Lauren Crew, a Happy Accident

Happy Accident is collection of images that are pretty pictures.

While on vacation, Crew decided to have a show that gave herself – and the viewer – a vacation from thinking. Straying from her usual style of conceptual storytelling, Crew wanted a more loose approach for this show. She wanted to focus less on concept and more on mundane visuals or more simply, pretty pictures.

Crew lives in Oakland, comes from quite possibly the greatest group of friends and family and loves music, swimming and traveling. When she is not at a Farmer’s Market, she is available for commissioned work, weddings and creative, photographic projects.

Come meet Lauren Crew at Somar on Friday, September 10th, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

 

Happy Accident is just a sample plate of Crew’s work. For a full course meal, go to www.crewscontrl.com. 

SMASHBOX LIVE – Starts September

Starting in September, SMASHBOX LIVE is coming to Somar on Monday nights.

SMASHBOX LIVE is a live art experience celebrating and exploring the human form through live figure study and art making sessions. There will be exhibitions, installations and artist talks by emerging and established artists. Rotating DJs will provide a mix of audible treats, blending sights and sounds.

This hybrid experience makes self-directed live figure study available to artists working at a variety of levels and across respective disciplines in film/video, music, painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, electronic, experimental theatre and new media.

Beginning September 13th, SMASHBOX LIVE will be held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm at Somar.

This is a BYOS affair…bring your own sketch book, sharpies, supplies, etc. DJs can sign up for a 30-minute set by contacting smashboxlive@gmail.com. The DJ slots are limited, so sign up now.

LivingSocial Launch Party a Success

The LivingSocial Oakland launch party last night turned out to be wonderful! But we had no doubt since LivingSocial brings no-cost online advertising to Oakland businesses.

The food was fantastic and Somar created a specialty drink just for LivingSocial called the Socialtini. The Socialtini was also a success!

East Bay business owners enjoyed an evening learning how LivingSocial can “guarantee customers.” They also got to meet other business owners who recently used LivingSocial and how it worked for them. Here, Elizabeth Markoff of Skin By Elizabeth, told her experience of being a little skeptical, but was surprised  – and happy – to learn 209 people bought her offer!

At the end of the evening, a raffle was held (all attendees were eligible to win), and gift bags were handed out as guests said good night.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can visit the LivingSocial site at www.livingsocial.com/getfeatured, or contact the East Bay Rep, Jennifer Caynan, at jennifer.caynan@livingsocial.com.

Oakland is LivingSocial!

Launch Party for
LivingSocial Oakland
Monday, August 23rd @5:30pm

LivingSocial connects consumers to businesses in a cost effective way for both.

If you’re an Oakland business interested in reaching your target audience with no up-front costs while attracting new customers and building a loyal clientele, then you won’t want to miss this.

Join us for complementary drinks and appetizers, and receive a LivingSocial gift bag. There will also be a raffle with a surprise prize. Don’t wait. Contact Jennifer Caynan – jennifer.caynan@livingsocial.com - to add your name to the guest list. Space is limited.

LivingSocial is now in Oakland and Somar is happy to host their celebration…we’re also a LivingSocial partner. If you’re an East Bay business, make your reservation today!

TEAllen – “Identify, Personalize, Provoke”

Somar is honored to have Taren Allen’s artwork hanging on our walls. Taren has had currated exhibitions at the Craft & Cultural Arts Gallery Oakland in 2006 and 2008, and the AbCo Artspace Oakland CA in 2007…and now at Somar.

In her own words, Taren writes about her art:

“I am drawn to the contradiction of inequity existing in ‘The Land of Opportunity’ and the deeply rooted systems of injustice that lie within. I am inspired to capture the beauty that subsides where equity fails to live. I combine minimalist imagery of portraitures with text, modify scale and use vivid colors of acrylic paint as metaphors for class and privilege. My work attempts to identify, personalize and provoke thoughts that separate is not equal.”

You can learn more about Taren at http://tarenallen.blogspot.com. And you can fully appreciate her talent when you see her artwork in person.

Talk Of The Town

Somar Voted Best-In-Region
2010 Talk of the Town Award For
Excellence in Customer Satisfaction

Talk of the Town voting took place on several user review websites.  Results were researched and tabulated during the last quarter of 2009 and first quarter 2010. Somar recieved enough high marks from its customers to be noticed. THANK YOU!

Some of our customers even write us directly which we proudly post on Somar Stories & Reviews. Please share your Somar story with us using the comment section below or you can email us at info@somarbar.com.

Thank you again for the honor.

Congratulations Spain!

The Soccer World Cup was won by Spain! All the games were exciting and we enjoyed being able to watch a few with you.

We received a comment from Mikko, “Just wanted to give a shout out to the folks at SOMAR-  Thanks for opening up and partying throughout the World Cup and also 4 staying strong throughout the last few days of fun in the city!  You guy’s are what defines great local business owners!”

Thank you Mikko and every one who came to Somar for the games.

Final Game – Netherlands vs. Spain

Join us tomorrow, Sunday, July 11th at 11:30 am, for the final Soccer World Cup match between NETHERLANDS and SPAIN.

Somar will open at 11:00 am and have the following specials for you along with our regular drink menu:

• $1 Pizza Slice
• $1 Muffins
• $1 Croissants
• $3 Drake’s Red Eye Ale
• $5 Mimosa
• $5 Raspberry Bellini
• $6 Bloody Mary

Somar’s Soccer Schedule

We asked, we listened and now we’re open earlier and longer hours to watch the Soccer World Cup with you.

Here’s the schedule:

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – United States vs Ghana – game starts at 11:30 am – $6 Bloody Marys, $2 Coors Lite, $2 Bud Lite

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Argentina vs Mexico – game starts at 11:30 am – $6 Bloody Marys, $6 Mimosas

FRIDAY, JULY 2, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Quarter-Finals - game starts at 11:30 am

SATURDAY, JULY 3, 7:00 am to 2:00 pm – Quarter-Finals – game starts at 7:00 am and 11:30 am – food on sale

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Semi-Finals – game starts at 11:30 am – food on sale

WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Semi-Finals – game starts at 11:30 am – food on sale

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Third Place – game starts at 11:30 am – food on sale

SUNDAY, JULY 11, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Final – game starts at 11:30 am – food on sale

We’ll remind you through tweets (@SomarBar) and Facebook (SomaR Bar-Oakland), and let you know of drink specials and the food menu.

We hope you’ll join us.

Oakland + Soccer = You

What do Oakland, soccer and WOBO have in common?
A fun day planned for YOU!

On Sunday, June 27th, between 10 am and 2 pm, WOBO (Walk Oakland Bike Oakland) is having their first annual car-free, come-play-in-the-streets event in Oakland…and Somar will be open and showing the Soccer World Cup games.

Argentina vs Mexico
Starts at 11:30 am

 

WOBO’s event – Oaklavia – has a designated route closed off to cars where you can enjoy organized activities. Somar is on the route and invites you to stop by to relax and watch the game.