PARTY FOR a PURPOSE with The Ella Baker Center

PARTY FOR a PURPOSE
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

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PARTY FOR a PURPOSE is SomaR’s way of collaborating and supporting local nonprofits that help the people of Oakland…while offering a good reason to party and have a drink!

This event is meant to make a difference, so SomaR is donating 50% of the proceeds of a keg of beer, a case of wine and 2 specialty drinks hand crafted for this event.

It doesn’t stop there…there will be a raffle to enter to win 5 box-seats to the 8/3/12 A’s Game and other prizes. And, 100% of the raffle proceeds will be donated!

The first beneficiary is The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights whose mission is to “help build a world where everyone can thrive.” You can RSVP or meet us at SomaR.

Have a drink, make a difference…

PARTY FOR a PURPOSE!

Dear Beer Lover…

SomaR has craft beers, micro brews, seasonal beers and beers from around the world! Did you know we carry Tusker Beer from Kenya?!

Here’s a sample of what we can offer you…Leffe Blonde Ale, Belgium – Boddington’s English Pale Ale, England – Scarface Imperial Stout Speakeasy Brewery, San Francisco – Ritual Coffee Payback Porter Speakeasy Brewery, San Francisco – and Ovila Abbey Dubbel which is seasonal and won’t be around much longer.

Dear Beer Lover, drop by SomaR for a quality selection of beers. Then you can rate us on ratebeer, the most-visited source for beer information.
Thank you, SomaR.

P.S. Dear non-beer-lover, you’re welcome too!

Mother’s Day for Women’s Shelters

El-Khalid & The Royal Family Seasons of Giving are now collecting new personal hygiene items for local women’s shelters.

On Wednesday, 5/9, there will be a donation container at SomaR’s front door for donations such as:  soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, tissue, hand sanitizers.

For more information, please contact emccree@gmail.com.

Please give to make a Mother’s Day for women’s shelters.

HAPPY 160th BIRTHDAY OAKLAND!

Oakland kicks off it’s birthday celebration on Friday, April 27th, at Frank Ogawa Plaza from 12:00 to 1:30 pm.

Enjoy games, Zumba instruction, volleyball, rowing machines and a release party for the Office of Parks & Recreation’s 2012 Summer Program Guide.

The following week’s events are free:

~ Monday, April 30th, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, Frank Ogawa Plaza:  Oakland Loves the Arts!
~ Tuesday, May 1st, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, Council Chambers, City Hall, 3rd Floor:  Oakland Loves its History!
~ Wednesday, May 2nd, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, Frank Ogawa Plaza:  Oakland Loves Dance!
~ Thursday, May 3rd, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, Frank Ogawa Plaza:  Oakland Loves Music!
~ Friday, May 4th, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Frank Ogawa Plaza:  Oakland’s 160th Birthday Party & Finale!

You can check out the details of each event at the City of Oakland’s website.

Celebrating what people love most about Oakland, the 160th birthday events highlight the City’s diverse history, arts, music, cusine and neighborhoods that are the heart & soul of the City.

Happy Birthday Oakland from SomaR!

SEM All Week Long and AllDayPlay Tuesday

Each year, Alameda County proclaims the fourth week in April as Sexually Exploited Minors Awareness Week (SEM).

The SEM Network uses this opportunity to put together events to raise awareness and education around the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), to promote collaborative efforts in addressing the issue, and to support the empowerment of young people impacted by the underground sex trade.

*Monday 4/23, 6-9p :: Express Yourself – Open Mic*
Awaken Cafe | 1429 Broadway, Oakland Kick Off Event; youth-friendly refreshments.
Co-Hosted by Oaklandish

*Tuesday 4/24, 7-10p :: Happy Hour*
SomaR Bar | 1727 Telegraph Ave, Oakland
Let’s build community over good music & drinks!
Music by AllDayPlay.fm with Mike Biggz, 21+

*Wednesday 4/25, 4-7p :: CSEC Vigil*
Fruitvale Public Market | 3340 E 12th St, Oakland
Community Resources & Information

*Friday 4/27, 3-6p :: Youth Block Party*
EastSide Arts Alliance Cultural Center | 2277 International Blvd, Oakland
Youth-geared event, performances, prizes (iPods for winning youth performers in dance, music, poetry)!

