On Saturday, June 20, 2026 from 10AM to 2:30PM Omar and I installed and performed Let's Go Swapping and Un-plugged Seating at the historic open air Saturday market on Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA. Many vendors at this historic market are members of the Oakland Black Chamber of Commerce. It also coincides with the famous Grand Lake (Merritt) Farmers Market. The pop-up style open air market is arranged around the perimeter of the lake and includes a large selection of vendors th

Every now and then I make something for myself. I have to remind myself that it's OK to make things for me too from time to time. I get so caught up in making things for "The Viewer" that I forget that I am a "Viewer" too. So, after a long Lenten season where I tackled a challenging work (that is still in progress but will be done soon) I decided to treat myself with a new jewelry set: This necklace and earrings features quartz crystal points, yellow jade and larimar with ste

TOFU BRAISED WITH PICKLED JAPANESE VEGGIES IN MEDIUM BROTH WITH NORI with rice bundles and a side of fermented purple cabbage and green onion...and don't forget a sparkling glass of Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc . I'm not Japanese...but I am a certified ReiKi Master Teacher in the Usui ReiKi Ryoho lineage . This Lenten season I offer this meal as homage to ReiKi. The meal is inspired by Japanese culinary traditions. So... MY FERMENTED PURPLE NAPA CABBAGE & GREEN ONIONS INGREDIEN

BAKED BEANS & SPAGHETTI SQUASH with Seeded Honey Whole Wheat Toast, Fermented Turnips, Bread & Butter Pickles, Red Onion, Cilantro and Avocado...and don't forget a thick shot of High West double rye . My mother's mother's family were Appalachian. My mother's father's family were Italian and had Berber ancestors. My father's family came from what is modern day Ukraine and Slovakia. This recipe is an anthropological homage to my ancestors during this season of Lent. So... Here'