The Oakland Public Library | December 2 and ongoing
Oakland’s Main Library branch at 125 14th Street has been closed since May 27. Critical infrastructure upgrades were necessary and include a new roof installation, electrical system modernization, a new boiler control system, and heating and cooling improvements. Other measures will greatly improve the experiences of visitors and staff in the library. With enhanced lighting, flooring, and ceiling upgrades completed, skylight repair and other non-invasive improvements will continue into 2025. The library will hold a public celebration of its reopening at a time TBA. The free, all-ages event will feature tours of the newly renovated spaces, special programs, and family-friendly activities. For now, a free, much-valued public resource swings back into action with perfect timing during the holiday season. For more information about the reopening and special celebration visit the Oakland Public Library website: oaklandlibrary.org.
Dec. 2 and ongoing | Oakland Public Library
Lunch Poems: John Shoptaw | Doe Library @ UC Berkeley | Dec. 5
The monthly lunch hour devoted to poetry this month presents poet and UC English Department educator John Shoptaw. He is a member of Cal’s Environmental Arts & Humanities Initiative and a winner of Northern California Book Award in Poetry for his 2015 collection, Times Beach (Notre Dame University Press, 2015). Shoptaw’s poems and essays have appeared in The American Poetry Review, The New Yorker, The Kenyon Review, and elsewhere. His new collection of poems, Near-Earth Objects is now out from Unbound Edition Press and incudes a foreword written by author Jenny Odell. The Lunch Poems series was founded by Professor Robert Hass and are free and open to the public. For additional information or to arrange special accommodations, contact Coordinator Camille Santana Considine at poems-library@berkeley.edu or 619-708-2181.
Dec. 5 and 12 from Noon-1 pm | Free | events.berkeley.edu/Library/event/254550-lunch-poems-john-shoptaw
The Social Justice Children’s Book Fair | Emerson Elementary School @ 4803 Lawton Ave. | Dec. 7
This marks a grand return to Oakland with an event highlighting diversity, inclusivity, social and environmental justice, and powerful storytelling. Master of ceremonies Peter Limata (known for his Story Time with Mr. Limata initiative) oversees the activities. The fair offers an extensive selection of children’s books that foster empathy, equality, and understanding, interactions with local authors, music-filled readings, and hands-on participation. Featured authors and artists include Aida Salazar, Alphabet Rockers, Maya Cameron-Gordon, Reflection Press, Out and About Bookshop, and original artwork from Tiffany Golden. Golden is an Oakland author, illustrator, and educator whose latest books include I Want to Be Big, Wash Day, and The ABC’s of Mindfulness. The fair is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Social Good Fund, a California nonprofit corporation and registered 501(c)(3) organization. For complete information, visit the event website.
Dec. 7 from Noon-3 pm | Free | socialjusticechildrensbooks.org/book-fairs/2024-book-fair
Walden Pond Bookstore + special film noir event | Visit all month long | Film event @ Grand Lake Theatre on Dec. 18
The bookstore launched in 1973 continues to defy the gravitational downward pull of economic, social, and cultural cycles that have taken down many independent businesses over the decades. Beyond charming photos of customers’ book-loving dogs and dozens of new or used copies of books by local authors, there are the expected bestsellers, rare books, LP’s, magazines, games, toys, puzzles, literary gifts, and more. What is unexpected, or at least to be treasured, is the devoted staff whose specialties in wide-ranging categories means there is always terrific guidance and enthusiasm greeting every question or book-search.
There are also great offsite activities, such as when Walden Pond sets up a display table at Grand Lake Theatre on Dec. 18.
The Film Noir Foundation is presenting Who Killed Santa Claus (L’Assassinat du père Noël), a 1941 French mystery directed by Christian-Jaque. Host Eddie Muller will be signing copies of his books in the theatre’s mezzanine. Tickets to the film are $17.51 and are now on sale HERE.
Bookstore: www.waldenpondbooks.com | Film @ Grand Lake on Dec. 18 @ 7:30 pm | $15 + fees | eventbrite.com/e/noir-city-xmas-2024-tickets-1078719000569