Oakland Mourns the Loss of Dorothy King, Owner of Everett and Jones Barbeque

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• Dorothy King, owner of Oakland’s famed Everett and Jones Barbeque, died on Wednesday, March 17, according to a report from the Mercury News. A spokesperson for the restaurant confirmed that King passed away peacefully surrounded by friends and family. The cause of death is not clear at this time. King is the most recent owner of Everett and Jones, one of the city’s top barbecue restaurants and a gathering place for Black political organizing in Oakland. Her mother, Dorothy Everett, founded the East Bay barbecue restaurant in 1973, which has since expanded with locations in Berkeley, Hayward, Alameda. The restaurant has seated a number of household names over the years, including former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris, and athletes Steph Curry and Marshawn Lynch. Following reports of King’s death on Thursday afternoon, elected officials and local activists shared remembrances to social media. “Dorothy’s powerhouse style + fierce passion for social justice will continue to inspire generations,” Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf shared on Twitter. Everett and Jones closed its Jack London Square location on Thursday following her death. [the Mercury News]

• Longstanding brunch destination Luna Park closed in October 2014, citing an increase in labor costs ahead of the proposed $15 minimum wage at that time. Six years later, a new restaurant — a brasserie named LUNA — is preparing to open its doors in the same space. Owner Tony Marcell tells Mission Local that the business has received a license to sell alcohol and is expected to open in June. [Mission Local]
• For the vaccinated among us, indoor dining is set to increase to 50 percent capacity starting next Thursday, March 25. As part of the proposed changes, bars that do not serve food will be allowed to reopen for outdoor service.
• Don’t miss this recipe for Irish soda bread from Gillian Fitzgerald, co-owner of Casements in the Mission.