Nancy McKay

Shades of Summer

The evocative sound of “summer” means different things to different people, from sticky county fairs to lazy afternoons by a lake to fog-filled coastal mornings. In our annual summer essay issue, seven East Bay writers offer work inspired by our “31 Flavors” prompt. Pour yourself a glass of lemonade, curl up in an easy chair, and let yourself relax into the sensual details of the season—not just the flavors, but the sights, sounds, and smells…and the way it gets under your skin.

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Faces of the East Bay

In the Philanthropic Swim

In the Philanthropic Swim

Rockridge residents John Bliss and Kim Thompson may live far removed the gritty flats of East and West Oakland. But this philanthropic couple see themselves as one with the citizens of Oakland, particularly those who are struggling financially, and they’re leading a campaign to get their “financially blessed” peers to invest in the community like they have by funding city programs to teach kids how to swim.