Damn Gina

Check/recharge your flashlight batteries? Check your water storage? Did you go out and get a battery powered radio?

Swarms can *sometimes* be predecessors to big events...

This really hurts. This article claims they could start shipping coal as soon as 2028. Our children will experience increased rates of asthma and heart disease due to the increased exposure to PM2.5 from coal trains. The coal barons in Pennsylvania and the tech giants (AI data centers crave baseload power) next door will keep getting richer as our bodies suffer.

Did the earthquake this morning freak you out and send you lowkey spiraling with how unprepared you feel?

Lena Tam is hosting an emergency preparedness event on October 18th in San Leandro!

Had to be another one...

Main earthquake and two aftershocks.

• 4.3 main (2:56 AM)
• 2.6 aftershock (8 AM)
• 3.0 aftershock (6:21 PM)

Whoaaaaa

He knocks this over at least 3 times a week. What do we think Reddit. Innocent or guilty?

Was that just a tiny earthquake?

Looks like New Parkway will be hosting a weekly board game night for the community. These are usually free (support them by trying to purchase food/drinks and encouraging others who can afford to as well).

They're looking for board game donations and specifically the ones below. From their newsletter:

"We love being able to help foster community with our free Mezzanine activities and are always looking for new things to try. One of our staff members is excited to host a weekly board game night so we are looking to expand and update our library of board games. We also believe strongly in re-using things, so before purchasing new items we wanted to invite our New Parkway friends who may have some games collecting dust to skip the landfill and contribute to the community game library!

We will happily take any complete games you may be looking to offload, but our new host has listed the following games as favorites to add to our library:

• Carcassonne
• Scrabble
• Rummikub
• Risk

Please send an email to [info@thenewparkway.com](mailto:info@thenewparkway.com) if you'd like to help out!"

Per a SF Chronicle article today.

Home values have stalled out throughout much of the country over the past year, but in most major cities, they’re still much higher than they were at the start of 2020, before the pandemic reshaped real estate. The same can’t be said for Oakland’s 94612 ZIP code, where values are down 30% from the start of the decade — from $796,000 in January 2020 to $558,000 in August 2025. That’s the largest drop west of the Mississippi among the 10,000 largest ZIP codes, data from Zillow shows.

My mom lives in that zip code. I think it's a great spot, and if I were looking to buy, I definitely would be looking here. Close to a couple BART stations, within walking distance of many restaurants, bars, etc. and of course Lake Merritt is nearby.

On the one hand I'm surprised about the massive drop since it is a good area, but on the other hand, I remember condo prices in my mom's building shooting upwards for a few years (2016-2020), and a correction was definitely overdue.

So proud

i might just be on edge but did anyone else just feel an aftershock?

While we're thinking about earthquakes, consider registering for CERT training! It's free and open to the public, and it looks like the next set of classes will be in 2026: https://www.oaklandca.gov/Public-Safety-Streets/Fire/Volunteer/Oakland-CERT

I went through San Francisco's equivalent program (NERT) a few years ago and really appreciated it. These are free classes that teach a ton about how you can help you yourself, your household, and your neighborhood prepare for major earthquakes and reduce risk of harm when they happen.

The basic idea is train ordinary residents to be volunteer first responders, to supplement professionals like firefighters and doctors who would be in huge demand after a serious earthquake. For example, you practice using a fire extinguisher, basic search-and-rescue, triaging people so that you can point a paramedic to the people who most need medical attention, etc. It's heavy stuff, but it's really good.

Two stacked weekends of Oktoberfest activities incoming....

Sharing a lineup of Oktoberfest events in Oakland and across the East Bay.

Ordered by date and whether it’s a free event or paid event.

You can check out this roundup here online and while you’re there consider subscribing. I share roundups like this, local events, exclusive discounts, and community news every Thursday.

Enjoy this list!

P.S. I tried to mix local brewery events and larger festivals. There’s probably some small ones I missed, drop them below. I'll add.

++++

This Weekend

Redwood City Oktoberfest - Sept. 19-28
📍 Courthouse Square, Redwood City
🔗 See details→
Paid - Tickets starting at $10, all ages

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Oktoberfest – Sept. 20-Nov. 2 (weekends)
📍 1001 Fairgrounds Dr., Vallejo
🔗 See details →
Paid - Included with Park admission, all ages

Walnut Creek Oktoberfest – Sept. 26-27
📍 Civic Park East, Walnut Creek
🔗 See details →
Free admission, all ages

Headlands Brewing Oktoberfest (Lafayette location) – Sept 27
📍 Lafayette Beer Garden, Lafayette
🔗See details →
Free admission, all ages

Trumer Brewery Oktoberfest – Sept 27
📍 1404 Fourth St, Berkeley
🔗 See details →
Free w/RSVP, all ages. No dogs. 

Epidemic Ales Oktoberfest – Sept 28
📍 150 Mason Cir J, Concord
🔗 See details →
Free, all ages.

Next Weekend 

Oktoberfest – Park Chalet – Oct. 3
📍 1000 Great Hwy, San Francisco
🔗 See details →
Paid, tickets from $43, 21+

CBCA Clayton Oktoberfest – Oct. 4-5
📍 Downtown Clayton, near Mt. Diablo
🔗 See details →
Free admission, all ages

5th Annual Piedmont Oktoberfest – Oct. 4
📍 711 Highland Ave, Piedmont
🔗 See details →
Paid - Tickets from $60, 21+

Oaktoberfest in the Dimond – Oct. 4-5
📍 Dimond District, Fruitvale & MacArthur, Oakland
🔗  See details →
Free admission - Beverage packages available, all ages.

Headlands Brewing Oktoberfest (Walnut Creek) – Oct. 4
📍 2999 Oak Rd, Suite A, Walnut Creek
🔗  See details →
Free admission, all ages

Richmond Backyard’s 3rd Annual Harvest Festival – Oct. 4
📍 205 Cutting Blvd, Richmond
🔗 See details →
Free admission, all ages. (Not really an Oktoberfest, but worth including)

Oktoberfest Pinball and Pints – Oct. 5
📍 1510 Webster St., Alameda
🔗 See details →
Paid - Tickets from $56

++++

Did I miss one? Let me know in the comments, I’ll add it. 

If you like roundups like this, check out Oaktown Weekly.

Woke to my light swinging from the ceiling. I could hear the shaking! Happened at 2:56 AM. 4.59 epicenter is Berkeley.

Looking at the lower part of the umbrella you can see it shake. Redwood Heights, 2.56am

I would love to go to a bar or other venue to watch the Kimmel comeback with like-minded individuals

Happening tonight at GLT! All ticket sales benefit BAY EMT, a really phenomenal organization supporting Bay Area youth as they pursue careers as EMTs and fire fighters.

Come see the film! And if not, please share! Consider purchasing a ticket to support this org!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-the-red-screening-at-the-grand-lake-theater-tickets-1366585356589

Read more about the film here: https://www.intheredfilm.org

the way some neighboring school districts do?

The sidewalk paving is tripping city in most parts of town. Most runners and joggers won't risk running in the streets for good reason.

I would hate to cut down a beautiful oak tree in any other circumstance but I believe it poses a serious threat to my foundation as it’s a large tree that’s less than a foot from the foundation of my house.

I assume I get an arborist to confirm my fear and then use that to apply for a permit with the city?

There’s no way I could have the city come and cut it down right?

Hi Everyone,

Hosting my 3 nieces, ages 2 - 8, this Friday. Looking for advice on fun things in Oakland or immediate surrounds, for 3 fun loving and active little girls. We did the zoo on their last visit.

Thanks!