They've been called "Oakland's cutest couple" and "Ebony and Ivory" and various other things, but a pair of domesticated ducks that were evidently dropped off at Lake Merritt last year to fend for themselves have officially settled into new digs at a rescue sanctuary for injured or neglected farm animals in Marin County.

The spa shootings in Atlanta stunned the country last week, and the Oakland Asian community is still reeling from its own traumas while also wishing to console the families of victims in Atlanta. 

As more businesses get to reopen around the Bay, we have news of some new ones opening for the first time, as well as a vaccination promotion from Krispy Kreme, and a Cal/OSHA fine for Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

Hoodline interviewed Oakland Fire Department’s (OFD) Interim Chief Melinda Drayton on a few issues in the city including; emergency response and preparedness, race and equity, and the new Police Chief LeRonne L. Armstrong.

So much happened in 2020 that cities like Oakland had to fight to survive, but 2021 is full of hope. The community needs to come together to support small and Black-owned businesses, and get back out there as soon as they're vaccinated.

Oakland’s dreamscape of bright colors and childhood nostalgia, Fairyland is set to reopen to the public on March 19 after being shuttered for over four months.

Last Wednesday, a three-block stretch of West Oakland's Ninth Street was renamed to pay homage to the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Dr. Huey P. Newton — another example of recent acts honoring the legacy of the Black Panther movement.

Sand Bar, a new Caribbean-themed "beach club" and cocktail lounge, is readying for an opening on Oakland's Auto Row, in a former auto dealership space at 2418 Broadway. Hoodline has the exclusive news of this new project from the team behind Uptown cocktail spots Drexl and The Miranda, and the sports bar Fort Green in Old Oakland.

Low Bar (2300 Webster Street, Oakland), a new bar and restaurant from a pair of industry vets that was announced early last year and subsequently delayed by the pandemic, is getting ready for an imminent grand opening.

As she promised to last year, Ayesha Curry has just opened her first retail store in Oakland, in conjunction with her lifestyle magazine called Sweet July. The Sweet July store and cafe debuted Tuesday at 455 23rd Street in the Uptown neighborhood. 

A new LGBTQ bar appears to be headed for downtown Oakland — technically in the Uptown vicinity — in a ground-floor space of the iconic I. Magnin Building at 2001 Broadway.

West Oakland’s Ghost Town Brewing plans to expand to the city’s Laurel District next month, taking over the recently-vacated 4505 Burgers and BBQ location.

The Grand Lake Theater — Oakland’s historic cinema famous for its attention-grabbing marquee messages — has been closed since March. And now most of its crew members have “run out of their unemployment benefits,” leading the theater to create a fundraiser that will offer some financial support for its staff.