Coming Soon: Guest Chef in Rockridge

If you're like me, and lack a little trait called "decisiveness," new restaurant Guest Chef gives you the opportunity to try a whole new culinary concept every two weeks.

Owner Scott Cameron designed Guest Chef to give aspiring restauranteurs a chance to try their hand at running a dining establishment. Anyone with a special dish or creative idea for a menu (restaurants be expensive, yo!) can apply for a two week stint at Guest Chef. Once selected, the space becomes completely theirs, provided they bring in the raw materials for their menu, which they'll develop with Cameron and Mark Valentine (former chef at Bucci's in Emeryville).

The 20-seat space comes with a hostess/cashier and a dishwasher, as well as a full cooking line, serving equipment, and a beer and wine license. The owner for those weeks just has to dole out dishes that will fill the place and churn out happy customers. Successful chefs will be invited back, and the most truly mind-blowing guy or gal will get a shot at partnering with Cameron on a permanent location.

Intrigued? Guest Chef kicks off the last weekend of October with three of the top chefs from the Oakland Fire Department. Even better? All of the proceeds are going to charity. If you want to see who's on deck in the coming weeks, you can check theguestchef on Twitter or follow them on Facebook.

5337 College Ave., Oakland
website

What To Do This Weekend: 7/15–7/17

Ugh, I am tired. Harry Potter wore me out, as did sleeping diagonally in my bed so kittah could stretch out. Enjoy some fun this weekend while I work a double and continue to get no sleep. Bastards.

Friday, July 15:
Gay Rum Party: Mount Gay, that is. Havana will be hosting a Mount Gay Rum "tasting invitation" tonight, featuring complimentary tapas, tastings of Mount Gay Old Rum, some famous punch by a guy named Chester (not sketchy at all!), and 1/2 off all other rum cocktails until 6pm. The first 20 attendees will also get a tiki mug and a cigar.
1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek
website

Rockridge Summer Jazz and Wine Stroll: I love that everyone rolls out a wine stroll when summer hits. They should really do it during the winter when everyone hates life and I'd get the added pleasure of seeing bedraggled cougars melting in the rain. But I digress. Presumably there is both wine and jazz at the event, judging from the name, but in what capacity is a mystery in their press release. You can expect specials and sales from participating merchants. 5–8pm.
College Ave., Oakland
website

Friday, July 15–Saturday, July 16:

i mean, look at this guy

Inferno: A Fire Circus: Now, normally I hate circuses, because of the whole clown thing, but light that clown on fire and I am there! Or would be, if I wasn't working. There will be dancing skulls, fire sword balancing, and all other kinds of fiery shit that proves that fire makes everything more interesting. Tickets are kinda steep at $45–55, so you may want to wait until they actually promise sacrificial clowns before handing over the dough. 7pm.
1260 7th St., Oakland
website

Saturday, July 16:
Oakland BBQ: 32 teams heat up their grills and put on their game faces to square off in the Bay Area BBQ Championship. They'll be competing in four categories (chicken, brisket, pork, and ribs). It'll also be a showdown between bay area football teams (go Niners!), since each team's tailgate crew (The Bad Boyz of BBQ for the Raiders and Q Masters for the Niners) will be competing against each other and an Iron Chef team during a three-hour live throw down. Get there at 9:30am for the people's choice round, and feel free stay for a live performance from American Idol finalist La Toya London. They woulda had me there had it been La Toya Jackson. 9:30am–3pm.
Oakland Coliseum Creekside Lot, Oakland
website

Saturday, July 16:

i mean, look at this fucking bear

California Beer Festival: Okay, so I know this is in Santa Cruz and nowhere near East Bay suburbia, but I love beer and would feel remiss in not sharing. $40 will get you a souvenir cup and access to over 60 craft brews, such as pours from Deschutes, Lagunitas, Speak Easy, and Ninkasi. You can also enjoy live music, play bocce ball (an admirable drunk pastime), and get sloshed guilt-free knowing proceeds benefit the Gen Giammanco Foundation, which supports student athletes. 12:30–5pm.
Aptos Village Park, Santa Cruz
website

Sunday, July 17:
East Bay Adoptathon: Last week, I was literally two steps away from buying a kitten. My judgement may have been impaired from two bloody marys, but how can you not love cute tiny balls of fur with their sleepy faces and penchant for attacking evil apples? In addition to adorable kittens and equally as adorable pups and dogs, there will also be a turtle and snake at the event for you reptile lovers, and adoptable bunnies from SaveABunny. Don't mind me if I smell like Bloody Mary and am holding three Siamese kittens. 10am–3pm.
Jack London Square, Oakland
facebook event page

What to Do This Weekend: 5/13-5/14

While I'll be spending my weekend over in the city enjoying SF Oyster Fest and that shitstorm known as Bay to Breakers ("zazzle" is growing on me), those of you that hiss at BART still have plenty to do this side of the bay. This isn't a comprehensive list, but what I actually found generally worth your time.

none of these people have chairs

Friday, May 13th:
Bike-In Movie Night: Trumer Brauerie and East Bay Bike Coalition are joining forces to bring you fixie-loving hipsters a night of your own. Bike over to the brewery to enjoy a tour and tasting, as well as $5 Trumer Pils, which isn't exactly a steal but nothing to shake your fist at (I know it isn't $2 PBR...). They'll be screening short films from the 24 hour Digital Film Festival and giving you free popcorn, which isn't exactly free if you factor in the $5 admission, but looks better when you remember how much a movie ticket normally costs. You fancy types can also splurge for valet parking, where you presumably wouldn't have to worry about your seat being stolen. Oh yeah, and bring your own chairs and blankets somehow. Hopefully you're more gifted bikers than I am. Doors open at 7:30.
event info

Rockridge Jazz and Wine Stroll: Vendors scattered about College Avenue from Broadway to Alcatraz will dish up some cheap grub ($2-3) while you listen to jazz. Highlights (to me) include pulled pork cones and chocolate pudding pops. Judging from the title there should be wine, fingers crossed for a jazz flute appearance. 5-9pm.
event info

Saturday, May 14th and Sunday, May 15th: 
Art on the Main: Those white booths that make traffic on N. Main a living nightmare are back, and I'm guessing they brought reinforcements. Come look at works from Bay Area artists and pretend you've got some culture, or avoid driving down Main this weekend unless you like sitting in slow traffic while people in SUVs rubberneck. Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm.
event info

Sunday, May 15th:
Jazz on the Fourth: If you're smarter than I am and avoiding Bay to Breakers altogether (if not, check out my links to drinking spots), you can enjoy a tamer daytime celebration over at this Berkeley jazz festival. This free, family-friendly festival (so many "f"s!) benefits the BHS jazz program, and also has a sake garden! And a beer garden, but the sake garden sounds so exotic. Merchants will also be on Fourth street selling food and "wares", which I can only assume are random craft items that nobody needs, per se, but make great gifts for those friends you really don't know all that well or particularly care for.
event info