December in Old Oakland: Protests, Holiday Shopping, and the Mayor's New 'Do

We would like to begin this post by addressing the very serious and sensitive issues surrounding the Oakland protests taking place in the wake of two major grand jury verdicts that have so powerfully affected our nation; the non-indictments of police officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed teenager Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and police officer Daniel Pantaleo, who choked and killed civilian Eric Garner in New York City.

Protests in Old Oakland

At Manifesta, we support every individual's right to protest and the idea of shedding light on some of the inequalities in our justice system. It is not news by now that, during the Oakland protests, our salon and other small businesses in our neighborhood were damaged. The salon had a window broken, and we were very lucky to have any further damage prevented by our neighbors.  Unfortunately, many of our neighbors were not as lucky, and we are very saddened for them and also very supportive of their recovery.

Our pride and belief in this community remain untarnished. The majority of protestors that were arrested for causing harm were not Oakland residents, but instead a small group of trouble-seekers taking advantage of the protesting atmosphere. The real story here is that Oakland is an incredible, supportive, multicultural society, made up of people who show up for each other in times of distress. We really thank our communities and those who supported us during these challenging times, including the following:

• The Old Oakland security team, especially Tish and Miles.

• Jeff and Chris from Liege.

• Alfonso from Tamarindo.

• Fellow business owners Kerri, Julie, Yoko, and Kayoko.

• Former Oakland security officer, Ron.

• Jordan, a passerby who voluntarily kept an eye out for us.

• Our clients Ellen and Sean.

• Jeneane and Michelle from PSAI.

• Mayor Jean Quan for checking in on us the next day.

• Mayor Elect Libby Schaaf, for helping us get our window replaced so quickly.

• Clients Dre and Sara, and everyone else who called or emailed to check in on us during the days following the incident.

• Everyone who came to their appointments that week and showed the community that Manifesta is supported and strong.

We are currently brainstorming ways to pay forward the support we have received from all of you. We'd like to find a creative way to raise money for those businesses that have been damaged in Ferguson, while also ensuring that the financial aid finds its way into the hands of those in need.

Shop Local with 'Festa

Thank you to those who came out the next day to support Old Oakland by shopping with us and our neighbors for Plaid Friday! Thanksgiving has passed, but the holidays are far from over. Get your holiday shopping done right here in Old Oakland, with 'Festa popups and our neighbors:

Friday, December 12th

'Festa invites you to come bear witness to the artistic process, and enjoy a cup of tea as we watch local artist Lisa Hsia paint her first portrait of a Manifesta Community Member, right here in the salon! Come on down next Friday, 12/12 at 3pm for the fun!

The Manifesta Portrait Project is a collaboration between Manifesta, its clients, and local artist Lisa Hsia.Through portraits of the Manifesta community (painted live in the salon space) and an eventual gallery composed of these portraits, we seek to present an ongoing, dynamic, participatory exploration of beauty, diversity, and what we consider worthy of appreciation.

Saturday, December 13th

Come out to shop local again with some of our best popups, new and old! Nopal Apparel will be popping up in Manifesta selling tee shirts. We'll also have a few of our regular kiosks, including Woop Woop Fine Foods, selling gluten-free cookies and granola. Marion & Rose's Workshop will be adding to the deliciousness with a chocolate tasting. Meanwhile, the neighborhood will be hosting an ugly holiday sweater contest, so bring your best (or worst)! Stay later into the evening and enjoy the video projections on 9th street, curated by Block Gallery. These projections will be up and delighting us all every Friday and Saturday evening in December.

Sunday, December 14th

Here is your official invitation to the Naked Holiday Art Fest!

    

We will also have awesome popups in the salon all month, including the delicious Natty Cakes on Wednesdays, as well as Summer Sequoia, Fluffy Co., Fat and the Moon, Holy Sponge, and Woop Woop Fine Foods on Thursdays and Fridays.

Lastly, for the month of December only, you will receive 10% off Aveda products if you purchase 3 or more. We will put them in a gift box, ready to go for the holidays!

Say "Hello" to Manifesta's New Client!

Manifesta acquired a very special new client this month! If you aren't following us on Instagram, you may have missed that our stylist Jasmine had the pleasure of cutting and styling Mayor Jean Quan's hair last week. We hope she'll come to Manifesta again for her hair needs. We think she looks pretty fabulous. What do you think of the Mayor's new 'do?

Follow Us on Pinterest!

Are you a Pinterest lover? We are too now! Follow our boards to keep up with local artists and events, seek out beauty and wellness tips, and find inspiration for your next hair appointment. We'd love for you, our clients and friends, to send us pins that inspire you so that we can all stay connected to the conversation.