2232 MLK

Best steak dinner I have ever had! Wow the beans and chilling sides were the bomb. I. Can not believe I have walked by thei Place 100 times or more. Great eats and pretty decent service.

A friend and I attended for the second Canoe Club pop-​up supper club recently. The theme was burgers, beer & bands. 2232 was a terrific venue for this… expansive, secret, and acoustically appropriate. Props to the chefs for a rediculously excellent burger offering. I can’t recall a better one (NOPA’s been schooled); served with Warsteiner, argueably the best beer on the planet. The New-​Orderish band pumped out great sounds as the sun went down on a wonderful fall evening. Urbane and cool, foodie forward… love it!

Love. This. Space.
On Friday, ⁵⁄₂₇ I hitched a ride with Bookman on the Ducati and we zipped over for Opening Night of Postcards from America Pop Up Show by Magnum Photos.
I was still fuming over the previous night’s dinner debacle at 54 Mint, so I was hellbent on conferring with an authority, one of the shows’ shooters, who is born and fed Roman. Oh, and his work is stunningly profound.
Yes, I acknowledge that my mental order of operations was completely bass-​ackwards, but that «buttini» thing plagued me like a culinary carbuncle.
Okay, okay: the space — multi-​perfect use. Soaring white walls, booths along one wall, big, full kitchen, behind a roomy bar, bathrooms, hardwood floors with just the right patina, generous but intimate alcove… and I didn’t even see the entire thing. I’m hard-​pressed to think of anything that wouldn’t work here.
We ran into Paolo Pellegrin just as we parked behind a food truck. He was eating a tamale — another wonderful byproduct of having events at 2232 MLK is that street food shows up. And who doesn’t want to be kissed on the cheeks by a ruggedly handsome, tall Italian man with exquisite eyeglasses and just a whisper of lard upon his lips?
I told him about the «buttini» and Paolo’s eyes narrowed immediately. «You mean, buccatini?» Yes, yes, yes! Vindication — CHOW, baby!
The show is a marriage of world-​renown photographers doing their thing with a gonzo spin. Remember those booths I mentioned? Mini multi-​media stations, running film loops. Each artist had wall space to hang selects. Aisles of tables had thousands of the same prints, which we mere mortals were able to pick up, touch and get all nose greasy. I flipped a glossy 4×6 and guffawed to see that they’d all been developed at Walgreens.
Attendes perused the pics and to my great alarm just… pocketed them or incorporated them into some already very eclectic outfits. Then again, I suppose that was to be expected, artists and observers mingling and merging — legends and novices in the same room, taking in the imagery, becoming a part of the exhibit.
I did not partake.
Paolo was extraordinarily generous with his time, catching up — they’d run into each other in Japan and chatted for at least 30 minutes. I took in the show, rejoining them with a question or a comment, and to be greeted, *kiss*kiss* by Paolo. He even invited us to visit his familial home.
I may partake!
Support the arts, and 2232 MLK!

Saw a b-​boy competition here a little while back… the space is dope! Its a rental space where I can imagine dance classes or local performances taking place. It has the look and feel like it was designed by passionate artists, not some owner or promoter just looking to make a buck.

2232 has become one of the premier spots for underground acts in Oakland. From local talent such as Ise Lyfe, The Attik, and (the recently broken up) Native Guns to bigger names such as Hiero, The Coup, and GZA you’ll get a wide range of performances. If you’re thinking of holding an event here it’s affordable and can hold a good mid-​size crowd. Just be aware that if you want to include elderly or handicapped people the stairs leading up to the venue will probably be a challenge.

This performing arts center is run by one of my boyfriend’s good friends, which may give me a slightly biased opinion. Though I’d like to think it’s just ’cause this place is brilliant.
The venue is located on the second floor of a janitorial supply store, but don’t let outside appearances deceive you, inside it has a great relaxed almost lounge feeling. Perfect for more of an intimate gathering or a larger show.