peaknic” your Sunday needs

• Why Oakland’s auditor needs your help

• Every night is a theme night at a Ballers’ game

- Xoxo

P.S. Let us know with a reply what you think of the new format.

Your East Bay Event Lineup

Each week, we bring you a curated list of events for families, couples, and everyone in-between. Got an event you’d like to promote? Send us a reply.

All Weekend Long

Ballers take on the Boise Hawks

The Oakland Ballers host the Boise Hawks for 5-game home stand this week with games Wednesday (yesterday) through Sunday. Each home game will feature a unique theme with bonus block parties and events before and during games.

• Thursday (8/21) @ 6:35pm - Eat, Sleep, Drink Oakland

• Friday (8/22) @ 6:35pm - Pride Night

• Saturday (8/23) @ 4:35pm - Dia De Los Ballers

• Sunday (8/24) @ 1:05pm - Strike Out Cancer Night

36th Oakland Chinatown StreetFest

This weekend Oakland’s Chinatown — one of the oldest in the US — hosts it’s annual Chinatown StreetFest. This year’s fest will feature 2 outdoor stages with live performances and 90 local vendors. The festival runs all weekend long. Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm, Oakland Chinatown 9th & Franklin St. See details →

Saturday

Rockridge Rock-n-Stroll

Spoiler: there will be music and walking in Rockridge this weekend. The (now) annual street festival will feature over 20+ live bands and performers along College Ave., 50+ artists and pop-ups, kids face painting and crafts, and special offers from local businesses. Saturday, 11am - 6pm. College Ave, Rockridge District. See details →

Bark (@ Meow) Around the Block

Berkeley’s Humane Society is hosting their largest adopt-a-thon of the year this Saturday with hundreds of dogs and cats available for adoption. Yes, there are glamour shots of the pets available — somebody better go home with Chamomile. Saturday, 10am-4pm. 2700 9th St. Berkeley. See the pets →

Crab Cove Fish Festival

The East Bay’s largest portable aquarium will be on display at Crab Cove this weekend for Fish Fest. The free event includes face-painting and games for the kiddos, cast and knot tying classes for dads, and a solitary walk along the beach for moms(?). Saturday, 11am - 3pm. Doug Siden Visitor Center, Crab Cove. See details →

Sunday

Blankets & Baskets - Presented by Sunset Groove

The pitch: Watch the sunset from Grizzly Peak while sipping wine and listening to chill DJ sets. Sunset Groove - a community of sunset and music lovers - is throwing a free “Summer Peaknic” Sunday afternoon for anyone with a blanket looking for a good time. Sunday, 4pm. Grizzly Peak Vista Point, Berkeley.  RSVP here →

Stories from The Bay

The local stories you may have missed this week:

• Oakland Auditor asks residents “what do we investigate next?” - Citizen input on this survey will help direct the Oakland auditors office on future investigations. Do your city a favor, fill it out!

• Recalled Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s lawyer wants to move her bribery case outside of Oakland. Recap: Thao faces 8 counts of federal bribery and fraud charges stemming from a $95k no-show contract her ex-lover received in exchange for valuable city contracts. No bueno.

• Across the Bay, SF Rec and Park Department has officially asked the city to tear down the “fountain” in the Sue Bierman Plaza near Emarcadero — you know, this one:

See ya out there,

-Kolby
Oaktown Weekly

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