Frosene On The Scene: La Taza Grand Style

Not long ago I reported on the Cuban/Latin food and entertainment scene gathering on a nightly basis in the Oakland hills. That, dear readers, was then and this is now because last weekend La Taza de Cafe relocated to the Oakland flatlands and the La Taza family couldn't be happier.

The restaurant now inhabits the location of many a restaurant before its time, the last being the charming Autumn Moon Cafe, at 3909 Grand Avenue in Oakland. By making this move, La Taza has now expanded its menu, offers more dining facilities, catering, a display kitchen, full bar, and they can now capture some of the lively scene on the avenue. With the Grand Lake Theatre nestled just down the street near Lake Merritt, La Taza should enjoy some of that before and after theatre crowd.

An early viewing of the La Taza-izing of the location was pleasing. The restaurant features its same warm colors and spirit as the Thornhill Avenue spot, however, now there are two separate intimate dining areas, an upstairs entertainment space featuring the comforts of a private party, and an outdoor patio area that should draw a lot of action once the warm weather arrives, permanently.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday they are open until midnight. Call 510/658-2373 for reservations or visit latazacafe.com. The popular weekend Latin brunch returns March 25.

BROADWAY BOUND. Comic, actor, writer, television and radio personality Brian Copeland tells me his debut in Los Angeles at the new Hayworth Theater with his solo show Not A Genuine Black Man was a smash. "We were jammed to the gills," he told me about his first weekend of previews. Rob Reiner and company attended and he received standing ovations.

Reiner, as I previously mentioned in this space, is producing an HBO story on Genuine with Brian. In addition to that, Copeland opens the show off Broadway in May. The New York Times and Los Angeles Times have already begun to sing Copeland's praises. Daryl Roth who produced Wit and Proof on Broadway amongst others will produce the show at the DR2 Theater in Manhattan and Bob Balaban of The Exonerated fame, also on Broadway, will direct.

Hyperion has moved up the release date of his book and his performances at The Marsh in San Francisco are winding down. "It will be released nationwide on July 11," said Copeland. This month, you can still catch Genuine at The Marsh on Thursdays only as the show is in Los Angeles on Fridays and Saturdays through April 1. After that, the show will resume at The Marsh for its regular run of Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through April, celebrating its second anniversary. Copeland will take off for New York after that. If the early positive buzz in Los Angeles repeats itself in New York, it's just a matter of time before he lands on Oprah with his profound story of growing up in San Leandro when it was considered one of the most racist cities in the country - and Copeland has the facts to prove it.

The Marsh is located at 1602 Valencia Street just three blocks from the 24th and Mission BART. Contact The Marsh at 415/641-0235 or visit themarsh.org. For additional ticket information call 800/838- 3006 or visit briancopeland.com.

WEEKEND SCENE: Roy Hargrove Quintet through Sunday, Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble and Combos Monday, Claudia Villela Tuesday, Wednesday at Yoshi's Oakland... Frank Wakefield Band Friday, Marley's Ghost Saturday, Elana Fremerman & Her Hot Hot Trio Sunday, Open Mic Tuesday at Freight & Salvage Berkeley... Alex Skolnick Trio, Matt Heulitt Friday, Trace Ellington & Alternative Soul Saturday, Blue Monday Jam with Fox's Blues Band Monday at the Uptown Nightclub Oakland... Flip Tha Script Friday, The K.T.O. Project Saturday, A Tribute to Zahra Kazemi & Dr. Hammed Shahidian Sunday at La Pena Berkeley.

Kid Beyond, The Radiohead Project Friday, Rhiannon Saturday, Art Lande Trio Sunday at the Jazzschool Berkeley... Eddie Marshall's No Money Band Friday, Rhonda Benin & Soulful Strut Saturday, Terry Rodriquez Trio Sunday, Mike Zilber, Susan Muscarella, John Schifflet, Tim Bulkley and guests Monday at Anna's Jazz Island Berkeley... The Heartbeats, The Houserockers Friday, Tempest, Four Shillings Short Saturday at the Little Fox Redwood City... Silicon Gulch Jazz Band Tuesday at Prince of Wales Pub San Mateo... Tony Lindsay, John R. Burr, Seward McCain, Michael O'Neill Friday, Jackie Ryan, John R. Burr, Seward McCain, Michael O'Neill Saturday at Cetrella Half Moon Bay... Kriya Jazz Octet, Mirabai Vocal Ensemble Sunday at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society Miramar Beach Half Moon Bay.

COMEDY SCENE: Ian Bagg, Joseph Rocha, Jeff Short through Saturday, SF Comedy Showcase Sunday at the Punch Line San Francisco... Mark Curry at Bourbon Street Comedy Club Concord... Tracy Morgan at Cobb's Comedy Club San Francisco... Craig Ferguson at the Improv San Jose.

Frosene Phillips can be reached at (510) 293-2603, fax (510) 293-2605 or E-mail at FroOnTheScene@aol.com.

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