CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF OAKLAND YOUTH
E U S IS
IS S H T IN ME
GA OOD S! F FACT FUN
FALL/WINTER 2023 Issue 001
EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to our inagural issue of the Make Believe Magazine! We are proud to share the ideas and work of twelve young journalists aged between 8-10 years old. Over thirteen weeks our students created meaningful content on these colorful pages. A magazine is powerful because it is a collaborative effort that creates community. We had help from parents, dedicated staff, board members, and the business owners and workers in Swan’s Market to bring this issue to life. Our journalists brought their imaginations, hearts, and appetites to share joy, laughter, and fun in this issue. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Make Believe Magazine as much as we did creating it. In creativity and justice, Tiffany “Ms. Tee” Golden
TABLE OF CONTENTS Jokes Restaurant Reviews Advice Department Fun Facts Games Our Journalists Game Answers
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WE T O G !! S E JOK sa a s l sa e h d t rtilla? i d t to Wha o the t re. a u o at y e r g how t u o o ab c a t s Let’
y
W sa hat y d to id th the Tha e nks ap ba ab pl nan unc e? a h!
What did the pebble say to the boulder?
You rock!
What did the milk say to the coffee? Thanks a latte!
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What do you say when you get a honeydew?
Thanks a melon!
What did the bear say when it got a present?
Thank you beary much!
st u r a c lla? z iz re p he ozza y, t id e m hees st! d at o th it’s c grate h W y t know the I ’re sa u o y but
Wh sa at d y t id I lo o t th ve he e t you av om fro mm oc at ad o yh o? ead tom ato es! What did the wine say to the vine?
I’m so grapeful for you!
Do You?? 3
, d n a l ? k d Oa ’s Goo t a h W
T’CHAKA A Taste of Haiti 901 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 380-2094
T
’chaka is a restaurant on the corner of Washington and 9th Street in Swan’s Market in Old Oakland. It is pronounced CHA-KAH. The chef greeted us and told us that T’chaka is a stew that his mother used to make in his homeland of Haiti. We tried three dishes. The first was the Vegan Legume Plate. It smelled smokey. It looked crispy and fresh, like a mini salad with some rice and beans, and this delicious soup! (I think it is soup.) It tasted sweet and crunchy, and a little bit spicy.
4/5 Forks We also tried the BBQ Pork Sandwich. It was on ciabatta bread. It smelled barbecue-y and warm, steamy and smokey. It looked messy and tasty. It tasted salty and savory. It’s not spicy. It was soft.
5/5 Forks
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Next, we tried the Jerky’s. They are loaded fries with bbq sauce, jerk sauce, pikliz (a spicy cabbage slaw) and sriracha mayo. You can get it with our without meat. It smelled cheesy and salty. It looked good! Orange and brown. It tasted cheesy and like potatoes. I would go there again.
4/5 Forks
(l-r) Chef, DJ, Ms. Tee, Audrey, and Amaani
PLANET SQUEEZE Juice and Smoothie Bar 540 9th Street, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 628-0184
LA GUERRERA’S KITCHEN Maiz Warrior 907 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 424-8577
L
a Guerrera’s Kitchen is a woman-owned restaurant in Swan’s Market in Old Oakland. They specialize in recipes from Guerrero, Mexico.
All of the dishes were placed in their spots in an orderly fashion. It tasted slightly spicy, firm and moist, although it was piping hot. The flavors exploded in my mouth. The slightest amount of tanginess. The agua fresca was sweet and sour, and had small bits of guava floating in it.
We tried two dishes and drinks. First, we tried the Chicken Empanada with Pinto Beans and a Guava Agua Fresca. The empanada smelled fragrant, herby, and freshly cooked. It smelled slightly spicy. The beans, oh, the beans! The beans had a scent full of spices. The small amount of cheese topping added a salty scent as well. The agua fresca smelled fruity and freshly picked. The scent of guava drifted to my nose. The empanada was a semicircle with a pinched edge browned to perfection, not too burnt and yet not too raw. The beans had a mushy appearance with white spots. There was cheese on top with a decorative sprig of cilantro to complete the look. My agua fresca was a beautiful tint, a mixture of pink and orange, with a blue straw sticking out of the lid, with about ten ice cubes floating on top.
5/5 Forks We also tried the Black Beans and Rice and a Mango Agua Fresca. The black beans smelled warm, and the cheese on them made it quite complete. Those beans, they smelled delicious! They made my mouth water. The mango agua fresca was very fresh and delicate. It smelled just like a perfectly ripe and freshly picked: sweet, scrumptious, and juicy. The ice kept melting, giving me more delicious drink.
