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Urban Guide Listings to plan your week by Join the free-speaking spectacle at the Berkeley Arts Festival. Berkeley Arts Festival Berkeley's an even busier bee than usual this coming week. The Fifth Berkeley Arts Festival, the annual, two-week, citywide celebration, kicks off this Saturday celebrating art and politics (and eco-consciousness, to be sure) by shutting down downtown with a bouncy, free-speaking spectacle. In come the traditional City Council Singers, a Poet's corner outside the Public Library, an uncensored Speaker's Corner at the BART plaza, a Bicycle Rodeo and Enviro Carnival, and tours and performances in Addison's Arts District. Watch stilt walkers and unicycles tower and roll by, listening to performances by hip hop artists Azeem and V.U. It will be a peaceful free for all not to be missed by Berkeley-ites and those who love them. And there's more art and politics to get into over the next two weeks. Watch unlawfully elected liberals play with power in the Mock City Council meeting on the 13th and 10th (at Old City Hall, or on Channel 25, 7pm). In addition to John Sandborn and Avon Kirkland films, a local graphic novelist day, Sarah Hill's piano concertos, a marathon, community literary discussions, and an author's jam, the festival also highlights the unexplored flatlands of West Berkeley, home to most of Berkeley artists, with a tour. Sat/10 (Opening Day), noon to 6pm. Center Street, Berk. For a complete festival schedule, go to www.berkeleyartsfestival.com. (EP) Soul man Lutan Fyah brings his wisdom to the Oasis. Culture Dem Tour For well over a year now, local hot spot Oasis has been jumping with urban beats, reggae motions, and down-tempo and house rhythms almost every night of the week. But, come this Sunday, they'll be moving onto the next level when they present their first live show, the Culture Dem Tour, with Jamacian favorites DJ/singer Turbulence (of the Xterminator crew); wisdom-speaker and showman, Lutan Fyah; Soul Rebel; and Riddmystics. Join them for this all-day, all-night reggae, one-love fest. Ital Jamacian food will be on hand to entice your taste buds while local DJs Jah Yzer, Riddm, and Ashanti Hi-Fi will keep the feeling alive between sets. This is an all-ages show, so feel free to bring the kids along 'till 10pm. Sure to be a truly blessed day, indeed. Sun/11, 2pm doors, 5pm show. Oasis, 135 12th Street, Oakl. $5-20. All ages until 10pm. (CS) Congress woman Barbara Lee receives the 6th Annual Censorship Award from PEN Oakland. Lively Literature Awards PEN Oakland -- a chapter of the International Organization of Poets, Essayists, and Novelists -- will continue to celebrate literature that delves into issues of racism and explores the realm of culture with their 12th Annual Literary Awards this Sunday. The event, hosted by writer Jack Foley, will include the presentation of PEN Oakland's 6th Annual Censorship Award to Congresswoman Barbara Lee as well as the awarding of literary honors to this year's winners in the name of the late Josephine Miles -- a renowned poet, critic, and UC Berkeley English professor. The highlight of the evening will be the award-winning authors and special guests reading from their works. Come hear excerpts from an anthology of poetry by Arab women, pages of a raw and eloquent volume of poems by A. Van Jordan, snippets of a novel about heartache and Hollywood in 1942, and pieces from poets who have traveled the world and felt its suffering. A reception and book signing will conclude the event. Sun/11, 6-9pm. Pro Arts, 461 9th Street (at Broadway), Oakl. $5-$8 (sliding scale donation at the door). 525.3948. (EL) Picks by Chris Baker (CB), Aimee Le Duc (AL),Erica Pedersen (EP), Alexi Somon (AS) and Gabriel Serpa (GS). [ East Bay | Metroactive | Archives ]