This is a time of transition. Between summer and fall. Between vacation and the start of a new school year. Not to mention the ongoing roller coaster between now and the November election. It also seems to be a critical juncture for Oakland in terms of public safety, local governance and economic stability.
Recently, I attended a housewarming party for a close friend and her wife. A family member chatted with me about growing up in Oakland and her warm memories of picnicking at Lake Merritt, playing at Fairyland, visiting the zoo, and seeing concerts and games at the Coliseum. “It makes me sad what’s going on there now,” she said. I knew what she meant. But there’s so much more to Oakland than what’s presented in mainstream media.
I’m choosing to highlight the good here.
For me, our annual “Best of” issue is a reminder of the great work our neighbors do in the realms of arts & culture; beauty, health & wellness; cannabis; family; food & drink; goods & services; home improvement; and recreation. Now more than ever, it’s time to celebrate the East Bay.
In this issue, we also feature a few stories appealing to local sensibilities, like community, activism and the arts. Kava bars offer a nonalcoholic alternative for relaxing and socializing. A new book explores the intersection of labor and climate activism. And Alameda Civic Ballet receives a grant from the Alameda County Arts Commission.
“Hope just means another world might be possible, not promised, not guaranteed,” writes Rebecca Solnit in Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power. “Hope calls for action; action is impossible without hope.”
We have work to do, bills to pay, challenges to overcome. May this issue provide some inspiration to appreciate the good that’s already here, and give us hope for more to come.