4/5 Forks (l-r) Mazzy, Rosie, and TJ, (below) Kind Staff
P
lanet Squeeze is a juice bar nestled right in the center of the Swan’s Market courtyard. It’s BIPOC and woman-owned by Crystal Sacks. She was inpired to open her place to help the people that she cares about. Faith made our smoothies. We tried three smoothie flavors: Mango con Chile Strawberry Moon Emerald Moon We liked the Mango con Chile. It had a spicy kick, but didn’t burn our tongues. We weren’t excited about the green color of the Emerald Moon, but it was surprisingly good. Our favorite was the Strawberry Moon! It was sweet and fruity, absolutely yummy!
4/5 Forks
Superb service!
5
ANNAPURNA Nepalese and Indian Cuisine 940 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 250-9696 Annapurna Pumpkin Pakora were crispy and flavorful. The Curry Chicken and Rice was full of spices.
A
nnapurna is the first Nepalese restaurant in Downtown Oakland. The staff was so kind to us. We tried five dishes. Mango Lassi Salad Chicken Momo Pumpkin Pakora Chicken Curry w/Basmati Rice
We would come here again! Mango Lassi 4.8/5 Forks Salad 4.5/5 Forks Chicken Momo 4.5/5 Forks Pumpkin Pakora 3.8/5 Forks Chicken Curry w/Basmati Rice 3.5/5 Forks
The Mango Lassi was sweet and refreshing. The salad was crunchy and fresh. The Chicken Momo reminded us of dumplings. They were herby and delicious. The
(l-r Zara, Lunar, and Axel)
CUPCAKIN’ Bakeshop
907 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 529-4488
C
upcakes! We don’t need to say anymore! Cupcakin’ is a bakeshop with five Bay Area locations founded by self-taught baker Lila Owens. We went to the location inside of Swan’s Market. The staff was super-friendly and helpful.
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Kind server!
We tried three cupcakes. Strawberry Cookies & Cream Red Velvet
HUANGCHENG NOODLE HOUSE Authentic Chinese Cuisine and Noodles
911 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607, (702) 481-3124
H
The Shrimp Soup with Squid and Bok Choy was and flavorful. It looked appetizing, clean, colorful, and golden. It tasted rich and sweet. A bit salty.
uangcheng Noodle House is a secret gem tucked away on Washington Street in Old Oakland’s Swan’s Market. We tried three dishes. Beef Noodle Soup
Seasoned Beef Appetizer w/Bok Choy Shrimp Soup w/Squid and Bok Choy
The Beef Noodle Soup came in a big orange bowl full of meat and broth. It was salty, rich, and creamy. Delicious!
5/5 Forks
5/5 Forks
(l-r Isa, Yatzil, Owen, and Huangcheng Chef)
The Beef Appetizer perfectly cooked and well seasoned. It also looked scrumptious. The plate was beautiful. It tasted flavorful and fresh. The bok choy added a nice touch. It was soft but not chewy. I would eat there again because the food was good even though we waited a long time.
5/5 Forks
The Strawberry was pink and white with sprinkles. It had a smooth, sweet frosting, and was moist. Delicious!
5/5 Forks The Cookies and Cream was brown with an Oreo cookie on top and baked into the bottom of the cupcake. I was sweet and chocolatey. The Oreo was crispy and the frosting was super smooth. Yummy!
5/5 Forks The Red Velvet was dark red with a cream-colored frosting. It was sweet, but not too sweet. The flavor was rich. I would definely eat all of them! (l-r) Staff, Yatzil, Amaani, Zara, Staff
5/5 Forks
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ADVICE Dear Advice Dept, My mom is never home and when she is, she is always on the phone. She seems like she never has time for me. She is so busy with her life and her job that I don’t seem to even matter to her. I get more attention from my teacher at school that I do from my own mom. When my mom feels guilty for not spending time with me and my sister (who by the way is very mean to me) she buys us things and lets us have kids over. Last week, my sister had friends over for a party. She didn’t let me near the party. She told me that it would be dangerous for me to come because the garbage man might come to pick up trash while the party is going on and accidentally mistake me for garbage and take me with him. I would rather be at school than at home. At least at school, I can control what happens to me. Signed – Empty
Dear Empty, Thank you for telling us your problem. You are very brave. Talk to your mom. If she is too busy, then you can make a note and push it under her door. When she is feeling guilty then you can tell her that you don’t want anything else, you just want to hang out with her. Try to find time on weekends to have family bonding time, like movie or game night. Try to find another time just to hang out. Try to solve the problem by talking it out with your sister. If that doesn’t work, tell your mom that your sister is being mean to you. Thank you for writing this. We hope our advice is helpful. We hope your mom hangs out with you and your sister stops being mean. Signed,
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The Advice Department
DEPARTMENT Dear Advice Dept,
Dear Guilty,
I have a big problem. There is a kid in my class named Damon who is really mean to other kids. He always gives put-downs and constantly goes out of his way to make certain kids feel bad. Damon is very smart and he kisses up to our teacher so she thinks he is perfect. Damon is usually pretty nice to me, but I can’t stand the way he treats some of the other kids. He calls them names and makes fun of their clothes. He makes life at school miserable for them. I am afraid to do or say anything to Damon because I don’t want him to start picking on me. I try to be friends with everybody, but I have to be careful about who I hang out with when Damon is around. What should I do?
