What's Going on at Oakland Animal Services?

An online petition has sparked concerns about the quality of care at the city-run shelter.

• By Sam Levin
• Tags: News, Oakland Animal Services, Libby Schaaf, East Bay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Friends of Oakland Animal Services, Oakland Police Department

The Best Movies of 2013

The ones you saw — and the ones you didn't.

• By Kelly Vance
• Tags: Feature, 12 Years a Slave, Blue Jasmine, Crystal Fairy, Frances Ha, Gravity, Inside Llewyn Davis, Kill Your Darlings, Nebraska, Spring Breakers, Stoker

Sex Ed Still Lags in Oakland Schools

The city has high rates of STIs, but the school district has not yet completed a comprehensive curriculum for sex education in public high schools.

• By Corey Hill
• Tags: News, sex ed, Oakland Unified School District

A Wish List for the New Year

What to toss and what to bring on in 2014.

• By Jay Youngdahl

Letters for the Week of January 1

Readers sound off on Oakland's Domain Awareness Center, Mayor Jean Quan, and affordable housing.

Let It Go

How to get over being inexperienced and bitter, fragile and manly.

• By Dan Savage

Video

Grudge Match

Sagging bulls.

• By Kelly Vance
• Tags: Movie Review, Grudge Match, Peter Segal, Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Video

Video

August: Osage County

Bloodied mama.

• By Kelly Vance
• Tags: Movie Review, August: Osage County, John Wells, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Video

The Best Movies of 2013

The ones you saw — and the ones you didn't.

• By Kelly Vance
• Tags: Movie Review, 12 Years a Slave, Blue Jasmine, Crystal Fairy, Frances Ha, Gravity, Inside Llewyn Davis, Kill Your Darlings, Nebraska, Spring Breakers, Stoker

One-Night Stands

Repertory film listings for January 2-8, 2014.

Barkada Makes Everything Better With Bread

The Temescal business makes a successful leap from bakery-cafe to full-fledged restaurant.

• By Luke Tsai
• Tags: Restaurant Review, Barkada, Christina Bondoc, Rick Yarussi, Barkada Bakery + Cafe

The Bay Area's Breakout Artists of 2013

Earning new fans and critical acclaim, these five local acts found huge success this year.

• By Whitney Phaneuf
• Tags: Music, Sage the Gemini, Deafheaven, Mikal Cronin, Tony Molina, Cold Beat, Hannah Lew, The Uptown, Rickshaw Stop

The (Easy) Leaves Are Happening

The appeal of the Sonoma County country duo cuts across boundaries.

• By Mark Keresman
• Tags: Music, The Easy Leaves, Kevin Carducci, Sage Fifield, Great American Music Hall

The Yellow Dress

Faint Music // Ordinary Light

• By Sam Lefebvre
• Tags: CD Reviews, The Yellow Dress, Rickshaw Stop

Peter Zak

The Eternal Triangle

• By Lee Hildebrand
• Tags: CD Reviews, Peter Zak, Peter Washington, Billy Drummond, Piedmont Piano Company

Tidal Arms

Tidal Arms

• By Kathleen Richards
• Tags: CD Reviews, Tidal Arms, Spaceman Studio

Tuesday Must Reads: Richmond Homicide Rate Plummets; State Lawmakers Renew Push for Ban on Fracking

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Law Enforcement & Crime, Environment

The Sea Forager Comes to the East Bay

• By Cynthia Salaysay
• Tags: News

Californians In Crappy Towns May Lose Right to Grow Medical Pot

• By David Downs
• Tags: Regulation & Legislation, california, marijuana, cultivation, ban, supreme court, review, appeal, james maral, live oak

Activists Push Urban Ag Bill

• By Cynthia Salaysay
• Tags: News

Monday Must Reads: Brown Wants to Use Cap-and-Trade Funds for Bullet Train; Sierra Snowpack at Just 20% of Normal

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Health & Medicine, Environment

Friday Must Reads: BART Board Approves New Union Contract; Judge Orders San Francisco City College to Remain Open

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Education, Transportation

Weekender: This Weekend's Top Five Events

• By Zaineb Mohammed

'This Will Not Be Like ObamaCare!' - Colorado's Legal Weed Sales Rollout Went VERY Smooth

• By David Downs
• Tags: Legalization, colorado, denver, marijuana, retail, sales, pot, debut, amendment 64

Thursday Must Reads: Oakland Airport Connector to Open This Year; Soda Tax Would Save Up to $1 Billion in Healthcare Costs

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Health & Medicine, Transportation

Restaurants That Double as Coffee Shops

Plus, the owner of LIBA Falafel food truck plans a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Uptown Oakland.

• By Luke Tsai
• Tags: What the Fork, Pizzaiolo, Nick's Pizza, Homestead, Adesso, LIBA Falafel, Gail Lillian, What the Fork

Mid-Week Menu: New Coffee Truck, Authentic Bagel Company to Expand, and Plans to Break Ground on Food Forest in El Sobrante

• By Cynthia Salaysay