“THERE’S A BIG CARIBBEAN VOICE INSIDE THAT TINY WHITE CANADIAN,” music critic Dennis Cook wrote about Mana Mady. He wasn’t exaggerating. The British Columbia-born, Oakland-living Madeline Streicek describes herself as being raised on a “healthy diet of Maria Callas, Joni Mitchell, and Bach suites,” all of which she combines into songs that blend classical, jazz, and pop over a do-wop canvas. To celebrate the release of her new album, Another Trip Around the Sun, Mana Mady is performing at 7 pm Friday June 22 at the Berkeley Unitarian Universalist Church, 1924 Cedar St. Mana Mady, who sings and plays the piano and ukelele, will be joined by performance artist Kaitlin McSweeney, dancer Alex Jenkins, soundscape weaver Mateo Lugo, and more. Listen here for a taste of the music.
MAKE THAT DUNK SHOT SMOOTH Saturday June 24th marks the grand reopening of the basketball courts at San Pablo Park. To celebrate the occasion, the city is hosting the Bill and Celina Rose 3 on 3 Youth Basketball Tournament from 9 am to 4 pm. At 1 pm, there will be a ribbon cutting to officially open the repaved and refurbished basketball courts, which got new basketball posts, backboards, nets, new benches and a new William “Bill” Rose sign. Rose was a park advocate who died in 1989, according to the Tribune. The project cost $540,000.
HAMMING IT UP ON THE RADIO During the last full weekend in June, 35,000 ham radio operators take their gear out of their bedrooms and garages and bring it “into the field” to show the public the joys of ham radio. From 11 am Saturday June 23rd to 11 am Sunday June 24th, members of the East Bay Amateur Radio Club will be setting up their radios at Cesar Chavez Park next to the Berkeley Marina. People are invited to stop by to get a demonstration of ham radio, learn about emergency communications, and watch as operators connect with like-minded ham radio devotees around the country. Learn what it is like to communicate with someone across the country without using a cell phone or the Internet. Field Day 2012
PRIDE IN BERKELEY Berkeley residents have been marching in San Francisco’s annual Gay Pride Parade since, well, since it started. But there has never been an official city float until now. Join dozens of proud Berkeley residents on the float, which is really a gussied up flatbed pulled by a truck. But my, how gussied up. The theme is of the parade is global equality, and the sign on the float will read “Berkeley Loves World Equality,” according to local artist STEFEN, who is painting the murals on the float. There will be replicas of the campanile, Steamworks Bath House, the White Horse Inn and Bar, the Pacific Center, and lots of greenery. City councilmembers Kriss Worthington, Jesse Arreguin, and Darryl Moore (who is also being honored by the Bayard Ruskin LGBT coalition that day) will be there. Parade starts at 10:30 am. Berkeleyans should meet Contingent 118 at 23 Beal Street.
VINYL AFICIONADOS UNITE! Music lovers who abhor the sounds streaming from iTunes or from CDs will gather in full force at La Peňa Cultural Center Sunday June 24 from noon until 6 pm for the Bay Area Beat Swap Meet. Collectors and vendors can sell, buy, and swap vinyl records and listen to DJs play their favorite tunes. Bring a can of food to the meet and get in for only $5. La Peňa is located at 3105 Shattuck Avenue.
Don’t forget about these other weekend events, previously featured on Berkeleyside:
Juneteenth Celebration
Eve Ensler and One Billion Rising Bay Area
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To find out about more events in Berkeley and nearby, visit Berkeleyside’s Events Calendar. We also encourage you to submit your own events.
