An Arbiter of Taste

By Adam Mann

“The SF Weekly food critic keeps coming out to Oakland and stealing my stories.” Riding the rising wave of the Bay Area restaurant scene, food writer and managing editor for The East Bay Express, Janelle Bitker, has her finger on a special pulse point in our community. She joined our journalist for coffee and a discussion about representation in the restaurant scene, rising rents and relocation, and the logistics of managing, writing and making time to go out and dine. Continue reading An Arbiter of Taste

Promoting Self-Love

By Summer Vodnoy
Beneath the vitriol and vanity of social media platforms is a thriving, often self-made culture of positivity and support. Broadcasting her ideals on Youtube, Instagram and other platforms, Vanessa Manley swirls business, opinion and activism into a distinctly modern concoction. She shares with The BCC Voice her motivations and struggles promoting self-love within a culture of commodification and commercialized beauty. Continue reading Promoting Self-Love

bccvoiceMay 15, 2018May 16, 20181 Comment

Culture, Interviews, Local

Mining for Laughs (Not Bitcoin)

By Liz Zarka

For someone of the school of thought that art can be separated from life, comedian Tracy Nguyen is nevertheless endlessly informed by her own surroundings. She is a sex comic who isn’t having a lot of sex and an unsatisfied tech employee that performs for audiences composed largely of techies. Nguyen riffs with our reporter on Andre the Giant, doctors and orthopedic surgeons, solving homelessness in San Francisco and other topics comedians are completely unqualified to cover, but must if we’re all to keep our heads. Continue reading Mining for Laughs (Not Bitcoin)

bccvoiceMay 15, 2018May 16, 2018Leave a comment

Interviews, Lifestyle, Local

The People’s Drink

By Jesse Rosenthal
In Alameda, social lubricant and liquid courage are brewed in giant vats beneath the careful and considered supervision of Jesse Sariñana. A veteran of the local craft beer scene, Sariñana kicked back and shared a brew (or two) with The BCC Voice in addition to his perspective on how the industry is changing for the better. Continue reading The People’s Drink

bccvoiceMay 15, 2018May 15, 2018Leave a comment

Culture, Interviews

Visual Dhikr

By Maya Kashima

God, graffiti and Gabriel. As a young Chicano in the Central Valley, Gabriel Garay credits graffiti with insulating him from the worst ravages of gang culture. A convert to Islam at the age of 18, it wasn’t until a seven-year prison stint that Garay delved into the religion he had claimed. Now, both graffiti and his Muslim faith have found expression in his internationally-showcased artwork. The BCC Voice joined Garay during a live exhibition to learn more about his past, present and future. Continue reading Visual Dhikr

bccvoiceMay 15, 2018May 16, 2018Leave a comment

Food, Local, Politics

The Politics of Pizza

By Liz Zarka

We’ve all tried their pizza, but do we know about their politics? The BCC Voice explores the internal workings of Berkeley’s beloved Cheese Board Collective, the Arizmendi network to which it belongs, and their efforts to democratize the workplace. Continue reading The Politics of Pizza

bccvoiceMay 2, 2018May 3, 2018Leave a comment

Culture, Local

Stoppered in Glass

By Alexander Coates

A block behind the gourmet ghetto, in a small backyard cottage, Berkeley’s resident “nose” has curated a history of her craft. The Aftel Archive of Curious Scents places the profound and provocative beneath visitors’ noses and says ‘Here, smell this!’ Continue reading Stoppered in Glass

bccvoiceMay 2, 2018May 2, 2018Leave a comment

Culture

It’s Called Style

By Minhal Motiwala

Tired of looking like a clone? Don’t limit yourself to dull colors and lame trends. Learn fun tips on how to reach your maximum flair potential. It’s called style. Continue reading It’s Called Style

bccvoiceMay 2, 2018Leave a comment