On Veterans Day 2015 in Berkeley, people gathered to remember city residents who died during the Vietnam War. Photo: Ted Friedman On Veterans Day 2015 in Berkeley, people gathered to remember city residents who died during the Vietnam War. Photo: Ted Friedman On Veterans Day Berkeley came together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Electronic Vietnam […]
Country Joe McDonald
Berkeley’s radical rag celebrates its 50th anniversary
The Barb staff assembles by their office on University Ave. Photo by Dave Patrick, courtesy of Gar Smith In 1965, a bar owner named Max Scherr stitched together a small leftist publication he called The Berkeley Barb. The “I” key on his typewriter was broken, so he drew the letter by hand each time it […]
Berkeley concert marks free speech movement’s birthday
Singer-songwriter-activist Hali Hammer will lead a song circle at the free speech movement concert at Ashkenaz in Berkeley on Saturday Sept. 27. Photo: courtesy Ashkenaz As a brief catalytic blast of energy, the Free Speech Movement achieved its primary goals so quickly that it didn’t have much time to inspire enduring songs and anthems. But […]
The It List: Five things to do in Berkeley this weekend
The San Francisco Mime Troupe brings its latest, “Ripple Effect,” to Willard Park this weekend. Photo: San Francisco Mime Troupe MIME TROUPE Each year the San Francisco Mime Troupe unleashes its Bay Area brand of political satire on the issues du jour. This year’s are no surprise: out-of-this-world rents, techie transplants, Silicon Valley, and surveillance. The 55th annual production, “Ripple […]
Berkeley turns out to honor Pete Seeger at concert
At the end of the concert, Ronnie Gilbert, Holly Near, Country Joe McDonald and others sand “Goodnight Irene.” Photo: Colleen Neff At the end of the concert, Ronnie Gilbert, Holly Near, Country Joe McDonald and others sand “Goodnight Irene.” Photo: Colleen Neff Hundreds of people waited hours in line Monday night to get into the […]
Singing about war and recovery: Country Joe goes to jail
By Judith Coburn Country Joe McDonald played San Bruno jail last Friday “Cleared for the F— cheer!” trumpeted an email the night before Country Joe McDonald was to go to jail. He’d already been convicted of lewd and lascivious behavior for leading a crowd in the fuck cheer in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1965. But now […]
Berkeley couple buys Mr Mopps’ toy store
Devin McDonald and Jenny Stevenson, new owners of Mr Mopps A couple with deep roots in Berkeley has purchased Mr. Mopps’, the venerable toy store loved by generations of Berkeley children. Devin McDonald, 34, and Jenny Stevenson, 30, finalized the purchase Friday and intend to take over the store this weekend. “We’re unspeakably excited,” said […]