Moar, Love Oakland! Oakland is Raw, from thug to hipster to yuppie, the diversity abounds without limit, and those traits have brought “Most Exciting City” honors to Oakland. Also, Oakland Digital continues to develop as follows.

Inspire Oakland’s billboard winner has been chosen and her name is Ambrosia Shapiro. Here’s Ambrosia’s take on Oakland city:

”For me, Oakland has been on a long winning streak in the contest for the best place to live in the Bay. The diversity and history of Oakland, not to mention the amazing architecture and huge artist population, inspire me everyday. Oakland is rich with culture: Over 100 dialects and languages are spoken in the city, and it’s the birthplace of the Black Panther movement. I wanted to create a design that nods to that very important past while at the same time shows the fresh, new, and exciting place Oakland is today. Children’s Fairyland, Art Murmur, gondola rides on Lake Merritt, swimming in Lake Temescal, and farmer’s markets almost everyday of the week are just a few reasons why Oakland is the place to be.”

Today, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan’s newsletter featured Oakland Digital:

INSPIRE is Oakland Digital’s workforce development program that provides professional development for community college and state-level students pursuing a career in the competitive graphic design job market…Each year, they ask graphic design students to create a billboard design that conveys the question, “What about your city inspires you?”  Three talented students will see their design featured on commercial billboards throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, receive paid internship opportunities, and learn the career-related tools needed to find appropriate employment.

Sources:

- Oakland Digital Inspire Oakland 2013 with honorary judge, Mayor Jean Quan
- Movoto Blog ranks Oakland as No.1 Most Exciting City in America

At the epicenter of the Art Murmur and holding it down on Broadway decades before First Friday hit the Oakland nightlife, Rosewood House is celebrating its 44th year in business with an Anniversary Sale. Featuring fine furniture handmade in polished hardwoods, and Asian antiques rivaling the collections you have to pay to see in Asian Art museums, you should stop in just to soak in the fineness of the exquisitely curated collection. A warm message from its founder, Jane Tai, welcoming you and your friends and family to check in.

Rosewood House Anniversary Sale
May 18th through June 16th, hours: 12pm to 6pm.
2523 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 451-7373

Pharrell Williams Introduces Oakland’s Creative Growth Art Center, 355 24th Street, Uptown Oakland. “I think art is the verb and action of an expression when it’s being done.” – Pharrell Williams, Musician, Furniture Designer, Producer

p.s. the Daft Punk track featuring Pharrell’s vocals, “Up all night to get lucky…,” has a pop radio lockdown monopoly!