I’m so sorry your friends are getting bullied. What I would do is I would stand up for them and tell Damon to stop, or you could tell the teacher and say all the mean things he’s doing, and the teacher or adult will make him stop. Or, you could just be really nice and they’re friends so they can ignore Damon.
Signed – Guilty
The Advice Department
Dear Advice Dept,
Dear Miserable,
Every day when I go to school, I have to deal with Noah and Olivia. I learn a little bit different than everyone else and sometimes it takes me a little longer to understand something that my teacher is teaching. Whenever I ask a question or say an answer that is wrong, they make fun of me. Sometimes they tell me that my questions are stupid. Other times they just giggle and laugh quietly at me. They always do it when the teacher isn’t paying attention. The other kids just think they are cool and funny and popular; but it really hurts my feelings. I get embarrassed. It makes me want to stop answering questions or asking questions. I hate coming to school!
Thank you for writing. One of the first things you can do is simply ignore whoever is being mean to you. Some people are just looking for reactions, so try not to give them any. Another thing you can do is tell somebody. Don’t let this go unnoticed. If somebody like your teacher knows, they can put an end to it. Finally, use your voice and speak up for yourself. Tell Noah and Olivia to stop. Remember everybody learns in different ways and that’s totally okay. It’s smart to ask questions and learn as you go.
Signed – Miserable
Signed,
Signed, The Advice Department
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FUN FACTS! Did you know... A grizzly bear can run as fast as a horse.
The first candy canes had no stripes!
Ketchup was once sold as medicine.
Applesauce was the first food eaten in space by astronauts.
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Ice cream was once called “cream ice.”
The world’s longest french fry was 34 inches long.
Kangaroos can’t walk backwards.
A pet hamster can run up to eight miles a night on a wheel.
Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump!
Your heart is about the same size as your fist.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW? 11
GAMES!
Answers on page 16
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down 1. Shaped pasta with cheese 3. Cold and sweet, perfect for hot days 5. It has a crust and is a triangle 6. Something sweet that kids love 8. A jiggly sweet 9. A rice roll with fish inside
across 2. Lays is a brand of these 4. The ultimate berry that is black 7. Something you can find in spaghetti 10. Coconut rice
Answers on page 16
Answers on page 16
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Our Journalists Audrey Gamble 9 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like soccer!
DJ Morrison Smith
9 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like arts and crafts!
Lunar Slaton
8 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like YouTube!
Zara Mananquil 9 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like drawing!
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Yatzil Ramírez Cruz 8 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like art!
TJ Buckner
9 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like dogs!
Owen Evbuoma 9 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like video games!
Amaani Kanani 8 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like to eat candy and do stuff!
Rosie Collins
10 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like the Girls Scouts and arts and crafts!
Mazzy Knauft
9 yrs old Fun fact about me: I have two cats named Oscar and Poppy!
Axel Johann
9 yrs old Fun fact about me: I play Destiny and baseball!
Isa Vance
10 yrs old Fun fact about me: I like snuggling my cat!
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Game Answers! From Page 12:
From Page 13:
From Page 13:
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How’d you do?
Chapter 510 is a made-in-Oakland youth writing, bookmaking & publishing center. We provide a safe space and supportive community so Black, brown, and queer youth ages 8-19 can bravely write. www.chapter510.org. Published by Chapter 510 and The Dept. of Make / Believe © 2023 TEACHING ARTIST Tiffany “Ms. Tee” Golden CHAPTER 510 PROGRAM STAFF Marabet Morales, Program & Community Manager Naseem Alavi, Program Associate/Teaching Assistant Jahan Khalighi, Program Director Tavia Stewart, Director of Far Off Ideas CHAPERONE Anne Bodel SPECIAL THANKS Claire Astrow and Illustoria Magazine Aaron Gonzalez and Meg Fransee of Floss Editions T’Chaka La Guerrera’s Kitchen Planet Squeeze Cupcakin’ Bake Shop Annapurna Huangcheng Noodle House THIS PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Layout and Design: Tiffany Golden Cover Art: Canva