I've run pictures from time to time taken at the Bulldog cafe down the way on Broadway, they often have a small jazz group playing out front on Sundays. I mentioned once I thought they were up to something in their back room, possibly selling marijuana, but that sounded unlikely as they're located just a few blocks from City Hall and the police often roll by checking the scene on bicycles. They're not stupid. The bouncer posted in front of the entrance to the back room and a small sign tacked to their wall, a reference to "Oaksterdam", made me suspicious. Oakland. Amsterdam. What do you think about when you read a reference to "Amsterdam"? Other than that?

Now an article in the Chronicle this morning about "Oaksterdam" and the half dozen "cafe's" selling medical marijuana to people possessing a doctor's recommendation. Interesting. They didn't mention the Bulldog specifically, but it's located smack in the middle of the area described. The red Ferrari often parked out front makes more sense now after reading the article. This will probably get out of hand after a front page piece in the Chronicle, someone's probably going to have to do something (stupid), but it's interesting, puts this duel between California-Oakland and the Feds in context. Oakland is increasingly more interesting: Politically, artistically, aromatically.