Throughout each of the events, there will be an opportunity for everyone to interact and engage with CSEC support. There will be a traveling art project in which you can write a note or draw an image that depicts empowerment for CSEC survivors and youth impacted by sexual exploitation. You can place your contributions in the treasure box that will be distributed to youth, community members and go towards policy change that promotes healthy development, healing and empowerment for CSECs.

Please feel free to spread the word about these events, and especially to youth. The youth-friendly events are Monday’s open mic & Friday’s block party.

Expressions of Essence, Sayra Reyes

Sayra Reyes is an Oakland native with a Mexican American heritage.

SomaR is proud to feature her art that reflects that of Picasso, Rivera and Kahlo. Tribal beats pound through her art pieces, while her Mexican American  persona is also strongly stated. Her bright colors highlight the rich culture that is of Latinos, gays, soulful musicians and women. Her subjects are subjected to the expression of their essence; portraying not only their outer self but inner self emphasized in their facial expressions.

Check out her work here and then come by to see Sayra’s creations in person.

April Music Special Guests

We’ve got our resident DJs and special guests lined up for April; check it out:

Sunday, April 1, 8-11pm
Lindy LaFontaine Sessions, Live Music

Friday, April 6, 10pm-2am
FIRST FRIDAY, Guest DJ Chino

Saturday, April 7, 9pm-2am
BLESSED, Guest DJs Tyrel Williams & David Goodtime

Tuesday, April 10, 7-10pm
My People, Live Music

Sunday, April 22, 7-10pm
Lani Grooves, Live Music

 

It’s OHANA HAPPY HOUR Again!

Thursday, March 29
5:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Mingle and network with the East Bay Pan Asian Arts Movement.

As the inheritors of one of the richest activist legacies in the country, Oakland is the natural place for the Pan Asian artist community to gather and create. Come build relationships with other artists, producers, non-profit professionals, and community folks while building a stronger and more collaborative APIA Arts family here in the Bay Area. Do you Hella ROCK Oakland? WE DO!

Hear the best and the worst of Oakland talent, and cheer them on anyway. Open mic is open to all. Sign up sheet opens at 5:30pm until full, only 15 spots available and 5 minutes of stage time per act. Come join the network of the Pan Asian entertainment Ohana of Oakland!

Brought to you by:
RAMA www.gostudiorama.com
Oakland Asian Cultural Center www.oacc.cc

TAB OUT TODAY!

SomaR works with TabbedOut so that you can have the convenience of opening a tab, closing your tab and even splitting your tab all on your cell phone!

You can:

• download the app for free from the iPhone store or Android Market
• take only seconds to enroll
• store you credit card securely on your own phone, never on a vendor’s server
• set additional passphrase for extra security

Check it out! Come to SomaR, grab a seat, sign up for TabbedOut on your cell phone, and then enjoy a drink and the convenience of TabbedOut.

Run for a Cause Thank-You Celebration

After The Run - Sunday, March 25th
2:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Many nonprofits participate in the annual Oakland Running Festival to raise money for their organizations. These are the “Run for a Cause” groups and they help people in our city and support our community.

We’d like to say THANK YOU for all that they do. And we’d like to say it with a celebratory party after the run. SomaR will be opening early at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 25th, and will have complimentary bottled water, discounted drinks, and hotdog/chips & hamburger/chips for sale.

Great news…SomaR has TabbedOut so that the runners don’t have to run home to get their wallets before they come celebrate. TabbedOut is a free phone app that allows you to close your tab on your cell phone…no having to go up to the bar to pay or find you don’t have enough money. Be sure to sign up before the run.

Below are some of the Run-for-a-Cause groups that we want to give thanks. Come join us to meet the people of these organizations, find out what they do, check out what their group is about...or just come to celebrate.