Actual Café has had a novel idea for groundhog day — which, as it happens is today — and for every week after today. The whole point of groundhog day, after all, is that it repeats itself.
The San Pablo Avenue café is launching “Bicycle Bingo”, a weekly fundraising bingo game and party that will benefit several nonprofits active in Berkeley and Oakland.
The event will feature the area’s only bicycle-driven bingo ball machine, and will be MC’ed by Berkeley’s Steffy Sue on the Uke.
“We like games and parties, and we like to support organizations who do good work in our own backyard, so this event is a no-brainer,” says Sal Bednarz, owner of Actual Café, which is known for its love of all things bike-related. “We want to help these organizations find a wider audience, and make it easy and fun for folks to give them some support (and maybe win a prize!).”
Here’s how it works: bingo cards will be dispensed for a suggested donation of $3 each (2/$5, or 5/$10). Cards can be played all evening long, so starting early means getting more chances to win on each card. Prizes will be donated by Actual Café, sponsors, and neighborhood businesses, including Mike’s Bikes, the Berkeley Bike Station, A Verb for Keeping Warm, James and the Giant Cupcake, and The Essence of Beauty. All bingo card proceeds go directly to the benefiting organizations, along with 10% of the café’s revenue for the evening.
The event beneficiaries — East Bay Bicycle Coalition, Rebuilding Together Oakland, East Bay College Fund, and United Roots Oakland — will co-host the event, with organizations rotating weekly. Sponsors of the event include Trumer Brauerei, New Belgium Brewing, Lagunitas Brewing, and Chinook Book.
All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge for the event which takes place every Thursday, 7-9pm, at Actual Café, 6334 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland.
To find out about more events in Berkeley and nearby, check out Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar. We also encourage you to submit your own events.
