First full weekend of 2012, y’all; gotta make it count. Our suggestions:
Cohen-Bray House Holiday Tea Pinkies up, people. The historic Cohen-Bray House (1440 29th Ave., Oakland), a Victorian-style East Oakland landmark built in the early 1880s as a wedding gift for a fortuitous socialite couple, hosts three tours of the site (which is still spruced up for the holidays), followed by a formal sit-down tea in the house’s dining room. Munch on dainty tea sandwiches, sip on tea, and snack on sweets, all of which will be served using family china and silver by costumed maids. Warm clothing recommended. Call to RSVP. On Saturday, Jan. 7. 12:30, 2, and 3 p.m.; $20-$25. CohenBrayHouse.info or 510 843-2906. — Cassie Harwood Phonte and 9th Wonder
Phonte and 9th Wonder: So happy together
When the critically acclaimed (and commercially successful) hip-hop duo Little Brother split mysteriously and reportedly acrimoniously last year, music fans were crushed: Here was the rare hip-hop group that paid homage to the boom-bap rhythms of the old-school rap of the late Eighties and early Nineties without sounding like it was ripping them off; and that stood out based on quality of musicianship and tightness of rhyme in a moment when it seemed like mainstream rap was hell-bent on abandoning both — not to mention having a fairly legendary live show. Well, fortunately for all of us, two-thirds of the group’s members — emcee Phonte and DJ 9th Wonder — have come together again for a national tour, including a stop at The New Parish (589 18th St., Oakland) on Saturday, Jan. 7. Reunited and it feels so good, and all that. 9 p.m., $22-$40. TheNewParish.com. — Ellen Cushing
